Review: THE NIGHT BEFORE by Wendy Walker
The Night Before by Wendy Walker Also by this author: Emma in the Night
Published by St. Martin's Press on May 14, 2019
Genres: Thriller, Mystery
Pages: 320
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
THE NIGHT BEFORE Review
Wendy Walker’s The Night Before is a riveting and unique thriller about a woman, Laura Lochner, who goes out on a date with someone she met on the internet and doesn’t return home. When Laura’s family realizes she is missing, they frantically begin searching for her. They of course wanted to make sure Laura hasn’t been harmed by this random stranger from the internet. Interestingly enough, however, they are also concerned for the safety of the random stranger and worried that Laura may have harmed him. The family’s unexpected thoughts about Laura and her potential for violence grabbed my attention right away and kept me turning the pages and what starts out as a seemingly straightforward missing person’s tale turns into a gripping exploration of how this family’s lives have been shaped by childhood trauma and long-buried family secrets.
One of the things I loved most about The Night Before is the way Walker uses multiple timelines and a dual point of view to gradually unfold the details of the story. We follow Laura’s sister, Rosie, in the aftermath of the internet date gone wrong, as she, her husband, and a close family friend try to retrace Laura’s steps. They’re trying to find her without involving the police if at all possible because of whatever has happened in Laura’s past to make her so volatile.
In addition to following Rosie, we also follow Laura the night before while she is on her date so that we are able to see what direction the date took and why she didn’t come home. To further flesh out the story and offer insight into Laura’s past and what has the family so concerned, we also get to sit in on some of Laura’s earlier sessions with her therapist. I thought this technique was very effective. It felt like watching the pieces of a puzzle start to fill in over time as the story alternated between the different timelines and povs.
I was also a big fan of the novel’s pacing. You can easily read it in a couple of sittings because it’s quite fast-paced. It starts out with the tense situation of Laura being missing and the tension only builds from there as everyone races to try to find her. The suspense also ratchets up the closer and closer we get to finding out what happened in Laura’s past that continues to haunt both her and her family. The story was filled with enough believable twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end.
The only reason I didn’t rate this 5 stars was because even though I was concerned for the well-being of Laura, I just didn’t feel as much of a connection to her as I would normally like to feel when it comes to main characters. I think it was because I was constantly torn between wondering if she was a victim or a perpetrator and therefore I didn’t entirely trust her account of events. In that sense, the book had almost a Gone Girl vibe.
Even with that lack of connection, however, I still think The Night Before is an exciting read that mystery/thriller fans are sure to love.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before “takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried about what Laura may have done to him…
About Wendy Walker
Wendy Walker is a former family law attorney in Fairfield County, Connecticut who began writing while at home raising her three sons. She published two novels with St. Martin’s Press and edited multiple compilations for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series before writing her debut psychological thriller, All is Not Forgotten. Her second thriller, Emma In The Night, will be released August 8, 2017.
Wendy earned her J. D., magna cum laude, at the Georgetown University Law Center where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence award for her performance in Contracts and Advanced Criminal Procedure. She received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Brown University and attended The London School of Economics and Political Science as part of her undergraduate studies.
Prior to her legal career, Wendy was a financial analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co., in the mergers and acquisitions group. She has also volunteered at the ACLU, Connecticut Legal Services and Figure Skating in Harlem where she served on the Board of Directors for over twelve years.
Wendy is currently writing her third thriller while managing a busy household.
Top Ten Tuesday – Ten Page-to-Screen Adaptations I Want to Watch
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Top Ten Tuesday has been one of my favorite memes ever since I started blogging, so huge thanks to Jana for taking over the hosting duties!
This week’s TTT topic is Page to Screen Freebie (Books that became movies/TV shows, movies that became books, great adaptations, bad ones, books you need to read before watching their movie/TV show, movies you loved based on books you hated or vice versa, books you want to read because you saw the movie or vice versa, etc.)
I decided to go with page to screen adaptations that I really want to see. There are so many books that I love that have either been made into TV series or movies or are in the process of being made into them. I’m sure there are plenty more out there that I want to see, but these 10 are at the top of my list at the moment. Some I’ve been saying I want to watch for a while now and others are fairly new or are still in production. I’ve shared trailers for any that I could find.
