Are These Bestsellers WORTH THE HYPE?
July 24, 2024
Staff Writer Brianna Wodabek looks at five of the latest bestselling books in Canada to find out if they’re really all they’re cracked up to be.
Voyage of the Damned
by Frances White
MIRA, August 2024
Absolutely a resounding YES! Fantasy meets Agatha Christie: what more could you want? This book is dripping with humour, warmth, and such diversity within its characters and storytelling, it creates a beautifully heartwarming story. This book grabbed my attention from page one and kept it until the last page. It is akin to a comforting hug mixed with an exciting whodunnit. It has all the elements of a great read: fantasy, mystery, murder, representation, romance and so much more. Plus, who wouldn’t love a book with an adorable dragon butler wearing a bow tie?
First Lie Wins
by Ashley Elston
Pamela Dorman Books, January 2024
Sure! This is a very consumable spy-packed thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page. While some parts are predictable, others are a nice surprise, and it is all wrapped up in a very satisfying ending. This is a great, quick read that will serve as the perfect palate cleanser between heavier books or to help you reach your Goodreads reading goal.
Middle of the Night
by Riley Sager
Dutton, June 2024
Potentially! If you know and love Riley Sager, you know to expect unpredictable, out-there plot lines and twists; this book is not that. I found the first 75% quite slow and rather monotonous. The pace did speed up and all your questions are answered in the end, but I found the answers quite lackluster and, honestly, mundane. Now, don’t get me wrong, the seriousness of the crime that is revealed is NOT mundane by any means, but in the world of Sager, it is quite expected and predictable. I powered through and finished it, but I found the entire story to be underwhelming. You won’t necessarily regret picking up this book, but maybe prioritize other titles on your TBR first.
The Midnight Feast
by Lucy Foley
William Morrow, June 2024
This may be my favourite Lucy Foley yet! The atmosphere, the tension, the characters, the payoff. I was enjoying it all the way through! If you liked 9 Perfect Strangers, then I think you’ll like this one. The characters are unhinged and the multiple unreliable narrators made me want to keep turning the page. My only critique would be that I found the back and forth time jumps confusing at times, and it took some effort to keep the characters straight, but once I wrapped my head around it all, it became easier. I would definitely recommend it!
We Used to Live Here
by Marcus Kliewer
Atria/Emily Bestler Books, June 2024
Wow. If spooky and mind-bending reads are what you’re into, then this is an absolute must-read! What an incredible debut. With the inclusion of multi-media pieces and some hidden easter eggs, it was easy to devour every chapter. This was smartly written and Kliewer handled the slow burn well without losing the reader’s attention. There were definitely some hair-raising moments and you even start question your own sanity the more you continue to read. I will definitely be thinking about this one for quite a while!