I must admit.... Katherine St. John knows how to write one heck of a novel! In my mind, this book is pretty much THE epitome of a "beach read". Aside from the description of beautiful, sunny locations (well, before the hurricane heads towards the island), this one had a spiderweb-like plot; characters you love; characters you love to hate; and characters who fall somewhere in the middle of the two. I appreciate first person narratives, so the was the first thing I really enjoyed about this one- especially since there were several first person narratives. I wouldn't say this book is so much of a mystery in itself, although there are some mysterious subplots. The reader can essentially guess what the ending will look like, but in no way does that subtract from the fun of this dishy novel. Without spoiling anything, I will say I was happy to see certain characters get their happy ending- while others got the karma they deserved. I've recommended this one time and time again, and stand by my opinion that this is THE perfect book for a road trip, beach vacation, or even a rainy weekend inside. It's the second book by St. John that I've read, and I am waiting anxiously for her next novel! If this is a genre you enjoy, this should absolutely be on your list to read.

Original publication: May 4, 2021 @grandcentralpub @hbgcanada

Paperback release: February 1, 2022

Thank you for the gifted finished copy!

It’s summer in (almost) October and I’m loving every minute☀️

Q: How are you spending your weekend?

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Why did I wait so long to read The Siren!? Katherine St. John's books are compulsively readable and always suck me in from page one.

We’re here on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Genesius to make a movie. Of course, this isn't just any movie- it's the comeback vehicle for Stella Rivers. It’s also a little family reunion as she's joined by her ex-husband Cole Powers, who is her co-star and the film's producer, and his son, Jackson, who is the director. Hello, nepo baby.

Highlights of the book:
• Hollywood glam and gossipy drama
• Island setting that “locks” all the characters in one place
• Former lovers put in forced proximity
• Girl power
• A look at the power structures that run Hollywood

I loved how St. John included press clippings and Stella's memoir notes throughout the book. The press clippings, in particular, established an Old Hollywood feel throughout the book. Stella reminded me of stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins (I've been watching Dynasty… don’t ask.) and I was rooting for her right from the start.

The Siren would make a good book club pick with its combination of suspense, romance and drama, along with plenty potential discussion topics. Some could be spoilers so DM if you want ideas!

Now I need to get my hands on her latest book, The Vicious Circle!

Katherine St. John has always been an #autobuyauthor for me - particularly during summer her flawless combination of #suspense and #mystery meets celebrity luxury #beachread vibes is spot on.

•

Bonus Points for the phenomenal #bookcover 🌊👙☀️One of my favorite fun summer covers of the past few years.

•

I thoroughly enjoyed this one (although not quite as much as The Lion’s Den) - my only issue with this one was that I felt like the overall premise and plot of the story I had #read before. I think in a lot of ways it’s similar to The Club by Ellery Lloyd, which I had read previously, and that may be the reason for my unexpected deja vu. Still, this one is so vibrant and fun (even admidst some darker moments and some Harvey Weinstein-esque revolting behavior from one character).

•

On a picture perfect Caribbean island in the hot heat of summer, both old and new faces of Hollywood find themselves brought together while they attempt to film what is sure to be the most anticipated film of the year, it only because it stars the ultimate (and unfairly beautiful) acting legend of the day (think Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ryan Gosling vibes) and his ex-wife of years before (who unfortunately feels the strain of age and addiction more and more every year).

•

Add in a full cast and crew, a father-son duo attempting to work together, a mysterious and jaw droppingly gorgeous new assistant that seems to have virtually appeared out of thin air, a cute little pup sidekick, a highly unlikable social media influence, and a storm brewing….. and you’ve got a perfect summer recipe for a tropical #murdermystery.

This is slightly more of a thriller than I was expecting it to be! This is an absolutely perfect beach read, because it's got everything: romance, mystery and a whole slew of badass female characters who you're rooting for from the first page.

What I love about Katherine St. James is her trademark blend of a beach read an a thriller. The tropical island location + film set of this book was so fun. Mix the glitz & glam of Hollywood on this island with an impending hurricane and you’ve got me hooked. I also really enjoyed the triple POVs.

I quickly flew through this book in a single afternoon. The drama of the movie set and the characters' backstories sucked me in. It's a great story if you like movies and powerful women. The newspaper articles in between various chapters felt like a nice touch that grounded the book in reality.

