Thank you Leah Orr, Orrplace Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and Netgalley for the eArc of The Fruitcake.

This is a first for me with the author, Leah Orr and I enjoyed it very much. A very quick read from various POVs, and mainly in first person. the character's are cleverly built and you get a great sense of these friends and the tradition of giving a variety of fruitcakes. I love how dark the plot line got which mixes well with the mystery/thriller base. There is some great foreshadowing in the writing and I loved the dark humour. A great , medium paced quick read.

4 stars

Great read! This had me hooked from the beginning and kept me guessing. A lot was going on, but it was well written, and all of the pieces fell together. On a side note, I will probably never buy a fruitcake!

Leah Orr’s The Fruitcake is a deliciously dark and twisted thriller that turns a beloved Christmas tradition into a deadly game. Set in the affluent Laguna Palms neighborhood on Florida’s Hutchinson Island, this novel masterfully blends suburban charm with spine-chilling suspense. What begins as a lighthearted tale of friendship and holiday festivities quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, betrayals, and murder.

The story follows Holly Kelly, a Miami transplant eager to settle into her picturesque new community with her husband and lively triplets. She soon finds herself embraced by a trio of glamorous and gossipy neighbors — Gina, Greta, and Chloe. But the seemingly perfect neighborhood holds dark secrets, and when the annual fruitcake exchange leaves a trail of dead bodies in its wake, the women are thrust into a dangerous game of amateur sleuthing. Orr expertly uses split narration, allowing readers to experience the drama from multiple perspectives, adding layers of tension and intrigue.

What sets The Fruitcake apart is its seamless blend of domestic drama and psychological suspense. The setting, complete with sprawling mansions and manicured lawns, serves as the perfect backdrop for the unraveling chaos. Just as in Desperate Housewives, appearances are deceiving, and Orr’s sharp wit and keen eye for social commentary shine through as the cracks in Laguna Palms’ pristine facade are laid bare.

The mystery itself is gripping, with each twist more unsettling than the last. As men mysteriously vanish and reappear “changed,” and neighbors meet untimely fates, the stakes skyrocket. Orr balances the tension with moments of dark humor and biting dialogue, making the novel compulsively readable. The friendship between Holly and her friends adds warmth and relatability, though trust becomes a slippery concept as suspicions rise.

With mature themes including violence, kidnapping, and horror elements, The Fruitcake is a suspenseful holiday read best suited for adult audiences. Orr’s fast-paced storytelling and skillful plotting will keep readers guessing until the very end. Just when you think you’ve unwrapped the final layer of this sinister fruitcake, another shocking revelation awaits.

Perfect for fans of:
Dark domestic thrillers
Stories with complex female friendships
Twisty mysteries with a dash of dark humour
Fans of Desperate Housewives and Big Little Lies

If you’re craving a holiday read that’s anything but sweet, The Fruitcake is the perfect pick. Just be warned — you might never look at a fruitcake the same way again.

Yaaaas! I loved this book so much. The neighborhood was perfect, the neighbors insane and I loved the plot. The girl in the basement was intense. Loved this book so much

Four friends, one fruitcake and an expensive town full of secrets.
Holly Kelly, her husband and three triplets move to lavish Laguna Palms from Miami. She makes 3 new friends: Gina, a former model; Greta, who works from home and husband stays at home caring for the kids; and Chloe, a married school teacher with a daughter. One of the neighbors starts a tradition of sending a neighbor a fruitcake at Christmas as a kind gesture. The holiday fruitcake exchange takes a dark turn and bodies start piling up. There are also disturbing disappearances where men disappear then reappear in the neighborhood but changed. When it’s Hollys turn to deliver on Christmas Eve, she hears screaming inside their house and sees something horrific.

The story is told over the course of years, including COVID. The novel incorporated humor and darkness involving topics such as kidnapping, depression and abuse while involving laugh out moments. It had comedic characters with relatable life issues. It was thought provoking exploration of human behavior and relationships. The story had relatable characters and their daily struggles.

Thank you #netgalley and #Leah Orr for the ARC

The Fruitcake by Leah Orr is a charming and heartwarming read that combines humor, nostalgia, and a touch of whimsy. Orr’s writing is light yet engaging, and the story has a cozy, festive atmosphere that makes it a perfect read for those looking for something comforting. The characters are endearing, and their personal growth is well-executed, offering moments of emotional depth alongside the lighter, more humorous parts of the narrative.

The plot, while simple, is full of heart, and the underlying themes of family, tradition, and the unexpected joy that can come from embracing life’s quirks shine through. The pace is steady, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader invested in the characters’ journeys. While it doesn’t break new ground in terms of plot, The Fruitcake offers a delightful escape and a feel-good reading experience.

