Stephany Writes

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?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.15.25)

Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction • 2025

Short synopsis: One of the hottest stand-ups working today, Nate Bargatze brings his everyman comedy to the page in this hilarious collection of personal stories, opinions, and confessions.

I was so excited to listen to this book! Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite stand-up comedians right now (I traveled to New Orleans just to see him!), and I’ve rewatched some of his SNL sketches more times than I can count. But… it breaks my heart to say that this book made me like Nate a little less. Eeks! The thesis of this book is that Nate is just a “dumb country boy” who somehow stumbled into success… and he really leaned into that persona. But I don’t buy it. You don’t become one of the most popular stand-up comedians, selling out arenas, without being smart and skilled. I wanted more from Nate. I wanted to learn more about how he built his career from struggling comic to household name. I wanted to learn about his time on SNL and what it was like to host the show. I just wanted him to dig deeper, but instead, we got a lot of surface-level essays about his childhood and the early days of his comedy career. Don’t get me wrong: This book was funny and made me laugh out loud multiple times. I loved learning more about his childhood and siblings, and it was really sweet to get insight into his close relationship with his daughter. It just left me wanting more.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Historical Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: When Beth’s brother-in-law kills a dog, the act brings Gabriel Wolfe—the man who once broke her heart—back into her life, stirring old grief, buried secrets, and village tensions. As past and present collide, Beth must choose between the life she’s built with her husband and the woman she once was.

Oh, this book. It started off so strong! I was immediately drawn into Beth’s world with the first two sentences: “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” This story takes you back and forth between three timelines: 1955, when Beth first fell in love with Gabriel; 1968, when she’s married to Frank and living as a farmer’s wife; and 1969, during the trial for the farmer’s murder. Only you don’t know which farmer was killed or who is on trial. It all unfolds for you little by little, and I loved that plot device. It was so clever!

But oh my god, Beth was infuriating. I can’t remember the last time I hated a character this much. She made the stupidest decisions that made me want to throw the book across the room. And, look, it’s fine when characters make stupid decisions, but I need them to wrestle with the fallout and show some kind of growth. With Beth, I never saw that. And then there were a few twists thrown in at the end that made me roll my eyes. All I can say is… Birchie was right. (Recommendation source: Sarah’s Book Shelves Live)

Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Fiction • 2024

Short synopsis: Newly divorced Celeste agrees to pose as John’s fake girlfriend, only to discover he really just needs a partner for a high-stakes bird-watching contest. As their partnership in the Arizona wilderness turns into something more, they must decide if their fling will fly beyond the competition.

This book was fun and lighthearted. It was exactly what I needed! I loved that the protagonists in this romance were older (early 40s, with Celeste preparing to send her daughter off to college), which felt refreshing for a romance. Celeste’s journey of stepping out on her own after years of marriage to a man who didn’t appreciate her was empowering. However, at times, this book very much reads like a debut (which it is). From chapters that only featured interior monologues that didn’t move the plot along to a villainous ex-girlfriend who had no nuance to her (why did John stay with her for so long?!), there were times when I was taken out of the story. Still, the story wrapped up in a satisfying way. It’s a cute debut, nothing outstanding, but enjoyable enough that I’ll keep an eye out for what this author writes next.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (9.3.25)

Happy Wednesday, friends! I have some great book reviews for you guys today, including a highly anticipated romance that lived up to all of my expectations. Love when that happens!

Also – fun little announcement: You can also find me over on Elisabeth’s blog today, as one of her Gratitude Guests. She asked me to write all about my pets and also let me send her about a million pictures of my cats, so how could I say no? It was super fun to reflect on all the ways my pets bring me joy and gratitude in my life, and I’m immensely grateful to Elisabeth for letting me fawn over my four-legged lovebugs!

Now, onto the reviews!

Heartwood by Amity Gaige (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Spotify • Mystery • 2025

Short synopsis: Heartwood takes you on a journey as a search and rescue team race against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.

I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about this book, so I decided to give it a try on audio. These types of books (literary mysteries) often work better for me in that format, and in this case, it was the right call! The audiobook was fantastic, with multiple narrators, and I really enjoyed the way they included things like transcripts and interviews into the narrative.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It follows three women: the hiker who disappeared, the game warden who is leading the search-and-rescue mission, and an old lady in a retirement community who is following the search. While I could have done without the last POV, I was fully immersed in the first two POVs and I was on the edge of my seat as the search-and-rescue team got closer and closer to the missing hiker. This was a fascinating story and so beautifully written. I can absolutely understand why it has gotten so many rave reviews. (Recommendation sources: Lisa, Birchie)

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (Barnes & Noble) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: Xavier and Samantha have one unforgettable date that changes everything. When family crisis pulls her away, they’re left to decide if a single perfect night is enough, or if it’s worth fighting for a love that lasts.

Oh my GOODNESS. This book! It gave me all of the happy feels. It was the kind of book I didn’t want to finish, so I tried to savor every chapter. The thing about Abby Jimenez is that she’s going to take you through the emotional wringer because her books are not just sappy love stories; they are also about grief and tragedy and the hard parts of life. In this case, Samantha’s mother is in her mid-fifties when she is diagnosed with early-onset dementia and needs round-the-clock care. The whole family (Samantha, her two siblings, her grandma, and her father) pitches in to help, but it also means that Samantha has to move to California to help take care of her mother, while Xavier lives in Minnesota. And since he’s just opened a veterinary clinic that’s not yet breaking even… their romance is not as simple as one may think.

What I loved most about this book is how real everything felt. Samantha’s family loved fiercely, but they also fought with each other and avoided each other and kept secrets from each other. It was messy and heartbreaking, but beautiful, too. I truly had no idea how Jimenez was going to bring Xavier and Samantha together. It all felt impossible! And yet… she did, and the resolution was immensely satisfying. When I finished this novel, I just wanted to flip back to the beginning and experience it all over again. It will be hard to find another romance that made me feel so swoony, so it’s an easy contender for my favorite romance (and maybe book!) of the year.

The Address by Fiona Davis (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • Historical Fiction • 2017

Short synopsis: After rising to head housekeeper in a London hotel, Sara Smythe’s life changes when Theodore Camden offers her a chance to manage New York’s grand Dakota Apartments, a role full of opportunity—and complicated feelings—for a woman in 1884. One hundred years later, a down-on-her-luck aspiring designer is given the opportunity to bring the famous Dakota into the modern age. 

This is one of those historical novels that dips back and forth in time, which is a plot device that doesn’t always work for me. Thankfully, for this novel, I thought both plotlines were equally intriguing. Sara is a woman who is so easy to root for. I just wanted good things for her, even when she was making some really poor choices. Her story took some unexpected turns, and in doing so, it shone a light on some of the challenges facing women during this time period. And in the other storyline, you have Bailey, who is fresh from rehab and trying to rebuild her life after making her own poor choices. But Bailey has opportunities that weren’t afforded to Sara, creating a striking contrast between their stories. While these types of historical fiction novels typically don’t make my favorites list at the end of the year, they are the books that I think about fondly and wholeheartedly recommend for a satisfying, thought-provoking read.

What are you reading?