The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick

Published: December 9, 2025 by Park Row

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Synopsis:

Greta Perks was once the shining star of the iconic Maple Gold coffee commercials, the quintessential TV wife and mom. Now fame has faded, her marriage is on the rocks, her teenage daughter has become distant and Greta’s once-glittering career feels like a distant memory.

When Greta stumbles upon a mysterious coffee shop serving a magical brew, she wishes for the perfect life in those past Maple Gold commercials. Next thing she knows, Greta wakes in the idyllic make-believe town of Mapleville, where the sun always shines and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and second chances fill the air. Given the opportunity to live the life she dreamed, Greta is determined to rewrite her own script. But can life ever be like a coffee commercial? And what will happen when Greta has to choose between perfection and real life, with no turning back?

Rating:

Review:

Once upon a time Greta Parks was a television commercial icon. She starred in an iconic coffee commercial with her husband and her daughter. Everyone remembers her fondly and she has been living in the glory days of that fame ever since. But, things aren’t like they are on television. Now, Greta is in a failing marriage and separated from her husband. Her cute, adorable daughter is now a teenager and behaving…..well, like a teenager. Greta finds herself falling into reminiscing about the way things used to be and how different she wanted her life to be.

Then she stumbles across a coffee shop that promises to make her dreams come true. She can have the life that she wants. Well, for the short term anyway. There are a few rules. She can only visit for a limited time and has to answer a few questions about her experience for the shop owner when she returns. She drinks the coffee and finds herself in the town that her Maple Gold commercials were set in. And she has the wonderful marriage and perfect child that she’s been dreaming about. As her real life slowly falls apart around her, Greta is increasingly drawn to the perfection of Mapleville and wants to never leave.

This book was perfectly cozy and a genuinely fun read. We have all sat and looked at our lives and wondered “What if?” And this book gives us a thoughtful and sweet answer. Perfect might be nice to visit but it can’t replace the real people that you love. If you’re looking for a quick, fun little journey into magical realism then this is highly recommended. My only gripe was that it was a bit predictable. But it’s a cozy, it wasn’t meant to be groundbreaking or shocking.

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Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer

Published: February 10, 2026 by Crooked Lane Books

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Synopsis:

Every #tradwife needs a baby. She’ll get one at any cost.

When Camille Deming isn’t cooking, cleaning, or homesteading in her picture-perfect country farmhouse, she’s posting about her tradwife lifestyle for her online followers. She takes inspiration from other tradwives on social media, aspiring to be like them, but Camille’s missing a key component: a baby. And contrary to what she posts online, things with her husband Graham have been strained. Pressured by her eager followers, Camille fears that without a baby, her relationship will suffer and her social media will never grow out of its infancy.

When Camille discovers a mysterious, decrepit well in the wheatfield behind her house, she makes a wish for a baby. Afterwards, she has unsettling experiences that she convinces herself are angelic in nature, and when she’s visited one night by a strange creature, her wish comes true.

Camille’s pregnancy announcement gets more engagement than anything she’s ever posted—so what if Graham’s reaction is lukewarm? Camille’s life is finally falling into place. Never mind that her pregnancy is developing freakishly rapidly and she’s suddenly craving raw meat. Being a traditional wife is worth it.

Rating:

Review:

In the opening chapters of this book we are introduced to four of the six recurring characters. Camille, Graham, her father and her mother (who died when she was a child). I immediately despised all of them. Which was the point. The only person I had the least bit of sympathy for was Camille. She was raised to believe that being a good wife and a mother was her sole function in life. If she can only manage to be the perfect helpmate then she’ll have a fabulous and rewarding lifestyle. A lot of women can relate to being raised in an environment like this. And being duped into believing that being a good wife is the key to a rewarding life. I felt a lot of empathy with her in her naivety.

And, at first, it works. Her husband is distant but willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money on making sure she can perfectly manicure the #tradwife look for her growing following online. She has the floral dress, the apron, the spotless house, the bread making, the garden, and the home cooked meals ready when Graham comes home. And, even better, they just moved into the perfect farmhouse with plenty of space to grow her trad wife life and her online following.

The only thing Camille doesn’t have is a baby. They’re trying, but it just isn’t happening. How is Camille going to launch herself into the next level of trad wife stardom without a baby? So, she literally visits an old well on their property and wishes for a baby. Then she gets visited by an angel who offers to give her a baby. Well, she’s not really sure it’s an angel but she’s going to pretend that it is. It quickly becomes clear that it was not an angel, but by then it’s too late.

As things progress through the pregnancy and through the plot there is really only one way that things are going to end. Indeed, that’s exactly how it goes. But along the way this tells a beautiful story about the journey of womanhood. The naivety of youth. The anger and despair when you realize that the patriarchy lied to you about everything just to extract your labor and your body for their benefit. Then the absolute rage and desire to burn the system down when you realize that it will never suit your needs, nor even see you as a human being with real needs and wants. This was glorious. It was such a poignant tale of feminism and female rage. I loved every sentence and I wanted it to continue.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Published: July 21, 2007 by Scholastic Inc.

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Synopsis:

It's no longer safe for Harry at Hogwarts, so he and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, are on the run. Professor Dumbledore has given them clues about what they need to do to defeat the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, once and for all, but it's up to them to figure out what these hints and suggestions really mean. Their cross-country odyssey has them searching desperately for the answers, while evading capture or death at every turn. At the same time, their friendship, fortitude, and sense of right and wrong are tested in ways they never could have imagined. The ultimate battle between good and evil that closes out this final chapter of the epic series takes place where Harry's Wizarding life began: at Hogwarts. The satisfying conclusion offers shocking last-minute twists, incredible acts of courage, powerful new forms of magic, and the resolution of many mysteries. Above all, this intense, cathartic book serves as a clear statement of the message at the heart of the Harry Potter series: that choice matters much more than destiny, and that love will always triumph over death.

