The Siren

This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. As an affiliate of Bookshop.org, I earn from qualifying purchases.

It’s been a minute (well, a week) since I’ve done a book review. I try to post a new book review every week, but I needed a little break from reading and writing last week. Life was overwhelming and I got an intense, week-long cold over the fourth. For an entire week I drank hot tea instead of coffee. So, you know something was wrong. It felt good to give myself the space to rest, relax, and binge-watch Girls (I just started this show and I’m OBSESSED) on HBOMax. 

Before the cold really set in and all I wanted was sleep, I finished reading The Siren by Katherine St. John. I had my eye on this one for a month when it released in May and finally caved and bought the Kindle version. I’m glad I had it, because camping with a cold is the WORST and I mostly ended up sitting around because I couldn’t do much in the way of hiking/exploring. 

This is a novel that surprised me, and the rating I decided on surprised me as well. I went into this novel knowing that, for me, it’s a pool-side, summer, fluff novel. That honest mindset allowed me to indulge and enjoy the drama. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would, and I think that’s mostly owed to knowing what type of book it was from the start. The part that surprised me: it’s technically a thriller!

Read on for the deets!

Synopsis

St. Genesius, a small Caribbean island, is home to the set of The Siren, Cole Power’s newest film. The newest thriller written and directed by Cole Power’s own son has a setting and cast to die for. Among the cast and crew calling the island home for the next few months are Stella, Cole Power’s ex and fallen star with a supposed alcohol and rage problem, and her new and mysterious assistant Felicity Fox. The island is filled with cast members who run on their own schedule (island time, one could say) and at the very frustrating end of the schedule is producer Taylor. Tasked with managing celebrities and her own tarnished reputation, Taylor isn’t having the most relaxing time on St. Genesius. To cap it all off, a hurricane is brewing close to shore.

What I Liked

This is a THRILLER! I didn’t know that going in because I only read the synopsis once, like a month before finally diving into the novel. As I was reading the first portion, it seemed suspenseful in an eerie way. A little google search informed me that, yes, The Siren is indeed a thriller. I love a good thriller, so this was a good surprise. The “thriller” aspect isn’t too intense and perfect for someone who wants to read a thriller without an overwhelming amount of anxiety or psychological effects. 

This novel is fluff, drama, and surprise. It’s a guilty pleasure novel, if you will. The characters are mostly shallow. The celebrities are far from perfect with celebrity level drama. Character motivations are less than desirable. And the whole time you find yourself rooting for the demise of one really terrible character. Definitely something to consume as you’re sipping cocktails poolside. 

Character development was another plus for me. Most of the characters are pretty one-dimensional, but Stella and Felicity get a little more exploration. They’re more dynamic than most of the characters and I liked the deep dive into their pasts. It was a subtle creation of a whole and dynamic character. 

St. John also incorporates tabloid articles and instagram posts. I thought this was a fun addition to the novel as the whole thing felt like a tabloid-esque read. 

The Siren has a surprising amount of depth for a fluff novel. While it isn’t anything groundbreaking, St. John definitely emphasizes the harmful effects of fame and also tackles topics of rape and addiction.

What I Didn’t Like

This novel had a slow start. It took a while for the pacing to pick up and for my interest to peak. About halfway through it started to get to the “I need to find out what happens” stage.

This book is also reminiscent of congestion and cherry cough drops so I doubt I’ll re-read it ever. 

Content Warning

• Rape
• Addiction

Overall

The Siren, Hollywood’s newest thriller, is set to be filmed on St.  Genesius, a small Caribbean island. The star-studded cast and crew aren’t prepared for the drama, the shocking revelations, or the hurricane brewing just off the coast. This is a low-intensity thriller perfect for someone looking for a thriller without the overwhelming anxiety. The novel is poolside level fluff and filled with drama and a surprising amount of depth. While it has a slow start, I’d recommend this for a summer read. Grab it on Amazon or Bookshop for your next pool trip!

My Rating

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars!