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She Had Enough
Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried.
Mallory Taylor was looking forward to a fun night out with old college friends—nostalgia, laughter, nothing more. But Caitlin, always the quiet one of the group, seems even more withdrawn than usual. On edge. Distant. Then, hours after the women all head their separate ways, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble—and Caitlin disappears.
It isn't until six months later, as the city begins to recover, that Mallory learns the truth. Was her disappearance related to the earthquake? Or was something else, something sinister, going on with Caitlin?
No one else seems alarmed. No one is asking questions. But the more Mallory digs, the more she uncovers secrets from that night: fractures in their friendships, hidden motives, and quiet betrayals. The kind of secrets people would kill to protect.
Twisty, atmospheric, and impossible to put down, She Had Enough is a chilling exploration of friendship, silence, and what happens when one woman refuses to stop asking questions.
Mallory Taylor was looking forward to a fun night out with old college friends—nostalgia, laughter, nothing more. But Caitlin, always the quiet one of the group, seems even more withdrawn than usual. On edge. Distant. Then, hours after the women all head their separate ways, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble—and Caitlin disappears.
It isn't until six months later, as the city begins to recover, that Mallory learns the truth. Was her disappearance related to the earthquake? Or was something else, something sinister, going on with Caitlin?
No one else seems alarmed. No one is asking questions. But the more Mallory digs, the more she uncovers secrets from that night: fractures in their friendships, hidden motives, and quiet betrayals. The kind of secrets people would kill to protect.
Twisty, atmospheric, and impossible to put down, She Had Enough is a chilling exploration of friendship, silence, and what happens when one woman refuses to stop asking questions.
336 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Stacie Grey
6 books197 followersStacie Grey is an author and fan of mysteries who lives in Alameda, California, with her husband and dog. In what passes for normal life, she works in biotech research. She mostly posts to Instagram and Threads, and occasionally writes a newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
August 1, 2026
**3.5-stars rounded up**
While out to dinner on a Girl's Night with her college friends, Mallory Taylor has an interaction in the bathroom with a member of their group, Caitlin, that she doesn't know as well as the other women. Caitlin is quiet, and Mallory doesn't know too much about her, except that she comes from money and her mother recently passed away.
If pressed, Mallory might describe Caitlin as someone who has always seemed a little lost, like she's not living up to her potential. Nevertheless, when Caitlin asks Mallory to hold something for her, she does and then forgets about the object shortly thereafter.
Mallory's not a forgetful person, but shortly after the dinner breaks-up, with all women going their separate ways, a giant earthquake rocks their city of San Francisco.
It's a really scary night, and Mallory is lucky that she and her two cats survive unscathed, though her apartment, not so much. In the aftermath, Mallory realizes that she still has the object Caitlin asked her to hold. Thinking it might have sentimental value to her, Mallory vows to find her and return it when things settle down.
However, with the city in shambles, that task isn't as simple as it may sound. As it turns out, Caitlin disappeared the night of the earthquake and no one has seen her since.
No one else seems alarmed though, reasoning that a lot of people left the city after the quake, but Mallory knows it's more than that. The more she digs, the stronger her feelings that something terrible has befallen Caitlin.
Mallory begins her own investigation, and what she discovers is disturbing. All her digging hasn't gone unnoticed either. Soon she find herself in the hot seat. Will she be able to find the truth about what happened to Caitlin, and expose the perp before they get to her too?
This was fun. It's the 3rd-novel that I've read from this author, and I've enjoyed them all. I loved the backdrop of the San Francisco earthquake, and I enjoyed following Mallory as a main character.
Mallory felt very relatable to me. She just seemed like just an average woman, but one who wasn't willing to turn the other way when someone may be in trouble. She was determined and plucky, and I liked that about her a lot.
She was also smart, and I enjoyed the way she worked through all of the information she had, and came up with steps to take next in order to try to find out the truth about Caitlin. She was very methodical about it all, which obviously made her dangerous to the baddie.
The mystery though, while intriguing throughout, did wrap-up a little too quickly and easily for my tastes. It had this great build, and Grey did a good job of steadily giving new info and adding tension to progress the plot. However, the big reveal lacked oomph for me.
Also, some of the side characters' reactions, or more like non-reactions, to the who and what of it all, seemed lackluster. This was a major event, and they were like, 'huh, weird, can't believe they did that. Let's brunch!'
It seemed odd right there at the very end.
At the end of the day though, I did find it gripping and entertaining. I liked many aspects, and even though the ending didn't have quite the impact that I would've hoped for, I'm still happy with the experience overall.
Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to future work from this author. She's quickly becoming a go-to author for me!
While out to dinner on a Girl's Night with her college friends, Mallory Taylor has an interaction in the bathroom with a member of their group, Caitlin, that she doesn't know as well as the other women. Caitlin is quiet, and Mallory doesn't know too much about her, except that she comes from money and her mother recently passed away.
If pressed, Mallory might describe Caitlin as someone who has always seemed a little lost, like she's not living up to her potential. Nevertheless, when Caitlin asks Mallory to hold something for her, she does and then forgets about the object shortly thereafter.
Mallory's not a forgetful person, but shortly after the dinner breaks-up, with all women going their separate ways, a giant earthquake rocks their city of San Francisco.
It's a really scary night, and Mallory is lucky that she and her two cats survive unscathed, though her apartment, not so much. In the aftermath, Mallory realizes that she still has the object Caitlin asked her to hold. Thinking it might have sentimental value to her, Mallory vows to find her and return it when things settle down.
However, with the city in shambles, that task isn't as simple as it may sound. As it turns out, Caitlin disappeared the night of the earthquake and no one has seen her since.
No one else seems alarmed though, reasoning that a lot of people left the city after the quake, but Mallory knows it's more than that. The more she digs, the stronger her feelings that something terrible has befallen Caitlin.
Mallory begins her own investigation, and what she discovers is disturbing. All her digging hasn't gone unnoticed either. Soon she find herself in the hot seat. Will she be able to find the truth about what happened to Caitlin, and expose the perp before they get to her too?
This was fun. It's the 3rd-novel that I've read from this author, and I've enjoyed them all. I loved the backdrop of the San Francisco earthquake, and I enjoyed following Mallory as a main character.
Mallory felt very relatable to me. She just seemed like just an average woman, but one who wasn't willing to turn the other way when someone may be in trouble. She was determined and plucky, and I liked that about her a lot.
She was also smart, and I enjoyed the way she worked through all of the information she had, and came up with steps to take next in order to try to find out the truth about Caitlin. She was very methodical about it all, which obviously made her dangerous to the baddie.
The mystery though, while intriguing throughout, did wrap-up a little too quickly and easily for my tastes. It had this great build, and Grey did a good job of steadily giving new info and adding tension to progress the plot. However, the big reveal lacked oomph for me.
Also, some of the side characters' reactions, or more like non-reactions, to the who and what of it all, seemed lackluster. This was a major event, and they were like, 'huh, weird, can't believe they did that. Let's brunch!'
It seemed odd right there at the very end.
At the end of the day though, I did find it gripping and entertaining. I liked many aspects, and even though the ending didn't have quite the impact that I would've hoped for, I'm still happy with the experience overall.
Thank you to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm looking forward to future work from this author. She's quickly becoming a go-to author for me!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved that this book had humor and mystery, it kept me intrigued I love a book that has you guessing in every chapter. The cat themes had me laughing! Mallory and a group of friends have dinner just before an earthquake hits San Francisco, the mystery lies after when one of their friends turns up dead and it seems as if Mallory is the only one interested enough to question the missing pieces. I love that she never gives up and she will stop at nothing to reveal the truth! Do you really know your friends?
August 6, 2026
This book and I were in a toxic relationship. I kept thinking, "It has to get better eventually." Reader, it did not.
Mallory deserves some sort of lifetime achievement award for doing absolutely nothing. She questioned everything. She suspected everyone. She replayed every conversation in her head seventeen times. But actually doing something? Apparently that was asking too much.
I spent the entire book yelling, "MAKE A DECISION!" like I was watching someone try to merge onto the highway at 12 mph.
The pacing was slower than my Wi-Fi during a storm. It took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to get to the point, and by the time the story finally remembered it was supposed to be a thriller, I had aged at least three business days.
Then... Kate showed up.
One character. At the END of the book.
And somehow, in the few pages she was actually there, she managed to be the only person I liked. Imagine waiting the entire book for the one interesting character to clock in for the last shift.
Honestly, I wanted Kate's story. Instead, I got hundreds of pages of Mallory thinking about doing things she'd eventually... think about some more.
One star because Kate finally wandered into the book and reminded me interesting characters do, in fact, exist.
Mallory deserves some sort of lifetime achievement award for doing absolutely nothing. She questioned everything. She suspected everyone. She replayed every conversation in her head seventeen times. But actually doing something? Apparently that was asking too much.
I spent the entire book yelling, "MAKE A DECISION!" like I was watching someone try to merge onto the highway at 12 mph.
The pacing was slower than my Wi-Fi during a storm. It took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to get to the point, and by the time the story finally remembered it was supposed to be a thriller, I had aged at least three business days.
Then... Kate showed up.
One character. At the END of the book.
And somehow, in the few pages she was actually there, she managed to be the only person I liked. Imagine waiting the entire book for the one interesting character to clock in for the last shift.
Honestly, I wanted Kate's story. Instead, I got hundreds of pages of Mallory thinking about doing things she'd eventually... think about some more.
One star because Kate finally wandered into the book and reminded me interesting characters do, in fact, exist.
February 24, 2026
Im sorry but this just wasn’t it for me. I didnt connect to any of the characters, and the entire premise felt very juvenile and YA. I expected more and was looking forward to being done with this one. Ironically the title matched my excitement level because I had enough.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy.
Thank you NetGalley for this copy.
January 21, 2026
I received this EARC from NetGalley for review. This novel focuses on Mallory and her group of friends who have known each other since college. They go out for drinks one night, and in San Francisco an earthquake hits and the city is devastated. Amidst the chaos, Mallory learns that a newer member to the friends circle, Caitlin, has perished, but it appears she died shortly before the quake struck. The novel focuses on Mallory’s investigation into Caitlin’s death and how her friends could potentially be involved.
I enjoyed the pacing of this novel and Mallory was a relatable, fun lead character. As another 30- something cat lady I loved her sense of humor and worry for her and Caitlin’s cats; it added a touch of charm to the dark themes in the story. This book is a good “popcorn” novel to relax to and read when you want something to unwind to at the end of the day. The author does a great job exploring the themes of old friendships and routines and how life changes over the years - and wondering how well you may know your friends after all!
I enjoyed the pacing of this novel and Mallory was a relatable, fun lead character. As another 30- something cat lady I loved her sense of humor and worry for her and Caitlin’s cats; it added a touch of charm to the dark themes in the story. This book is a good “popcorn” novel to relax to and read when you want something to unwind to at the end of the day. The author does a great job exploring the themes of old friendships and routines and how life changes over the years - and wondering how well you may know your friends after all!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“So then he says, ‘That’s why girls like you die alone surrounded by cats.’ And I’m like, Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
That single line on the very first page hooked me immediately.
There’s something wonderfully accessible about Grey’s writing. It’s descriptive and charming without being overly florid, and it pulls you straight into the story. Within the first chapter, I could easily picture myself sitting at the table with this group of women in a bustling restaurant, venting about bad dates and the existential horror of house hunting.
The whole setup carries strong Big Little Lies energy: layered friendships, secrets, and tension just beneath the surface.
Mallory is such a likable protagonist. She’s smart, independent, observant, and grounded. I’m so used to main characters who are slow on the uptake or frustratingly helpless, and Mallory is refreshingly neither. She asks the right questions, trusts her instincts, and refuses to back down when something doesn’t add up. Honestly, I need a friend like Mallory.
