I always love a good thriller and this book delivered! Thrillers are harder for me to enjoy when I feel it's been repetitive but this was not.

THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass proves, once again, that this is an author to be following.

After a cryptic call from her husband, confessing to murder and his body being found in the river, Anna Hartley is forced to sell her home and moves into Henry’s art studio, trying figure out what happened with him. As she dives into the unemployed teacher’s possessions, she begins to learn of rumors and wonders about some of his writing.

Along the way, we meet a strange mix of tenants at the Sycamore apartments. From the pool ladies, who seem to know everything going on to Cass Abbott, a recently separated socialite who is now the manager of the building, to young ‘Frankie’. who is just looking for a place to belong, and Callum, recent widower who seems to be everywhere and nowhere. Oh, and did I mention the dead body?

As Anna learns more about her husband, we learn more about the others in the complex. This is one crazy living situation, but oh so enjoyable. Some places had me cringing and others were laugh out loud funny. Nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t wanna live there.

I have read novels by this author before and have always enjoyed them immensely. She has a way of dropping clues that you don’t realize until it all comes together at the end. I could feel the sun beat down as I played cards by the pool and felt the cool tang as the lemonade hit my tongue. Oh, and. did I mention the dead body?

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

There is so much love for this thriller but it missed the mark for me personally! It wasnt but just not the best I've read.
I felt the storyline wasnt very stable. There was a lot going on that didnt completely tie like I wanted it to. The storyline is set at a trashy apartment complex that Cass takes over managing. Theres an abusive drug dealer with potential cartel ties, low income families, someone that commits suicide and a spouse that wants to know why this happened, some murder. Theres just a lot going on. I feel like there could have been more of a focus on one or two "dramas" but the book just kept throwing more drama at you as you read.
Quick read! And its ok. Not the worst and not the best. Just ok.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest reviews.

Anna’s husband calls her and confesses to something terrible before committing suicide. Anna heads to the motel he was staying in to investigate his death. Cass recently went through a terrible break up and she moved into the motel to get back on her feet.

I kept reading wondering how these two women are connected. I could definitely empathize with Cass and her situation.

I liked the overall story. It’s good for people that enjoy a slow burn. All the twists take place in the last 10%. I was surprised by the ending.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book.

You need to read this book!!!! This was my read by Seraphina Nova Glass & it surpassed any expectations. I could have had. Fast paced, full of twists & turns- I could not put this one down! I especially loved the great character development & alternating dual POVs. A great bingeworthy read for 2024- I read this one in a day! I am looking forward to more books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley ,Harlequin Trade Publishing, & Graydon House for the ARC copy of this book.

✨ FIVE ⭐️ Book Review! ✨

If you don’t have The Vacancy in Room 10 by @seraphinanovaglass on your tbr list or haven’t preordered it, go do it immediately! I had the lucky opportunity to read the arc on @netgalley this weekend, but it publishes in just a few days. This book knocked my socks off! It was so incredibly bingeable and twisty! If you want a book that you can’t put down, stop looking, because this is it. I loved the characters, the twists and turns, the found family, and absolutely everything about it! Chef’s kiss! 🫶🏻

#netgalley #arcreview #bookreview #bookrecommendation #harlequintradepublishing #aprilbook #crimethriller #fivestarbookreview #topnotchbook #newreleasebook #seraphinanovaglass

THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10 is Schitt's Creek on steroids! It's a thriller with heart, highly entertaining with wit, grit, mystery, suspense, action, and a rollicking fun cast of well-developed characters you will come to care for. A TOP thriller of 2024!

This is my first book by the talented author Seraphina Nova Glass, and I cannot wait to read more. THE VACANCY IS ROOM 10 is prime for the big or small screen—with everything you want in a thriller and checks ALL THE boxes. A masterful work of domestic suspense.

Set on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, told from two women's POVs: Anna and Cass. Both desire more out of life; however, they may have a real family and friends before them, but they have not realized it yet.

THE SYCAMORES APARTMENT is the focus of this exceptional thriller and the center of all the action, a character in itself. Formerly, an old motel with three strips of two-story buildings in a T-shape and a dumpy pool in the middle. There is no A/C unless the tenant chooses to buy one or someone left a half-working one in the unit. Across the street, you have a dive bar and a gentleman's club. There is a liquor store, an Arby's, a strip mall, a diner, a Chinese buffet, etc.

The Sycamores is a home for people and misfits with nowhere else to go down on their luck. It is cheap and has a long list of maintenance problems, from stained ceilings to rats, leaky toilets, and shady characters.

