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Heart of Glass
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A serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small-town high school girl―and her then-best friends are forced to confront what really happened that night and what's happening now.
Seaside is a small coastal town, known originally for the local amusement park. But twenty-five years ago, a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer confessed to the murder of a local high school girl. Now, he's recanted that confession.
Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends - then they met "Sam" at Wonderland, the local amusement park. After hanging out with him there, and accompanying him to the drive-in movie, where the twenty-something handsome drifter made out with Lorelei in the backseat. That night was the last time Lorelei was seen alive, her murdered body surfacing a couple of days later in a local cranberry bog.
Barb's dreams of leaving Seaside and becoming a successful writer never materialized and she is a freelancer for the local newspaper and, secretly, writes anonymously about reality tv stars for a hugely successful gossip web-site called Reality Bitch. Specifically, she writes savagely about a long-running show set in Canada called Trophy Wives.
Nicolette left town shortly after Lorelei's body surfaced, never to return. Ultimately, she married a very rich man, moved to Toronto and rebranded herself as Cole Lennox, one of the stars of Trophy Wives.
With the amusement park about to reopen, revitalizing the dying town of Seaside, the Carnival Killer recants his confession about killing Lorelei, the dead body of young woman washes ashore, and the truth about what happened that night twenty-five years ago - and what is happening now - threatens not only the carefully constructed lives of Barb and Nicolette, but the very fabric of Seaside itself.
Seaside is a small coastal town, known originally for the local amusement park. But twenty-five years ago, a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer confessed to the murder of a local high school girl. Now, he's recanted that confession.
Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends - then they met "Sam" at Wonderland, the local amusement park. After hanging out with him there, and accompanying him to the drive-in movie, where the twenty-something handsome drifter made out with Lorelei in the backseat. That night was the last time Lorelei was seen alive, her murdered body surfacing a couple of days later in a local cranberry bog.
Barb's dreams of leaving Seaside and becoming a successful writer never materialized and she is a freelancer for the local newspaper and, secretly, writes anonymously about reality tv stars for a hugely successful gossip web-site called Reality Bitch. Specifically, she writes savagely about a long-running show set in Canada called Trophy Wives.
Nicolette left town shortly after Lorelei's body surfaced, never to return. Ultimately, she married a very rich man, moved to Toronto and rebranded herself as Cole Lennox, one of the stars of Trophy Wives.
With the amusement park about to reopen, revitalizing the dying town of Seaside, the Carnival Killer recants his confession about killing Lorelei, the dead body of young woman washes ashore, and the truth about what happened that night twenty-five years ago - and what is happening now - threatens not only the carefully constructed lives of Barb and Nicolette, but the very fabric of Seaside itself.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Jennifer Hillier
13 books19.3k followersJennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people, and then writes about it.
She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling Things We Do in the Dark, winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Audiobook. Described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine, it was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honored as a LibraryReads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.
She's also published six other novels, including the USA Today bestselling Little Secrets (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award), and Jar of Hearts (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards). She also wrote Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, which have been recently reissued by Gallery Books in beautiful trade paperback formats. Her books have been published in twenty-four languages so far.
Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, but she spent eight amazing years living in Seattle, which is where she first became a published author. She's a Seahawks fan who married a Packers guy, and they have a son in middle school who wishes she wrote books like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (she does too, kid, she does too).
She's afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she's checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She's a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she's now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.
Heart of Glass, her newest thriller, will be coming August 25, 2026 from Minotaur Books.
She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling Things We Do in the Dark, winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Audiobook. Described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine, it was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honored as a LibraryReads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.
She's also published six other novels, including the USA Today bestselling Little Secrets (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award), and Jar of Hearts (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards). She also wrote Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, which have been recently reissued by Gallery Books in beautiful trade paperback formats. Her books have been published in twenty-four languages so far.
Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, but she spent eight amazing years living in Seattle, which is where she first became a published author. She's a Seahawks fan who married a Packers guy, and they have a son in middle school who wishes she wrote books like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (she does too, kid, she does too).
She's afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she's checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She's a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she's now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.
Heart of Glass, her newest thriller, will be coming August 25, 2026 from Minotaur Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
Want to Read
March 1, 2026My fave is releasing a new book!
I cant wait to get my hands on this one!
I know its going to be a five star read!
💙🤍💙🤍
I cant wait to get my hands on this one!
I know its going to be a five star read!
