⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Geneva’s just trying to keep her family’s old hotel running, it’s been in the family for generations. There was a big, infamous murder there years ago, but she doesn’t really know much about it.
Now, out of nowhere, two guests show up: one’s a writer digging into that very murder, and the other is the woman who was wrongly accused of it. As the past starts creeping into the present, Geneva finds herself caught up in a mystery she never expected.

I really enjoyed The Storm, its twisty love triangle, intricate characters, the unpredictability of a hurricane, and the dual timeline that dives deep into piecing together the murder mystery.

Tropes:
* Mysteries
* Suspense
* Unique Story line

At just 288 pages, this is a quick popcorn thriller, but to be honest, was my not favorite of Hawkins books. The characters weren’t my favorite and were hard to connect with. There are shifting timelines and changing names which make this hard to follow at times as well. Fans of Hawkins will likely still enjoy this one but it ended up middle of the road for me.

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

St. Medard's Bay, Alabama has much going for it but also much going against it. Deadly hurricanes have wiped out just about everything in the town over the centuries of the storms although there is always the hopeful rebuilding that takes place after each storm. The pink and white Rosalie Inn manages to withstand the hurricanes with a lot less damage than other places and new owner Geneva Corliss can only hope that this good luck continues. The inn belonged to her parents and when she and her boyfriend bought it, she thought she'd have help running the place but scoundrel boyfriend flew the coop when he realized the work and cost of maintaining such a venture. Still, Genova keeps the place going with a small staff while visiting her mom at a care home when she can.

We get to learn the names of past hurricanes because their names serve as chapter titles. There were significant events and deaths during each hurricane although every death is significant for those who have lost friends, loved ones, homes and businesses. But sometimes the deaths might not be caused by the storms but rather possible murders covered up by the storms. That might be the case during Hurricane Marie in 1984, when political scion Landon Fitzroy, son of an even bigger political bigwig, was found dead after Hurricane Marie. Since father could pull strings to get what he wanted and he wanted nineteen year old Lo Bailey, a lover of Landon's, tried for murder, that is exactly what happened.

Now in June, 2025, journalist August Fletcher wants to book a long stay so he can write about the death of Landon Fitzroy and this long stay is welcomed by Genova since she needs all the business she can get. So when August brings sixty year old Lo Bailey with him, Genova welcomes the extra income despite the fact that locals may not want her bringing her bad reputation back to their town. Soon, Genova realizes her mother held a lot back from her about past events in her hometown.

As the story progresses and we go back in time to see what really happened over the years, we find that the web that has been woven concerning Landon's death is much more tangled than Genova would ever have suspected. This is a book that was hard to put down, the stench around Landon is vile, even before he was dead, but the guy had a way with woman that allowed him to get so much more than he ever deserved. We will learn about three best friends, the secrets they kept and couldn't keep, and how Genova is more wrapped up in the past than she could ever imagine. This book is a winner for me and I couldn't help feeling anxious about hurricanes, I do not know how people can handle living with that particular threat on a regular basis. I read this story with Jayme and DeAnn so check out their reviews for more thoughts on the book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the SMP Early Readers program, and NetGalley for this ARC.

🐝 2026 PREVIEW‼️

I can’t believe I am reviewing a 2026 title in July but St. Martin’s Press loves to send out ARCS early to start the 🐝 buzz, so here we are! Thank You to the Publisher for the EARLY gifted copy! Here are my candid thoughts!

“Sun, Fun and a Thirty Percent Chance of Death? “

St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for enduring not one, but THREE deadly hurricanes but the Rosalie Inn, a pink hundred year old hotel, has somehow managed to survive every one of those storms, despite the fact that many of the town’s residents have not.

In fact, the first storm, Hurricane Delphine killed Beth Anne Bailey’s first husband on the 4th of July, 1965 and Hurricane Marie claimed her second one in 1984.

The beachfront town is also famous because a local girl, Lo Bailey, was accused murdering her lover, Landon Fitzroy, the son of a prominent Political figure, during Hurricane Marie and she “got away with it!”

The book opens on June 21, 2025 -
43 DAYS LEFT

And, the A/C is out in room 217 AGAIN.

When Geneva Corliss, the struggling current owner of the Rosalie Inn, finds out that a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, and he wants to book a room for several weeks, she is grateful she will have that money coming in. She is also cautiously, optimistic that the “true crime book” might put the Inn on the map and drum up future business.

But the writer, August Fletcher, doesn’t arrive alone…

Accompanying him is none other than the infamous Lo Bailey-in town to clear her name once and for all.

