The premise of this book was totally different from anything else I’ve read. It really kept me wanting to read to find out what would happen! Catherine Steadman is always an author that I enjoy because her books get so out there with the plot. Just crazier than one could ever imagine! Thanks for the ARC!

LOOK IN THE MIRROR is a clever thriller that made me search passages for connections between the two main characters, and it kept me guessing throughout. I enjoyed the escape room/Squid Game vibes.

To go into the plot would ruin the book, so I won’t do that. I’ll simply say that the short chapters and creepy atmospheric story hooked me. Yes, some of it is highly improbable but LOOK IN THE MIRROR is still a solidly interesting read that I enjoyed. I always like dual timelines and different points of view, as well as books that make you feel like an investigator.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the early digital copy of LOOK IN THE MIRROR. I liked it so much that I also ordered it as my Aardvark Book Club pick of the month.

The following review was posted on my Goodreads profile on 9.19.24:

Wow, what a ride! LOOK IN THE MIRROR moves faster than some of Steadman's other thrillers, with lots of tension, suspense, and action to keep it interesting. The plot is a touch predictable, but not entirely. I expected it to go a different way until it...didn't. I buzzed through this book in a day because it kept me riveted, always wanting to know what was going to happen next. Sure, it's unrealistic and, yeah, I didn't care overly much about the characters. Still, I enjoyed this crazy, entertaining ride overall. It's diverting if nothing else.

"I flip the note over but the back is blank. I reread the scratchy words: Look in the Mirror."

As you prepare to start this one, just know you need to clear out your day. Once you start the story, it's addicting - a race you need to keep reading to understand what's happening and get all the answers.

I did this as an audiobook, which is narrated by the author, and is absolutely phenomenal! I can't recommend it enough! It really is great to go into this one blind. The twists are shocking, each turn kept me guessing and kept me needing to read on. The characters are quick to get introed and easy to root. It was great - this author just has such a great way to pushing plots and stories that keep me guessing and I just love it! I'll be anxious for the next one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. This book is so fast paced and so interesting. I wasn't expecting it to go where it did with the concept of the house. At first I found Nina's chapters a little on the boring side and Maria's chapters were the interesting ones but once it got to a certain part Nina's chapters were so good that I didn't want to put it down.

My only real complaints were the first chapter and the epilogue. The first chapter was so confusing and hard to read that it would scare away readers (in my opinion at least.) Also I truly didn't need the epilogue I think I would have rather not found out who was behind the house.

4.5 stars rounded up

I was able to get a physical copy of the book. I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller/mystery. I haven't read any other books from this author but will be looking into more of her books. This a was a great book and one I'd recommend to any reader.

DNF at 10% of the audiobook. It felt like I had read this story and its tropes before. I also CANNOT STAND 2nd person narratives.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱🎧 "Look in the Mirror" by Catherine Steadman

⭐️⭐️⭐️
 published July 30, 2024

Nina has inherited a vacation home in the British Virgin Islands from her recently deceased father, but she never knew he had a home there. This is a state-of-the-art, high tech, all glass beautiful home on the ocean. When she is told by the realtor company she must come in person and they compensate her flight, and expenses she travels to the island right away.

Maria is a nanny with this final gig which she arrives early, just a couple of days before the family. Instructions came with one main rule- don’t go in the locked room
in the basement. Simple.

A mystery full of odd connections and random pieces- this story kept me guessing. I kept wondering “What’s the connection of these two women? What’s going on at the houses they are residing? Is this some weird game?” To give you anymore would ruin the mystery for sure.

Many thanks to @NetGalley and @RandomHousePublishing for this ARC


#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

Once again, I find myself trying to review a book without revealing anything outside of the synopsis! I was intrigued by this one, and wasn’t disappointed; this was a very entertaining and quick read.

Nina’s father has just died, and since her mother died while giving birth, she now has nobody left in her life. After her father’s passing, she finds a letter, giving the name and number of an estate firm that wants to let her know her father’s house in the British Virgin Islands has been willed to her…but she is confused. The house in London, along with everything else, was already given to her. Her dad has a house in the Caribbean? Has he even been to the Caribbean? She arrives to sign the paperwork, and then realizes her father must have had a lot more money than she ever realized…

Meanwhile, a medical student turned nanny to the uber-wealthy has been assigned a two-week job, while the family’s regular nanny goes on vacation. She arrives at the massive house and is given a tour by the hiring agent - she is allowed to do anything she wants and make herself at home, except for two things: she can’t leave the house unless she’s with the client and his children, and she is under no circumstances to go to the basement. Soon, she realizes the family isn’t showing up, but she still gets paid if she stays, so stay to enjoy this beautiful home she does.

