Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (11.17.25)

The Last Flight by Julie Clark (★★★★★)

Print • Library • Thriller • 2020

Short synopsis: A woman escaping her abusive, high-profile husband trades plane tickets with a stranger, only to assume the stranger’s dangerous identity after the other woman’s flight crashes.

This thriller was so propulsive! I loved the setup and how these women’s stories intertwined. The book takes us through everything that led Claire to plan her escape from her husband—and how carefully she crafted her exit. After the swap, the book moves back and forth in time, as we follow Claire in the present as she steps into Eva’s life while learning what drove Eva to trade places, too. I found this book to be utterly unputdownable! It was smart, well-written, and had two protagonists who were worth rooting for. The ending was exceptional, too. Highly recommend!

The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Hoopla • YA • 2022

Short synopsis: After her brother dies by suicide and her parents are blamed for it (due to their “high standards”), a Chinese Taiwanese American teen uses her writing to fight harmful stereotypes and reclaim her family’s narrative.

This book was so heavy. The author did an excellent job weaving together so many different topics—suicide, racism, the model minority myth, grief, etc. Without getting too spoiler-y, when May’s brother dies by suicide, it rocks everyone who knew him to their core. Because he didn’t seem depressed and certainly not suicidal. He was caring, sweet, and kind. He was popular at school and a stellar athlete. The kind of teenager who had everything going for him. It was so hard to understand why he would die by suicide, but I think that’s the (scary) point. Sometimes it’s the star athletes, the ones who seem to have it all together, who are struggling so much with their mental health.

Since I have a close relationship with my brother, as May did with hers, I felt especially tender toward May. Her grief was so palpable and raw. There’s a scene where she’s listening to a song her brother left for her, and she’s crying and listening to it over and over again, and it was so brutally sad. I cried while listening to that scene. It was such a beautiful, heartwrenching depiction of grief.

Most of the novel is about the response to May’s brother’s suicide. Shortly after it happened, one of the (white) fathers in their school basically implied that the reason he died was because of the high standards Asian parents place on their kids at this school. It’s wild to think that a) someone would say that when his parents are in the same room and b) I could absolutely see that happening in today’s fractured society. May decides to pen a response that is published in a community paper, and then he responds back in the same paper, and it devolves from there.

This is a story about family and grief and loss. And it’s about racism and standing up for yourself even when it’s uncomfortable. It’s also a beautiful story about being Asian and being proud of who you are. Another one I highly recommend (for very different reasons).

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Target) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: When a former child star turned studio exec lies about securing a hit popstar for her project, she’s forced to team up with a smug old crush to fix the mess—only to confront her past and discover something real along the way.

I went on such a journey with this romance. The beginning drops you right into Jane’s world, and I initially struggled to understand what her job was or why she was so mad with this random guy named Dan. A smoother transition into the early chapters would have helped because I spent the first 25% feeling confused and unsure why I should care about the conflicts unfolding. However, as the book progressed and I settled into these characters and the tension at the heart of the novel, I liked it a whole lot more. Jane was incredibly relatable to me, especially as she navigates her own daddy issues. There’s a scene where she talks about how she realized she was never compelling enough for her dad to stay (he left when she was 5), and how that belief has reverberated in her romantic relationships, of thinking she is not interesting or compelling enough for someone to stick around. And oof, it hit me right in the feels because this is something I have spent many hours in therapy trying to work through. I’m still working through it because it is a deeply ingrained part of my psyche. There was something genuinely healing in the way the book portrays Jane’s avoidant attachment style. I feel like a lot of people won’t get it, but ugh, I do. So much. This book touched me in a way I was not expecting. <3

What’s the last book that made you cry?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (11.14.25)

The Only One Left by Riley Sager (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Thriller • 2023

Short synopsis: Kit becomes a home-health aide for the infamous Lenora Hope, who is believed to have killed her entire family (but with no evidence, she was never convicted). As Kit tends to her new patient in her crumbling mansion, she begins uncovering dark secrets about the infamous 1929 family massacre—and realizes Lenora’s version of the truth may be deadlier than it seems.