While all of the other characters felt mature, nuanced, and genuinely likable, Caitlin stood out in a different way for me. I struggled to connect with her; she often came across as emotionally immature, to the point where it sometimes felt like I was reading about a 12 year old rather than a woman in her thirties. She also has a sort of 'friend everyone tiptoes around' energy, which created distance rather than empathy. But, this detachment works thematically and reinforces the book’s focus on discomfort and what goes unnoticed.
I also would have loved to spend more time with the characters and their motivations rather than focusing quite so much on the earthquake itself. At times, the disaster element slowed the pacing when I was invested in the emotional and interpersonal stakes.
Overall, it's tense and emotionally resonant... just shy of perfect for me.
July 22, 2026
4.5⭐
An earthquake, a tube of lipstick, a seemingly random break-in and a dead body all converge in what was one hell of a mysterious thriller! The premise is a very creative one and and the author used that to great advantage throughout the book. I absolutely loved the story taking place in San Francisco since it is a seldomly used locale in suspense books. During a night out with her girlfriends, Mallory is randomly given a tube of lipstick from her friend Caitlin without realizing how incredibly important it will become. That same night a massive earthquake ravages the city and everyone has to evacuate. Months later Mallory returns to her home but she finds herself constantly followed and discovers someone keeps breaking into her house.
While trying to reconnect with her friends, Mallory can't get a hold of Caitlin and after some deliberation, she eventually files a missing persons report only to find out that Caitlin has been dead since the night of the disaster. Mallory soon realizes that random tube of lipstick is actually a hardware key and it is the exact reason she is being repeatedly accosted. She begins her own slow burn investigation into the key itself, what secrets her friend group might be keeping while desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the person trying to retrieve that hardware key.
I loved how unprepared Mallory was to lead the investigation into Caitlin's death instead of having the by the book answers right away. She definitely fumbled her way through the sleuthing at times and that made her character deeply relatable as her trust in her closest friends slowly dissolved. The earthquake was the perfect cover up for a potential murder so the massive question lingered in the air regarding what exactly happened and if foul play was involved.
Every so often the chapters focused on the other friends and that led to some incredibly ominous scenes. I loved how these women did not immediately come off as people harboring dark secrets so you always felt like Mallory might be completely off track regarding her deep suspicions. The suspenseful lead up to the climax was so well thought out and it truly ended in a highly satisfying way. I actually liked how slowly things came together as that allowed time for the entire aspect of the story to come together naturally unlike the fast paced thrillers I'm used to. I was very impressed with this read overall and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
An earthquake, a tube of lipstick, a seemingly random break-in and a dead body all converge in what was one hell of a mysterious thriller! The premise is a very creative one and and the author used that to great advantage throughout the book. I absolutely loved the story taking place in San Francisco since it is a seldomly used locale in suspense books. During a night out with her girlfriends, Mallory is randomly given a tube of lipstick from her friend Caitlin without realizing how incredibly important it will become. That same night a massive earthquake ravages the city and everyone has to evacuate. Months later Mallory returns to her home but she finds herself constantly followed and discovers someone keeps breaking into her house.
While trying to reconnect with her friends, Mallory can't get a hold of Caitlin and after some deliberation, she eventually files a missing persons report only to find out that Caitlin has been dead since the night of the disaster. Mallory soon realizes that random tube of lipstick is actually a hardware key and it is the exact reason she is being repeatedly accosted. She begins her own slow burn investigation into the key itself, what secrets her friend group might be keeping while desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the person trying to retrieve that hardware key.
I loved how unprepared Mallory was to lead the investigation into Caitlin's death instead of having the by the book answers right away. She definitely fumbled her way through the sleuthing at times and that made her character deeply relatable as her trust in her closest friends slowly dissolved. The earthquake was the perfect cover up for a potential murder so the massive question lingered in the air regarding what exactly happened and if foul play was involved.
Every so often the chapters focused on the other friends and that led to some incredibly ominous scenes. I loved how these women did not immediately come off as people harboring dark secrets so you always felt like Mallory might be completely off track regarding her deep suspicions. The suspenseful lead up to the climax was so well thought out and it truly ended in a highly satisfying way. I actually liked how slowly things came together as that allowed time for the entire aspect of the story to come together naturally unlike the fast paced thrillers I'm used to. I was very impressed with this read overall and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
July 26, 2026
She Had Enough 4⭐️
I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Stacie Grey. In She Had Enough, Mallory finds herself digging into a deadly mystery following a dinner among friends that ended with San Francisco’s most intense earthquake. Now one of the friends are missing and Mallory finds out she’s holding onto something that someone wants enough to kill over. Like Mallory, I was suspicious of everyone. My only wish is that there was more character development for the characters other than Mallory. There were just a few chapters sprinkled in from other POVs. Mallory was well developed and exciting to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
I’ve enjoyed every book I’ve read by Stacie Grey. In She Had Enough, Mallory finds herself digging into a deadly mystery following a dinner among friends that ended with San Francisco’s most intense earthquake. Now one of the friends are missing and Mallory finds out she’s holding onto something that someone wants enough to kill over. Like Mallory, I was suspicious of everyone. My only wish is that there was more character development for the characters other than Mallory. There were just a few chapters sprinkled in from other POVs. Mallory was well developed and exciting to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
August 10, 2026
Just finished this great read that was not at all what I was expecting and had me so intrigued to find out how it would end! The characters felt real and relatable, especially the lead character, and the way the mystery unraveled was really clever. I was right alongside Mallory trying to work out what had happened and suspecting everyone. Definitely worth a read if you like a good mystery/thriller.
I was lucky enough to be accepted for the ARC from @netgalley (thank you so much, as always!) for this one but life got in the way a little so I am a few weeks late in sharing and it is already published and available to purchase.
#shegadenough #staciegreyauthor #shehadenoughbook
I was lucky enough to be accepted for the ARC from @netgalley (thank you so much, as always!) for this one but life got in the way a little so I am a few weeks late in sharing and it is already published and available to purchase.
#shegadenough #staciegreyauthor #shehadenoughbook
August 6, 2026
The prose drags
August 28, 2026
SHE HAD ENOUGH
BY: STACIE GREY
I have read this Author Stacie Grey before and this one is my favorite one for a Multitude of reasons that I think she does a fantastic job on how atmospheric this felt is just one of them. For a shorter novel she doesn't make her descriptions suffer at all, and by that I mean she has a command over the language, and makes every word count. I mean this as compliment, but as she was describing the earthquake which I was thinking about towards the end of my review, I had to stop and finish this abruptly because a memory surfaced of one we had earlier this year which was tiny but I was panicking because of the intensity of the loudness of it, and just like in the novel it came out of nowhere without any warning to prepare me. The memory of it surfaced when I was thinking about how strong this author's writing is. She has the ability to evoke an emotional response by her descriptions that put me right there inside her scenes because I feel she is that talented, and her writing engages me to how I connect with her storytelling that I wish I did with every novel. I came to read this one at the exact right time, and I say that for many reasons but one is I feel deeply about Stacie Grey's depiction of everything she wrote, which I just finished a prior novel that this sounds harsh, but I felt that it wasn't as enjoyable because I struggled because of the ways it was executed I am not a Published author but I found myself writing in my review that I gave examples of how I knew it wasn't difficult to understand but I dreaded how it took all my effort to finish it. Unlike this one which I never felt once how I would never once feel that I found myself just knowing that it could have been better from instinct, education, and experience this is how you write a novel flawlessly. In the prior one I could tell that even though the author in my reading experiences her back list is more extensive than Stacie Grey's which I am not making my central point. The central point is that I loved this, and I didn't want it to end because this author was the opposite of what I just experienced which she never once failed to even once think about how I in the prior book there were so many things I found long story short the destination should be an enjoyable journey for the reader where this has succeeded, with a wonderful, lovable Main Female Character named Mallory who I would want as my friend. There's a compelling mystery that adds to the suspenseful flow of what goes without saying it seamlessly moves the story forward at all times without any inconsistent pacing issues. I love that this novel's setting takes place in San Francisco which is always a pleasure at which I wish more novels would take place there. I read several years ago an unforgettable novel called," Vera," that just like this one had an amazing Protagonist that also takes place in the same wonderful city as this one that has such promise to always be diverse that elevates the novel because like this one it didn't create PANIC in me even though it covered the 1906 earthquake which gets mentioned in this novel, it made me think of "Vera." It was read years before the mini one that we experienced that didn't even last that long I live in a part of the United States on the opposite side of the Country but live in the Seacoast. I am Pretty much grateful to have read "She Had Enough," which was easily a Five Star perfect reading experience. In my case I was thinking about how vivid Stacie Grey's writing describes to give an example: I think particularly she has the ability to make her words conjure an image that makes me able to visualize in my mind both of my feelings that I connected with poor Caitlin's grief about the loss of a close family member. With her puffy red eyes that Mallory noticed at the restaurant's Rest Room sinks. Mallory appeared to be as helpful as she could by her observation skills of picking right up on Caitlin's reason for being in the restroom. Mallory right away asked Caitlin if she could do anything to help Caitlin who wasn't one of the group of six friends who had a long history which the fact Caitlin made six in total, but the synopsis is misleading by describing six which except for Mallory's anecdote there was nothing nostalgic about the reunion of five who knew one another well enough to be which except the joke the evening was ending so I didn't witness anything of them all interacting since there were a listing of everyone's name. By that point the group was having separate conversations which the reader isn't able to know what was said. Or read about the way the reunion of five College friends who have kept in touch which obviously the place was closing and my initial impression was that I wouldn't get to experience the "nostalgia" because I read text that conveyed how Caitlin joined the five of them gathering to catch up by being invited by the one of the friends that is a part of the College FIVE who have stayed in touch. Mallory was telling a joke that repeating it she was proud of her quick reply to something said to her that was extremely mean, and rude guy that was a great comeback that I've known for decades hearing from my husband use the same line when telling me how in similar fashion how he explained a story but that's forgotten but I remembered only that now that the old reply surfaced I never repeated it but I retained what stood out but it is now part of my conscious mind. I doubt it will relate to both the context of how I might not face the same situations that one thing is that it is effective in how to stop a situation where the directness quickly could end your not wanting to keep engaging with how it is not only ends anymore undeserved back and forth that you've no interest in continued discourse and it solves that. In addition it is a great zinger that tends to shut down anymore unwanted, and is usually going to be unexpected but the fastest way to powerfully say volumes with fewer words because the unknown person who makes an inappropriate, unsolicited, showoff bully left speechless. Usually it is an immature group of young men who see a Woman by herself and they are bored and not brought up to be polite, or have respect for others who I just knew this phrase, but I have had the imagined memories where some unknown male has intruded in my peaceful existence without my provoking the male to have made me uncomfortable since I have always minded my own business. I am sure they can't think the Woman going about her business that they target is going to be intimidated, and when she zings the comeback "Don't Threaten Me with a Good time." They aren't prepared by a Woman who stands up for herself, and she just showed them that she is not a timid, or afraid to stand up for herself so know I will should the situation arise remember that line. Thank you Stacie Grey you have prepared me for a comeback that I can see you have spunk and I won't forget this powerful novel "She Had Enough," which is very well written and I could tell right away that I would find the fact of what happened to Caitlin heartbreaking, but at the center such a well developed Main Female Character of Mallory full of heart, and empathetic, determined. For her to seek justice for a quiet young Woman with a sense of knowing right from wrong by way of bravery even when she could be risking her own life. That made me want to admire this author's gifted trajectory that I'm not going to say that it was easy since there's plenty of three steps forward with plenty of obstacles that is what I will Guarantee you need to discover which is not always pleasant, and welcome discoveries since both Mallory, and I were expecting to surface. Nobody seems to be that concerned or care enough to go out of their way the way Mallory cared which kept her to keep digging, and the lack of how most people didn't put it as their priority to warrant their effort to almost not show the depth of Mallory's much aspects that in many ways is DISTURBING how she seemed to be doing the right thing who logically tried harder than those who at times didn't seem interested or as determined which made me root for Mallory all the more for multiple reasons that I think heightened the intrigue of this mystery. Because let's face it how many people even ones that know you are going to investigate and care what happened to a Woman you just met, and had a two minute conversation of surface talk when you start asking questions that she went way above and beyond what she did? Especially when you know that nobody that make up your closest friends are a perfect example of the point I'm trying to make how nobody else were talking about it which that made Mallory's character one that I'll never forget. Because most of us have experienced it and if something happens to somebody like death that I HOPE it isn't assumed if I died which I'm older than Caitlin I wouldn't want it dismissed as a suicide. I'm sure most people wouldn't want that either since we can relate that grief over the death of a loved one is a natural response, and we wouldn't commit suicide, so I'll remember this novel because like I said not many people would bother especially when you know that the person who has already killed before if you even suspect a murder it is all the more reason to keep digging, asking questions, and by all means keep investigating which is a job for the authorities who are equipped with more training, tools, access to data stored on devices that phones are especially effective at placing the locations of suspects that can be the difference if I'm not saying relates to this novel but I've watched enough crime documentaries that the police has used to catch the murderer. The guilty person won't hesitate to murder again because they'll do whatever it takes to stop their crime from being exposed without a second thought. So yes, Mallory is rare and I enjoyed spending time with her since she is what I consider this reading experience to fall under the category of what is called heartfelt which when I'm not reading something that I commit to because I also buy a lot of books. I always search for the category heartfelt while I have certain books that are under the row before I buy it. When I find one that I am piqued enough by my interest of the synopsis before I click on "buy now," I look for the column that says "Customers Who Bought this also bought." My book that I want to buy is already pulled up on the web page. That's the reference to "this." I don't always have time, but you could also pull up the web page of a book that you just read, and loved enough to want to find something "Similar," which is another category label but isn't as dependable, and you can bet I look under the Category "Similar" but always "Heartfelt." That will always be a Category that brings up a horizontal row of some I already know, but also already own but haven't read, yet, Or my first choice where they are usually brand new titles that I have seen before but when I bought them that they are considered Heartfelt. I really should be writing those titles down since I forget them but I love that type of novel. Which after reading this I'm going online and buying the ones by Stacie Grey that I really needed this book after forgetting about how much I loved this. I am going to add her to my FAVORITE authors who I will buy her previous back list, and look forward to reading whatever she WRITERS next.
