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Remain
by Nicholas Sparks
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Professional Reader Camp NetGalley 2025

10 Book Reviews
Read and Release at BookCrossing.com...

  • The Midnight Train – ARC Review

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    📆 Publication Date: 21st May 2026
    ⭐️4/5 stars
    📖 Length: 304 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 7 days

    Synopsis

    When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most?

    For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away.

    Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed.

    What I thought

    I read The Midnight Library last year and really enjoyed it, so when I heard that Matt Haig was writing another book set in the same world, I knew I had to read it. When I saw the ARC appear on NetGalley, applying was a no-brainer, and I went into this really excited to see where the story would go next.

    Where The Midnight Library explores all the lives you could have lived in search of your “best” one, The Midnight Train focuses on the life you did live and asks whether you could have done things differently. It leans into that idea of your life flashing before your eyes, as we follow Wilbur revisiting the most important moments of his past.

    I really liked this concept. It felt much more personal and grounded, focusing on love, regret, and the choices that shape everything. It does touch on some heavier subjects, but it never feels too dark. More thoughtful and reflective than anything.

    What stood out most for me was how it shifts from simply looking back on life to actively questioning whether things could be changed if they’re not on the right trajectory. As Wilbur relives his memories, he realises how much he wishes he’d done things differently, and instead of just accepting it, he makes the decision to derail the train and tries to change his path entirely.

    Matt Haig’s writing still has that same emotional, thought-provoking feel as The Midnight Library, and while this story goes in a different direction, it keeps that core message about what it means to live a meaningful life.

    If The Midnight Library made you think about all the “what if’s,” this one feels more like sitting with your “if only” moments.

    Overall

    Overall, a really strong and reflective read that I really enjoyed—solid 4 stars.

    Interested in pre-ordering? Links below

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Thanks to NetGalley, Canongate Books, and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    4 comments on The Midnight Train – ARC Review
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  • Elizabeth & Marilyn – ARC Review

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    📆 Publication Date: 2nd April 2026
    ⭐️4/5 stars
    📖 Length: 368 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 16 days

    Synopsis

    London, October, 1956. A glittering Royal Film Premiere. The whole world is watching . . .

    Tonight, Elizabeth II will formally greet an array of stars. Though she was not born to be Queen, this young mother and wife has embraced her patriotic duty and its unforgiving demands.

    A limousine pulls up. Out steps a vision in dazzling gold: Marilyn Monroe. A money-making machine for Hollywood, with curves that drive men wild and a smile that lets women know she’s in on the joke.

    As the two most famous women in the world come face to face, they look to be worlds apart. Yet beneath the glamorous costumes, both are fighting to keep the men they love, while trying to do their work in a man’s world. And they have spent the summer of 1956 battling secret demons the public could never imagine.

    Now, Marilyn steps forward. These photographs will be on the front page of every newspaper in the morning.

    But this isn’t their first meeting. And the story behind the headlines is even more sensational . . .

    What I thought

    I went into Elizabeth & Marilyn not really knowing what to expect, but I ended up really enjoying it. I love historical fiction, and while I’m not particularly a Royalist, I do find myself drawn to biographies and documentaries about the royals, so this felt like a nice change of pace for me.

    Julie Owen Moylan does a great job of taking two real-life, notable figures (Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe) and blending fact with fiction in a way that feels both natural and believable. I really enjoyed how she wove imagined moments into real history to bring these two women together.

    What stood out most to me was the focus on the similarities between them, particularly in their private lives. On the surface, they lived completely different lives, but the book highlights the shared pressure, pain, and confusion they both experienced. It made them feel much more human, rather than just the iconic figures we usually see. The parallel chapters worked brilliantly and kept me thoroughly engaged throughout.

    I also found it really interesting that the idea for the book came from something the author saw online about them sharing a birthday—which turned out not to be true. It’s such a small spark, but it led to a really thoughtful and well-crafted story.

    And I have to mention the cover, it’s absolutely gorgeous. The bright, colourful pop-art style really stands out, and it’s exactly the kind of book I’d be drawn to on a shelf.

    Overall

    Overall, I really enjoyed this. It was an easy, engaging read and felt like the perfect palate cleanser between heavier books. Definitely one I’d recommend if you like historical fiction with a slightly different angle.

