Oh. The. Shame.š
If you’ve ever fallen victim to the NetGalley Grabby Hands, then friend, youāre in good companyābecause I absolutely did it all wrong when I started out ten years ago. The thrill of āRequestā was real. I clicked. I hoped. I got approved. And thenā¦ I didnāt give feedback, and for someā¦I havenāt even read them. Thatās right, Iām chasing the Netgalley dragonā¦Ā
Gasp! Shock! Horror! š±
So hereās a little PSA for newbie reviewers: only request what you can actually read and review by the publication date. Seriously. Stick to that golden rule and youāll save yourself the overwhelming guilt and chaos of trying to play review catch-up years later. Trust meāI speak from experience. Iāve learned my lesson, but not before creating my very own TBR Tower of Terror. And speaking as a publicist who now approves books on Netgalley, if your feedback ratio is low or you donāt feedback at allā¦ donāt be mad when you get declined.
(Disclaimer: despite my shame, my ratio is 80% and I only request or accept widgets for books that I plan to read asap now.)Ā
That said, Iām working my way through the backlog (slowly but surely!) and wanted to share a few mini-reviews of some cracking reads that have been sitting patiently on my virtual shelf. I had actually read most of them (had to rummage through my notebooks for my thoughts) so that makes it even worse. Holding myself to account though ā Letās call it Operation: Redemptionāstarting with these thrillers that deserve their moment in the spotlight.
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough
Dark, twisty, and utterly unpredictableāclassic Pinborough! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, she yanked the rug from under me. Again. That ending? Deliciously clever. My bitches, (IYKYK) this is a must read!
While You Sleep by Stephanie Merritt
A sultry, atmospheric slow-burn with gothic vibes and secrets galore. Haunting in more ways than one, this had me looking over my shoulder and sleeping with the light on. Zoe Adams is a brilliant FMC. All I can say is this was an intense, and creepy good read!
Beneath the Surface by Sibel Hodge
A raw, relentless dive into corruption and cover-ups. Gritty and gripping with a strong social conscienceāthis one made me angry (in a good way). Perfect for fans of hard-hitting thrillers with substance.
Save Me by Mandasue Heller
Bleak, brutal and full of biteāthis is gritty Manchester noir at its finest. The characters are tough, the streets tougher, and the tension never lets up. Heller nails it again.
The Last Cut by Danielle Ramsey
Sharp, suspenseful and full of heart-pounding moments. DS Harri Jacobs, where have you been all my life? A fantastic start to a series Iāll definitely be continuing. Ramseyās voice is strong and her plotting spot-on.