I went into Samantha M. Bailey's "Hello, Juliet" expecting a good, twisty thriller, and honestly, it delivered... mostly. You know those books that just pull you in with a familiar vibe? That's this one. It's got that "is he or isn't he?" stalker feeling, but with a modern, tech-y twist that definitely made me pause and think about my own online habits.
Ivy? Girl, I felt for her. She's dealing with some serious past trauma, and you can practically feel her anxiety radiating off the page. There were definitely moments where I wanted to yell, "Just put down the phone!" or "Don't go there!" because, well, you know how it is in thrillers. We all see the danger before the characters do. But that's part of the fun, right?
What really got me was how Bailey used social media and dating apps to amp up the creep factor. It's so relatable! We all live so much of our lives online, and this book really made me think about how easily that can be turned against us. It's a bit unsettling, in a good way.
Now, I'll be honest, there were parts where I rolled my eyes a little. Some of the side characters felt a bit flat, and the ending, while it tied things up, felt a bit too quick. Like, "Wait, that's it?" But hey, I was entertained! It was a solid, suspenseful read that kept me guessing.
If you're looking for a book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and you love a good thriller with a bit of a "be careful what you post" message, "Hello, Juliet" is worth checking out. It's not going to blow your mind with originality, but it's a solid, enjoyable ride. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 4 because I was genuinely hooked. Plus, it made me seriously reconsider my privacy settings, so there's that!

This was a super twisty celebrity thriller that involves a group of teen tv stars gathering for a reunion show only for one to turn up dead and the other left scrambling to figure out who the killer is. I loved the flashbacks, the female friendship, the secrets and the incredible JAW dropping ending.

Bailey does such a great job delving into the world of celebrity, fame and the true cost of it all (mentally, financially and more). This was also great on audio with news snippets interspersed between the flashbacks. A new fav from this Canadian thriller author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

CW: drug overdose, alcohol abuse/addiction, toxic parental relationship