Rating:

Review:

I have read a lot of series finales with mixed results. Sometimes the ending is awful. Sometimes it’s decent but not earth-shattering. And sometimes it’s absolutely perfect. This is an ending that is absolutely perfect.

Every time I read this series, I am amazed all over again at how layered and nuanced the story and characters are. This book tells the story and history of every character within its pages. I loved getting all of the backstory on Dumbledore, though I still don’t agree with Harry’s continued respect for him. Snape was right when he said that Dumbledore raised Harry like a pig for slaughter. It may have been unavoidable in a certain sense, and Dumbledore believed the ends justified the means—but it was still abhorrent.

Snape gets his moment to shine through the darkness and reveal himself as the true hero of the story. Not the one who stood tall in the spotlight, but the one who worked quietly from the shadows without receiving any credit at all.

No matter how many times I’ve read this book, it still affects me emotionally. I get scared for Harry. I cry when someone is lost. I grieve the choices that Harry must make. I feel compassion for the choices everyone else is forced to make simply because they are associated with him. This is not just a story about Harry Potter defeating Voldemort. It is a story about an entire community looking at Voldemort and saying, “No more. We will sacrifice anything to stop you.”

I just love this world, and I will never get enough of it. From here, I’ll start all over again with a review of the full-cast audiobook series. I’m very excited to get started on those. Those reviews will likely focus more on the audio performance rather than the story, since I’ve just completed my thoughts on the story itself.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Published: August 8, 2023 by Scribner

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Synopsis:

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will transform into that of a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist's heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband's fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis fully transforms? Then, a glimpse of Lewis's developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with a college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this daring novel is the story of Wren's mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents' crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren's grief eventually collides, and she meets her fears with surrender, choosing to love fully, now.

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Rating:

Review:

This book was not at all what I expected it to be. It was weird, but also beautiful. It was thought-provoking and deeply sad. It was hopeful and shattering. It was familiar and entirely alien. The author took the hypothetical question, “Would you still love me if I were a worm?” and turned it into an entire world where people have genetic anomalies that transform them into animals. It’s so common that there are entire hospitals specialized in their care, along with laws that govern what must happen when a person is no longer sufficiently human or becomes potentially dangerous.

This is where we meet Wren and Lewis. They are newly married and enjoying their lives together when Lewis receives his devastating diagnosis. From there, we’re launched into a story about loving someone you will inevitably lose. They won’t be dead, but they won’t be human anymore. You’ll have to let them go and grieve their loss, knowing that their life continues as an animal without you. Wren is devastated because she went through this with her mother, who turned into a Komodo dragon when she was a girl. And so she does for Lewis what she did for her mother—she becomes his caretaker.

This book is an excruciating look at the toll that caretaking and terminal illness take on everyone in a family. We see the trauma and grief in an unflinching way. This book made me sob many times. It was heartbreaking. Wren struggles to be the strong one while Lewis deals with denial and anger over his diagnosis. Later, Lewis has a chance to be the strong one for Wren after he has accepted his fate, but she desperately wants to save him—or at least believe that someday there will be a cure and she can get her husband back. Their goodbye was one of the most emotional things I have ever read.

“Lewis finally understood the log line of their love story: He was an aimless kite in search of a string to ground him to the world, but instead, he’d found Wren, a great, strong wind who supported his exploration of the sky.”

This book is highly recommended. It will likely be among my favorite books of the year.

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How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigley

Published: January 20, 2026 by Pantheon

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Synopsis:

Summer, 1986. The Creel sisters, Georgie Ayyar and Agatha Krishna, welcome their aunt, uncle and young cousin—newly arrived from India—into their house in rural Wyoming where they’ll all live together. Because this is what families do. That is, until the sisters decide that it’s time for their uncle to die.

According to Georgie, the British are to blame. And to understand why, you need to hear her story. She details the violence hiding in their house and history, her once-unshakeable bond with Agatha Krishna, and her understanding of herself as an Indian-American in the heart of the West. Her account is, at every turn, cheeky, unflinching, and infectiously inflected with the trappings of teendom, including the magazine quizzes that help her make sense of her life. At its heart, the tale she weaves is:
a) a vivid portrait of an extended family
b) a moving story of sisterhood
c) a playful ode to the 80s
d) a murder mystery (of sorts)
e) an unexpected and unwaveringly powerful meditation on history and language,
trauma and healing, and the meaning of independence

Or maybe it’s really:

f) all of the above.

Rating:

Review:

Let me start by saying that the primary theme of this book is the exploitation and commodification of brown bodies. It offers a dark account of some of the most horrifying experiences faced by those who inhabit them. The subject matter is heavy and unflinching: racism, CSA, sexual assault, internalized racism, and abuse. If these topics are triggering for you, this may not be the book to pick up.

I found the novel as depressing as it was riveting. The author is a vivid, descriptive writer, and the darker elements are delivered with a gut-wrenching bluntness. For those reasons, I really wanted to love this book. But there were several elements that felt out of place. The teen magazine quizzes, for example, were distracting. I understand they were meant to add a layer of humor or irony, but I found them jarring rather than effective.

There are also a lot of tangents. By the end, it felt like I’d been given thousands of fragments rather than a fully realized story. Georgie has a strong, distinct voice, but I wish it had come through more clearly beneath the meandering structure of the narrative. The book touches on racism, abuse, CSA, bullying, Indian history, sisterhood, and more. It’s a lot for one novel to carry.

Overall, this is a book I desperately wanted to love but ultimately felt disappointed by. It’s not a bad book—it just wasn’t quite what I expected.

Adrift by Will Dean

Published: February 17, 2026 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

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Synopsis:

Peggy and Drew, both aspiring writers, move to an isolated canal boat with their fourteen-year-old son. Peggy is the glue that holds their family together, even as their son is bullied relentlessly for his physique and his family’s lack of money. But when Drew becomes frustrated by his wife’s sudden writing success, he moves their boat further and further from civilization.

With their increasing isolation, personal challenges become harder to ignore, even as they desperately try to break toxic generational patterns. But when Drew’s gaslighting becomes too much for Peggy to take, it sets off a catastrophic series of events.

Rating:

Review:

This book shows a lot of promise early on, but it quickly became clear that there were problems with the narrative. Drew is an obvious villain. His cruelty has no complexity, only persistence and inevitability. From the first page, you know you’re dealing with a monster. While he may have gaslit his family into believing he’s a good man, the reader is afforded no such illusion. His nature is laid bare. We don’t even get a glimpse of him pretending to be kind or loving, and based on what we’re shown, I have no idea why Peggy married him in the first place.

When a story presents such an undeniable, overarching villain, it creates an expectation of comeuppance. I spent the entire first half of the book hoping it would end with Drew facing the consequences he deserved. Unfortunately, it also became clear that it wouldn’t. Just as we get no complexity from Drew, we get no real insight into Peggy or any sense of her drive to change her circumstances. The only thing I felt certain of was more unrelenting, plodding abuse. Frankly, I didn’t want to keep reading that. So I stopped and looked up the ending. I was right. There’s no sense of resolution here, and I don’t regret walking away.

While it may be more true to life that some victims of abuse struggle to leave, that alone doesn’t make for a rewarding story.

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It’s Not You by Ramani Durvasala, PhD

Published: February 20, 2024 by The Open Field

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Synopsis:

A transformative guide to protecting and healing yourself from the narcissism you can’t see, from psychologist and preeminent narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula

It’s not always easy to tell when you’re dealing with a narcissist. One day they draw you in with their confidence and charisma, the next they gaslight you, wreck your self-confidence, and leave you wondering, What could I have done differently?

As Dr. Ramani Durvasula reveals in It's Not You , the answer absolutely nothing. Just as a tiger can’t change its stripes, a narcissist won’t stop manipulating and invalidating you. To heal in the aftermath of their abuse and protect yourself from future harm, you first have to accept that you are not to blame.

Deeply compassionate and revelatory, It’s Not You examines how narcissists hijack our wellbeing and offers a healing path forward. Drawing on more than 20 years of studying, teaching, and helping clients navigate the landscape of narcissism, Dr. Durvasula unpacks the oft-misunderstood personality, showing how to identify the telltale signs that you may be dealing with a narcissist and protect yourself from their toxic influence. Along the way, you’ll learn how to become gaslight resistant, chip away at the trauma bonds that keep us stuck in these cycles, grieve the losses, create realistic boundaries, learn the fine art of discernment, and recover your sense of self after years of invalidation.

Healing and thriving after or even during a narcissistic relationship can be challenging, but it is possible. It's Not You shows that the first step is to stop trying to change the narcissistic person, stop blaming yourself, and start giving yourself permission to foster your autonomy and sense of self outside of this relationship.

Rating:

Review:

Everyone who has had any kind of relationship that left them feeling confused, unstable, doubtful, uncertain, or simply traumatized needs to read this book. Narcissism is one of those conditions that is rarely formally diagnosed, as Dr. Durvasula notes, because many of its defining traits discourage individuals from seeking help. As a result, there are likely far more narcissists in the world than we realize. There is also an important distinction between narcissistic personality disorder and narcissistic traits.

Humans are inherently narcissistic at birth. Infants must be this way to survive; they focus entirely on their own needs and comfort, often at the expense of others. As we grow, family and society help instill empathy, and these narcissistic tendencies typically diminish. However, we all display narcissistic traits at times and to varying degrees. Some individuals, though, use these traits to harm others. This is the group the book addresses.

Having encountered people like this throughout my life—in family, work, and relationships—I can personally attest to the damage they can cause. This is what led me to seek out this book: how do you heal from something so harmful? It serves as an excellent introduction to that process.

I appreciated the book’s exploration of the many ways narcissism can manifest. No two harmful individuals are exactly alike, and the book illustrates this well. For example, Mother Gothel and Donald Trump may both be highly narcissistic, but they exist at very different ends of the spectrum. The book helps clarify these distinctions so readers can better identify behaviors that may be causing harm.

The latter part of the book focuses on healing, both for those who can leave a destructive relationship and for those who cannot safely do so at the moment. Both situations are real, yet it’s rare to see a self-help book address them so directly. Sometimes it is safer to leave; other times, it is safer to stay. This book offers guidance for both circumstances.

My only criticism is that the book can feel somewhat repetitive. At times, it revisits the same ideas more than necessary. Still, this is a minor issue that didn’t impact my experience. Your mileage may vary.

First, a little background on the story. I wrote the first draft as part of National Novel Writing Month, a writing challenge with the goal of producing 50,000 words in 30 days. And I did. I wrote this story in just 30 days. While National Novel Writing Month no longer exists, I love the challenge so much that I still do it every year. For me, simply getting words on the page is the best motivation to write.

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After finishing the rough draft, I forbid myself from reading it for at least 90 days. This is typical for me, because I tend to think everything I write is garbage. So I leave it alone long enough to forget much of it. Then I read it from beginning to end without making any edits, just reading. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought! Some parts were actually good.

However, I had always envisioned the story as Micah’s. It’s his story to tell. Somewhere along the way, though, he irritated me so much that I killed him off and promoted a secondary character, Delia, to the lead role. This created a lot of problems, so I ended up doing a complete rewrite to fix Micah’s character and restore him as the main protagonist.

