Nothing Ever Happens Here had all the makings of a great thriller. It immediately hooked me, had an intriguing plot line, and I loved the unique spin on the true crime podcast being hosted by a group of senior citizens. However, the execution fell flat. I felt like there were too many side characters that I was often left confused, and had a hard time tracking. The pacing towards the end of the book slowed, and I was continually frustrated by the gaslighting of two of the FMC’s.

I have loved previous Serafina Nova Glass books, but unfortunately, this one was just not it for me. I look forward to future books!

🎧 I did really enjoy the narration of this book however. They were cast exceptionally well. I will listen to anything Brittany Pressley narrates, I love her style!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for the gifted ARC and ALC.

This was an unpredictable mystery with such loveable characters and the perfect amount of twists for any mystery reader. While I admired the strong friendships and bonds in this story, the part that really left its mark was Florence and the rest of the members of Oleander Terrace, the assisted living facility. I won't compare this to other reads because this deserves to be its own. The elderly characters weren't cliché as we often see. They were real, vivid with their powerful personalities and witty dialogue. I can honestly say I am crossing my fingers to seeing them in future reads. That said, there were a lot of perspectives and characters to keep track of, but the only ones I had difficulty differentiating between in the beginning were Mack and Shelby. Once I did get my bearings, this story flowed seamlessly, and I was pleasantly shocked by the end. The writing was descriptive and atmospheric, especially being in the winter season. This was an entertaining, suspenseful, yet endearing read that I give four stars to.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

I enjoyed reading Nothing Ever Happens Here. It’s got a great mystery, and I honestly didn’t figure out who was behind everything until it was revealed at the end. I think the characters were solid as well and I loved the addition of the elderly residents from the senior living home. But did I take this novel seriously? Not at all. Despite the complicated nature of what was happening, the novel never felt super suspenseful. It almost felt like a cozy mystery to me- more laid back and fun rather than a “gripping thriller”. Maybe it’s because of the sleuthing seniors? Or the authors writing style? I’m not sure, but I never felt the urgency that one normally would in a thriller. In any event, it’s still a solid novel and I think many readers who have enjoyed the author’s novels in the past will like this one.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Nothing ever happens in small towns..." but the setting in this small town in Minnesota is about to change the statistics. Shelby survives a horrible attack while her two children are in the car waiting on her. She survived but has some scars and disabilities to show for it. A year later she receives anonymous notes on her car warning her she would not die but the ones around her would suffer. As she lives in fear, her best friend Mackenzie helps her through it. The night Shelby was attacked was in Mackenzie's restaurant and her husband Leo disappeared. Mackenzie finds out her husband has several dirty secrets
If it sounds confusing, it is. There are several characters as you try to keep them aligned, but the story moves very quickly. It is a race against time keeping you on edge. The adorable senior citizens in the local retirement home decide to open up a podcast. Much to everyone's surprise, it goes viral. This is the biggest entertainment of the book. This does not help Shelby, but the situation deepens with several unexplained deaths. In some situations you have to suspend your belief, but it is an entertaining popcorn thriller while dissecting the town's people.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Thank you to the author who has created some incredible stories.

This was a great book for audio. Since there are multiple POVs, the multiple narrators made it a super fun and easy listen. I flew through in two sittings at 1.75x and 2x towards the end. Brittany Pressley is fantastic.

My favorite things about this book were the elderly care home folks creating an investigative podcast, the multiple points of view, and the cute but campy plot. It is definitely more of a popcorn thriller with some fairly predictable plotlines. However that did not take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. SNG's books are so easy to read, fun, and digestible for all types of readers.

This was a particularly cute and funny thriller - if thrillers can be cute. It starts off with a bang and then settles into a lower level angst of suspense until a crescendo at the end. As with all SNG books, stay tuned until the very last page because there is always going to be one final twist.

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for this gifted ALC!

I’ve always been a fan of Seraphina Nova Glass, but Nothing Ever Happens Here topped everything she’s written before. It was so much fun to be with. It was witty, humorous, engaging and full of mystery. Sometimes, too many characters can convolute the storyline, but in this case, it only added to the intrigue. I kept wanting to find the ties that bound everyone. I especially loved the cast of older people navigating their way innocently through solving a mystery with technology. I laughed out loud often. I highly recommend this book if you need a cozy, yet enthralling, mystery. And a good laugh, to boot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I LOVED On a Quiet Street by this author but nothing I've read since has hooked me like that book. This one was too boring for me and I gave up at 25%.

