Title
I Need You To Read This
Author
Jessa Maxwell
Synopsis
Like thousands before her, Alex Marks escaped to New York City for a fresh start. Now she spends her mornings at the bluebird diner reading the paper over coffee with the regulars, and her days working as a copywriter. Mostly, she keeps to herself, not venturing far outside of her small bubble. But when her childhood hero- Francis Keen, the country's premiere advice columnist - is murdered, Alex's meticulously guarded world cracks. Francis authored the famous advice column Dear Constance, and her words guided Alex through some of her darkest times. When the New York Herald posts an advertisement searching for Francis's replacement, Alex impulsively applies, never expecting to actually get the job. Alex quickly proves herself skilled solving other people's problems, but as soon as she settles in, she begins receiving strange letters. As Alex is drawn into the details surrounding her predecessor's murder,her own dark secrets surface and push her into a deadly game that takes her far from the power centers of Manhattan to Francis Keen's summer house, where her body was found and where the killer may just be waiting.
Set among the glittering lights of New York City, I Need You To Read This, from the author of The Golden Spoon, is the gripping, suspenseful story of a young woman whose new job, her dream job, may just be her last.
About the Author
Jessa Maxwell is the author of the The Golden Spoon. She is also the author and illustrator of five picture books for children. Her comics and cartoons have been published in the New Yorker and the New York Times and her writing has been published in Slate, Marie Claire, and many others. She now lives in Jamestown, Rhode Island, with her husband, two cats, and three- legged dog.
Review
I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I received a copy of I need you to read this by Jessa Maxwell through a Goodreads giveaway. This was the first book that I read by this author and loved it. The book is listed as a mystery/ thriller however it gives off cozy mystery vibes ( my absolute favorite genre). I am a huge fan of mysteries minus the gory details and this book was the perfect story for me. We follow Alex Marks who is living in the city and working from home as a copywriter. Living with anxiety and some level of agoraphobia due to PTSD from an event in her past that is slowly revealed throughout the story. Alex Marks discovers the newspaper that printed the advice column for a woman she admired for years that was murdered the previous year has printed a job listing to replace the advice columnist. They are looking for a new “ Dear Constance” . One night in a slightly drunken stooper Alex decides to rage apply to the ad and is surprised at how at ease she is at turning out advice and is quickly offered the job. What she didn't count on was a new relationship, a stalker that seems to know her secrets and getting pulled into and trying to solve her predecessor’s murder before she becomes the next target. The story starts out a bit slow but it is a necessity for the reader to get to know the character Alex Marks. The author has an uncanny ability to show the raw emotions of someone who lives in a constant state of fear, anxiety, and agoraphobia. I really enjoyed the fact that it was a small group of characters and that each one contributed perfectly to the plot. I read this book over the course of two days, as I said it does have a slow start however, the insight and clues during this point in the book is vital . It really doesn't take very long for the pace to quicken. Watching Alex step out of her “comfort zone” and embrace a new job ( outside the safety of her home) and new acquaintances, relationships and seeing her learn to thrive in a job that she never thought she would actually get, facing the demons of the past, and solving the murder of her predecessor is the absolute best part of the book.
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