Staff Writer Brianna Wodabek offers bite-sized reviews of four new titles to help you find your one true summer love.

July 19, 2023

The Only One left

Riley Sager

Sager has done it again! In The Only One Left, we follow protagonist Kit McDeere when she arrives at a decaying private manor that is appropriately named, ‘Hope’s End,’ to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer regarding the violent deaths of her family - I want to tell you everything.

This is the gothic mystery/thriller I was hoping for! The atmosphere is equal parts chilling and unnerving, and you never know when the next twist will appear. The characters are masterfully developed, but unreliable, so the reader never truly knows who’s telling the truth.

I was on the edge of my seat until the very last page. If you love gothic mysteries with a touch of Agatha Christie, you will love this!

Motherthing

Ainslie Hogarth

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth takes the reader on an unexpected ride in this darkly funny domestic horror novel about a woman who must take drastic measures to save her husband and herself from the vengeful ghost of her mother-in-law.

This was the most wild, unhinged book I’ve ever read, and I loved every second of it. Hogarth has such an urgency to her writing that I felt like I was listening to this story being told rapid-fire at the water cooler. The tangents our protagonist goes on are exciting and fast-moving, but I was happily along for the ride. The eccentricity of this book didn’t take away from the art of the writing and I truly admire Hogarth’s craft.

If you love the unusual and wish to read something fresh and exciting, although not for the faint of heart, then this book is for you!

The Marigold

Andrew F. Sullivan

In The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan, in a near-future Toronto buffeted by environmental chaos and unfettered development, an unsettling new lifeform begins to grow beneath the surface, feeding off the past.

This story takes the reader on a wild ride, and it’s not for those looking for a light read. There are many characters and a different POV change every chapter. Sullivan makes the reader look within themselves to ask the question, ‘when is enough enough?” The reader is confronted with truly heart-wrenching realities while trapped in this dystopian world where “the Wet” has taken over both mind and body.

Overall, I found the message of the story beautifully woven throughout. I enjoyed the focus of each chapter and how the main plot was interspersed with smaller storylines that all came together in the end. This story is a slow burn, but if you’re able to keep up with the dense plot, multiple POVs, and new characters throughout the book, then this should be your next read!

None of This is True

Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast. We follow Alix Summers, a popular podcast host, as reality unravels shortly after crossing paths with Josie Fair, her “birthday twin.” There are lies, deceit, truths, and hard truths. We are exposed to so many wild accusations that you’ll have to decide for yourself, who’s telling the truth.

This was my first Lisa Jewell book and, boy, did it blow my expectations! There has been a lot of early buzz for this book months before its release date, and it’s for good reason. The subtle tension begins on the first few pages, but as the reader you can’t pinpoint who is creating it. Is it the meek denim-wearing Josie? Is it her significantly older husband? Her recluse of a daughter? Or is it the all-too-polished podcaster?

The mystery unfolds beautifully for the reader. We never have to catch up, but rather simply hold on for the ride. A unique aspect of the book is the inclusion of a transcript of a Netflix show. If you’ve ever watched a Netflix documentary, then this aspect of the book will only enhance your reading experience. It is so visual and integral to the kaleidoscope of characters the more we learn about each one and their involvement.

Don’t blink because you will be captivated until the very last line, truly. I loved every second of this deliciously, twisted, and dark thriller.

Summer Speed Dates (with Books)