This was such a creepy thriller, and I loved every minute of it. Not only do you have a possible murderess (who had her own little poem, just like Lizzie Borden), but there’s also the setting of the mansion that is slowly crumbling into the sea. There are cracks in the wall and a top floor that tilts ever so slightly, it can make you feel a little seasick. The story of what really happened on the night of the murders is slowly revealed through typewritten words from Lenora, who is mute and fairly immobile, but has a sharp mind and an ability to type. There are so many twists and turns, red herrings everywhere, and a main character whom I quickly grew to love. The ending was wholly satisfying, too, even if I rolled my eyes a bit at one of the reveals at the end. (I think the author tried to be a bit too clever, and it didn’t work for me.)

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Literary Fiction • 2024

Short synopsis: One year after their sister’s death, three estranged siblings return to their family home in New York in this unforgettable story of grief, identity, and the complexities of family.

I had a wild experience reading this book. At first, I found it an unbelievable slog with the most unlikable characters I’ve ever met. It was our October book club book, and one of my friends asked me if it was worth reading when I was about 40% through. I said no, it wasn’t very interesting. And then I kept reading because I wanted to trust Lisa’s opinion on the book. She gave it 5 stars, and our tastes usually align, so there must have been some reason she loved it so much, right? And boy, am I glad I kept reading. The second half of the book made everything that happened in the first half suddenly make so much sense. The characters became dynamic and heartbreaking, people I just wanted to wrap in a big hug. Yes, they are unlikable, but they are also humans who are dealing with the very real grief of losing an essential part of their world—one of their siblings.

This is a book about complex family dynamics, and it was something I could wholly relate to. It was about addiction and the people behind the headlines. It’s about sobriety and recovery and the non-linear journey it takes. And it’s about grief, all-encompassing grief. At the end of the book, one of the characters says about grief, “I miss her and I miss her and I miss her … And I wait for the feeling to end because every other feeling has ended, no matter how intense, no matter how hard – but this won’t. There’s no end to the missing.” Ooh. That really hit me deeply. It cut to the core of all of my anxieties about death and grief. It’s the never-ending missing.

This is a book that I thought would be 3 stars at best, but might end up as my favorite book of the year. What a wild turn of events.

Unromance by Erin Connor (★★★★☆)

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

Short synopsis: Bestselling romance author Sawyer Greene, reeling from heartbreak and dealing with a severe case of writer’s block, plans for a one-night fling—until fate keeps throwing these strangers together in a holiday rom-com setting.

This is the second book I’ve read recently that plays with romance tropes—and features a best-selling romance author as the FMC. I’m just hoping this isn’t going to be the new trope—romances about romance tropes! In any event, this book was a much more positive reading experience than the other book I read with a similar plot. While I had a hard time connecting with the FMC, I was totally sold by the chemistry between the two main characters and loved the way romance tropes were explored in this novel. Plus, the novel took place around Christmas, which just lent a very cozy and sweet vibe to the whole novel. Is it a novel that will knock your socks off? Probably not, but it was a pleasant way to spend a few hours.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (11.8.25)

The It Girl by Ruth Ware (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Thriller • 2022

Short synopsis: Ten years after her college roommate April was murdered, Hannah discovers new evidence that forces her to question whether the killer—and her friends—were ever who she thought they were.

I’ve read a few Ruth Ware thrillers and enjoyed most of them. I picked this one up when it was recommended by a guest on Sarah’s Bookshelves Live, and overall, I like this book a lot! The only thing I didn’t love about this book was the length. At 400+ pages, it needed a good editor to come in and trim some of the unnecessary chapters. It made the first half feel slow and meandering, which is not what you want from a thriller! I also wasn’t a huge fan of Hannah. She was kinda bland and not that interesting to root for. However, I was able to overlook those flaws because of the ending! It was so good, such a surprise, and wrapped up the book in a satisfying way. (And Hannah definitely got a bit more interesting in the second half when all of the action started to happen.) All in all, a solid thriller that leans a bit more literary.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Fantasy • 2021

Short synopsis: After dying and meeting a reaper at his own funeral, Wallace is given one week at a magical tea shop to discover what it truly means to live before he must cross over.

Here’s what I know about TJ Klune’s books: They always take me a bit to get into, and I usually spend the first 50-75 pages wondering if I should abandon them. But if I keep going, I will be rewarded with a beautiful reading experience. This happened with The House in the Cerulean Sea, and happened again with this book. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of Under the Whispering Door. I didn’t like Wallace at all and didn’t quite understand this magical tea shop and what it meant for Wallace’s journey. But as I kept reading and getting to know these characters, they burrowed under my skin and I found myself rooting for them so hard! There’s also a scene in this book that had me nearly crying from laughter, which is not something I ever do while reading. It was hysterical, though, and I want to see it in visual form more than anything! This is a book about death and grief and what it means to live a good life. It’s about being a good human and caring for the people around you. It’s about how brutal life can be, how it can take people from your life before you’re ready, and that’s something I worry about on a daily basis. But there was something healing about this book. Death doesn’t have to be scary. It can actually be a beautiful crossing over from one life to the next.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams (★★★★☆)

E-book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: When Emily’s longtime rival Jack moves back to town as both her colleague and neighbor, their petty, prank-filled rivalry reignites—until their clashes start to blur the line between annoyance and attraction.

Sarah Adams is such a hit-or-miss author for me! I adored the first book in this series, hated the second, and really liked the third (which is the one I’m reviewing today). The writing in the second book was so bad, but she really brought everything together in the third book. Enemies-to-lovers is a great trope, although I could have done without all of the pranking (I feel like authors think this is a great plot point, but it always reads as super immature and unrealistic to me). I thought Emily was being pretty unfair to Jack with her pranks, especially trying to get the other people in her town to be unfriendly to him. And then she went way too far when Jack’s contractor had a sudden emergency and couldn’t complete the remodel for his fixer-upper (that was barely livable, hence the need for a contractor). It just didn’t make me that sympathetic to Emily.

However, she definitely turned things around and I could wholly relate to her vulnerabilities and fears. She’s been the glue holding her family together, but now they don’t really need her, and she feels like everyone is moving on and leaving her behind. It’s how I feel when a formerly single friend gets into a serious relationship or a friend announces a pregnancy—there’s always that fear that you’re going to be left behind because you’re now in totally different phases of life. I wanted to give Emily a great big hug for all she’s dealing with!

And once Jack and Emily got over their prank wars, I found their love story to be so fun and sweet. They were the perfect partners for each other, and I loved seeing the way they both broke down their walls and started caring for each other in deeply vulnerable ways. It was a wonderful romance, and I’m glad I gave it a chance!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (11.2.25)

Headliners by Lucy Parker (★★★★★)

E-book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2020

Short synopsis: Bitter TV rivals Sabrina and Nick must team up to save a failing morning show, but as sabotage and sparks fly, their feud starts to look a lot like falling in love.

This book was a reread for me, and it was such a delight from start to finish. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story, and I thought Lucy Parker did an incredible job bringing these two enemies together. They had such a great rapport, and it was beautiful to watch their love grow. What I love most about Lucy Parker’s romances is that she doesn’t really have a traditional dark moment or do any of those silly miscommunication tropes inherent in this genre. These are just two adults falling in love and communicating openly with each other. It’s so refreshing!

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (★★★☆☆)

E-book • Libby • Mystery • 2024

Short synopsis: Retired investigator Steve Wheeler is pulled back into action when his daughter-in-law Amy’s security job turns deadly, sending them on a high-stakes chase across the globe to outrun a killer.

This is the first book in a new series by Richard Osman, and while there were parts of it I really loved, it ultimately fell a little flat for me. However, I felt the same way about the first book in the Thursday Murder Club series, so maybe there is hope for this series yet (since I ended up loving the second book in the TMC series). I loved the cast of characters—Osman loves writing about quirky octogenarians, and I love reading about them. However, I found the ending to be a little convoluted, and I didn’t love the way everything was revealed all at once. The ending needed a bit more finessing, in my opinion. But overall, a fun read, and I’m excited for the next book in the series.

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood (★★★☆☆)

E-book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on Earth before ten days are up.

This book had such a promising setup, but it didn’t totally work for me. I think it all came down to the main character, Delphie. My god, she was insufferable. She has no friends, and every time someone tried to reach out and befriend her, she shut them down. There’s a reason she has trouble making friends—she was bullied in high school and her mom neglected her—but someone who’s as lonely as Delphie wouldn’t typically turn away every chance for connection. Her character lacked any depth or nuance, and it made it really hard to root for her.