Overall, The Fruitcake is a sweet, enjoyable read that will leave you with a smile. It’s a perfect book to pick up when you need a comforting, lighthearted story to unwind with.

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

Anyone interested in reading a very unique thriller will want to pick up The Fruitcake, by Leah Orr. The story, about four friends who live in a luxurious, high-end cul de sac, decide to continue a tradition started by Patty, who died when eating a fruitcake. Each year one of the neighbors would deliver a fruitcake to another neighbor. Unfortunately, the recipient of the fruitcake each year has a terrible accident, but they still carry on. There is a subplot where one of the homes is inhabited by the Hudson sisters, who aren’t friendly and keep to themselves. When the protagonist, Holly, delivers a fruitcake to them, she sees a murder take place through the front door. There are strange goings on at the Hudson house.

The writing is a bit amateurish, when compared to some of the bestselling authors of the day, it is readable. Each chapter jumps around from character to character with no apparent pattern, and there is a lot of time spent on the history of the Hudson family without equal time spent on the other characters. Some of the information on the Hudson family insinuates that all people from Utah are involved in a cult of polygamists, which isn’t true and Orr would do herself a favor to include facts that aren’t misleading. The development of the characters other than the Hudsons is a bit lacking, and the main and supporting characters come off as quite shallow. While there is some suspense, the ending is not a surprise.

All told, in spite of the less than spectacular writing and characterizations, the novel is interesting and one that is so unique that it is worth reading, if for no other reason that there are fun fruitcake facts and recipes at the end of the novel. Readers will want to start an annual fruitcake exchange of their own, since the Hudson sisters aren’t their neighbors.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Fruitcake is a cute thriller perfect for the holiday season! Despite it being a thriller, I found this book lighthearted and funny. I’ll definitely be recommending it this upcoming holiday season!

This book had me enraptured from the very beginning! There's so much going on with these neighbors - raising triplets, foot "modeling", a cursed fruitcake exchange, and many dark secrets. I enjoyed the author's writing style and the witty exchanges between the characters.

This was a fun read! Not very high quality when it comes to pacing and writing but still entertaining and that is all I need sometimes. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

This dark holiday (?) book was full of twists and turns. A great, quick book to read curled up by the cozy fire

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick and easy read. The added cookbook at the end was a cute little touch. However, I did find the book very strange. It was choppy and some parts were very rushed. Some parts were funny though! This is not my normal type of read - but overall it was not bad.

I love this book! Leah Orr beautifully weaves a darkly delightfully twisted tale for the holidays. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat Grab the eggnog and perhaps a fruitcake and sit down for a great read.

I love everything written by Leah Orr! She always adds humor to her mystery thrillers and this was no exception. The dialogue is witty and clever - I laughed out loud from start to finish. Holly is my mean girl hero!! The book includes many shocking/startling revelations and the ending was jaw-dropping!!! Now there’s more reason to wildly dislike fruitcake!!
Make sure to read the short story included‼️
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was NOT what I expected, but I really enjoyed it. Who knew fruitcake could be so deadly? And who knew that friends could be so deadly? When they say “keep your friends close and your enemies closer”, they may just have gotten that wrong. This is one of those books they you see convinced you know who the bad person is up until the made chapter when the author takes you for a 360 degree turn. I was SHOOKETH. I would have never suspected this person, but once it was revealed to me, I honestly wasn’t surprised. Sometimes the most diabolical people are the bones you least suspect.

This is a good story for those who enjoy those nosy neighbor dramas with a sprinkling of even more drama. You couldn’t pay me to live in this neighborhood, but his absolutely want to be friends with someone who does just for the drama b/c let’s be honest, I’m nosy. This is a grab your popcorn kind of book b/c you’ll not want to put it down for long. You’ll read this in a few sittings and be left shaking your head at the ending.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

The Fruitcake is a quirky and fun (and a little gruesome!) murder mystery. There's a lot going on in this book but you can slowly piece everything together as you read, and the ending is satisfying. The four friends are well developed characters and you'll definitely laugh at times!

The Fruitcake by Leah Orr is a sharp and suspenseful murder mystery set in the seemingly perfect Laguna Palms community. When a holiday fruitcake exchange triggers a string of bizarre deaths, secrets unravel, and dark humor mixes with Southern charm. Leah Orr delivers clever twists and an entertaining plot, though the multiple characters and perspectives can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Overall, it’s a fun, fast-paced read for fans of mysteries with a dark edge and quirky charm.

I enjoyed this book. It was different and very interesting. It will definitely help to get you into the holiday spirits. Oh, and the fruitcake..... you have to read this one. I will absolutely be recommending this book to others. This is the first time reading this author, and I am so glad that I got the chance. I will be looking forward to more.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

What a fantastic read from start to finish. I have to say I'm never buying a fruit cake again lol .
It had me on edge of my seat all the way through.