Stephany Writes

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.11.25)

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan ★★★☆☆ 1/2

Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2025

Short synopsis: Cate Kay is the bestselling author of a book trilogy that struck box office gold, but the truth behind this magnetic author’s true identity remains a mystery. Now, the real Cate Kay is ready to step out of the shadows and tell her story.

This is one of the buzziest books of 2025, so I was excited to get my hands on it finally. It had everything that should work for me: a propulsive plot, great writing, and a queer woman at the center of the story. Unfortunately, this book just didn’t live up to the hype! Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was hoping for something juicier and more exciting. Instead, it’s mostly about a girl who did a really stupid thing as a teenager, somehow wrote a bestselling trilogy, and became a recluse. That premise had potential, but the execution didn’t grab me the way I’d hoped.

One of my main issues was the abundance of POVs. While some of those POVs were important and I can understand why they were included, others felt unnecessary. I wanted more from Cate’s perspective. I really liked her voice and would have appreciated getting a deeper look into her life.

This book was fine, but not exactly memorable. I don’t see it making my favorites list at the end of the year.

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Thriller • 2011

Short synopsis: Memories define us. So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep? Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love – all forgotten overnight. And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story. Welcome to Christine’s life.

This is an old-school thriller, written in 2011. (We’re not going to talk about how 2011 was 14 years ago, right?!) It was a selection for book club, and most of us were immediately intrigued by the Goodreads synopsis—that’s the whole thing in the “short synopsis” section! This book had such an interesting premise and it was executed beautifully. The early chapters felt a bit repetitive (every morning, Christine has to read a journal to remember who she is and what happened to her), but the story gained real momentum halfway through. I found it hard to stop listening because I wanted to know how things would turn out! I suspected the big twist, and while I was right, it didn’t temper my enjoyment. There was still a lot I got wrong, and I loved the slow, methodical way everything was revealed.

I chose to listen to the audiobook, and wow, has audiobook quality come a long way since 2011! (Who knew?!) I didn’t hate my listening experience, but it was definitely lower-quality, and the narrator had this odd way of speaking that made me feel like I was watching a TV show from the 80s or 90s. I don’t know a better way to describe it!

Anyway, this is a thriller I’d recommend, especially if you’re looking to read something that’s going to be a bit different than all the popcorn thrillers that are published today.

The Takedown by Lily Chu (★★★★☆)

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

Short synopsis: Dee Kwan’s perfectly charmed life unravels when she’s pulled into a high-stakes corporate scandal at a luxury fashion brand—only to discover her online gaming nemesis is actually the CEO’s heir. As workplace drama, family tension, and unexpected romance collide, Dee must decide if she’s ready to trade comfort for courage and fight for something bigger than herself.

Gosh, this book was a wild ride for me. There were times when it made me so angry and uncomfortable that I wanted to abandon it. But I decided to power through and I’m really glad I did because the journey was worth it. This book is billed as a romance, but honestly, the romance isn’t a huge part of the story. The real plot is Dee’s work as a diversity consultant and the chaos she uncovers at the company she’s currently consulting for. Between toxic workplace culture, micro (and macro) aggressions, and leadership that just doesn’t see a problem in their mostly white staff, it’s brutal stuff. I had such a hard time getting through some of these scenes because they made me so angry. There’s a part of me that feels some of the blatant misogyny and racism was heavy-handed, but can I really say that as a cisgendered white lady who hasn’t had to deal with this kind of harassment in the workplace? Nope.

This is a romance that is so much more. (It’s also closed-door for anyone who prefers that in their romances!) Dee’s character arc is exactly what I love to see in these kinds of books; I want characters who are deeply flawed but trying their best, and making progress when it counts. The love story was sweet and healthy; no weird miscommunication tropes and I thought the dark moment was handled wonderfully. All in all, this is a smart, engaging romance that I really loved.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (6.2.25)

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean (★★★★☆)

E-Book • Libby • Historical Romance • 2010

Short synopsis: Tired of living by society’s restrictive rules, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell sets out to experience the pleasures she’s long been denied—with the help of the scandalous and irresistible Marquess of Ralston. But in chasing freedom, she risks breaking the one rule she never expected: falling in love.

This was a reread for me, and I loved it just as much the second time around. I needed a fun, sweet, well-written romance after a string of duds. Callie was such a fun heroine to root for, and I especially loved watching her slowly break down Ralston’s walls and make him fall for her. Okay, sure, these books are slightly anachronistic (like most historical romances—because who wants to read about women just following society’s rules?!), but that’s part of their charm. If you haven’t given Sarah MacLean’s romances a try, please do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2024

Short synopsis: Beloved award-winning actress Kelly Bishop, famous for playing the iconic Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls, finally tells the whole story of her six decades in show business.

Everyone is raving about this memoir, so I moved it up my TBR list. I’m so glad I did! It was the right book at the right time—a pure delight from start to finish. I didn’t know much about Kelly Bishop’s life, other than how much I loved to hate her character on Gilmore Girls. She was perfectly cast as Emily Gilmore, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her background as a dancer, her romantic adventures as a young woman, and her marriage. She talks about breaking into acting after working for so long as a dancer, how much she loved working on Gilmore Girls, and what it was like to lose her beloved husband to cancer. This book was perfect, and I highly recommend the audiobook because there’s nothing like hearing Kelly’s voice in your ears for six hours!

