Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.22.26)

Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

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

Short synopsis: When a Hollywood rom-com films in her small New Hampshire hometown, Ramona Riley gets a shot at the costume-design career she gave up—until she discovers the film’s star is Dylan Monroe, a notorious wild child trying to prove she’s more than a nepo baby—and Ramona’s first kiss when she was 13.

It breaks my heart that I didn’t love this book because Ashley Herring Blake has been one of my go-to authors for great sapphic romance, but this one just didn’t work for me. There was almost no tension, and Ramona being upset that Dylan didn’t immediately recognize the grown-up version of the 13-year-old girl she kissed nearly two decades ago felt rather silly. AHB is usually excellent at building romantic stakes, but with this novel, I struggled to understand why the characters fell in love at all, as they barely seemed to know each other. Once their relationship escalates, much of the novel becomes a string of sex scenes (very hot, very well-written sex scenes, but I need more substance to stay invested). And while I normally hate when people call romance novels predictable (that is the whole point!), I could see the “dark moment” and reconciliation coming from a mile away. I kept hoping for a twist or surprise that never arrived, leaving me with a boring story and boring characters I didn’t really care that much about. I’ll still try AHB’s next book, but if that one doesn’t work for me either, it might be time to take a break from her.

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Contemporary Fiction • 2022

Short synopsis: After their mother’s death, siblings Byron and Benny receive a mysterious inheritance—a traditional black cake and a recorded message—that reveals secrets and lies of their mother’s hidden past.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that it is beautifully written. The gorgeous writing immediately pulled me in, and the short chapters made it a quick, engaging read. I was way more invested in the past storyline, where Byron and Benny’s mother is explaining her childhood and how she came to America, than the present-day storyline. It’s probably because I enjoyed the mother’s character so much more than her children. While Benny and Byron are clearly complex characters, I never fully connected with either of them. By the end, the story felt somewhat drawn out, as it felt like the author was more concerned with tying up every loose end than creating a concise conclusion. It was an enjoyable read, but not one I’m rushing out to recommend.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Mystery • 1920

Short synopsis: When a wealthy matriarch is mysteriously poisoned at her country estate, Hercule Poirot must untangle a web of secrets, motives, and red herrings among her closest companions to reveal the killer.

Did you know that this is Christie’s debut novel? I didn’t realize it until a few chapters in. It’s fun glimpse at the beginning of both Christie’s career and the partnership between Hercule Poirot and Arthur Hastings. It was amusing to see Hastings still figuring out how Poirot works (their relationship is surprisingly contentious in this book!) and Poirot himself already feels wonderfully well-formed, with all the flair and confidence that make him such a delight. The mystery itself isn’t Christie at her best, but you can clearly see the early signs of the clever plotting and misdirection she would later perfect. My only real struggle was keeping track of the many characters (I ended up rereading the first chapter and creating a list of names and relationships). I loved that she managed to surprise me with the ending (which she always does!). Overall, not Christie’s strongest work, but a really enjoyable start to a legendary mystery career.
What are you reading?
Categories: Books

All About My Solo Reading Retreat

My solo reading retreat was an experiment. I’ve always wanted to do one of these weekends, ever since I heard Meredith talk about her reading retreats on the Currently Reading podcast. (She goes with friends.) But I wasn’t sure if I would love it. Would I get lonely? Would it make reading feel like a chore? Would I be bored? What if it wasn’t as fun as I envisioned it to be?

Thankfully, none of my fears came true. This was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time! I was living my very best life over these past few days, being able to burrow away in an Airbnb, read as much as I wanted (and in as many locations as I wanted!), and take breaks here and there to do things like nap or work on my novel or read blogs. It was sensational, and I’m already thinking about when I can do my next reading retreat!

Let’s take a step back, though. I want to talk first about the Airbnb and specifically why I chose it.

