Ooh yes, I do love it when a thriller fulfills its promise and actually thrills me. And First Lie Wins sure does.

When I go into a mystery/thriller, my expectations are always sky high. I know, I know... I'm setting myself up for failure. But I can't help it. There's so much hype surrounding books in this genre, it's hard not to get swept up in the excitement.

By the time I get my hands on the book, I'm usually frothing at the mouth, hoping this is the thriller that will make my eyebrows raise so high and my jaw drop so hard that I end up looking like a cartoon character. But alas, I remain looking firmly like myself. So it's quite a delight when I come across one that actually delivers on the thrills.

Right off the bat, this feels like a unique story. It isn't just your typical domestic thriller, with the is he/she trying to kill the other, and yes he/she is, but the twist is that no he/she isn't, but gotcha the last twist is that he/she really is. (You can tell from my bitterness that I've read too many of those.) Thankfully, this story has nothing to do with that. Instead, it reminds me of Alias, one of my favorite TV shows of all time.

I absolutely love the way this story is plotted. It's got so many threads all interweaving together, along with plenty of twists and turns. In fact, this story surprised me so many times I lost count. And the reveals aren't just saved for the end where they are dumped on you in one go, but instead nicely spaced throughout so you get plenty of surprises along the way.

If I had to point to one weakness, it would be the writing. There was something about it that came across a bit forced to me, as if it hadn't gone through all the necessary rounds of editing. It didn't flow naturally, and it took me out of the story at times. Along with how complex the plot is and how much explanation is required, and the whole thing felt more convoluted and clunky than it needed to be. Still, that seems like a small complaint when the plot is so enjoyable.

As is usual for this genre, you should go in blind. Don't peek at the blurb/book jacket and definitely don't read any summaries. Unfortunately, I didn't follow my own instructions. I have this urge to read anything placed in front of me (instructions, ingredient lists, street signs, what have you), and in a moment of baby-related sleep deprivation, I accidentally read the book jacket. It wasn't a huge spoiler, but it did clue me in on the direction of the story and the initial chapters. So you've been warned.

If you're looking for a thriller that's a bit different and will actually thrill you, this is definitely a worthwhile contender. I suspect it'll end up being one of the biggest thrillers of the year.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

I think this happens to all of us readers. You buy a book you're super excited for, bring it home, put it on your shelf, and there it sits collecting dust for many years. You never seem to find the exact right moment to read it, especially when new and exciting releases keep dazzling you. I confess that's what happened here.

So what held me back from The Ten Thousand Doors of January for so long? Honestly, it was the effusive praise of this book. When it's described as "unbearably beautiful" and "a gorgeous, aching love letter to stories," it makes me shy away. I hear those words and think of flowery, descriptive prose and hardly anything interesting to keep me reading. Ouch.

But I'm so glad I finally took the plunge because I ended up not only finding this beautiful, but also riveting. The story itself has a dreamlike quality to it. It reads like a fairytale all grown up, steeped with magic and wonder. And the rich and beautiful prose perfectly complements it, giving a voice to that imaginative and fanciful journey.

The last two-thirds of the book was absolutely amazing. I couldn't tear through it fast enough. You would've had to pry me away with a crowbar, that's how riveting it was. It felt like I was pulled along on a grand adventure with many unexpected surprises, filled with wonderful characters I could love and cheer for.

But I have to be honest, I found the initial hundred pages to be boring as all heck. The story was slow to start, with hardly anything happening or so it seemed because I didn't know where it was going. Instead, it was mostly January talking about Doors with a capital D and Yule Ian pontificating on the mythology and practicality of entryways. I understand the author was trying to make the story seem real, so January's rambling and the pedantic tone of the inner story all contributed to that. But it sure made it a grueling slog.

In fact, I was so certain I was going to get rid of the book after finishing that I let my baby play with it, so the cover and pages are all bent. And I'd messaged one of my friends who'd read the book saying, "Omg does 10k doors get interesting? Is the story within story just as boring? I’m dying. What possessed me to buy this book?"

Obviously, I've never been so glad to be proven wrong. When I think of books with dull starts that I've pushed through, there's only ever been a handful that I ended up loving. It's so rare to be rewarded, and I'm glad this was the case here. In fact, I suspect this is one of those stories that gets even better on a reread, and I can't wait.

I guess what I'm saying with all this is that if you've held back from reading this book because you have the same fear as me, or you've started and found it dull, maybe give it a chance? Perhaps you would end up loving it like I did and finding the magic within. It certainly is worth the try when the end result could be so amazing.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

I really hate FOMO sometimes, but every once in a while it works out. And Icebreaker sure did. For a book that is seemingly all fluff and fun, this turned out to be a bit more than that too.

