what i’m reading

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (10.19.26)

A Ruse of Shadows by Sherry Thomas (★★★☆☆)

Print • Library • Mystery • 2024

Short synopsis: With her sights set on freeing her sister’s beloved from Moriarty’s clutches, Charlotte is forced to divert her plans when the disgraced Lord Bancroft Ashburton compels her to track down his missing henchman, dead or alive.

This is the eighth book in the Lady Sherlock series, and I’m not sure if I will continue after this one. It’s not that it was bad. Like all the Lady Sherlock books, it was a fun ride with a cast of characters I have grown to love dearly. At first, I tried listening to this book, but I got very confused by all the different characters. I set it down, determined to try again in print, and it went a lot better in that format, especially because I kept a character list on my phone to keep things straight. I enjoyed the mystery at the heart of this book, but at a certain point, there was too much going on, and it started to feel a bit convoluted. Everything came together nicely at the end, but it was a bit of a mess to get there.

The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body’s Fear Response by Ellen Vora (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2022

Short synopsis: In The Anatomy of Anxiety, Dr. Ellen Vora argues that anxiety can also stem from physical imbalances, lifestyle factors, and deeper issues in our lives. Drawing on scientific research and clinical experience, she offers practical strategies for managing anxiety and reframing it as something that can guide us toward greater balance and well-being.

I’d really recommend this book to people who struggle with anxiety but are interested in exploring ways to manage it beyond medication. For me, I’m someone who does need anti-anxiety medication to keep my brain functioning at a relatively normal level, but I know that’s not the case for everyone. A growing body of research has found a relationship between gut health and brain health, and I’m definitely interested in learning more about that connection! In fact, one of my best friends struggled with depression for over a decade before discovering she had a chronic autoimmune condition. Once she cut out gluten, her mental health improved drastically. Of course, that’s not going to be the answer for everyone who struggles with a mental health disorder, but it’s a good reminder that our physical health can have a significant impact on our mental health, too.

The way I approached this book was with curiosity. To be honest, none of the strategies discussed were particularly groundbreaking. Eating less sugar, getting better sleep, and understanding how stress affects the mind-body connection are all things we’ve heard again and again. But sometimes, it helps to understand why these habits matter and how they can affect our mental health. I think it’s vitally important to be introspective about our bodies and our lives, and I appreciated the reminder to look at the bigger picture when it comes to mental health. I didn’t agree with everything in this book, but I do think Dr. Vora has an important point to make: so many environmental, societal, and dietary factors affect the way our bodies function, and those factors deserve consideration when we’re trying to understand our mental health.

I’m not going to stop taking my medication after reading this book, nor even approach the topic with my psychiatrist. But I am thinking about some of these strategies and how they could help improve things like inflammation, moodiness, and period hormones.

Get Over It, April Evans by Ashley Herring Blake (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2026

Short synopsis: When two heartbroken artists—April, whose ex-fiancée left her for a younger woman, and Daphne, that very woman—find themselves working together at a New Hampshire resort, a rivalry over an opportunity to showcase their art in London gives way to an unexpected attraction.

This is the second book in AHB’s Clover Lake series, and it has not been working for me at all. Was she just a one-hit wonder for me (Delilah Green Doesn’t Care for liiiife)? In this book, the characters felt so similar that I kept having to remind myself who was who. (“April is the girl who got dumped. Daphne is the other woman.”) The romance didn’t feel particularly believable, and I really, really hated the dark moment. I thought it was honestly a bit silly because she left us on a cliffhanger, like we thought something different was going to happen. (Hello! We’re reading a romance novel! We know how this ends!) I love a dark moment that feels earned and real, and basically makes me want to cry alongside my characters. I didn’t feel anything for these two, and by the end, I was skimming just so I could be done. I think it’s time for a break from AHB, which really bums me out.

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.28.26)

Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Historical Romance • 2010

Short synopsis: After fleeing London’s marriage-minded society, the irresistibly eligible Lord Nicholas St. John is drawn into Lady Isabel Townsend’s desperate scheme to protect her brother’s inheritance—and into a dangerous romance neither can resist.