Finding the perfect Airbnb for a reading weekend

I had very specific parameters for the Airbnb:

  • I wanted it to be at least an hour away from where I lived, so it felt like a “getaway”
  • I wanted it to be a house in a safe location
  • I wanted there to be plenty of places to sit—ideally, there would be a cozy couch or sectional in the living room, a sitting area, and a patio
  • I wanted a full kitchen (I saw way too many Airbnbs with these teeny-tiny fridges, no thank you!)
  • I wanted to have separate rooms so I could wander to different locations throughout the day without feeling cramped
  • I didn’t want to pay over $500

I had quite a few Airbnbs to choose from based on these parameters, and it took me some time to finally decide which one to stay at. In the end, I chose a two-bedroom house in North Port, which is about an hour south of me. The house had a great kitchen, two big bedrooms, and soooo many places to sit. There were two couches, two dining tables, and two beds in the house alone. Then, there’s a large sunroom with another couch and multiple chairs. Then, there’s a screened-in porch with yet another couch, more chairs, and a patio table. And finally, there were loungers in the backyard.

My plan for the weekend

I didn’t want to set myself up for failure with this retreat, so I didn’t have a strict reading schedule. Rather, I let the reading happen naturally over the weekend. And I was curious how much reading I would get done if I didn’t have a schedule for it. I set three goals, like all you crazy runners do for your races:

Goal A: Read for a total of 24 hours

Goal B: Finish 5 books

Goal C: Enjoy the shit out of this weekend of no plans/responsibilities

I’m happy to report that I hit my B goal! While I did not manage 24 hours of reading time, I did finish five whole books with a grand total of 18.75 reading hours.

Curating my reading plan

Most things about my reading life are slightly chaotic, and my reading plan for this retreat was no different. When it was time for a reading block, here’s what I would do:

  • Use an online spinning wheel to choose the book I was going to read during that reading block (I had four different books going at one time: a thriller, a romance, a fiction novel, and a science fiction book)
  • Choose a spot in the house for this reading block – did I want to lounge inside on the couch, take my book to the backyard, or relax in the sunroom?
  • Open my Toggl app and start a timer, labeling it with the book I was reading, and then read silently for an hour

Sometimes, I would pull up an ASMR room on my phone to add a little noise to the quiet house, but most times, I enjoyed the silence. As someone who often reads in spurts, it was good for me to really sit down with a book for a full hour and not let myself be drawn in to other things on my phone.

Here’s how things broke down each day:

Thursday

  • Total reading time: 3 hours
  • Total pages read: 271
  • Books read: The Appeal and Dungeon Crawler Carl
  • Places read: Living room couch, primary room bed

Friday

  • Total reading time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
  • Total pages read: 742 pages
  • Books read: First-Time Caller, Yesteryear, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and The Appeal
  • Places read: patio couch, chair in the sunroom, backyard lounger, secondary room bed, living room couch, sunroom couch, primary room bed
  • Naps taken: 1

Saturday

  • Total reading time: 8 hours, 15 minutes
  • Total pages read: 782 pages
  • Books read: Best Offer Wins, Yesteryear, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and First-Time Caller
  • Places read: patio table, primary room bed, sunroom couch, secondary room bed, living room couch, dining room table
  • Naps taken: 1

Overall totals

  • Total reading time: 18.75 hours
  • Total pages read: 1,795 pages
  • Total books finished: 5

My final thoughts

This reading retreat was everything I wanted it to be. It was relaxing and fun and maybe slightly unhinged with the amount of reading I was able to get done. I think two full days of reading time was perfect. I think I would have started to have some cabin fever if I had done a third full day (when booking the Airbnb, I debated between three nights and four nights). Next time, I might opt for a place that has a pool (maybe a condo, although space can be limited) so I could switch things up a bit more. I couldn’t be outside for very long because there was no shade in the backyard and it was in the upper 80s (even the sunroom/patio got stuffy near midday).

I’m really glad I took this trip! The experiment was a success. I will definitely do a reading retreat like this annually because it was so good for my soul. Could I have done something similar at home? Of course. But there is truly something about being away from my house where I’m not tempted to tackle any cleaning chores or to-dos. I had booked this place for reading, and reading is what I did.

Do you have any questions about my reading retreat? Would you ever want to do something like this?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.15.26)

Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: A decade after their explosive on-screen chemistry—and off-screen hatred—turned a small film into a cult classic, two rival actors are forced to reunite for the sequel and revive their fake romance for the cameras, only to discover their long-buried feelings might not be entirely fictional.