The group of Women at the gathering when this novel began and they are mostly done eating were finished eating what looked to be appetizers and drinks. Some were headed home while I remembered Mallory and Caitlin who I thought at first how am I going to remember so many characters? It was not a problem since I couldn't forget Mallory and Caitlin. After all, I remembered how someone said Caitlin was quiet that night. She was definitely said to have tagged along with one of the five college friends who one of them invited her. I remembered Mallory's comment about which she was I could tell by her almost knocking over a beverage as the way she had been organizing what was one single Item of food. which how could I forget the two at the rest ROOM sink? Also the beautiful Gold lip stick holder with colored pieces that Mallory noticed and asked Caitlin where she bought such a PRETTY Lip Stick she noticed the fancy lip stick that sounded so gorgeous that I would love one. It was answered by Caitlin that it;s a lip stick Cases that you just insert any Lip Stick inside the beautiful holder was sentimental from an older family member who Caitlin told Mallory how you insert your lipstick inside the case, but what struck me as odd is that Caitlin asked Mallory to hold on to it for her because Caitlin was afraid of losing it since she was having issues keeping her bag shut which it was so obvious that the restaurant was closing, When Mallory was looking to give it back to Caitlin she discovers that Caitlin had left. Mallory goes home instead of getting together with the group that was going to the destination that was open later with the few not ready to go home. She honestly felt too tired so she declined, and happily greeted by the best type of room mate since she has two cats at the in-law apartment whose landlady who never once raised her rent then an earthquake happened. That;s what I meant by atmospheric and it came out of nowhere. Mallory dives under her table and as THINGS slide off their designated places and crash to the floor with an economy of language it was a lot like being there. It's really quite a coincidence because within the last year we had one and I thought the house might have shook from 5 to 10 seconds. I remember I heard a loud noise that my house is a waterfront property and I;m sitting in the same spot that is closer to the back yard but I thought an extremely loud noise that I thought it was enough to make it sound like it came from out front. That I definitely knew was what I remembered it was like nothing I ever heard before and my street is a DEAD end. I remember it was not long enough but since I remembered the house shook and I thought it was a huge industrialized truck that was unlike any vehicle that I have ever heard since I can't hear anybody knocking on our front door. I can't ever hear anything except the recycle truck and the garbage truck every so often. They sound muted out and that's if I hear them at all. Now that I think of it this was one hundred times louder and I definitely am hearing it again in my mind which I just remembered how it reminded me of a freight train that was loud and faster than anything which I definitely caught my attention. I thought it must be a super noisy huge truck that must have been speeding by how that shook the house. Later that day somebody called me that lives an hour and a half away by car. I was asked if the earthquake hit here. Total shock, and that's how I knew. I remembered saying what I described above. We didn't lose power or there was nothing damaged, but I remembered being in shock even though I didn't have anything fall inside either but it was the only way I knew that I've ever heard such a loud noise that the reading about this one gives me PTSD. I have only experienced one other in my lifetime that I was in bed on a Saturday that as much less intense and now that was around 1982. I don't know if I had known ahead of time but I knew what it was when it happened in real time, I do know that they both were over within five to ten seconds. It was that this one was enough of a scare that I felt that I forgot about it and felt traumatized by reading about this one that was much worse in this novel. That I can't imagine how those who live through what I didn't feel so upset while reading about it but I always feel worse when I;m writing and remembering it while writing and reflecting about what I read. I'm a nervous wreck right now. I wish I never knew what happened. I have to just say that Mallory didn't give up and she is so admirable and I am reliving it so I liked the book and it is one that I'll recommend, Except for me feeling triggered by the earthquake which the neighbors, Mallory, and her landlady were discussing gas lines expected to explode. I know all about that, also. In summary the writing was excellent, great character development with Mallory with everything about her refusal to keep trying more than anyone else to which the fact that she stands out compared to every single person to which is why I can say that, "SHE HAD ENOUGH," is still by far a very fast paced reading experience that offers an abundant amount of atmospheric realistic & Positive attributes that has cemented Stacie Grey's impact with her novel being an auto buy new favorite author. This is Five Sparkling, Unforgettable Stars.
Publications Date: July 21, 2026 Available Now!
Thank you to Net Galley, Stacie Grey, and The Poisoned Pen Press for generously providing me with my DAZZLING ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are entirely my own, as always.
#SheHadEnough #StacieGray #ThePoisonedPenPress #NetGalley
BY: STACIE GREY
I have read this Author Stacie Grey before and this one is my favorite one for a Multitude of reasons that I think she does a fantastic job on how atmospheric this felt is just one of them. For a shorter novel she doesn't make her descriptions suffer at all, and by that I mean she has a command over the language, and makes every word count. I mean this as compliment, but as she was describing the earthquake which I was thinking about towards the end of my review, I had to stop and finish this abruptly because a memory surfaced of one we had earlier this year which was tiny but I was panicking because of the intensity of the loudness of it, and just like in the novel it came out of nowhere without any warning to prepare me. The memory of it surfaced when I was thinking about how strong this author's writing is. She has the ability to evoke an emotional response by her descriptions that put me right there inside her scenes because I feel she is that talented, and her writing engages me to how I connect with her storytelling that I wish I did with every novel. I came to read this one at the exact right time, and I say that for many reasons but one is I feel deeply about Stacie Grey's depiction of everything she wrote, which I just finished a prior novel that this sounds harsh, but I felt that it wasn't as enjoyable because I struggled because of the ways it was executed I am not a Published author but I found myself writing in my review that I gave examples of how I knew it wasn't difficult to understand but I dreaded how it took all my effort to finish it. Unlike this one which I never felt once how I would never once feel that I found myself just knowing that it could have been better from instinct, education, and experience this is how you write a novel flawlessly. In the prior one I could tell that even though the author in my reading experiences her back list is more extensive than Stacie Grey's which I am not making my central point. The central point is that I loved this, and I didn't want it to end because this author was the opposite of what I just experienced which she never once failed to even once think about how I in the prior book there were so many things I found long story short the destination should be an enjoyable journey for the reader where this has succeeded, with a wonderful, lovable Main Female Character named Mallory who I would want as my friend. There's a compelling mystery that adds to the suspenseful flow of what goes without saying it seamlessly moves the story forward at all times without any inconsistent pacing issues. I love that this novel's setting takes place in San Francisco which is always a pleasure at which I wish more novels would take place there. I read several years ago an unforgettable novel called," Vera," that just like this one had an amazing Protagonist that also takes place in the same wonderful city as this one that has such promise to always be diverse that elevates the novel because like this one it didn't create PANIC in me even though it covered the 1906 earthquake which gets mentioned in this novel, it made me think of "Vera." It was read years before the mini one that we experienced that didn't even last that long I live in a part of the United States on the opposite side of the Country but live in the Seacoast. I am Pretty much grateful to have read "She Had Enough," which was easily a Five Star perfect reading experience. In my case I was thinking about how vivid Stacie Grey's writing describes to give an example: I think particularly she has the ability to make her words conjure an image that makes me able to visualize in my mind both of my feelings that I connected with poor Caitlin's grief about the loss of a close family member. With her puffy red eyes that Mallory noticed at the restaurant's Rest Room sinks. Mallory appeared to be as helpful as she could by her observation skills of picking right up on Caitlin's reason for being in the restroom. Mallory right away asked Caitlin if she could do anything to help Caitlin who wasn't one of the group of six friends who had a long history which the fact Caitlin made six in total, but the synopsis is misleading by describing six which except for Mallory's anecdote there was nothing nostalgic about the reunion of five who knew one another well enough to be which except the joke the evening was ending so I didn't witness anything of them all interacting since there were a listing of everyone's name. By that point the group was having separate conversations which the reader isn't able to know what was said. Or read about the way the reunion of five College friends who have kept in touch which obviously the place was closing and my initial impression was that I wouldn't get to experience the "nostalgia" because I read text that conveyed how Caitlin joined the five of them gathering to catch up by being invited by the one of the friends that is a part of the College FIVE who have stayed in touch. Mallory was telling a joke that repeating it she was proud of her quick reply to something said to her that was extremely mean, and rude guy that was a great comeback that I've known for decades hearing from my husband use the same line when telling me how in similar fashion how he explained a story but that's forgotten but I remembered only that now that the old reply surfaced I never repeated it but I retained what stood out but it is now part of my conscious mind. I doubt it will relate to both the context of how I might not face the same situations that one thing is that it is effective in how to stop a situation where the directness quickly could end your not wanting to keep engaging with how it is not only ends anymore undeserved back and forth that you've no interest in continued discourse and it solves that. In addition it is a great zinger that tends to shut down anymore unwanted, and is usually going to be unexpected but the fastest way to powerfully say volumes with fewer words because the unknown person who makes an inappropriate, unsolicited, showoff bully left speechless. Usually it is an immature group of young men who see a Woman by herself and they are bored and not brought up to be polite, or have respect for others who I just knew this phrase, but I have had the imagined memories where some unknown male has intruded in my peaceful existence without my provoking the male to have made me uncomfortable since I have always minded my own business. I am sure they can't think the Woman going about her business that they target is going to be intimidated, and when she zings the comeback "Don't Threaten Me with a Good time." They aren't prepared by a Woman who stands up for herself, and she just showed them that she is not a timid, or afraid to stand up for herself so know I will should the situation arise remember that line. Thank you Stacie Grey you have prepared me for a comeback that I can see you have spunk and I won't forget this powerful novel "She Had Enough," which is very well written and I could tell right away that I would find the fact of what happened to Caitlin heartbreaking, but at the center such a well developed Main Female Character of Mallory full of heart, and empathetic, determined. For her to seek justice for a quiet young Woman with a sense of knowing right from wrong by way of bravery even when she could be risking her own life. That made me want to admire this author's gifted trajectory that I'm not going to say that it was easy since there's plenty of three steps forward with plenty of obstacles that is what I will Guarantee you need to discover which is not always pleasant, and welcome discoveries since both Mallory, and I were expecting to surface. Nobody seems to be that concerned or care enough to go out of their way the way Mallory cared which kept her to keep digging, and the lack of how most people didn't put it as their priority to warrant their effort to almost not show the depth of Mallory's much aspects that in many ways is DISTURBING how she seemed to be doing the right thing who logically tried harder than those who at times didn't seem interested or as determined which made me root for Mallory all the more for multiple reasons that I think heightened the intrigue of this mystery. Because let's face it how many people even ones that know you are going to investigate and care what happened to a Woman you just met, and had a two minute conversation of surface talk when you start asking questions that she went way above and beyond what she did? Especially when you know that nobody that make up your closest friends are a perfect example of the point I'm trying to make how nobody else were talking about it which that made Mallory's character one that I'll never forget. Because most of us have experienced it and if something happens to somebody like death that I HOPE it isn't assumed if I died which I'm older than Caitlin I wouldn't want it dismissed as a suicide. I'm sure most people wouldn't want that either since we can relate that grief over the death of a loved one is a natural response, and we wouldn't commit suicide, so I'll remember this novel because like I said not many people would bother especially when you know that the person who has already killed before if you even suspect a murder it is all the more reason to keep digging, asking questions, and by all means keep investigating which is a job for the authorities who are equipped with more training, tools, access to data stored on devices that phones are especially effective at placing the locations of suspects that can be the difference if I'm not saying relates to this novel but I've watched enough crime documentaries that the police has used to catch the murderer. The guilty person won't hesitate to murder again because they'll do whatever it takes to stop their crime from being exposed without a second thought. So yes, Mallory is rare and I enjoyed spending time with her since she is what I consider this reading experience to fall under the category of what is called heartfelt which when I'm not reading something that I commit to because I also buy a lot of books. I always search for the category heartfelt while I have certain books that are under the row before I buy it. When I find one that I am piqued enough by my interest of the synopsis before I click on "buy now," I look for the column that says "Customers Who Bought this also bought." My book that I want to buy is already pulled up on the web page. That's the reference to "this." I don't always have time, but you could also pull up the web page of a book that you just read, and loved enough to want to find something "Similar," which is another category label but isn't as dependable, and you can bet I look under the Category "Similar" but always "Heartfelt." That will always be a Category that brings up a horizontal row of some I already know, but also already own but haven't read, yet, Or my first choice where they are usually brand new titles that I have seen before but when I bought them that they are considered Heartfelt. I really should be writing those titles down since I forget them but I love that type of novel. Which after reading this I'm going online and buying the ones by Stacie Grey that I really needed this book after forgetting about how much I loved this. I am going to add her to my FAVORITE authors who I will buy her previous back list, and look forward to reading whatever she WRITERS next.
