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Psychological thrillers often walk a delicate line between suspense and emotional depth—and The Silent Patient does this masterfully. Alex Michaelides takes readers into the eerie and gripping story of Alicia Berenson, a renowned painter who shoots her husband in the face and never speaks another word. Her silence becomes both her prison and her power. The world is left wondering: why did she do it?

Enter Theo Faber, a psychotherapist obsessed with Alicia’s case. Determined to uncover the truth and help her speak again, Theo’s journey into Alicia’s mind becomes far more personal—and more dangerous—than he ever expected. As Alicia begins to share her story through fragments of her diary, the line between therapist and patient begins to blur, and the real horror slowly unfolds.

Michaelides writes with precision and compassion about the struggles of those living with mental illness. Rather than portraying Alicia simply as a criminal, he delves deeply into her past traumas, exploring how they shaped her present and led her down such a destructive path. The novel thoughtfully examines how unhealed wounds from childhood, if left unattended, can fester and explode—how suppressed emotions can act like a ticking time bomb, waiting for that one final trigger.

What captivated me most was not just the suspense, but the emotional gravity of both Theo’s and Alicia’s inner worlds. Through Alicia’s haunting diary entries and Theo’s unraveling life, the novel raises powerful questions: How much of who we are is shaped by our past? Can we ever truly understand another person’s pain? And what happens when we fail to confront our own?

At its heart, The Silent Patient is not just a psychological thriller—it’s a chilling reminder of the importance of facing our trauma, seeking help when we need it, and building a strong support system. It shows how silence, when used as a coping mechanism, can become a scream that no one hears.

Gripping, emotionally layered, and packed with twists, The Silent Patient leaves you breathless and reflective. Michaelides crafts a narrative that is both a puzzle and a mirror—one that challenges us to examine not just what we know, but what we believe about others and about ourselves.

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The Hospital is a gripping psychological thriller that centers around a young woman who wakes up in an unfamiliar place, with no memory of how she got there or what has happened. As she is taken to an isolated island and placed under the care of a mysterious hospital, a deep sense of unease settles in. Though those around her claim to be helping, something inside her warns against trusting them. But more disturbingly—can she even trust herself? With nothing but a Kindle and a gun in her possession, her journey becomes a chilling quest for truth, survival, and identity.

A.G. Twist wastes no time in pulling readers into the story. From the first few pages, you’re plunged into the main character’s confusion, fear, and determination. The narrative is immersive, often placing the reader squarely in the protagonist’s shoes—feeling what she feels, questioning what she questions. While some might say the story grows repetitive at times, I believe the repetition serves a purpose. By the end, it becomes clear how these loops of thought and memory reflect the chaos within the character’s mind. The unpredictable twists and dreamlike imagery can feel overwhelming, but that’s exactly what makes the experience so authentic and unforgettable. I wouldn’t change a thing about how it was written.

At its core, The Hospital explores the incredible strength of the human mind and the imagination. It suggests that our inner world can be both a sanctuary and a battleground—capable of saving us, or destroying us. The novel also shines a light on female resilience, showing just how far a woman can go when driven by love, survival, and the need to protect those she cares about.

This book left me thoughtful, stirred, and deeply impressed. It’s more than a thriller—it’s a powerful meditation on trauma, memory, and the strength we often don’t know we have until we’re tested.

Trigger warning: this book contains themes of sexual assault (SA)

[hereswatithink]

Let Him In by William Friend is a story of two young girls, recently orphaned by the loss of their mother, find comfort in a shape-shifting dark shadow they call the Black Mamba. Alfie, their grieving father, dismisses it at first, but when things begin to spiral out of control, he realizes he needs help. He turns to the girls' aunt, Julia, a psychiatrist, for assistance.

The story centers on the dark creature haunting the Hart House, as well as the themes of grief, guilt, and the struggle to preserve the memories of loved ones who are gone.

[hereswatithink]

A girl started receiving calls from a stalker and months later she winds up dead. She was a writer with secrets to spill, but before her last books was published her manuscript was nowhere to find and two more dead bodies were found.