💙🤍💙🤍
Want to Read
March 3, 2026Jennifer Hillier is my favorite psych/thriller author. All her books are 4-5 star hits for me and I just love how she builds up dread along with plot. Very crafty, very efficient, will have your heart cranking up like it's a race. Have you read Jar of Hearts???
A carnival serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small town high school girl but a new body washes ashore Seaside, Washington forcing buried secrets to resurface.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Jennifer Hillier for an early copy.
Publication date: August 25, 2026
A carnival serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small town high school girl but a new body washes ashore Seaside, Washington forcing buried secrets to resurface.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Jennifer Hillier for an early copy.
Publication date: August 25, 2026
May 16, 2026
I've read a handful of Jennifer Hilliers books and really enjoyed them and Heart of Glass was no different. While I have to say this would fall lower in my ranking of her books, it's still an excellent book. This book has a fun mix of drama-filled reality tv vibes and small-town vibes mixed with true crime vibes. They all come together for a fun, bingeable read! The beginning started a little on the slower side for me as there's a lot of characters introduced and intertwined that you have to figure out and keep straight. The ending is more face-paced and twisty turny. The storyline was fun and now I want to go back and read her book Wonderland that took place at Seaside years ago. Overall, a great book if you're looking for an entertaining mystery. Can't wait to see what Jennifer Hillier comes up with next!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
February 22, 2026
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier. Thanks to @minotaurbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Twenty five years ago the Carnival Killer was arrested and confessed to murdering five teenage girls, including Barb and Nicolette’s best friend, Lorelei. Now, he’s recanted his confession. Barb and Nicolle have moved one, one as a journalist and one as a reality tv star, but his recantation will shock their world especially as a new body washes up.
For those who read Wonderland, you’ll be excited to go back to Seaside! While not a sequel, it takes place in the same town, so you don’t have to have read the first book. If you have, you’ll know that something just isn’t right with the town. I liked this one a lot, especially the reality tv show background and wish it got even more into that! The dual time lines were great, although the past chapters were few. I liked the twists that occurred. They weren’t mind blowing for the plot, but the perfect amount for keep suspense and a feeling of unease. The tense kidnapping chapters were also amazing. So many different things were going on that it was impossible to be bored with this plot. I loved the ending as well; very satisfying for the characters.
“She wasn’t my victim. But invite a stranger in, and strange things will happen.”
Read if you like:
-Kidnapping plots
-Reality TV tropes
-Friendships gone wrong
Heart of Glass comes out 8/25.
Twenty five years ago the Carnival Killer was arrested and confessed to murdering five teenage girls, including Barb and Nicolette’s best friend, Lorelei. Now, he’s recanted his confession. Barb and Nicolle have moved one, one as a journalist and one as a reality tv star, but his recantation will shock their world especially as a new body washes up.
For those who read Wonderland, you’ll be excited to go back to Seaside! While not a sequel, it takes place in the same town, so you don’t have to have read the first book. If you have, you’ll know that something just isn’t right with the town. I liked this one a lot, especially the reality tv show background and wish it got even more into that! The dual time lines were great, although the past chapters were few. I liked the twists that occurred. They weren’t mind blowing for the plot, but the perfect amount for keep suspense and a feeling of unease. The tense kidnapping chapters were also amazing. So many different things were going on that it was impossible to be bored with this plot. I loved the ending as well; very satisfying for the characters.
“She wasn’t my victim. But invite a stranger in, and strange things will happen.”
Read if you like:
-Kidnapping plots
-Reality TV tropes
-Friendships gone wrong
Heart of Glass comes out 8/25.
March 16, 2026
have been eagerly awaiting a new @jenniferhillierbooks thriller and I was absolutely not disappointed!! Set in the same world as Wonderland (but completely stand alone), this is absolutely another winner. This is a cover to cover read in one sitting if you’re as eager to know what happens as I was!
Thank you to Minotaur for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Minotaur for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
April 6, 2026
I absolutely loved Jar of Hearts, so I was beyond excited to be approved for an ARC of Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier. I’d seen recommendations to read Wonderland first, and I’m so glad I did. It made catching the subtle Easter eggs even more satisfying.
Going in with high expectations, I can confidently say this one did not disappoint.
I loved how the timelines unfolded, slowly peeling back the layers of the past and revealing deeply buried secrets piece by piece u til the puzzle came together. The tension builds perfectly, leading to shocking truths that completely deliver.