The group of Women at the gathering when this novel began and they are mostly done eating were finished eating what looked to be appetizers and drinks. Some were headed home while I remembered Mallory and Caitlin who I thought at first how am I going to remember so many characters? It was not a problem since I couldn't forget Mallory and Caitlin. After all, I remembered how someone said Caitlin was quiet that night. She was definitely said to have tagged along with one of the five college friends who one of them invited her. I remembered Mallory's comment about which she was I could tell by her almost knocking over a beverage as the way she had been organizing what was one single Item of food. which how could I forget the two at the rest ROOM sink? Also the beautiful Gold lip stick holder with colored pieces that Mallory noticed and asked Caitlin where she bought such a PRETTY Lip Stick she noticed the fancy lip stick that sounded so gorgeous that I would love one. It was answered by Caitlin that it;s a lip stick Cases that you just insert any Lip Stick inside the beautiful holder was sentimental from an older family member who Caitlin told Mallory how you insert your lipstick inside the case, but what struck me as odd is that Caitlin asked Mallory to hold on to it for her because Caitlin was afraid of losing it since she was having issues keeping her bag shut which it was so obvious that the restaurant was closing, When Mallory was looking to give it back to Caitlin she discovers that Caitlin had left. Mallory goes home instead of getting together with the group that was going to the destination that was open later with the few not ready to go home. She honestly felt too tired so she declined, and happily greeted by the best type of room mate since she has two cats at the in-law apartment whose landlady who never once raised her rent then an earthquake happened. That;s what I meant by atmospheric and it came out of nowhere. Mallory dives under her table and as THINGS slide off their designated places and crash to the floor with an economy of language it was a lot like being there. It's really quite a coincidence because within the last year we had one and I thought the house might have shook from 5 to 10 seconds. I remember I heard a loud noise that my house is a waterfront property and I;m sitting in the same spot that is closer to the back yard but I thought an extremely loud noise that I thought it was enough to make it sound like it came from out front. That I definitely knew was what I remembered it was like nothing I ever heard before and my street is a DEAD end. I remember it was not long enough but since I remembered the house shook and I thought it was a huge industrialized truck that was unlike any vehicle that I have ever heard since I can't hear anybody knocking on our front door. I can't ever hear anything except the recycle truck and the garbage truck every so often. They sound muted out and that's if I hear them at all. Now that I think of it this was one hundred times louder and I definitely am hearing it again in my mind which I just remembered how it reminded me of a freight train that was loud and faster than anything which I definitely caught my attention. I thought it must be a super noisy huge truck that must have been speeding by how that shook the house. Later that day somebody called me that lives an hour and a half away by car. I was asked if the earthquake hit here. Total shock, and that's how I knew. I remembered saying what I described above. We didn't lose power or there was nothing damaged, but I remembered being in shock even though I didn't have anything fall inside either but it was the only way I knew that I've ever heard such a loud noise that the reading about this one gives me PTSD. I have only experienced one other in my lifetime that I was in bed on a Saturday that as much less intense and now that was around 1982. I don't know if I had known ahead of time but I knew what it was when it happened in real time, I do know that they both were over within five to ten seconds. It was that this one was enough of a scare that I felt that I forgot about it and felt traumatized by reading about this one that was much worse in this novel. That I can't imagine how those who live through what I didn't feel so upset while reading about it but I always feel worse when I;m writing and remembering it while writing and reflecting about what I read. I'm a nervous wreck right now. I wish I never knew what happened. I have to just say that Mallory didn't give up and she is so admirable and I am reliving it so I liked the book and it is one that I'll recommend, Except for me feeling triggered by the earthquake which the neighbors, Mallory, and her landlady were discussing gas lines expected to explode. I know all about that, also. In summary the writing was excellent, great character development with Mallory with everything about her refusal to keep trying more than anyone else to which the fact that she stands out compared to every single person to which is why I can say that, "SHE HAD ENOUGH," is still by far a very fast paced reading experience that offers an abundant amount of atmospheric realistic & Positive attributes that has cemented Stacie Grey's impact with her novel being an auto buy new favorite author. This is Five Sparkling, Unforgettable Stars.
Publications Date: July 21, 2026 Available Now!
Thank you to Net Galley, Stacie Grey, and The Poisoned Pen Press for generously providing me with my DAZZLING ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are entirely my own, as always.
#SheHadEnough #StacieGray #ThePoisonedPenPress #NetGalley
July 19, 2026
I give this 3.5 overall. I liked it.
I enjoyed the main character and the cat lady parts. I liked how the ending came in the right time when everything unravels.
I didn’t guess the ending which is bonus points for me.
I liked the overall pacing. It did read a little YA but didn’t bother me too much. I would say the first half had a lot more digging and intrigue than the second half.
Overall I will recommend this book
Thank you to Netgally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the main character and the cat lady parts. I liked how the ending came in the right time when everything unravels.
I didn’t guess the ending which is bonus points for me.
I liked the overall pacing. It did read a little YA but didn’t bother me too much. I would say the first half had a lot more digging and intrigue than the second half.
Overall I will recommend this book
Thank you to Netgally for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2025
A group of friends meets for dinner the night before a huge catastrophic earthquake hits California. They lose touch for a few months as everyone's seeking shelter and rebuilding. But when they are ready to get back in touch, one of them is missing. And as our MC starts to investigate - realizes she's been missing since before the earthquake. Their missing friend wasn't seen again after their dinner party.
This was an interesting mystery. It had some twisty parts that kept me guessing. I really liked that it was set around such a monumental event, it really ramped up how confusing and scary it can be, hard to find anyone or find shelter. But I did think our main character was just a little too squeaky clean. I really liked the friend group and their complex dynamic. I found most of the personalities there believable and intriguing.
I did flip this one half way to an audio book and the narrator was great and I really enjoyed the audio. Good mystery, I liked it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This was an interesting mystery. It had some twisty parts that kept me guessing. I really liked that it was set around such a monumental event, it really ramped up how confusing and scary it can be, hard to find anyone or find shelter. But I did think our main character was just a little too squeaky clean. I really liked the friend group and their complex dynamic. I found most of the personalities there believable and intriguing.
I did flip this one half way to an audio book and the narrator was great and I really enjoyed the audio. Good mystery, I liked it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 11, 2026
Hm. This one started off strong, and I surprisingly found myself captivated by the earth quake bits just as much as the mystery of what happened to Caitlin. This is a slow burning suspense novel, and I didn’t mind that it was character driven, but my issues came with the ending. Everything exploded rather quickly and, while I suppose everything was wrapped up nicely, I can’t quite put my finger on why it felt not quite enough. Maybe because I didn’t feel the motivations behind the murder(s) were fully fleshed out? Maybe because, for a character driven novel, the only person I felt I knew by the end to any degree was Mallory? The humor was on point though, and I don’t regret reading this one. Would try another from this author!
June 26, 2026
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey is a recommended mystery. "Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried."
Mallory Taylor meets old college friends, Caitlin, Lourdes, Sonali, Rachel, and Kendra for dinner one night. It is a evening among a group who have known each other for years. Caitlin seems more withdrawn and quiet, but after her mother's recent death this is understandable. When Mallory and Caitlin are in the bathroom, Caitlin gives her a lipstick tube that was her mother's for safe keeping as she claims it keeps wanting to fall out of her bag. Mallory throws it into her bag and the evening continues. Later, after the group returns to their respective homes, a massive earthquake hits San Francisco. Mallory left the city while the city started repairing damages and returned six months later.
When Mallory returns she learns from her landlord that her apartment was broken into several times after she left. The day before she left it had also been broken into. Nothing was taken so it appears that the perpetrator was looking for something specific. Mallory thinks about Caitlin's lipstick, tries to contact her, and eventually discovers she has died. The police attribute her death to the earthquake, but Mallory has questions, especially after she uncovers something in the tube of lipstick. She begins to contact their group of common friends, seeking the truth.
On the plus side, the writing flows smoothly and can be read quickly. All the action, such as it is, reaches a logical, exciting conclusion, and the plot ends with everything neatly tied up. Beyond that, you will have to set a massive amount of disbelief aside while reading this even-paced mystery. There are huge jumps of suppositions made in the service of the plot's goals and not all of Mallory's actions are logical or believable. Mallory herself repeatedly says she didn't know Caitlin well at all. So why go to all the effort she undertakes to contact her right after she returns to the city?
The group of friends she contacts with questions about Caitlin don't seem to really care about her either. Honestly, though, it has been six months since the earthquake and Caitlin's death, and no one had tried to contact her. They were all focused on their own circumstances and recovery, including Mallory who just returned after six months away. Quite frankly, the earthquake turns into a pointless plot element that could have been eliminated to tighten up the story line and keep the focus on the actual murder mystery.
