Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the arc of Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass.

This novel did not disappoint in the least. In a quiet town where an assisted facility sits among a small town where everyone knows everyone life can seem mundane. Nothing exciting or news worthy ever happens until Shelby’s twins leave their favorite stuffed animal at her best friend Mack’s restaurant. Returning to get the toy Shelby encounters a robbery in progress. The assailant terrorizes Shelby but leaves her alive with a promise to hurt her and her loved ones if she tells what happened.

Mack is devastated this could happen to her friend and that it happened in her business. The same night her husband Leo also vanishes. After his disappearance pieces start to fall into place that suggest Leo is alive and has been embezzling money from the assisted living facility, Mack is facing insurmountable debt, and Shelby’s attacker has resurfaced.

With the help of her patients at the care facility and a growing true crime podcast Shelby is hoping to end this nightmare.

This novel is a total page turner and the who and why were shocking. This is a great thriller to start 2025 off with.

Pub Date: February 11, 2025
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The ironic title notwithstanding, there is a lot going on in this small town in Minnesota where everyone knows everyone, and people start being attacked for no apparent reason. As the plot unfurls, we find out what connects the victims are some shady business dealings that center on the missing husband of one of the principle characters. The cast of this novel are amusing, quirky, and hellbent on figuring out what is going wrong. Yes, the novel veers into the cliche with the cast starting up their own true crime podcast and doing some internet sleuthing, but they eventually figure out whodunnit and how to stop the criminal. I say "veers" because the novel remains interesting and the plot twists are just unique enough to be entertaining and almost amusing, if it weren't for all the dastardly events happening around town and more missing people piling up. Recommended for mystery lovers and true crime podcast listeners alike.

I really enjoyed this Seraphina Nova Glass novel. While it wasn't my favorite of hers, I still couldn't put it down. I always love the characters in her books - they always seem to have a "found family" feel. This one was no exception.

This was a great domestic thriller with a cast of characters you will not want to leave! A well-written mystery about a killer that returns to a small northern town after lying in wait for over 20 years. With the help of some very lovable and funny retirees and their podcast, all will soon be revealed. A great combo of sly humor and creepy atmosphere. Highly recommend! #nothingeverhappenshere #seraphinanovaglass #netgalley #goodreads

Fifteen months ago, Shelby was almost killed in an attack at the café. Since then, she’s been doing what she can to recover and heal from the trauma. Things are progressing as well as they can given the circumstances, until she finds a threatening note on her car. The same night of the attack, Shelby’s best friend Mack’s husband Leo went missing. To this day, no one knows where he is - but new information comes to light, giving Mack a lead. Our last POV, Florence, is a lovely older woman looking for a new hobby - that hobby being to start a podcast to solve these true crimes.

I loved this! And I’m not just saying that because I share the main character’s first name - that’s just a bonus 😌 The first chapter caught my attention, but what really sold it to me was the Florence POVs, with her and her friends at the senior living home. I was cracking up! They gave the book a fun element similar to Only Murders in the Building! The second half of the book is action-packed with adrenaline - my heart was palpitating for real! I was so stressed for everyone left and right! Each chapter dropped a bomb that forced you to keep going. Could not put it down. Great read!

[Thank you to NetGalley and HTP Books for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

Nothing ever happens in the small town of Rivers Crossing...until it does. Shelby survives a terrible attack that leaves her scarred in more ways than one. A year later, everyone in town seems to be in danger…

This book is wild from start to finish. There are a number of characters to keep track of. My favorite parts of the story involved a group of senior sleuths and podcasters. I thought that they were very entertaining. The story features multiple points of view. The premise was interesting, yet overall it felt a little out of control, and too implausible for me. The ending was definitely unexpected.

CW | Contains a frequent amount of strong profanity.

After reading and absolutely loving The Vacancy in Room 10, I immediately requested to read and review Nothing Ever Happens Here and am so glad I did!

Seraphina Nova Glads did it again! The funniest thriller I have ever read! I absolutely love Florence, Herb, Mort and Millie. The comical aspect to this thriller was everything. I literally laughed out loud more than once!

On top of being laugh out loud funny this was such a gripping small town thriller that will keep you guessing!

Thank you Harlequinn Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advance readers copy.
Release date: Feb 11, 2025 (mark your calendar’s!)

