Fiction | Book Chatter

The River at Night
By Erica Ferencik
Gallery/Scout Press, 9781501143205, August 2017, 320pp.

The Short of It:

Four women, inexperienced in river rafting take a rafting trip of a lifetime. What could go wrong?

The Rest of It:

Pia, Sandra, Rachel and Win have known each other for years. They’ve been through divorces and break-ups and weathered many ups and downs but the one thing they look forward to is the girl trip they take every year. This year, Pia books a white water rafting experience with a guide, exploring newly discovered territory and right from the get-go, things don’t go as planned.

I picked this book up thinking it was another book entirely! My mistake but I kept reading and I really enjoyed this story. Some of it was a tiny bit far-fetched but the frantic pace of it and the overall desire to survive comes through crystal clear. The river plays a major role, but there are human threats to consider as well which make it a little more exciting.

It’s been around for a few years and was definitely not the NEW book I thought I was reading, but I’d still recommend it.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

The Silent Patient
By Alex Michaelides
Celadon Books, 9781250301697, February 2019, 336pp.

The Short of It:

It’s very satisfying to pick up a buzzy book and have it meet your expectations.

The Rest of It:

*No Spoilers*

Alicia murdered her husband. Due to her unstable mental health at the time, she is admitted to The Grove, a mental health facility where she will live out her days. The thing about Alicia though, is that she is absolutely silent about what happened the night of her husband’s death. She has not uttered one word to anyone since she was discovered hovering over his body.

An artist by trade, Alicia is pegged as eccentric and difficult to work with. Her doctors have not had luck with her so when Dr. Theo Faber, a psychotherapist hears of her case, he can’t help but be intrigued. Could he possibly help Alicia and get her to talk? Does her previous body of work contain clues about that night?

The Silent Patient was a super-fun book to read. If you’ve paid any attention to the buzz, then you know it’s a book with a big twist. I have to tell you, knowing that a twist was coming did not ruin my enjoyment while reading. Quite the contrary. I was eager for it. However, I did figure it out moments before its revelation. Again, not disappointed by it. I picked it up and read it in a day and a half. Books like this one make reading so engaging because you simply have to talk to others once you turn that last page.

I am loving these types of books! Have you read it? If you comment do not include spoilers!

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

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