Benny Abbott and Joy Moore host one of the most beloved podcasts in the world, each week describing survival stories and finding humor in near-death experiences. The problem is, their next survival story may be their own. When Benny arrives at Joy’s to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house. Benny will stop at nothing to find her, even as the police zero in on him as a prime suspect.

2.5/5 stars – I am a bit conflicted on this one. I enjoyed the mystery and most of the set-up, but it was so slow! I didn’t particularly like the flashbacks, though I did like the method being primarily from Joy’s memoir. I mainly pushed through to get to the answer of Joy and her husband’s disappearance. It was… fine.

Lily wakes up on a remote desert compound, alongside nineteen other reality show contestants. To win, she must outlast her housemates to stay in the Compound the longest. When the unseen producers raise the stakes, forcing contestants into upsetting, even dangerous situations, the line between playing the game and surviving it begins to blur. If Lily makes it to the end, she’ll receive prizes beyond her wildest dreams—but what will she have to do to win?

2.5/5 stars – initially a fun concept. I love/hate shows like Love Island, and I also enjoy dystopian / social experiment stories. I figured the story would start out simply and then slowly escalate as civility is lost. I guess you could say that happened, but the actual drama felt very lukewarm.

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

2.5/5 stars – entertaining start but overall sloppy execution, still a fun thriller to binge.

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The first part of the audiobook was a great time – I was truly enjoying how the story was progressing and I think the audio format was perfect for this type of storytelling (another reviewer mentioned “Dear diary” style).

Subsequent part two and three were simply a let down. Maybe it was wrapped up too fast but the ending just didn’t feel satisfying and felt a little too neatly wrapped in a bow. Although I will admit, the reveal DID surprise me – I knew there was a twist but I wasn’t 100% certain which direction it was going.

I can see why this was turned into a movie because I can imagine it working way better in that format. I’m honestly more excited to watch the movie than I was finishing the book. I’m also curious to find out what happens in the sequels but not enough to actually read them.