Anastasia has worked hard all her life to achieve her figure skating dreams. And she's almost there, competing for a coveted spot on Team USA while attending college. But when vandalism forces her to share a rink with the hockey team, she's thrown for a loop. And when her partner is injured, she has no choice but to practice with Nathan, captain of the hockey team. But will their off-the-ice friction/chemistry help or hinder her dreams?

You know how sometimes you can tell right from the start whether a book will mesh with you or not? That's what happened here. I opened to the first page, and bam, I'm already smiling and giggling to myself. And it just kept going from there.

I love it when a romcom does the comedy part right. There were so many moments in here when the banter and the situations tickled my funny bone and lifted my spirits. Along with all the loveable characters, and this was just one big ball of cheer. Having it take place in the figure skating world just added that extra zing to an already unputdownable story.

I have to give a shoutout to the way mental health was portrayed in here. We get so much lip service everywhere about how important mental health is, yet it's hardly ever touched upon in a meaningful way in books. So the fact that this story shines a light on it and also on the power of therapy is so worthwhile. And I loved the way this couple talks out their conflicts, with so much honesty and insight into their feelings, while also remaining respectful of each other. It really is #relationshipgoals.

However, at 400 pages, it started to feel a bit on the long side, with each issue being quite drawn out. There were definitely moments when I wasn't sure where the story was going because it felt like it had nowhere else to go. But it kept going.

Also, when I pick up a romcom nowadays, I'm no longer fooled by the cartoony cover. I know it means there are spicy scenes in there. But this book really went to town on them. Not only is every single character sexed up, but there were so many explicit scenes, it felt like it was every other one. And the spiciness starts right from the beginning, so there was no reprieve from it. You have been warned.

Bottom line: pick this up if you're looking for a spicy romcom with equal parts fluff and substance. Definitely skip if spicy isn't your thing.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

Let me ask you a hypothetical question. Say your husband is missing and you're trying to find him. You reach out to someone you think has a connection to your husband. When they say, "I can explain," do you:

1. Calmly engage this person in conversation so you can learn what you need to know.

Or

2. Run out of there screaming like a lunatic.

If you picked 2, then congratulations. You are a shoo-in for a character in a domestic thriller, where everyone acts as crazy as possible, especially when the answer is right there.

Why do I let the hype get to me, especially when it comes to thrillers? They hardly ever live up to expectations, and most of them are so silly as to be ridiculous. In fact, if I had a dollar for every time I rolled my eyes while reading a thriller, I'd be a millionaire right now. But alas, all I have to show are bruised eyeballs.

What is there to say about this book that I haven't said a thousand times already? The premise is certainly captivating, and the start is strong. Then, slowly but surely, it devolves into nonsensical silliness, along with a heaping serving of the main female character acting ever more paranoid. And on top of that, there aren't even any good twists or surprises in here. The story unfolded pretty much as expected, which is the complete opposite of what a thriller should be.

Sorry if I sound bitter. I really had high hopes for this one, but obviously it didn't work out. On the plus side, I can safely put my copy in the donation pile and free up one precious spot on my bookshelf.

Readaroo Rating: 2 stars

"Remember it's only the body that's fragile. You are unbreakable."

Ahh, that was pretty awesome. I'm going to need a moment to process all this.

Many moments later...

Right, onto my thoughts.

Allow me a second to gush here. I love it when a book knows what it's there to do, and that is to entertain the reader. It isn't there to be slow or boring or god forbid, pretentious (shudders). Rather, its goal is to squeeze every ounce of joy and delight out of the pages, and that's what this series does best.

Cracking open the first page, I was sucked right back into the world of Navarre and Violet Sorrengail. It's as if I've never left it. Everything I loved from the first book is here—nonstop action, characters I could root for, snarky dragons, and sizzling romance. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

The only thing I didn't love was our main couple having squabbles for half the book over reasons I couldn't make heads or tails of. I get that Rebecca Yarros has to inject some sort of strife between them to keep things interesting, but I was just confused. But if it's that or hundreds of pages of lovey-dovey mush, I guess I'll take confounding couple problems any day.

I always have a sliver of trepidation going into book 2 of a series. What if my enjoyment of the first book was a fluke, a figment of my imagination? Or that the author somehow found the magical formula once, but can't reproduce it again? Or worse, that there's no interesting story left to tell? But I needn't worry because Iron Flame contains all the magic of its predecessor.

I will say though, going in, the length at more than 600 pages was a bit daunting. But once I started, it didn't even matter. I was riveted throughout. It felt like every single page served a purpose—except for the aforementioned confounding couple problems—building momentum and eventually hurtling towards a stunning conclusion. Honestly, if there were another 600 pages, I'd happily gobble those up too.