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10 Page-to-Screen Adaptations I Want to Watch
1. THE HATE U GIVE, a big-screen adaptation of Angie Thomas’ best selling novel of the same name.
This one has been out for a while and I just haven’t made the time to watch it yet even though I loved the book.
2. SHADOW and BONE, an eight-episode Netflix series based on Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone & Six of Crows fantasy novels.
I don’t think there’s a release date for this yet, but I can’t wait since it combines two of my favorite fantasy series.
3. A DOG’S JOURNEY, a film adaptation of the popular series by W. Bruce Cameron. This movie actually comes out this week and I’m really looking forward to seeing it. The books and the first film, A Dog’s Purpose, had me crying the ugly cry, so I’m sure this one will have me reaching for the tissues too.
4. THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, a film releasing this week that is based off of Nicola Yoon’s best selling novel of the same name. I actually haven’t read this book yet, but the trailer just really appealed to me so now I want to watch the film and read the book.
5. ARTEMIS FOWL, a movie based on the beloved books by Eoin Colfer.
My son and I have been reading this series together and were excited to learn that Disney is making it into a film that will release later this year.
6. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, a movie adaptation of the best selling book by Garth Stein.
I’m excited for this one because I loved the book of course, and because it has Milo Ventimiglia from This is Us and Gilmore Girls in it. It releases this fall.
7. ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES, an upcoming movie based on Jennifer Niven’s best selling novel of the same name.
I haven’t seen much information for this aside from that Elle Fanning will play Violet and Justice Smith will play Finch, but I can’t wait to see this film. I’m sure it’s another that will have me reaching for the tissues.
8. SHADOWHUNTERS, a TV series based on the popular Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare.
I’m late to the Shadowhunters game as I just started Clare’s book series late last year and the TV series is actually in its final season. Regardless, I look forward to binging it once I finish the books.
9. A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, a TV series based on the popular book series by Deborah Harkness.
I’ve been meaning to start this one for a while now, but keep forgetting about it.
10. HIS DARK MATERIALS is an upcoming TV series based on the popular series by Philip Pullman.
I enjoyed the book series, but I’m most excited for this because Lin-Manuel Miranda is in this, and I just love him. #theaternerdcrush
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Have your seen any of these? Or do you plan to? What are some of your favorite page-to-screen adaptations?
Mini Reviews: RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUE and THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston 
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on May 14, 2019
Genres: Romance
Pages: 432
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
A big-hearted romantic comedy in which First Son Alex falls in love with Prince Henry of Wales after an incident of international proportions forces them to pretend to be best friends...
First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz is the closest thing to a prince this side of the Atlantic. With his intrepid sister and the Veep’s genius granddaughter, they’re the White House Trio, a beautiful millennial marketing strategy for his mother, President Ellen Claremont. International socialite duties do have downsides—namely, when photos of a confrontation with his longtime nemesis Prince Henry at a royal wedding leak to the tabloids and threaten American/British relations.
The plan for damage control: staging a fake friendship between the First Son and the Prince. Alex is busy enough handling his mother’s bloodthirsty opponents and his own political ambitions without an uptight royal slowing him down. But beneath Henry’s Prince Charming veneer, there’s a soft-hearted eccentric with a dry sense of humor and more than one ghost haunting him.
As President Claremont kicks off her reelection bid, Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret relationship with Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations. And Henry throws everything into question for Alex, an impulsive, charming guy who thought he knew everything: What is worth the sacrifice? How do you do all the good you can do? And, most importantly, how will history remember you?
Review:
Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue is honestly the romance book I didn’t know I needed in my life until I started reading it. I was looking for a light, fluffy, and fun read when I requested this one and it was exactly what I was hoping for. When I started reading, I realized Red, White & Royal Blue pretty much has all my favorite things all rolled into one story. There’s a generous helping of enemies to friends to lovers, fake relationships, and sassy but supportive friends and family, with a side of politics and royals thrown in for good measure. It was truly the perfect recipe for a book that I devoured in just over a day.
