Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.30.26)

Inhale Exhale by Nicole MacPherson

Print • Owned (giveaway) • Contemporary Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: After decades devoted to motherhood and work, Michelle decides to enter the dating world and finds unexpected love—but as secrets surface and family tensions rise, she must confront her past to decide whether she can truly move forward.

Our friend wrote a whole-ass book!! It was such a joy to step into Michelle’s life. I was especially touched by the relationship between her and her teenage daughter, Livvy, which felt incredibly real to me. I loved their bond, and Nicole captured the nuances of the mother/daughter dynamic so well. (It reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my mom when I was a teenager. At once, I wanted her close, and within a split second, I could lash out at her for the most inane reason. Ahh, teenagers!)

I’ll be honest: I was nervous about the dating plot (so many writers do not understand the true nuances of online dating), but it turned out to be a delight and definitely made me laugh out loud at times. More than anything, I’m just in awe of Nicole for writing and completing a novel and for creating characters that feel so true to life. There’s something really special about seeing someone you know bring a story like this into the world!

(Note: I’m choosing not to rate this one since the author is a personal friend.)

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (romance bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: Dani, a directionless thirty-something, takes a leap of faith when she accepts a job in Amsterdam. There, she reunites with her ex, enters a marriage of convenience for a visa, and starts to discover herself.

This romance has a pretty silly premise (Dani marrying her ex, Wouter, so he can inherit his family’s canal house), but I was able to push past the absurdity to enjoy the story for what it is—the uncertainty of being in your thirties and not knowing what you’re supposed to do with your life. Solomon brings Amsterdam to life in such a beautiful way (she genuinely made me want to book a trip immediately!). I loved watching Dani fall for the city at the same time she’s falling back in love with her high school boyfriend. It’s a sweet, charming read. Nothing groundbreaking, but an enjoyable escape.

Open-door romance – I’d give this one 3.5 chili peppers!

Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction • 2022

Short synopsis: In Under the Skin, Linda Villarosa exposes how systemic racism—embedded in medicine, environmental policy, and everyday life—drives stark health disparities that cause Black Americans to suffer worse outcomes and shorter lives than their white counterparts.

This book is a masterpiece. Each chapter explores a different system that shapes our lives, revealing how Black people continue to suffer under systemic racism. Villarosa pairs rigorous research with powerful personal stories—from a woman whose pregnancy nearly ended in tragedy because doctors dismissed her concerns to a family grappling with a son’s addiction and its ripple effects. The result is an impactful book that shines a clear light on the profound health consequences of racism and racist policies. A must-read for anyone on an antiracism journey. (Recommendation source: Lisa.)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.23.26)

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

Print • Library • Science Fiction • 2010

Short summary: At 31, Kathy reconnects with childhood friends Ruth and Tommy and reflects on their sheltered upbringing at Hailsham, gradually confronting the disturbing truth about their past and the purpose of their lives.

I picked up this book after hearing it recommended on the Zero to Well Read podcast, where one host said it was the one book she wished everyone would read from all the books they discussed in 2025. I’ll be honest: it didn’t fully land for me. I considered abandoning it after 50 pages, but kept going because I wanted to understand the hype. I can see why people love this book so much. After finishing the book, I listened to the Zero to Well Read episode where they discussed Never Let Me Go, and it definitely gave me a different appreciation for what Ishiguro did. I just found the novel to be very slow and deeply sad. I prefer books with more plot, and this one leans heavily on character and atmosphere. It won’t be making my favorites list, but I’m still glad I finally read it.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2019

Short summary: The son of the first female U.S. president is forced to stage a fake friendship with his rival, Prince Henry of England, to avoid a political scandal—only for their relationship to turn real and threaten both a reelection campaign and international diplomacy.

This is one of my all-time favorite romances, and I hadn’t reread it since my first read in 2019. Thankfully, it holds up, and I’d still consider it an all-time favorite! I love Alex and Henry so, so much. Their banter is perfect, their rapport is so fun, and their love story is genuinely sweet in a way that still gives me heart eyes. I also love how beautifully queer this story is—Alex and Henry are supported by their parents without it being treated like a scandal, just two people who deserve to be loved and happy. And I, once again, appreciated reading an alternate reality where the U.S. elected its first female president instead of a reality TV star, which somehow feels even more poignant in these dark times. This romance is funny, heartfelt, and I want the best for Alex and Henry always.

Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2025

Short synopsis: When a mysterious influencer’s unidentifiable body surfaces, meddlesome teashop owner Vera Wong eagerly dives into the case to cure her growing boredom with a murder-free life.