At one point or another, I suspected everyone of something, which made the twists even more fun. Intricate, suspenseful, and incredibly satisfying, this is a story that keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for letting me read this arc!
Going in with high expectations, I can confidently say this one did not disappoint.
I loved how the timelines unfolded, slowly peeling back the layers of the past and revealing deeply buried secrets piece by piece u til the puzzle came together. The tension builds perfectly, leading to shocking truths that completely deliver.
At one point or another, I suspected everyone of something, which made the twists even more fun. Intricate, suspenseful, and incredibly satisfying, this is a story that keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for letting me read this arc!
Want to Read
May 5, 2026I love Jennifer Hillier! Super excited! Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date: Aug 25 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💛✨🦋
Pub Date: Aug 25 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💛✨🦋
April 10, 2026
Hillier has been one of my favorite modern thriller authors!
This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but still a solid book and a bingeable time. I’m personally just a bit tired of the missing girl trope, so the initial setup felt a little generic and took me a minute to get into, but once the story got going i felt a lot more invested. There’s a fun incorporation of real housewives type reality stars, but the story definitely takes dark turns as usual for Hillier.
This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but still a solid book and a bingeable time. I’m personally just a bit tired of the missing girl trope, so the initial setup felt a little generic and took me a minute to get into, but once the story got going i felt a lot more invested. There’s a fun incorporation of real housewives type reality stars, but the story definitely takes dark turns as usual for Hillier.
March 17, 2026
I love Jennifer Hillier’s books and was so excited to revisit Seaside. This is set in the same universe as Wonderland but you do not need to read it before jumping into House of Glass.
The first 30% of this book had it all witty dialogue, small town secrets, and a serial killer who is being featured in a documentary. Somewhere in the middle things started to drag on and the dialogue went from witty to juvenile. I enjoyed the ending but it wasn’t enough to bring it to 4 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
The first 30% of this book had it all witty dialogue, small town secrets, and a serial killer who is being featured in a documentary. Somewhere in the middle things started to drag on and the dialogue went from witty to juvenile. I enjoyed the ending but it wasn’t enough to bring it to 4 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jennifer Hillier is one of those authors I always look forward to, and this was no exception.
Also, if you’ve read Wonderland, I think it adds a nice layer to the experience since we’re back in Seaside. Ofc, you can read this as a standalone, but having that extra context made it more fun for me.
The story moves between past and present, showing what happened 25 years ago when three best friends, Barb, Nicolette and Lorelei, went to the amusement park… and only two of them came back. Lorelei’s murder was quickly “solved” back then, with Samuel Figg taking the blame. He was later called the Carnival Killer.
In the present, Barb stayed in Seaside and is now a reporter, while Nicolette left town and built a completely different life (Reality TV Show diva). Everything seems settled… until the killer suddenly recants his confession, right as a new body washes ashore just before Wonderland’s grand reopening.
I mean… the timing? Boombastic. Super fantastic ^^
From there, things start to unravel and it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to the story than anyone thought.
I really enjoyed going back to Seaside and following both timelines. The mystery was interesting, and I liked how everything slowly came together. For the record, I did not guessed the culprits until way later on.
That said, some parts did feel a bit slow or slightly repetitive and I do think the book could have been a tiny little shorter.
Overall, though, this was an engaging and solid thriller that kept me invested.
⭐ 4–4.25 stars
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Also, if you’ve read Wonderland, I think it adds a nice layer to the experience since we’re back in Seaside. Ofc, you can read this as a standalone, but having that extra context made it more fun for me.
The story moves between past and present, showing what happened 25 years ago when three best friends, Barb, Nicolette and Lorelei, went to the amusement park… and only two of them came back. Lorelei’s murder was quickly “solved” back then, with Samuel Figg taking the blame. He was later called the Carnival Killer.
In the present, Barb stayed in Seaside and is now a reporter, while Nicolette left town and built a completely different life (Reality TV Show diva). Everything seems settled… until the killer suddenly recants his confession, right as a new body washes ashore just before Wonderland’s grand reopening.
I mean… the timing? Boombastic. Super fantastic ^^
From there, things start to unravel and it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to the story than anyone thought.
I really enjoyed going back to Seaside and following both timelines. The mystery was interesting, and I liked how everything slowly came together. For the record, I did not guessed the culprits until way later on.
