"It’s not that I don’t have more to say. It’s not that I don’t have sharper edges. It’s that I know how to package myself in ways men find manageable."

I received a free copy of this Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was me dipping my toes into more horror types of stories and it definitely was a horror. Body horror is new to me and I didn't hate it.

Mia Ballard has a unique way of writing that is both beautiful and off-putting, which I feel set the tone perfectly.

Shy Girl is a quick, but extremely rough read. Gia endures some pretty horrific experiences and the way my jaw dropped when I read "Year One," and then proceeded to look back at the chapter listings, which then made my jaw drop further.

My biggest complaint is that Shy Girl is marketed as a feminine rage body horror and it truly needed more feminine rage. Gia wws both one of the strongest and weakest characters I've read about in a long time and it was infuriating. The ending was executed well, but I just wish we'd seen more rage throughout the story.

I did like the Author's Note at the end and I do think everyone should read that as well.

I received this ARC from @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton truly surprised me. I didn't fully know what to expect as I had never read anything by Stratton before. I knew it was about Sundown towns, which (rightly) terrify me. The fact that they existed at all (and still do). I knew that it was a supernatural horror thriller. And I knew that it involved missing girls.

This multi-layered, beautifully written story surprised me with it's eloquence regarding the horrors of racism and by basically being a splatterpunk YA horror that ties in family drama and kidnappings.

With a bit of a slow start, Sundown Girls explodes into a fast paced story that will grab you and keep you invested. My only disappointment is that the mystery behind the disappearances wasn't exactly surprising, and I wish it hadn't been so obvious, but aside from that, absolutely fantastic story. This was my first book by L.S. Stratton but it won't be my last. Highly recommend.

"I'm not leaving you.” “Good.” He yanks me against him, his eyes burning. “Because I'll never let you"

I actually give this story a 4.5 and a 5 for spice level. I am absolutely OBSESSED with this book. I haven't read a dark romance in a hot minute and I am so glad that Pretty Vicious was my reintroduction to the genre because it was fantastic.

Carrson is one of the best morally grey mmc's I've come across. A true leader with a heart of gold hidden deep within. Dangerous and intimidating. Everything we love to see In a dark romance man.

The setting was perfectly described. The banter between Carrson and Laurel was on point and the slow burn seduction gave way to 5 star spicy scenes. That party scene?! IYKYK.

Both characters hold a lot of (physical & emotional) pain and watching them make themselves vulnerable as well as healing one another as they slowly fall for each other? Absolutely perfectly executed. I went into this know it was part 1 and I CANNOT wait for part 2. READ THIS, ASAP.

I'm fine with taboo. Don't really have too many triggers. But that bonus chapter bullshit? Yeah, I'm not okay with pedophilic ideas/comments and had that been in the trigger warnings. I wouldn't have read it. Fuck that.

As someone who adores Little Women, I was instantly intrigued by the idea of a murder mystery version. I wws surprised it featured a modern day setting, but once I started reading, that was easy to get past.

The story itself is very fast paced. The characters did resemble their original incarnations with the exception of Beth. She's my favorite character and unfortunately, despite clearly trying hard not to, Beth comes across as timid and weak, nothing like her original counterpart.

For a debut novel, it's not bad. But there were way too many suspects at play, it became overkill. Almost every chapter was the start of a new suspect. Also, it was pretty obvious who the killer was.

The idea was absolutely a fantastic one but I feel the execution was just not right. Still, highly entertaining and worth a read.