This is the second book in the Vera Wong series, and I’m not tired of Vera’s schtick yet! I adore this meddlesome woman and her insistence on feeding everyone she loves. In this story, we’re introduced to a new cast of characters pulled into Vera’s orbit by way of a new murder investigation, and there is just something about Vera that brings people together. She can be exhausting at times, but ultimately, her heart is always in the right place. She truly wants the best for those around her! While this mystery didn’t feel quite as high-stakes as the first, I still loved being back in Vera’s teahouse and following along as she pieced everything together. These books are best on audio, so I highly recommend that format!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.9.26)

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (romance bookstore) • Historical Romance • 2023

Short synopsis: A prickly new baronet and the smuggler he once had a secret affair with become unwilling allies on the dangerous Romney Marsh when blackmail, family loyalty, and lingering desire force them back into each other’s lives.

I loved this queer historical romance! I picked it up as a “Blind Date with a Book” from a local romance bookstore, which is always risky, but this one was a wonderful surprise. The writing was sharp, the characters felt fully realized, and the story pulled me in right away. Gareth and Joss were so easy to root for, and I especially loved the tenderness between them. The way they cared for and protected each other was so beautiful! While this book was not a light, breezy historical romance (it could be quite tense at times), that made it feel fresh and compelling. I’m excited to read more from this author!

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Fiction • 2014

Short synopsis: When their marriage reaches a breaking point, Lauren and Ryan agree to spend a year apart with no contact—an experiment that forces Lauren to confront her beliefs about love, commitment, and what it truly means to stay married.

As a longtime fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid, After I Do is the last of her books I hadn’t read. Stories about marriages in peril aren’t usually my favorite, but I should have trusted that TJR would make me deeply care about these characters. Lauren and Ryan are wonderfully complex: likable and frustrating, flawed yet charming, and so fully realized that I genuinely didn’t know what I was hoping for by the end—reconciliation or a clean break. I especially appreciated that Lauren’s year of separation isn’t some dramatic, Eat, Pray, Love-style reinvention; instead, she continues living her ordinary life—going to work, spending time with friends and family, and slowly untangling what she believes about marriage, sex, and commitment. It’s a thoughtful, emotionally honest story about love after the spark fades, and it reminded me once again why Taylor Jenkins Reid is such an exceptional storyteller.

The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Contemporary Fiction • 2013

Synopsis: Two sisters secretly bury their parents in the backyard and spend the next year desperately maintaining the lie — until the questions start closing in.

What a strange little book! It’s not the sort of story I would normally pick up, but something about it pulled me in. Maybe it was the narrator’s terrific Scottish accent, which gave the audiobook such a strong voice and sense of place, or maybe it was simply Marnie and Nelly—two young girls trying to survive on their own after their parents die. The novel balances a surprising amount of dark humor (I laughed out loud several times) with some very heavy themes, including sexual abuse, teenage girls being preyed upon by much older men, hard drug use, and negligent parenting. Because of that, it’s a difficult book to recommend. You have to be willing to sit with some very dark material. But for me, it was a fascinating, unsettling, and ultimately very satisfying listening experience. (Recommendation source: Sarah’s Bookshelves Live.)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

February Reading Wrap-Up

Books Read

(2/7) Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (★★★★☆ – print, indie bookstore, 2024) – a sweet, heartwarming book about a bookstore owner and the people who visit her shop

(2/8) Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (★★★★☆ – e-book, Libby, 2024) – a Pride and Prejudice retelling, except in this story Elizabeth Bennet is trans and Darcy is a closeted gay man

(2/9) The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer (★★★★★ – audiobook, Libby, 2023) – a beautiful story about grief, dying, and what it means to live a good life

(2/11) Heart the Lover by Lily King (★★★★★ – print, indie bookstore, 2025) – a companion to Writers & Lovers with beautiful writing and a story I can’t stop thinking about

(2/17) Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver (★★★★★ – print, indie bookstore, 2024) – the trope of the celebrity falling in love with a regular person will never get old to me, and this one was excellent

(2/18) A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales (★★★☆☆ 1/2 – audiobook, Libby, 2023) – a locked-room mystery involving a strange murder and a woman teaming up with her nemesis to find the killer

(2/19) Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs (★★★☆☆ 1/2 – e-book, Libby, 2025) – this historical novel about the real Magdelene laundries was harrowing, and I really wish the last 100 pages had been edited down

(2/25) You Are Not a Before Picture by Alex Light (★★★☆☆ – audiobook, Spotify, 2022) – a great primer on diet culture and body acceptance

(2/27) The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by K.J. Charles (★★★★☆ – print, indie bookstore, 2023) – one of those unexpectedly great romances involving two men from different walks of life 

(2/28) After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid (★★★★★ – print, Amazon, 2013) – marriage-in-peril books are not typically my jam, but I should have never doubted that TJR would make this story compelling and difficult to put down