That said, some parts did feel a bit slow or slightly repetitive and I do think the book could have been a tiny little shorter.
Overall, though, this was an engaging and solid thriller that kept me invested.
⭐ 4–4.25 stars
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
April 27, 2026
Jennifer Hillier does it again my friends! Wonderland was one of my favorites and to see it come back in Heart of Glass (with a twist) was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. The dual timelines between present day and a fateful night in 2001 kept me at the edge of my seat waiting to see how the pieces would fall into place.
Cole and Barb were 15 when their best friend Lorelei was murdered by a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer. Each of them dealt with the trauma in their own way; Cole reinvented herself and left Seaside and Barb stayed, holding onto the bitter feelings of being abandoned by Cole. The women haven’t spoken in years but a new docuseries about The Carnival Killer is about to bring them back together.
Secrets are starting to bubble up to the surface, leaving everyone with more questions than answers. What really happened that night 25 years ago? And what about the list of missing women that seems to keep growing, all somehow tied to the small town?
Heart of Glass is a page turner, guaranteed to grip you from start to finish. This author is at the top of her game and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Cole and Barb were 15 when their best friend Lorelei was murdered by a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer. Each of them dealt with the trauma in their own way; Cole reinvented herself and left Seaside and Barb stayed, holding onto the bitter feelings of being abandoned by Cole. The women haven’t spoken in years but a new docuseries about The Carnival Killer is about to bring them back together.
Secrets are starting to bubble up to the surface, leaving everyone with more questions than answers. What really happened that night 25 years ago? And what about the list of missing women that seems to keep growing, all somehow tied to the small town?
Heart of Glass is a page turner, guaranteed to grip you from start to finish. This author is at the top of her game and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
April 22, 2026
Jennifer Hillier is one of my favorite thriller writers! This book aligned with what I’ve come to love about her stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved all the different elements in this book - the contentious friend group, the serial killer, the reality tv tie in, and the atmosphere of Seaside.
I also loved that I never was sure who to trust! There were so many characters introduced who could have had something to do with the crimes. I was surprised by the ending! (Although do wish we would have had a little more resolution of WHY some characters did certain things)
This was a fun read. Can’t wait til the next Jennifer Hillier book.
I loved all the different elements in this book - the contentious friend group, the serial killer, the reality tv tie in, and the atmosphere of Seaside.
I also loved that I never was sure who to trust! There were so many characters introduced who could have had something to do with the crimes. I was surprised by the ending! (Although do wish we would have had a little more resolution of WHY some characters did certain things)
This was a fun read. Can’t wait til the next Jennifer Hillier book.
April 16, 2026
Okay, this was really good (all of her books are) but I have so many questions!! I feel like in the end, there wasn’t enough details explaining the why behind everything. What were the motives behind the multiple crimes throughout this book? And the wonderland scandal - I just assumed that was about the original murder… but then there were other details that made me think more happened. But it was never fully explained (unless I totally missed it). Maybe it’s totally intentional to keep the reader guessing. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read but ahhhh I want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
April 16, 2026
Everything worked with this novel, maybe I would call it a suspenseful mystery? Serial killers, reality tv stars, multiple pov's, dual timelines, many strings in many directions but everything worked. It is no problem to keep track of everything and everyone , and the pace was consistent throughout. Characters were flawed, but in equal parts likable and unlikable. I wouldn't change anything about the plot other than the regular proof corrections. While the plot progressed in a pretty linear way, there were not too many surprises but there were a few interesting twists along the way. Thouroughly enjoyed and this being from a Canadian writer is a bonus.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
May 5, 2026
Jennifer Hillier
Heart of Glass
As much as I’d love to say that I devoured this book this one was a little bit of a miss for me. Banking off of the carnival killer of Wonderland, 25 years later this is kind of like a Hollywood wives chaos party. I love Hilliers writing style, but this book was a little bit of a yawn and tough to get through at points.
In this story, there were multiple POV‘s, which was a little bit difficult to keep track of, but I enjoyed the story and got invested later on once the story got going. Thank you, NetGalley and st martins press for this advanced reader copy.
Heart of Glass
As much as I’d love to say that I devoured this book this one was a little bit of a miss for me. Banking off of the carnival killer of Wonderland, 25 years later this is kind of like a Hollywood wives chaos party. I love Hilliers writing style, but this book was a little bit of a yawn and tough to get through at points.
