I liked this book. It was a little different from what I first expected going in, but overall it wasn't a bad read.

I hate to be blunt, but this was simply a stupid book. In fairness, I have a blind spot to reality stars/influencers/professional bloggers, so I admit that my view may be tainted because of that. But in addition, I really didn't like any of the other characters either, particularly Erika. So there wasn't much this book could do to redeem itself. Short version: Naive main character; self-centered co-main characters; a wannabe-thriller plot line; sub-plots that want to be connected, but never really make it; and an ending that fell totally flat. I'd like to get the time I spent reading this book back, please!

This was an okay read for me.
A HGTV type competition introduces viewers to Holly and Robert as they not only renovate a large Vermont farmhouse on air but fall in love. When they go missing during the final week of the competition, their assistant, Erika, becomes the subject of the viewers suspicions, despite other more likely suspects. The townspeople of this small town have a lot of secrets and opinions.
This humorously poked a bit of fun at reality TV as the couples used some tricks to up viewership, gushed over sponsored products and timed announcements for peak impact. There was actually a lot that happened in the storyline, but it still read passively. It was hard to connect with the characters. Neither Holly nor Robert were likeable. Erika was an enigma and hard to connect with Kim. My favorite was Dolores, who was a secondary character.

DNF @10%. I tried but unfortunately this book was just not for me. I do think it was me and not the book though, so I will be giving it 3 stars. Sorry!

AHHHHHH! This one was so witty and fun. I'm so thankful to Sarah Strohmeyer, NetGalley, and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for granting me a finished copy and digital ARC access before this baby hit shelves on April 25, 2023.

Pub date: 4/25/23
Genre: suspense thriller
Quick summary: Holly and Robert are hoping to turn their wedding and ultra eco-friendly renovation into a win on the TV show To The Manor Build. But when they go missing after the wedding, suspicion falls on their assistant Erika and her mother Kim.

I enjoyed getting lost in the reality TV house renovation world in this book! It was clear that everyone had a lot of secrets, and I had fun trying to see how everything would play out. None of the characters are particularly likeable, but I was interested enough in the story that that didn't matter to me. I ended up reading this one over two days, and I enjoyed the surprises at the end. It's not a true "edge of your seat thriller", but I found the mystery compelling.

Thank you to Harper Paperbacks for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

How much truth is there in reality TV?

Erika has suffered trauma from a past accident & has always been more inclined to be a loner, currently living above her mother’s garage in a tiny apartment. Her sleepy Vermont town has recently had its fair share of drama with a wealthy real estate investor & his beautiful fiance sweeping into town to kick a troubled man out of his home for not paying property taxes - their plan being to turn it into an eco-friendly showpiece of a house & win a reality TV show’s contest. The prize: all expenses reimbursed. The power couple temporarily hires Erika as an assistant, & when they go missing shortly after their big wedding day, suspicion falls on her.

I enjoyed the basic premise of the story being an HGTV show gone wrong - the behind-the-scenes of the manufactured drama was definitely an eye-opener to what can really be going on in a “reality” show. The Reddit posts about the show added to the drama, and parts of the overall story were a sobering look at the lengths some people will go to in order to be popular on the internet. The two main focuses on Erika & her mother, Kim, gave the story a more well-rounded feel, and one take-away I’m definitely going to remember is to be careful when you’re walking underneath trees.

Thank you to Harper Perennial & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Started off promising but unfortunately DNF’d early in the book. Did not enjoy the writing and could not invest in any of the characters.

We Love to Entertain was a suspenseful thriller and fast-paced read. I love fixer-upper shows, and the premise of this book was great, combined with my love for thrillers. Though there wasn't as much focus on the HGTV-esque aspect, it was definitely more of a character driven story. The characters were strong and well-written, and the plot was full of twists and turns. I would highly recommend this book!

I love tying in a home renovation theme, complete with reality show details into a thriller! A page turner. Learned a lot about the renovation/do it yourself industry that I mindlessly watch on TV!

Tiny Snowden, Vermont is thrust into the spotlight when Robert "Robber" Barron and Holly enter their renovation in a reality house-porn competition. Their decision to move up their wedding to the last weekend before the big reveal seems a bit odd, as does the high-tech security at their outdoor wedding. But assistant Erika is too distracted by her unrequited love for Robert, while her mother, Kim, serving as officiant, is too worried about her daughter.

When Robert shows up at her apartment late at night after the ceremony, she accepts his request to trade vehicles and doesn't notice that he hides blood-stained pajamas in her trash. But she does notice that both Robert and Holly are incommunicado and fail to return from their honeymoon. When Erika's vehicle is discovered abandoned in the woods and a man's body is found nearby, she becomes primary suspect with the local state policeman, Andre, eager to rehash a tragedy from her teen years. Kim and Holly's mother are both determined to discover the truth--Holly's whereabouts and who the real criminal is.

This is an enjoyable psychological thriller with the Vermont setting and its residents' peculiarities a major contributing factor to its enjoyability. I'm a big Sarah Strohmeyer fan and this book does entertain. #WeLovetoEntertain #NetGalley

From the bestselling author of Do I Know You? comes a fast-paced, riveting psychological thriller that skewers our modern obsession with home renovation and fixer-uppers.

We Love to Entertain was such a fun book, especially if you love reality TV. Our FMC is an assistant on the set of a home makeover show and will do anything to make her bosses happy. However, when they go missing she becomes suspect number one.

The book was well-paced and easy to read. It was so engrossing I finished in a matter of days. The mystery served itself up fairly early but figuring how it would ultimately play out will keep you guessing. Great book for fans of psychological thrillers.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harperperenniel for letting me read this ARC.

