Review by: @litwithlarashleyyyyy

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

The rundown: This book is written from the perspectives of their mother-in-law, Diana, and her daughter-in-law, Lucy. Diana is a strict, no-hands-out mother-in-law and wishes her family would follow her orders, especially her daughter-in-law, Lucy. Lucy doesn’t get much help from her sister-in-law, Nettie or her husband, Ollie on the strained relationship. Only Nettie’s husband, Patrick, understands the difficulty of being under the careful eyes of Diana. However, when Diana ends up dying with a suicide note the detective believes is forged, Lucy finds herself in the middle of the murder investigation, and everyone is diving deep into their complicated relationship. 

The review: This fast-paced book was an easy read. Readers will get sucked into Diana's past and Lucy's temperament and life with her husband and kids. Diana is a misunderstood woman who built walls around herself to be successful and be the family's matriarch. Lucy seeks motherly affection since her mom passed away and leans on Diana for love. The two women are opposites yet find common ground around family, desperation, and acceptance. The book plays into the past when Diana was a young college student, showing readers how Diana and Lucy's relationship became strained and the present of who killed Diana and what led to her death. The "who-dun-it" factor plays well throughout the story, and many readers will be shocked when the killer is revealed. And then the end is happy for no one.

Goes well with: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, and Just the Nice Couple by Mary Kubica

Review by: Windsor :)

Stolen Tongues by Felix Blackwell

The rundown: A romantic cabin getaway doesn't go exactly as planned. High up on the windswept cliffs of Pale Peak, Faye and Felix celebrate their new engagement. But soon, a chorus of ghastly noises erupts from the nearby woods: the screams of animals, the cries of children, and the mad babble of a hundred mournful voices. A dark figure looms near the windows in the dead of night, whispering to Faye. As the weather turns deadly, Felix discovers that his terrified fiancée isn't just mumbling in her sleep - she's whispering back.

The Review: A creepy and atmospheric horror story. The first half of the book truly gave me goosebumps, it was so freaky. This book was based off of a creepypasta/reddit post, and my era loved creepypasta! The vibes of being alone in a snowed in cabin, not knowing what is tormenting you and your family... ahhh!! However, I will say the story did become repetitive at the 3/4 mark. Overall, if you are looking for some entertaining creeps and a quick read, this book is for you. 

Goes well with: The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn and Near the Bone by Christina Henry

Review by: @litwithlarashleyyyyy

The Tea Dragon Festival by Kay O’Neill

The rundown: In this continuation of the cozy fantasy graphic novel The Tea Dragon Society, we come back to the sweet town that has Tea Dragons, yummy food, and adventure. The inclusive, diverse book introduces Aedhan, a dragon put to sleep and woken by a local townsperson, Rinn. Together, they start a journey to discover who put Aedhan to sleep and learn more about each other. Rinn and Aedhan get help from Rinn’s uncle Erik and his partner, Hesekel, to uncover the mystery of the sleeping dragon and how to help them face their biggest fears.

The review: This is the perfect LGBTQ+ book to read for Pride Month! The fantastical characters explore their sexualities and their feelings with the townspeople. Aedhan and Rinn grow a special bond that children of all ages will appreciate and enjoy.

Goes well with: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, The Sprite and the Gardner by Rii Abrego, and Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen

Review by: @litwithlarashleyyyyy

The Pumpkin Princess and the Forever Night by Steven Banbury

The rundown: Orphaned Eve runs away from the orphanage, only to be caught by the creepy and mysterious Pumpkin King, who decides to adopt her. Now hailing as the Pumpkin Princess, Eve arrives at the mysterious town of Hallowell, where ghouls roam the town and the undead never sleep. Eve, being the only human in the town has to convince everyone why she’s the perfect candidate as the Pumpkin Princess while getting used to her new role: as daughter.

The review: This is an early edition of the book. It won’t be available to the public until September 3, 2024. The book gives the classic Disney Channel movie Halloweentown a scarier yet wholesome vibe. The main character, Eve, is a courageous young girl being adopted by a night terror, the Pumpkin King. It was beautiful to see the mystery of the town, Hallowell, through Eve’s eyes. A vampire that doesn’t drink blood, troublesome werewolves, witches who struggle with magic, and ghosts that turn into a banshee or a poltergeist makes anyone question if they want to visit the town, especially on Halloween night! Eve’s wild adventures in her new town will keep the reader guessing until the very end of what she and her friends will get into next! Also, the bond between Eve and her adopted dad, the Pumpkin King, is sugary sweet (perfect with Halloween candy!). I’m excited to revisit Hallowell!

Goes well with: The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever by Cressida Cowell, The Beast, the Queen, and the Lost Knight by Alexandria Rogers, and What Happens After Midnight by K.L. Walther