Since then, I’ve done so many rounds of edits that I’ve lost count. I added a prologue, introduced side characters, and built out additional storylines—then removed them, added new ones, and reshaped the narrative again. The usual editing process. Eventually, when it felt finished, I put it away.

Only recently did I bring it out of hibernation to prepare it for querying. That’s when I discovered the problem.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with the story. It’s good. Some parts are even great! In fact, it’s the first novel I’ve written that made me gag, which I consider a big accomplishment. The issue is that Micah is still the main character. While he’s much more compelling now than in earlier drafts, Delia is just as compelling, and it feels wrong to relegate her to a secondary role.

So I’ve spent several months trying to decide what to do. Should I rewrite the entire story and make her the protagonist? It would likely be more compelling and much more morally gray—something I love to explore. It could become an urban fantasy with a kick-ass, take-no-prisoners female lead. Who doesn’t love that?

Or should I tell a more nuanced story? Should I split the point of view and give both Micah and Delia their moments? This approach creates an interesting contrast between them: the gritty, no-nonsense veteran and the jumpy rookie who might drop out (or die) but who ultimately surprises everyone.

I think I’ve finally made my decision: I’m going to tell the story through a dual POV. I know this approach can frustrate some readers, and for good reason since it’s often overused or unnecessary. But for this story, it feels right. It gives me more creative freedom and allows me to explore both characters individually and together, which is far more interesting than focusing on just one.

So that’s what I’ve been working on and why I haven’t shared more since posting the prologue. It’s going to be a labor of love, but I believe it will result in a story I truly care about. And I hope you will too.

In the meantime, I’ve been working on some flash fiction that I hope to share soon. I may also share another novel, possibly one still in progress. We’ll see.

I can’t wait to share it all with you. I hope you’ll join me for the journey, whether as a free subscriber or by pledging support for a future subscription. I’m not sure when I’ll officially enable subscriptions (likely when I can commit to a more consistent posting schedule) but if you’re interested, you can pledge now to show your support.

Also, I really appreciate your likes and comments—they help more people discover my work.

Keep writing, keep reading. I’ll talk to you again soon.

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Dig Me a Grave by Dick Harpootlian

Published: December 16, 2025 by Citadel

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Synopsis:

Of the hundreds of murder cases that noted South Carolina attorney Dick Harpootlian has prosecuted, one in particular haunts him. Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins was a serial killer and rapist, a master manipulator who claimed to have killed over 100 people and is known to have murdered over a dozen, including a toddler, and his own teenage niece. Yet it was on Death Row that he pulled off his most audacious murder—killing another inmate with a military grade explosive.

As personable as he was ruthless, Pee Wee defied easy categories. He killed to avenge minor slights as well as for pleasure, using any convenient method—including stabbing, shooting, poison, suffocation, and drowning. Evidence suggested he forced at least one victim to dig his own grave, stand in it, and be shot.

With escalating callousness, Pee Wee murdered acquaintances, friends, family members, and strangers. Yet within his North Charleston community he was well-liked—a family man who took neighborhood kids to the beach and hosted cookouts. Ice-cold within but outwardly charming, he joked with judges, reporters, and Harpootlian himself, but didn’t hesitate to hatch a plot to kidnap the prosecutor’s daughter in order to extort an escape.

Rating:

Review:

Having read a lot of books about serial killers over the years, I was excited to dive into this one. I have not heard of PeeWee Gaskins and found the brief synopsis fascinating. A man who managed to murder someone with explosives while on death row?? Sign me up!

The best part of this book was the actual conversations and discovery of Gaskins. I found Gaskins to be utterly fascinating. He was completely depraved and yet believed himself to be an average sort of fellow. He treated his victims with utter disdain but was perfectly polite when he wanted to be. This kind of contradiction is very appealing to read about and boggles the mind.

Unfortunately the rest of this book was very confusing. Because this is an investigation that took years and continued for a long time even after Gaskins was imprisoned, there’s a lot of people involved. But I had a difficult time keeping them all straight. The author presents the information in a matter of fact way, which I appreciated, but it meant I didn’t connect to any of the characters. They blended together into the background and it left me very confused. This book felt like it had a lot of filler that wasn’t needed. And it impacted how much I enjoyed the book. I fell asleep at one point but didn’t really care enough to go back and listen to what I missed.

If you’re very familiar with Gaskins already then this will undoubtedly add layers of complexity and color to the story that you already know. If you’re knew to the story of Gaskins, maybe listen to a podcast about it first so that you can keep up.

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Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholz

Published: November 18, 2025 by Ace

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Synopsis:

She traded curses for carnations. But old magic dies hard...

Guy Shadowfade is dead, and Violet Thistlethwaite is out of a job. After a lifetime as the dark sorcerer's right-hand witch, she's ready to turn over a new leaf. And this time, she wants to sprout peonies instead of poison.

The quiet town of Dragon's Rest seems like the perfect place to start over. Violet opens a flower shop, swears off dark magic, and does her best to be...good. Even if her reputation - and her mildly homicidal, sentient houseplant - make that tricky.

Her vibrant bouquets soon charm the locals, but nothing she does seems to impress the grumpy (and infuriatingly gorgeous) Nathaniel Marsh, the alchemist she's forced to share a greenhouse with.

But when a strange blight begins to rot the roots of Dragon's Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together - through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings - to save the town.

And as old secrets start to surface, Violet can't help but does a former villain like her truly deserve a happily-ever-after?

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Rating:

Review:

I often will pick a book based on a pretty cover or a good synopsis. This one pulled me in with both. The cover gave cozy romance vibes but with a fantasy twist. And it is exactly what I expected. It completely met the expectation of being a cozy fantasy with a side of romance. Dragon’s Rest was a great little village to spend time in. I wanted to pull up a cup of tea with the plants too.

