This book offers a quick and enjoyable escape! It has the potential to be a more expansive read, as I felt the characters could have benefited from further development. It seemed like everyone revolved around Angel's world. Nevertheless, I found myself completely engrossed, and I dreaded having to set it aside while at work. The story is packed with twists, deception, and intrigue, culminating in a satisfying moment where the heroine takes charge. While some elements may come across as cliché or not entirely realistic, I found it incredibly entertaining. It’s perfect for those moments when you want to be transported away, especially while traveling.

This book was a remake and to be fair, I did not read the book in which this is based. I think the book started off strong but just did not make sense as the story progressed. The book did not end how I expected. The entire book is based on Angel’s trying to figure out what happened to Chloe, Everette’s first wife. When she finds out the truth and completely disregards doing the right thing with the information did not make sense based on her character throughout the book. And then the book just ends. I guess you can say the ending was a twist but it really just made me upset. If you are interested in reading, I would highly recommended checking out the original work entitled Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

This was a retelling of the classic Rebecca. so keep that in mind.
That being said,. even though i knew how the story was supposed to go, I enjoyed the slow beginning because it gave us time to get to know the characters. We got thrills, suspense. It really read like a thriller.
I enjoyed it.

Three and a half stars rounded up to four. Angel is a chef for a wealthy family in Martha's Vineyard. They vacation there for four weeks every summer. After a whirlwind romance, Angel marries billionaire Everett, and moves to his home, titled Riverwild. There she finds his first wife, who died by suicide, is still very much a presence in the house...
This was supposed to be a retelling of Rebecca, but I felt that there was a lot of buildup, that led to a weak ending.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for the opportunity to read Chloe by Connie Briscoe! This was a compelling and atmospheric read that explores class, power, and secrets through the eyes of Angel, a private chef navigating the world of the Black elite on Martha’s Vineyard. I think Chloe blends gothic suspense with social commentary, and I was drawn in by the secrets simmering beneath the surface. I read that it's a retelling of read the classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier which I haven't read but I I recommend you take a chance with Chloe.

This is a very short & fast paced read. However, I felt it was more of a murder mystery than a thriller.

Let me start of with the positives: I have never read Rebeccas so i only have an experience with this book to compare. Now for the negative: I felt like something overall of the story was missing and some parts were under told. And when I got the to end I felt like a lot of time was wasted for it to end like this. I have several of this author’s book on my shelf and think she should stick to her original stories. Overall this was a disappointing read for me. I gave it 2.5 stars on Storygraph and will not be putting it on Instagram as I rarely post negative reviews there and definitely don’t bash authors for their work. This book was a no for me but enjoyed it enough to finish.

This book was out of the norm of what I normally read which was why I requested it. I had high hopes and enjoyed the book for the most part. It just was very predictable. I was able to guess the big plot twists. I didn’t feel any attachment to any of the characters but it was well written.

I was really excited about reading this book based off of the synopsis. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. I really wanted to like it. The “Thrill” was lacking

Thank you @coloredpagesbt @amistadbooks for the gifted copy!!
Brief synopsis from Goodreads: A retelling of Daphne Du Maurier’s classic Rebecca, this chilling tale of domestic suspense follows Angel, a spirited woman who marries a Black billionaire—only to discover that he remains haunted by his first wife, who took her own life… or did she?

The synopsis immediately intrigued me and had me hooked—I needed to know what was really going on. This was a quick read with a touch of mystery. However, I felt the story could have been developed further, as it fell a bit short in some areas.

This story started off very promising, but towards the middle fell flat. There were moments where it seemed like something thrilling was coming, but even with new revelations, they were not surprising. I truly wish the author would have done something more. Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great read! First read from this author. This book makes me want to read more from this author. Kept my attention and interest until the end.

I love a good opposites attract/ billionaire romance, and this book has both.

Our MC Angel is a private chef and spends a few weeks every summer on Martha's Vineyard cooking for the Harrison family. This year, Everette Bruce (billionaire) is also vacationing on the island. These two bump into each other and its an instant connection. But we all know that everything that glitters isn't gold.

Overall, this book kept my attention because I had to see just how this story played out. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read with a few twists and turns.

This book had great bones. The synopsis was promising, the writing style was great, the cover is gorgeous, but the story itself fell a little flat. I didn’t mind the slow build in the beginning because it gave me a proper introduction to the main characters. However, once they were an established couple, we were supposed to get into the chill, the thrill, ghosts, suspense, etc and we didn’t get much. To be honest, the secrets and lies were kind of sprinkled into the story and they were supposed to be the main focus. I do feel like the book should have scaled the details back in some areas of the story and dived a bit deeper into other parts because of a lot of the “big” moments were glazed over.

I think if you’re looking to dip your toes into the suspense/thriller world this is a good starter read. It’s not going to chill you to your bones, but it will push you almost to the edge of your seat.

