Book Review: The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty

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The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty is an Amazon Original Stories short story scheduled for publication on April 1, 2026. This short mystery story opens with Honey Beckett riding in an Uber on the way to her husband’s funeral, struggling to process the shocking reality that he is actually gone. The situation feels surreal to her, and as she arrives at the service, the emotions surrounding the day only become more complicated. Honey ultimately decides she needs to sit with Barney’s previous three ex-wives, and the gathering of these women creates a moment filled with tension, curiosity, and one final sense of betrayal that ties them all together. Because I am an Amazon Prime member, I received a digital copy of The Price of Honey for free through the Amazon First Reads program . A huge thank you goes out to Amazon for providing the opportunity to read this short story early before its official release. Programs like First Reads are a great way for readers to ...
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Book Review: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

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NetGalley ARC of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin opens with Sarah Slade, a social influencer, starting her life over with her husband by purchasing a house to renovate and planning to document the entire process for Sarah’s followers. The house carries a dark past, and when unexplained events begin happening, Sarah quickly realizes that something is very wrong and is desperate to uncover the truth behind the house.
 
Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin.  The synopsis was intriguing, and when I received word that my request to read and review this book, I was thrilled.  I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Although I didn’t necessarily find Sarah Slade or her husband particularly likable as characters, I was still invested in their story and found myself hoping that things would ultimately work out for Sarah. The novel is filled with twists, revelations, and unsettling moments that kept me guessing throughout. Just when I thought I had figured out what was happening, another twist would change everything. Whether the ending is satisfying or not is something readers will have to discover for themselves, but it certainly delivers a memorable conclusion.

Despite my mixed feelings about the main character, I was hooked from the very first page. The atmosphere is tense, eerie, and filled with a sense of creeping dread that builds steadily as the story progresses. Parts of the novel felt reminiscent of The Shining by Stephen King, particularly in the way the house itself seems to take on a life of its own and influence those living within its walls. The author does an excellent job creating a chilling environment that made me feel uneasy and on edge. There were several moments that genuinely creeped me out and made it difficult to put the book down.

I gave The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin four out of five stars for the reasons already mentioned. Additionally, the story is so engaging and disturbing that it keeps readers questioning what is real and what isn’t. You won't want to miss out on this suspenseful, creepy novel, and I personally look forward to reading more stories by Matlin.

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