Fast paced thriller, sure to be a hit for summer reading. I was hooked for most of the book, but the villain was a little too cheesy toward the end. Enjoyed the multiple points of view of the three main women grappling with life pre and post #metoo

The Siren
By Katherine St. John
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
•••
Summary:
Cole Power is a Hollywood legend. He and Stella Rivers have a rocky history. The two were married many years ago, but their wedded bliss quickly ended, resulting in a nasty divorce. But now Cole has asked Stella to co-star in a film with him and Cole’s son from another marriage will be the director. Filming takes place on the island of St. Genesius and many prominent Hollywood figures are on the island for filming. Taylor, the movie’s producer, is hoping that this will be the movie that turns her career around. But when filming starts on the island, and Stella has brought a mysterious assistant with her, nothing goes as planned. Everything comes to a head when a hurricane rolls in and everyone is forced to take shelter.
•••
My thoughts:
Unpopular opinion maybe…. I liked The Siren more than The Lion’s Den 🤷🏼‍♀️ The Siren really hooked me from the beginning!! There were parts that I definitely rolled my eyes at, but overall, I loved it! It kept me entertained the whole time. I highly recommend it!!
•••
Read if you:
- Liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
- Enjoy Hollywood drama
- Have ever devoted your life to seeking revenge on behalf of someone you love

This book took me a very long time to get into, I felt it was a very slow start - interesting, but slow. I liked all of the Hollywood glamour and behind the scenes of stardom and the downfalls. It was very interesting reading about Felicity and Stella and Iris and Taylor! The last 30% picked up a lot and I enjoyed it so much! I really liked this book a lot!

This was such a fun and unique read and I felt like I was in the middle of a holiday film taping the entire time. While it took me a little while to catch onto the characters and how they all fit together, I was quickly pulled into the story.

I alternated reading this one and listening to it and I really loved that combo- the narration on audio was done by multiple people and it was really well done! This was a perfect combination of beach read and mystery and it definitely kept me guessing until the end. This was my first book by author Katherine St. John and I look forward to reading more now.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted review copy.

This book was a guilty pleasure. It reminded me of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Even though I wasn't reading it on a Caribbean beach, I felt like I was there with these characters.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and the author for the gifted copy of The Siren. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Siren is a movie being filmed in the Caribbean starring one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Cole Power. Power's ex-wife, Stella Rivers, is starring opposite him and his son, Jackson, is directing the film. When a hurricane threatens to hit the island they are filming on, the characters must confront their actions from a night years earlier. Told in multiple points of view, it is revealed that long kept secrets are closer to being revealed than they have ever been.

While I was reading, I thought I had all the pieces and I was just waiting to see how everything would come together. However, the author had some twists waiting! As the hurricane got closer and the tension between the characters grew, I couldn't put it down! This was the end of summer thriller that I needed!

Thank you to Hachette Book Group and Netgalley for my ARC versions of this book, in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

If you're a fan of old Hollywood glamour, movie stars, and a whodunnit with a good 'ol back story this is for you. This book has been tried and true recommended for fans of TJR's "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo".

The characters were dynamic, interesting, and expertly interwoven. The multiple POV and timelines were done extremely well, and not confusing to follow whatsoever. Watching the drama, and picking up clue by clue, was entirely addicting throughout this book. I highly recommend, especially for a fun beach read.

St John has become a particular favorite. Her writing style has a way of drawing you in and keeping you hooked until the very end. She is a new, and permanent, addition to my auto-buy list.
4.5 Stars

In the midst of a sizzling hot summer, some of Hollywood's most notorious faces are on the Caribbean island of St. Genesius to film The Siren, starring dangerously handsome megastar Cole Power playing opposite his ex-wife, Stella Rivers. The surefire blockbuster promises to entice audiences with its intimately connected cast. Three very different women arrive on set, each with her own motive. Stella is struggling to reclaim the career she lost in the wake of multiple, very public breakdowns. Taylor is anxious to work on a film she hopes will turn her career around after her last job ended in scandal. And Felicity harbors ideas of her own that threaten to upend everyone's plans. With a hurricane brewing offshore, each woman finds herself trapped on the island, united against a common enemy. review: Told in three POV, this book is a fast-paced, compulsive drama that’s a mix between a vacation read and a suspense book! I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed the characters, who all have long-buried secrets and pasts they want to keep hidden. The pacing was fantastic and the character development was great. I really enjoyed the plot line, but the side stories really helped make this book as captivating as it was! I couldn’t put this one down! Would make a great summer read, but there are some trigger warnings. rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️

