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celeste_velocci's reviews
417 reviews

What the Nanny Saw by Kaira Rouda

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mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Thank you so much Booktouture for the early release copy of What the Nanny Saw by Kiara Rouda. This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last! I enjoyed this popcorn thriller and read it in about a day. 

The plot was intriguing as were the characters and kept me guessing for a while. I did figure out the final twist but even though I figured it out I still enjoyed the build up to the big reveal.

Unreliable narrators , unhinged female characters , revenge , and deception are some of my favorite themes and trope in a thriller and this one had them all!  

This book releases November 13th definitely add it to your tbr!  
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an incredible read. My book club chose this book for our October book and I’m so glad. This story was so real and raw and depicted life , grief , trauma , love , sisterhood , and just so so much more so beautifully. 

The characters were so well written. The plot was fantastic. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while. Hug your siblings. 

When a book evokes emotion and truly makes you feel what the characters are feeling that is a book I’ll always recommend. I loved it. 
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I am not really sure what went on here lol 

I listened on audio and seemed like I couldn’t keep focused. My favorite part was the bar lingo I always enjoy a bartenders point of view after being one for 10+ years. 
The Christmas Morning Massacre by Nasser Rabadi

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A solid slasher read for Halloween and to get you ready for the holiday season! This was pretty predictable but was a solid horror and fast paced read. 
What You Wish For by N.L. Hinkens

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a really great Kindle Unlimited thriller find! It was the perfect palette cleanser and kept me interested the entire time. 

Past mistakes and choices come back to haunt you in this twisty thriller. You get a little bit of everything with this one! Crime , unreliable narrators , difficult family relationships , unhinged partners , revenge - all of the best things you can ask for in a thriller! 

I’ve read a few of this authors books over the years on KU and this one was for sure my favorite of them. 
The Hidden by Kiersten Modglin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was a quick and easy read but a bit whacky! I had no idea what was happening for a while there. It was alright! It felt sci-fi at times and was for sure a psychological thriller. While the characters were losing their minds it felt like so were we as readers. 

I’ve read a lot of this authors books and most are a huge hit or a miss for me and this one lands somewhere in the middle. It is unlike anything thing else I’ve read by her. 
Camp Slaughter by Sergio Gomez

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Major Friday the 13th vibe and 90’s / 2000’s slasher flick. This book made me uneasy and feel the anxiety as if I was there with the characters. Gruesome , gory , and hard to read at times it felt like I was watching a horror movie. 

You’ll never catch me in the woods or going away camping with friends like haven’t these people seen Friday the 13th?? Major Jason vibes! 

It was a good spooky season read and if you just accept it for what it is like you do a Halloween slasher movie then you’ll most likely enjoy (to the best of your ability because it’s pretty gnarly) this book. 
The Teacher by Freida McFadden

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this read and love this author! I was somewhat surprised that I figured out most of the twists!
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was okay! My first Sally Hepworth book but it won’t be my last. I enjoyed the writing style. I did feel like a lot was going on all at once that didn’t flow together in a cohesive way. There were many different plot elements happening that made me feel like it was a little unbelievable or far fetched.

Overall I feel like it was fine. I’m not mad I read it but if i didn’t that would be okay too. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming so that was surprising to me. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters either which always plays a huge part in my reading experience.
Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Thank you so much Saratoga Schaefer, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for the early release of Serial Killer Support Group. I loved this book! It was fast paced , kept me guessing , had a lot of unreliable but likeable characters and a crime to be solved. 

A sister will stop at nothing to figure out what really happened on the morning of her sister’s murder. Dealing with grief and hitting a new rock bottom Cyra takes things into her own hands to avenge her sister Mira’s killer. Mira’s murder was similar to a local serial killer and when Cyra learns this information she will stop at nothing to make the killer pay even if that means going undercover. Cyra goes undercover as a serial killer to a dark web support group for serial killers. By infiltrating this group she knows she is closer to solving this crime more than anyone else. 

This book was dark but hooks you from the very start. So many gruesome characters that were still likeable. Told from multiple points of view between each member of the support group find out just how far a sister will go to find justice for her sibling.

This book publishes March 2025 be sure to add it your tbr!