    Interested in picking this up? Links below

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Thanks to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    No comments on Elizabeth & Marilyn – ARC Review
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  • Eye Spy – ARC Review

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    📆 Publication Date: 26th March 2026
    ⭐️3/5 stars
    📖 Length: 448 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 5 days

    Synopsis

    Waiting for the Eurostar in Paris, Mark’s four-year-old daughter alerts him to a ‘Bad Man’ during a game of ‘Eye Spy’.

    Things only get worse when Mark notices that the man is on their train with a suspicious-looking suitcase, and he’s sitting ominously close.

    With secrets unravelling from the past, can Mark piece together the jigsaw of his life in order to save his family?

    Or will their journey come to a fatal end?

    What I thought

    First of all, apologies that this review is a few days late — work and life have very much been doing the most lately.

    Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

    This is my first book by C. M. Ewan, and overall I landed on 3 stars.

    I really liked the idea of the whole story taking place on the Eurostar from Paris to London. A thriller in such a closed setting should have been right up my street, and it definitely had that tense, claustrophobic feel that I enjoy.

    That said, I couldn’t help feeling like this kind of plot has been done before. It didn’t feel as fresh as I wanted it to, and for a book set over one train journey, parts of it dragged more than I expected.

    The twist was good, even if I did see it coming, so while it wasn’t exactly shocking, it still worked.

    What really stopped this from being a higher rating for me was the ending. I won’t say anything that spoils it for anyone with this on their TBR, but it honestly just annoyed me. After sticking with the slower parts, I wanted something that felt a bit more satisfying.

    Overall

    Overall, it was a decent thriller and an easy enough read, but it didn’t completely wow me.

    Interested in picking this up? Links below

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Thanks to NetGalley, Pan Macmillan, and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    No comments on Eye Spy – ARC Review
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  • February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up:

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    Well… it’s mid-March, and my last wrap-up was November 😅—but we’re not dwelling on that. Okay? We’re getting back into routine, and what better place to start than with a very full February reading month!

    I read a whopping 10 books in Feb, with a real mix of formats, throwing more audiobooks in the list as I spent a fair amount of Feb on the road with work. There was a real mixed-bag also in terms of quality. Some absolute standouts, a couple of disappointments, and a few solid middle-of-the-road reads. Let’s get into it:

    1. Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill – ★★★★☆

    My P+W Book Club pick for February, and honestly a strong start to the month. This is classic epic fantasy with big world-building, dragons, and multiple POVs. It definitely leans into familiar tropes, but in a comforting way. I really enjoyed the character dynamics and can see why this series has such a loyal following.

    🔗 Check out my full review of Of Bloody and Fire here

    2. Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson – ★★★☆☆

    This was such an interesting, immersive read—more like interconnected stories than a traditional novel. It’s quirky, clever, and a bit surreal at times. I appreciated the writing more than I emotionally connected to it, but it’s definitely one that makes you think.

    3. Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher – ★★★☆☆

    A cosy, slightly whimsical read with magical elements woven into everyday life. It had a lovely atmosphere, but I wanted a bit more depth from the characters and plot. Still, a comforting read overall.

    4. Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi (ARC) – ★★★★★

    One of my standout reads of the month—possibly the year so far. This was rich, powerful, and completely absorbing. The character work was incredible, and the story felt both epic and deeply personal. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this early.

    🔗 Check out my full ARC review of Cleopatra here

    5. The Life Impossible by Matt Haig – ★★☆☆☆

    This one didn’t quite work for me. I usually enjoy Matt Haig’s introspective style, but this felt a bit repetitive and didn’t fully hold my attention. The premise was interesting, but the execution just didn’t land. I’m not sure Joanna Lumley narrating the audiobook helped – I kept having flash backs to Ab Fab 😅

    6. Insatiable by Leigh Rivers – ★☆☆☆☆

    Unfortunately, this was my biggest disappointment of the month. It just didn’t click for me at all—whether it was the writing style, pacing, or characters, something felt off throughout.
    Do not pass go, do not get 200.

    🔗 Check out my full review of Insatiable here

    7. Clara & The Devil Vol.1 by Olivie Blake (ARC) – ★★★☆☆

    A really intriguing sampler that left me curious about the full story. Olivie Blake’s writing is always sharp and distinctive, and while it’s hard to fully judge from a sampler, I’m definitely interested in reading more.