No one combines scandal and luxury quite like Katherine St John.
I love books that deal with fake celebs. Just the level of scandal that comes with recognition, fame and money adds a layer that I love to juicy stories.
I really liked all of the female characters and their arcs, and how they were all intertwined with each other. Cole was a very hatable antagonist, like seriously the worst.
This book is the perfect beach read for those of us who want to bring something other than a romance. It’s fun and decadent but suspenseful. And of course it takes place on a tropical island!

Please let the record reflect that I finished a book club pick more than 5 seconds before the scheduled discussion. I'll forget everything by then, but it's fine.

The Siren was the July pick for @bookhoardersbookclub and let me just start off by saying another cover win!! I love bright and bold covers, and this one did not disappoint.

This one fell somewhere in the middle for me.

Cole Power is a megastar, who hires his ex-wife, Stella Rivers, to play the leading lady in a film his son is set to produce, The Siren.

Cast and crew meet on a Caribbean island to film the movie, which includes three different women, Stella, the actress, Taylor, the producer, and Felicity, Stella's assistant, all of whom have their own motive for being there.

A hurricane cuts filming short, and also brings out everyone's hidden agenda.

This was a good vacation read. It was fast paced at the beginning, although IMO, lulled towards the middle and dragged at the end.

I didn't really love any of the characters, sans the boat guy who already lived on the island.

I also wasn't a huge fan about how the author handled some sensitive topics, but to avoid spoilers, I'll just leave it at that.

⭐⭐⭐

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Guilty Pleasure Alert!

3.5 stars

A scenic Caribbean island serves as the backdrop of a movie set of a film starring a superstar, his ex-wife, and an ingenue who will stop at nothing to be famous. And while the cutthroat desire for fame will lead those involved to danger, it is one woman’s desire for revenge that will destroy them all.

The Siren has all of the elements of a nighttime soap: over-the-top drama, cutthroat competition, romance, a villain, and crazy over-the-top antics.

The narrative alternates between several points of view:

Taylor Wasserman--the producer with a tarnished reputation

Cole Power--the handsome movie star with a roving-eye

Stella Rivers-Cole’s ex-wife who has a substance abuse problem and is desperate to be relevant

Felicity Fox--Stella’s assistant with a mysterious past

The characters even have cheesy soapy names. None of them are particularly likable, but some are better than others. Taylor is perhaps the most normal, but all of the characters whining about their first-world problems got on my nerves. Other characters are simply vile. Some redeem themselves, while others meet a very well-deserved ending.

A tad too long, my attention did wade at times. However, as a fun soapy summer read, this fits the bill! This is not the kind of book that requires thinking. You just need to sit back, relax, and enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Siren

Rating: 4/5

Looking for the ultimate beach read? The Siren has got you covered. Murder, family drama, an exotic beach locale - Katherine St. John’s newest novel has it all and then some.

Set on a tiny island in the Caribbean, a rag of characters find themselves trying to shoot a movie. The producer with something to prove, the godly action hero, his son acting as the director. But what happens when the leading man tags his role just a little too seriously and his web of lies start to fall apart?

I really enjoyed this sophomore novel from St. John. While hard to get into at first, the back half of the novel is an action packed page turner that will make you hold tight to your beach towel.

Read if you like:
+ Hollywood Dramas
+ Revenge Thrillers
+ Fated Meetings

Thank you to Net Galley, Grand Central Publishing and Katherine St. John for a copy of the novel in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this mystery/ thriller by Katherine St. John. I was invested in the characters and their various stories and found the plot both unique and engaging. Some parts were easy to figure out but surprising parts were intertwined just enough to keep me turning the pages! I’m looking forward to more work from this author! Would recommend to all mystery readers!

I was really excited for this one after loving The Lion’s Den. This one just didn’t do it for me. I felt bored and a bit confused with the storyline. DNFed at 40%.