CASS: Unfortunately, Cass has landed a job here as the caretaker.

When her rich realtor boyfriend, Reid, kicked her to the curb for a younger replacement, Kimmy model, and her beautiful home, she was stuck with no degree, no money, and only a set of skills to land her this job. She wanted marriage, stability, and children. He did not share her feelings. He was all about ego. His photo was plastered on the sides of buses.

With Cass' maintenance job comes a small dumpy apartment (Room 10) next to the boiler room that has seen better days and a small stipend. This is where broken people live. Everyone seems to be filling a void or mourning a profound loss.

Her dad taught her handyman skills, and she followed him everywhere until her mom died and her dad turned into an alcoholic. When she married Reid, they were supposed to be a team buying old houses; she could remodel them, and he would flip them. But his ego would not allow her to be a handyman. She quit to keep the house for him, and then he had all the control. After the split, he kept the friends and everything else.

She has tried to find other work with no luck, so she has turned to blackmailing married men who are cheating as a side hustle until she gets in over her head. They deserved it.

ANNA, a journalist between jobs, is married to Henry, a school teacher (who lost his job). He is also an artist, and Cal (a fellow teacher) at his school recommended The Sycamores, a cheap place to rent for his art studio, to get back to painting. He loved painting the grunge, homeless, and tenants at the motel apartments. He was always a happy man, and everyone loved him at the apartment complex. He sold his paintings and was doing well with his art, but suddenly, he seemed sad and withdrawn.

Then Anna receives a desperate call from Henry (age 36) one night, saying he killed someone. When she tries to find him, she is notified he committed suicide and was found in shallow water on a bank of the Rio Grande south of Santa Fe. Authorities ruled it as a suicide. However, was it suicide or murder? Who did he kill, and why was he so sad?

Did he have another life at the apartments she knew nothing about?

Grieving, Anna knows the cops are not doing anything, so she decides to move into Henry's old studio apartment and conducts some investigating of her own. She wants answers. The more she digs, the more shocking secrets she uncovers about Henry. She finds a journal, and he speaks of painting a woman, someone he loves. Who is the woman, and where are the hundred paintings?

Callum (Cal) still lives at The Sycamores. When he and his wife lost everything due to her extensive medical bills, they moved into the complex. Lily, the wife, later died of cancer. This is the first place she starts since he was a teacher at the school with Henry.

CAST OF CHARACTERS: This is where the fun, murder, and mayhem begin at The Sycamores with a colorful cast of characters!

There, we meet all the tenants—a diverse group. The POOL GALS (Jackie, Crystal, Rosa) spend time at the pool with their children, swimming, eating, smoking, drinking booze, playing cards, and gossiping about all the tenants. Rosa is the quiet one with the abusive husband. Each Friday, there is a BBQ by the pool with potluck and grilling, lots of booze, music, and games, and all the tenants are invited.

Between Cass's escapades, the horrific maintenance issues, and all the secrets of the tenants, there is a murder. How will Cass, Anna, and the crew become partners in crime?

Along the way, there is a charity ball when Cass's new friends at the motel/apartment collide with Reid, his latest squeeze, and her pretentious old friends, which lands her in jail (hilarious!). In the meantime, Mary's grandson (tenant) Frank Sinatra (little boy) is engrossed with Cass and her tools, and she becomes his mentor (priceless). Then there is the body, to be hidden, and Anna is getting close to finding the identity of Henry's mystery woman and his killer.

BOOM! What a book—truly BLOWN AWAY! If I had known this book was this good, I would have read it the minute I received it! I loved every minute of The cast at THE SYCAMORES. I could not put it down. I finished at 5 am, and it was worth it. Be prepared to burn the midnight oil and set aside the time. The unexpected twists will have your jaw-dropping.

SMASHING! The author has outdone herself and dazzles! THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10 is wild, crazy, fun, suspenseful, full of action, and fast-paced. The characters are stellar and come alive on the page. You have the good, the crazy, and the evil.

At its heart, it is heartwarming and endearing. The two main characters learn some wise life lessons, gain insights, and the true meaning of family that is not always blood-related. I loved the satisfying ending. WELL DONE! I want to visit.

Get this gem on your TBR list now! I cannot wait to listen to the audiobook narrated by my favorite, Brittany Pressley and Stacey Glemboski. This is an auto-buy for the home library. 5 Stars ++

Fans of Schitt's Creek and Freida McFadden's Do Not Disturb will devour. Sequel, PLEASE! There are many more adventures here.

