#RileySager

[takeeachdayonebookatatime]

A book I got for Christmas it looks very cool. I can't wait to read it.

[crmacgal]

Final Post Here

It's time to say goodbye to my Tumblr posts as I move on to a blog site that will be a little more in line with what I need for my book reviews. I'll still have my previous content from the last few years here to read, but hopefully I'll have better archiving and search capabilities with the new site. Fingers crossed!

Beware The Woman by Megan Abbott

Jacy and Jed have been married for a couple years, and now that they are expecting a baby, they’re finally going on a road trip to spend some time with Jed’s widowed father in Michigan’s isolated UP.  Although the visit starts off wonderfully, with Jacy feeling all of the love and hospitality from Jed’s father, Dr. Ash, after the first few days, things start falling apart with everything being pushed back on Jacy as paranoia…but is it?  I liked this book but felt like much of it was a fever dream---not sure if these things were really happening or if they were just Jacy’s imagination.  Personally, I would’ve preferred a little more clarity on what was really going on, as well as what everyone’s motives were.  For me, this was just okay.

3 Stars

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Spare Room by Andrea Bartz

Kelly has just broken up with her fiancé and is coming to stay with an old high school classmate and her husband.  It’s during the height of the pandemic, so being sequestered in their big, fancy house could turn into a lot of fun, or a huge nightmare.  But when Kelly keeps coming up with questions that her hosts either can’t or won’t answer, something has to give.  This book definitely had me wondering where it was heading and kept me guessing all the way until the very end, which isn’t always easy give all of the suspense fiction I read!  Some mild spice is included in this one, so consider yourself warned!

5 Stars

Special Note:  Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Jennette’s autobiographical account of growing up with a helicopter mom (to say the least) and how this impacted her life as a child actor.  I listened to this as an audiobook since I wanted to hear directly from Jenette, and I’m glad I did.  It was clear Jenette loved her mom very much---maybe too much---but it also showed the destructive impacts pleasing her mother had on Jenette.  All parent/child relationships can be complicated, but this one definitely takes it to another level.

5 Stars

Survive The Night by Riley Sager

When Charlie’s roommate and best friend is killed by the campus serial killer, she finds that she can no longer focus on school, her boyfriend, or really anything.  The desire to go home and be with her grandmother is so overwhelming that she doesn’t even want to wait until the weekend for a ride from her boyfriend.  Instead, Charlie finds a ride share headed to Ohio from the message boards, except this ride might not take her home at all, and by the time Charlie realizes this, it may be too late for her.  Like all of Sager’s books, this one was hard to put down.  Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of Charlie and the “movies” she’d see play out in her mind, I still found the story compelling and couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen.  Not my favorite of Sager’s, but still a good read!

4 Stars

[reviewithowtoit]

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager | Voyeurism Meets Supernatural Book Review

[mercyfulbooks]

Home Before Dark

#bookreview #homebeforedark #rileysager 4/5 ⭐ #horror #thriller #bookblog

Title: Home Before Dark Author: Riley Sager Publisher: Dutton Original Publication Date: June 30th, 2020 Source: Libby – Audiobook Genre: Thriller/ Mystery/ Horror Maggie Holt is used to being asked all the time, “What was it like living in that house?”. Ever since her father published a horror thriller book called House of Horrors when she was young, she has never been able to escape the…

[cozynaturereads]

currently reading 📖

[thewhimsybookworm]

