Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (2.23.26)

I hit a five-star hat trick with these books! All of them were five-star reads – what a delight!

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: Still grieving her grandfather, a withdrawn death doula who spends more time with the dying than the living, is nudged back toward life by a persistent new neighbor and a spirited client whose extraordinary past sets her on an unexpected path toward connection and possibility.

I absolutely adored this book. It’s a contender for my favorite book of 2026, but of course, a lot can change in 10 months. I started it after abandoning another audiobook that wasn’t working for me, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. The writing is gorgeous, heartbreaking and heartfelt at the same time, and Mikki Brammer captures the nuances of death and grief with remarkable beauty and sensitivity. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a story centered on a death doula because I have very complicated feelings about the death and grieving process, but Clover won me over. She has been dealt a difficult hand—losing her parents young, grieving the loss of her beloved grandfather, and struggling to trust people because of past bad experiences. I could wholly relate to Clover, and also wanted to wrap her in the biggest hug and protect her from all the evils in the world. I loved the journey this book took me on, and the ending was perfection.

Heart the Lover by Lily King (★★★★★)

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

Short synopsis: A woman who once found herself entangled in a passionate college love triangle is forced decades later to confront the long-buried choices and deceptions that shaped her life when her past unexpectedly resurfaces.

This book has been getting so much buzz, and I was worried that my expectations might be too high. Thankfully, I shouldn’t have doubted Lily King. She has such a beautiful, sparse writing style, and I was drawn into this story from the first page. I’d previously read Writers & Lovers, and I think having that background adds an extra layer of richness you might miss otherwise. Jordan occasionally drove me crazy (I just cannot deal with characters who stay with partners who don’t value them like they should, even if that’s part of growing up), but mostly, I thought she was so easy to root for. Between the subtle echoes of Writers & Lovers and King’s signature understated style, this novel cemented her as one of my favorite authors.

Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver (★★★★★)

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

Short synopsis: A scandal-plagued country superstar finds unexpected peace—and a complicated chance at love—with a charming small-town horse trainer whose world couldn’t be farther from her own.

Oh, my heavens. I loved this book so much! A few months ago, I read Wild Love, the first book in this series, and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was hoping the second book would capture the same magic. And I think I liked this book better than the first one! First, there’s Skylar Stone, a country music star who’s basically been treated like a prop by her parents her entire life (very Britney Spears vibes here). Then, there’s sweet, hunky West, who loves his quiet country life but can admit it gets lonely sometimes. I had a happy, sappy grin on my face the entire time I was reading, and I adored the slow, natural way Skylar and West fell in love. Skylar needed time to heal before starting something new, and West needed time to be sure this was real and worth pursuing. It is not a closed-door romance, so prepare yourselves (I’d give it three chili peppers out of five). This is the book I mentioned as one of my FIGs because once I finished it, I couldn’t stop thinking about Skylar and West for the rest of the day!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (2.9.26)

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: When Natalie discovers the best man at her best friend’s wedding secretly wrote a one-star review of her novel, their rivalry-to-romance unfolds over a decade of weddings, milestones, and hard-earned rewrites of both their lives—and their hearts.

I read this romance on Lisa’s recommendation, and I’m glad I heeded her warning that it isn’t a typical romance. I suspect its low Goodreads rating (3.64) comes from being marketed as an enemies-to-lovers rom-com when it’s really closer to coming-of-age/women’s fiction. At its core, this book is about the messy years of your twenties and thirties when you’re trying to figure out what you want your life to look like. It’s about watching friends move ahead in life and wondering what you’re doing “wrong.” Natalie’s best friend Gabby marries Angus, whose best man is Rob, and when Natalie discovers Rob wrote a one-star review of her novel the night before the wedding, they’re thrown into enemy territory. I loved how the author traced the winding path of adulthood, from Natalie’s struggle to build a writing career to Rob’s attempts to win his father’s approval in academia. I really loved this novel, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. (Recommendation source: Lisa)

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (★★★★☆)

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

Short synopsis: Burned out on her glittering but empty life in Seoul, a woman starts over by opening a neighborhood bookshop that slowly becomes both her healing—and a haven for others.

