As someone who’s never seen a horror film in her life and cringes away from Halloween decorations, None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney was an experiment. Mysteries, specifically thriller mysteries are not high on my list, but this book surprised and intrigued me. While I don’t have much background to judge and make comparisons, I thought the plot was unique and the characters interesting.

The FBI recruit two teenagers—one of which is a previous serial kill survivor, Emma Lewis, and the other a US Marshall candidate, Travis Bell—to interview juvenile killers in hopes of gaining insight for cold cases. But with a new serial killer, The Butcher, on the loose, Emma and Travis become increasingly tangled within an active case. While Emma grapples with her survivor’s guilt and contact with notorious killer, Simon Gutmunsson, a game emerges between two killers and Emma isn’t sure who she wants to win.

The writing and pace of the novel are perfect for what a psychological thriller should be. Marney provides just enough information and suspense to keep the pages turning. While the content was at times extremely disturbing—as it should be in a novel focused on serial killers—Marney does a good job of sprinkling in peaceful and hopeful scenes that balance the disgust we feel at the gruesome murders.

Overall I’d recommend this book to anyone who appreciates psychological thrillers. The story is good, the characters well-fleshed out, and the book well-written. However, I’d also extend a hand to those (like me) who are looking to experiment with a new genre. Psychological thriller is not a genre that frequents my bookshelf, but after reading this book I might need to reexamine. – Kira Kaplan

Cute, funny, light, and happy, Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter is everything a romantic comedy should be, and more. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough with this book, every chapter bringing a grin to my face.

Liz Buxbaum’s most prized possession just might be the stack of rom-coms left behind from her mother’s passing. She seems to have inherited the same extreme love and passion for rom-coms as her mom, which might be why she assumes she can create her own when the nearly perfect Michael Young moves back to town. In order to execute her perfect movie ending, she must team forces with her annoying neighbor, Wes Bennet, a torture to her since second grade. But as time goes on, she realizes that her picture of Wes might be entirely wrong. How had she missed the funny, cute, and kind boy just across the street? Struggling with her newfound feelings for the boy next door and the absence of her mother at the most important milestones, her life doesn’t feel like a rom-come at all.

I’ll give Lynn Painter props for knowing exactly how to write a good rom-com. The storyline itself, albeit a classic, is fun and full of interesting twists and turns. The characters are easily loveable and swoon worthy, the dialogue between them often hilarious and squeal-worthy. The “boy-next-door” and “enemy to lover” tropes are often overused, but Painter has managed to put her own twist on it to create a really good read.

This is definitely a book I’d read again when searching for an adorable romance or in need of a little fun. I’d recommend to anyone who loves romantic comedies, and even those who don’t! – Kira Kaplan