In one review of this novel, the reviewer described this book as a “slapstick comedy,” which I fully agree with. Delphie kept getting into ridiculous situations that didn’t feel grounded in reality. She repeatedly “missed” meeting the man who is supposed to be her soulmate and keep her alive on Earth, and I have to say that she was a little problematic in the ways she tried to find him. The sweet love story at the heart of this novel kept me going, and near the end, Delphie did start showing a semblance of character growth, but it was not a romance that filled me with any ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey feelings.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (10.22.25)

Hello, friends! I really want to be back to my normal blogging schedule but, oof, this moving process is keeping me busy! I’m still living at my old place and making trips a few times a week to drop off smaller items. And this week, I’m getting some fun things delivered, like a new nightstand, an area rug for my bedroom (the whole apartment is hardwood), and a new shower curtain and bathroom accessories. It’s all coming together!

Anyway, I owe you guys some book reviews, so here are the last three books I finished in September. 🙂

Hestia Strikes a Match by Christine Grillo (★★☆☆☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: In a near-future America torn apart by a second civil war, 40-year-old Hestia Harris navigates heartbreak, family division, and the absurdity of dating during chaos.

The only reason I kept reading this book is that I was invested in the world that the author built. It felt fairly prescient, and it helped me get a glimpse of what life could be like if things take a turn here in the U.S. In this version of America (which is set in 2023), the country is split between the Union and the Confederate States, and everyday life feels like surviving a war zone—terrorist attacks are frequent, nightly curfews have been set, and getting certain goods is nearly impossible. I think the author did a great job of creating this world that didn’t feel all too dystopian, sadly.

Hestia’s husband has left her to fight for the Union, so she’s figuring out what’s next for her. Annnnnd that’s where the book lost me. It was so boring! It was mostly about Hestia going on dates with really bland dudes and getting into relationships that aren’t going to last. I just wanted her to enjoy being single for once! I found her hard to root for because I just wanted her to do something interesting, but alas, all she wanted to do with her time was date stupid men. (I mean, fair, but just not something I’d be wasting my time on.)

Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine (★★☆☆☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: A bestselling romance author flees to Alaska to reinvent herself and write her first murder mystery, but the rugged resort proprietor soon has her fearing she’s living in a rom-com plot instead.

This was a pleasant read, but I was left wanting more. It definitely read like a debut, and ugh, I just couldn’t stand Margot, the FMC. She came across as selfish, spoiled, and overly codependent on her sister. It really didn’t help that the author kept putting Margot in these really ridiculous situations—starting at the beginning when Margot arrives in Alaska and, on seeing a wild animal, jumps into the arms of the first man she sees and wraps her legs around his waist. I don’t know, that just would not be my first instinct?! It just gets even wilder from there.

The author tried to give Margot a redemption arc, but I just couldn’t buy it. What annoyed me the most was the book’s underlying message that happiness comes from being in love with the right person. Margot’s entire character arc seemed to hinge on falling in love again, which doesn’t feel like the most sustainable foundation for a new relationship. Who needs therapy when there’s a hot mountain man you can climb like a tree?! I know it’s a romance novel, so a happily ever after is part of the deal, but I just needed to see more personal growth from Margot. Instead, it seems like her codependency tactics continue on.

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Nonfiction • 2017

Short synopsis: Neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. 

Wow, this book taught me so much! Mostly, it taught me that I really need to figure out my sleep hygiene habits because getting good sleep every night is the key to all of our other biological systems working as they should. The top things I learned were:

  • Everyone needs at least 7 hours of sleep per night (even people who think they can function just fine on 5-6 hours of sleep).
  • The best thing to do for sleep hygiene is to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. (<– I’m struggling with this since I like doing the 6am workout classes at the gym. I am not waking up at 5am on the weekends!)
  • It’s okay to take naps! But they should be less than an hour and before 3pm. (I’m really trying to curb my love of those 2-3 hour naps on the weekend!)
  • When you wake up, you shouldn’t feel tired during the first few hours of the day. If you are, you’re not getting enough sleep. (Uh-oh.)
  • Teenagers have a different circadian rhythm than younger children and adults. This is why they want to stay up later and sleep later—it’s biological!

While this book did make me very sleepy while I was reading it (this happens all the time when I’m reading a dense nonfiction book!), I learned a lot and will take these lessons with me as I really work on my sleep hygiene. If you don’t want to read a 350-page book about getting better sleep, then I’ll just point you to this blog that lists the 12 tips for good sleep.

What are you reading?