I first read this book quite a while ago, and I’m on a mission to reread all of Sarah MacLean’s books since she’s my #1 historical romance author. This one was just as delightful as the first time around, and it had been so long since I had read it that I didn’t remember anything. It’s fun when that happens! (Or maybe concerning about my memory. Either or.) Here’s a really funny thing that happened while I was reading, though: In the story, Isabel realizes she needs to sell these “marbles” that have been in her family for a long time because she needs money. I spent far too long thinking that they are the kind of marbles you play with, and I was really confused. I’m picturing this small bag of tiny marbles and I didn’t understand why a) they were so damn valuable and b) it would take someone weeks to assess their worth. No, no. Marbles as in sculptures. It made so much more sense. The more you know!

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Libby • Fantasy • 2025

Short synopsis: A spine-tingling thriller about a 10-year-old girl with an impossible power, her father, and an unlikely stranger, who come together to confront the dangerous forces that want her at all costs.

I am three for three on TJ Klune books. So far, I have loved everything he’s written (that I’ve read, of course, as I am not yet a completionist!), and this book is no exception. This novel is about Nate, a guy who lost his job and wants to spend some time at his family’s abandoned cabin to lick his wounds and figure out what’s next for him. The problem is, when he arrives, he finds out his cabin is occupied by a surly man named Alex and a precocious young girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Why are they there, and what would happen to them if they left? I adored Nate and Alex and Art so, so much. They were all so wonderfully complex and different and so fun to root for. I was here for every moment of this adventure, even when things seemed impossibly dire. I didn’t care for the epilogue, which is why I gave this book 4.5 stars. I find most epilogues unnecessary, and I think the novel would have had such a stronger ending without it.

And Now Back to You by B.K. Borison (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Target) • Contemporary Romance • 2026

Short synopsis: When radio meteorologist Jackson and journalist Delilah are forced to team up to cover a historic snowstorm, their clash of personalities gives way to an unexpected friendship—and a chemistry neither can ignore.

I think we have a pattern here with B.K. Borison books. Her first book in a series is always excellent (Lovelight Farms, First-Time Caller), which makes me so excited to check out the next book in the series. But then the second one is always a dud (looking at you, In the Weeds). This book was so bland with one very dull MMC and one manic-pixie dreamgirl of a FMC. I just didn’t care about them, nor did I find their romance all that exciting. And, as always, I think any romance over 400 pages is too long, and this one was around 470 pages, which is TOO GODDAMN LONG. There were so many unnecessary side plots, along with a dramatic moment that felt forced and gratuitous. And don’t even get me started on the grand gesture at the end, which I could see from a mile away. I literally muttered to myself, “Oh, he’s going to do XYZ thing, isn’t he?” And sure enough, he did. I didn’t hate this book and I can understand why many people love it. But I just need more from my romances these days, and this one failed to deliver.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.21.26)

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yaisawa (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Contemporary Fiction • 2010

Short synopsis: After her boyfriend leaves her for another woman, a reluctant reader moves into her uncle’s tiny Tokyo bookshop, where the books, eccentric family, and unexpected connections help her heal and rediscover herself.

I’m going to be honest with you guys: I finished this book almost a month ago and didn’t take any notes on what I thought, so I’m trying to remember exactly why it wasn’t a hit for me. I think I didn’t love this book because the bookshop didn’t play as big a part as I expected. The first half follows Takako, who, after a major life upheaval, ends up living in the apartment above her uncle’s bookstore. She’s not a reader, spends more time sleeping than awake, and isn’t particularly close to her uncle, whom she hasn’t seen in years. This part of the book was great because the bookstore was the setting, and I sympathized with Takako and all the ways she felt her life had imploded. The second half of the book is where it lost me. Now, Takako is living somewhere else, she has a new job, and she barely sees her uncle. And then her uncle’s estranged wife comes back into his life… and chaos ensues? Somewhat? I don’t know, guys. It was just kinda boring, and I found myself liking Takako less and less. At least it was only 150 pages!

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 8 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: The Year is 1884 and Emma M. Lion has, at long last, gained her majority. Entering a golden age of friendship with Pierce, Islington, and Hawkes, Emma is confident she will manage whatever comes her way.

I AM NOT OKAY. I finished Volume 8 of Emma M. Lion at the end of August, and now I have to wait until FEBRUARY 2027 for Volume 9. I don’t know if I can handle such a long wait between books, but I must persist. Somehow. (I will do it by buying the physical version of each volume and rereading the whole series before February.) In this book, Emma spends a few weeks at Islington’s estate, where she meets his sister, frolics in nature, and learns more secrets about her tenant, Pierce. You guys cannot talk me out of being Team Hawkes, especially after this book. The boxing scene! The scene of Emma in his room! The laid-back Hawkes at the estate! OMG, Hawkes 4ever.

The Unseen World by Liz Moore (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

E-book • Libby • Fiction • 2017

Short synopsis: Raised by her brilliant but eccentric computer scientist father in 1980s Boston, Ada Sibelius sets out to uncover the secrets of his mysterious past as his mind begins to fail.

I know I am in the minority with my opinion (considering the 4.11 average on Goodreads!), but this book really did not work for me. I think I am really tender about single-parent relationships and what happens when something happens to that parent, and this one was hard for me in that respect. Ada is only 12 when she learns her father has early-onset Alzheimer’s, and not long after, he has to be moved into a memory care facility, where he stays until his death. Is this book part coming-of-age, part mystery, and part sci-fi? It’s doing a lot, and honestly, I think I would have liked this book much more if it were about David and not necessarily his daughter and the mystery she is uncovering about his past. We do get insight into David’s past (through a plot device that drives me crazy), but I wanted more from him and less from Ada. I also found the ending to be rather silly and unnecessary, but again, most people seem to love this book, so maybe I just wasn’t in the right headspace when I read it. (Recommendation source: Sarah of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live)

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.24.26)

The Clocks by Agatha Christie (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Mystery • 1963

Short synopsis: When typist-for-hire Sheila Webb arrives at a seaside house for a mysterious appointment and discovers a corpse surrounded by six clocks set to different times, Hercule Poirot is called in to unravel a bizarre murder that no one can explain.

This synopsis is slightly misleading because Hercule Poirot isn’t really a major part of this book, which is probably why it wasn’t one of my favorite Christie mysteries. I need more Poirot in my life, please and thank you! What I did like about this novel wasn’t even the mystery (it was a little confusing at times, tbh), but the characters. Sheila and her cohort of typist friends—that was so fun! It’s part of our history that I knew nothing about: how people hired typists to help write novels, organize notes, etc. I would have loved that job, personally. Ha! As is typical with Christie novels, the cast of characters is vast, and when the murderer was revealed, I had to go back through the beginning of the book because I honestly didn’t even know who was being talked about. So… not the most memorable of Christie’s books, but they can’t all be winners!

Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2026

Short synopsis: When Finlay Donovan’s live-in nanny, Vero, is accused of stealing her former sorority’s treasury funds and threatened by a mysterious stalker, Finlay heads to Maryland to uncover the real thief and clear her best friend’s name before she ends up in prison.

These novels are getting increasingly ridiculous, but for some reason, I just don’t care! I love them so much. They are fun, easy to follow, and clever. I adore the relationships, especially between Finlay and Vero. There are some romantic entanglements going on behind the scenes (not between Vero and Finlay, but can you imagine?!), but I think the heart of this series is the power of female friendship. Finlay and Vero will truly do anything for each other, and they have such a healthy, strong friendship. The novel’s mystery had high stakes (prison for Vero!), so I was definitely invested in seeing how it would play out. At times, Vero’s disregard for her house arrest frustrated me (as a goody-two-shoes, rule-follower!), but then again, I’m not reading these for relatability. They are pure entertainment, and that’s what Cosimano delivered once again.

Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: At 77, Pepper Mills is stunned to discover she’s pregnant after moving into a retirement community, and as the bizarre news attracts media attention, activists, and researchers, she must navigate the unexpected choices—and lack of control—that come with becoming a very unlikely mother.

Laurie Frankel is a hit-or-miss author for me. There’s This is How It Always Is, which is one of my all-time favorite books. And then there’s Family Family, her 2024 release, which I DNF-ed. So when I heard the synopsis for Enormous Wings, color me apprehensive. I was very skeptical because, well, did I really want to read a book about a pregnant septuagenarian? Turns out, I really did! This is a book about pregnancy, motherhood, the choice to be a mother, and what it means to be a spectacle. Who gets access to your story? What do you owe to the public? This book has a very specific point of view, especially considering Pepper is living in present-day Texas, where abortion is illegal. She would have to travel to another state to obtain an abortion if that’s what she wanted, and there’s a lot to be said in this story about what it means to have this choice taken away.

Pepper is a fascinating woman. She is smart, funny, and kind, but she’s also a woman in her late 70s, so a lot confuses her. Sometimes she has no problem standing up for herself; other times, she stays silent because she doesn’t know the right move in a situation she’s not used to. She is a fully realized woman who made me nostalgic for my own grandma, especially because she was such a wonderful grandma to her grandkids. Pepper is the kind of character that will stick with me for a long while.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.10.26)

Game Changer by Rachel Reid (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2018

Short synopsis: A pro hockey star falls for the barista whose smoothies seem to bring him luck, but as their secret relationship deepens, he must decide whether his career is worth keeping the man he loves hidden.

This is the first book in Rachel Reid’s Game Changer series, which the show Heated Rivalry is based on. When I started the book, I wasn’t sure if it was going to work for me. Let’s just put it out there: The writing isn’t great. It’s pretty pedestrian, and the grammar errors made the editor in me crazy. But I kept reading because goddammit, I loved Scott and Kip so much! Their relationship was so sweet and heartwarming. It’s a bit instalove, which isn’t always my favorite, but I kinda didn’t care because I loved these two crazy kids and wanted them to make their relationship work. There are some overarching themes separate from the romance, such as Scott trying to decide if he’s ready to come out and Kip figuring out what to do with his life, but I must warn you that there is a lot of sex in this book. These two cannot keep their hands off each other! It wasn’t too much for me, but my tolerance for sex scenes is a lot higher than most people’s. All in all, even though I wanted the writing to be stronger, I couldn’t get enough of this book. Reid’s character work is top-notch!

The Compound by Aisling Rawle (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: Lily joins a reality TV competition on a remote desert compound where contestants vie for luxury prizes and basic necessities, but as the producers push them into increasingly dangerous situations, she must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to survive.

The best way I can describe this book is to call it interesting. It’s the kind of book that was easy to set down, but I also got immediately engrossed whenever I picked it back up. None of the characters are particularly likable, least of all the main character, Lily. I felt the same way about the characters in Yesteryear—they’re pretty terrible people, but they’re fascinating to follow around. This is a book about consumerism and the lengths people will go to win, but it’s also about how much someone has to lose: if you don’t have an impressive job or a satisfying home life to go back to, you might be willing to make a lot more sacrifices than other people would. I also have to give the author credit for pulling all of this off as a debut; it’s an inventive premise with a genuinely interesting plot and well-written characters. It’s not a book I’d necessarily recommend, but it would make for a pretty interesting book club discussion.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 7 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Volume 7 of The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion follows Emma through the spring of 1884, where her will-they-or-won’t-they becomes a lot more will-they. Emma is also trying to help her cousin Arabella through her season, in the hopes she will finally secure a husband. And Young Hawkes remains the most exceptional fictional character I’ve ever come across. Am I in love with him? Perhaps. Emma starts seeing all the different secrets the three men in her life are keeping from her, and it’s leading to some very exciting plotlines to come. I have one more volume to read, and then I have to wait for Beth Brower to release Volume 9. A travesty!

What are you reading?