I really liked this romance! At first, the back-and-forth timeline (it switched between the present day and when the characters first met) was a little frustrating because I was much more engaged with the past storyline. But as we spent more time with the present-day chapters, I found myself falling more and more in love with Cynthie and Jack. I especially enjoyed seeing how they had matured and how their relationship evolved over time. I also appreciated what Laura Wood had to say about fame, the experience of being a woman in Hollywood, and the importance of female friendship. Overall, it was a sweet romance. Maybe a little forgettable (I don’t think this will make my favorites list at the end of the year), but sometimes, you just need a light-hearted, enjoyable story, and that’s exactly what this was.

Unmissing by Minka Kent (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Thriller • 2022

Short synopsis: After her husband’s first wife returns alive ten years after being presumed dead, Merritt’s attempts to help her rebuild unravel into a chilling web of lies, secrets, and dangerous truths.

This was a solid but ultimately forgettable thriller. While the story had plenty of twists and turns that genuinely surprised me, the writing itself wasn’t particularly strong, I found the dialogue to be somewhat stilted, and some parts of the plot didn’t feel believable. I also struggled to connect with the characters, as their motivations and personalities sometimes felt inconsistent. I wanted the author to dig a little deeper into her characters and make me care a little more for them. Just… meh.

Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Fiction • 2026

Short synopsis: In 1977 Rochester, a bored housewife’s affair with a neighbor ignites a scandal that shatters her family. Decades later, Clara, the oldest daughter, must confront the lingering fallout when she returns home and faces a life-altering choice.

Sweeney has definitely leveled up with this book. It was excellent and the kind of audiobook I didn’t want to stop listening to. I also appreciated that this novel didn’t have the typical alternating-chapters trope; instead, the story unfolds in three distinct sections set in 1977, 1994, and 1998. The first and third parts were the most engaging for me, while the middle section—though crucial to the story—had a bit of a “mushy middle” feel. Still, the novel is beautifully written, with complex characters I couldn’t help but root for, even when they were making terrible decisions. Sweeney brings so much tenderness to every thread of the story: the affair and the weight it carries for Clara’s mother, Clara’s response to it, and the way everything ultimately comes together. The ending was beautiful and actually made me tear up, even though I was finishing the audiobook on a walk. Overall, it’s an impressive novel from Sweeney and one that’s quickly climbing my favorites list.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

A Sunday Afternoon Reading Crawl

The idea of a reading crawl did not come to us naturally. We saw a Reel on Instagram almost a year ago at this point, and we all squealed with excitement at the idea of doing our own reading crawl. It took us a long time to get our act together to make this happen, choose the spots, and pick a date, but we finally made it happen. In the end, there were three of us on the reading crawl, and it might have been one of my favorite days in a long, long time!

We started our day with breakfast at Central Diner St. Pete, apparently touted as “best breakfast in St. Pete.” Unfortunately, I’m going to call bullshit on that one. I ordered an egg sandwich on a bagel and my food was so bland. The bagel was just a plain bagel, and it tasted a little stale. I was pretty disappointed, but hey, you can’t win ’em all! At least I had great company and we chit-chatted for about an hour, catching up on life and discussing the books we brought and our plans for the reading crawl.

Then, it was time for our first stop!

Stop #1: The Book Lounge

We got to The Book Lounge a few minutes before they opened, which meant we got a prime reading spot on a set of couches. We ordered coffee (I ordered an iced vanilla latte and got a blueberry muffin since my breakfast did not tide me over), and once our drinks arrived, I set a timer for an hour, and we settled in to read!

Our books were The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas (Lynn), How to Read a Book by Monica Wood (Kim), and The Love Haters by Katherine Center (me). My final tally at the end of this reading stop was 70 pages!

Once our timer was up, we strolled around the bookstore for a bit but… and I know this is going to come as a shock… I didn’t really find any books I wanted to buy. BLASPHEMY! My friends didn’t find anything, either, so we left empty-handed.

Stop #2: Book + Bottle

Originally, we weren’t going to go to Book + Bottle because they were having a wine event. However, at closer inspection, we discovered the event was outside, which meant the inside was free rein for us! We walked the short distance to Book + Bottle, found a spot inside, and ordered waters. Lynn ordered wine and also some crackers and hummus for our table. (The hummus was incredible!) I tried to order some macarons for us, but they were sold out. Wah!