This book also had a lot going on. A flower shop trying to establish itself. The apothecary and the troubles there. The blight that threatens the village. Violet dealing with her prior villain status and worry about the town finding out. I felt like we didn’t need a romance. Frankly, it felt a little forced and unnecessary. It seemed to be a plot device to raise the stakes for Violet when her prior villain lifestyle is inevitably revealed. But because the rest of the book was so busy it just fell a little flat. We didn’t have the time to let their romance blossom (bad pun fully intended). The banter was fun. The attraction was cute. But it didn’t add much else to the plot.

I was interested in the story of how Violet would redeem herself. She was a pretty bad person. Slaughtering whole villages level villain. Ultimately though it felt low stakes when it shouldn’t have.

In the end, I can’t really complaint about it nor can I sing its praises. It was exactly what it is marketed to be. A low stakes, cozy fantasy with a side of romance. I enjoyed it.

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Everyone in the Group Chat Dies by L.M. Chilton

Published: December 9, 2025 by Gallery/Scout Press

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Synopsis:

Kirby Cornell needs a break from everything:

- Her crumbling apartment in the sleepy town of Crowhurst (famous for its bucolic countryside and a second-rate serial killer from the ’90s).
- Her dead-end job.
- Her sleazy landlord
- Her messy roommates.
- And, most of all, the terrible thing they all did.

Luckily, that hasn’t caught up with her just yet. Until a new message on their old group chat pops up: Everyone in the group chat dies.

It’s the first text her ex-roommate Esme has sent for ages, but that’s not the really weird thing.

The really weird thing is, Esme died twelve months ago…

Rating:

Review:

This book was quite an interesting ride. If I’m being honest, I thought that I might not finish it during the first half. It just wasn’t that engaging at first. Kirby is a thirty-something who lost her job and can’t seem to get her life together. Her roommates are no better. For a group of people in their thirties, they seem to act like teenagers. They don’t know how to adult and come across as very immature.

The story switches back and forth between “then” and “now.” This was handled very well, and the “then” sections were quite intriguing and set the stage for the larger story. But they also highlight how all of the characters were almost exactly the same as they are “now.” That’s not a good thing and only solidified in my mind that they are desperately immature.

However, once we hit the halfway point, this story really started to rock and roll. The pace took off rapidly and never let up until the end. I read the entire second half in one sitting because I wanted to know what happened next. I started to get an inkling that I knew what the ending would be, but it still managed to surprise me. I only partially figured out the twist, and I always enjoy it when a book keeps me guessing.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. The pacing in the second half was fantastic and managed to keep my anxiety high right along with the characters. My biggest criticism was how immature they are—it pains me when grown adults are unable to behave like adults. Based on this book, though, I think I will pick up other books from this author, so they definitely did a lot of things right.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Published: July 16, 2005 by Scholastic Inc.

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Synopsis:

The war against Voldemort is not going well: even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of The Daily Prophet looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. And yet...

As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate, and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Harry struggles to uncover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, the past owner of a potions textbook he now possesses that is filled with ingenious, potentially deadly, spells. But Harry's life is suddenly changed forever when someone close to him is heinously murdered right before his eyes.

With Dumbledore's guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort, and thereby attempts to find what may be his only vulnerability.

Rating:

Review:

I am almost finished with my re-listen to the Jim Dale versions of the Harry Potter audiobooks. I discovered that I love these books for so many different reasons now. I am understanding messages and themes this time that I never noticed before. There are details and storylines that I completely forgot that are just amazingly done. Every time I think I can’t appreciate this series enough, I find another thing to love it for.

Note: this review will likely contain spoilers. If you haven’t been spoiled or read these books since they were published… I don’t know what to do for you. Ha!

I had forgotten the true depths that Rowling went to so that she could hide Dumbledore’s true intentions. Legitimately, I had no idea the first time I read this series what we would uncover in Deathly Hallows. No idea. This book also so thoroughly led me to the wrong conclusion about Snape. In this re-read, though, I noticed that I caught the signs more than ever. The way Snape reacts to Harry, the way Dumbledore says things—these are all clues about what’s to come. It is masterfully done. Honestly, as a writer, if I could set up a red herring path half this well, then I would consider it a success.

Another storyline that I forgot existed was the thorough hatred that the Weasley family has for Fleur. I was delighted and laughing so hard at their antics. They were quite unfair to her and made a lot of assumptions about her character, but it was a great lighthearted diversion from the seriousness of the rest of the book. The rest of this book is so dark and depressing that this lightened the mood in all the right ways.

I still hated Harry’s flourishing romance with Ginny. It’s just icky. This is your best friend’s little sister. You’ve stayed over at their house. Sneaking behind her brother’s back to date her was very cringe, and I hated it. I also don’t think that Ginny really understood Harry. Honestly, it was never spelled out for me why they liked each other at all. I don’t get it. Proximity is the only thing that drew these two together. They barely shared pages prior to this book. It was weird.

Luna Lovegood is the star of the show in this book, and I am astounded at what a great character she is. She has the unique ability to meet Harry exactly where he is. She understands grief and trauma. She understands that sometimes that means he lashes out at people, sometimes he withdraws, and sometimes he wants to be distracted. She recognizes all of those things and judges him for none of it. She is such an amazing friend. Luna is a sounding board, a soft place to be vulnerable, but she is not afraid to challenge him when he crosses the line or refuses to listen to her.

If I had to pick one person who would be a good romantic partner for Harry in these books, it’s Luna. They match each other. He meets her exactly where she is, and she meets him exactly where he is. They accept each other and also challenge each other. They allow the other to show up in the world exactly how they wish. Sigh… too bad I will only ever get this pairing in fan fiction.

