Stephany Writes

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!
What are you reading?
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.

What are you reading?

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?