I started this book with no expectations and was blown away. I read it in 2 sittings and wanted to savour every word. A literary mystery thriller that tugs at your heart, I truly didn’t want it to end. Beautifully written and kept me guessing. Every character was richly drawn and carried the story superbly. A brilliant read!

This multi-POV murder mystery, with a side of romance, was interesting and very intriguing. It kept me guessing to figure out what was happening and what would happen next. A story of family secrets/drama, childhood flashbacks, toxic relationships, corruption, and an illegal auction during the annual hunting retreat. It’s also a story about protecting the ones we love no matter the cost. I liked how the omniscient narrator talked to the reader, which pulled me in and helped keep my attention. It is equally plot driven as character driven. The diverse complex cast of characters were well developed and crafted in a way that you weren’t sure who to trust, causing you to have a love-hate relationship with most of the characters. It is set around two towns separated by a river and social class. I really enjoyed the ending which brought all the missing pieces to the puzzle together with a powerful and meaningful message.

This was my first book by Court Stevens’ and is her adult debut. I was impressed and really enjoyed the writing style and the thought provoking lines. I can definitely see why it is being compared to Fredrik Backman’s Beartown, which is one of my all time fav reads.

I was thankful to have the audiobook and a physical book to follow along with while listening. The audiobook made for a great immersive experience. The narrators did a great job with giving each character their own voice and bringing the story to life. Their tone and pacing were spot on to create a mysterious, suspenseful, atmospheric setting and plot.

Thank you @harpermusebooks, @quartland, and @uplitreads for the #gifted PR box and finished copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! I was anxious from the first page and the omniscient narrator kept me on my toes through every.single.page of this one from page one and until I kept reading through the acknowledgements. Somehow, with the complexity of the characters, I felt fully satisfied at the end without a single loose end! A tremendous read!!

DNF - There is something about the tone of this book that made me cringe. The way the author threw in little asides, the snide jokes, the good-old-boy feeling, put me off so that I couldn’t take any of it seriously. There are way too many characters, introduced, then left for other characters and a snippet of plot, and I’m assuming they will all come together sometime, but I didn’t feel connected enough to any of them, or invested enough in their story to keep reading.

2.75 rounded up. Interesting plot, but book was difficult for me to plod through. Slow reading. Do not recommend.

4,5 ⭐️ (maaybe 4,75) but rounded up.
This book took its time to win me over, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down.

At the beginning, I felt a bit lost. There were so many characters and different storylines that it was hard to keep track of everything. The structure felt confusing, and it took me a while to figure out what the book was trying to do.

But once I reached around the 30% mark, something shifted. The pieces started falling into place, and I found myself fully pulled in. From that point on, I was hooked. I love stories that give you the ending first and then take you backwards to figure out how it all happened. This one does that really well. It felt like slowly putting together a puzzle, and each new chapter added a little more clarity and emotion.

The writing is smooth and easy to read, even when it loops around or takes a while to move forward. The pacing might feel slow at first, but once it clicks, it becomes hard to stop. This is a story that reveals itself gradually. The characters unfold in layers, and the more I learned about them, the more I cared. I loved the use of multiple points of view, and how we are often shown the outcome early on, only to be pulled back in time to figure out how everything came to be. That kind of storytelling always draws me in when it is done well, and here, it is both ambitious and emotionally satisfying.

And the final chapter? It absolutely wrecked me. It might not be the neatest or most polished ending, and it did feel a little rushed, but it hit me hard. I’ve gone back to reread it a few times, and it still gets me.

This book started off feeling like a shy three-star read, and ended up being one of my favorites of the year. It’s not for everyone, and it definitely asks for some patience, but if you stick with it, there’s something really moving waiting on the other side.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Reading this book reminded me of an old game called 52 card pickup. A full deck of cards is tossed in the air and has to be reassembled.
This book is sobering but hopeful.
Luxor is a stagnant town but does it harbor a ton of lies.
Every chapter I read was like another card I was picking up until I had a full deck.
Turns out the Choir Girls were just window dressing.
The ending was interesting.