Moving on, the discoveries about the horcruxes were marvelously done. Harry being sent to retrieve Slughorn’s memory of Tom Riddle was instrumental. You immediately get the sense that Dumbledore knows that horcruxes exist, and he knows that Tom had an idea of how many he wanted to make… he just needs to know the number. Then we have the cave, which was just as hard to listen to this time as it was the first time. It’s emotionally jarring and wrenching—made worse by the fact that I knew what was to come.

The entire scene with Dumbledore and Malfoy was the best part of the book. Dumbledore knew. He knew that Draco didn’t want to do this. He didn’t want to be a Death Eater. Not really. He had thought he did, but he was wrong. And he also felt trapped. My heart absolutely broke for Draco. He felt so desperate to do something he didn’t want to do. It was such a good scene to show his inner turmoil and angst about the choices he has made.

Overall, I will never be able to get enough of this series. It is one of the all-time best. After this, I am going to jump into the full-cast audiobook versions and do it all over again. I hope you join me on the ride.

As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel

Published: November 25, 2025 by William Morrow

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Synopsis:

1592. Cybil Harding is a First Daughter. Cursed to bring disaster to those around her, she is trapped in a house with a mother paralyzed by grief and a father willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of magic.

Miriam Richter is a creature of shadow. Forged by the dark arts many years ago, she is doomed to exist for eternity and destined to be alone—killing mortals and consuming their souls for sustenance. Everything changes when she meets Cybil, whose soul shines with a light so bright, she must claim it for herself. She offers a bargain: she will grant Cybil reincarnation in exchange for her soul.

Thus begins a dance across centuries as Miriam seeks Cybil in every lifetime to claim her prize. Cybil isn’t inclined to play by the rules, but when it becomes clear that Miriam holds the key to breaking her family curse, Cybil finds that—for the first time in her many lives—she might have the upper hand. As they circle each other, drawn together inescapably as light and dark, the bond forged between them grows stronger. In their battle for dominance, only one of them can win—but perhaps they can’t survive without each other.

Rating:

Review:

When I read the synopsis of this book, I wasn’t sure what to think about it. It sounded good but I wasn’t sure if it would draw me in. I loved the cover because I instantly logged that it was meant to look like an unraveling tapestry. I decided to give it a try. I was even a little bit skeptical through the first part of the story because I wasn’t immediately drawn in by the story. That changed quite soon.

The writing in this book is beautiful and raw. It’s definitely not lyrical writing that reads more like poetry. It is compelling and emotional. The writing of the book carries the emotion that the characters are feeling. Cybil is a compelling characters all on her own. And so is Miriam. The two of them together are electric. The sexual tension between the two was off the charts and I loved every second of it. The hatred they had for each other was overpowering and it was epic.

Of Cybil’s incarnations in this book, I enjoyed the last one the most. She had transformed so much from when we first met her as the cursed First Daughter who was trying to find a way to end her family’s curse. She had become an amazing woman and a powerful force in the universe. Miriam is just as compelling but in entirely different ways. She drew me in with her charm and every time I started to forget that she was a demon, she reminded me. She was vicious, angry, charming and everything in between.

Watching these two women interact with each other was one of the best stories I’ve ever read. All of their rage, compassion, love, hate, and fear seeped through every page. I can’t recommend this enough, it was a stunning book.

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The Circle by Dave Eggers

Published: October 8, 2013 by Knopf

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Synopsis:

When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency.

As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company’s modernity and activity. There are parties that last through the night, there are famous musicians playing on the lawn, there are athletic activities and clubs and brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish retrieved from the Marianas Trench by the CEO.

Mae can’t believe her luck, her great fortune to work for the most influential company in the world—even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public.

What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

Rating:

Review:

This book is a bit of an older title than I seem to be reading lately and I had never heard of it until recently. I was visiting my local Little Free Library and grabbed a book that sounded interest, The Every. Which isa sequel to this book. I didn’t want to start in the midst of a story so I picked this audiobook up to give it a listen.

In the end I would call this book…aggressively fine. It wanted to be a new version of 1984 but didn’t quite live up to the mark. Mae is a fine character but she’s very bland and boring. She doesn’t actually do anything. She gets a job at The Circle and her job is to respond to customer queries. But, as she soon discovers it’s not just a job. The job demands that every bit of your time and attention. And you best use it the correct way or someone will punish you for it.

The biggest problem I had with this book is that some scenes were just not necessary. For example, Mae gets in trouble for not being “social” enough within the Circle and her boss has a chat with her about it. Then we get to have the same conversation with HR. Then another conversation about it with the general public. The same conversation but three different ways. It was exhausting. Maybe that was the point because Mae slowly gets worn down by this constant demand for her to conform until she finally transforms herself into The Circle’s perfect example. She was well suited to that journey since she had very little personality of her own.

Between the repetitive nature and Mae being as interesting as cardboard the book mostly felt like a vehicle for the author’s soapbox point. It was okay and I will still read The Every, since I already have it and all. It was okay but 1984 made the sane point with a better book.

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The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang

Published: January 21, 2025 by Ace

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Synopsis:

On the outskirts of Rainbow Town, there is an old, abandoned house. They say that if you send a letter detailing your misfortunes there, you could receive a ticket. If you bring this ticket to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you'll be granted entrance into the mysterious Rainfall Market—where you can choose to completely change your life.

No one is more surprised than Serin when she receives a ticket. Lonely and with no real prospects for a future, Serin ventures to the market, determined to create a better life for herself.

There, she meets a magical cat companion named Issha and they search through bookstores, perfumeries, and fantastical realms while Serin tries to determine what her perfect life will look like.

The catch? Serin only has one week to find her happiness or be doomed to vanish into the market forever.

And all the while, a shadow follows quietly behind them…

Rating:

Review:

I’ve had my eye on this one since it was published because the cover is absolutely stunning. The colors are vibrant, the title makes you curious and the entire package is very appealing. The story is also an appealing idea. Everyone has wondered what kind of life they would want if they could pick another one. The entire idea made me anticipate a cozy fantasy novel with a message. And this book delivered exactly that promise.

Serin was a likeable character with a tragic story. She has read a book about a man who wrote a letter explaining his life’s misfortunes and in exchange he received a letter to visit the Rainfall Market. He was given the opportunity to get a better life than he had. Serin decides that it’s worth the risk. So, she writes. About her father dying when she’s young, her sister ran away and is never seen again, she has no friends, she has no viable prospects for her future and she longs for something better.

Her journey through the Rainfall Market was inspiring and fun. Though this is marketed as an adult story it felt like a young adult. Based on the content and the writing this was closer to a middle grade read than an adult. But it didn’t mean that I love it any less. The characters are fun and cozy. The setting is adorable. Serin is a sweet guide through the whole thing. It was so cozy that I wanted to curl up in my fuzzy blanket with a cup of tea to read it.

Like with any good story of this sort, Serin learns some lessons along the way. She finds from friends. She discovers that there is no such thing as a perfect life. Ultimately she discovers that her life will be what she makes of it. It was a quick read and an enjoyable one.

The Burning Library by Gilly MacMillan

Published: November 18, 2025 by William Morrow

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Synopsis:

On a frigid, windswept day in Scotland’s Western Hebrides, Eleanor Bruton’s body is discovered on the shore. To her family Eleanor was an ordinary middle-aged woman. She made flower arrangements and plumped kneeler cushions at church. Little did they know she was harboring a dark and all-consuming secret: a scrap of fraying embroidery that seems worthless at first glance.

For more than a century two rival organizations of women have gone to deadly lengths to secure the valuable artifact in the hopes of finding the original medieval manuscript from which it was torn: The Order of St Katherine, devoted to the belief that women must pull strings in the shadows to exercise control. And the Fellowship of the Larks, determined to amass as many overt positions of power for women as possible…so long as their methods of doing so never come to light.

When Dr Anya Brown garners international attention for her translation of the cryptic Folio 9, she is handpicked by Diana Cornish, a professor and high-ranking member of the Fellowship of the Larks, to join the exclusive Institute of Manuscript Studies in St Andrews. Meanwhile at Scotland Yard, Detective Clio Spicer begins a private investigation into the death of Eleanor Bruton.

As all of them grow further entangled in this ancient web, circumstances are spinning wildly out of control and their lives may be in grave danger.

Rating:

Review:

I sought out this book based firstly on the cover. It’s very eye catching and drew me in. The synopsis was intriguing enough to draw me in further. I liked the idea of two competing groups of academic women in pursuit of the same historical artifact.

Unfortunately, this was a pretty gift that ended up being nothing more than an empty box. I found myself through this whole book just thinking “Why?”. Why do these women want this artifact? Why can they not get it themselves? What is it and why is it relevant? WHY DO THEY WANT IT???

I never got the answers to those questions. I still don’t even know what the artifact is! Nor do I know why they wanted it so badly. Just a vague explanation of empowering women across the world or something like that. Which, considering both of the groups pursuing this artifact were women, I had a hard time understanding why they were at war with each other over it. Surely the artifact being public would benefit both groups? I understand the differences in the group. One group believes that women are best empowered through the power of men, being the head that turns the neck as it were. The other group believes women should seek their own power without the assistance of men. But if the ultimate goal is power for women, shouldn’t you be on the same side? Not killing each other in sleepy little academic towns.

By the end, I found this book profoundly confusing. The author gave me no answers. But it gets an extra star for being very pretty and I liked Anya as a character.

Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart

Published: June 11, 2024 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

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Synopsis:

Mark was the most dangerous killer-for-hire in the world. But after learning the hard way that his life’s work made him more monster than man, he left all of that behind, and joined a twelve-step group for reformed killers.

When Mark is viciously attacked by an unknown assailant, he is forced on the run. From New York to Singapore to London, he chases after clues while dodging attacks and trying to solve the puzzle of who’s after him. All without killing anyone. Or getting killed himself. For an assassin, Mark learns, nonviolence is a real hassle.

Rating:

Review:

A few years ago I read another book by Rob Hart that I wasn’t too impressed with. I thought the idea was fabulous but the execution was a bit bland. This one was a pleasant surprise!

Mark is a really good character. He is nuanced and layered but guarded. I enjoyed getting to know him through the course of the book. This was helped by how the book was structured. We would have a chapter or two of the timeframe of Mark’s career or right before he decided to quit. Slowly we could put all the pieces together. We learned about how Mark got into the career killer life. We learned about some of the pivotal moments he had during his career. We saw what led him to the desire to quit. It was a heartbreaking story.

The pace of this book is lightning fast. When the synopsis says that Mark is on the run, so is the book. We don’t get to sit still because he doesn’t. It was really nice to feel the urgency that the character’s are supposed to be feeling.

The ending took me a little bit by surprise but I don’t think it should have. The red herrings were good and well laid. They fooled me into thinking that I knew the answer. But in the end the answer was much more mundane. I can’t say how I feel about that honestly. I was a little disappointed but a little intrigued at the same time. The ending is ultimately the reason for the 4 star. The book was an exciting ride, but the answer to who is after Mark made me go “Oh. Well, ok then.”

Princess of Blood by Sarah Hawley

Published: September 30, 2025 by Ace

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Synopsis:

Kenna Heron is still reeling from her lover's betrayal and the threat of an impending war. With only her two closest--and most powerless--friends by her side, she must navigate the treacherous politics of Mistei while coming to terms with her new identity as not just Fae, but princess of her own house.

With the king dead, three candidates are vying for the right to wear the crown next. A princess who claims the throne as her birthright and two rebel princes, both of whom are depending on the support of Blood House to break the stalemate between them. Old loyalties fray as new, dangerous alliances form, and Kenna finds herself caught in a web of violence, deceit, and unexpected passion.

