The Storm by Rachel Hawkins is a dark, suspenseful novel about a woman wrapped up in a crime from 1984 who comes back to tell her story.
I’m about to make a big statement about this book, but I predict that The Storm will be one of the best books published in 2026. This book was dark and twisty. I had no idea what really happened during the hurricane in 1984, but I couldn’t wait to find out. Lo (the accused killer) was a character you loved to hate and couldn’t wait to hear her side of the story. This book will have you guessing until the end!
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The Storm Overview
Title: The Storm
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Pages: 288 Pages
Publish Date: January 6th, 2026
Genre: Psychological Thriller
My Star Rating: 4/5 stars! (I loved this book and would recommend it to most people.)
Grab your copy here: https://amzn.to/466y066
Synopsis from Amazon
St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.
When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.
As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive―and as deadly―as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…
My Review of The Storm
First off, thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins, and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced reading copy of The Storm. It was a crazy ride, but I’m so glad I read this book!
Once again, Rachel Hawkins writes an incredible gothic thriller that I’m positive I know the ending, only to be slapped in the face by the fact that I could never predict this ending. There are so many twists and turns. The Storm is one of my favorite books by Rachel Hawkins.
My favorite thing about The Storm is the flashbacks to the past; they help explain why characters are acting the way they are in the present. It was really interesting how every hurricane, something significant happened to the women in the story.
This was a quick read for me and one of those books that just consumed my every thought until I finished it. I finished it in one day! I actually stayed up until 1 AM to finish this book. Lastly, I loved the way this story unfolded and the use of different media to add layers to the story.
The last thing I’ll mention is the way the tensions build in The Storm is perfection! I just HAD to know how it was going to end.
This book is perfect for those who love psychological thrillers, books with strong and complex female characters, and multiple POVs. If there’s one book you should add to your 2026 TBR (to be read) pile, The Storm is the one for you!
More Thriller Book Reviews
- Forget Me Not by Stacy Whitman
- Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay NetGalley Book Review
- Breaking The Dark by Lisa Jewell NetGalley Book Review
- The Lost House by Melissa Larsen NetGalley Book Review
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a great book to start 2026 off on a great note, then you need to read The Storm by Rachel Hawkins. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m sure you will too. If you have any questions about this book, let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from all of you!
Lastly, if you enjoyed this book review, please share it on your social media. I appreciate all the love and support.
Thanks for reading,
Kel
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