The atmosphere is oozing off the pages as we visit this (fictional) Alabama Coastal town. You can practically feel the oppressive heat, and picture the afternoon storms that arrive almost every afternoon in the Summer.

And, as the research proceeds and the countdown to the next hurricane continues, we are treated to snippets from newspaper articles, diary entries and the pages of August Fletcher’s unfinished manuscript-found among his possessions. (Not a spoiler-that is revealed very early on)

Like the approaching hurricane which is gaining in speed and strength -there won’t be anything that can stop the destruction that is about to occur….

This might be my second favorite Rachel Hawkins book and I devoured this entertaining read it in one afternoon, since it’s 112 degrees here in PHOENIX-a perfect day to stay inside reading, with a tall glass of Iced Tea and my kitten by my side. Somehow despite the long chapters, the book was a fast read and a great distraction from the unbearable heat.

I enjoyed the use of mixed media and making some guesses as the revelations dropped.

Expected Publication Date is January 6, 2026 but you can pre-order now!
It would be a great book to start the new year with!

Where are all my mystery fans... because boy do I have a book for you !

PUB Date: Jan 6th 2026
My Rating : 4 Bellowing Stars

Buckle up for this one mystery lovers , as there is a storm brewing and you will be binging this 80's nostalgic vibes classic whodunit .

This was such a fun read, and really enjoyed the slow burn to this one , which normally I am not a fan, however I think the concept with the storms looming ,it gave this build up , which filled me with anticipation for the truths to be finally revealed .

Set in Alabama , The Rosalie Inn has never seen so much action since the storm of Hurricane Marie , when the Lo Bailey is accused of murder for her secret lover Landon who is in the political game.

The story bounces back and fourth between past and present , and when Geneva the owner of the Rosalie Inn has an opportunity to rent to a writer who wants to write a true crime novel about what happened all those years ago at this property and Geneva sees an opportunity for her Inn to make some money.

What Geneva does not anticipate is this unknown paradox is stirring and if she's not careful there could be more blood percolating on the horizon!

I don't want to give too much away but read this if you like:
* Mysteries
* Suspense
* Unique Story line
* Stories that keep you hooked
* Bingeable reads
*Slow Burns

Thank you Netgalley, St.Martins Press and Rachel Hawkins for this stormy ARC!!

(3.5 rounded down) I’ve read two of Rachel Hawkins’s previous novels, one which I thought was a fun time (The Wife Upstairs), the other which I did not enjoy at all (Reckless Girls), and thankfully, this one fell more into the “fun time” category. The story here is centered around a beach town, St. Medard’s Bay in Alabama, that has a history of hurricanes that have destroyed large swaths of the town. During one of these past hurricanes, the son of a wealthy politician was killed and his father was convinced his son’s mistress murdered him. The mistress, a local named Lo Bailey, was tried for the crime and found not guilty. Decades later, Lo returns to Medard’s Bay with an author in tow, determined to clear her name. The narrator of most of this story is Geneva, the owner of the hotel in town, which has been in her family for generations. Her story and Lo’s story are linked in ways that become a part of the mystery as well. There’s also a mixed media element to this one, with chapters broken up with letters, newspaper clippings, emails, and other various little bits. This is what I come to a popcorn thriller for - good pacing, a fairly engaging story, and a solid mystery at the center. Some of the twists are easy to see coming and the characters aren’t the most memorable, but I still had a good time. I don’t think I’ll be thinking about this one for too long, but not every book needs to be one that sticks with you forever.

*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to be a member of the SMP Early Readers Program*

Rachel Hawkins CANNOT write a bad book. I’m telling you, everything she touches turns to 5 stars. The Storm blew the roof off of my entire TBR list because once I started, I couldn’t put it down. If you love a southern town vibe with a cast of characters that are equal parts similar and polar opposite, you will love The Storm. If you are mesmerized by natural disasters and the carnage they leave behind, you will LOVE The Storm.

There’s a storm brewing and you don’t want to miss it ⛈️
Yes, I already read a book that doesn’t come out until 2026. No, I have zero regrets.
Thank you, St. Martins Press & The SMP Early Reader team, for the gifted copy of The Storm by Rachel Hawkins {partner}
 
Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date:   1.6.2026
Pages: 288
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“The other thing about hope, though? It isn’t just fatal, it’s contagious.”

There was just something so perfect about this book - something that completely drew me into the storyline and refused to let me go until I’d devoured it in a matter of hours.