In this story, there were multiple POV‘s, which was a little bit difficult to keep track of, but I enjoyed the story and got invested later on once the story got going. Thank you, NetGalley and st martins press for this advanced reader copy.
March 21, 2026
I thought this book was okay. Small-town vibes with a serial killer and a number of women who have gone missing. What took the enjoyment level down a notch was the number of different characters involved in the book and all of the back stories that needed to be kept up with. I would be reading sometimes wondering when we would get back to a certain character and their story. I have read other books by this author that I would highly recommend, but this isn’t one that I personally would rave about.
Thank you to Netgalley & Minotaur Books for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Thank you to Netgalley & Minotaur Books for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm a "carny (carnival raised) kid," so I love amusement park, carnival books! And Jennifer Hillier, is one of my top three authors, so this one was right up there!
Heart of Glass is a follow-up to Wonderland, but can be read as a stand-alone. It is twenty-five years later, and Sam the drifter has recanted his confession to killing five of the victims at the Wonderland Park. This is right before Wonderland is scheduled to reopen. He has made a documentary with Nicolette, a former survivor of the Wonderland killings. Barb, one of the other survivors, has stayed behind in Seaside all these years and is now "acting strange". What is she hiding? What really happened twenty-five years ago? Secrets will come out.
I love how Jennifer Hillier has hidden a lot of Easter Eggs in this book that, if you have read Wonderland, you will pick up on!!!
This may be one of my favorite thriller books of 2026!!!
THANK YOU NETGALLEY for the ARC COPY of this BOOK. ALL OPINIONS REMAIN MY OWN!
Heart of Glass is a follow-up to Wonderland, but can be read as a stand-alone. It is twenty-five years later, and Sam the drifter has recanted his confession to killing five of the victims at the Wonderland Park. This is right before Wonderland is scheduled to reopen. He has made a documentary with Nicolette, a former survivor of the Wonderland killings. Barb, one of the other survivors, has stayed behind in Seaside all these years and is now "acting strange". What is she hiding? What really happened twenty-five years ago? Secrets will come out.
I love how Jennifer Hillier has hidden a lot of Easter Eggs in this book that, if you have read Wonderland, you will pick up on!!!
This may be one of my favorite thriller books of 2026!!!
THANK YOU NETGALLEY for the ARC COPY of this BOOK. ALL OPINIONS REMAIN MY OWN!
March 16, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!
This is my first Jennifer Hillier book and I am immediately adding all her other books to my TBR. The book begins with an interview of a serial killer who is serving 5 life sentences for murdering 5 women, though he only claims to have killed 4. The story is then layered with multiple POVs over time putting together a twisty thriller that is impossible to put down.
This is my first Jennifer Hillier book and I am immediately adding all her other books to my TBR. The book begins with an interview of a serial killer who is serving 5 life sentences for murdering 5 women, though he only claims to have killed 4. The story is then layered with multiple POVs over time putting together a twisty thriller that is impossible to put down.
April 27, 2026
The atmosphere of Seaside and Wonderland are both well drawn. There’s just something off about both the small town and the amusement park that gave a good amount of creepiness. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief, but the storyline and characters are engaging with some good nostalgia included. My only con here is that the reveals in the end didn’t quite add up for me. Otherwise it’s an entertaining read and maybe I just needed a bit more of an explanation.
April 12, 2026
If you are a fan of reality shows, this is the thriller for you. At first, a slow burn untangling a friendship built in a small town in Seaside, Washington shattered by secrets and murder connected to a serial killer. As a docuseries is done about “The Carnival Killer”, who confesses to 4 of the 5 murders, a story of reality shows obsessions, a town of secrets, friendships shatters starts to come to light. This thriller is filled with mysteries, unsolved cases, cover ups, lots of drama as a truly terrifying story unfolds. Great thriller.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.
March 9, 2026
4.5⭐️ rounded down—super super enjoyed!! The first 20% was a bit of a slow burn and story building but once I was in, I was all in!!! I didn’t mean to read this arc so early ahead of pub day (in August!!!) but I LOVED THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK so I couldn’t not. This had reality tv aspects (think selling sunset) x small-town (apparently seaside is a made up town from her previous book, wonderland!) x old murders x past and present POV.
It had a lot but it was fairly easy to keep the storylines straight! Not a five star like TWDITD but very enjoyable and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this as well!
It had a lot but it was fairly easy to keep the storylines straight! Not a five star like TWDITD but very enjoyable and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this as well!
