Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson Genres: Young Adult, Mystery/Thriller
Published by HarperCollins on August 6, 2024
Also by this author: Let It Snow, Truly Devious, The Vanishing Stair, The Hand on the Wall, The Box in the Woods, Nine Liars
Format: Audio/Physical (384 pages) • Source: Everand, Purchased
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An instant New York Times and Indie bestseller!
From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.
The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.
With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.
Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?
Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.
All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.
Much like the INHERITANCE GAMES series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Maureen Johnson’s TRULY DEVIOUS books are some of my favorite ones to read – I can’t explain why or how these series are so cozy to me but the writing style, unique character voices, and fun mysteries have a lot to do with it. I’ve said over and over again that Johnson could write a hundred TRULY DEVIOUS books starring Stevie Bell and I would read them like they’re Nancy Drew mysteries. There’s something indescribable about her writing style that will keep me coming back over and over again, even as I stray away from young adult fiction. When I heard (during her last book’s tour stop at RJ Julia) that she was pausing the TD series to bring a new standalone mystery set on a creepy island, I was still pretty excited.
This book ended up having very similar vibes to TD but with juuuust a bit less magic for me. I think the story could have honestly fit into the series and starred Stevie – that’s how similar it felt at times. Truthfully, I think that I missed Stevie and that’s the main reason I wish it was a TD book; this main character was kind of annoying. Marlowe is very stuck on the girl she left behind in her hometown when she leaves for the summer so it’s hard to get invested in any other romance potentials on the island or even if we SHOULD ship her with someone else. I couldn’t keep track of the side characters and felt like they were a little one dimensional.
I didn’t bother trying to figure out the mystery and just went along for the ride, which is pretty common for me and mysteries like this. I love how Maureen Johnson frequently includes a modern day mystery alongside a historical one. (Again, this is kind of why it felt like a TRULY DEVIOUS book.) I was equally invested in both timelines and was pretty shook by some of the reveals at the end!
Unfortunately this won’t be super memorable compared to other mysteries, but Maureen Johnson’s writing pushed it over the edge into “very good” territory. I enjoyed the reading experience like I always do with her books.
I received this book for free (hey, thanks!) in exchange for an honest review. I promise that this does NOT affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. For real.
Just Playing House by Farah Heron Genres: Adult, Contemporary
Published by Grand Central Publishing on July 2, 2024
Also by this author: Accidentally Engaged, Kamila Knows Best, Jana Goes Wild
Format: eARC (368 pages) • Source: Publisher
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"Spectacularly crafted ... a romance to dazzle you this summer." –The Culturess
A rising movie star reunites with his high school prom date, now a personal stylist, in this delightful rom-com for fans of forced proximity, second chances, and celebrity romance.
This has to be a joke. Stylist Marley Kamal has waited years for the chance to be a private shopper for a major celebrity. But finding out that her first big client is the guy she went to prom with—and slept with and was promptly ghosted by—seems like the universe is mocking her. Because Nikhil Shamdasani is back, about to star in a major movie, and is more drop-dead hot than ever . . . at the worst possible time.
Marley’s only weeks away from an elective double mastectomy and breast reconstruction that’s supposed to save her life. But this surgery is going to change things in more ways than she can possibly imagine. For one, Nik is so eager to have her as his stylist, he’s offered to stay in her home and take care of her while she recovers. Now Marley is about to learn that as the door to her old life closes, something—or rather someone—else will enter . . . if she’s ready to let him in.
I’ve honestly been struggling with romances a little bit lately – there have been a few hits from favorite authors but also a couple of stinkers that took me by surprise. I was really hoping this one would work for me because I’ve definitely enjoyed Heron’s writing in the past. Happy to say that this book renewed my faith in romance!
Marley is scheduled to get a mastectomy to because she has the BRCA gene that causes cancer. Right before, she has the opportunity of a lifetime: be the exclusive stylist for one of the hottest actors in an upcoming superhero movie. He just so happens to be her ex-friend and prom night fling, Nikhil. They agree that he’ll live with her during her recovery while she styles him from home for his upcoming press tours. By the end of it, she’ll be healed up and a luxury personal stylist while he goes back to LA to be a movie star.
I really loved these characters and how much they cared for each other. I’m a sucker for a second chance romance and I think Heron did a good job with fleshing this one out! The dual POVs were great because I could see the two of them being on the same page throughout the story.
I’m not one to read books with serious topics and there’s a lot of breast cancer/grief talk in this one. The post-surgery reality is not something I enjoyed reading; it made me very squeamish. I’m glad I got through it and gave this book a chance for the fun chemistry, delicious-sounding home-cooked food, and tie-ins to Hollywood. The side characters were a great addition, especially if you’ve read some of her other books! And if you haven’t read any of Heron’s books yet, you’re missing out.
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