Book Stats

  • # of books read: 10
  • # of pages read: 3,327 pages
  • Genre breakdown: romance (3), fiction (5), mystery/thriller (1), nonfiction (1)
  • Format breakdown: print (5), audiobook (3), and ebook (2)
  • Fastest read: Heart the Lover (3 days)
  • Slowest read: Most Ardently, Wild Eyes, The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen, and After I Do (9 days)
  • Star average: 4.1

Superlatives

  • The best book I read in February: The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
  • My favorite romance in February: Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver
  • The book I didn’t expect to love as much as I did: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles
  • The book that lived up to the hype: Heart the Lover by Lily King
  • The book with the strongest sense of place: Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

Reading Miscellaneous

Unread Shelf Project | February prompt: A book by an author you’ve never read before: I chose Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop for this prompt, a book I bought in London. It’s not often that I pick up a book on a whim based on the synopsis alone, but this one called to me and had the most adorable cover. (Books it beat out: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen, Umissing by Minka Kent, and The Compound by Aisling Rawle.)

Where I traveled this month: In the United States, I visited California, New York, and Montana. I also traveled to the cutest bookstore in South Korea, a rugged mountain town in British Columbia, and many places throughout England.

DNFs: I had three DNFs in February, but one of those DNFs I will be returning to soon.

Something I learned from my reading: All about the U.S. Magdalene laundries (fashioned after the Irish Magdalene laundries), thanks to Wayward Girls. I had no idea these places even existed, and wowwwww.

What’s Coming Up in February

Here are some of the books on my upcoming TBR for this month:

What was the best book you read in February? What about your least favorite book?!

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (3.2.26)

I didn’t quite have the same level of success with these books as I did in last week’s What I’m Reading post (three 5-star reads!), but this one was a recommendation trifecta, as I read each one based on the recommendation of others!

A Most Agreeable Murder by Julia Seales (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2023

Short synopsis: When a wealthy bachelor drops dead at a ball, a young lady takes on the decidedly improper role of detective in this action-packed debut comedy of manners and murder.

This historical mystery had so much potential, and, while it didn’t fully deliver, it still worked as a fun palate cleanser. One of my favorite mystery tropes is the locked-room mystery. In this novel, that location was a ball that took place during a snowstorm, effectively trapping everyone inside while they tried to figure out the “whodunit.” The satirical tone, feisty heroine, and roguish detective give the story plenty of charm, and I loved the chemistry between Beatrice and Drake. That said, the large cast was difficult to track (especially on audio), and the mystery became a bit convoluted by the end. It definitely read like a debut in that respect. Still, I had a great time listening and was excited to find out there’s a sequel. (Recommendation source: Meredith from Currently Reading)

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Libby • Historical Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: Amid the turmoil of 1968 Buffalo, six teenage girls—condemned for being gay, pregnant, rebellious, or simply inconvenient—are confined to the secretive Good Shepherd institution, where forced labor, abuse, and moral hypocrisy test their endurance, loyalty, and will to survive.

This could have been a five-star read if not for the final 100 pages. The first 75% is absolutely gripping—visceral, heartbreaking, and rooted in an important history that deserved to be told.  It was hard to read about the abuses the girls suffered, of course, but their resilience and the bonds they forged feel raw, powerful, and unforgettable. Unfortunately, the extended present-day storyline didn’t land the same way. While I appreciate the idea of these women reconnecting and reclaiming their power in their seventies, it went on far too long and began to feel overly tidy and sentimental, smoothing over the complexity that made the earlier chapters so compelling. (I was also kinda annoyed that the only girl from their cohort who did not end up married or in a serious relationship is the one who died tragically. Tell us how you really feel about single people, Susan Wiggs!) I still wholeheartedly recommend it for the historical narrative alone, but I don’t think there’s any reason to keep reading once the present-day timeline starts. (Recommendation source: Kyria)

You Are Not a Before Picture by Alex Light (★★★☆☆)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction • 2022

Short synopsis: An empowering guide to disavowing diet culture and learning to make peace with our bodies, from body confidence and anti-diet advocate, Alex Light.

This book has earned so many rave reviews, and while it didn’t hit me in a groundbreaking way, I can absolutely see why it resonates. I suspect that if I had picked it up earlier in my own diet culture unlearning, it might have been life-changing. For me, much of the content wasn’t new, as I’ve been reading and listening to many of the experts Light references for nearly a decade now, but that doesn’t diminish its value. What I appreciated most is that Light doesn’t position herself as having all the answers. She’s honest about how hard it is to unlearn diet culture and how imperfect that process can be. Her writing is engaging and accessible, and I’d recommend this to anyone at the beginning of their journey who’s looking for a thoughtful, compassionate place to start. (Recommendation source: Elisabeth)

What are you reading?