The book opens with a brutal attack that leaves one woman traumatized and the rest of her town on edge. After Shelby Dawson survives being locked in a restaurant freezer by an unknown assailant she struggles to recover. Fifteen months later she and her best friend Mackenzie are still trying to figure out what happened that night. Mackenzie's husband Leo disappeared the same night as Shelby's attack. Are the two events connected? Was Leo Shelby's attacker? When local retirees decided to make a podcast about that night they discover a web of obsession, lies and murder. I love Seraphina Nova Glass's books because they are always an exciting ride. The characters are complex, there is humor throughout and the climax is intense. I look forward to her books every year. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The first chapter of this book made me think that it would be a very different type of book even knowing that Shelby survives based on the cover description. The book has a heavy focus on the well-meaning seniors (think Only Murders in the Building if they brought in a few friends and had no Selena/Mabel to stop them doing stupid stuff). They even have a podcast.

Nothing Ever Happens Here is also written from three characters’ perspectives. I am not always a fan of the multiple points of view setup but it works for this book most of the time. There are a few too many similar characters that it takes a while to focus on who is talking, especially as the majority of scenes are with each other. But it helps rule out some people as you know they were with another person at the time.

The character’s actions were more frustrating than the book setup. Just why are you all going out alone with someone after you? Sure, it is a small town, but your police are this bad even after everything that has happened? The detective just takes himself off for an all you can eat dinner and doesn’t care?

At some point, you will suspect pretty much every man mentioned. I did suspect them for a while, moved on to others. I hadn’t fully committed to a suspect but it wasn’t a huge shock when they were revealed. However, that ending? Did not see that coming.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Graydon House for the advance copy. This will be available February 11th 2025.

This one had me all over the place. There was a really fantastic level of “I don’t know what the heck is going on” that actually worked so well for the story. I was always second guessing everyone, their motives, their reliability. It was a really great reading experience.

This book took me completely out of the world I live in and into this little Montana town. I loved Shelby. The resilience this woman has is compelling. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves -this could never happen in a small town- reads. I really enjoyed this!

Thank you @htpbooks @graydonhousebooks for the complimentary DRC.

This has an opening chapter that gave me the creeps and may have raised my expectations a bit too high for the rest of the book. It took me over a week to read this because the pace was so slow. I had frustrations with characters’ decision making throughout as well as the overly inept police. I didn’t see the twist coming at all, if there were any hints as to who it was, I totally missed them, though there were plenty red herrings. I enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the entire cast of senior citizens and I always appreciate being kept guessing which this one did. Overall, I liked it and would recommend it if you want more of a slower paced mystery.

I have enjoyed this author's books in the past and was stoked to read this one. It started off so good and immediately pulled me in. Unfortunately, the pace fizzled out throughout the middle. It was too slow moving for me. There are a lot of characters, and at times it was hard to keep track of them all. I did enjoy the old folks…but the actions of the police and the others, just got under my skin. Now, saying that, I did like the ending. It totally caught me off guard, and I love how it all came together. So although this wasn't my favorite by this author, I'll still be picking up her future books.

Thank you the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This work presents an intriguing combination of psychological thriller and mystery, articulated through various perspectives. Although the pacing is a slow burn, it remains an engaging read. The unforeseen plot twists kept me in suspense as I endeavored to connect the narrative threads. I appreciated the author's writing style and will certainly explore their future publications.

What a snooze fest!! I dreaded reading this book after the first 30% as it just dragged on and on. A small Minnesota town experiences a terrible night during which a mother is a victim of attempted murder and her best friend’s husband disappears. A year later, the police have caught no one and apparently it’s because they just didn’t investigate. Not their thing? I don’t know, that’s never really explained. Anyway, the old folks at the assisted living center where almost-murder victim Shelby works decide to start investigating themselves, and to make a podcast about it. They are an endearing, but bumbling group, and are the best part about this book.

PROS:

- The old people

CONS:

- Everyone else. There were way too many characters and I NEVER found a way to keep them straight. The two best friends are the same person as far as I’m concerned, and the one that still has a husband - well…he’s almost never around, so it makes her interchangeable with the one whose husband is missing. Then two different men move back to town at the same time and they both used to date (I think?) either one of the friends, or something like that and they both just ended an engagement maybe? It’s all just way too similar and I stopped caring.
- The writing. Awful. It was really just the worst. I don’t know if the author was trying to make it sound like small-town Minnesota, or if she just rambles and leaves half the dialogue to just be implied because that’s how she writes.
- “The Oleander’s”….so this is the name of the assisted living place and it is referenced on most pages, so that gave me about 150 opportunities to just be irritated and confused. The Oleander’s WHAT? Why is it possessive? Why isn’t it just “The Oleander?” Or “Oleander’s” if that’s someone’s name or something?