A fast paced read that keeps you guessing until the end. Angel is a sous chef working for an upper class family in the Hamptons during the summer. She loves having this side job because it allows her to visit her childhood summer vacation spot she once shared with her family during happier times. Even though her boss can be too bossy and too particular. But her life changes when she meets Everett. A handsome, grieving billionaire who sweeps her off her feet. But did she jump the broom too fast? Does she really know the man she fell in love with? These are questions Angel and much more when she becomes the new mistress of Riverwild. Dive into this eerie, soap opera vibe suspense story to find the answers.

Welcome to my tour stop for the Chloe by Connie Briscoe book tour by Colored Pages Book Tours

The story follows not, Chloe, but Angel, a private chef who has been hired to spend the month of August on Martha’s Vineyard for a wealthy Black family. Angel puts up with the haughtiness and temper tantrums of her boss, Jillian Harrison, to keep her lucrative summer job that helps pay the bills. The first half of the novel draws a contrast between Angel and the wealthy people she interacts with on the island. It especially focuses on the distinct line drawn between Jillian and Angel based on Jillian’s insistence. The class issues are initially illustrated by how poorly Jillian treats Angel.

Class Differences & Issues
But the class differences are further illustrated when Angel begins to spend more and more time with influential Black billionaire Everette Bruce, who is visiting the island. Angel enjoys spending time with Everette, but his money is a secondary interest to her. She is more interested in him as a man and doesn’t plan to rely on him. However, she keeps her relationship a secret from her employer. She knows Jillian would react badly to the class difference in their relationship. She definitely doesn’t believe Angel has the background to hang touch with a handsome billionaire.

Dead First Wife Blues
The specter of Chloe, Everette’s first (and deceased) wife, hangs in the background of the first half. Angel is curious about Chloe. When she finds out the circumstances of Chloe’s passing, she is appalled but not enough to shy away from the relationship. Since this is based on Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and I have yet to read that novel, I’m not sure which plot points other than the mysterious dead wife are pulled from for this novel. But as a lover of retellings and reimaginings I do like it when novels based on classics have their own twists and turns instead of being a replica in another time and setting. Saying all that, I will most likely be adding Rebecca to my TBR.

If you like a gothic-style suspense, check out Chloe by Connie Briscoe

This was a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca that was faithful enough to the original to feel familiar, but with enough differences to keep it interesting. There were so many times I wanted to shake Angel for ignoring the red flags that were screaming not to rush into marriage with a man she did not know. It was frustrating to see such an independent woman give up her own life to become an accessory in his. The pace lagged in places and it felt like there were long stretches where nothing interesting was happening, but it was a quick, enjoyable read.

First and foremost, I haven’t read Rebecca, but if you have, Chloe is the retelling.

Secondly, I listened to the audiobook while simultaneously reading the physical book.

Angel is a private chef for a wealthy Black family during the summer in Martha’s Vineyard. While there, she meets Everett, a billionaire who recently lost his wife, named Chloe. These two instantly hit it off and spent a lot of time together, which was enjoyable to watch them fall in love. However, the second half of the second part is where things truly became intriguing. Revelations were made, and I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. Perhaps I should be a detective myself. Angel genuinely surprised me, though. Wish things would have picked up sooner in the book but overall it was a good book. I would pick up another book by this author.

Jillian was such a hater.

Thank you NetGalley, Colored Pages Book Tour, and Amistad Books for my gifted copy.

I liked this book, but couldn't quite place it. At times, it felt like a direct adaptation of Rebecca that wasn't doing anything interesting in the translation, and at other times it veered off the established narrative, no necessarily to its benefit. I would say for readers interested in Rebecca who may be put off by its age, this could be a good option. But it doesn't follow through on the mystery, cruelty, love, or intrigue of Rebecca. The plot feels much smaller, ending at about the halfway point of the original, and the whirlwind love affair of Angel and Everett doesn't feel supported enough to justify its speed. I liked it, because I like Rebecca, and I appreciated the modernized twist with Ida, but beyond that the plot was nothing new and the ending was far too neat.

Special thanks to @coloredpagesbt @amistadbooks for my gifted copy‼️

This book was a whirlwind of classic chaos that begins as a slow-burn then wraps you up in a web of lies and secrets by the end. Every summer Angel spends her time on an island being the private chef for Cruella de Vil and her family. Ya’ll I really thought this girl was a slave the way she was being treated. This summer Angel meets wealthy Black billionaire Everette Bruce who was still mourning the death of his first wife Chloe until he laid eyes on her. Now Everette is so smitten with Angel after a few dates he pops the question and to my surprise she says yes.

In the beginning Everette came off like a cool guy just looking to have a good time. The first red flag was during the art show and the second was him not being open with Angel about his grief. When she moved into the vineyard I thought maybe the house was going to be haunted or Everette and his sister would murder her. Oh how wrong I was lol his sister was definitely giving hateful vibes though.

The book really took a turn when she moved into the house. I figured Jillian trying to warn her about him was just pure jealousy but maybe she was actually on to something. When the truth slowly trickles out you’re left like what in the Jerry Springer cause Chloe was really out there lol.

Overall, the book was meh I felt it was too short for what the author intended to do with the story. The slow build and the cat and mouse game might lose readers because of the constant back and forth. The ending was actually surprising to say the least but money talks so I get it. I’ve never read the classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier to compare the two but I think I just might after reading this.