I picked this book up on a whim in London at one of the many bookstores I visited. The story felt sweet, and I was especially drawn to it because it was a translated work (I don’t read too many of those!). And, you guys, this book was just the perfect escape. The writing is sparse but gorgeous, and the characters are so vividly drawn. I loved that the author doesn’t shy away from the realities of owning an independent bookstore (it’s hard to make money, the hours can be long and draining, etc.) without making the story feel bleak. Instead, it gently immerses you in a charming Korean neighborhood filled with people who are genuinely kind and curious, connected through their love of books. At its heart, the novel asks thoughtful questions about happiness and enjoyment in life—why is that important and what can you do to ensure you live a satisfying life, even if it isn’t the one you pictured? If you’re looking for a novel you can escape into, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Historical Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: A trans boy searches for a future―and a romance―in which he can live and love openly as himself in this heartrending young-adult reimagining of Pride and Prejudice

This reimagining of Pride and Prejudice casts Elizabeth Bennet as Oliver Bennet, a trans boy forced to live as a girl. At first, I was a little frustrated by how idealized everything felt. Yes, Oliver has to wear dresses that make him uncomfortable and attend balls where he has to pretend he’s in search of a husband. But as he begins to reveal his true identity to the people around him, there’s surprisingly little conflict or grief. The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that this is precisely the point: Novoa isn’t trying to mirror historical or emotional realism so much as imagine a world in which a trans boy is allowed to be fully himself and deeply loved for it, which is exactly what every trans person deserves. The Oliver and Darcy plotline was especially sweet (I love the idea of Darcy being a closeted gay man!), and while their romance wasn’t the novel’s central focus, the way it weaves together with Oliver’s journey toward living openly as himself is really beautiful. Fans of Pride and Prejudice may quibble with some of the plot and character choices, but for me, this book was exactly what I needed. (Recommendation source: Kaytee from Currently Reading)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (2.2.26)

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison (★★★★★)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2021

Short synopsis: To save her struggling Christmas tree farm, Stella Bloom enters a high-stakes holiday contest and ropes her best friend Luka into a fake relationship—only to discover that pretending to be in love might lead to something very real.

You guysssss. This book gave me all of the happy, dopey, lovey-dovey feels. Friends-to-lovers is my favorite romance trope, even though, yes, it doesn’t really make sense. I don’t care! It soothes some little part of my soul. Stella and Luka have been best friends for 11 years, and it’s obvious to everyone around them that they are meant to be together forever. While Luka seems ready to take the leap, Stella continues to hold back—she’s already lost so much in her life and doesn’t want to risk losing her best friend, too. This is a book I could see myself rereading every December because it is filled with holiday sweetness. It’s set at a Christmas tree farm! And two friends are falling in love! What’s more Hallmark holiday movie than that? This book won’t appeal to everyone (I have quite a few friends who gave it 3 stars!), but for me, it was the best reading experience.

I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney (★★★☆☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: After accidentally publishing his own obituary and being declared legally “dead” by his workplace, a risk-averse obituary writer confronts his grief and fear of living by attending strangers’ funerals.

I had read some rave reviews of this book, and while I am not usually one to pick up a book written by a white man about a white man, I decided to give it a try and see what all the buzz was about. And, as I expected, it was just fine. The writing was engaging and funny, though at times Bud felt like a caricature of the sad-sack man archetype. He struggled to access emotional depth—even in therapy—and didn’t seem to know how to connect with people unless it was through sarcasm and humor. His character arc was largely lovely, but something happened near the end of the book that nearly had me throwing my phone across the room. I really should have seen it coming, but ugh. It felt like a lazy shortcut to deepen Bud’s character far too quickly. There are some interesting thoughts here about death, grief, and the funeral industry as a whole, but ultimately, this isn’t a book I expect to have much staying power with me. (Recommendation source: Lazy Genius)

State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny (★★★☆☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (library book sale) • Thriller • 2021

Short synopsis: A novice Secretary of State serving under her former rival must race to expose a global terrorist conspiracy after coordinated attacks plunge the world into chaos.

