Stephany Writes

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?

Categories: Books

June Reading Wrap-Up

Books Read

(6/8) The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick (★★★☆☆ 1/2 – audiobook, Hoopla, 2025) – I wish another writer had written this book because there’s an important story here, but it just fell flat for me.

(6/10) Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane (★★★☆☆ 1/2 – print, owned, indie bookstore, 2025) – I am really not a fan of a slow-burn romance, but this was like MEGA SLOW BURN. literally nothing happened between the two main characters until the last few pages.

(6/11) Good People by Patmeena Sabit (★★★★☆ – print, owned, Book of the Month, 2026) – a quick-moving novel told from a variety of perspectives about the ripple effects of one family on a community.

(6/15) The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 5 by Beth Brower (★★★★★ – audiobook, Hoopla, 2021) – I don’t know how I lived my life before I knew of Emma M. Lion and her wonderful found family.

(6/18) In the Weeds by B.K. Borison (★★☆☆☆ – e-book, Libby, 2022) – a second-chance romance with two exceedingly boring characters who had no chemistry. ymmv, but I loathed this book.

(6/18) Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson (★★★★☆ – print, owned, Amazon, 2021) – this book taught me so much about textiles and laundry as a whole, and as a bonus, the author is just a delightful human being.

(6/23) How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin (★★★☆☆ – audiobook, owned, Libby, 2025) – a lackluster mystery with some rather bland characters. I don’t think I’ll continue with this series.

(6/25) All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert (★★★★★ – print, owned, author talk, 2025) – a whirlwind book about Elizabeth Gilbert’s love affair with her best friend who is dying from cancer.

(6/26) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huong (★★★★☆ – print, owned, Book of the Month, 2018) – one of my all-time favorite romances that didn’t quite live up to the hype the second time around, but was still a fun read.

(6/29) A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (★★★★☆ – print, owned, Barnes & Noble, 2025) – this was a wonderfully written book about a witch who has lost her magic and the lengths she’ll go to get it back. (the romance was so sweet!)

(6/29) The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 6 by Beth Brower (★★★★★ – audiobook, Hoopla, 2022) – everything about Emma M. Lion makes me smile. she is extraordinary and so are these books.

Book Stats

  • # of books read: 11
  • # of pages read: 3,609
  • Genre breakdown: fiction (5), romance (2), nonfiction (2), mystery (1), fantasy (1)
  • Format breakdown: print (6), audiobook (4), ebook (1)
  • Fastest read: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping (4 days)
  • Slowest read: Cover Story, Good People, and In the Weeds (10 days)
  • Biggest reading day: June 26, 2026 (233 pages read, 2 hours, 27 minutes of audiobook listening)
  • Star average: 4

Superlatives

  • The best book I read in June: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • My favorite romance in June: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huong
  • The book I thought I would love more than I did: In the Weeds by B.K. Borison
  • The book that taught me the most: Laundry Love by Patric Richardson
  • The book with the most intriguing plot device: Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Reading Miscellaneous

Unread Shelf Project | June prompt: A book with a queer main character: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert. I was surprised to learn that I don’t have a ton of unread books on my shelves with LGBTQIA+ representation! I chose this book because it has been staring me down, and I finally wanted to see what the buzz was all about. I expected to read the first 30-40 pages and DNF it, but instead, I was captivated from the very first page and couldn’t put this book down for anything. It’s not a perfect book, and it’s definitely not for everyone, but it was the right book for me.

Where I traveled this month (in my books): I spent a lot of time in England, specifically Manchester, London, Dorset, and Lancashire. I also visited Silicon Valley and spent some time in the suburbs of Virginia and a cute Christmas tree farm in Maryland. 🙂

DNFs: One DNF this month – The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I read a few of the stories, but I just wasn’t vibing with the writing. Hopefully, I can come back to it at some point.

Something I learned from my reading: Oh my goodness, so much about laundry! My biggest takeaways were about the types of products I should be using in my laundry and how to get out very specific stains from textiles.

What’s Coming Up in July

Here are some of the books I’m going to try to get around to reading in July:

  • Go Gentle by Maria Semple – I’ve heard so many mixed reviews of this book, so I’m going into it with tempered expectations. I hope I love it, though!
  • Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe – This book has been on my TBR list for yeeeears, and I finally put myself on the waiting list for the audiobook. My hold is ready, so I’m diving in soon!
  • The Compound by Aisling Rawle – Another book with mixed reviews, especially regarding the ending. We’ll see how I feel about it!
  • No Matter What by Cara Bastone – I have read and loved two previous novels by Bastone, so let’s shoot for the trifecta!

What was the best book you read in June?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (7.6.26)

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Huang (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Romance • 2018

Short synopsis: Stella, a brilliant econometrician with Asperger’s, hires Michael, an escort, to teach her about relationships, only to discover that their practical arrangement blossoms into an unexpected love story.

This book has lived on my “favorite romances” shelf for years, and I decided it was time for a reread. What I remembered most was how this novel made me feel—how much I loved Stella and Michael and watching their relationship blossom. Thankfully, that feeling held true on this reread. While the reader I am today wouldn’t give it five stars (as you can see, I bumped it down to four), I completely understand why I loved this novel so much. Stella is such a wonderful character. She’s unapologetically herself while also understanding that the world doesn’t always appreciate how blunt and literal she can be. Michael is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and has chosen sex work to help pay his mom’s medical bills. It’s a sweet romance with a lot of heart, and the neurodivergent representation is fantastic.

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Fantasy/Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: After losing her magic, a grumpy witch joins forces with a handsome historian to restore her powers.

I adored Mandanna’s 2022 release, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, so I was excited to discover she’d already written another witchy fantasy in the same vein. (The books aren’t connected, but they exist in the same magical world.) While this one didn’t quite capture the magic (heh) of her earlier novel, I still had a wonderful time with it and am now desperate for another book from this author! The story follows Sera, who lost her magic after resurrecting her great-aunt and now runs an eccentric inn with an unforgettable cast of characters, including a talking fox and a man who works as a knight at the local medieval fair and never takes off his armor. Desperate to get her powers back, Sera’s fortunes begin to change when Luke, a magical historian, books a stay at the inn with his autistic sister and may finally be able to help her reclaim her magic. I fell in love with almost every character in this story (okay, maybe not the talking fox because she’s rather annoying) and thoroughly enjoyed stepping into this magical world.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 6 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2022

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 don’t know what I will do with myself when I finish the last book in the Emma M. Lion series. At least there are more coming? I just adore Emma and this found family she has collected. After learning that some readers are shipping Emma and Hawkes, I am watching their interactions much more closely. I’m still on Team Pierce, but I can see the appeal with Hawkes. Once again, this book made me giggle and sigh with happiness and get really, really sad when the audiobook was over. Beth Brower, you have done this world a service with this series.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.30.26)

In the Weeds by B.K. Borison (★★☆☆☆)

Print • Library • Contemporary Romance • 2022

Short synopsis: Burned out by life as a social media influencer, Evelyn returns to the last place she felt like herself—and to the farmer who isn’t sure he can trust her not to leave again.

How much did I dislike this book? When I finished the epilogue and saw there was a second epilogue, I said, “Oh hell fucking no,” and snapped my Kindle shut. I adored two other novels by this author, so I was excited to read this one, but omg, it was just so boring. The characters had zero chemistry, the plot never felt remotely believable, and the ending made me roll my eyes so hard. It had none of the charm and coziness of Lovelight Farms or the banter and spark of First Time Caller. It was just a bland romance, and if this had been my first BK Borison book, I wouldn’t have understood the hype. Skip this one, friends!

How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2025

Short synopsis: After a local fortune-teller is murdered, a woman investigating the mystery uncovers long-buried secrets that connect to her great-aunt’s decades-old search for the truth behind a deadly crash.

This is the second book in a mystery series set in a small English countryside town, the first one being How to Solve Your Own Murder. I really enjoyed that first novel and thought the second novel was… fine. It was the kind of “brain candy” book where I didn’t feel like I needed to concentrate too hard while I was listening to it. Even if I missed something, I was sure I would figure it out along the way. For me, this is a pleasant reading experience. I don’t want all my books to be like this, but every now and then, I like an uncomplicated book with likable characters and an easy-to-follow plot. It’s not a standout, but it’s a fun way to pass the time.

All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (author signing) • Nonfiction • 2025

Short synopsis: In this deeply personal memoir, Elizabeth Gilbert traces how an unexpected friendship became the love of her life—and how heartbreak ultimately led to profound self-discovery.