Additionally, aside from Mallory who is an okay character, very determined but insipid, I found the rest of these characters annoying and this is in a character driven mystery. I truly became tired of reading about the designer's names of the clothing worn and the height of everyone as they met at different places for coffee, etc. Mallory's various ways to travel around the city are also endlessly discussed. Eventually I didn't care who did it because the motive was disclosed earlier in the narrative and I felt zero connection with any of these women.
She Had Enough will best be enjoyed by those who enjoy mysteries and can set disbelief aside. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Mallory Taylor meets old college friends, Caitlin, Lourdes, Sonali, Rachel, and Kendra for dinner one night. It is a evening among a group who have known each other for years. Caitlin seems more withdrawn and quiet, but after her mother's recent death this is understandable. When Mallory and Caitlin are in the bathroom, Caitlin gives her a lipstick tube that was her mother's for safe keeping as she claims it keeps wanting to fall out of her bag. Mallory throws it into her bag and the evening continues. Later, after the group returns to their respective homes, a massive earthquake hits San Francisco. Mallory left the city while the city started repairing damages and returned six months later.
When Mallory returns she learns from her landlord that her apartment was broken into several times after she left. The day before she left it had also been broken into. Nothing was taken so it appears that the perpetrator was looking for something specific. Mallory thinks about Caitlin's lipstick, tries to contact her, and eventually discovers she has died. The police attribute her death to the earthquake, but Mallory has questions, especially after she uncovers something in the tube of lipstick. She begins to contact their group of common friends, seeking the truth.
On the plus side, the writing flows smoothly and can be read quickly. All the action, such as it is, reaches a logical, exciting conclusion, and the plot ends with everything neatly tied up. Beyond that, you will have to set a massive amount of disbelief aside while reading this even-paced mystery. There are huge jumps of suppositions made in the service of the plot's goals and not all of Mallory's actions are logical or believable. Mallory herself repeatedly says she didn't know Caitlin well at all. So why go to all the effort she undertakes to contact her right after she returns to the city?
The group of friends she contacts with questions about Caitlin don't seem to really care about her either. Honestly, though, it has been six months since the earthquake and Caitlin's death, and no one had tried to contact her. They were all focused on their own circumstances and recovery, including Mallory who just returned after six months away. Quite frankly, the earthquake turns into a pointless plot element that could have been eliminated to tighten up the story line and keep the focus on the actual murder mystery.
Additionally, aside from Mallory who is an okay character, very determined but insipid, I found the rest of these characters annoying and this is in a character driven mystery. I truly became tired of reading about the designer's names of the clothing worn and the height of everyone as they met at different places for coffee, etc. Mallory's various ways to travel around the city are also endlessly discussed. Eventually I didn't care who did it because the motive was disclosed earlier in the narrative and I felt zero connection with any of these women.
She Had Enough will best be enjoyed by those who enjoy mysteries and can set disbelief aside. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ⭐️
Six friends. One dinner. A secret that won’t stay buried …
Mallory was looking forward to a fun night out with friends. All are feeling nostalgic, but on of her friends Caitlin seems withdrawn, distant and on edge. She leaves the meal suddenly and several hours later, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble. Caitlin is never seen again. The group disperse over the US while San Francisco recovers and they return to the city six months later.
As they all begin to recover from the chaos of the earthquake, they come together again … without Caitlin. They all realise that Caitlin hasn’t been in touch with any of them since the night of the dinner. Was her disappearance related to the earthquake? Or was something more sinister going on with Caitlin?
Mallory is worried. No one else seems alarmed or concerned. No one is asking questions and they are all wrapped up in their own lives. The police rule that she must have been a victim of the earthquake, but Mallory doesn’t think so. Things aren’t adding up and she feels uneasy at their lack of compassion towards a friend. As she begins to single handedly investigate the mystery of Caitlin and begins to uncover secrets from that night, fractures in friendships, hidden motives and quiet betrayals.
When Mallory begins to be targeted, she realises that Caitlin is holding onto secrets that people would kill to protect … Will she be able to save herself before it’s too late?
Mallory is a compelling, likeable protagonist as she is determined, persistent and her investigation shows she is willing to turn over every stone to find out the truth, no matter if people attempt to silence her. Her character was well developed by SG as was the dynamics of the friendship group.
This group aren’t really friends. It is a habitual meet up of 6 girls of a similar age who have been a part of each others past lives, but it’s clear they do not trust each other not enjoy each others company. I think this is done intentionally for SG to create red herrings around who should be trusted. Because every conversation between the group results in disagreement, tension or upsetting comments, we are unable to get to know them outwith this which makes it difficult to determine who to trust and who not.
I feel the title doesn’t really go with the book and something mentioning the earthquake would have been more fitting.
A slow burn that never really picked up the pace in my opinion. Mystery, suspense and some humour, I felt I was guessing why this was happening and trying to investigate the obnoxious group myself, but not because I wanted to know what happened to Caitlin and if Mallory was right, more so I could finish the book! It just didn’t overly work for me and felt that at times it was really far fetched!
Thank you to NetGallery, Poisoned Pen Press and Stacie Grey for the ARC of this book.
Six friends. One dinner. A secret that won’t stay buried …
Mallory was looking forward to a fun night out with friends. All are feeling nostalgic, but on of her friends Caitlin seems withdrawn, distant and on edge. She leaves the meal suddenly and several hours later, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble. Caitlin is never seen again. The group disperse over the US while San Francisco recovers and they return to the city six months later.
As they all begin to recover from the chaos of the earthquake, they come together again … without Caitlin. They all realise that Caitlin hasn’t been in touch with any of them since the night of the dinner. Was her disappearance related to the earthquake? Or was something more sinister going on with Caitlin?
Mallory is worried. No one else seems alarmed or concerned. No one is asking questions and they are all wrapped up in their own lives. The police rule that she must have been a victim of the earthquake, but Mallory doesn’t think so. Things aren’t adding up and she feels uneasy at their lack of compassion towards a friend. As she begins to single handedly investigate the mystery of Caitlin and begins to uncover secrets from that night, fractures in friendships, hidden motives and quiet betrayals.
When Mallory begins to be targeted, she realises that Caitlin is holding onto secrets that people would kill to protect … Will she be able to save herself before it’s too late?
Mallory is a compelling, likeable protagonist as she is determined, persistent and her investigation shows she is willing to turn over every stone to find out the truth, no matter if people attempt to silence her. Her character was well developed by SG as was the dynamics of the friendship group.
This group aren’t really friends. It is a habitual meet up of 6 girls of a similar age who have been a part of each others past lives, but it’s clear they do not trust each other not enjoy each others company. I think this is done intentionally for SG to create red herrings around who should be trusted. Because every conversation between the group results in disagreement, tension or upsetting comments, we are unable to get to know them outwith this which makes it difficult to determine who to trust and who not.
I feel the title doesn’t really go with the book and something mentioning the earthquake would have been more fitting.
A slow burn that never really picked up the pace in my opinion. Mystery, suspense and some humour, I felt I was guessing why this was happening and trying to investigate the obnoxious group myself, but not because I wanted to know what happened to Caitlin and if Mallory was right, more so I could finish the book! It just didn’t overly work for me and felt that at times it was really far fetched!
Thank you to NetGallery, Poisoned Pen Press and Stacie Grey for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One night. An earthquake. A missing friend. An object that doesn’t make sense. To Mallory, they’re all just connections she can’t ignore. But while she’s looking for answers in the rubble of the last six months, her “friends” are busy building a brick wall of denial.
They say she’s being dramatic. They say she’s seeing things that aren’t there. It’s gaslighting 101, and it’s working.
We are all wearing masks, and as we age, our friends’ masks begin to slip. We think we know the people we grew up with, but do we really? Or are we just holding onto the memory of who they used to be? I’m at an age where I’d rather be in the company of animals that don’t speak and the comfort of my own walls than those outside them. Like Mallory, I’ve found that you have to earn the right to be trusted.
This isn’t just a whodunnit. This is a mirror. It forces you to look at your own life and ask yourself the questions you don’t want to: If your world got flipped upside down, who would actually be there for you? If you heard a scream in the night, or if you found your dead friend clouded by the suspicion of another, would you go looking for answers or would you turn the TV up and say to yourself, “not my circus, not my monkeys?”
In She Had Enough, Mallory’s had enough. She’s had enough of being placated. Had enough of being talked down to. Had enough of being lied to. Whatever it takes, she’s going to get to the bottom of what happened that night, even if she has to burn the town to the ground to find out.
The Verdict: 4/5 Stars. She Had Enough is a topical, tension-fueled exploration of just how far those closest to us will go to keep us in the dark. It is tense. It is relatable. It is sobering.
Release Date: July 21, 2026.
Preorder your copy now!
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley @staciegreyauthor and @poisonedpenpress for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
They say she’s being dramatic. They say she’s seeing things that aren’t there. It’s gaslighting 101, and it’s working.
We are all wearing masks, and as we age, our friends’ masks begin to slip. We think we know the people we grew up with, but do we really? Or are we just holding onto the memory of who they used to be? I’m at an age where I’d rather be in the company of animals that don’t speak and the comfort of my own walls than those outside them. Like Mallory, I’ve found that you have to earn the right to be trusted.
This isn’t just a whodunnit. This is a mirror. It forces you to look at your own life and ask yourself the questions you don’t want to: If your world got flipped upside down, who would actually be there for you? If you heard a scream in the night, or if you found your dead friend clouded by the suspicion of another, would you go looking for answers or would you turn the TV up and say to yourself, “not my circus, not my monkeys?”
In She Had Enough, Mallory’s had enough. She’s had enough of being placated. Had enough of being talked down to. Had enough of being lied to. Whatever it takes, she’s going to get to the bottom of what happened that night, even if she has to burn the town to the ground to find out.
The Verdict: 4/5 Stars. She Had Enough is a topical, tension-fueled exploration of just how far those closest to us will go to keep us in the dark. It is tense. It is relatable. It is sobering.
Release Date: July 21, 2026.
Preorder your copy now!
+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++
I want to thank @netgalley @staciegreyauthor and @poisonedpenpress for allowing me to read this amazing eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mallory, a somewhat boring, mousy going-to-be-a-cat-lady person, lives in San Francisco. One night, she joins five friends for dinner. Some are college friends and a couple she does not know as well. During a bathroom stop, one of them, Caitlin, asks Mallory to hold on to a lipstick, saying that it had been her recently-deceased mother’s and she was afraid to lose it because her purse clasp was broken. No big deal.
What none of these friends could know, however, is that later that night, a huge earthquake would strike the city. The shake is “The Big One” that Californians all know is around the corner as they go about their daily lives. The quake and its aftershocks demolish or seriously damage many buildings, there are an appreciable number of deaths, and the city loses all power, and all cell systems and WiFi are down. Although her home is not horribly damaged, after a couple of days, especially after a couple of scary break-ins, Mallory decides to leave the city to stay at her aunt’s home in Fresno while the city recovers,.
When Mallory returns to the healing city, she learns that her friend Caitlin has disappeared. She reports the woman missing and learns that she had been found dead a couple of days after the earthquake in the Palace of Fine Arts. Without ID, until Mallory’s report, she’d been listed as a Jane Doe. Although Caitlin was wearing the same clothes she’d worn to dinner and had no reason to be at this location in the middle of the night, the police chalk the death up to the earthquake since the body was found near heavy debris and death was caused by a blunt force injury to her head. Mallory is not so convinced and determines to figure out what happened.