The story builds tension effectively, leading to unexpected twists. The writing style is straightforward, making it great for readers looking for an engaging and quick read.
The elders and their sleuthing was my favorite part of the book, especially Flor(ence) and grumpy Herb. I did NOT expect that ending!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is by far my new favorite domestic thriller from Seraphina Nova Glass!! The story starts off strong and doesn't let up when a mother of young twin girls walks in on an armed and masked intruder, gets locked in the freezer and somehow manages to survive the encounter only for his threat that night to come back to haunt her months later.

Gripping, twisty, full of righteous feminist rage and a cast of memorable characters, including residents of the local care home. It was also great on audio and highly recommended for fans of books like the Thursday Murder Club series or authors like Laura Dave. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This author has seriously never let me down since the very first book I read from her! (Which if you're curious was vacancy in room 10)

There is something about the way she leaves the story just right. I get attached to characters, I chuckle, I lose characters, I cry, I feel relaxed and then my heart rate EXPLODES!

I love the characters in this story! The gang?! I can envision myself being Florence when I get older. They are this rag tag group of older - NOT OLD- people that all live together in a senior living facility. They are sassy, snacking, brutally honest besties who have no fear telling you to act right while going and saying the most out of pocket thing you could think of.

I loved the relationship with mack & Shelby too! Best friends till the end! (And even then I'm finding you after)

This is one of the few books where I figured out the who but I still didn't know the whole story until it was revealed and I loved that!

This has taken the top spot for my books by Ms Seraphina!

Thank you to HTP Books for my copy of NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE. This one comes out Feb 11.

Seraphina Nova Glass wrote a heck of a thriller here. I really enjoyed this one. I will miss these characters, well, most of them. This book really hooked me from the first page and kept me thinking about it constantly. I highly recommend this one and I will definitely be checking out more by Seraphina Nova Glass.

My first Seraphina Nova Glass book! I really enjoyed this. I loved Shelby and Mac’s friendship, but my favorite character was Florence! All the folks at Oleanders were the comic relief. I was on the edge of my seat the entire second half!
4.25/5

DNf at 15%. way too many characters; this one is bouncing around all over the place. It’s pretty exhausting to follow and read. Can’t really get into this one

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. This one was a slow go for me, I love the premise, but couldn't get into it Also alot of characters right off of the bat, and I would forget who I was reading about. However, I love this authors books and will continue to read future releases.

Everything changed in one night- the night that Shelby was attacked at Mackenzie's coffeehouse and Mackenzie's husband Leo disappeared. Shelby's been focusing on her family but now just as things are getting better, someone is leaving threatening notes and odd things are happening. So what to do? Well, these days see thrillers including podcasters and in this case it's a podcast run by a group of seniors (I know, that t00). The group investigates and discovers no one is safe until all the secrets and lies come out. I liked the seniors and the Minnesota winter atmospherics. It's just twisty enough to keep you guessing. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a good read.

📚Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass

CWs for graphic violence, assault (physical and sexual), stalking, debt, gambling, kidnapping, death

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review! 💖

3.5 stars (rounded down to 3 on Goodreads). I picked this ebook up because it was literally -40 degrees outside and it put me in the mood for a snowy thriller. While this definitely wasn’t a perfect book for me, I think it really delivered on the vibes I was looking for. I’d describe this book as being a cross between Karin Slaughter and Richard Osman. The opening scene was ROUGH (I wasn’t expecting it to be so intense straight out of the fate), but it had me hooked right from the start. This story follows 3 POVs: Shelby, Mack, and Florence. Shelby and Mack are best friends. A year prior, Shelby was assaulted (and almost murdered) one night. She had stopped back at Mack’s cafe to pick up a forgotten child’s toy. Coincidentally, Mack’s husband mysteriously disappeared the same night Shelby’s assault took place. He hadn’t been seen or heard from since. Florence lives in a senior living apartment, where she and the other residents decide to meddle and solve these mysteries themselves. I was pretty invested in the primary mysteries (Shelby’s assault and Mack’s husband’s whereabouts).