Thanks to Graydon House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read (and devour) an advanced copy for an honest opinion.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My rating; 5 Stars ++
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Pub Date: April 8, 2024
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Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for an ARC of this book on exchange for my honest review.

I read this book all in one day and really enjoyed it! The story is told from dual POVs and is very gossipy, as everyone has secrets that they’re keeping from others. Rating this one 4 stars because I liked the reading experience, but did guess one of the larger twists in this book. I was very satisfied with the way this book ended, and found myself routing for the “underdog” character. I recommend giving this one a read but please check any relevant trigger warnings before doing so!

The Vacancy in Room 10 was a bit of a slog for me. It felt really long (and not in a good way!) and effortful to work through. I looooved the authors last book, and highly recommend that one, but sadly can’t say the same for this one.

*thank you to the publishers and netgalley, who provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review

This was such a fun book. This was my first book by this author, so I went in blind.

This was quite entertaining popcorn thriller that’s fast paced and addictive. The majority of the book takes place at The Sycamores which was such an atmospheric and slightly depressing setting. The residents of the complex were something else, all kinds of down on their luck people with larger than life personalities, especially the pool moms. Those ladies cracked me up! You hear from Cass and Anna in alternating chapters and this really kept the plot moving for me in a fast paced manner. There were several great reveals throughout and I appreciated the way the author placed them, again it kept things swiftly moving along and I finished this in just a couple of sittings.

Overall this was a blast, definitely pick it up if you want to be totally entertained and enjoy a well plotted mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

So there isn’t an exact reason why this book is 4 stars but I just ate it up. I loved how it made me feel. The premise was intriguing and had me guessing multiple different things. The ragtag bunch of “nobodies” at the Sycamores are so appealing and relatable. This book just left me so satisfied and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

What an enjoyable ride! “The Vacancy in Room 10” is a fun thriller with interesting and wacky characters. At one point I thought there might have been a bit too much going on but it really coalesced in the last 3rd of the book and think every piece of the puzzle belongs right where it is. This is my second book by this author and I look forward to checking out others.

4 ⭐️

I kept seeing great reviews for The Vacancy in Room 10 and knew I needed to read it ASAP! It immediately pulled me in, leading to an evening long binge reading session.

The Sycamores is an apartment building run out of an old motel, and its tenants are diverse and entertaining. Manager Cass runs the place and knows all there is to know about the tenants, from the emotional abuse to the affairs occurring in its units. Anna’s husband Henry was renting one unit as an art studio before his death under suspicious circumstances, and Anna decides to move in to his unit and dig into the happenings around the building.

Multiple plot points are happening throughout the book, and I came nowhere near figuring out how they would intersect. The big reveal in the end shocked me, always fun for a mystery! The less you know going in, the better for this one.

I enjoyed the premise, the incredibly atmospheric setting of this old apartment building, and the characters. The pool ladies in particular had me cackling in parts and added some much needed levity to all of the dark moments in these women’s lives.

I’d call this one a highly entertaining popcorn thriller, addictive and perfect to read on the beach this summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing - Graydon House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a thriller this gripping and satisfying. Each page kept me turning as the web of deceit was spun bigger & bigger. There were so many different plot points that ended up all intercepting at the end, but it was executed perfectly.

I also love nothing more than when a thriller gets wrapped up at the end with every possible question answered. And extra bonus points for also delivering a happy ever after at the end!

If you’re looking for a thriller that completely draws you in, this is the one! It will totally submerse you into the world of the Sycamores and the lives of all the tenants.

Anna is completely lost after she receives the call from police that her husband is dead after taking his own life. Not knowing what else to do she heads out to his art studio located outside of town, in a small tight knit apartment complex. Initially she decides to stay there to feel close to Henry, but before she knows it the police are telling her it wasn’t suicide, that Henry was murdered.

As she begins to form friendships with some residents, and fierce suspicions of others, she will stop at nothing to find out the truth about what happened to her husband. Full of twists and turns and so many shocking events that are all tied together, you will never see it all coming.

Anna Hartley’s husband, Henry, calls her with a terrible, guilty confession, and then is found dead on the banks of the Rio Grande. She can't believe the sweet, mild artist she married would ever hurt a fly, so she is convinced that there is more to the story, and she is going to find answers to her questions. Henry had been renting a room at a run-down motel called The Sycamores for him to use as an art studio, so she moves into his room there. As she begins to dig through the pieces of his life there, as well as talking to the motley assortment of people who live at The Sycamores. she realizes she didn't really know Henry after all. As notes keep being slid under her door warning her to leave, and the more it seems like everyone is keeping secrets from her, Anna isn't sure who to trust.

