THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline has done it again with This Changes Everything—the sequel to last year’s psychological thriller The Unraveling of Julia. Five years after the murder of her first husband, Mike, the discovery of her biological parents, and the inheritance of a crumbling villa in Tuscany, Julia is living a new life: married to Gianluca and mother to three-year-old Leni. That hard-won peace shatters when her psychic abilities flare during a phone call with her lifelong friend Courtney back in the States. In that moment, Courtney discovers her grandmother has been murdered.

Julia flies home to support Courtney, testing the new life she has built in Italy. Torn between loyalty to her best friend and devotion to her family, she faces difficult choices. Skeptical of the local police’s ability—or willingness—to solve the crime, she and Courtney launch their own investigation, aided by several of the victim’s friends.

I’m not usually a fan of supernatural thrillers, so I was glad Scottoline kept Julia’s psychic powers to a minimum. They serve the story without taking it over. The friendship between Julia and Courtney feels genuine and lived-in, and the tension between Julia’s Italian life and her loyalty to Courtney gives the book real emotional weight.

The pacing is tight, the small-town secrets are well-handled, and the ending was a complete surprise—I didn’t see it coming.

Rating:  4.5/5 stars ⭐

Highly recommended if you enjoyed The Unraveling of Julia or just want a smart, twisty thriller with heart.

YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – A sharp, addictive satire that’s hard to put down.

R.F. Kuang (known for The Poppy War and Babel) tries something new with Yellowface: a contemporary thriller set in the competitive world of book publishing. It follows two writers whose lives collide after a tragedy. What starts as a shady decision quickly turns into a tense story about ambition, jealousy, identity, and who gets to tell which stories.

Kuang’s best move is the main character’s voice. The first-person narration feels real, unreliable, and surprisingly relatable in its pettiness and excuses. You get pulled into her head as she justifies worse and worse choices, which makes it a real page-turner. The book takes sharp shots at the publishing industry—hype, diversity marketing, social media drama, and cancel culture—without sounding preachy. It cleverly explores cultural appropriation, the business side of stories, and the resentments that build up among writers.

It feels very current and makes you think, especially if you’ve followed book-world controversies. At the same time, it works great as a fast-paced thriller with dark humor and plenty of uncomfortable moments.

A couple of small criticisms: Some readers might find the main character too unlikeable, and a few themes feel a bit heavy-handed. The book doesn’t give you easy heroes or a neat ending, which adds to its impact but might leave some wanting more satisfaction.

Who should read it? Fans of smart, uneasy stories like Gone Girl or The Secret History, or anyone curious about what really goes on in publishing. It’s a quick, engaging read that sticks with you.

Content notes: death, racism, cultural appropriation, cyberbullying, and moral gray areas.

Overall, highly recommended. Kuang shows she can write just about anything. If you haven’t tried her other books, this might be the easiest place to start.

Rating: 4/5⭐