what i’m reading

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.26.26)

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Spotify • Thriller • 2026

Short synopsis: When a troubled woman impersonates a wealthy socialite for one night so they can each uncover the dangerous secrets surrounding the socialite’s husband, the plan spirals into chaos after he’s found murdered and only one of them has an alibi.

I had such a good time with this thriller! Aubrey and Camille were fantastic main characters, and I loved their strange partnership. Thrillers don’t always give you characters you genuinely want to root for, but I was fully invested in both of them. The story had lots of great twists, and I never felt completely sure who to trust or whether I was dealing with an unreliable narrator. (The author played with the “unreliable narrator” trope in such an interesting way!) The novel dealt with some heavy themes, including domestic abuse, grief, and corruption, in the midst of trying to find out who murdered Camille’s husband, and it did it all without slowing down the story. The ending was a standout for me, tying back to the core of the story in such a unique, fascinating way. I loved it!

This Story May Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Thriller • 2026

Short synopsis: When a beloved podcast host discovers his co-host and her husband missing alongside a cryptic memoir draft, he must unravel their hidden secrets while evading suspicion himself before their real-life survival story turns deadly.

I had such a weird reading experience with this book because I genuinely couldn’t decide if it was genius or completely ridiculous. (I’m leaning towards genius.) I found myself staring into space after finishing it, trying to process what I’d read. The writing really stood out to me, especially how distinct Joy’s memoir excerpts felt from the rest of the book. The excerpts were noticeably less polished and a little more pedestrian, which was likely an intentional contrast that worked really well for me. I also loved Benny and Joy as main characters; Benny, in particular, was lovable and easy to root for, while Joy balanced him out perfectly. Joy’s severe narcolepsy added another layer that made the story feel unique, and I thought the author did a great job exploring how deeply a condition like that can shape someone’s life. While the podcast angle is starting to feel a bit overdone in thrillers, this one managed to feel fresh enough to stand out, and the ending totally caught me off guard! Overall, it felt like something new for the genre, and I think this is a book I can safely recommend to thriller lovers.

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (from a friend) • Contemporary Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: After inheriting the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the cozy small town of Dream Harbor, optimistic city girl Jeanie clashes with grumpy local farmer Logan—only to find unexpected sparks brewing between them.

This book felt like it was written by AI. There was just something… disingenuous about it? None of the characters felt real, and neither did the town of Dream Harbor. (Please tell me how a cafe and a bakery can be sustainable in a small town.) It all felt a little too cutesy and unrealistic. And maybe that was the point? Maybe Laurie Gilmore just wanted to create a town that would never exist in the real world, and that’s okay. It just didn’t work for me. I wanted more realness from the characters, and I really wanted to feel the spark between Jeanie and Logan, but the whole book left me feeling deflated. Somehow, I have more books in this series on my bookshelf (gifted to me), so I’ll probably try to read another one to see if the writing improves. But this book has a 3.36 rating on Goodreads, and I can definitely understand why.

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.18.26)

Kin by Tayari Jones (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Target) • Historical Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: In the wake of their mothers’ absences, two best friends from small-town Louisiana follow dramatically different paths—one into privilege and power, the other into a dangerous search for belonging that could cost her everything.

This book was a masterclass. The writing was so beautiful that I kept stopping to reread certain lines because they took my breath away. (Something that has never happened to me before!) Jones did such an incredible job immersing me in the world of Niecy and Annie, and there was such a strong sense of place, no matter where the girls were living—their hometown in Louisiana, Spelman College, or a farm being run as a brothel. The characterization was especially strong, and even when the characters frustrated me or made choices I didn’t love, I was still totally invested in them because Niecy and Annie felt so real and fully formed. That said, there is just something holding this back from being a 5-star read for me. I can’t even fully explain what it was, just that I felt like something was missing for me emotionally. Still, it was an exceptional read, with so much to say about family, sisterhood, and being a Black woman in the Jim Crow South.

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: When a burned-out chef returns to her Kentucky hometown to help open a farm-to-table restaurant with her brother’s best friend, long-buried feelings, family tension, and second chances force them both to decide whether love is worth the risk.

Sarah Adams is such a hit-or-miss author for me, and this one somehow managed to be both at the same time. I love a good brother’s best friend/longtime crush romance, and this book definitely delivered on that front, but my biggest issue was Madison. While I related to the whole “leave your hometown chasing something bigger only to realize you miss home” feeling (that was my college experience!), and I appreciated how the book explored Madison’s struggles with anxiety after working under a toxic chef in her previous restaurant job, there was something about her personality that never fully clicked for me. She didn’t feel like a real person, and I could never get a grasp on her character. I also struggle with Sarah Adams’ writing, since it tends to lean a little too cheesy and cutesy. Overall, it was a fine romance and I’m glad I finished out this series, but I don’t know if it’s a series I would wholly recommend.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 3 by Beth Brower (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2020

Short synopsis: The third volume of Emma’s journals follows our delightful protagonist as she teams up with her cousin Archibald for the annual Julius Caesar scavenger hunt.

This is the first full-length novel of the Emma M. Lion series, and I had the best time with my new BFF. The scavenger hunt was hysterical and Emma’s insights into this weird world were a delight to read. There is a romance brewing in Emma’s world, and it gives me butterflies! I continue to adore this series and while I’m going to take a little break from it to listen to a few other audiobooks in my queue, I’m so looking forward to picking it back up soon!

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.11.26)

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (★★★★☆)

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

Short synopsis: After losing 11 bidding wars, Margo becomes dangerously obsessed with securing her dream home before it hits the market—crossing boundaries that threaten to unravel her job, her marriage, and her life.

Unhinged is the only way to describe this book. I devoured it in a single day during my reading retreat. I have never gone through the house-buying process (nor ever wanted to own a home in the obsessive way Margo does), but I’m going to assume some people may find Margo relatable (at least in the beginning), especially those trying to buy a house in a competitive market. However, as the book progresses, Margo becomes increasingly unhinged, unlikable, and almost impossible to root for. And yet, there’s something compelling about the extreme lengths she’ll go to get her dream home. This book was full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, so if you’re looking for a “WTF did I just read?” experience, this is the book for you!

Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2011

Short synopsis: Lilah Young never expected a passing-through pilot like Brady Miller to upend her carefully guarded instincts, but their undeniable pull challenges both her roots and his resistance to staying.

This was a reread for me (I first read it in 2016), and revisiting a 2011 romance in 2026 is… interesting. And while it may not be fair to judge this book through a modern lens, some of Brady’s behavior is a bit misogynistic, and Lilah could be a bit of a pushover at times. That said, this book is a super quick, uncomplicated read (I finished it in about 24 hours post–reading retreat), and while it lacks the emotional depth you see in a lot of contemporary romances today, it’s still an easy story that delivers a good time.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vols 1 and 2 by Beth Brower (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2020

Short synopsis: In 1883 London, Emma M. Lion chronicles her life at Lapis Lazuli House alongside her eccentric cousin, formidable aunt, and a cast of delightfully odd neighbors.
Everyone on Goodreads seems to be reading this series, so I finally had to give it a try, and I was not disappointed. The first two books in the series are written as novellas (under 150 pages), and the audio for both is under 8 hours. Since I listened to them back-to-back, I thought I would review them as one unit. These novellas are incredibly fun, with a lovable heroine in Emma. I want to be her friend! I’m so glad I have six more books in this series to read and that the author is planning on writing more. I want to stay in Emma’s charming world forever and ever.

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.4.26)

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: After Lucie’s daughter calls into Aiden’s romance hotline to talk about her mom’s lack of a dating life, the call goes viral. So, Aiden brings Lucie onto his show to help her find love. Sparks fly in the recording booth, though, between Aiden and Lucie, and Lucie has to decide if she’s ready to take a chance on love again.

This romance was adorable, sexy, and so much fun to read. Aiden and Lucie’s rapport was incredibly charming, and I couldn’t get enough of them. During the call that went viral, Lucie and Aiden had a long conversation about dating, and I felt so seen by her comments! These days, it often feels like nobody wants to put in the effort, and sometimes, you just want someone willing to go out of their way to make you happy. That’s harder than it seems, and that’s why I love being single. Less disappointment! Muahaha.

Anyway, back to the book. There was so much to love about this romance! There’s an element of found family, a touch of meddlesome friends, and just enough emotional depth. I especially loved how Aiden cared for Lucie, and how she slowly worked her way into his heart when romance was the last thing he wanted. It’s a sweet, heartfelt novel, and B.K. Borison is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (★★★★★)

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

Short synopsis: A tradwife, who sells her pioneer lifestyle of raw milk and farm-fresh eggs to her millions of social media followers, suddenly awakens cold, filthy, and terrified in the brutal reality of 1805—where she must unravel whether this living nightmare is an elaborate hoax, a twisted reality show, or something far more sinister.

This was one of my most-anticipated books of 2026! Not only was it written by one of my favorite podcasters, but the premise was immediately enticing. A tradwife forced actually to live the life she promotes on social media? Yes, please! I am so happy to report that this book totally lived up to the hype for me. The writing is sharp and immersive, and the ending genuinely shocked me. I’m especially impressed that this is Burke’s debut. It’s tightly plotted, with rich, complex characters who left me with all kinds of conflicting feelings. I can see this book being divisive, particularly when it comes to Natalie’s views on marriage, womanhood, and motherhood, but that’s exactly what made it so compelling to me. Her perspective is fascinating to unpack and far more interesting than a safer narrative would have been. This is the kind of book you immediately want to discuss with everyone after finishing, and I’m so excited I get to attend the author’s book signing next week. (Let’s hope I don’t fangirl too hard!)

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (★★★☆☆)

E-Book • Libby • Science Fiction • 2020

Short synopsis: After an alien invasion turns Earth into a deadly, galaxy-wide reality game show, Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s pampered show cat, Princess Donut, must navigate a trap-filled dungeon full of monsters, magic, and chaos just to survive the next level.

I never would’ve picked this up on my own, but it was chosen as our April book club selection. And then I started hearing about this book everywhere. It was mentioned on multiple podcasts, I saw that a friend was reading it, and I started hearing about a possible TV series. It was wild. Originally, I was going to sit this one out because this is not my kind of book. But other friends in book club were loving it, so I decided to stop being a big baby and give it a try. My verdict? Ehh. I definitely understand why the series is so popular, but it was just not for me. And that’s mostly due to the endless fight scenes, which I found myself skimming more and more. The only saving grace in this book is Princess Donut. She single-handedly made the book entertaining whenever she was on the page (she becomes a talking cat due to a magical potion, making her character even more delightful). I won’t continue with the series, but hey, at least I know what all the hype is about now!

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Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.27.26)

How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2024

Short synopsis: After a fortune-teller predicts her murder in 1965, Frances Adams spends her life investigating the crime before it happens. Decades later, the prophecy comes true and Frances’s great-niece Annie arrives at her estate to unravel the mystery.

This was a fun, easy-to-read mystery that works well as a palate cleanser. The story alternates between Frances’s diary entries from the late 1960s and the present-day plot, where Annie, a struggling mystery writer, must solve her great-aunt’s murder to inherit her estate. The characters are engaging, and I loved the heartfelt mother/daughter and friendship dynamics. Plus, there’s a gruff but attractive detective who helps Annie, lending a tiny bit of romance to the story. I did not suspect the “whodunit,” either, so it was a clever ending from my perspective!

The Love Haters by Katherine Center (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: Katie, a video producer, lands a dream assignment in Key West, only to get tangled in lies, family tension, and unexpected romance with a guarded Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch.

I should have trusted myself. Katherine Center’s books don’t usually work for me, but after hearing so many rave reviews, I wanted to give this romance the chance to change my mind. Alas, it was not to be. This romance started strong, and I was so captivated by Katie and Hutch. They had sizzling chemistry from their first interaction! I was fully prepared to give this book a rave review… until the story took a sharp turn a little more than halfway through and completely lost me. Suddenly, we had villainous characters with no nuance, a bizarre subplot, and an ending that was so unbelievable, I wanted to throw the book across the room.

A major part of this book is Katie dealing with body image issues, including elements that could be triggering for those with ED histories. I didn’t feel these themes were handled with the care or depth they deserved. More than anything, I didn’t believe in Katie’s emotional journey. Her shift toward self-acceptance felt rushed and surface-level, and I needed more complexity and development to make it feel earned. All in all, this wasn’t the right book for me, and I’m officially jumping off the Katherine Center train.

The Appeal by Janice Hallett (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Mystery • 2021

Short synopsis: When a small-town theatre troupe rallies to fund a child’s experimental cancer treatment, simmering doubts and hidden motives erupt into a shocking dress rehearsal death, leaving two young lawyers to unravel a killer lurking in plain sight.

I had a lot of fun reading this book! It’s one of those mixed-media mysteries told through emails, text messages, police interview transcripts, and academic papers, which makes for a really engaging reading experience. I didn’t find it too hard to keep up with the cast of characters, as the author does a great job of giving each character a distinct voice and a believable motive for the murder. There were times when I thought, “People don’t email like this. This is madness!” and times when I was delighted by how she captured both the drama and absurdity of a close-knit community. It was also fun seeing the lawyers’ notes as they essentially read alongside me and we reached similar realizations in real time. Overall, it’s a clever, interactive mystery that invites you to play along. It was my first Janice Hallett book, and it definitely won’t be my last.

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