    8. Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes – ★★☆☆☆

    I went into this expecting a Medusa retelling, but it’s not really her story—and that was a big part of my issue. Instead of getting her perspective, it felt more like a scattered mix of voices, which made it hard to stay invested. Add in the slow pacing (and the fact I listened on audio), and I found my attention wandering way more than I wanted.

    🔗 Check out my full review of Stone Blind here



    9. Queen B by Juno Dawson – ★★★☆☆

    Short, dramatic, and full of personality. This was an entertaining listen, though not one that completely blew me away. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something a bit bold and character-driven, or an easy listen whilst driving.

    10. Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwait – ★★★★☆

    This is one of those books where the concept really shines—it’s fresh, engaging, and something a bit different. I’ll admit it took me a moment to get used to some of the names and language, which pulled me out slightly at the start, but once I got into it, I found myself really enjoying it.

    📚 March: What’s Next?

    Current reads:


    So here we are, trying to balance book club reads, ARCs, and my ever-growing TBR…

    • Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (P+W Book Club March Pick)
      This month’s book club pick, and I’m really excited to get into it. It’s a historical fantasy set in 1920s Mexico, following a girl who accidentally frees a Mayan god of death and ends up on a journey with him. It sounds like a mix of mythology, adventure, and a bit of romance, which is OK with me.
    • The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig
      This one has very dark, gothic fantasy vibes, which immediately sold me. It’s set around a cathedral where girls receive visions from gods, but when they start disappearing, things take a turn. There’s also a slightly suspicious knight involved, so I’m expecting tension, secrets, and probably a bit of chaos. I love Gilligs other books (One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns), so I’m hoping for good things!
    • Eye Spy by C. M. Ewan (ARC)
      This is a thriller I’ve got as an ARC, and it sounds properly tense. It’s set on a train and follows a father and daughter whose journey takes a dark turn when they realise something isn’t quite right. Feels very fast-paced and claustrophobic—definitely one I’m hoping will keep me hooked.
    Library Reads I Need to Finish:

    I may have been a little over-ambitious at the end of February picking these up… so now it’s time to catch up:

    • The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab – A dark, folklore-inspired fantasy about a missing child and a mysterious stranger.
    • Gallant by V.E. Schwab – Gothic, eerie, and centered around a hidden world beyond a strange house.
    • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – A heartwarming fantasy about magical children and found family.
    • Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – A gothic classic filled with atmosphere, mystery, and lingering ghosts of the past.

    Honestly, this is such a strong stack, I just need to actually read them before they’re due back 😅

    👋🏻So that’s it for February

    March is already underway, and I’m hoping to:

    • Stay consistent with reading (and posting!)
    • Keep up with book club picks
    • Finally tackle some of my physical TBR (stares at the library stack)

    And most importantly, get these wrap-ups posted on time again 👀

    Let me know what your favourite February reads were; and if you’ve read any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

    Until next time, happy reading… 🕯️📖🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    3 comments on February 2026 Reading Wrap-Up:
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  • Of Blood and Fire – Book Review

    ⭐️4/5 stars
    📖 Length: 412 pages
    📱 Format: Hardback, signed edition
    ⏳ Read Time: 6 days

    Synopsis

    Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the South squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.

    In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving – a test of courage and skill that not all survive.

    But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.

    There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold.

    He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will.

    What I thought

    This was our February Paper + Word book club pick, and I finished it in 6 days, which is always a good sign for me.

    I was lucky enough that my edition was a signed hardback early re-release, so it already felt a bit special going in. But the highlight was getting to join a live Q&A with the author, Ryan Cahill. Hearing that he basically just writes straight from his head with no real plan was both impressive and slightly stressful to listen to. I need a plan followed by a list for doing the food shop, so I can’t relate. Bravo though!

    The story itself is very much classic epic fantasy. You can definitely feel the The Lord of the Rings influence, by swapping the ring for a dragon; big world, familiar tropes, and that comforting, immersive feel. At times it did play things a little safe, and I found myself predicting parts of the plot, but it didn’t take away from how enjoyable it was.

    The illustrations in my hardback edition are genuinely gorgeous and some of those pages made me stop just to take them in properly. I won’t spoil them for anyone, but a quick Google and you’ll see for yourself. And the glossary at the back deserves a little round of applause too—because nothing humbles you faster than fantasy names you cannot pronounce.

    My only real downside was the lack of main female characters. It was noticeable, but I’ve heard this improves in the later books, so I’m interested to see how the series develops.