I’ve had this book on my TBR for a long time because what could be better than a political thriller co-written by someone who has intimate knowledge of Washington and someone who writes my favorite mystery series? Sign me up! Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly the knockout I had hoped for. This book is long, at almost 500 pages, and I really felt the length. It was a slow-moving conspiracy story with a large cast of characters and multiple secondary plotlines to keep track of. However, it was still well-written and kept me engaged, and things really sped up in the last 150ish pages—I couldn’t put it down until I knew how everything would unfold! Ellen, the novice Secretary of State, was such a badass, and I couldn’t help but feel there was a lot of Hillary Clinton in her. She’s fiercely loyal and unafraid to stand up for herself, but also vulnerable and soft at times.

The biggest challenge with this book is reading it during the downfall of our democracy. The novel asks us to believe in accountability at the highest levels of power, and right now, that belief feels more fictional than the conspiracy itself. It’s hard not to feel a sense of grief reading about functioning checks and balances, real accountability, and leaders who are forced to answer for their decisions. Oh, what a world that is! Imagine leaders being held accountable and justice being served. Sigh.

The best part of this book was the small nods to Three Pines and our glorious Armand Gamache. It was unexpected and so delightful! All in all, this is a book that will work for you if you love political thrillers, but be aware that you may have complicated feelings after reading it.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (1.26.26)

Make Room for Love by Darcy Liao (★★★★☆ 1/2)

E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2024

Short synopsis: After Isabel rescues Mira from her abusive ex and offers her a place to stay, an unexpected, undeniable attraction sparks—despite Mira insisting she’s not into women. 

Oh, my heavens, I adored this romance. Isabel + Mira 4ever. Mira has been spending her nights on a friend’s couch after breaking up with her boyfriend who was essentially financially abusive to her. She’s a Ph.D. student and barely making ends meet in NYC, but lived a cushy life thanks to her boyfriend. Isabel offers her the spare room that’s been empty since her ex-girlfriend moved out (it was her art studio), and thus begins a tentative friendship that blooms into so much more. There is so much happening in this novel beyond Isabel and Mira’s love story. There is Mira learning to be independent after a bad relationship while also fighting for a union contract at her university. There is Isabel who is still grieving her sister’s sudden death and dealing with another sister’s estrangement. The way both of them learned to trust each other with their secrets and their hearts was beautiful to witness. I will be keeping an eye on this author, and I’m ready for her to release another book!

The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Mystery • 1936

Short synopsis: There’s a serial killer on the loose. His macabre calling card is to leave the ABC Railway Guide beside each victim’s body. But if A is for Alice Asher, bludgeoned to death in Andover, and B is for Betty Bernard, strangled with her belt on the beach at Bexhill, who will then be Victim C?

I am oh-so-slowly making my way through Agatha Christie’s extensive backlist, and I picked up this book at an indie bookstore while I was traveling. The premise is so intriguing! I loved that this book was from the point of view of Poirot’s sidekick, Hastings, which gave us a unique look into this investigation and the way our dear Poirot works. The twist in this mystery was so well-done and I never saw it coming, which made it that much more satisfying. Do Christie’s novels have the best writing? No. But we’re not reading her books for that! She writes really inventive mysteries, especially considering the time period.

In Light of All Darkness: Inside the Polly Klaas Kidnapping and the Search for America’s Child by Kim Cross (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction (true crime) • 2023

Short synopsis: In Light of All Darkness embeds readers in one of the most famous true-crime stories of our generation—the kidnapping of Polly Klaas—a case as pivotal in the history of the FBI as the Unabomber or Oklahoma City bombing. 

Friends, if you love a good true crime podcast, then you’re going to love this book. In 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped from her own bedroom while hosting a sleepover with two friends. It was a time when techniques like dusting for fingerprints were still relatively new, and victim advocacy as we know it today was far in the future. This case had far-reaching ramifications, and the book explores the many elements involved in the search for Polly and her kidnapper. It’s not only a chronicle of a horrific tragedy, but also a deep dive into how investigations like these unfold.

