It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica follows Courtney Gray after a family getaway at a remote lakeside resort turns tragic when she discovers her brother and sister-in-law murdered and her niece Reese missing. As the investigation unfolds, long-buried secrets and mounting suspicions make it impossible to know who can really be trusted.

I started this on audio with every intention of finishing it within a week, but it went exactly the same way audiobooks always do for me and somehow took me months to get through. Yesterday was my lazy Sunday though, and I spent a good chunk of it playing House Flipper 2 while listening to this, which honestly ended up being the perfect way to experience it.

I genuinely had no clue what was going on for most of this book. I suspected absolutely everyone, and honestly, Kubica wanted it that way because she threw ev👏ery👏one under the microscope at some point. Nobody felt safe from suspicion. Every time I thought I had a handle on things, another twist came flying in and completely knocked me sideways.

I was shocked by the ending, and somehow even more stunned by the epilogue.

My only real issue was that the pacing dragged a little in the beginning. There was still enough happening to keep me invested, but it definitely slowed before absolutely taking off in the final third. I also didn’t totally love Reese’s character, she felt a little stereotypical to me, though that may just come down to personal preference.

Overall though, this was such an addictive thriller and I cannot believe it’s taken me this long to finally pick up a Mary Kubica book. It won’t be the last.

When psychiatrist Emma Tyler learns that a former patient has died by suicide, she’s pulled into a life filled with secrets, lies, and a growing sense of danger that may already be closer than she realises. Prettier When Still blends psychological suspense with an eerie atmosphere that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The tension in this book was so well done, and I loved the dark, bordering-on-horror feel running beneath the story. The character dynamics were compelling, particularly the exploration of PTSD and the way trauma can shape relationships. I also really appreciated the strong female characters throughout.

I did guess the culprit fairly early on, but that didn’t take away from the experience at all - the ending was still incredibly satisfying and made for a thoroughly enjoyable read overall.

I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on OJ Lovaz’s future work.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Margaret, Are You Leaving? by Dianne Yarwood is a deeply empathetic and quietly powerful story about Maggie Reid, a woman in her forties whose life is upended when the death of her adoptive mother leads to shocking news about her birth mother. What follows is a tender, often painful journey of self-discovery as she searches for where - and to whom - she truly belongs.

This is a story driven by identity, by the need to understand where we come from and how that shapes us. It’s about love in all its forms - romantic, familial, and the kind we find in the people who choose us. It also touches on mental health and the way grief can quietly unravel us, showing how loss can shape our sense of self and impact the people around us. It explores grief, motherhood, friendship, and the messy beauty of both blood family and found family.

There’s a warmth to this book that makes even the heavier moments feel comforting. Yarwood balances humour with heartbreak so beautifully, giving Maggie a voice that feels real, sharp, and incredibly human. There is tragedy here, but also hope, resilience, and the quiet reminder that sometimes healing comes from finally allowing yourself to stay.

A thoughtful, moving, and life-affirming read that lingers long after the final page (and I’m definitely hopeful we might get a sequel exploring Lucas’s story 🤞).

Thank you Dianne Yarwood and Hachette Australia for my copy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.