This was a very interesting book. I felt like I had a lot of questions throughout and was a little confused with how different plot points were related. I liked the end and thought it was very suspenseful but wish we had more of that throughout.

We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer is marketed as a psychological thriller but I found this one fell more into suspense category. The story in We Love to Entertain is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters as the story goes along.

Holly and Robert Barron are reality TV real-estate investors who have entered a competition with their current rehab project. The pair are also getting married in front of the cameras but after the wedding Holly and Robert Barron disappear leaving their assistant, Erika Turnbull, who has had a crush on her boss the only suspect in the disappearance.

We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer is one of those books that I went into it expecting something different than what I found. Sometimes that’s not so bad sometimes it’s disappointing which is where this one leaned towards. The story was also slower than what I expected and I never really connected with the characters the way I expected too leaving this one in the average area at two and a half stars for me.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is my first book by Sarah Strohmeyer, and I found it to be a gripping psychological thriller that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story revolves around Holly and Robert, an attractive young couple who are real estate investors competing in a home renovation contest organized by To the Manor Build. They're renovating a Vermont house into an ideal entertainment space, but things take a dark turn when the couple goes missing after their live streamed wedding. The investigation quickly falls on their assistant, Erika Turnbull, who's secretly in love with Robert.

One of the standout features of this book is its pacing. Strohmeyer keeps the story moving along at a brisk pace, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. The novel's exploration of small-town gossip and a biased police officer add complexity to the story, making it more compelling. The addition of a vengeful former owner, ruthless reality show producers, and a dark secret only adds to the intrigue, making it a page-turner.

The characters are well-developed, and I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Erika and her mother, Kim. It was heartwarming to see the lengths to which Kim went to protect her daughter from small-town gossip and a biased cop. The dynamic between Holly and Robert was also interesting to watch, as their relationship takes a darker turn as the story progresses. And the ending twist was somewhat unexpected in the way it was told.

Overall, We Love to Entertain is a well-written and engaging thriller that will keep you hooked until the end. While some aspects of the plot may be predictable, Strohmeyer's masterful pacing keeps the story moving along at a thrilling pace. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, home renovation shows, or small-town mysteries, I highly recommend this book. It's a satisfying read that's sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.

🔹 My take: 3.5/5

🔸To the Manor Build (TMB) is the nation’s most popular property renovation app and Robert & Holly are contestants pitching for their Vermont hilltop home. Robert bagged the property in distress auction at dirt cheap price and Holly is refurbishing it into an env. friendly home with latest gadgets and amenities. Millions are at stake and it’s a week prior to the final reveal on TMB when Rob & Holly go missing. Suspect is Erika Turnbull, their efficient assistant; who had liking for Robert & had seen him last. Erika has a tragic past and townsfolk have neither forgotten nor forgiven her for that. Kim, Erika’s mom; is the town clerk and is determined to save Erika even if it costs her job, reputation or life. Only Erika is aware that the former owner of the property was looking out for Rob & Holly with a vengeance and that he would not bat an eyelid to kill anyone who wanted to reside in his property.

💖 Wows - With so many reality shows happening around; I found this concept of renovation reality show in a book very interesting. Very easy to relate with the need to get popular, fight with others by slinging mud on them, doing tricks to up the engagement etc. Absolutely a story of the current times. I liked the dual POV and reading Erika & Kim’s side. There were no repetitions even though it was mother-daughter POV. Humour was embedded too at places which was amazing. I especially liked the Interstitial section that were the captions posted regularly by Holly & Rob.

💔 Ows - Not sure why was Kim’s account written in first person whereas Erika’s POV was in third person. Got me confused there. Beginning was good but then it just dragged till the end. Too much was covered in last 10% of the book. There were few questions which were unanswered at the end. While this is ok if it’s a Romance; open queries at the end of a thriller does leave you asking for more. Also, I did not connect with Rob & Holly’ characters. Found the former too arrogant and the latter too stupid.

💫 If you love reality shows as a concept, you would enjoy reading this. But for a thriller fan, this might not be the best bet…⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @netgalley and @harperperennial for sharing DRC in exchange for honest review.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow! I read this book in like a little over 24 hours. I didn't want to put it down. You need to read this if you have not.

This book was just okay for me. I enjoyed it and felt it was fairly fast paced, but it was very easy to guess the ending. This is a solid, average thriller. Great for a cozy weekend in, but nothing to run to the stores or library for.

The good:
- We love a home renovation theme!
- Dual perspectives help the pacing

The bad:
- This is a nitpicky detail, but the name of the show drove me NUTS, and it was mentioned a lot.
What does 'To The Manor Build" even mean??
- Very predictable 'twist' ending
- A very meddling mother gave me the ick

Pick this one up if you're on a thriller binge, but otherwise, you can skip it.

𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨!

What a ride, I was just going to read a few chapters and it was impossible to stop reading. Twisty, gripping, intriguing and entertaining!

Thank you @harperbooks for this gifted copy.

𝗪𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 by @sarahstrohmeyerwriter released yesterday April 25, 2023.

I really enjoyed this book, as much for the behind the scenes of shooting for tv as for the story.
It looks like one of those where the more obvious bad guy really isn't but this story adds and extra an extra level.
A few red herrings here and there, and the disappearance of the newlyweds throws everyone into chaos as crucial deadlines loom.
Where, who, how? The story goes back and forth between the different players, which adds some dimension to the events.
Its a fun book to read, moves quickly and resolves nicely.