    Overall

    Overall, such a strong start to The Bound and The Broken series. It might not be reinventing the fantasy wheel, but it’s immersive, enjoyable, and has fully convinced me to add the rest of the books to my already chaotic, borderline concerning TBR pile.

    Bonus tip: If you subscribe to Ryan Cahill’s mailing list, you can get a free copy of The Fall, a prequel novella set 400 years before the events of this book. Free book? Winner!

    Interested in picking this up?

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.org – here

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    1 comment on Of Blood and Fire – Book Review
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  • Rags of Time – Book Review

    ⭐️4/5 stars
    📖 Length: 379 pages
    📱 Format: Paperback
    ⏳ Read Time: 5 days

    Synopsis

    London.

    1639.

    Thomas Tallant, a young and ambitious Spice Merchant, returns from India to find his city in turmoil.

    A bitter struggle is brewing between King Charles I and Parliament, as England slides into civil war. The capital is simmering with dissent. The conflict is ready to boil over.

    But Thomas soon has other troubles to contend with. A wealthy merchant, Sir Joseph Venell, is savagely killed; then his partner Sir Hugh Swofford plunges to his death, in the Tallant household.

    Suspicion falls on Thomas, who is sucked into a mire of treachery and rumour within the City of London. As the merchant struggles to clear his name, he becomes captivated by the enigmatic Elizabeth Seymour, whose passion for astronomy and mathematics is matched only by her addiction to the gaming tables.

    Pursued by the authorities, Thomas races to unmask the real killer who claims a third victim to implicate him further, toying with his future in a deadly cat and mouse game.

    In a desperate race against time, Elizabeth applies her powers of logic and deduction to unearth the clues that will point to the killer, but her way is barred by a secret message from the grave.

    Can she crack its code before Thomas, now a wounded and exhausted fugitive, succumbs to the chase?

    And, if she succeeds, has Thomas the strength to face his tormentor and win his life and reputation back?

    What I thought

    Anyone who knows me personally will tell you how much I love history – the nitty gritty of people, places, and what came before. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories hidden behind old buildings, the lives people lived centuries ago, and the way everyday life looked in different periods of history. For me, the real magic of historical fiction is when an author manages to take all of that research and bring it to life in a way that feels vivid and real.

    So when Michael Ward reached out and offered me a copy of Rags of Time, a historical mystery set in 17th-century London, I jumped at the opportunity. A good mystery combined with a rich historical setting is very much my kind of book, and I was really excited to dive into a story that promised intrigue, danger, and a glimpse into such a fascinating period of history.

    And the book delivered. This was a really engaging historical mystery that pulled me into its world very quickly. One of the things I enjoyed most about the book was the atmosphere. The scenes are incredibly vivid, and it was easy to picture what London might have looked, sounded, and even smelt like during this time. And let’s be honest… 17th-century London probably smelt very authentic. From the busy streets to the darker corners of the city, everything felt really immersive. It’s clear that a lot of research has gone into the book, and that really adds to how believable the setting feels.

    I also really enjoyed the pacing of the story. It kept me interested throughout and there was always something happening to keep the mystery moving forward. The tension builds nicely as the story unfolds, and there were plenty of moments that made me question what was really going on and who could actually be trusted. I always enjoy a book that makes me second-guess my theories… even if my detective skills are usually wildly off the mark.

    Elizabeth Seymour was a particularly interesting character for me. She’s intelligent, unconventional, and stands out from the expectations placed on women during that time period. I did find myself wishing we saw a little more of her in this instalment, but this is only book 1 in the series, so I’m hoping we’ll see her character explored more as the story continues. I have a feeling she still has quite a few surprises up her sleeve.

    The real highlight for me was the ending though. It completely caught me off guard and delivered a twist that I genuinely wasn’t expecting, which made the conclusion even more satisfying. I always love it when a book manages to surprise me like that — especially when I thought I had everything worked out.

    Overall

    Overall, Rags of Time is an atmospheric and well-researched historical mystery that really brings its setting to life. With strong world-building and a memorable twist at the end, it’s a great start to what looks like it could be a really enjoyable series. I’m definitely looking forward to continuing Thomas’ and Elizabeth’s adventures in the next book.

    Thanks again to Michael Ward for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

    Interested in picking this up?