To be honest though, I could have done without Florence’s perspective altogether. I was just way more invested in Shelby and Macks POVs. Florence & friends added levity to what otherwise would have been a very dark story, but I think it got a little much at times. I’m also not a huge fan of the “older people banding together to solve a mystery” trend, but that’s just me. The pacing felt a little off at times, and there were some loose ends that left me with questions. I also didn’t love the big reveals or the direction the mysteries ended up going at the end, but again that’s totally a case of personal preference.

This isn’t going to be a new favorite thriller or anything, but I was still entertained and would recommend this others!

Pub Date: February 11th, 2025

Release: February 11, 2025
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing

Rating: 4 ★ 

Shelby Dawson barely survives a brutal attack and tries to move on, but a threatening note proves her nightmare isn’t over. As new evidence emerges and strange accidents target those around her, she realizes someone is still watching.

Meanwhile, her best friend Mackenzie searches for her missing husband, who vanished the same night Shelby was attacked. A shocking financial trail suggests he may still be alive. When another person disappears, Shelby must uncover the truth before her attacker strikes again.

Seraphina Nova Glass delivers a gripping domestic thriller with Nothing Ever Happens Here, proving once again that even the quietest towns hide the darkest secrets. The story follows a woman who moves to a seemingly peaceful neighborhood, only to find herself entangled in a dangerous web of lies, suspicion, and hidden motives.

What I loved most about this book was how effortlessly the suspense built throughout. The writing is sharp, and the tension never lets up, keeping me flipping pages late into the night. The protagonist is well-developed, and her paranoia feels justified as the layers of deception begin to unfold. The side characters add to the mystery, making it hard to know who to trust, which kept me guessing until the very end.

While the plot has some familiar domestic thriller elements, Glass executes them well, and the pacing keeps things engaging. The twists are clever, and even when I thought I had it all figured out, the story managed to surprise me.

Overall, Nothing Ever Happens Here is a fast-paced, addictive read with just the right balance of psychological tension and mystery. If you enjoy domestic thrillers filled with secrets and suspense, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Favorite Quote: 
"I remember, now, with all of these facts flying around me like shrapnel. I remember that he was actually shot in the head, and that he's actually lost his mind. I'm not just dealing with someone who snapped or is inherently evil- he could be brain damaged and completely unhinged- literally a clinical psychopath with no empathy or remorse, and that's very, very bad news for me."

A must read psychological thriller!

This was everything I needed in a thriller! What I loved about this one was that it was super easy to follow and was really well paced so I didn’t want to put it down. Sometimes you just need a simple thriller with a great story, great twists and great characters and this was exactly that.

I really enjoyed this story. Thank you Netgalley for the early arc of this one. I would highly recommend checking this out. It was so good. I gave it 5 stars. Ive never read anything by this author before, Im glad I read this one.

I had high hopes for “Nothing Ever Happens Here,” but unfortunately, it fell flat in several areas. While the premise—a woman trying to rebuild her life after a brutal attack, only to face new threats—sounded compelling, the execution left a lot to be desired.

One of the biggest issues was the pacing. The book attempts to balance suspense with character development, but instead, it drags in places where it should be tense and rushes through key moments that needed more depth. The "twists" felt predictable rather than shocking, making the mystery aspect underwhelming.

The characters also lacked depth. Shelby, the protagonist, is meant to be a traumatized but resilient survivor, yet her actions often felt frustratingly passive. The supporting cast, including the well-meaning elderly amateur detectives, were quirky but ultimately distracting rather than adding meaningful tension. Mackenzie, Shelby’s best friend, had potential, but her storyline felt underdeveloped.

Additionally, the book introduces multiple plotlines, including the disappearance of Mackenzie’s husband, but instead of weaving them together seamlessly, they felt disjointed. By the time the final revelations came, I wasn’t invested enough to be shocked.

While I appreciate that the author tried to mix humor and suspense, the tone didn’t quite land. The book couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a gripping thriller or a lighthearted mystery, and as a result, it never fully succeeded at either.

Overall, Nothing Ever Happens Here had a promising premise but ultimately failed to deliver a truly engaging thriller. Fans of the genre looking for a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat read might find this one lacking in both thrills and surprises.

Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.