Books 1 & 2 of 2025
• If You Lie was a good start for the new year and kept a good pace, for the most part. If Olivia had a podcast IRL though, I can’t say I’d listen to it.
• Don’t Let Her Stay had no surprises for me, honestly.
Starting off 2025, I was eager to get into some gripping thrillers, and my first two picks were Caleb Stephens' 'If You Lie' and Nicola Sanders' 'Don't Let Her Stay'. As an avid reader, especially on my trusty Kindle e-reader, I love sharing my honest thoughts on what I'm diving into. Let's talk about 'If You Lie' first. This book truly was a good start to my reading year. From the first page, the narrative kept a really good pace, pulling me into the mystery. The cover art, with that ship on a stormy sea and text on a beach, perfectly sets the tone for the turbulent ride you're about to experience. Caleb Stephens crafted a story that, while engaging, had me questioning a few things. The original post mentioned Olivia's podcast – and honestly, if it were real, I'm not sure I'd tune in. The character's choices and perspectives, while central to the plot, sometimes felt a little disjointed from what I'd expect from a compelling true-crime style podcast. It wasn't a deal-breaker for the book itself, but it was an interesting thought that stuck with me. Overall, I found it to be a solid read that delivered on its promise of suspense, earning a respectable 3-star rating from me. It's the kind of psychological thriller that makes you second-guess everyone, even yourself, which I always appreciate. Next up was 'Don't Let Her Stay' by Nicola Sanders. To be completely transparent, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me, leading to a 2-star rating. The original post mentioned there were 'no surprises,' and I completely agree. While the premise was intriguing – the cover with the isolated house and bare trees hinted at a chilling domestic suspense – the execution felt a bit predictable. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I'm always hoping for that unexpected twist that leaves me gasping, but unfortunately, this one followed a fairly well-trodden path. The characters felt a little one-dimensional, and I found myself easily anticipating the outcome. It's not a bad book by any means, and I'm sure many readers would enjoy it, but for me, it lacked that edge that makes a thriller truly memorable. If you're new to the genre, it might offer a decent introduction, but seasoned thriller fans might find it a bit too straightforward. Reading both of these back-to-back on my Kindle really highlighted the different experiences you can have even within the same genre. 'If You Lie' offered a more compelling and intricate plot, whereas 'Don't Let Her Stay' was a quicker, albeit more predictable, read. It just goes to show, even with similar themes, authors like Caleb Stephens and Nicola Sanders bring their own unique flavors to the table. I'm already looking forward to my next reads and sharing more bookish thoughts!
