Did you read The Lions Den last year? This year, the super talented @thekatstjohn is back and, in my opinion, even better with The Siren. I binged this last week in a day and couldn’t get enough of this escapist story that takes place on a movie set. Filled with angsty family, pretentious actors, and uptight producers in a dual timeline novel that you won’t want to miss this summer.

The Siren was a highly anticipated read for me. I loved The Lion’s Den and went into this with some expectations which may have ended up burning me.

This is the story of a group of people who come together on an island to make an indie film. There’s Cole - the mega movie star who has been America’s Sexiest Man multiple times. His son Jackson who is directing his first film. And the three women whose alternating voices give us the story - Stella, the aging actress who was briefly married to Cole many years ago and is starring with him again. Taylor - the producer who really needs this to be a hit. And Felicity - Stella’s assistant who has only known the actress a couple months but quickly got into her inner circle.

The plot was set up to be really interesting and I love the elements of urgency with the film’s tight budget and isolation from the remote location. However I was really disappointed with how the story played out. I was able to predict almost all of the twists from the start and felt the ending was over the top.

To make a comparison - I felt this was fine for a Lifetime Sunday afternoon movie but I came in expecting a movie theater thriller.

Thank you to Grand Central, Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the advance reading and listening copies.

Last summer @thekatstjohn wrote the Lion’s Den, one of my favorite books of 2020 and it was a total 5 star read for me. Well she’s done it again!

The Siren was another home run. I really love the premise of the book- three women meet on a film set all centered around one man- Cole Power. He’s the star and financier of the movie and he expects everyone to treat him like royalty. His ex-wife, Stella Rivers is the lead female co-star. Taylor is the film’s producer trying to correct her career trajectory after a major scandal at her last job. And finally we have Felicity, who is hired by Stella to be her assistant, but it seems she has an agenda.

I loved the three POVs and the headlines from the blogs, newspapers, Instagram posts, and tweets. Kat always gives her characters such depth and each has a rich back story that you feel like you get to really know them. Felicity was definitely my favorite character - I loved the stories about her childhood growing up.

The behind the scenes on a move set were so interesting to me. I love how the characters overlapped with each other and the #metoo theme was an important part of the novel especially with all the sexual assault in the real film industry. I also loved the beautiful Caribbean island location; even the impending hurricane was realistic!

All the stars for The Siren by Katherine St. John! Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Macmillan Audio for the gifted copies! Can we talk about this cover?! Stunning! It's one of my favorites of the year so far! I think I enjoyed The Siren one even more than her debut last Summer, The Lion's Den, and that one was fantastic! I read this as a buddy read and had a great time discussing it; we were lucky to have the author join us as well!

I love Katherine St. John's writing style and how she completely transports you to these tropical destinations. The Siren is told from the point of view of three separate and very different women. They all have one common factor, a strong dislike of Hollywood legend Cole Powers. Brought together to make a film on a Caribbean Island, the stakes are high, the drama is plenty, and it's filled with mystery! It's the perfect read for this summer!

As usual, I did a mix of listening and reading, and the narrators were terrific! I liked that they had separate narrators for each of the three women, so the voices were distinct to each character. Christine Lakin, who voiced Taylor's chapters, has quickly become one of my favorite narrators after listening to The Royal We series last summer!

I can't wait to see where Katherine St. John takes us next and what new characters we'll get to meet! She's become a must-read author for me!

Katherine St. James absolutely KILLED it! This book is pure fire! I loved her first book, The Lion’s Den- it was one of my top books of 2020 and eagerly anticipated this newest release. Well, she did it again! The perfect thrilling summer escape novel. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Her dynamic writing and fast-paced storytelling captivated me immediately, and I love how she uses multiple POVs and flashbacks to expand the plot and deepen the reader’s understanding of her characters.

