Mindy's Book Journey

  Title: Julie Chan Is Dead Author: Liann Zhang Genre: Horror/Thriller Published: 04/29/25 by Atria Books I received a copy for review from the Atria Books through NetGalley.   Julie Chan has been raised in a poor family and her twin Chloe has grown up in a rich family. When Julie finds Chloe dead she decides to take over her life as a famous influencer. She seamlessly enters the world of social media and opulence. That is until things get beyond what Julie finds out there is a lot of darkness hiding behind her twins life of luxury.  This novel takes on dark and heavy topics like grief, complex family dynamics, poverty, widening wealth disparity, lack of representation for people of color in influencers, and what people are willing to do for the almighty dollar. What seemed like a mistaken identity thriller turns into a very dark horror story that somehow manages to keep the fun. I would recommend checking content warnings if there is anything you are not willing to r...

  Title: Scurry Author: Seann Barbour Genre: Horror/ Paranormal Thriller Published: April 25, 2025 Thank you to the author for the copy for review.  Scurry is a coming of age story of Catty Hammond a girl who can communicate with roaches. Ostracized by her peers, she finds herself in a group of other outcasts. On top of this, there is a killer in town that has a special ability of his own.  The coming of age story of a girl who is different than others was written really well. I really enjoyed the perspective a our main character that beats to the rhythm of their own drum. The encounters with peers and family are very relatable and believable. This book also made roaches likeable somehow. That is a hard thing to do in my eyes. The serial killer aspect was dread inducing, but it is definitely more character focused. I recommend this novel to fans of coming of age stories with quirky characters. My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

  Title: When the Wolf Comes Home Author: Nat Cassidy Genre: Horror Published: 4/22/25 by Tor Nightfire Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy for review. Jess, a down on her luck actress turned waitress, is surprised when a 5 year old boy shows up on her doorstep looking for help hiding from his father. When the father shows up there Jess and the boy go on the run. Blood and death seem to follow the father and son wherever they go. Can Jess protect the boy and herself from meeting a horrible end?  The new horror novel from Nat Cassidy is a fast paced bloody ride full of tension and dread. It is a paranormal story with a werewolf element that full of thrills. The main characters are likable and multi-dimensional. If you are looking for a traditional werewolf story you will be disappointed. This one subverts all expectations. It is a great exploration of anxiety, fear, grief, and complicated family dynamics. If you are a fan of fast-paced horror stories...