Rachel Hawkins crafted one of the most original mystery novels I’ve read in a long time. The hurricanes weren’t just part of the setting—they felt like living, breathing characters. And the women caught in the center of it all? Complex, layered, and unforgettable.

What I loved most is how it balanced a slow burn with a steady pull. The story unfolds like a storm brewing on the horizon—quiet at first, then all at once. It’s subtle and atmospheric, but if you blink, you might miss something crucial.

Read if you enjoy:
🌧  Slow burn suspense
🌴 Atmospheric coastal setting
🌀 Unique Timelines
👏🏼 Perfect Twists
🖤 Complex Characters

I highly recommend adding The Storm to your 2026 reading list, as you will not want to miss out on this story. 

Here’s my ranking of Hawkins’ books, in case you want to do a deep dive into her backlist. 
1. The Heiress
2. The Wife Upstairs
3. The Storm
4. The Villa
5. Reckless Girls

The Storm was a fantastic read with a mystery that spanned generations. I love how it unfolded in snippets of time marked by the hurricanes that haunt St. Menard’s Bay. It was such gripping storytelling.

I was fascinated by all the major characters. And the chapters marked by “43 days left…” added a beautiful tension to the story. It really felt like I was watching and waiting for the storm to hit.

I love that Rachel Hawkins explored themes like why people are so willing and quick to vilify a woman, while also not being afraid to write that woman as a complex character. Because Lo is far from perfect… but is she a murderer?

4.5⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the eARC of this book!

This was delightful! As someone who lives in Alabama, this was so fun to see all of the different spots mentioned! I loved the storyline and our cast of characters and the twists just kept coming! It was truly one of the best thrillers I've read in a while. I will auto buy all of Rachel Hawkins' thrillers because they have just been the best time!!

This was my fourth Rachel Hawkins read and once again—she nailed it. If you love small-town secrets, multiple timelines, and messy characters with messy histories, this one’s for you.

Even though I figured out most of the twists (my thriller brain rarely gets surprised these days), it didn’t take away from the fun. I devoured this in a couple sittings. The multiple POVs were sharp, and each character felt so real it was like eavesdropping on old friends with dark secrets.

A quick, addictive, atmospheric read—perfect for stormy nights and cozy crime lovers.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hmm… how to describe this: a feminist domestic thriller with baffling twists? Or maybe small town love affair turns deadly? Also sisterhood with victimhood and some chills mixed up.

It’s a quick read. Less than 300 pages so it’s easy to read in one sitting. I’m actually hit or miss with this author and this was better for me. Not my fav of hers but still decent. A few things (which give away the plot so I won’t say) weren’t my fav but still a good one.

Geneva is the owner of Rosalie Inn, which has survived many strong hurricanes passing through St. Medards Bay, Alabama, for over a century. When a writer named August contacts Geneva with interest in renting a room while writing a true crime book involving the unsolved murder that occurred there in the '80s, Geneva is excited that maybe this future book will boost business for her inn. But when August arrives, he has Lo Bailey in tow, the woman accused of murdering her lover. What really happened that night? Did Lo get off scot-free?

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher St. Martin's Press, for the eARC for review purposes. All opinions expressed here are mine alone. "The Storm" by Rachel Hawkins will be widely available on January 6, 2026.

I really enjoyed "The Storm" due to its twisty love triangle, intricate characters, the unpredictability of a hurricane, some claustrophobic scenes, and the dual timeline that dives deep into piecing together the murder mystery. I especially enjoyed the chapter headings for the past timeline. They are a very creative touch as they follow along with the names of each hurricane that passes by, which is obviously a big theme in this book.

In conclusion, this is a book I’d recommend adding to your reading list in anticipation of its release next year. Happy reading!

A review was posted on Goodreads and Storygraph, as my social medial Instagram platform at @pages_and_papercrafts all on 7/13/25 (linked below):
A suspenseful story with an atmospheric setting and fascinating plot that kept me intrigued throughout. Geneva, the innkeeper of her family business that has withstood past deadly hurricanes in the small coastal town of St. Medard’s Bay, encounters one of her guests August, a journalist visiting to research a past death. Told in a unique presentation of past hurricane seasons and present time, the mystery around the death unfolds, lives are woven together and ripped apart and so many secrets unraveled. I was at the edge of my seat for most of the book: needing to know what happened in the past and what is happening in the present at the same time! A complex plot with interesting characters and a lot of suspense made for a great read. 4.5 stars

This was a fast paced, multiple timelines thriller that had me on the edge of my seat! Rachel does such an amazing job keeping me guessing in her novels and this was no different. The pacing was balanced, and the development of the plot was well structured. I was so intrigued with the past timeline, and it really increased the tension overall jumping between the two. I really liked the characters and the atmosphere of the book overall. I would recommend this thriller to any lover of the genre!

