Stephany Writes

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?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (8.3.26)

No Matter What by Cara Bastone (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2026

Short synopsis: After a traumatic accident threatens the foundations of their happy marriage, a couple tries to rebuild and find their way back to each other—and themselves—in this tender, slow-burn romance.

When I started reading this book, I was convinced that, for the first time, Cara Bastone had written a dud. I thought this was going to be one of those books where I’m screaming, “Just talk to each other, goddammit!” And, for the first few chapters, that’s definitely how I felt. I was so frustrated by Roz and Vin and their inability to communicate. I chose to trust this author who has never let me down, and in doing so, she rewarded me with a gorgeous book about trauma, love, and finding your way back to each other. Roz and Vin’s love story is so beautiful, and I think the way the author showcased how a traumatic event can truly upend the foundation of your life was really special. I wanted these two to make it work more than anything because it was so obvious they loved each other, but they were just both drowning in PTSD. My only real qualm with the novel is that Roz never goes to therapy. She doesn’t even seem to recognize that what she’s experiencing is PTSD. Maybe I’m being a little unfair, but…girl. Go to therapy. You’re dealing with something incredibly difficult. As a millennial woman living in New York City, I found it hard to believe that going to therapy when her marriage is in peril never really crossed her mind.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Historical Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: When a respected man accused of rape is found frozen to death in the river, midwife Martha Ballard is called to examine the body. As she begins investigating what others insist was an accident, she uncovers secrets that threaten her family, her reputation, and her community.

I had such an interesting experience with this book. It took me a long time to read it (nearly two weeks) because it’s long and dense. I considered abandoning it, but there was something about Martha (and her relationship with her husband, Ephraim) that kept me invested. It wasn’t necessarily the plot that kept me going, but it was Martha. She was such a fully formed character, someone who was so easy to root for. I kept reading because I needed to know everything would turn out okay for this brilliant woman. I’m astounded by the depth of research Lawhon must have done to bring this story to life. Small details—like the fines imposed on women who had children out of wedlock—are woven throughout the novel, creating a vivid picture of life in late eighteenth-century America. The birthing scenes were difficult to read, but also beautifully written and highlighted the incredible strength of women who endured childbirth again and again. This is the kind of book I want to recommend to everyone, with the caveat that it’s not a quick read, but definitely worth your time if you love a good historical fiction novel.

The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Marie Thorne (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Spotify • Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: An immersive, page-turning novel about surviving as a funny woman in the male-dominated world of comedy—and what happens when the most promising female star of her generation disappears.

I finished this book just a few days ago, and still, I’m kinda at a loss on how to talk about my feelings. It was… fine? It wasn’t groundbreaking or propulsive, and even the ending didn’t stand out for me. It’s an oral history about the beginnings of The Midnight Show (basically just Saturday Night Live, nothing creatively different about it) and specifically about Lillian Martin, a standout comedian who disappeared without a trace at the end of the show’s second season. I definitely recommend the audio since it’s a full cast, and oral histories are typically best in this format. That said, even at the end of the book, I still couldn’t keep all of the male comedians straight. I don’t know… maybe that was the point? The women all had distinct personalities and voices, while the men sort of blended into one big blob. Male comedians are a dime a dozen, right? Ha. Anyway, I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a bad book because it did keep my attention and I felt interested enough to keep listening. I think it could be a great choice for anyone who loves getting the behind-the-scenes details of SNL-type shows or reading books about comedians. It was just fine for me. (Recommendation source: Sarah’s Bookshelves Live)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.27.26)

Go Gentle by Maria Semple (★★☆☆☆)

Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: A Stoic philosopher’s carefully curated life on New York City’s Upper West Side is thrown into chaos when a handsome stranger draws her into a world of black-market art, international intrigue, and a buried past that forces her to risk everything for what she truly desires.

What even was this book? It definitely has shades of Where’d You Go, Bernadette with a wacky main character, but it didn’t have anywhere near the same charm or heart. Instead, it felt like Maria Semple had three different books she wanted to write and decided to shove them all into one. I may get slightly spoiler-y in my review, so here’s your chance to dip out if you plan on reading this book. The book is broken into three sections. There’s the beginning, where we’re introduced to Adora’s world and the coven she has created of other older, single women who all live on the same floor of her apartment building. We also learn about Adora’s job as a “moral tutor” for twins of a very rich family. This was the most interesting part of the book, and we didn’t spend nearly enough time here. Then things take a very decided left turn, and we’re taken back in time to Adora’s foray into the world of comedy writing. She joins an SNL-type show as the only female writer and is effectively fired after one season. Other things happen during that time that I won’t get into here to not spoil everything, but she learns a lot of hard lessons. And then, in the final section, we’re back in the present day where Adora is somehow involved in some black-market art deal that was supremely boring and didn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me. There was also a really eye-rolling love story intertwined that was more cringe than sweet. It all made for a disjointed reading experience that I wouldn’t recommend. Meh. (Recommendation source: Book Riot)

Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: Fiercely independent Win McNulty finds her carefully self-sufficient life upended when a one-night stand with charming stranger Bo leads to an unexpected pregnancy, forcing them to navigate friendship, impending parenthood, and the possibility that they might become something more.

My goodness, this book was adorable! I truly couldn’t get enough of Win and Bo. Their banter, their vulnerability, and the way they cared for one another was so sweet. They are both healing as they enter into this friendship-and-impending-parenthood thing: Win is still a little tender after getting out of a toxic relationship with a man who made her feel like her limb difference was a liability, while Bo is adjusting to life as an amputee after a cancer diagnosis. In their own ways, they both need each other—and this tiny baby growing in Win’s belly—in their own ways. I especially loved the disability representation and how naturally it was woven into the story. Their disabilities weren’t the entire focus of the book, but they weren’t pushed to the periphery either; they were simply part of who Win and Bo are and how they move through the world, especially for Bo, whose disability is still so new. The writing was smart and engaging, the romance was incredibly sweet, and I am so excited to read more from this author! (Recommendation source: Kim)

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Libby • Nonfiction • 2021

Short synopsis: A gripping investigation into three generations of the wealthy Sackler family, tracing how their pharmaceutical empire and aggressive marketing of OxyContin helped fuel the devastating opioid crisis.

This book has sat on my TBR list for years and years. It’s my first PRK book, and it most assuredly won’t be my last. A 500+ page narrative nonfiction book shouldn’t be as gripping as this was, but PRK has such an engaging writing style that it felt like I was listening to one of my favorite true crime podcast series. I don’t think I need to say much about what this book is about, but suffice it to say, I am truly disgusted by the Sackler family and proud of all the people—from the journalists breaking the original stories to the activists showing up to protest—who put their names and bodies on the line to make the truth about this family known. What made me angriest was seeing, over and over again, just how much money and power can shield people from consequences. The Sacklers made billions from a drug they aggressively marketed while communities were being devastated by addiction, and yet they were able to use their wealth, influence, and armies of lawyers to avoid anything resembling real accountability. It’s infuriating to read about the sheer amount of suffering tied to their actions and then realize how little they personally had to answer for it. This is a long audiobook—17 hours!—but it is well worth your time, both to understand how the Sacklers helped fuel the opioid crisis and to see just how corrupting wealth and power can be. (Although I’m guessing we don’t really need proof of that anymore, considering the way our government is being run these days…)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.13.26)

A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Libby • Historical Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: As a newly inherited earl fights to secure his contested estate, he must trust the son of a notorious smuggling clan—even as dangerous secrets threaten to turn ally into enemy.

I really enjoyed my first K.J. Charles book, so I was excited to pick up the second book in her Doomsday series. My thoughts on this one are a little all over the place. On the one hand, I really loved the romance between Rufus (the earl) and Luke (the smuggler’s son). Their love story was so sweet, and the sex scenes were hot, hot, hot. On the other hand, this novel had so much going on that I started to get a bit lost. There’s the main plot, as Rufus tries to figure out the rightful earl of the estate—is it him, Luke, or Rufus’s greedy uncle? Then there are several side plots, including one involving Luke’s real reason for coming to Rufus’s estate. It all started to feel convoluted and even a bit overdramatic, especially toward the end, and I think the story would have been stronger with a tighter plot and fewer unnecessary storylines. All in all, though, it’s a great romance if you’re looking for something with a little more substance (and aren’t scared off by graphic sex scenes!).

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein (★★★★★)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: Two sisters examine what they owe each other and what they are willing to sacrifice to make their family dreams come true.

I am so, so glad Lisa put this book on my radar. I read Beck Dorey-Stein’s memoir a few years ago and didn’t like it at all, so I had essentially written her off, but I decided to give her fiction a try after Lisa’s recommendation. It was… spectacular! I absolutely devoured this novel about two sisters growing up with a single mom. One of the sisters, Cricket, is a soccer phenom, and the story explores the sacrifices families make when one person is destined for greatness. The plot moves quickly, and more than once I sat down intending to read for just a few minutes, only to look up 20 minutes later because I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautifully written, with fully realized characters, and there’s a sweet love story woven throughout that was the icing on the cake. I have a feeling this will end up on my favorites list at the end of the year, and I want everyone I know to read it!

First Wife’s Shadow by Adele Parks (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Thriller • 2025

Short synopsis: As a wealthy woman rushes into marriage with a widower still haunted by his late wife, jealousy and suspicion spiral into a dangerous game where no one can be trusted.

I’m a sucker for a good domestic thriller, but this one got off to a shaky start for me. I didn’t particularly connect with Emma (the new wife) or Matthew (the widower), and the first half felt like an endless cycle of Emma experiencing alarming events while everyone around her insisted she was imagining them. Watching her repeatedly doubt herself because no one believed her was frustrating, and I am just not in the headspace to read about a man consistently gaslighting a woman. NOPE. But then the novel did exactly what a good thriller should: it pulled the rug out from under me with a twist I never saw coming, and suddenly, I was completely invested. What started as a frustrating read transformed into a compelling story about revenge, wealth, and power, while also exploring forgiveness and second chances. I really loved the way everything unfolded, and I have to give the author credit for keeping me on my toes until the very end.

What are you reading?