    On Amazon – here

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Stone Blind – Audiobook Review

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    ⭐️2/5 stars
    🎧 Duration: 11 Hours
    📱 Format: Audiobook (BorrowBox)
    ⏳ Time taken to finish: 4 days

    Synopsis

    ‘So to mortal men, we are monsters. Because of our flight, our strength. They fear us, so they call us monsters’

    Medusa is the sole mortal in a family of gods. Growing up with her Gorgon sisters, she begins to realize that she is the only one who experiences change, the only one who can be hurt.

    When Poseidon commits an unforgivable act against Medusa in the temple of Athene, the goddess takes her revenge where she can: on his victim. Medusa is changed forever – writhing snakes for hair and her gaze now turns any living creature to stone. She can look at nothing without destroying it.

    Desperate to protect her beloved sisters, Medusa condemns herself to a life of shadows. Until Perseus embarks upon a quest to fetch the head of a Gorgon . . .

    What I thought

    A feminist Medusa retelling should be an automatic win for me. This is my catnip. This is my Mount Olympus. This is the hill I will die on.

    And yet, here we are, with a two-star rating and a deep sense of personal betrayal.

    I listened to the audiobook through BorrowBox over four days, and from the start I just couldn’t get on with the narration. I know author-narrated audiobooks are meant to feel authentic and intimate, but this one never let me forget I was listening to someone reading words off a page. It didn’t pull me into the story; it sat me down and told me about it. By day two it had become background noise while I worked, which is not exactly the immersive, emotionally devastating experience I had signed up for. Medusa deserved better than me answering emails while she was being mythologically traumatised.

    The main issue, and it is a big, snake-haired one, is that this is supposed to be Medusa’s story. That’s what it claims on the front cover. Except Medusa appears with the frequency of a guest character who couldn’t make the full filming schedule. She gets a handful of chapters (and even has to share one), while Athene sweeps in with the narrative equivalent of a Marvel contract and Andromeda gets more page time than the woman whose face is literally on the cover.

    I can’t stress this enough: the most famous Gorgon in Greek mythology is a supporting character in her own retelling. And that is infuriating.

    Every time I started to get invested in her perspective, we were whisked away to another god, another nymph, another mythological walk-on role. I understand the intention; the chorus of voices, the wider tapestry, the interconnectedness of the myth — but in practice it felt like being stuck in a group chat where the only person you actually want to hear from keeps getting drowned out by everyone else.

    And the tone. Oh, the tone.

    This book is trying very hard to be clever, and knowing, and sharply funny. I am absolutely the target audience for that sort of thing, but for me the humour landed somewhere between smug and weirdly aggressive. I still can’t decide whether that’s the writing itself or the audiobook narration. Whether I’d have read those same lines on the page and taken them as dry and witty instead of feeling like I was being lightly told off.

    What makes this more frustrating is that the raw material is so powerful. Medusa’s story is about punishment, blame, transformation, and the way women are turned into symbols rather than people. It should be devastating. It should be incandescent with anger.
    I should have come out of this ready to fight a god.

    Instead I came out of it thinking, “Well… that passed the time.”

    And I hate that. I hate being indifferent to a story that should have been thought provoking.

    The “breathtaking Sunday Times bestseller” which sucked me in, almost became the final joke.

    Overall

    I came for the snakes, the rage, the monstrous feminine energy and the reclamation of a voice that has been silenced for centuries.

    What I got was Greek Mythology: The Extended Universe, where Medusa occasionally pops in to remind you whose book this was meant to be.

    Would I have enjoyed it more in physical format? Possibly. Would it have fixed the structural decision to sideline the actual main character? No. The problem isn’t the medium, it’s that the most compelling figure in the myth keeps being nudged offstage so someone else can deliver a monologue.

    Interested in picking this up? I’d highly recommend avoiding the audiobook.

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    3 comments on Stone Blind – Audiobook Review
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  • BookCrossing Drops (Project-500) – Week 4

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    Hello again, book fiends!
    How are we?

    This week was very much a case of quality over quantity, having only managed to visit the community bookshelf once over the past two weeks. But I made it count by turning up with eight books in one go. Four hardbacks and four paperbacks.
    A perfectly balanced offering to the BookCrossing gods.

    So without further ado, let’s get into it…

    Week #4 – This week’s drops

    As always, fair warning: I haven’t read any of these, so this isn’t a recommendation post. Just me sending them off into the world, in the hope they find the reader they’re meant for. Which is far better than them sitting on my shelf.

