Christine Gabrièlle

Before last month, I’d never bought a book from Dollar Tree. I’d looked at them in passing, maybe read the blurb on one or two of them, but never took one home. I will admit, I was being very judgey. How good could a book from Dollar Tree actually be?

Don’t worry, I’ve shamed myself enough for all of us.

I didn’t go into Dollar Tree that day with the intent to buy a book. I just popped in after grabbing a coffee to see if they had a cute little notebook I could use for my daily To-Do lists that would also fit in my purse if needed—I’d just been using regular paper in a giant binder or random sticky notes I couldn’t keep track of.

Anyway…

After grabbing a notebook, I thought hey, why not look at this messy section of books? The space was completely disorganized, but the cover of one stood out to me, and I couldn’t not pick it up.

I read the back, as one is apt to do, and figured it was good enough. Seriously, it was a dollar(25).

It took me a couple days to get past the first chapter, but once I did, I was hooked! I had to make myself put it down so I wouldn’t finish it too fast. It was my treat at the end of the day for getting stuff done.

And I know I just told you I wasn’t reading anymore, but this book busted that block wide open. It just got better and more exciting as it went on. By the second half, I really couldn’t put it down, and finished almost the entire second half in one sitting.

The twists, the turns, the whodunnit… and it wasn’t at all who I expected. I was quite literally yelling in my living room. Had to throw the book face down a couple of times to process what just happened in the story.

I’m telling you, I haven’t been this turned up while reading a book since… Such a Fun Age, maybe?

And I know I haven’t told you what the book is about—I hate to spoil it for you. However, since I know it can be important, here are some key words:

Blind date
Prosopagnosia
Stalker
Murder

That’s all you’re getting from me!

All I’m saying is pick it up. I’m usually pretty good about predicting how a story will end. Not this time. And I loved that!

As for what’s next… I’m still slowly reading all the other “in progress” books on my list that I’ve been reading for months (or years, smh), but I may make another trip to Dollar Tree and see what other mysteries await me.

Other than that, I will be writing more often for one-off submissions. I may even write some little pieces just for you!

In the meantime…

Happy reading!

🖤