Monday, July 22, 2024

#BookReview: On the Surface by Rachel McGuire @crookedlanebks @lexilikestoread




ABOUT THIS BOOK:
A YouTubing cruiser couple sails the world living their best life—until one of them goes missing and their whole world capsizes, in this captivating psychological thriller perfect for fans of Something in the Water and Saint X.

Sawyer Stone III and Dani Fox, a young couple who spends their time circumnavigating the globe aboard their 42' sailboat and documenting it for their fledgling YouTube channel Sailing with the Foxes, have anchored in Exuma, in the Bahamas.

As they wait for the price of crypto to rebound so they can provision and continue their journey, they’re partying and exploring with their fellow cruisers off shore. On the surface, everything looks perfect. But one night, Dani vanishes after a boat party, and Sawyer has no memory of her disappearance.

The search for Dani is initially fueled by concerns that she drowned during one of her daily ocean swims, but Dani's pre-scheduled video posts, recorded before she went missing, soon reveal a darker side to her relationship with Sawyer.

Meanwhile, Royal Bahamas Police Force Inspector Veronique Knowles has her hands full trying to keep the investigation on course as the story of the American woman missing in the Bahamas goes viral and the internet sleuths unearth secrets from Sawyer’s past. Sawyer Stone is far from perfect, but is he a murderer?

This twisty, edge-of-your-seat thriller will keep readers gripped all the way through the final satisfying turn.



Rating: ⭐⭐⭐


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Reviewer: Alex
REVIEW: 
The book's premise intrigued me with its exploration of the value we place on social media influencers and their focus on monetization. I enjoyed the characters similarly to how I enjoy reality TV—it's trashy but hard to turn away from. Combining this with one of my favorite genres, I was eager to dive in.

On the surface (pun intended), the plot seemed to promise a gripping thriller full of unexpected twists. However, much like the superficial nature of social media, the story felt fake. The characters lacked depth, and even when their backgrounds were revealed, it felt disconnected from the main narrative. I couldn't find any character likable, and the prologue's storyline seemed forced, as if it was added late in the editing process to patch up plot holes.

Had I been reading a digital or physical copy, I might have struggled to finish. However, the narrators' skill in the audiobook and my curiosity about a potential twist kept me going. I'd recommend borrowing this book from the library or reading it on Kindle Unlimited if available, but it's not worth purchasing.



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FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored. 



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