The novel tells the story of 3 very different yet equally passionate women- all working on a film set on a gorgeous Caribbean island. Taylor-a young producer trying to prove herself in the industry, Stella- an actress who feels past her prime hoping for a big break, and Felicity- Stella’s mysterious new assistant who knows more than she should. Tensions are high among cast and crew as past histories, relationships and drama are brought to light during the filming. In the midst of everything, a hurricane threatens to end filming as well.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley for my copy!

I enjoyed The Lion's Den, and was so happy to see that this author had a new title, which is perfect to recommend for summer reading. It's all here: glamor, wealth, adventure, danger, and romance. The fast paced plot keeps you turning the pages, and the characters have enough depth to make us care about them. This is the book that should be in everybody's beach bag this summer.

The Siren by Katherine St. John is a delightful thriller taking place in the Caribbean on the set of a movie. It is told from alternating perspectives of three different women on the movie set who are all intimately connected. This book delivers mystery, tabloid-worthy relationships and drama, and a hurricane that traps all of the players on an island together.

I was immediately drawn into the setting and I loved slowly discovering bits and pieces of the story and the relationships between all of the characters. There is a slow build with lots of tension and it transforms into an excellent page turner with a compelling story. The last 25% of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I would highly recommend this as a perfect beach read read that will capture your attention. This is the first novel I've read by Katherine St. John, but I'm immediately going to pick up The Lion's Den!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for both the e-galley and the beautiful finished copy of this title. This did not affect the contents of my voluntary review, and all opinions are honest and my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Katherine St. John for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5

At first, I thought the book was just a slow burn. But, I was so wrong. St John was setting up an extremely thought out and unique plot! I love the idea of a family starring in a film with lots of secrets. Secrets from the past and present!

This book was phenomenal and executed perfectly. I loved the perspective from Stella, Taylor and Felicity. Three bad ass women that have endured different struggles. The twists were great and an added bonus!

Another wild, dramatic, and emotional ride from @thekatstjohn !!! I loved the Caribbean setting and the strong female characters. The back and forth really gives the reader such a great sense of who the characters are. My favorite character was definitely Felicity and I really enjoyed watching her growth. Perfect for occasional thriller readers or those that read them all the time. I’m telling you, this is the beach read everyone needs this summer!!

Perfect summer read! Tons of action, lots of drama and the perfect back drop for a summer book! This one held my attention and I loved the dual time lines. First book of hers I read but it won’t be my last!

Oh what a seriously entertaining book!! I could not stop reading, and I’m sad it’s over.

After loving The Lion’s Den last year, The Siren was on my must read for this year, and it did not disappoint in any way.

I loved every drama filled page! Who doesn’t want to get caught up in a movie set on a tropical island with exes with a checkered past, someone seeking revenge, love stories, people getting their due, and a hurricane? What?! Sign me up every time.

This is the perfect beach read for this summer!

Thank you so much again to Andy at @grandcentralpub for the ARC 🥰

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗬 𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗧. 𝗝𝗢𝗛𝗡

Oh my @thekatstjohn does it again 😍☀️ This book had the appearance of being a light read with the destination beach-vibe setting, but was full of drama, tension, & covered heavy but important topics all in one!

This story was told from several perspectives of characters who all reconnect in the Caribbean to film a low budget movie. Each character agrees to the film with different motives and alternatives. Timelines jump from the past to present as this thriller unfolds giving more depth to the characters as the story progresses.

I pretty much figured #whodunnit about halfway through the story, but I truly had no idea how this one would end! I was super pleased with the ending & the reclaiming of power by the women characters as well as the positive changes made by the women using their platform.

I definitely recommend this one for fast-paced thriller loves, especially those who love to escape to the Caribbean!! ✨

TW: sexual assault, drugs/alcohol abuse

Thanks to @netgalley & @grandcentralpub for the e-ARC! This one is out TODAY!🎉✨

This was my first read from Katherine St. John and I absolutely LOVED it! Told from the perspective of three of the female main characters, this thriller/mystery is set on a gorgeous island in the Caribbean & St. John's writing will make you feel as if you have been whisked away as well!