We settled at a table and set another hour-long timer. Lynn and I continued reading our books while Kim opted to continue with another book she had been reading. (Actually, Kim brought two books and we played a fun game where Lynn or I would reach into her tote and pluck out the first thing our hands touched! For me, it was How to Read a Book and for Lynn, it was Kim’s Kindle. Ha!) So Kim settled in with Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman. (We’re reading the first book in the series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, for book club this month! Kim zoomed through the first book and is already on the second one.)

It was another solid reading hour for me! I got through another 70 pages, and was fully immersed in this fun romance. Katherine Center is more miss than hit for me these days, but I’m glad I’m giving this one a try because it’s so good. (I’m picturing the LOML, David Corenswet, as hunky Hutch, and that’s making this romance even better for me.)

Also, there was the cutest service dog hanging out next to us. Look at that grin!

After our reading time, we strolled through the bookstore. Book + Bottle has a very curated selection (maybe 8-10 bookshelves total?), but I almost always find a gem in the stacks. This time around, I picked up a book that I’ve never heard of but with a title and a cover like this, how could I resist?!

Stop #3: Black Crow Coffee

(I need you guys to know that I had “live” turned on for these photos and they do NOT disappoint.)

Our final stop of the day was Tombolo Books and Black Crow Coffee (Jenny – is this sounding familiar to you? Ha!). Getting there was a nightmare because downtown parking on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon was atrocious. I did two loops, paralleled parked LIKE A BOSS in one space, then decided that space might not be a place I could park, and as I was trying to get out, I almost got T-boned by a bus that came zooming by. Good times! I eventually had some parking spot serendipity, as I turned on one road just as someone was pulling out of a space. Hooray!

We strolled around Tombolo for a bit, and I got the DELIGHT OF MY LIFE when I found out that Caro Claire Burke of Yesteryear and Diabolical Lies fame is coming to my city in May! AHHHHH! I couldn’t sign up for the event fast enough, and my book event pal, Lynn, was also free that night! I’m trying to figure out how much I should fangirl all over her when I see her. I literally did a happy dance in the bookstore when I found out!

Anyway, after my moment of delight, I calmed down enough to check out their stacks and found two books that had to come home with me: one from a fave romance author that has a cover to die for and the other from a cult classic in our blogging community that is finally in paperback. Afterwards, we headed next door to Black Crow Coffee for the third and final stop on our reading crawl.

We ordered coffee (decaf for the normal people, but I drank a full caffeinated peppermint mocha at 3pm and slept like a baby that night) and then found a secluded spot to do more reading. Kim had to leave about 15 minutes after we sat down, but Lynn and I managed to sneak in another 20 minutes of reading time before the coffee shop closed. My final tally for the day was 180 pages—I think I could have finished The Love Haters if I had a full hour-long session! It’s under 300 pages (bless you, Katherine Center) and I was zipping through the pages!

Final Thoughts

This was my ideal day, I think, and it made me so excited for my upcoming solo reading retreat! I get to do this for two-and-a-half days straight in just a few days. AHHH! We have plans to do this reading crawl quarterly, and switch up our locations every time. There are so many great bookstores and coffee shops and other places to visit in our area, and it’s a great way to support our local businesses, too. We’re considering jumping over to Tampa for our next reading crawl.

I had the best time, and it was a great mix of being social and being quiet and sucked into my book. We started around 10 a.m. with breakfast and I didn’t leave downtown until 4 p.m.! That’s a long day, especially moving around so much, but I truly didn’t feel exhausted at the end of it. I think that’s because a) I didn’t have to be “on” the whole time and b) I got to interact with so many bookish places and people, which is always my happy place.

I can’t wait for our next reading crawl!

Does a reading crawl like this sound exciting or exhausting to you?!