May 8, 2026
So unbelievably excited to have been given the opportunity to read an early copy of Heart Of Glass!! Easily in my top three most anticipated reads of this year and it did not disappoint! Our girl came out swinginnnn’ 🥊🏆
Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a charming drifter named Sam met three teenage girls at the local amusement park aka Wonderland. Not long after, one of the girls is found dead.
Barb and Nicolette were shocked to learn that the man they all met at Wonderland turned out to be the “Carnival Killer”. After he’s arrested for the murders of five young women – one of whom was their best friend, Lorelei – Nicolette moved to the city to pursue her dreams of becoming famous (think real housewives reality star) and Barb stayed behind in Seaside, eventually becoming a reporter for the local paper. Their past safely behind them, they’ve both moved on with their lives.
When the Carnival Killer recants his confession years later and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, the secrets that Barb and Nicolette have worked so hard to bury begin to resurface, threatening to destroy everything in their carefully constructed lives.”
I ate every single Easter egg we were given in this book up!! If you’ve read Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier this isn’t a sequel, it can be read completely on its own, BUT you will be taking a trip back to Seaside where both novels are based and if one things for sure..Seasides gonna Seaside (aka it’s a hot mess) I even caught one from Things We Do In The Dark 👀 I loved everything about that!
The suspense and tension are is so good in Heart of Glass. Jennifer is truly one of the very best and always keeping me on the edge of my seat, dying to learn more as each new layer is revealed bit by bit. This was an excellent, winner of a thriller and I’m SO excited for you guys to read this one in August. Add to your summer TBR asaaap
Thank you SO much @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for this eARC #smpearlyreaders
Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a charming drifter named Sam met three teenage girls at the local amusement park aka Wonderland. Not long after, one of the girls is found dead.
Barb and Nicolette were shocked to learn that the man they all met at Wonderland turned out to be the “Carnival Killer”. After he’s arrested for the murders of five young women – one of whom was their best friend, Lorelei – Nicolette moved to the city to pursue her dreams of becoming famous (think real housewives reality star) and Barb stayed behind in Seaside, eventually becoming a reporter for the local paper. Their past safely behind them, they’ve both moved on with their lives.
When the Carnival Killer recants his confession years later and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, the secrets that Barb and Nicolette have worked so hard to bury begin to resurface, threatening to destroy everything in their carefully constructed lives.”
I ate every single Easter egg we were given in this book up!! If you’ve read Wonderland by Jennifer Hillier this isn’t a sequel, it can be read completely on its own, BUT you will be taking a trip back to Seaside where both novels are based and if one things for sure..Seasides gonna Seaside (aka it’s a hot mess) I even caught one from Things We Do In The Dark 👀 I loved everything about that!
The suspense and tension are is so good in Heart of Glass. Jennifer is truly one of the very best and always keeping me on the edge of my seat, dying to learn more as each new layer is revealed bit by bit. This was an excellent, winner of a thriller and I’m SO excited for you guys to read this one in August. Add to your summer TBR asaaap
Thank you SO much @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for this eARC #smpearlyreaders
May 5, 2026
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, three inseparable teenage girls met a charming drifter named Sam at the local amusement park, Wonderland. Days later, one of them — Lorelei — was dead, and Sam was eventually arrested as the Carnival Killer, confessing to five murders. Now he’s recanted his confession to one of them, just as a new body washes ashore in Seaside. Her best friends Barb (now a local reporter) and Nicolette (now a reality TV star) are forced to confront what really happened that night… and the secret they swore to keep forever.
I loved this book. It was fast paced and the characters were intriguing. The dual timelines of past and present and the different POVs never had me confused — they just kept me wanting more. I really enjoyed revisiting Seaside and Wonderland (because I also really loved that book!).
Spoiler: I honestly really enjoyed figuring out what the girls actually did in the bathroom, and the redemption arc at the end was so satisfying.
Great job, Jennifer Hillier — I loved this and I’ll read anything she writes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, three inseparable teenage girls met a charming drifter named Sam at the local amusement park, Wonderland. Days later, one of them — Lorelei — was dead, and Sam was eventually arrested as the Carnival Killer, confessing to five murders. Now he’s recanted his confession to one of them, just as a new body washes ashore in Seaside. Her best friends Barb (now a local reporter) and Nicolette (now a reality TV star) are forced to confront what really happened that night… and the secret they swore to keep forever.