I absolutely loved the premise of having Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, fall in love with Prince Henry of Wales. It just immediately opened the door for so many entertaining possibilities, from the romance itself, to the media frenzy it was sure to generate, and to the potential political fallout it could create on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The premise was made even better by the fact that both Alex and Henry were just the two most precious young men on the planet. Alex is hilarious, while Henry is soft, but put them together and their banter is full of wit and snark, and just flat out adorable. I felt like I was either smiling or laughing out loud every time the two of them would text or call each other. The sexual tension between them is also off the charts, even when they’re trying to hate on each other.
There’s also a more serious side to the story as Alex is still figuring out his sexual identity to a degree and as he and Henry worry about what they’re coming out as gay would mean for their families from a political standpoint. A subplot of the story has Alex’s mother as the first female President of the United States (Can I live in this alternate reality please?!) and she’s up for reelection this year, while Henry is next in line to take the throne and rule his country. I liked having these very relevant social and political issues meshed in with the light, fluffy fun.
Lastly, I want to give a shout out to Alex’s sister, June, and his best friend, Nora. These smart, savvy, hilarious ladies at times really stole the show with all the ways they helped try to facilitate the relationship between Alex and Henry. They were everything I’d want in a sibling and best friend, and if the author wanted to write more books featuring them, I’d totally read them. (Hint, hint.)
If you’re looking for a fun and flirty read with a side of political drama, be sure to check out Red, White & Royal Blue. 4.5 STARS
There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon Also by this author: When Dimple Met Rishi, From Twinkle, with Love
Series: Dimple & Rishi #2
Published by Simon Pulse on May 14, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Romance
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Amazon
Goodreads
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
The irresistible companion novel to the New York Times bestseller When Dimple Met Rishi, which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish, and a confident fat athlete named Sweetie as they both discover what love means to them.
Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.
The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?
Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.
Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.
Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?
Review:
There’s Something About Sweetie is the third book I’ve read from Sandhya Menon, and as with its predecessors, When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle, With Love, it left me with a big grin on my face.
I’m a huge fan of the way Menon draws her female characters and Sweetie Nair is no exception. Sweetie is strong, bold, and full of life, and she’s also a talented singer and athlete who’s ready to take on the world. There’s one obstacle, however, standing in her way…her mother. Sweetie is overweight, and while her weight doesn’t bother her or her friends, it bothers Sweetie’s mother. Her mother’s obsession with her weight becomes so emotionally draining for Sweetie, she decides it’s time to implement the Sassy Sweetie Project, where Sweetie is determined to live life to the fullest and do whatever makes her happy. Sweetie really does love and respect her mother and doesn’t want to hurt her, but ultimately, it’s her life and she has to fight for it. I really admired her determination to stick up for herself.
Menon does an equally wonderful job with the love interest for Sweetie in this book. Those familiar with When Dimple Met Rishi will recognize Ashish Patel as Rishi’s younger brother. Ashish is a kind-hearted, soft boy who is in an especially vulnerable spot when the story opens. His long-time girlfriend has cheated on and dumped him, and he’s so down on himself that he can barely function. In fact, he’s so off his game and desperate, that he resorts to recruiting his parents’ help in finding him someone to date, and it’s his parents who bring Sweetie into his life. I love the journey that Sweetie and Ashish begin together. They each have something to prove and I loved how supportive they were to each other and I spent many pages hoping Sweetie would be able to get her mother to back off so she and Ashish could have a chance at a happy ending.
There’s Something About Sweetie is a wonderful read for anyone who enjoys charming romance novels filled with lovable characters, supportive friend groups, and sometimes awkward family dynamics. This is also a wonderfully diverse read in that both main characters are Indian American and several of their dates actually focus on learning more about their culture and embracing it. I’d also recommend There’s Something About Sweetie to anyone looking for a book that has a strong focus on self-love and body positivity. 4.5 STARS
About Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston grew up in the swamps of Southern Louisiana, where she cultivated an abiding love for honey butter biscuits and stories with big, beating hearts. She studied journalism and worked in magazine publishing for years before returning to her first love: joyous, offbeat romantic comedies and escapist fiction. She now lives in the mountains of Fort Collins, Colorado, with a collection of caftans and her poodle mix, Pepper.
About Sandhya Menon
Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi, From Twinkle, With Love, and There’s Something About Sweetie. A full-time dog servant and part-time writer, she makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado.