Book Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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The Escape Game  by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss  opens on the set of a reality television show called "The Escape Room" where one of the season four contestants, Alicia Angelos, is found in a coffin on set ... dead. Fast forward to season five where Sierra Angelos, the murder victim's younger sister and suspected killer, has been brought back to the show and paired up with Beck, Adi, and Carter. Sierra wants to find justice for her sister, but when Sierra and her teammates start uncovering clues about the true killer, they must figure out how to survive the game. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for approving my request and providing me with a digital copy of The Escape Game  for free in exchange for my honest review. I was immediately drawn to the title and cover of the young adult novel. Throw in the plot being about an escape room, and I was completely sold on the story before even reading it. The story is told from the perspective of fou...
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Book Review: The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty

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Amazon First Reads Book Review of The Price of Honey (Deadly Ambition #1) by Liane Moriarty
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 discover new titles and upcoming releases, especially from well-known authors.

The synopsis of this mystery short story immediately caught my attention, and I was excited to dive into it. Since the story is only about 34 pages long, I was able to read it quickly. While the premise is intriguing and the setup hints at an interesting dynamic between Honey and Barney’s former wives, the story feels extremely condensed. With such a limited page count, there simply isn’t enough room for the plot, characters, and underlying motivations to fully develop. The Price of Honey would likely have benefited from an additional thirty pages or more to flesh out the narrative, expand on the relationships between the women, and provide more depth to the overall mystery.

As it stands, the concept behind the story is compelling, especially for readers who enjoy short mystery fiction or stories about complicated relationships and secrets. However, the brevity of the story ultimately leaves the reader wanting more development and clarity. With a bit more space to explore the characters and the twists hinted at in the premise, The Price of Honey could have delivered a much stronger and more satisfying reading experience. Three out of five stars is my rating.

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