    The hardbacks:

    • Double Cross by James Patterson – An Alex Cross novel in which he faces two killers whose separate murder sprees begin to overlap.
    • The Sting by Kimberley Chambers – A London-set crime novel dealing with the fallout of betrayal, family loyalties, and life around the criminal underworld.
    • The Postcard Killers by James Patterson & Liza Marklund – A crime story about a series of murders across Europe, each preceded by a postcard sent to a journalist.
    • Brothers in Arms by Geraint Jones – A memoir of the author’s tour as a British Army officer in Afghanistan, reflecting on frontline service and the relationships within his unit.

    The paperbacks:

    • Scarlet Feathers by Maeve Binchy – A character-led novel set in Dublin, centred on a catering business and the lives of the people connected to it.
    • The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – A psychological thriller about a woman accused of killing her husband who then refuses to speak, and the therapist trying to understand why.
    • Mother Loves Me by Abby Davies – A domestic psychological thriller focusing on a complex and increasingly unsettling mother–daughter relationship.
    • Two Women by Martina Cole – A crime novel following the lives and friendship of two women growing up in a tough London environment.

    With this week’s additions, my BookCrossing total now stands at 52 wild releases and 57 controlled releases.

    Did I pick anything up?

    From the community shelf…
    No.

    I know. Character growth. We love to see it.

    I did, however, have a very enthusiastic man try to gift me a Marilyn Monroe book, which I politely declined. So leaving the recommendations where they were, I walked away before I could change my mind, and headed to Starbucks for my usual caramel latte, because some routines are sacred.

    Latte in hand, I then wandered into the library “for a quick look”… and emerged a couple of hours later with a little pile of books and absolutely no regrets.

    The library is rapidly becoming my book-buying-ban survival strategy.
    All the joy of new books, none of the damage to the NYC fund.
    Winner!

    • The Near Witch by V.E. Schwab – A dark fantasy inspired by folklore, set in a small town where a child disappears after the arrival of a mysterious stranger.
    • Gallant by V.E. Schwab – A Gothic fantasy about a girl who is sent to live at a strange, isolated house and discovers a hidden world beyond it.
    • The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – A fantasy novel about a government caseworker sent to assess an orphanage for magical children on a remote island.
    • Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – A Gothic classic in which a young bride moves to her husband’s estate and finds herself overshadowed by the memory of his first wife.

    Rebecca has been on my wish list for years after loving the film, so finding it sitting there waiting for me felt like it was meant to be. And the V.E. Schwab double? After absolutely devouring The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (review to follow), these definitely had to come home with me.

    TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea has sparked chatter online, partly because the story was inspired by the Sixties Scoop and Canadian residential schools. Some critics feel that turning such real-world trauma into a whimsical “found family” story raises questions about representation and sensitivity.

    Honestly, I haven’t read it yet, so I’m not commenting on the story itself, or the controversy surrounding it. I’m just here for the books, and the magic of finding and sharing them.

    So technically I didn’t take anything home from the community shelf…
    …but I also didn’t come home empty-handed 😅

    Have you read any of these? Or maybe one’s been sitting on your TBR for ages? I’d love to hear which ones have caught your eye.

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

    2 comments on BookCrossing Drops (Project-500) – Week 4
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  • Insatiable- Book Review

    ⭐️1/5 stars
    📖 Length: 336 pages
    📱 Format: Paperback
    ⏳ Read Time: 5 days

    Synopsis

    We covered this in my first impressions post – here, so I won’t subject you to it again.

    What I thought

    You’re going to want to sit down for this.
    And take a minute.

    After my first impressions, I genuinely hoped this would pull itself together. Instead, it spiraled into a chaotic, overstuffed, badly written fever dream that felt like it was trying to be ten dark romances at once and succeeding at none of them.

    So I’ll start by saying that I only finished Insatiable out of pure spite and stubbornness rather than enjoyment. If this wasn’t a book I’d been sent to review, I’d have DNF’d it after a couple of chapters.
    So that single star is a participation trophy for myself, not the book.

    And before we get into the whys and what-nots, a little reminder of how I review: I will always be honest. If a book isn’t for me, I’m going to tell you, and more importantly I’m going to tell you why. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. In fact, I can absolutely see why this has found its audience, especially on BookTok where high spice and high shock value are having a major moment.
    But for me? Honestly? This was a flop.