I realized very early on what the connection between these women is, but it was still very entertaining to see everything play out (and get a few other surprises). My only complaints would be that this is very similar to a popular horror series, and the American characters spoke like they were from England, presumably because the author is British. Overall though, this was an enjoyable read! 3.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Random House - Ballantine, Catherine Steadman and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review!)

I have loved all of Catherine Steadman's books! Look in the Mirror was another great thriller by her.
Nina is grieving the loss of her father, and when the will is read, she discovers she is bequeathed his home in the Virgin Islands. She had no idea this home existed and she begins to question what else she didn't know about her Father,

Maria is a nanny to a wealthy family, invited to a home in the islands. But her charges don't show. She spends her days by the pool and relaxing, but curiousity gets the better of her and she begins to explore, finding things she never was meant to find.

This book was WILD!!!

Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have enjoyed her other books so excited to start this one. Told in different POVs and timelines. When her Nina’s father dies and leaves her a house in the British Virgin Islands…is it truly a dream come true or will she discover all of his secrets? This was fast paced, with an escape room feel. It held my interest and had me guessing until the end. Lots of twists and turns. Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced ebook by @catsteadman from @ballantinecorp @penguinrandomhouse #netgalley #books #noseinabook #booklover #bookstagram #thriller #mystery ##penguinrandomhouse #ballantinebooks

Nina’s father dies and finds out in his will that he left her a dream home in a tropical paradise she knew nothing about.

I really enjoyed the mystery, the pace, and the unique surprises of the house! This was another book that I really liked it when I was reading, I just didn’t feel the NEED to pick it up and finish it. It was entertaining and had some heart pumping moments here and there! This was my first Catherine Steadman book and I will definitely be grabbing more.

*This book is for you if you like: moody and dark mysteries, escape room type atmospheres, medium paced story with questions needing to be answered.
*TW: murder, violence, death, trafficking

I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea what was even going on until over halfway through and even then I only had hints.

In the typical Catherine Steadman style it was a thrill ride the entire time and I couldn’t put it down.

I will read anything from this author because all of her books are so good and kept you guessing from the very first page!

Unfortunately, this title did not "grab me" as "Something in the Water" did. I gave it a couple of hours and set it aside.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This one was twisty and blew my mind wide open. The book is about two women who have no real connection to each other. You can't stop thinking about how these two might be connected and what's going on in their homes. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this!
This is a very hard book to write a review of without spoilers: so be forewarned!

I really enjoyed this. We follow Nina as she inherits a strange house from her elusive father and Maria, a nanny piqued with curiosity over her newest clients home. We realize very quickly we are actually in the same house, just time apart, with a curious basement drawing both women into a series of deadly and elaborate traps. This book has EVERYTHING: games, puzzles, life and death scenarios, harrowing escapes, violence and drama. There's a tiny smidge of romance thrown in, a global ring of I suppose human trafficking / voyeurism, and a large scoop of twists at the end. You realize really quickly that this is modeled after Squid Game: dangerous, terrible escape rooms meant to trap our heroines and force them to face the things they learned in their past.

I really enjoyed the side characters, the pacing, and especially the twists: many of the things at the end I didn't see coming (especially the diner scene!). Don't get me wrong: this is entirely far fetched. And clearly built off a TV show. But I honestly found myself drawn back in page after page!

What a ride this book was…oof! Full review to come

4.5 ⭐️ maybe 5 still deciding. I could’t put it down!

I’m still thinking about this book the next morning after finishing. I mostly read it but also listened to it while doing chores. I loved all the twists, the multiple different POV kept you continue to guess what’s going to happen and loved the short chapters.

The ending was fantastic too! Loved it! A solid mystery book that keeps you hooked until the finally page!

I thought this was a really well written story and I enjoyed it for the most part but it did drag in some places and it was difficult keeping track of things at times. I do love Catherine Steadman though and eagerly await her next book.

If you’re reading this review trying to decide if Look in the Mirror is for you, if it’s worth the read, what it’s all about, I have two things to say. First, read the book. Second, buckle up! Told in alternating points of view, Look in the Mirror is smart, captivating, and chilling.

Nina’s brilliant father has passed away. Being his only heir, she’s left a house overseas, a tropical getaway she never knew existed. Unable to squash her curiosity, she decides she must go see what it’s all about in person. This is where the roller coaster ride of suspense begins.

I loved everything about this book, its fast pace, twists and turns, suspense, and mystery. Read it if you enjoy any of those things yourself. I found myself comparing it in my mind to a couple of movies/series I really enjoyed, but I don’t think I should say which ones. It might give too much away. So yeah, just read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy.

this was exactly what i wanted when i read it. i don't think it's phenomenal, but it's a solid thriller, and it was a perfect companion to building my new bookshelves :)