Book 97 of 2021. Dear Charlie, I am sorry you've been having a tough time lately. I can't even imagine the pain of losing your best friend in such a horrific manner. The trauma and guilt, you carry for leaving her alone the night her paths crossed with a serial killer, must be astounding. I am so sorry what she endured at his hands and what you've lived with since. You became a veritable recluse and now you've decided to drop out of college and head back home. I guess I understand why you need to leave and put some distance between you and the place plagued so many memories. But did you really need to hitch a ride from a total stranger? And drive out at night? Why get into a car with someone you know nothing about, someone who from the get go is giving you sus vibes? Why girl why? And alllll of this when there is an active serial killer on campus? Haven't your beloved films taught you anything? Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! And now here you are stuck in a car with a stranger who you've begun to suspect is the serial killer and there is nothing but the dark night stretching ahead of you. Man, I wish you well. But I can't in all honesty really wrap my head around some of seriously stupid decisions you've made lately. Seriously Behen stay satark and safe. Much Concern and Some Eye-Rolling, Pooja PS: The full review for this book is up on the blog. Link in bio. . . . #whimsybookworm2021reads #rileysager #survivethenight #fiction #thriller #mystery #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bibliophile #bookreviews #booksarelife #booknerdigans #bookbloggers #ontheblog (at India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ8swKlJ_Oi/?utm_medium=tumblr

[octoberboy1031]

New #spooky reading material!!! 🖤📚💀💖 #book #magazines #lockeverydoor #rileysager #fangoria #horrorhound #horror #horrorgeek #booknerd #creepy #spooky #february #winter #night #terrorverse (at North Providence, Rhode Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/CK-gAxOpU90/?igshid=1f5qgl7jsusbd

[lisa-lostinlit]

💬 Happy “New Release Tuesday”! Which new releases are on your radar? Did you grab any new books today? . Happy release day to HOME BEFORE DARK by @riley.sager!! I’m such a huge Sager fan, I’m super excited for this one. Have you read it yet? Is it on your TBR? . Thank you to @bookofthemonth for this copy! . . . ✩ h a s h t a g s ⇣ #homebeforedark #rileysager #aquietmoment #livelifebeautifully #morningslikethis #cornerofmyhome #momentsofmine #bookofthemonth #botmbookbassador #bookaholic #bookstagramit #blissfulday #stillography #lovelysquares #nestandflourish #yabooks #bibliofeature #booknerdigan #bookster #bookcommunity #readcrimefiction #crimenovel #bookwormlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CCD_Glwnodj/?igshid=r6vsrqq74y8e

[loanstars]

#ICYMI: The June - September Adult Top 10 list! 📚

[chapterswelove]

So, this book really liked it! Now I want to read more Riley Sager’s book. • • Happy Thursday! • • • • • • • #homebeforedark #rileysager #mystery #thriller #adultfiction #fantasy #paranormal #duttonbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CEHQEPpgXpr/?igshid=1grvzhm2ge5uw

[litsavantbookclub]

Lock Every Door Book Review

Hello readers!

So sorry for taking so long to write this but as I mentioned in my previous post I needed the time off. At this point, I will issue a spoiler warning. If you have not finished Lock Every Door, stop reading right now. 

I finished Lock Every Door by Riley Sager almost a couple of months ago and I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.  I believe a good amount of this is due to a few things but most importantly Jules, the main character. She is currently going through a rough patch. She is broke, currently unemployed, homeless, and living on her best friend’s couch. She is down on her luck and attending an interview much like any person would. She is trying her best and is eager to get back on her feet. This already gives readers reasons to relate to her and makes her likable. 

Moreover, Jules is not under any false ideas of who she is:

“I do not belong here” (6). Right off the bat, the readers know that Jules has no illusions of who she is and she’s direct. The building she has arrived in is one that screams privilege and old money. She feels out of place and she is right to. 

Immediately, the prospect of having a place to live as luxurious as the Bartholomew, pay, and more agency is bewitching to Jules. But not blindingly so: “There’s no way someone would willingly pay me to live here. Even for three months” (10). It seems preposterous and she calls it for it seems like... bullshit. This shows that the protagonist isn’t completely naive and has learned that life isn’t so easy especially when they have gone through what she has.

She is coming from a place of not having enough. Her suspicion for something seeming too good to be true almost spare her but her needing to make a living and not looking the gift horse in the mouth cause her to quiet her intuition and buy into the lie. This is something that many people can understand. How many times have people withstood maltreatment and even stuck around a job just because they didn’t have the ability to walk away and do without that paycheck or opportunity? It’s a realistically grim reality to many people. It certainly spoke to me.