4.25 stars
This is a very impressive adult debut, and I was here for this literary mystery that is equally character and plot driven. The story revolves around two towns separated by a river and social class. Anna Ryder, the protagonist, is home caring for her sick mother. When she loses her job, she seeks employment at the Lodge out of desperation, where her mother had told her to stay away from. One of the employees involved in the annual hunting retreat was killed, allowing her to fill the vacancy.

What follows is a story of rich and poor, an illegal auction, toxic relationships, family secrets, childhood memories, corruption, and murder. It is also a story of friendship and protecting those we love. There are several characters, and they are slowly developed over time as their layers are peeled back, and I felt invested in them. I loved the concept that we leave ripples long after we are gone, for good or bad. I found myself totally engrossed in this story and highly recommend adding it to your TBR.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse, UpLit Reads, and Court Stevens for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens book cover is in image) can be a confusing read. Because of its extremely short chapters, and multitude of characters, the story can feel disjointed at times, especially for the first half of the book. I had the good fortune of having both the audio book and eARC so I was able to switch to the audio, which provided a much better experience.

The narration by Marin Ireland was excellent, making it easy to follow this complex and layered story, and allowed me to finish the book in one day. I would strongly recommend this novel for reader who enjoy pealing back the the layers of an onion of a mystery.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse and Harper Muse Audio for the opportunity to read the eARC and listen to the ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3 Stars
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025

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Tell Me Something Good is a convoluted and fun romp through the naughty behavior going on behind the scenes of an exclusive hunting invitational in a small Kentucky town. A mother and daughter get wrapped up in the present day through a shady job, which leads to the unraveling of 20 year old coverups. This is an entertaining novel, though there a few odd tangents, like reference to one person's "football" playing youth transporting us to Britain with no explanation. Otherwise, it's very fun with relatable characters, dilemmas, and relationships. Some ages and math get complicated on who was in what state 20 years ago and why are they in a creepy relationship now, but don't think about it too much, nor about the trauma of hearing your dead dad's postcoital musings on life on a recording. I hope that's not the "something good" the author has in mind.

"We don't always live to see the ripples we make, but we must make them all the same." - - I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite quote.

This book simply reached in and plucked all my heartstrings. I don't exactly know why I connected with it so intensely but I did. I would describe it as a multi-genre novel - - a little mystery/thriller, with some romance and family drama blended in.

This story focuses on Anna. She grew up in a small town in Kentucky that she always wanted to leave. But life changed and she found herself tied there. Her mother became sick and Anna is the only family there is. When she loses her job teaching at the local high school, Anna is forced to ask for a job from her ex-fiance and things only get more chaotic after that.

The town that Anna lives in has a history - - years ago, there was a brutal murder of nine women and it's still unsolved. It hangs over the town like the elephant in the room that no one wants to mention and many seem to have forgotten about. But there are many that can't forget about it. They were there and can't erase the images from their minds. Either way, things in this sleepy little town are about to get heated.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I also listened to the audiobook and the narration was absolutely wonderful. It enabled me to completely immerse myself in the story. I simply loved it. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Court Stevens, and HarperCollins Focus for the eARC. This fast-paced page-turner hooks you from the very beginning. An intriguing narrative expertly intertwines past and present to unveil a cruel plot.

"Tell Me Something Good" by Court Stevens is an adult debut novel that weaves together past and present mysteries within a close-knit, yet secretive, Southern community. Twenty years after nine women were brutally murdered on a Kentucky river, a crime quickly dismissed as unrelated to the locals due to a similar Texas incident, a new accidental death resurfaces the buried secrets. The story follows Anna Ryder, who, desperate to save her ailing mother, takes a job at the wealthy hunting lodges across the river from her impoverished Illinois town. She soon discovers that nearly everyone in her life has been lying to her, and the secrets surrounding the annual "Royale" event and the decades-old murders are far more interconnected and dangerous than anyone imagined, forcing Anna to uncover the truth at all costs.