I could not get through this fast enough and skimmed the last 19% and missed absolutely nothing.

I love a good thriller. Seraphina Nova Glass knows how to write thrillers! I have really enjoyed her books, they are always good and quick reads. This one was decent but I didn’t love it!

read if you like:
🏘️ small town thrillers
👥 lots of characters
🗣️ multiple POV’s

summary:
This was my first Seraphina Nova Glass book and it definitely won’t be my last. It follows Shelby, mother of 2, living in a small Minnesota town and working at an assistant living home. A year ago, she found herself the victim of a harrowing attack in her best friend’s restaurant, left for dead in a freezer, and barely survived. After she tried to put the event behind her, she finds a note on her windshield with the exact same threat the attacker made. Her best friend, Mack’s husband, Leo, disappeared that same night, and Shelby’s residents at the assistant living center decide to start a podcast to investigate the mysterious events in this small town. As their investigation heats up, the threats start to escalate, and it’s clear someone is looking for revenge — or to finish the job they started a year ago.

This book is quirky in the best way. The main characters are a group of small town senior citizens, and the way they approach their sleuthing is both endearing and creative. I loved the story told from alternating POV’s, as I got to know each of the characters so well. Both Mack and Shelby are fascinating, but Mack’s ability to navigate the business without her husband while uncovering his mistakes is admirable and strong. The story’s settings also add to the small town charm — the senior center, Mack’s restaurant, the police station, and all transformed me into a world that was so unlike that of most thrillers! The only challenging part of the book is keeping track of all the characters at the beginning — it gets easier but I did struggle to keep track of who was who for the first few chapters. The ending is endearing and SHOCKING — you won’t see it coming, and it’s brilliant how all of the stories come together.

I loved this unique book and encourage everyone to read it when it releases on February 11! Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Graydon House for the advanced copy.

Overall I liked this book. It reminded me a lot of “Only Murders in the Building” with the podcast element, quirky older characters, and the mix of suspense but humor thrown in as well.

Shelby is attacked one night at her friend Mackenzie's café late at night. Over a year later the attacker hasn't been apprehended. Also that night was the night her Mackenzie's husband disappeared. Shelby works at a retirement community and a group of residents start to investigate a mystery when a friend passes away with mysterious notes left behind concerning Shelby and Mackenzie. The retirement community residents were my favorite characters: Florence a former newscaster wanting to solve the mystery, Millie always a bit tipsy, Mort teaching literature on YouTube, and Herb the only driver and always snacking. The book is told from Shelby, Mackenzie and Florence's points of view.

Unraveling Secrets In "Nothing Ever Happens Here"

In Nothing Ever Happens Here, Serephina Nova invites readers into the intricate and chilling landscape of a small Minnesota town, where the past clings like a shadow. The novel takes us on an emotional rollercoaster through trauma and the unsettling lure of unresolved mysteries.

Meet Shelby Dawson

At the heart of this suspenseful tale is Shelby Dawson, a fierce survivor of a brutal attack. After fifteen grueling months filled with fear, she’s determined to reclaim her life. With her steadfast best friend Mackenzie by her side, Shelby begins to discover a sense of security. But just when it seems like she might finally catch a break, ominous notes appear, drawing her back into a nightmare she thought was behind her.

Weaving Tension And Intrigue

Nova masterfully crafts a narrative rich with suspense, interlacing Shelby’s haunting past with the tangled lives of her friends. The dual perspectives add layers to the storyline, immersing us deeper into the psychological landscape. Although some pacing felt a bit slow at times—leaving me eager for a cliffhanger that wouldn’t reveal itself for several chapters—the deliberate choice ultimately enriched the complexity of the connections at play.

Themes That Resonate

While there are moments of frustration with certain plot developments, the core themes of trust, fear, and resilience shine brightly, compelling readers to reflect on their own experiences. I found myself captivated by Nova’s prose, which creates a palpable atmosphere of suspense, making it hard to put the book down.

Looking Ahead

As I closed the final pages, I couldn’t help but look forward to what Serephina Nova has up her sleeve for future works. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, Serephina Nova, and HarperCollins Publishing for the opportunity to dive into this gripping story!

Seraphina Nova Glass never fails to write a twisty & dramatic thriller. I loved getting to know all the characters and the layers they brought to this book. I was kept guessing until the end… although slightly turned off by how things wrapped up. Definitely a must read for fast-paced thriller fans with an ending you will not predict.