Before this book, I admit I was a bit puzzled that there could be five books in this series, like how much more is there to this story? But seeing the way Yarros has built out the universe and the war in this book, and especially that ending, I get now how there could be so much more to this. And I'm glad. I'm not sure I'm ready to say goodbye to Navarre any time soon, so I'm happy there are still a few more books to come. I just hope the wait isn't too long.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

Ooh this was such a fun, murderous little Christmas tale!

Ashley Smith has no family to spend the holidays with. So when her classmate Emma Chapman invites her to spend Christmas at Starvewood Hall, she immediately accepts. After all, what could be more delightful than Christmas at an English manor? But soon after she arrives, Ashley begins to suspect everything isn't all jolly and cheer. There is a sinister figure lurking in the woods and an unsolved murder hanging over the family.

I'm always a little hesitant to pick up a novella. Just as you're getting into the story, it's already over. But I found this to be a satisfying little tale. The first half is mostly told through journal entries from the past, while the latter half is set in the present. And for how short this is, there was plenty of entertainment packed in.

I feel like Peter Swanson's books always turn out a little darker than I'd think and so it is with this one. But there's a difference between fun dark and no-fun dark, and his books are always the former. The characters are nasty, the plot eyebrow-raising, and the twists just keep coming.

A lot of books advertise as one-sit reads, but this one really is. My copy is a short 96 pages, and I bumped through it in about two hours. I imagine it would be a fun one to read on actual Christmas day or Christmas Eve, after all the festivities are wrapped up and one's tummy is full of eggnog and good cheer. Then you can crack this open and see how crazy a family can really be during the holidays.

Every year, I have grand plans to read all these festive books during the holiday season. And inevitably, I never make it. So when January rolls around, I admit defeat and relegate the poor pile to next December, when the ignominious cycle repeats. If you're anything like me, let me recommend this book. Not only is it fun and short, but it puts you in the jolly murderous spirit. And hey, when January rolls around, at least you can say you've managed to read one holiday book.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

At what point did I promise to stay seventeen for the rest of my life?

Growing up, I remember being fascinated by Britney Spears. Not only did I love her music—I'm a pop fan through and through—but at a time when I was an awkward teenager, she seemed to have it all: the voice, the confidence, the adulation of millions. Now looking back, I realize it must've all been a façade.

Reading Britney's words was so sad and heartbreaking. How is it that this girl had no one in her corner? Every single person she loved and trusted would go on to eventually stab her in the back in the most awful and exploitative ways possible. Let's enumerate, shall we?

Her father — Definitely a shoo-in for Most Awful Father of the Year Award. Took her money, committed her to psychiatric wards for no reason, kept her from her kids, gaslighted her, dictated every big and small thing in her life. The list goes on. And this went on for 13 years. What the fuck. How is this legal and why is this guy not in jail?

Her mother — Just stood by and watched it all happen. Tried to profit off of her name and fame.

Her siblings — Ditto.

Ex-husband K-Fed — The ultimate deadbeat. Took her kids from her and prevented her from seeing them. Clearly sought sole custody to squeeze as much child support money from her as possible. And apparently a judge went along with it.

Justin Timberlake — Made a big fucking deal out of her cheating on him and breaking his heart. Turns out, he's the serial cheater in their relationship. Also made her have an abortion because he wasn't ready to be a dad. Then went on to break up with her over text, paint her as a harlot, and profit off of her public shaming. Well, can't listen to his music anymore, that's for sure.

Over the years, there were things that puzzled me about Britney. But reading what she went through and what these people did to her, it all makes sense. I would've shaved my head too if it was the only way I could show some small amount of autonomy, that I wasn't just a body on display, a cash cow existing solely to make money for my parents.

Thirteen years is a long time to lose control of your life. How can she get back the time she lost, to have the relationship she wanted with her kids or the career she imagined? She can't. That's what's so heartbreaking about all this. She can only look ahead and move forward, hopefully without bitterness or regret.

The writing style is simple and straightforward. Even though Britney used a ghostwriter, it sounds very much like her real voice. There is a rawness and vulnerability that permeates the pages. Though the book never holds back on revelations, it does feel at times like it's just scratching the surface. Even though she talks about all the horrible things that have happened to her, it still comes across so polite, as if she's holding back, afraid to offend those who have done her wrong.

I had trouble getting through the book even though it isn't long. Parts of it were so gut-wrenching and horrible that I had to take frequent breaks. Especially when she talks about how her ex-husband and her family would keep her away from her young babies for weeks at a time, it made my heart hurt so bad for her.

This memoir is a long time coming. After enduring so much and keeping her silence, I'm glad Britney finally has a chance to speak out and tell her truth. Everyone has the right to live the life they want, and after everything, I hope she finally finds the peace and happiness she's been searching for for so long.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars