Stephany Writes

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.

What are you reading?

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)
What are you reading?
Categories: Books

Reading Habits (v. 4)

I felt the urge to track my reading time last week. This is the fourth time I’ve done this exercise (I’ve done it in 2014, 2018, and 2021), and it’s super interesting to read through my old posts and recognize how much has changed in my reading life!

Monday, August 17

  • 10:10am-10:12am: tidying apartment (audiobook)
  • 10:40am-10:50am: puttering around (audiobook)
  • 1:16pm-1:23pm: playing Happy Color on my phone (audiobook)
  • 1:52pm-2:01pm: chores/puttering (audiobook)
  • 2:43pm-2:59pm: working (audiobook)
  • 3:13pm-3:31pm: more chores/playing Happy Color (audiobook)
  • 6:50pm-7:00pm: playing Happy Color while waiting for food to cook (audiobook)

Total: 1 hour, 12 minutes of audiobook

Notes: As you can clearly see here, I go in fits and starts when it comes to audiobook listening time. My longest stretch was 18 minutes, and my shortest was 2 minutes. And, on Monday, I didn’t pick up either of the print books I’m reading! It was one of those busy evenings when I chose an early bedtime over reading time.

Tuesday, August 18

  • 6:17am-6:24am, 6:30am-6:42am: Enormous Wings (30 pages)
  • 6:21pm-6:33pm: Wild Side (19 pages)
  • 9:02pm-9:20pm: Wild Side (33 pages)

Total: 49 minutes of reading and 82 pages

Notes: Everything flip-flopped on Tuesday! I didn’t listen to my audiobook at all, but instead was able to sneak in some reading time throughout the day! I started my day with reading on the couch with coffee (with a break to play my NYT games!), and then read a little while waiting for dinner to cook and before starting my evening routine.

Wednesday, August 19

  • 9:02am-9:24am, 9:26am-9:38am: morning routine (audiobook)
  • 10:34am-10:39am: playing Happy Color on my phone (audiobook)
  • 12:17pm-12:29pm: making lunch (audiobook)
  • 3:02pm-3:05pm: puttering (audiobook)
  • 3:12pm-3:32pm: working (audiobook)

Total: 1 hour, 14 minutes of audiobook

Notes: It’s super interesting to me that during the work week, I’m getting my reading time either via audiobook or physical book, but not both (at least through Wednesday). These days are pretty busy for me, so I try to get my reading in as best I can. If I can listen to my audiobook, I might be less mindful of reading my physical book. If I don’t have time for my audiobook, I’ll try to sneak in some physical reading time during the day.

Thursday, August 20

  • 8:55am-9:07am: puttering around (audiobook)
  • 9:39am-9:55am: morning routine (audiobook)
  • 10:08am-10:18am: doing my hair and makeup (audiobook)
  • 11:52am-12:00pm: waiting for a meeting to start (audiobook)
  • 3:07pm-3:16pm: chores (audiobook)
  • 4:47pm-5:00pm: tidying/working (audiobook)
  • 7:48pm-7:58pm: Enormous Wings (12 pages)
  • 9:44-9:55pm, 10:06pm-10:18pm, 10:26pm-10:34pm: Enormous Wings (39 pages)

Total: 1 hour, 59 minutes of reading time and 51 pages read with my eyes

Notes: There were a few interesting things about today! I broke up my morning routine and did it between work breaks, and then I also had a weird pocket of time when I finished one work task and had a meeting starting in a few minutes, so I used that time to play Happy Color and listen to my audiobook! Then I had less than 40 pages left in Enormous Wings, so I decided to read a few chapters at a time, then get up to clean the apartment/do my evening routine. I often break up my reading time like this, as I’m an easily distracted reader, and this way, I can get some reading and productive time in one fell swoop.

Friday, August 21

  • 6:48am-7:01am: Wild Side (22 pages)
  • 4:44pm-4:52pm: Wild Side (20 pages)
  • 5:04pm-5:41pm: Wild Side (39 pages)

Total: 58 minutes of reading time and 51 pages read

Notes: Not a super busy reading day, especially for a Friday. I did a little bit of reading in the morning (with coffee!) and then read in the late afternoon while I was making cookies for book club. I got home from book club a little after 10 p.m., talked with my mom on FaceTime, and then went to bed shortly after. And no audiobook today! A part of the reason for less audiobook listening is that a) it was a little annoying to track all my start and stop times, so I opted for more podcasts this week, and b) I’m listening to volume 8 of Emma M. Lion, and once I finish this volume, I won’t have any more new Emma books until volume 9 releases!

Saturday, August 22

  • 7:16am-7:29am, 7:53am-8:16am: Wild Side (47 pages)
  • 2:48pm-3:06pm, 3:24pm-3:40pm, 3:48pm-3:59pm, 4:11pm-4:50pm: Wild Side (142 pages)
  • 10:15pm-10:22pm, 10:38pm-10:56pm, 11:28pm-11:47pm: evening routine/chores (audiobook)

Total: 2 hours, 44 minutes of reading time and 189 pages read with my eyes

Notes: Hoo boy! This was a reading goblin type of day. I started with some reading time in the morning (with a break for my morning routine), then had an intense reading session after a nap. I really wanted to finish Wild Side on Saturday, so I stayed in bed and read in a bunch of spurts. During the breaks, I played Happy Color on my phone. I also used one of the breaks to scroll Etsy for cute holiday-themed collars for the cats. And then in the evening, I got back to my beloved Emma M. Lion while doing my evening routine.

Sunday, August 23

  • 8:07am-8:32am: phone games (audiobook)
  • 10:27am-10:47am: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (24 pages)
  • 4:39pm-4:50pm: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (15 pages)
  • 5:26pm-5:49pm: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (53 pages)

Total: 1 hour, 19 minutes of reading time and 92 pages read with my eyes

Notes: A fairly normal Sunday of reading. I hoped to read more after watching Sunday night’s episode of Big Brother, but I opted to chat with my mom and go to bed early instead!

Fun stats from this week

  • Total reading time: 10 hours, 5 minutes
  • Number of reading sessions: 42
  • Average reading time per day: 1 hour, 26 minutes
  • Format breakdown: 53% print, 47% audiobook
  • Reading pace: 92 pages/hour
  • Pages read with my eyes: 495 pages

How my reading has changed through the years

  • I’m not reading before bed anymore – This used to be a huge part of my reading life, but once I got a CPAP, it really changed this part of my life. I don’t even think it needed to, but it took me a long time to get used to prepping this part of my nighttime routine, and I started waiting until I was ready to go to sleep to get into bed. I’d read on the couch or in my reading chair before going to bed. I think I’m more of a pro at using a CPAP now, so I could probably add reading in bed back into my routine, but I haven’t yet.
  • I’m reading more in the morning – This has been a fun change! I love making a cup of coffee, then sitting down with my book and reading until I finish my coffee. It used to happen in my beloved reading chair (RIP), but now it happens on the couch. It’s a great way to start my day and make a little progress in my book! I don’t do it every morning, but it happens most mornings.
  • Weekly reading time is down from 2018 and 2021 – I’m still above my weekly reading time from 2014 by 2 hours, but I also wasn’t listening to audiobooks then. In 2018, I read for 11+ hours, and in 2021, it was 13+ hours. I think my lack of nighttime reading really affected my final tally here.

How things have stayed the same

  • Audiobook vs physical reading time is nearly identical – In 2021, the split was exactly 50/50, and in 2026, it was slightly more physical reading than audiobooks. But the percentages are very similar, which means I’m still making plenty of time for audiobooks in my reading life!
  • I read the most on the weekends – This is not a surprise to any reader with a corporate job, is it? Here’s a great stat: 57% of my physical reading happened on Saturday and Sunday. Wild! Whenever I have a “bad” reading week and don’t read as much as I want during the week, I know I’ll make up for it on the weekend. (Although this weekend was a bit of a misnomer since I didn’t have a ton of plans. I definitely don’t “catch up” as much when I have a busy weekend.)

I’ll see you guys back here in another 4-5 years to see how my reading habits have evolved!

Do you read more before bed or in the morning?

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?