This fast paced thriller starts with Cass, who does maintenance around The Sycamores. She had to move there after her relationship with her long-term boyfriend imploded, and left her broke, jobless, homeless, and with no prospects. She is a very unlikeable character at first, because she is so bitter, which you can certainly understand. It isn't until about halfway through the book that she starts evolving. Cass, because of her position, knows pretty much everything that goes on at The Sycamores. Anna keeps trying to ask her about Henry but Cass keeps deflecting, which makes Anna suspicious. When Anna uncovers information among Henry's belongings that let her know that Henry had fallen in love with someone else, Anna begins to closely watch every woman there trying to figure out which woman it was. If you are a fan of mystery & suspense novels, then I think you are going to enjoy this one!

Read if you like:
🔥 Slow Burn Mysteries
2️⃣ Two POV
🌚 Morally Grey Characters
🪢 Interwoven Character Stories

If you like thrillers with interconnected characters and two pov that give you a little different vibes but both wishing they had what they had back and weren’t living where they are now as a result- this one is for you.

There are so many characters that live within this motel turned apartment community and they are all twisted together with the mystery of what happened to one of the husbands and how is the other pov part of there story and why them instead of another POV.

If you like books that keep you guessing and are a bit more of a slow burn I’d recommend picking this one up!

Thank you to HTP for my ARC in exchange for my feedback!

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass is about a woman named Anna whose husband has died unexpectedly. As she is processing his death, she sells the house and moves to an apartment he had been renting as a studio in order to figure out her next steps and make sense of his death. While at the Sycamores apartment complex, Anna discovers there was much more going on than she had thought. Her discoveries lead her to befriend several people at the Sycamores who also have more than meets the eye happening.

This is the second or third book by Seraphina Nova Glass I have read. I found parts of this one to be a little slow and I guessed some of the ending twists and conclusions. It was a fast read, but not my favorite from her. I think it will definitely appeal to fans of slow burn mysteries.

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass is a thriller novel. The story in The Vacancy in Room 10 is one that is told in a dual point of view style alternating by the two main characters in the novel with some flashing back to past events.

Anna Hartley’s happy life was completely uprooted one night when she gets notified that her husband just may have committed suicide. Just before his death Anna’s husband had called with a disturbing confession that he had taken another life so Anna is left wanting nothing but answers to just what happened.

Anna’s husband had kept a room at a rundown motel called The Sycamores and that is where Anna is determined she’ll find her answers. Shortly after moving into the vacant room Anna meets Cass who manages the complex. Cass once had a nice comfortable life but now finds herself scraping by at The Sycamores doing routine maintenance after her ex left her for a newer, younger woman.

Seraphina Nova Glass is an author that I have read multiple times in the past so I went into The Vacancy in Room 10 with high hopes having enjoyed her previous novels. Thankfully I didn’t need to worry a bit about being disappointed because just as I expected I found a compulsively addictive story as I expected. This novel is full of a cast of colorful characters that make for a long list of suspects which just made the pages fly by. After finishing the author definitely stays on my list of ones to return to in the future any chance I get.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I found this book to be a little slow. It was like something was missing. There were parts of the story that didn't make sense, maybe even a little over the top. I also found some parts to be repetitive. I was able to finish it because it was a fairly quick read.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y LOVED this book SO much!!! Seraphina blew me away with this book and her writing. She completely transported me into the setting of this book, and I loved every minute of it. This is the definition of a perfect psychological thriller, with plenty of twists and suspense to leave me guessing and on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next. I really enjoyed the characters, the alternating POVs, the pacing, and the many layers that this book had for me to slowly peel away. Did I already mention that I absolutely LOVED ALL of the characters?! Seraphina, you have absolutely outdone yourself with this book, and it is definitely my top thriller of the year so far! The writing is phenomenal and gripping and the author had me flipping through the pages of this one so fast, as I just needed to know what happened next. I am usually able to predict some of the twists in books, but not with this one…Seraphina kept bringing on the unexpected twists and I was all here for it 🙌🏻 I loved the creepy and eerie setting, the suspense, drama, many secrets, twists, characters, the writing, the plot, the short chapters, and that amazingly shocking ending. READ THIS ONE NOW!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Addictive psychological thrillers
✦Amazing characters
✦Short chapters
✦A book and plot that grips you in from the start
✦Plenty of twists, secrets, suspense, and drama
✦An amazing ending

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5+++/5