The Body of Evidence is a story that leaves the mind of the readers puzzled from beginning to end. A classic murder story asks who the killer is, but other than that, this book challenges us to also question their motives (and belive me, it's not what you think it is). Patricia Cornwell had crafted a story that would leave us at the edge of our seats as we dig into the secrets and actions in the narrative of the forensic pathologist, Dr. Scarpetta. In this second book, readers can expect that all our questions regarding the case will be answered just as we close the last chapter.

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It is not unusual that we hear stories about how two opposite people ends up falling in love with each other.

The setting takes place in a school trip to London, where Julia, a straight-A student, was forced to be partnered with Jason, the rule breaker. At the course of their trip, Julia lets herself loosen up for one night, which led to a quest of finding the mysterious guy she could not remember.

Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill is a story that would capture the heart of young adults who seemed to be so sure of who they want to be with. However, the story reveals that fate works in great ways and sometimes the people we least thought is the match for us are most likely the perfect one. Meant To Be isn't just about finding the right person, but it is also finding them at the right place and at the right time.

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Eva Walker has an undeniable gift when it comes to solving mathematical equations. As if that is not enough, she is also blessed with the ability to see the fears and insecurities of people through touching their things. For Eva, this is a curse which hinders her from getting into an intimate relationship, until she met Zenn Bennett.

Zenn Diagram is not like any of those I have previously read and it is a good thing. I was usually good at guessing the plot twists but what Wendy Brant gave me was something unexpected.

The last part for me was kind of a let down. It was as if it had been rushed or cut short. I hate that it ended without answering the question of how she even got her ability? and is there any chance for her to stop getting those fractals?

Zenn Diagram is one of those stories that show how fate works mysteriously. This reminds us that somehow, at certain point of our existence, we are going to meet people that could change our lives forever.

[hereswatithink]

Georgie McCool and Neal Grafton has a complicated marriage. They still love each other but Neal has become a third wheel on their marriage as Georgie spends more time on her career. When Georgie found an old landline in her mother's house and was able to talk to her husband in 1998, she was unsure whether she should prevent her marriage from happening or use it to fix their present.

Landline by Rainbow Rowell may just be my new favorite among her works (Eleanor & Park is my new second). I honestly thought it would be a slow pacing story revolving around the magic landline but it was not— it was able to cover the story of family, friendship, and career. I like how the character of Neal breaks the stigma that men should be working in the office while women stays at home nurturing the children. Georgie's character pictured those women with clear vision of what and where they wanted to be.

Landline is not a story of time traveling. It is a story about how marriage is never perfect, and how it is a continuous effort and sacrifices between two people. Because Nobody's lives just fit together. Fitting together is something you work at. It's something you make happen - because you love each other.

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Lily Bloom is a picture of a strong woman who is willing to take the risk of leaving everything in order to achieve her dream. She loves breaking the norm— from falling in love with a homeless man to decorating a steampunk themed bouquet of flowers.

Ryle Kincaid is a neurosurgeon who loves his career more than anything therefore he has no plan of getting involved in a relationship especially not in marriage. This changed when he met Lily.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover can bring out all of the reader's emotions. I fell in love, I was heart broken, then I was greatly angered. But then I felt courageous, then hopeful. I have always been a fan of CoHo's work but this one was a bit different from my previous reads because it changed my perception of love. It taught me that one must never lose sight of the limitations on things we are willing to give and receive.

It Ends With Us amplifies the voices of those who have suffered an abusive relationship. It tells the story behind the closed doors of our houses, and revealed the physical and emotional trauma that one experiences from their partner.

I really hope everyone gets a chance to read this wonderful creation and learn to only acknowledge the love each of us deserves. Let this be the way for us to start breaking the chain of abusive home environment. Let it end with us.

[hereswatithink]

It was four years ago when I attempted to read the first book of the Mara Dyer Trilogy. I was probably too young, too immature, and impatient to appreciate it before, but now given the plenty of time, I was able to come back to this masterpiece.

The Unbecoming was exhilarating and I just wanted so badly to get all the answer to the questions raised in the story. I honestly cannot put the book down as I was eager to understand what was happening to the main character. The book one ending left me with no words.

The Evolution was the most intense. This book gave a wonderful twist to the story. It answers most of the questions raised in the previous book, but still left the readers the desire to know what will happen next. This is actually my favorite part for it contains strong confrontation between the antagonist and protagonists.