One of the most striking insights was how little law enforcement understood about interviewing victims at the time. Polly’s two friends were present during the kidnapping, and while they weren’t physically harmed, they experienced significant trauma. Their stories changed over time, which led investigators to suspect they were lying. With what we now know about how trauma affects the brain (especially in children!) it’s clear they were doing their best to process an overwhelming experience. And not being believed by these authority figures did not help matters!

At times, the author goes a bit too far into the weeds and I found myself tuning out when she was diving into something that wasn’t totally related to Polly’s kidnapping or the investigation. Overall, this is a compelling book that taught me a lot about how the FBI operated in the early 1990s—and how this case helped shape meaningful changes that followed.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (1.20.26)

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone (★★★★★)

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

Short synopsis: Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again.

Cara Bastone is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. This is the second romance I’ve read from her, and I loved it just as much as the first. This is a heavy novel, as it deals with grief and loss and moving forward after tragedy. But it’s also a beautiful exploration of finding yourself after being completely broken by loss. What I loved about this novel is that it talks about soulmates who aren’t romantic partners. Lenny, the main character, considered her best friend, Lou, to be her soulmate. They lived together and went through so many ups and downs as a pair. As someone who considers my mom to be my soulmate, I could relate to Lenny so deeply. This kind of loss terrifies me, and the way Lenny completely fell apart afterward felt so true and raw and real. This novel isn’t only about grief, though. There’s also a love story and Lenny’s adorable relationship with the little girl she’s nannying for. I thought the love story was so well done. It built slowly, and Miles was so tender with Lenny. They waited a long time to even share a first kiss because Miles didn’t want to interfere with Lenny’s healing process. Everyone who is grieving unimaginable loss should have someone like Miles—someone you can call when the grief feels too overwhelming to bear. This novel touched my soul deeply, which isn’t something I expect from a romance, and I can’t wait to read her next release!

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Thriller • 2024

Short synopsis: When a teenage girl named Diana Brewer is found murdered in a hayfield, the idyllic town of Fairhill, Vermont, shatters, turning a close-knit community into a landscape of fear, suspicion, and the urgent question of who among them is responsible.

Ooh, this thriller was so good! I love a Shari Lapena thriller, but the last one I read from her was a big disappointment, so I went into this one with apprehension. The novel jumps between many points of view: Diana’s best friend, the parents of Diana’s boyfriend (who quickly becomes a prime suspect), a teacher at the school, Diana’s coach, Diana’s mom, etc. There are also journal entries from one of Diana’s friends, as well as passages from Diana’s own point of view as she checks in on the investigation in a ghost-like state. It’s a propulsive novel, and while I had a pretty good idea who the murderer was, the author still took me on a ride with plenty of twists and turns. Will this thriller stand out at the end of the year? Probably not, but it was an enjoyable, fast-paced read that kept my attention.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (★★★★☆ 1/2)

Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Literary Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: After a newlywed husband is diagnosed with a condition that will turn him into a great white shark while leaving his mind intact, a woman confronts love, grief, and inherited trauma as she decides whether to fully embrace connection in the face of inevitable transformation and loss.

This book got a lot of buzz a few years ago, but the premise was so absurd that I didn’t consider it for myself. But then trusted readers started to rave about it, including people who also thought the premise was absurd but loved the book anyway, so I bought the book, let it sit on my shelf for almost a year, and plucked it off my shelf to fulfill the January prompt for my Unread Shelf Challenge (a book that starts with the first letter of your name). This book was beautiful. It is poetic and heartfelt and thoughtful. It’s about motherhood and love and grief and moving forward after loss. When I finished the book, I just stared off into the distance for a while, thinking about the premise. Because, while yes, no condition will turn someone into a great white shark, some diseases and conditions change the people we love. That takes them away from us. That changes who we are as we take care of them. And they change the people who are dealing with the condition; they might become more angry or violent, more despondent or melancholy. We all become different versions of ourselves after something like a cancer diagnosis or a sudden disability. I think the author did such a beautiful job of showing the nuances that come from both sides of these experiences.

What are you reading?