I loved this book. It was fast paced and the characters were intriguing. The dual timelines of past and present and the different POVs never had me confused — they just kept me wanting more. I really enjoyed revisiting Seaside and Wonderland (because I also really loved that book!).
Spoiler: I honestly really enjoyed figuring out what the girls actually did in the bathroom, and the redemption arc at the end was so satisfying.
Great job, Jennifer Hillier — I loved this and I’ll read anything she writes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2026
•Twenty-five years ago, Sam met three friends at Wonderland, a local amusement park. A few days after their chance encounter, one of the girls, Lorelei, was found dead. The town’s serial killer, The Carnival Killer, confessed to the murder had spent the last twenty-five years in prison for the murders of five young women.
•But when a tv producer decides to interview The Carnival Killer for an episode, he recants his confession, claiming he only killed four girls, not Lorelei. Her two friends must come together to try to keep their secrets about that night buried.
•I love a Jennifer Hillier book! I’ve been waiting for this one and was lucky enough to receive an ARC. I read it so quickly because I had to figure out what actually happened to Lorelei.
•Thank you to @netgalley, @jenniferhillierbooks, and @minotaur_books for this advanced copy. It will become available on August 25, 2026.
•But when a tv producer decides to interview The Carnival Killer for an episode, he recants his confession, claiming he only killed four girls, not Lorelei. Her two friends must come together to try to keep their secrets about that night buried.
•I love a Jennifer Hillier book! I’ve been waiting for this one and was lucky enough to receive an ARC. I read it so quickly because I had to figure out what actually happened to Lorelei.
•Thank you to @netgalley, @jenniferhillierbooks, and @minotaur_books for this advanced copy. It will become available on August 25, 2026.
April 28, 2026
First, I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity to read this ARC. Heart of Glass is set to publish this August!
I was really looking forward to this release. I have loved everything I have read from her so far and was beyond excited to get this ARC. Unfortunately this one missed in the biggest way possible. I think there were just too many people and storylines trying to happen at once. I got really frustrated and confused and just barely got through. I struggled to get interested in this story.
I want to avoid spoilers, but I think it’s worth noting that this book has a large reality TV component. If you don’t like reality TV, you may find it difficult to follow/ get interested in (me).
I was expecting/ hoping for a story about solving an old case, but felt we didn’t really get that at all. I really hate to be negative (especially with ARCs) but this one unfortunately didn’t work for me.
1.5 ⭐️
I was really looking forward to this release. I have loved everything I have read from her so far and was beyond excited to get this ARC. Unfortunately this one missed in the biggest way possible. I think there were just too many people and storylines trying to happen at once. I got really frustrated and confused and just barely got through. I struggled to get interested in this story.
I want to avoid spoilers, but I think it’s worth noting that this book has a large reality TV component. If you don’t like reality TV, you may find it difficult to follow/ get interested in (me).
I was expecting/ hoping for a story about solving an old case, but felt we didn’t really get that at all. I really hate to be negative (especially with ARCs) but this one unfortunately didn’t work for me.
1.5 ⭐️
May 2, 2026
2.5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley .
Heart Of Glass by Jennifer Hillier
This is an adult mystery/thriller. This also takes place in the same town as the authors other book Wonderland.
In this we follow a serial killer known as the carnival killer who originally confessed to 5 murders but is now recanting one of those confessions. It also has dual timelines.
The pros
- The past timeline was fun to read from to get a picture of what happened that night.
The cons
- Wasn’t a fan of the storyline in general or any of the characters.
- Not enough about the serial killer and the documentary portion.
- No real motivation to continue reading at the end of each chapter.
Overall
If you enjoy reality TV mixed in with thrillers and you are new to the genre, I think you might enjoy this.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley .
Heart Of Glass by Jennifer Hillier
This is an adult mystery/thriller. This also takes place in the same town as the authors other book Wonderland.
In this we follow a serial killer known as the carnival killer who originally confessed to 5 murders but is now recanting one of those confessions. It also has dual timelines.
The pros
- The past timeline was fun to read from to get a picture of what happened that night.
The cons
- Wasn’t a fan of the storyline in general or any of the characters.
- Not enough about the serial killer and the documentary portion.
- No real motivation to continue reading at the end of each chapter.
Overall
If you enjoy reality TV mixed in with thrillers and you are new to the genre, I think you might enjoy this.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.