Kenna has the power to shape Mistei's future... but someone's willing to kill to make sure she never gets the chance.

Rating:

Review:

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I read the first book in this series, Servant of Earth, in 2025. It was phenomenal and I pre-ordered the 2nd one immediately. Then I, somehow, got an ARC copy of the 2nd one and I am pretty sure that the resulting squeal of excitement was heard in the next state over.

This book picks up immediately where the first one left off. The Fae King is dead and Kenna is now the princess of Blood House. Immediately there is a run for the throne and she is the deciding vote. Whoever Kenna chooses to lead will have the support to wage a war for the throne. But, how can she possibly choose when the Fae only deal in lies, deceit and violence?

Kenna had such a transformation in this book and it was so exciting to watch. She navigated her way through the world of Mistei and learned her powers. She sought friendships and played the part of a princess who wants things to change. It was wonderful. My only gripe with her is that she’s a bit too idealistic. But that’s the point of her character so I can’t complain too much.

I really loved learning about Hector, Kallan, and Drustan as Kenna did. Each of these characters was so layered and complex. Every time Kenna found herself agreeing with all of them on the same point, I found that I did too. Though I became slightly frustrated at Kenna when I felt like the choice she needed to make was clear and she was still waffling. There is a very specific event that changes everything about one of the characters. Literally everything. And, frankly, that moment should have been the moment Kenna made her decision too instead of continuing to be indecisive.

This book is definitely a slow burn. At points I even started to feel a little bit bored, reading about yet another ball or party. But it did set the tone and there was enough intervening events that the plot kept moving albeit slowly. However, no matter how frustrated I was at the pace the ending was jaw dropping. I probably should have seen it coming but I was successfully lulled into a false sense of security right along with Kenna. I read the last 50 pages in one sitting and was shocked the entire time. I won’t give any spoilers here but, WOW! I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the next book. I need to know what comes next immediately. Preferably yesterday.

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

Published: September 29, 2015 by Nan A. Talese

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Synopsis:

Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around - and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in... for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their "civilian" homes. At first, this doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one's head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan's life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled.

Rating:

Review:

This book may have only been 320 pages and about a 12 hour audiobook but it felt like it took forever. And by the end of it, I have no idea what this book wanted to tell me. Was it a foray into the idea that true love doesn’t exist? A discussion about human relationships and sex in a technological world? Using labor as profit? Corporate prison systems? The dangers of allowing corporations power over the lives of individuals? Or maybe a commentary about the eternal quest for money and comfort? It seemed to want to be all of these things but because it was so meandering and jam packed with characters it ended up being none of those things.

I have no idea what level of catastrophe happened in the United States to cause the populace to voluntarily enter the prison system for life. The book vaguely alludes to some kind of financial collapse but it is never explored or explained in any detail. I also don’t understand how one part of the world is living in ruin hiding from roving gangs and trying to survive. But there are other parts of the world that are buying sex robots and spending all their money on plastic surgery to never age. Maybe this was an attempt at commentary on social classes and the dichotomy of rich and poor, but it was poorly done and I never believed that those two worlds co-existed simultaneously.

Charmaine and Stan start out as an average married couple. They depend on each other. Both are a bit naive and stupid but they love each other. Stan isn’t a fan of the Positron idea, but he will agree to it because Charmaine wants the security of it. Somehow they both decide to become completely opposite people once they enter Positron and become extremely unlikeable. By the end I hated them both. Stan’s actions at the end of the book are so disgusting that it tainted the entire book.

In the end it told me nothing, it made me ponder nothing and it was a waste of my time. I gave it 2 stars for having an interesting idea and some of the ideas were interesting but the rest was garbage.

Tilt by Emma Pattee

Published: March 25, 2025 by S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books

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Synopsis:

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, there’s nothing to do but walk.

Making her way across the wreckage of Portland, Annie experiences human desperation and kindness: strangers offering help, a riot at a grocery store, and an unlikely friendship with a young mother. As she walks, Annie reflects on her struggling marriage, her disappointing career, and her anxiety about having a baby. If she can just make it home, she’s determined to change her life.

Rating:

Review:

This book is a difficult one for me to review and rate. Parts of the book I really loved, but throughout I just felt like it was missing something. I still can’t quite put my finger on what was missing, but it made me not enjoy the book as much as I wished to enjoy it.

This book is labelled and marketed as a thrilled and a suspense book, but it’s neither suspenseful or thrilling. The only thrilling part was the earthquake and the immediately aftermath. The rest was Annie walking through the city to try and find her husband. Much of the book is about Annie reflecting on her life choices, her marriage, her pregnancy and her complicated feelings about becoming a mother. All of this was extremely compelling but it didn’t fit the tone of the thriller that I was marketed with. This would have been better served as a literary fiction to properly set reader expectations.

The earthquake as a metaphor for Annie’s life was quote poetic in a lot of ways. Annie is the sort of person who feels like her life is out of her control. She didn’t feel that she had control over who she ended up married to. She didn’t feel in control of becoming pregnant. She doesn’t feel like she’s in control of her life. So, this earthquake is just another thing that she can’t control but has happened to her. This element of the book was fabulous and I could have read it for 400 more pages. In large part Annie is unlikeable and I was hoping that we’d explore her character enough to at least create some empathy for her, but it didn’t go far enough.

The ending of this book was also a letdown for me. I was hoping for a finality to the story. An ending where Annie chooses who she is going to be going forward. But she doesn’t. At least not that the reader is allowed to see. Such an open ended ending had to be intentional but it felt like the wrong choice. I needed something more concrete and defined. I was disappointed that I didn’t get it. So, at the end of the book it was enjoyable but flawed.