The Retribution was the revelation of all the secrets. First half of the book was interesting but not as much as the previous two books. The last half, for me, was a let down. It could have been more mind blowing rather than ending it in a light tone. Nevertheless, this is totally a must read.

[hereswatithink]

This is the definition of thriller and suspense...

Reading this past midnight, holding my breath as I went through every words, it felt like I am living the life of the main character. It immediately captures the attention of the readers in the first few pages, leaving us unable to put the story down for hours. I was just quite disappointed in the ending as it is not as strong as what I expected. Nevertheless, the story is one of the best I've read so far.

It's hard to believe it took me a long while before knowing about Christopher Greyson, but I am looking forward to reading more of his series.

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Megan never thought she could ever be the Juliet in her own love story. It always felt like she was destined to be Rosaline, the girl that Romeo dumps before meeting the love of his life.

I thought I would not be able to relate to the story since I barely even know Romeo & Juliet (I know it's a classic, but I was never a fun of would-kill-myself-for-love kind of romance). On the first 1/3 of the book, Megan was definitely not my favorite character. She acted like someone so desperate for attention. Anthony, however, was the best all throughout the story. Best part would be the last four or hree chapters which send tears to my eyes, and made me regret for not being able to find this book on paperback.

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Maddy has been sick her whole life. She's been stuck in her house reading books and taking online classes. She's under the supervision of Carla, a nurse who also turned out to be her friend, and her mother who is a doctor. She's been contented with the life she had inside her bubble until Olly and his family arrived in their neighborhood. They started messaging each other and she decided to take the risk of getting out of her house even if it means she could die.

I haven't watched the film so there won't be any comparison between the book and the movie.

I just wanted to say.. I SAW THAT ONE COMING but of course I wasn't sure until I came across the twist. The story encourages the readers to live their life and to take every risk.

[hereswatithink]

Charlie lost her mother at a young age, leaving her in a house surrounded by three older brothers. She never had the chance to learn what it was like to be a girl, and now that she started encountering "boy problems", it puts her into great confussion about her own identity— a strong, sporty girl or one that enjoys styling up and going on dates.

Unfortunately I was only able to read it via pdf, but I am looking forward to having a paperback copy of this one 'coz I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. It made me want to be part of their family. The bonding was so strong, the characters are so funny. The love was just so innocent and it sends tickles in my heart.

This is definitely my new favorite ❤

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When certain things went wrong, things we cannot comprehend, it was always easy to put the blame on others — that's what happened to the two girls of TwinLakes.

Tired of being treated as monsters in their town, the girls tried to solve the murder of their bestfriend, who was said to be killed by a fictional character, known as The Shadow, in a fanfiction they were writing.

It's a story of friendship, love, and mystery. I was few pages away from the end when it revealed the killer, so it would leave you guessing the whole time.

Truly one of the best, and will certainly read it again.

10/10 ⭐⭐⭐

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Highschool is a tough year for most girls, but for Kay Donovan it was tough for reasons none would expect. She tries to solve tasks left by a dead girl while also trying to search for the killer and at the middle of it all, she became one of the top suspect for murder.

"People Like Us" by Dana Mele was intense enough to keep my hands and feet sweating from excitement and curiosity. The twists were great, and very unexpected. The suspect is someone you would have guessed at the beginning, but the deeper you dig into the story, you will start to doubt your own predictions.

For people up for thrill and mystery, this one's for you.

10/10

[hereswatithink]

Being in a community quarantine gave me time to finally finish this story.

The story of 9/11 is without a doubt a tragic, devastating tale to go back to every year, but in Hope and Other Punch Lines, Julie Buxbaum was able to turn the horrific story into one that is filled with hope and heroic memories.

The story would make you cry at 3 am and laugh a few minutes later, so if you're up to experience a rollercoaster of emotions, this one's for you.

8/10

[hereswatithink]

Ever since I saw this, I've got it on my list and time after time I looked for it in the bookstores, but it's just too hard to find. Now the wait is over, and those years of searching was totally worth it.

The whole reading experience was superb and I honestly still can't get over it. The story was very creative as I have not expected things to turn out the way they did. The characters were very lovable especially Miles, who seemed to be the dream guy of most females.

I'm looking forward to reading more works of Francesca Zappia and if you're up to crazy wonderful things, this one's for you! (Trust me, I'm not making that up 😝)

10/10 ⭐⭐⭐