I did not expect this book to have such a profound effect on me. I hadn’t heard much about Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest release when I bought a ticket to her author talk in Tampa. Then I started hearing about all the controversy surrounding the book, and I found myself less excited to read it. I went to the event, fell deeply in love with Liz because she is so damn charismatic, and then put the book on my shelf to wait for the right moment. And hoo boy, was this the right moment. This memoir is about many things, but at its heart, it’s about Gilbert’s sex and love addiction and the codependency that shaped so much of her life. AKA, the very thing I’m working through in therapy right now!

This book was a revelation. Gilbert writes with her signature blend of vulnerability and insight, crafting sentences that stop you in your tracks. It’s about the joy of finding the love of your life, but also how addiction, abuse, and unimaginable grief can utterly ruin you. I won’t judge a single thought Gilbert had during her partner’s cancer battle. Much has been said about the section where she contemplates killing her partner to end her suffering. For me, I found it utterly heartbreaking and incredibly courageous for Gilbert to share these thoughts, knowing it would change the way people saw her. I’m not here to argue with you if it did change the way you view her. I’m just saying that it landed differently for me.

I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite books of 2026 because it touched me so deeply. It reminded me why I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing so much and captured the grit, complexity, and rawness of grief in such a profound way. I’m so grateful she wrote this memoir because, at this point in my life, I truly needed it.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.24.26)

Good People by Patmeena Sabit (★★★★☆)

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

Short synopsis: After a shocking tragedy shatters the carefully crafted image of a wealthy refugee family living the American dream, dark secrets emerge that force the public to question whether their success was built on a lie.

This is a super buzzy book that’s been making the rounds on blogs and bookish podcasts. I was excited to snag it as one of my Book of the Month selections! It’s a fast-moving novel that unfolds through a variety of perspectives, including family friends, acquaintances, bystanders, and journalists eager to capitalize on a sensational tragedy. The most interesting thing about this book is that we never hear directly from the family at the heart of the story. Instead, we learn about the family through the opinions and observations of everyone around them. I’m fascinated by this narrative choice because it creates a sense of distance while also highlighting how differently people can view the same person or situation. I can’t say I loved this book as much as other people (I struggle with ambiguous endings), but I appreciated what the author was trying to do. It’s a thought-provoking look at perception, reputation, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we think we know.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 5 by Beth Brower (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2021

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

Oh, my dear sweet Emma M. Lion. I love following her adventures in St. Crispian! In this series of journal entries, it seems like Emma is truly coming to terms with her grief and finding a path forward in a new life that includes new friends, new dreams, and new hopes. I adore Emma’s relationship with Young Hawkes, the vicar, and their sweet friendship. (Okay, I went down a Google rabbit hole trying to remember his title, and there are definitely a lot of people who think Emma and Hawkes are endgame. I am… stunned.) Anyway, I am both trying to go slowly and savor these books while also not wanting to listen to any other kind of audiobook because the narrator is so damn good. Maybe I’ll restart the series once I finish it until Beth Brower gives us a new book. Hm.

Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2021

Short synopsis: Patric Richardson, aka the “Laundry Evangelist,” reveals his revolutionary methods for cleaning clothes—and making laundry loads more fun.

I imagine this book could be revolutionary for people with large families or anyone who seems to need to do laundry every day. That is not my life, as I’m only doing laundry for myself. Once every two weeks, I do a load of clothes, a load of towels, and a load of sheets. Done and done!

So, there was a lot about this book that didn’t apply to me (I completely skipped over the chapter on ironing), but there were enough useful takeaways to make it worthwhile. For example, I loved the list of laundry supplies Patric recommends, and I definitely want to switch from Tide pods I use to using soap flakes/washing soda. I’m also planning to follow his advice to wash everything on warm and pick up some wool dryer balls to see if they help shorten drying times. The standout chapter, though, is the one on stains. Patric includes an extensive glossary of different stain types and the best ways to remove them. I also appreciated his chapter on caring for “dry clean only” clothing. (He’s very adamant that virtually nothing we wear or use actually needs to be dry cleaned.) What comes through most, though, is Patric’s genuine passion for textiles. He loves fabric. He loves caring for fabric. There’s something delightful about someone finding a niche passion that’s both fascinating and genuinely useful to the rest of us. Three stars for the advice I can use, five stars for his enthusiasm.

What are you reading?