"The Siren" is actually the title of an indie movie being filmed on the private island of a Hollywood star. Cole Porter is known for his good looks, women & overall bad boy behavior. His son, Jackson, is attempting to break onto the scene as a director & so Cole decides to fund the movie & offer the resort on his private island to film. Jackson hires Taylor as a producer, who also has ties to Hollywood through her famous director father. He also casts Stella, his former stepmother, in one of the lead roles. She brings along Felicity Fox as her assistant & confidant for the duration of the shooting. Little do we know that each of these characters has a personal reason for signing on to the project - some sad, some sinister.

As filming begins, we soon learn of Stella's checkered past with drugs & alcohol. We also learn Cole may not have been the easiest to live with, as he was having multiple affairs while they were married. There's also something suspicious about Felicity, but we can't quite put our finger on it. As a hurricane descends on the island & filming is halted, the story reaches its crescendo, with Cole seeking revenge on everyone he has brought to the island-namely to protect his own reputation.

With hints of #MeToo, a Hollywood vibe in a Caribbean setting & characters who are very easy to become engrossed in, The Siren should definitely be in your beach bag this summer! Thank you to Net Galley & Grand Central Publishing for the ARC! It was so enjoyed!

Recommended Read!

An absolute must read! The Siren follows three women who are brought together to film a new movie on a Caribbean island. This movie is a big deal for each of the women, as it represents a redemption of sorts for each of them. Taylor is a producer, who’s last job ended abruptly in a scandal and is hoping this film will help jump start her career. Stella is a seemingly unstable movie star, struggling to reclaim the level of fame and stability she once had. Felicity is Stella’s mysterious assistant who no one seems to know much about, not even Stella. This movie hinges on mega-star Cole Powers, who is funding the film and happens to be Stella’s ex- husband. Secrets and tension brew as quickly as the hurricane that threatens to strand the women on the island with Powers. The women quickly learn they must overcome their differences and come together in order to survive the storm.

The Siren was such a fun read. It’s technically a thriller/mystery but I would also consider it a drama, too. Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect because I haven’t read a thriller in a very long time, but I was blown away but St. John’s writing. What I thought made this a part-drama is the intricate relationships between the characters. I felt the thriller aspects really kicked in during the last 15% of the book (which was INTENSE) but the first half of the book felt driven by the character development.

St. John really excelled at creating these characters. I really enjoyed getting to know each woman as she evolves throughout the novel. What felt unique was that, as a reader, I was getting to know the characters in the same way they were to each other. For example, in the beginning I was quick to judge Stella as a washed up actress, and Felicity as a ditzy assistant. Taylor seems to make similar assumptions upon meeting them. However, as more is revealed about Stella and Felicity, Taylor (and me as a reader) came to see them as complicated and clever women, products of harrowing events in their lives. St. John uses alternating perspectives of each woman to narrate the story, which I thought facilitated this character development.

St. John also paints a great villain—a character that’s unambiguously an asshole. Simply no other way to describe him. However, in true villain fashion, the mystery that the women have been chasing is revealed through a monologue. This fell a little flat for me because up until that point St. John created such an intricate story line that a tell-all villain monologue seemed a tad convenient in comparison. I also felt that the beginning (maybe the first 15%) started out a bit slow for my liking. If you find this to be the case, I beg of you—READ ON. The pace in the first 15% is compensated for elsewhere in the novel.

These two aspects are the only reason I would give The Siren 4.5 stars instead of a full five. I would highly recommend this book as a compelling, entertaining, and developed novel. I’ve seen this advertised as a must-read-summer/beach book, and I would echo that 100%. I look forward to reading more of St. John’s work!

I was absolutely thrilled when I was able to get an ARC of The Siren, as I loved St. John’s previous novel The Lion’s Den so much. However this ended up being an extremely difficult book to get through.

