Holly and Robert Barron are young real estate investors and contestants in a competition, run but the nation's most popular home renovation app. They're rehabbing a home they scored at a steal. Hours after their picture-perfect wedding, they go missing, leaving a bloody trail.

We Love to Entertain was a fast read but it wasn't my favorite or the most entertaining. It lacked any surprises I enjoy in a thriller and unfortunately it wasn't very thrilling. Without any surprises or thrills, this one may even be forgettable. Overall, it was an OK read and it didn't make me DNF it so... there's that. As always, if you have been on the fence about reading this one, give it a try, just because it was a miss for me, doesn't mean it won't be a hit for you.

Happy reading

"We Love to Entertain" by Sarah Strohmeyer is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Departing from her usual genre, Strohmeyer delivers a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns.

Pros:
Engaging Plot: Strohmeyer crafts a compelling storyline centered around a group of friends who discover dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect lives. The suspense builds steadily, keeping readers hooked until the shocking climax.
Complex Characters: The characters in "We Love to Entertain" are multi-dimensional and intricately developed, each harboring secrets and motivations that add depth to the narrative. Strohmeyer masterfully explores the complexities of friendship and betrayal, making the characters relatable and compelling.
Unpredictable Twists: Just when readers think they have the mystery figured out, Strohmeyer throws in unexpected twists and revelations that keep them guessing until the very end. The author's skillful plotting ensures that the suspense never wanes, keeping the tension high throughout the novel.

Cons:
Pacing Issues: While the plot is gripping overall, some readers may find certain sections of the book to be slower-paced or overly descriptive. Tighter pacing could enhance the novel's momentum and maintain the sense of urgency.
Character Development: Although the characters are richly drawn, some readers may feel that certain motivations or actions are not fully fleshed out. More thorough exploration of character backgrounds and motivations could add depth to the story.
Resolution: While the climax of "We Love to Entertain" is satisfyingly dramatic, the resolution may feel somewhat rushed or convenient to some readers. A more nuanced and drawn-out conclusion could provide a more satisfying payoff for the suspenseful buildup.

Overall, "We Love to Entertain" is a compelling thriller that will keep readers guessing until the final page. Sarah Strohmeyer demonstrates her versatility as an author with this suspenseful and intricately plotted novel. Despite some minor flaws, the book is sure to captivate fans of the genre with its engaging storyline and unpredictable twists.

I got halfway through this book and was not a fan. I may give this book a try at a later time but I'm not sure

This book wasn't for me. I thought the reality competition would factor into much of the story but it really wasn't. I listened to the audiobook and found I couldn't get into it.

Thank you Harper and NetGalley for the eARC of We Love to Entertain! All opinions in this review are my own.

Despite being a fast-paced novel, this thriller wasn't exactly thrilling. Most of the action doesn't happen until the final 50 or so pages. We Love to Entertain could have benefited from evenly balancing the set up in the beginning with the actual thriller part at the end. Despite this, I did end up reading it in two days so it is entertaining if you are not expecting an edge of your seat thriller.

First off, the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful! I highly recommend this to everyone! I really enjoyed it the whole way through.

We Love To Entertain
By Sarah Strohmeyer
Review and Rating 3 ⭐️

We Live To Entertain is a ton of fun! If you like HGTV, home renovations shows, or reality TV this one is for you. Combine that with a psychological thriller and possible murder? I’m in.
Are the characters all likable? No, probably not. Is the plot believable and all connected? Maybe not. Was it an enjoyable read? Absolutely. Juicy drama, plot twists, interesting premise. It’s all there. Kept me reading until the end! 3 ⭐️

I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an eARC. All opinions expressed in the is review are my own.


Book Rating Key
⭐️ Not Recommended
⭐️⭐️ Readable Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Near Perfect Book
***Note*** I seldom give ⭐️or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratings. If I feel a book is a ⭐️sometimes I just prefer to not finish reading it and not rate it. As for 5 ⭐️books, I think of those as books I would want to take with me to a deserted island 🏝️, and this means I read a whole lot of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star books. Happy Reading!

I really hesitate to even classify this as a thriller... because while there was action, the stakes just felt so low, almost silly. There was at least one loose end that was the strangest red herring but it was extremely predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced copy of We Love to Entertain. A book about home renovations felt right up my alley. Sadly, this wasn't the book that I hoped it could be. Yet another book that just fell flat that I struggled to connect with. (I don't seem to be the only one as lots of other reviewers echo the same sentiments.) It was so slow and boring that I made the choice to stop reading. If you're looking for an intriguing thriller that will hold your attention and keep you reading, this isn't it.

Holly and Robert Barron are contestants in a competition run by a popular home renovation show. With millions of dollars at stake, they are renovating a log cabin in Vermont and they are “in it to win it.” Erica is their hardworking assistant with a little bit of a crush on Robert. The premise of this one was good but I was kind of confused while reading it. Was it a thriller? Was the author trying to funny and make slapstick jokes throughout the book in hopes that this would be made into a dark comedy? I feel like the attempts fell flat and I just didn’t like this one. I am so sorry. I just reviewed We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer. #WeLovetoEntertain #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This was zippy and a lot of fun (though I admit to not understanding the title of the show...) I think it's the type of suspense/thriller/mystery that's very popular right now, and there are definitely a lot of comps tone and plotwise in order to make this a successful handseller for my wee bookstore.

"A fast-paced, riveting psychological thriller that skewers our modern obsession with home renovation and fixer-uppers.". This book was a nice palate cleanser as it was easy to follow and entertaining to try to guess the secrets. If you don't take it too seriously, this book was a lot of fun to read. There were a few things that either was left open or didn't make sense, but then again, does anything when it involved reality tv subjects?

Thank you to Harper Perennial & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a juicy, twisty domestic Thriller full of drama, gossip and secrets! You won’t know who to believe in this neighborhood! I definitely recommend!

Overall I liked the book but it felt a little rushed towards the end. I wish there would have been a littler more character development

We Love to Entertain is for anyone who loves hgtv and true crime. It is full of twists and plots I didn’t see coming.

I liked this book. It was a little different from what I first expected going in, but overall it wasn't a bad read.

I hate to be blunt, but this was simply a stupid book. In fairness, I have a blind spot to reality stars/influencers/professional bloggers, so I admit that my view may be tainted because of that. But in addition, I really didn't like any of the other characters either, particularly Erika. So there wasn't much this book could do to redeem itself. Short version: Naive main character; self-centered co-main characters; a wannabe-thriller plot line; sub-plots that want to be connected, but never really make it; and an ending that fell totally flat. I'd like to get the time I spent reading this book back, please!

This was an okay read for me.
A HGTV type competition introduces viewers to Holly and Robert as they not only renovate a large Vermont farmhouse on air but fall in love. When they go missing during the final week of the competition, their assistant, Erika, becomes the subject of the viewers suspicions, despite other more likely suspects. The townspeople of this small town have a lot of secrets and opinions.
This humorously poked a bit of fun at reality TV as the couples used some tricks to up viewership, gushed over sponsored products and timed announcements for peak impact. There was actually a lot that happened in the storyline, but it still read passively. It was hard to connect with the characters. Neither Holly nor Robert were likeable. Erika was an enigma and hard to connect with Kim. My favorite was Dolores, who was a secondary character.

DNF @10%. I tried but unfortunately this book was just not for me. I do think it was me and not the book though, so I will be giving it 3 stars. Sorry!

AHHHHHH! This one was so witty and fun. I'm so thankful to Sarah Strohmeyer, NetGalley, and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for granting me a finished copy and digital ARC access before this baby hit shelves on April 25, 2023.