The theme of the 99% versus the 1% is constantly reiterated throughout the book “There is no coven. It’s just a group of dying rich people desperate to save their lives no matter the cost” (331). The idea of a cult or even Satanists being the cause of all the missing people is creepy but not nearly as realistic or unnerving as realizing it’s entitled well off people who think that their own lives are worth more than the down on their luck and poor people workers they hire. It’s unsettling and a great twist.

The cycle of life is also an idea that is echoed throughout the book. The ugly painting that Jules spots is the Ouroboros. Dr. Nick mentions it’s meaning to Jules while tending to her wound: “It’s supposed to represent the cyclical nature of the universe...Birth, life, death, rebirth” (63). Jules mentions a good chunk of her life story growing up in Pennsylvania with her parents and her sister, Jane. Eventually, she mentions the tragedies. Her mother is terminally ill, her father losing his job, and unable to dig himself and her mother out of debt and despair. Jane’s disappearance and Jane’s trauma surrounding all of it. This hits most of the stages of birth, life, and death. 

When Jules manages to leave the building but is gravely injured and to her horror is brought back to the Bartholomew she approaches the final stage, rebirth. It doesn’t come easily and transformation never does. It is until she is given the decision to submit and willingly die like her parents did that she pushes herself to act. It is only fitting that she does so with fire. The fire that took her family and left her alone is the same fire she uses to purify and figuratively free every stolen person. Everyone that was used and tossed like garbage by Dr.Nick and the building’s occupants. It all comes full circle. The cherry on top, when Nick (completely jaded and elitist) leaps from the roof just like his ancestor before him.

It was a great read and I found myself sad for having finished it.

I also loved these certain details:

-The dumbwaiter 

-the backstory tie in

-loved that it is also very much so a family saga (Bartholomew/Larsen)

-loved that Nick died like his ancestor

-red herring (cult/elitist)

Rating: 4 stars

Keywords: Suspenseful, creepy, and nefarious antagonist

P.S. I completely think this should be made into a movie.

What did you think of this book? What’s your favorite Sager novel?

[swarleyydarleyy]

Nothing better 💕

[mybookbath]

What is everyone reading this weekend? By any chance are you looking for a summer thriller? Well look no further! I received LOCK EVERY DOOR in my @bookofthemonth July box. Last night I started it and let’s just say I am hooked. I wish I could sit and read all day today but sadly I can not, but you can bet that I will be counting down the minutes until I am free to dive into it once again. . . . Here is the synopsis to entice you... No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind. . . . . . . . . . . #lockeverydoor #rileysager @riley.sager #botm #myreadingspot #readingherethereanywhere #summerread #coffeemood https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HBeSiHp1w/?igshid=1fgimcuwgwurj

[reviewithowtoit]

The Only One Left by Riley Sager | Chilling Gothic Thriller | Haunting H...

[decoratingreader]

💭Have you read any of #RileySager thrillers? . I have read both #FinalGirls and #TheLastTimeILied and really enjoyed both! I cant wait to read #LockEveryDoor ☺️ . Thank you @duttonbooks for gifting me this ARC for this @storygramtours ❤️ . Lock Every Door is a super eerie mystery with masterful storytelling! This is a must read for all thriller fans! To learn more or to purchase a copy click on the link in my bio! . Summary: No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind. As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears. Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent. . . . #LockEveryDoorTour #DuttonBooks #storygramtours #booksaremyfriends #readingmakesmehappy #ilovemybooks #beautifulbookcovers #booklover #bookpage #booksofinstagram #igreads #mybookfeatures #themagicofbookstagram #thebookstagram #bookstagrammers #hygge #readersofinsta #lovetoread #bookaesthetic #ofquietmoments #booknookstagram #lifestyle https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVNFmSH18c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7t9smlh9s2n3

[jeansbookshelf]

Every February I make a trip to Half Price Books for my birthday. I had to postpone it a few weeks this year due to snow. Finally went today and these were the books I got. 😊