Over the past few years, I am become a proud bookworm. I read in the morning while drinking coffee, at night as a way to calm down, and at random times throughout the day when I need to stop doomscrolling.
So, in honor of my love for books, I wanted to start a series on the Won’t Shut Up blog and YouTube channel where I discuss the books I’ve recently read. To start this series, I listed some of the books I recently read in my favorite genres: horror, thriller, and mystery.
Carrie by Stephen King
Any review of horror books will always include a Stephen King novel. Carrie was the first Stephen King novel I ever read. I knew the story. I watched the movie. I thought I knew what to expect. I quickly realized that the movie version kept the stories appropriate - if you can believe it.
This book follows the story of Carrie White. She is not your typical teenage girl. Her mother is extremely religious and Carrie has telekinesis. Because of her mom’s extreme beliefs, Carrie is very sheltered which leads to her being bullied and ostracized by her classmates. This all changes on prom night. Even if you have watched the movie and think you know the story, you should still read Carrie.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Just like Stephen, any mystery book review needs to include a novel written by the legend herself Agatha Christie. I have always wanted to one of her books so I picked up The Murder of Roger Ackroyd from my local bookstore.
This story follows the mystery of who killed Roger Ackroyd and details each suspect’s alibi. I will not share who the murderer is for obvious reasons, but I will share that the ending is extremely shocking. Not because the murderer’s identity is shocking but because the one to reveal it gives the murderer a proposition: take your own life or get arrested. This book was published in 1926, so readers didn’t bat an eye. However, my jaw was on the floor when I read this in 2023. Many novels written by Agatha Christie have been updated since they included racist language, so this isn’t the most shocking plot point within one of her novels, but I truly didn’t see it coming.
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Honestly, I picked this up thinking it was Final Girls by Riley Sager. Both books have a similar title and storyline. This book follows a group of women who are the sole survivors of murders that inspired movies like Scream and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. These are the final girls of the real events that the movies are based on. The final girl support group is a group the women attend to cope with their trauma. Each woman copes differently, by writing a book and gaining notoriety or living alone, hidden away from the public. The women believe they are safe until someone begins targeting them one by one. This book is thrilling and a true page-turner.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
This book follows a couple struggling to adjust after one of them returns from an underwater mission. She was missing for quite some time, long enough to be pronounced dead. But she returned home and left her wife wondering what happened to her. Although this book is anxiety-inducing, there is an eerie bliss in its tone. The love and kindness between the characters create a sense of calmness while they’re going through something confusing and traumatic. Julia Armfield also published a collection of short stories in the book Salt Slow, which I highly recommend as well.
She Started It by Sian Gilbert
This was recommended to me by a friend who described it as “Adult Pretty Little Liars.” Her analysis was correct. The ending is revealed in the first chapter; however, there are so many twists and turns that I didn’t see it coming. The main characters are a high school friend group that reunites at the bachelorette party of someone they picked on as teenagers. The women are hesitant to attend, but an offer of an all-inclusive, all-expenses paid vacation was too good to pass up. Despite their estranged relationship with the bride-to-be, the women go on the bachelorette vacation, which they live to regret.
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
I picked up this book after seeing the trailer for the movie adaptation. I planned to read the book and then watch the movie. But once I read the book, I didn’t want to watch it for fear of the movie ruining my reading experience. This story follows seven-year-old Wren and her parents, Eric and Andrew, who are vacationing in a remote cabin. While on vacation, they are visited by a large man named Leonard and his accomplices who hold the family hostage and claim they need to choose one family member to sacrifice to save the world. The visitors have no proof of the end of the world besides tragic events unfolding on the news. It’s hard to decipher whether or not those events are a sign of the apocalypse or an average news cycle in America. Readers truly don’t know who or what to believe.
Let me know what books you recently read that you won’t shut up about!
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