Being Bay Area born, I enjoyed the earthquake plot point and the San Francisco setting. The author effectively weaves in quirky aspects of the city and the disparate characters who live there. The plot kept me guessing; I did not figure it out early, which is always a good thing. It is complex and the fact that Mallory is more than amateur adds to the intrigue. The ending is not contrived. My reason for giving it four stars is that I thought that there was a bit too much of Mallory’s repetitive musings about what happened. Of course, we needed to know her thoughts, but some of it just seemed redundant. Could also have had a bit more of the city’s character woven in. However, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
What none of these friends could know, however, is that later that night, a huge earthquake would strike the city. The shake is “The Big One” that Californians all know is around the corner as they go about their daily lives. The quake and its aftershocks demolish or seriously damage many buildings, there are an appreciable number of deaths, and the city loses all power, and all cell systems and WiFi are down. Although her home is not horribly damaged, after a couple of days, especially after a couple of scary break-ins, Mallory decides to leave the city to stay at her aunt’s home in Fresno while the city recovers,.
When Mallory returns to the healing city, she learns that her friend Caitlin has disappeared. She reports the woman missing and learns that she had been found dead a couple of days after the earthquake in the Palace of Fine Arts. Without ID, until Mallory’s report, she’d been listed as a Jane Doe. Although Caitlin was wearing the same clothes she’d worn to dinner and had no reason to be at this location in the middle of the night, the police chalk the death up to the earthquake since the body was found near heavy debris and death was caused by a blunt force injury to her head. Mallory is not so convinced and determines to figure out what happened.
Being Bay Area born, I enjoyed the earthquake plot point and the San Francisco setting. The author effectively weaves in quirky aspects of the city and the disparate characters who live there. The plot kept me guessing; I did not figure it out early, which is always a good thing. It is complex and the fact that Mallory is more than amateur adds to the intrigue. The ending is not contrived. My reason for giving it four stars is that I thought that there was a bit too much of Mallory’s repetitive musings about what happened. Of course, we needed to know her thoughts, but some of it just seemed redundant. Could also have had a bit more of the city’s character woven in. However, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A thriller that understands the quiet terror of being the only one who won’t let something go.
What begins as a familiar setup — old friends, a reunion, the small tensions that surface with time — quickly shifts into something far more unsettling. The earthquake is the inciting disruption, but the real rupture happens within the friendships themselves. The novel leans into that emotional fault line with confidence, turning absence into momentum and silence into suspense.
Mallory anchors the story with a compelling mix of loyalty, instinct, and growing unease. Her refusal to accept the easy explanation gives the narrative its drive, but it’s the emotional undercurrent — the sense that she is pushing against collective denial — that gives the book its weight. The tension doesn’t come only from what happened to Caitlin, but from the unsettling question of why no one else seems to care enough to ask.
The post-disaster setting adds a strong atmospheric layer. A city rebuilding itself becomes the perfect backdrop for a mystery about fractured relationships and buried truths. Disruption creates gaps — in memory, in timelines, in evidence — and the novel uses those gaps effectively, allowing suspicion to grow slowly and convincingly.
What works particularly well is the portrayal of female friendship over time. The book captures the uncomfortable reality that shared history does not always equal closeness, and that distance can exist even inside long-standing groups. The shifting perspectives and gradual reveals highlight how differently people experience the same night, the same friendship, the same secret.
The pacing embraces the slow burn. Rather than relying on constant twists, the story builds through accumulation — small inconsistencies, withheld information, subtle changes in behaviour. When the revelations arrive, they feel rooted in character rather than shock alone.
Mallory’s investigation becomes less about solving a disappearance and more about confronting the version of events everyone has quietly agreed to live with. That emotional tension — between truth and comfort, loyalty and honesty — is where the novel finds its strongest voice.
A quietly gripping mystery that blends disaster, friendship, and psychological tension, delivering a story that lingers not because of the twists, but because of what it reveals about silence, complicity, and the cost of asking questions others would rather avoid.
What begins as a familiar setup — old friends, a reunion, the small tensions that surface with time — quickly shifts into something far more unsettling. The earthquake is the inciting disruption, but the real rupture happens within the friendships themselves. The novel leans into that emotional fault line with confidence, turning absence into momentum and silence into suspense.
Mallory anchors the story with a compelling mix of loyalty, instinct, and growing unease. Her refusal to accept the easy explanation gives the narrative its drive, but it’s the emotional undercurrent — the sense that she is pushing against collective denial — that gives the book its weight. The tension doesn’t come only from what happened to Caitlin, but from the unsettling question of why no one else seems to care enough to ask.
The post-disaster setting adds a strong atmospheric layer. A city rebuilding itself becomes the perfect backdrop for a mystery about fractured relationships and buried truths. Disruption creates gaps — in memory, in timelines, in evidence — and the novel uses those gaps effectively, allowing suspicion to grow slowly and convincingly.
What works particularly well is the portrayal of female friendship over time. The book captures the uncomfortable reality that shared history does not always equal closeness, and that distance can exist even inside long-standing groups. The shifting perspectives and gradual reveals highlight how differently people experience the same night, the same friendship, the same secret.
The pacing embraces the slow burn. Rather than relying on constant twists, the story builds through accumulation — small inconsistencies, withheld information, subtle changes in behaviour. When the revelations arrive, they feel rooted in character rather than shock alone.
Mallory’s investigation becomes less about solving a disappearance and more about confronting the version of events everyone has quietly agreed to live with. That emotional tension — between truth and comfort, loyalty and honesty — is where the novel finds its strongest voice.
A quietly gripping mystery that blends disaster, friendship, and psychological tension, delivering a story that lingers not because of the twists, but because of what it reveals about silence, complicity, and the cost of asking questions others would rather avoid.
August 13, 2026
Stacie Grey’s She Had Enough joined me with my early-morning coffee, and between the San Francisco setting, a suspicious friend group, and a woman who loves her cats, I knew pretty quickly I was going to keep turning pages. A huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted copy. And really, how well do we ever know the people we’ve called friends for years?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mallory meets up with a group of college friends for dinner, but something about Caitlin feels off. Before the night is over, Caitlin quietly hands Mallory something to hold onto. Then a massive earthquake hits San Francisco, throwing absolutely everything into chaos.
Six months later, Mallory returns to a city still putting itself back together and realizes Caitlin has essentially vanished. Everyone else seems strangely willing to accept that and move on.
Mallory? Absolutely not.
She was easily my favorite part of this book. She’s observant, stubborn in the best possible way, and refuses to ignore that little voice saying something doesn’t add up. And when someone basically suggests a future surrounded by cats is a threat? Mallory’s attitude is pretty much, don’t threaten me with a good time. 😂 As a fellow cat person, I felt represented.
I also loved having San Francisco as more than just a backdrop. Being a Northern California girl, the earthquake portions felt uncomfortably believable, and the destruction gives the mystery an interesting complication—records are missing, people scattered, and everyone has a very convenient reason for losing touch.
The friendship group, though? Whew. These women had me side-eyeing everybody. Mallory keeps asking questions while the others mostly seem to wonder why she cares so much, which only made them MORE suspicious to me.
I didn’t guess exactly where everything was going, which is always a win. I did wish the middle moved along a little faster and that we got more time inside the other women’s lives because there were some juicy dynamics sitting right there waiting to be explored.
Still, this was a fun, slightly sinister mystery about secrets, loyalty, and being the one person willing to say, “Nope. Something is wrong here.”
What would make you more suspicious—the friend asking too many questions or the friends who seem determined not to ask any?
#SheHadEnough #StacieGrey #PoisonedPenPress #MysteryBooks #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookReview #WomenWhoRead
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mallory meets up with a group of college friends for dinner, but something about Caitlin feels off. Before the night is over, Caitlin quietly hands Mallory something to hold onto. Then a massive earthquake hits San Francisco, throwing absolutely everything into chaos.
Six months later, Mallory returns to a city still putting itself back together and realizes Caitlin has essentially vanished. Everyone else seems strangely willing to accept that and move on.
Mallory? Absolutely not.
She was easily my favorite part of this book. She’s observant, stubborn in the best possible way, and refuses to ignore that little voice saying something doesn’t add up. And when someone basically suggests a future surrounded by cats is a threat? Mallory’s attitude is pretty much, don’t threaten me with a good time. 😂 As a fellow cat person, I felt represented.
I also loved having San Francisco as more than just a backdrop. Being a Northern California girl, the earthquake portions felt uncomfortably believable, and the destruction gives the mystery an interesting complication—records are missing, people scattered, and everyone has a very convenient reason for losing touch.
The friendship group, though? Whew. These women had me side-eyeing everybody. Mallory keeps asking questions while the others mostly seem to wonder why she cares so much, which only made them MORE suspicious to me.
I didn’t guess exactly where everything was going, which is always a win. I did wish the middle moved along a little faster and that we got more time inside the other women’s lives because there were some juicy dynamics sitting right there waiting to be explored.
Still, this was a fun, slightly sinister mystery about secrets, loyalty, and being the one person willing to say, “Nope. Something is wrong here.”
What would make you more suspicious—the friend asking too many questions or the friends who seem determined not to ask any?
#SheHadEnough #StacieGrey #PoisonedPenPress #MysteryBooks #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookReview #WomenWhoRead
June 11, 2026
She Had Enough is the first book I've read by Stacie Grey, and it definitely won't be my last.
Mallory Taylor is reunited with a group of old college friends for what should be a simple night of catching up. But after a devastating earthquake strikes San Francisco, one of the women, Caitlin, disappears. Six months later, as the city struggles to recover, Mallory begins digging into what really happened and uncovers a web of secrets, betrayals, and hidden motives that have been buried for far too long.
I more or less binged this book. It was one of those stories where I simply had to know what happened next and, more importantly, who was responsible. Grey does an excellent job building intrigue from the outset. While most of the story is told through Mallory's perspective, we also get occasional glimpses into the viewpoints of Sonali, Kendra, Rachel, Lourdes, and the missing Caitlin herself. These added perspectives helped flesh out the mystery without giving too much away.
The backdrop of a city reeling from a massive earthquake adds another layer of tension. With police and emergency services already stretched to their limits, it creates the perfect environment for secrets to stay hidden and suspicions to flourish. Add in a sleazy stepfather, fractured friendships, and a cast of young women who are secretive, cunning, and often mistrustful of one another, and you have all the ingredients for a compelling suspense novel.
I also appreciated the diverse cast of characters and the way Grey carefully scattered red herrings throughout the story. Some of the misdirection didn't immediately seem significant, but the ending tied everything together in a satisfying way and explained why certain clues mattered. Looking back, the pieces fit together far more cleverly than I initially realised.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, and highly addictive, She Had Enough kept me turning pages late into the night. If you're a fan of character-driven mysteries filled with secrets, lies, and twists, this is one worth picking up. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Stacie Grey writes next.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mallory Taylor is reunited with a group of old college friends for what should be a simple night of catching up. But after a devastating earthquake strikes San Francisco, one of the women, Caitlin, disappears. Six months later, as the city struggles to recover, Mallory begins digging into what really happened and uncovers a web of secrets, betrayals, and hidden motives that have been buried for far too long.
I more or less binged this book. It was one of those stories where I simply had to know what happened next and, more importantly, who was responsible. Grey does an excellent job building intrigue from the outset. While most of the story is told through Mallory's perspective, we also get occasional glimpses into the viewpoints of Sonali, Kendra, Rachel, Lourdes, and the missing Caitlin herself. These added perspectives helped flesh out the mystery without giving too much away.
The backdrop of a city reeling from a massive earthquake adds another layer of tension. With police and emergency services already stretched to their limits, it creates the perfect environment for secrets to stay hidden and suspicions to flourish. Add in a sleazy stepfather, fractured friendships, and a cast of young women who are secretive, cunning, and often mistrustful of one another, and you have all the ingredients for a compelling suspense novel.