This is such a quick, fast paced, multiple timelines thriller.
You are following Geneva who has running her multigenerational hotel. Many years ago there was a very famous murder that happened at her hotel that she knows nothing about. Present day, two unexpected guest come to stay in her hotel and one is writing then story of the murder and the other is the woman who was wrongly accused of the murder that happened.
I really enjoyed the multiple timelines of this as well as being completely in the dark, along with Geneva, in everything that happened in the past. You are getting little moments from other storms that have caused damage on the hotel and how they all relate back to the murder and present day.
I do wish this was slightly dark, or had a little more suspense but I will say it kept me thinking and on the edge of my chair.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this advanced readers copy!

Read in one day, practically in one sitting, THE STORM is one of the most engrossing and atmospheric reads in some time for me.

Something about this story just creeps under your skin, and the only comparison I have is reading MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD & EVIL when I was 15ish, and being blown away by the outlandish, hot southern night of novel. In fact, when that book is actually mentioned in this, I got goosebumps all over... KISMET I TELL YOU.

When Landon Fitzroy, the Governor's son dies in the hurricane of '84, it should have been left as a tragic accident. But, Landon was shacking up with Lo Bailey, the prettiest girl in St Medard's bay. She was also barely legal, and NOT his former Miss Alabama wife...

And so the dueling timelines begin. Flashbacks to many nights in St Medard's bay and current timelines in The Rosalie, the inn that famously withstands all the hurricane.
We meet Geneva the current innkeeper and daughter of Lo's best friend as finds herself smack dab in current affairs as Lo Bailey re-enters St. Medard's community with her ghostwriter in tow.

Seriously, every little way the plot unfolded in letters and articles and testimonials was PERFECTO. I would give this 10 stars if I could.

I love Rachel Hawkins’ thrillers and I knew I would love The Storm too - her new one out in January. Well of course I couldn’t wait and skipped a ton of TBR books for this gem. I’m not sorry. Hawkins’ twists get me every time and The Storm was no different.

I love a good hurricane storyline as I’m located in Florida and can def relate. Geneva’s family has owned and operated the Rosalie (hotel) located on the Alabama coastline for years, and it continues to stand strong (through the years and many storms). Now it’s Geneva’s turn to run the place and another storm is coming right for them.

Enter Lo - an infamous murder suspect from 40+ years ago and she wants to tell her side of the story with a blockbuster memoir and choses the Rosalie to stay with her co-author at. After all it’s here that the well known son of a senator died during yet another hurricane in the 80s. It’s complicated. Very. And I loved it all.

This one hits the mark for me and I loved to hate Lo and loved her story too. Let’s go. Get this on your radar now. You won’t be sorry. So glad I got an early copy of this one. It made my weekend!

3.5 stars - Thank you so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This fast-paced thriller/mystery was so enjoyable! I flew through the story and could not put it down. I grew up in a small beach town similar to the one describes in this novel and the vibes were on point. The small town southern gossip, the salty air, the tense atmosphere before a hurricane comes all reminded me of the summers of my childhood.
Lo was a riot, I enjoyed her give-no-fucks attitude and her sense of confidence though she’d been labeled “a murderess slut” and I appreciated the underlying feminist themes throughout the story. Geneva was badass too, love that she was childfree and single, and that she was perfectly happy taking care of her family’s inn.

***MILD SPOILERS - I wish there had been more of a twist with August and more of an explanation about who his mother was- this part felt rushed to me.
I did feel like the ending wrapped up nicely and was glad that Lo, Edie, and Geneva all survived the storm (amongst other things).

The southern summer vibes were excellent and this one is sure to be a hit with thriller fans!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I just finished reading @ladyhawkins latest, The Storm and it was such a good time! I loved the way the story was written: multiple POVS, flashbacks, book/newspaper clippings. Swipe for the synopsis.

The story pulled me in from the first chapter and easily held my interest. There were a few surprises plot wise that I didn’t see coming, and others that I did. Regardless, I knocked this one out in two days and definitely recommend you adding it to your TBR! The chapters are quite long so be prepared to spend some quality reading time with this one.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e galley in exchange for my honest review. Pub date is 01.06.26 enjoy!