    The book is a lot to deal with and that’s not even considering the taboo topics or trigger warnings.
    The story (and I use this term very loosely here) is a lot. Every chapter throws something new at you: plot, trauma, drama, spice, violence, angst… rinse and repeat. Zero room to breathe.
    Constant emotional whiplash until you stop feeling anything at all.

    When everything is intense, nothing is. Instead of depth, you get excess.

    And the spice?
    Endless.
    Repetitive.
    Copy-paste energy.

    It stops being shocking, stops being sexy, and starts feeling like filler. And here’s the thing: I’ve read enough romances with only a handful of spicy scenes that felt far hotter than this.
    It’s like someone thought shock value alone could do the heavy lifting. Spoiler: it doesn’t.

    The plot is so far-fetched it borders on parody at times. I can suspend disbelief for dark romance quite happily, but it still has to feel internally believable. This didn’t. It felt forced, like the story was being dragged from one extreme scenario to the next purely for shock value.

    The writing style didn’t help. The phrasing was clunky, the repetition was constant, and the technical issues pulled me out of the story far too often. Yes, it’s an easy read. You don’t need too many brain cells to follow what’s happening, but that simplicity comes at the expense of quality.

    The characters?
    Usually I can latch onto at least one. To love, to hate, to obsess over. Here? Nothing. Not a single soul worth the emotional investment. I will also add that there are some very obvious character parallels that readers of Haunting Adeline will clock immediately, particularly when it comes to Kade. And I’m not just talking about the name. 👀

    Then we reach the ending, if you can even call it that.
    Not a cliff-hanger.
    A hard stop.

    No emotional payoff. No sense of closure. Just the sudden realisation that if you want any resolution, you’re committing to the rest of the series — and I have absolutely no desire to do that.

    Overall

    Overwhelming, repetitive, poorly executed, and desperately in need of an editor.
    I didn’t enjoy it.
    I won’t be continuing the series.
    Viral does not equal well written. Popular does not equal good.

    Thanks again to Hannah Hargrave and Little, Brown Book Group for the copy in return for an honest review.

    Interested in picking this up? Do so at your own risk.

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Until next time… stay ruthless 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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  • Cleopatra – ARC Review

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    📆 Publication Date: 26th February 2026
    ⭐️5/5 stars
    📖 Length: 352 pages
    📱 Format: ePUB
    ⏳ Read Time: 5 days

    Synopsis

    YOU KNOW MY NAME.

    BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

    Your historians call me seductress, but I was ever in love’s thrall.

    Your playwrights speak of witchcraft, but my talents came from the gods themselves.

    Your poets sing of my bloodlust, but I was always protecting my children.

    How wilfully they refuse to concede that a woman could be powerful, strategic, divinely blessed to rule.

    Death will silence me no longer.

    This is not the story of how I died. But how I lived.

    What I thought

    Let me just start by saying that I loved this.
    Loved it.
    Truly.

    Being really into mythology and historical retellings lately, when I saw Cleopatra go up on NetGalley I knew I had to have it. I’m just disappointed in myself for letting it sit on my ARC TBR for so long, gathering dust. Because I can hand on heart say that this book was beyond my expectations, and then some.

    So let’s start by clarifying that this isn’t a factual novel, although it’s clearly heavily researched from what we know of Cleopatra. This is simply her story in her own voice. Cleopatra comes across as a ruler, a mother, a strategist, and a woman reclaiming her legacy. Not the stereotype history has so often reduced her to. That alone made the story feel powerful, emotional, and far more personal than the versions we usually see.

    The story’s timeline was handled in an interesting way, and it didn’t unfold how I expected, which kept me hooked from start to finish. The ending does rush through quite a few years in a short space of time and I definitely think a couple of extra chapters would have made it flow better, but it didn’t impact my overall love for the story.

    And the editions that I’ve seen? Absolutely stunning. The artwork is gorgeous, and I will definitely be picking up a special edition for my shelves.

    Overall

    Overall, this version of Cleopatra had me in a chokehold, and I’m just sad I didn’t experience it sooner.
    If you’re loving female-centred historical or mythological retellings like I am, I can’t recommend this enough.

    This is released 26th February, but you can pre-order this below

    On Amazon – here
    Bookshop.Org – here

    Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.

    Until next time… 🖤

    Dead Girl Reads

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