I also appreciated the diverse cast of characters and the way Grey carefully scattered red herrings throughout the story. Some of the misdirection didn't immediately seem significant, but the ending tied everything together in a satisfying way and explained why certain clues mattered. Looking back, the pieces fit together far more cleverly than I initially realised.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, and highly addictive, She Had Enough kept me turning pages late into the night. If you're a fan of character-driven mysteries filled with secrets, lies, and twists, this is one worth picking up. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Stacie Grey writes next.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A group of friends in San Francisco has dinner one night, with no idea that their lives are going to be changed forever in just a few hours when an earthquake hits. Even more so when it’s determined that one of the group disappeared. Of course, it’s not until six months later that they realize Caitlin is gone, mostly thanks to Mallory, our main narrator. And when she starts looking into what happened to Caitlin, she’s not met with the questions and panic that she expects from everyone. For women who are supposed to be great friends, these ladies are pretty terrible. It just gets worse when the more Mallory fights to figure out the truth, the more her friends push back and try to convince her to move on. But Mallory won’t stop until she knows the truth, even if it kills her.
So, I realize that earthquakes are terrible disasters, but the one in this story is front and center most of the time. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s not titled ‘The Earthquake.’ There are several points throughout the story where there’s no action, and it kind of lags, just a lot of Mallory theorizing in her head, and then the earthquake is used to pad out the story. Not the actual event, just more descriptions of the fallout, and how everyone is dealing with life post-quake.
And not a single one of Caitlin’s so-called friends seems to care about the obviously suspicious circumstances that occurred. So Mallory continually gets together with these terrible women to badger them with questions, and they just get annoyed and keep asking why she cares so much. Yet somehow she’s able to piece it together even with a mysterious stranger breaking in, following her, and threatening her.
Maybe if the women weren’t so obnoxious, I would have enjoyed it more. You can have secrets without being a complete jerk about it, like they all are. Literally, four terrible people and Mallory. And they’re all so obvious about not caring, they’re not even smart enough to pretend to care and look less suspicious. Less earthquake and more character development would go a long way with this one.
So, I realize that earthquakes are terrible disasters, but the one in this story is front and center most of the time. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s not titled ‘The Earthquake.’ There are several points throughout the story where there’s no action, and it kind of lags, just a lot of Mallory theorizing in her head, and then the earthquake is used to pad out the story. Not the actual event, just more descriptions of the fallout, and how everyone is dealing with life post-quake.
And not a single one of Caitlin’s so-called friends seems to care about the obviously suspicious circumstances that occurred. So Mallory continually gets together with these terrible women to badger them with questions, and they just get annoyed and keep asking why she cares so much. Yet somehow she’s able to piece it together even with a mysterious stranger breaking in, following her, and threatening her.
Maybe if the women weren’t so obnoxious, I would have enjoyed it more. You can have secrets without being a complete jerk about it, like they all are. Literally, four terrible people and Mallory. And they’re all so obvious about not caring, they’re not even smart enough to pretend to care and look less suspicious. Less earthquake and more character development would go a long way with this one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for eARC.
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey is so far the most boring book I've read in 2026. Was it supposed to be a thriller, a mystery, a detective, or a story of survival after the QUAKE?
Six friends meet for dinner the night before the earthquake. One of them seems to be distracted: is she just mourning, or is she afraid of something? One of them is nervous, or is it just her personality? One of them says something uncomfortable. Another one just orders another drink. They are discussing their dream houses, laughing, drinking... But the evening ends with the EARTHQUAKE.
Why do I highlight it so much? Because all the events are set around the earthquake and its consequences. And as someone who lives with regular shelling, blackouts, and other not-so-great things, I am angry. That's America, there are natural disasters regularly, and are they really so unprepared for possible consequences? It's hard for me to believe. And six months after the QUAKE, not everything is repaired? How so? But ok, I got sidetracked.
During dinner the night before the EQ, Mallory was given something to store. An insignificant thing that was about to change her life, to turn it 180*. The night after the EQ, her apartment was broken into, so she packed her things and moved. Just to find out that there were other attempts to break in. Is it connected? To find out, Mal tries to contact Caitlin, the owner.
Is there such a thing as friendship? Can people try another person? I don't know, I'd rather not. Especially after this story.
For me, the storytelling was too slow-paced and was too concentrated on the quake, rather than on the investigation itself. It was low-key boring, and I didn't believe any of the motivation of any of the characters. For me, that's a sign of a poorly written book. If so, why not 2/5? Because that's me, who doesn't like slow-paced stories. Others might find it appealing.
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey is so far the most boring book I've read in 2026. Was it supposed to be a thriller, a mystery, a detective, or a story of survival after the QUAKE?
Six friends meet for dinner the night before the earthquake. One of them seems to be distracted: is she just mourning, or is she afraid of something? One of them is nervous, or is it just her personality? One of them says something uncomfortable. Another one just orders another drink. They are discussing their dream houses, laughing, drinking... But the evening ends with the EARTHQUAKE.
Why do I highlight it so much? Because all the events are set around the earthquake and its consequences. And as someone who lives with regular shelling, blackouts, and other not-so-great things, I am angry. That's America, there are natural disasters regularly, and are they really so unprepared for possible consequences? It's hard for me to believe. And six months after the QUAKE, not everything is repaired? How so? But ok, I got sidetracked.
During dinner the night before the EQ, Mallory was given something to store. An insignificant thing that was about to change her life, to turn it 180*. The night after the EQ, her apartment was broken into, so she packed her things and moved. Just to find out that there were other attempts to break in. Is it connected? To find out, Mal tries to contact Caitlin, the owner.
Is there such a thing as friendship? Can people try another person? I don't know, I'd rather not. Especially after this story.
For me, the storytelling was too slow-paced and was too concentrated on the quake, rather than on the investigation itself. It was low-key boring, and I didn't believe any of the motivation of any of the characters. For me, that's a sign of a poorly written book. If so, why not 2/5? Because that's me, who doesn't like slow-paced stories. Others might find it appealing.
April 7, 2026
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey is a slow-burn psychological thriller that explores the darker side of friendship, trust, and the cost of asking questions no one wants answered.
The story follows Mallory, who reconnects with a group of college friends for what should be a simple dinner—until a devastating earthquake hits San Francisco and one of them, Caitlin, disappears.
Months later, while everyone else seems ready to move on, Mallory becomes increasingly convinced that something more sinister happened that night.
What stood out most to me was the novel’s focus on friendship dynamics rather than just the mystery itself. Grey does an excellent job of showing how people can share years of history and still remain strangers in important ways. The tension doesn’t just come from the disappearance, but from the unsettling realization that no one else seems to care enough to question it.
Mallory is a compelling protagonist—observant, persistent, and unwilling to be silenced. Her determination drives the story forward and adds an emotional depth that elevates the mystery. The themes of denial, gaslighting, and complicity are woven throughout, making the story feel both relatable and unsettling.
The pacing leans toward a slow burn, which works for atmosphere, though at times it felt a bit too drawn out for me.
However, the gradual unraveling of secrets keeps the reader engaged, and the shifting dynamics between the characters add layers to the suspense.
Overall, She Had Enough is less about shocking twists and more about the quiet tension of uncovering uncomfortable truths. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries rooted in relationships and psychological depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Mallory, who reconnects with a group of college friends for what should be a simple dinner—until a devastating earthquake hits San Francisco and one of them, Caitlin, disappears.
Months later, while everyone else seems ready to move on, Mallory becomes increasingly convinced that something more sinister happened that night.
What stood out most to me was the novel’s focus on friendship dynamics rather than just the mystery itself. Grey does an excellent job of showing how people can share years of history and still remain strangers in important ways. The tension doesn’t just come from the disappearance, but from the unsettling realization that no one else seems to care enough to question it.
Mallory is a compelling protagonist—observant, persistent, and unwilling to be silenced. Her determination drives the story forward and adds an emotional depth that elevates the mystery. The themes of denial, gaslighting, and complicity are woven throughout, making the story feel both relatable and unsettling.
The pacing leans toward a slow burn, which works for atmosphere, though at times it felt a bit too drawn out for me.
However, the gradual unraveling of secrets keeps the reader engaged, and the shifting dynamics between the characters add layers to the suspense.
Overall, She Had Enough is less about shocking twists and more about the quiet tension of uncovering uncomfortable truths. It’s a thoughtful, character-driven thriller that will appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries rooted in relationships and psychological depth.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thriller set in San Francisco after an earthquake exploring friendship, betrayal and “what happens when refuses to let a murder go unsolved.”
Mallory Taylor meets up with five women (Caitlin, Kendra, Sonali, Rachel and Lourdes) for a girl’s night out. Mallory senses something is wrong with Caitlin but she refuses to say anything, instead she gives Mallory something to hold for her. A few hours later a violent earthquake shakes San Francisco - this is written frightfully well (I experienced a manmade one at a museum in SF and felt as I read Grey’s description I was back in that room). Caitlin’s body is found in the rubble and the police conclude she’s a victim of the quake. But not Mallory. She’s convinced foul play is at work but her other friends scoff at this until things prove otherwise. There a plenty of twists and the ending is pretty good - but you will have to read the book to see for yourself.
In “A Conversation with the Author” at the end of the book, Grey states she wants her readers to take away “a sense that it’s important to care about things, even if it seems futile.” I think she succeeded in doing this in her novel. Mallory is a strong, resilient character. She presses on because she believes I think that Caitlin’s life meant something, plus she wants the truth - though when confronted with it finds it hard to believe. The book is paced fairly well as secrets emerge and Mallory’s friends rally round her.
I enjoyed this thriller. San Francisco is one of my favorite US cities so I could imagine it as the earthquake happened and after through the author’s writing. I also enjoyed the give and take between the friends. This book is for lovers of friendship thrillers.
My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me access to this ARC.
Mallory Taylor meets up with five women (Caitlin, Kendra, Sonali, Rachel and Lourdes) for a girl’s night out. Mallory senses something is wrong with Caitlin but she refuses to say anything, instead she gives Mallory something to hold for her. A few hours later a violent earthquake shakes San Francisco - this is written frightfully well (I experienced a manmade one at a museum in SF and felt as I read Grey’s description I was back in that room). Caitlin’s body is found in the rubble and the police conclude she’s a victim of the quake. But not Mallory. She’s convinced foul play is at work but her other friends scoff at this until things prove otherwise. There a plenty of twists and the ending is pretty good - but you will have to read the book to see for yourself.
In “A Conversation with the Author” at the end of the book, Grey states she wants her readers to take away “a sense that it’s important to care about things, even if it seems futile.” I think she succeeded in doing this in her novel. Mallory is a strong, resilient character. She presses on because she believes I think that Caitlin’s life meant something, plus she wants the truth - though when confronted with it finds it hard to believe. The book is paced fairly well as secrets emerge and Mallory’s friends rally round her.
I enjoyed this thriller. San Francisco is one of my favorite US cities so I could imagine it as the earthquake happened and after through the author’s writing. I also enjoyed the give and take between the friends. This book is for lovers of friendship thrillers.
My thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me access to this ARC.
August 13, 2026
She Had Enough by @staciegreyauthor
Poisoned Pen Press
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SheHadEnough #NetGalley
Description:
Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried.
Mallory Taylor was looking forward to a fun night out with old college friends. But Caitlin, always the quiet one of the group, seems more withdrawn than usual. Then, hours after the women go their separate ways, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble and Caitlin disappears.
Six months later, as the city begins to recover, Mallory learns the truth. Was Caitlin's disappearance related to the earthquake, or was something more sinister going on?
As Mallory digs deeper, she uncovers secrets from that night: fractured friendships, hidden motives, and betrayals. The kind of secrets people would kill to protect.
My Thoughts:
This was such a wonderful and suspenseful mystery! I couldn't guess the killer until much later, and I loved questioning every character.
The recent earthquakes combined with the earthquake in this book honestly gave me nightmares. Despite the devastation, deaths, and deadly break-ins, Mallory stayed strong and refused to stop searching for the truth about her friend.