This book had a lot going on. Maybe too much. It took the first half of the book to set up the story and have the multitudinous threads start to weave together. The 2nd half was more compelling. The plot picked up and the stories started to connect. By the end, everything came together and I walked away with a good read. I would recommend it. Just be aware that the setup takes a bit and give some grace as this is the author's adult novel debut. Thank you to NetGalley and Court Stevens for the opportunity to read this book free in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

What an atmospheric, mysterious, unsettling reading experience this was. Written in the omniscient narrator-style of Backman's Beartown trilogy and featuring a vast cast of characters, Stevens never let me feel like I had a good grip on what was happening. The chapters are very short, the POVs alternate with speed, and every single person has secrets and ambiguous motives. On the surface, these words may sound like I didn't like this book, but I have to say that DESPITE the unease I felt on nearly every page, I very much enjoyed this book. Bodies abound, gunshots are the background music, secrets lurk in every moment of quiet, and lies are the common language.

I'm going to be thinking about this book for awhile. I've never read Court Stevens' YA books, but I'm excited to see what else she brings to the adult fiction world moving forward. Stevens' writing style is the closest thing I've ever seen to Backman's (which I consider a huge compliment as I adored Beartown). With scant few exceptions, this cast of characters is unlikable, but several found themselves in horrible situations and were forced to make impossible decisions. Does that redeem them? What would you do? This is a book that makes you think.

Overall, it was a truly engaging, unique reading experience, and I'm grateful to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me to read this book prior to its publication in exchange for this honest review.

Twenty years ago, 9 women were found murdered in a small town in Kentucky. When it is linked to a similar crime in Texas, the locals write it off as not committed by a local. Years later, a local's seemingly accidental death opens up old wounds and the past is resurfaced. A woman desperate to help her sick mother inadvertently starts to uncover a number of secrets which may implicate locals not only in the deaths of the young women from years ago, but also uncover sinister goings on in the community. Reconnecting with her ex-fiance, they uncover secrets that some locals will do anything to keep buried at any cost.

A well-written small town mystery thriller where secrets of the past are uncovered and we discover some who aren't who they seem to be will do anything to keep secrets of the past hidden. There are a number of characters and layers within this plot which I found a little confusing to keep track of initially but it's definitely worth persevering as this is a solid read with some great characters. The ending brings all the elements of the story together in a satisfying and heartbreaking conclusion. ⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Focus for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An atmospheric and enveloping mystery, Tell Me Something Good tells the story of a small Kentucky town with a dark past. This was a quick read with an engaging plot and I think it would make an excellent book to toss in your suitcase for vacation.

I tandem read the print copy and audiobook and found the audiobook a bit more unwieldy with such a large cast of characters. I would ultimately recommend the print version if that's something you have a hard time keeping up with.

It’s a beautifully layered story about loss, forgiveness, and the messiness of healing — all wrapped in a small-town mystery that kept me hooked. The characters felt so real, and the emotional depth reminded me a lot of Fredrik Backman.

This powerful story is narrated by Marin Ireland — yes, the Marin Ireland who brought the Beartown series to life. If you’ve heard her narrate, you know how incredible she is! If you loved that series, this one is a must-listen too.

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens
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“We don’t live to see all the ripples we make, but we must make them all the same.”
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In Tell Me Something Good we follow Anna who is taking care of her mother after learning she is ill. But she is going to need help financially and winds up asking her ex for a job at the one place her mother has told her to never work at: the hunting lodge.
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What I liked:
-There were lots of secrets to uncover. Why has Anna been warned off from the lodge? Who is Anna’s father and where has he been all her life? And the ultimate secret of murders commited twenty years ago.
-I LOVED how many layers there were to this story. It was a slow burn and took some time to pick up steam but then that last 20% was crazy!
-I enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen next.
-The ending was not what I was expecting.

Tell Me Something Good is a compelling story of a community with lots to hide. Perfect for mystery or drama fans.