Categories: Books

March Reading Wrap-Up

Books Read

(3/6) The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell (★★★★☆ – audiobook, Hoopla, 2013) – a surprisingly heartwarming book about two girls who find their parents dead and bury them in their backyard

(3/10) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (★★☆☆☆ 1/2 – print, library, 2010) – this novel just wasn’t for me, but I can understand why the sparse writing and original plot work for some people

(3/12) Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (★★★★★ – print, indie bookstore, 2019) – a reread about the son of the U.S. president and the prince of England falling in love

(3/15) Vera Wong’s Guide for Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (★★★★☆ – audiobook, Libby, 2025) – a super fun mystery (second in the series) about a very nosy teashop owner who is trying to solve a mysterious death

(3/16) Inhale Exhale by Nicole MacPherson (not rated – print, giveaway, 2026) – what a delight to read a book written by someone I know – so much fun

(3/18) What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (★★★★☆ – print, indie bookstore, 2025) – this book made me fall in love with Amsterdam, and I love the themes of self-discovery and standing on your own two feet

(3/24) Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa (★★★★★ – audiobook, Spotify, 2022) – an incredibly important book about the effects of systemic racism on the health and well-being of people of color

(3/25) The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (★★★★★ – print, indie bookstore, 2022) – the sweetest magical story about a witch who is hired to help three young witches understand their power

(3/27) Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (★★★☆☆ – print, indie bookstore, 2025) – a sprawling novel about two people who meet in Shanghai in their youth and reconnect in their seventies

(3/31) Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford (★★★☆☆ – audiobook, Libby, 2024) – a sweet, heartwarming novel about a 77-year-old woman who is cast on a baking show and the secret that threatens to be exposed

(3/31) Let’s Make a Scene by Laura Wood (★★★☆☆ – e-book, Libby, 2025) – second-chance romance and enemies-to-lovers collide in this romance that takes place on a movie set

(3/31) Unmissing by Minka Kent (★★★☆☆ – print, Amazon, 2025) – a winding psychological suspense novel about a woman who is found alive after 10 years and tries to integrate back into her husband’s life, who has since moved on

Book Stats

  • # of books read: 12
  • # of pages read: 4,179 pages
  • Genre breakdown: fiction (4), romance (3), mystery/thriller (2), science fiction/fantasy (2), nonfiction (1)
  • Format breakdown: print (7), audiobook (4), and ebook (1)
  • Fastest read: The Death of Bees and Unmissing (4 days)
  • Slowest read: Red, White & Royal Blue (13 days)
  • Star average: 3.9

Superlatives

  • The best book I read in March: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
  • My favorite romance in March: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
  • The book I thought I would love more than I did: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
  • The book with the best narrator: The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell
  • The book I was most excited to read: Inhale Exhale by Nicole MacPherson

Reading Miscellaneous

Unread Shelf Project | March prompt: A book with a one-word title: I went with Homeseeking, which I bought at The Book Lounge during my bookstore spree with Jenny in January. I didn’t love it, but I’m glad I read it, if that makes sense. (Books it beat out: Yellowface, Sipsworth, and Penitence.)

Where I traveled this month: In the United States, I visited California, Washington DC, and Oregon. I also traveled to Shanghai, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. I spent some time in moody Edinburgh, Scotland, snowy Calgary, and beautiful Amsterdam. And, as always, I visited many places throughout the UK.

DNFs: I had zero DNFs in March!

Something I learned from my reading: I learned about the Chinese Civil War and the Japanese occupation of China in the 1930s, which is something that was never covered in my history classes. I don’t feel as if I got enough historical context in Homeseeking about this conflict, though, and I’m eager to learn more!

What’s Coming Up in April

Want to know what I’m bringing on my reading retreat? Sure you do! I’m packing a wide selection so I have plenty to choose from:

  • Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – This book is getting so much buzz! I already love Caro from her podcast, Diabolical Lies, and this book sounds insanely good. It’s definitely at the top of my list!
  • First-Time Caller by BK Borison – I loved my first BK Borison book, and I have heard so many rave reviews about this romance. I can’t wait to read it!
  • The Appeal by Janice Hallett – I bought this book in London, and it’s been sitting on my shelf, just waiting for the right time to be read.
  • Wild Side by Elsie Silver – Another romance from a fave author! She hasn’t let me down yet, so I hope the same holds true for the third book in her Rose Hill series.
  • Kin by Tayari Jones – Another super buzzy book that I’m looking forward to reading. I’m worried it might be a bit too literary for my tastes, but I’m going to give it a try.

What was the best book you read in March?