Told from the points of view of Taylor (movie producer), Stella (movie star and Felicity (Stella’s personal assistant), we are given a tale of betrayal and borderline hatred.

The three protagonists are thrown together with A-List star Cole Power gives his son the gift of the ability to film his graduate school project in the Caribbean and he will be the star. Taylor down on her luck, comes in to produce the movie, and hoping this will get her back to place she wants to be in the industry. Stella a waning a-list actress and Cole’s ex-wife comes on board along with her mysterious assistant Felicity.

This story unfolds way too slowly and all the characters are pretty much unlovable. We are given small bits at a time to a culminating ending that was just like whatever. I wanted so much to love this book, but when you give me no redeeming characters, I have a hard time to get on board. Yes, the ending could have you changing your mind, but for me it was far to late to save this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I binged The Lion's Den last summer in a day and was so excited to pick up her newest! ⁣
This is another escapist, atmospheric read. The story is told from three women's POVs: Stella - the unstable actress after some public breakdowns, Taylor, a young producer hoping to turn her career around after a scandal, and Felicity, Stella's new assistant. As the story unfolded, while each POV added to the story, I found I wasn't very invested in one storyline and character POV and thought this could have easily been a dual POV format instead. ⁣
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This was a bit slower to get into but once you really figured out the characters, the secrets, and who was lying to who - I had to see how it all shook out. Each character had several secrets that would be career ending and wanted to see hidden. The ending is satisfying and feels very complete.⁣
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I loved The Lion's Den (it was bonkers in the best way), so I was super excited to pick up the Siren. First of all, that cover! While I didn't enjoy this one as much as Katherine St. John's first novel, this was still a great thriller for summer reading.

I really liked Katherine St. John's previous book, The Lion's Den, so I am so glad that this one did not disappoint. Full of juicy drama, interesting faux Hollywood actors, and surprising twists, this is the perfect Summer beach read! I recommend this for anyone who enjoys good gossip, reading about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and a little mystery. It has some dark elements (drug use, drug overdose, death of a family member), but the book overall is a fun and wild ride!

The Siren is being filmed in the beautiful Caribbean, starring Cole Power, a famous movie star, opposite his unstable ex-wife Stella, who has been out of the spotlight in recent years. The movie is produced by Taylor, whose last job ended badly, and directed by Jackson Power, Cole’s only son, as a graduation present. Then comes Stella’s mysterious assistant, Felicity, who no one trusts. Filming the movie brings up old secrets and fights which come to a head during a hurricane.

Katherine St. John should have her own genre. I loved The Lion’s Den and couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Siren, which ended up being even better! These books are like beach read thrillers, with the glam and glitz of Hollywood and reading like a celebrity gossip magazine. The Siren had great pacing, unreliable characters and a sense of impending doom the entire time. It was excellent.

What I really love about Katherine St. John’s books is how original they can be, and how they bring a light side to dark stories. Her characters, though seemingly unlikeable, have such great development that you can’t help cheer for them. I recommend this book as well as her other!

OMG! Did that just happen? I swear that this is my most anticipating read for 2021, and it didn't disappoint! The book is a mix of everything I love; drama, suspense, thriller, a bit of love story, and mystery. It was a bit slow initially, but once it picked up, I never wanted it to end! Told in multiple POVs, we have Stella, an actress who, like many celebrities, went through substance abuse and wants to prove herself that those times are behind her, Felicity is Stella’s assistant and appears to be very mysterious, and there’s Taylor, the producer who also has an intriguing past. All three women are admirable in their own separate way. I love the multiple POVs because it bounces back and forth between past and present, and it gives the story a solid background and helps me understand the characters even more. Katherine is very imaginative when setting the plot on her books, as this one is also astonishing. The Caribbean island, the movie-making, intriguing characters, and tons of secrets and lies! If you’re into an attention-grabbing, spine-tingling, and many “whoa” kind of read, pick this up!