March 23, 2026
Early into Heart of Glass I was convinced I had it all figured out. I kept thinking I was one step ahead, picking up on little details and feeling pretty confident about where it was all going. Jennifer Hillier had other plans. That twist completely caught me off guard and made me question everything I thought I knew.
This was such a gripping, hard to put down read with steady tension that kept building. I loved revisiting Wonderland as a long time fan of Jennifer Hillier. The twist was not only shocking but actually satisfying, which is not always easy to pull off. Looking back, you can see how carefully it was all set up. I love when a book can surprise me like that and still feel believable, and this one absolutely delivered.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This was such a gripping, hard to put down read with steady tension that kept building. I loved revisiting Wonderland as a long time fan of Jennifer Hillier. The twist was not only shocking but actually satisfying, which is not always easy to pull off. Looking back, you can see how carefully it was all set up. I love when a book can surprise me like that and still feel believable, and this one absolutely delivered.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 4, 2026
Heart of Glass follows two women who were once friends long ago. The friend had died when they were teenagers. Lies come to light. Secrets are revealed.
No one was really likable. I didn’t care about any of them. The writing is great, as is always the case when I read from this author. I just prefer at least one character I can support. The ending wasn’t entirely satisfying, but it worked. And I wanted the teacher flogged. So many books include pedophile teachers, and I hate that. They exist, but the idea that someone could target my children gives me rage. The rest of the book is original to me though.
I don’t regret reading this. A lot was going on at once, but it wasn’t too hard to follow.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
No one was really likable. I didn’t care about any of them. The writing is great, as is always the case when I read from this author. I just prefer at least one character I can support. The ending wasn’t entirely satisfying, but it worked. And I wanted the teacher flogged. So many books include pedophile teachers, and I hate that. They exist, but the idea that someone could target my children gives me rage. The rest of the book is original to me though.
I don’t regret reading this. A lot was going on at once, but it wasn’t too hard to follow.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
April 27, 2026
Pretty much if Jennifer Hillier writes it, then I must read it! This was given to me as an arc read. I was thrilled because well, I love all of her books.
I love how Hiller writes amazing thrillers an this one DID NOT disappoint. I love the back and forth of the timelines and all the hidden lies everyone was keeping. There were many times I thought I knew who the true killer was but I didn’t guess it correctly.
There were a few parts of the point that I found a little bit slower but it was worth the power through. That was the reason I ultimately gave this one a 4/5 ⭐️
DO NOT let this one slip by. Go ahead and head on over and pre-order this jaw dropping thriller. You will not regret it!!!
Thank you again for choosing me to be a arc ♥️
I love how Hiller writes amazing thrillers an this one DID NOT disappoint. I love the back and forth of the timelines and all the hidden lies everyone was keeping. There were many times I thought I knew who the true killer was but I didn’t guess it correctly.
There were a few parts of the point that I found a little bit slower but it was worth the power through. That was the reason I ultimately gave this one a 4/5 ⭐️
DO NOT let this one slip by. Go ahead and head on over and pre-order this jaw dropping thriller. You will not regret it!!!
Thank you again for choosing me to be a arc ♥️
April 3, 2026
First I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel.
I’m a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and although I haven’t read Wonderland I’m sure it would have been fun to revisit Seaside again. First I always think JH is so good at the twists. I thought for sure I had everything figured out but I definitely didn’t see the twist coming. That’s always fun when I’m shocked.
I will say this book had a couple things that didn’t work for me. One, I found most of the characters unlikeable and that made it hard for me to root for them. Second, I found the middle of the book dragged a little for me and felt a little repetitive without the story moving forward. And finally, the ending just felt a little rushed.
If you are a Jennifer Hillier fan I think you will enjoy this book it just wasn’t my favorite of hers.
3.25/5 stars
I’m a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and although I haven’t read Wonderland I’m sure it would have been fun to revisit Seaside again. First I always think JH is so good at the twists. I thought for sure I had everything figured out but I definitely didn’t see the twist coming. That’s always fun when I’m shocked.
I will say this book had a couple things that didn’t work for me. One, I found most of the characters unlikeable and that made it hard for me to root for them. Second, I found the middle of the book dragged a little for me and felt a little repetitive without the story moving forward. And finally, the ending just felt a little rushed.
If you are a Jennifer Hillier fan I think you will enjoy this book it just wasn’t my favorite of hers.
3.25/5 stars
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