Book Review: The Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown

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The Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown — 4/5 Bookmarks

Alright, buckle up, because The Society of Lies absolutely pulled me into a whirlwind of secrets, scheming, and emotional chaos—and I’m still catching my breath. This one’s a deliciously dark mix of thriller and drama with characters who are equal parts captivating and frustrating (in the best way).

From the jump, Lauren Ling Brown weaves a web so tangled you’ll find yourself second-guessing everyone. Alliances shift faster than my mood swings, and just when you think you’ve got a handle on who’s playing who—bam! The rug gets pulled out from under you. It’s like watching a high-stakes chess game with a few explosive surprises thrown in for good measure.

The pacing? Pretty much perfect. It kept me hooked, flipping pages late into the night, trying to piece together the truth while simultaneously spiraling over the characters’ messy lives. Speaking of, the cast is juicy—a mix of flawed, powerful, and secret-keepers who all have their own hidden agendas. Brown does a great job making them feel human, even when they’re downright ruthless.

Why not a full 5 bookmarks? Well, sometimes the drama borders on a bit much, and I found myself wishing for a few quieter moments to catch my breath and connect more deeply with some of the characters. But honestly, that intensity is part of the charm, especially if you’re in the mood for something that keeps you on the edge.

Bottom line? The Society of Lies is a rollercoaster of secrets and suspense with enough twists to make your head spin—but in the best possible way. If you love a mix of intrigue, complicated characters, and high emotional stakes, this one’s worth the read.

4 out of 5 chaotic bookmarks from me. Definitely a wild ride.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Don't Open Your Eyes

 

Can’t Wait Wednesday is basically our official excuse to scream about books we haven't read yet but are already emotionally attached to. Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to let us spotlight the reads we’re most impatiently waiting for. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

Keeping with the Thriller train, I am waiting until I can get my hands this wild masterpiece. Someone hide my wallet and clear my schedule—this one's going straight to the top of the TBR chaos pile.

Title: Don't Open Your Eyes

Author: Liv Constantine

Release Date: June 17,2025

Genre: Thriller

What unread gem are you desperately waiting to get your hands on?

Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

 

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The Housemaid is a wild ride from the first knock on the door and had me mentally interviewing my own neighbors. The Housemaid is one of those reads that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until you've turned the last page - and then whispers. "Good luck sleeping."

Millie's new job seems a little too good to be true (spoiler: It is), and watching the story unravel is like riding a twisty rollercoaster blindfolded. The tension builds masterfully, and just when you think you've figured it out - BAM. Plot twist.

Is it a little over-the-top? Yes. Do I care? Absolutely not. I was fully locked in, questioning everyone and trusting no one.

Can't Wait Wednesday: Death Row

Can’t Wait Wednesday is basically our official excuse to scream about books we haven't read yet but are already emotionally attached to. Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to let us spotlight the reads we’re most impatiently waiting for. It's based on Waitinf on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. 

Clearly I’m deep in my Frieda McFadden era and showing zero signs of stopping. So naturally, I’m counting down the seconds until I can get my hands on her newest twisty masterpiece, Death Row. Someone hide my wallet and clear my schedule—this one's going straight to the top of the TBR chaos pile.

Title: Death Row

Author: Freida McFadden

Release Date: June 1,2025

Genre: Thriller

What unread gem are you desperately waiting to get your hands on?

Book Review: The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

 

                                                                      Goodreads Link

Ah yes, the sequel to The Perfect Marriage - otherwise known as "How to make sure I never trust anyone again: part 2."

Let's get one thing straight: The Perfect Divorce is still a solid thriller. The drama? Still juicy. The characters? Still deeply chaotic. But did it hit quite as hard as the first one? Not for me. Think of it like reheating leftover pizza: still good, still satisfying, but missing that fresh-out-of-the-oven-energy. 

The story picks up with some familiar faces, more secrets and yes - even more dram. I appreaciated the continuation of closoure (because hello, I needed ANSWERS), but parts felt slightly predictabile this time around. The twist didn't quite punch me in the fave like book one did, but it did give me thaat subtle gasp-and-stare-into-the-void moment. You know the one.

Final thoughts: 3.5/5 Bookmarks. Worth reading if you enjoyed The Perfect Marriage, you'll still have fun here. The secrets and the "wait, WHAT?!" moments - they're all present and accounted for. Just maybe don't expect it to completely wreck your weekend plans like the first one did.

Book Review: A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn

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Alright, chaotic romantics, gather round.

This book had the setup of a rom-com fever dream - fake dating, billionaire boss, and a heroine with just enough sass to make you think, "I'd get brunch with her." The banter? On point. The chemisty? Fire- adjacent. The pacing? Let's just say it could've used a little less padding and a little more plotting.

Don't get me wrong - there were laughs, spice, and an undeniably fun premise. Billionaire fake dating? Sign me up. But somewhere between the banter and the emotional beats, it lost a bit of its magic. The pacing dragged in places, the characters sometimes felt more like tropes than real people you root for.

That said, Meghan Quinn still delivers a lighthearted, swoonworthy escape, and if you love a spicy slow burn with some outrageous humor, it might just hit the sweet spot.

Would I fake date this book again? Maybe. 2 *fake* bookmarks.

Book Review: The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

  The Perfect Marriage | by Jeneva Rose

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Rating: 4.5/5 Bookmarks

Mood: Domestic thriller meets "how do I trust anyone?"
Best Paired with: A glass of wine and the knowledge that your relationship is probably fine.

Whew. Buckle up, besties, because The Perfect Marriage just dragged me through a courtroom, many police stations and what felt like every lie two people could tell each other - and I loved it.

Meet Sarah and Adam Morgan: one's a high-powered defense attorney, the other's a struggling writer with too much time on his hands and an alibi that definitely needed workshopping. When Adam's mistress turns up murdered (yep), guess who has to defend him? That's right. His wife. Cue the chaos, betrayal, and more red flags than a Formula 1 race.

The pacing? Fast. The twists? Twisty. My trust issues? Activated.

Is it the most groundbreaking thriller ever? Not quite. Was I glued to the page like it was the final episode of a reality show? Absolutely. The pacing is tight, the drama is messy, and if you thought your relationship had issues, congrats - you're doing great, sweetie. Did I cancel my plans to finish it in one night? You bet your bookmarks I did.

Final thoughts:
If you like your thrillers with morally gray characters, page-turning tension, and a sprinkle of "WHAT JUST HAPPENED?", this one's for you. Four and a half messy bookmarks out of five for me.