And that lipstick! What if Catalina hadn't given Mallory that lipstick to keep? Caitlin could have vanished from the world's records forever. That really got to me.
Also, the cats don't care about anything happening around them, and I absolutely loved them.
And seriously, how cruel can people be when money is involved? This book also reminded me that people who don't stay, support, or stand by you when you need them most… maybe they were never really your friends.
I totally enjoyed this twisty mystery and recommend it to mystery and thriller lovers!
Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Poisoned Pen Press
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#SheHadEnough #NetGalley
Description:
Six friends. One dinner. And a secret that won't stay buried.
Mallory Taylor was looking forward to a fun night out with old college friends. But Caitlin, always the quiet one of the group, seems more withdrawn than usual. Then, hours after the women go their separate ways, a massive earthquake reduces San Francisco to rubble and Caitlin disappears.
Six months later, as the city begins to recover, Mallory learns the truth. Was Caitlin's disappearance related to the earthquake, or was something more sinister going on?
As Mallory digs deeper, she uncovers secrets from that night: fractured friendships, hidden motives, and betrayals. The kind of secrets people would kill to protect.
My Thoughts:
This was such a wonderful and suspenseful mystery! I couldn't guess the killer until much later, and I loved questioning every character.
The recent earthquakes combined with the earthquake in this book honestly gave me nightmares. Despite the devastation, deaths, and deadly break-ins, Mallory stayed strong and refused to stop searching for the truth about her friend.
And that lipstick! What if Catalina hadn't given Mallory that lipstick to keep? Caitlin could have vanished from the world's records forever. That really got to me.
Also, the cats don't care about anything happening around them, and I absolutely loved them.
And seriously, how cruel can people be when money is involved? This book also reminded me that people who don't stay, support, or stand by you when you need them most… maybe they were never really your friends.
I totally enjoyed this twisty mystery and recommend it to mystery and thriller lovers!
Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey follows a group of friends in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. One minute they’re enjoying a nice dinner together; hours later, the city and surrounding bay are devastated, and the friend group has been torn apart. In the days and weeks that follow, Mallory begins to suspect that something more sinister has happened to one of the group members who seemingly vanished after the earthquake.
Mallory is a smart and highly observant protagonist, and easily the most likable character in the group. That impression may partly come from the fact that the story is mostly centered around her perspective, with only a few filler chapters from the other female friends. I really enjoyed how the thriller elements were tied so closely to the natural disaster. With phone lines down, cameras destroyed, and communication systems knocked out, the mystery feels much more believable—under normal circumstances, it likely would have been solved quickly, but the earthquake creates realistic obstacles that force Mallory to dig deeper to uncover the truth.
I do wish the book had focused a bit more on the other characters, particularly through deeper inner monologues. That added perspective could have given the story more substance, as we don’t learn much about what happens to them after the earthquake until the very end. I also felt the setting could have been described more vividly. As someone who lives in the SF Bay Area, I could easily picture locations and geography, but readers unfamiliar with the area might find some aspects confusing.
Overall, this was a solid and engaging read, and I would recommend it. She Had Enough is scheduled to be released on July 21, 2026.
She Had Enough by Stacie Grey follows a group of friends in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. One minute they’re enjoying a nice dinner together; hours later, the city and surrounding bay are devastated, and the friend group has been torn apart. In the days and weeks that follow, Mallory begins to suspect that something more sinister has happened to one of the group members who seemingly vanished after the earthquake.
Mallory is a smart and highly observant protagonist, and easily the most likable character in the group. That impression may partly come from the fact that the story is mostly centered around her perspective, with only a few filler chapters from the other female friends. I really enjoyed how the thriller elements were tied so closely to the natural disaster. With phone lines down, cameras destroyed, and communication systems knocked out, the mystery feels much more believable—under normal circumstances, it likely would have been solved quickly, but the earthquake creates realistic obstacles that force Mallory to dig deeper to uncover the truth.
I do wish the book had focused a bit more on the other characters, particularly through deeper inner monologues. That added perspective could have given the story more substance, as we don’t learn much about what happens to them after the earthquake until the very end. I also felt the setting could have been described more vividly. As someone who lives in the SF Bay Area, I could easily picture locations and geography, but readers unfamiliar with the area might find some aspects confusing.
Overall, this was a solid and engaging read, and I would recommend it. She Had Enough is scheduled to be released on July 21, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
She Had Enough is one of those thrillers that hooks you from the first page with its simple but irresistible setup: six old friends, one dinner, and a sense that something is very wrong. What starts as a nostalgic reunion quickly becomes a haunting mystery when Caitlin—always the quiet, fragile one—vanishes on the same night a devastating earthquake tears through San Francisco.
Mallory makes for a compelling narrator. She’s observant, loyal, and just unsettled enough by Caitlin’s behaviour to sense that her disappearance isn’t as straightforward as everyone wants to believe. The fact that no one else seems concerned only heightens the tension, giving the story a wonderfully claustrophobic feel as Mallory becomes the lone voice refusing to let the past stay buried.
The dual timelines—before the earthquake and six months after—work beautifully, slowly revealing the fractures in the group’s friendships and the secrets they’ve all been quietly carrying. The more Mallory digs, the more the story shifts from a missing‑person mystery to a deeper, darker exploration of betrayal, guilt, and the lies people tell to protect themselves.
The atmosphere is fantastic: a city still recovering from disaster, friendships strained by time and trauma, and a creeping sense that someone is watching Mallory’s every move. It’s twisty without feeling over‑the‑top, and the final reveals land with real emotional weight.
A gripping, quietly chilling thriller that blends suspense with a sharp look at the complexities of female friendship. Perfect for readers who love mysteries rooted in character, tension, and the secrets we hope no one ever uncovers.
with thanks to Stacie Grey, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Mallory makes for a compelling narrator. She’s observant, loyal, and just unsettled enough by Caitlin’s behaviour to sense that her disappearance isn’t as straightforward as everyone wants to believe. The fact that no one else seems concerned only heightens the tension, giving the story a wonderfully claustrophobic feel as Mallory becomes the lone voice refusing to let the past stay buried.
The dual timelines—before the earthquake and six months after—work beautifully, slowly revealing the fractures in the group’s friendships and the secrets they’ve all been quietly carrying. The more Mallory digs, the more the story shifts from a missing‑person mystery to a deeper, darker exploration of betrayal, guilt, and the lies people tell to protect themselves.
The atmosphere is fantastic: a city still recovering from disaster, friendships strained by time and trauma, and a creeping sense that someone is watching Mallory’s every move. It’s twisty without feeling over‑the‑top, and the final reveals land with real emotional weight.
A gripping, quietly chilling thriller that blends suspense with a sharp look at the complexities of female friendship. Perfect for readers who love mysteries rooted in character, tension, and the secrets we hope no one ever uncovers.
with thanks to Stacie Grey, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay so this wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read. Not even close. But it had its perks. I just don’t think I went into it with the right expectations, I was expecting more of a thriller and less of a thriller-y literary fiction. That’s my bad.
The premise wasn’t awful, it was actually pretty unique. It follows a group of friends, they know each other from college and they’re having dinner together, catching up. Not much after, an earthquake hits. And you follow the aftermath of that.
It’s mostly through the eyes of Mallory, but we do get snippets of the other friends and we’re very briefly inside their mind.
The problem I had with this book is that I just couldn’t at all connect with the plot and even less with the characters. They just read made up to me, you couldn’t fool me into thinking they were real. Because of the way they behaved, the way the plot was moving. I did like the cat though. And the little plot line we had following the cat. I also liked that for some reason, everyone that was important in this book was a woman. The little we had with the men was almost inconsequential. And that’s not something you see every day.
The writing was pretty good, it all flowed together smoothly, and the book moved veryy fast. The chapters were so short and so easy to read, and the book is your average book’s length, but it still read pretty fast.
I needed more of the thriller element, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t scared, on edge, nothing. It was a good story, but better on paper than in execution.
I will say, this book would work for some people. It kind of worked for me, I just needed to go into it with different expectations, maybe expect a subplot of something thrilling, which is probably what you should know going into this book.
All in all, I’m grateful I got to read it and still would recommend it, it’s probably around a 3.5/5⭐️ I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t feel much of any other emotion either. A middle of the road book, not great but not bad.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise wasn’t awful, it was actually pretty unique. It follows a group of friends, they know each other from college and they’re having dinner together, catching up. Not much after, an earthquake hits. And you follow the aftermath of that.
It’s mostly through the eyes of Mallory, but we do get snippets of the other friends and we’re very briefly inside their mind.
The problem I had with this book is that I just couldn’t at all connect with the plot and even less with the characters. They just read made up to me, you couldn’t fool me into thinking they were real. Because of the way they behaved, the way the plot was moving. I did like the cat though. And the little plot line we had following the cat. I also liked that for some reason, everyone that was important in this book was a woman. The little we had with the men was almost inconsequential. And that’s not something you see every day.
The writing was pretty good, it all flowed together smoothly, and the book moved veryy fast. The chapters were so short and so easy to read, and the book is your average book’s length, but it still read pretty fast.
I needed more of the thriller element, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t scared, on edge, nothing. It was a good story, but better on paper than in execution.
I will say, this book would work for some people. It kind of worked for me, I just needed to go into it with different expectations, maybe expect a subplot of something thrilling, which is probably what you should know going into this book.
All in all, I’m grateful I got to read it and still would recommend it, it’s probably around a 3.5/5⭐️ I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t feel much of any other emotion either. A middle of the road book, not great but not bad.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my introduction to Stacie Grey’s writing, and it was a fantastic place to start. She Had Enough features one of the most creative, high-stakes backdrops for a thriller I’ve read in a long time.
The story opens with a catastrophic earthquake in San Francisco. While the rest of the town is focused on survival, Mallory is derailed by a different kind of aftershock. Right before the disaster, a tense dinner with old college friends leaves everyone on edge—and immediately following the chaos, one of them vanishes.
But the real hook is a mystery object deliberately given to Mallory right before the quake. Her search to figure out why she has it and how to return it quickly spirals, threatening to expose every dark secret her friend group has spent years burying.
What worked:
The Atmosphere: Using a literal earthquake as a metaphor for fracturing friendships is brilliant. The physical devastation perfectly mirrors Mallory’s collapsing trust.
The Hook: The mystery object is a fantastic plot driver that forces Mallory into dangerous corners.
The Pacing: It starts with a bang and maintains a great "am I crazy or is everyone gaslighting me?" psychological vibe.
What didn't:
The middle gets a bit repetitive with the "who can I trust?" loops, but the final third completely makes up for it. The twists hit hard and fast.
If you love fast-paced domestic suspense, toxic friend groups, and suburban noir vibes, you’ll devour this. Stacie Grey is officially on my radar, and I'll definitely be checking out her backlist!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
The story opens with a catastrophic earthquake in San Francisco. While the rest of the town is focused on survival, Mallory is derailed by a different kind of aftershock. Right before the disaster, a tense dinner with old college friends leaves everyone on edge—and immediately following the chaos, one of them vanishes.
But the real hook is a mystery object deliberately given to Mallory right before the quake. Her search to figure out why she has it and how to return it quickly spirals, threatening to expose every dark secret her friend group has spent years burying.
What worked:
The Atmosphere: Using a literal earthquake as a metaphor for fracturing friendships is brilliant. The physical devastation perfectly mirrors Mallory’s collapsing trust.
The Hook: The mystery object is a fantastic plot driver that forces Mallory into dangerous corners.
The Pacing: It starts with a bang and maintains a great "am I crazy or is everyone gaslighting me?" psychological vibe.
What didn't:
The middle gets a bit repetitive with the "who can I trust?" loops, but the final third completely makes up for it. The twists hit hard and fast.
If you love fast-paced domestic suspense, toxic friend groups, and suburban noir vibes, you’ll devour this. Stacie Grey is officially on my radar, and I'll definitely be checking out her backlist!
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
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