Pete and Alice in Maine by Caitlin Shetterly (★☆☆☆☆)

Audiobook • Hoopla • Contemporary Fiction • 2023

Short synopsis: Amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and a crumbling marriage, Alice retreats with her family to Maine, only to find herself trapped in a hostile quarantine that forces her to confront her identity and the true foundations of her family. 

I cannot remember the last time I gave a book 1 star. In most cases, I would have DNF-ed this book. But for some reason, despite the glaringly low 3.38 Goodreads rating, I gave this one a shot. I HAVE REGRETS. What did I hate about this book? Everything. The characters were unbearable, especially Alice. She was so insufferable, I wanted to shake her. The level of unacknowledged privilege was off the charts—she had it all but wanted to play the victim over and over again.

I hated the way the author shoehorned in political topics. It felt like a cringe-inducing performance of virtue—“Look at me! I care about George Floyd! I hate Trump! I’m one of the Good White Women!” There are ways to write about 2020 politics with nuance. This was not that.

The kids? Bratty and annoying. Every scene with them made me extra grateful to be childless. The husband? A nonentity. Technically a terrible person, but written with so little depth I couldn’t even muster the energy to dislike him properly.

Listen, if you liked or loved this book, I am so happy that you had a much better reading experience than I did. It’s definitely a character-driven story, and these kinds of stories are hard for me to enjoy, especially if the characters are so unlikable. I should have DNF-ed this one, and let this be a lesson to me and everyone else to DNF books that aren’t working for you!

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.19.25)

Happy Monday! I have had a string of “meh” books lately and I’ll admit here that my reviews of two of these books are a little spicy. Normally, I try to be very fair to books I didn’t like because many times, it’s just a personal preference. But for two of these books, it was very hard to be fair because I disliked them so much. If these are books you loved, then I’m glad you had a much more pleasant reading experience than I did. They were complete duds for me.

Let’s Call a Truce by Amy Buchanan (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Gift) • Contemporary Romance • 2025

Short synopsis: After the sudden loss of her husband, Juliana Ryan is rebuilding her life and career while sparring with her arrogant, annoyingly handsome coworker, Ben—until a high-stakes project forces them into an uneasy truce that slowly turns into something more. 

This was a solid debut romance. I went to the author’s book signing, and since she’s a semi-local author (she’s based in Orlando), it was great to see all of her Tampa-area friends show up for her. The book itself had its good and not-so-good moments. I thought the romance was fun and the characters were well-developed. The author incorporated Juliana’s kids in a way where they didn’t feel like an afterthought (which can sometimes happen in these kinds of romance novels). But at times, this book definitely read like a debut. The dialogue could be stilted at times, with the author relying too heavily on banter-style humor. And I thought the dark moment was handled very poorly. I really wish the author had gone in a different direction because it felt a bit emotionally manipulative and inconsistent with one character’s established personality. All in all, I have hopes for this author, and I’m looking forward to reading what she writes next. (3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.)

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer (★★☆☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Fiction/Fantasy(ish) • 2023

Short synopsis: Lucy Hart, a hopeful teacher’s aide longing to adopt the orphaned boy she cares for, gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete for a priceless book on the magical Clock Island.

I read Meg Shaffer’s The Lost Story earlier this year and absolutely adored it. I was excited to get my hands on her debut novel, hoping for a similarly heartwarming experience. Unfortunately, it did not work for me at all. I am actually scratching my head as to why this novel is so beloved (with a 4+ rating on Goodreads!).

The central premise involves Lucy wanting to adopt a recently orphaned student from the school where she works as a teacher’s aide. He was a student in her class a year ago, and she has told this boy more than once that she wants to adopt him. Even though Lucy is living with three other roommates in a small apartment, doesn’t have a car, and is barely making ends meet as it is. How in the world does she think she’s going to be approved for adoption? And how is she going to take care of another person when she’s struggling to care for herself? It just didn’t make sense to me. The lack of boundaries between Lucy and this boy felt deeply uncomfortable, and it gave me a very yucky feeling in my stomach.

The majority of the book takes place on Clock Island, where Lucy and three others compete to win the rights to the next book in the series. The enigmatic author of this series, Jack is also a central figure—and he, too, has no sense of appropriate boundaries. Children write him letters sharing their hardships, and his responses are often bizarrely intimate, like telling a child he wishes he were their father. I found that deeply inappropriate and unsettling.

Overall, the book felt unrealistic, with overly simplistic writing, and had a truly dumb ending. This is not a book I would recommend but hey, at least it shows how much Meg Shaffer has grown as a writer between her debut and her second novel. The Lost Story feels like it was written by an entirely different author.

Lease on Love by Falon Ballard (★★☆☆☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2022

Short synopsis: When a drunken mix-up lands Sadie Green in a stranger’s spare bedroom instead of on a date, she unexpectedly finds the perfect place to reboot her life—and maybe even her love life—with reclusive, grieving Jack Thomas. As mismatched roommates turned unlikely friends, their shared space slowly becomes something much more.

I had high hopes for this book when I started it, but it quickly became a hate-read for me. I should have stopped reading it, but it was a quick audiobook, and I figured I’d just power through. Unfortunately, there was a lot that made this one tough to enjoy.

First, the profanity. I’m not usually bothered by cursing in books—I barely notice it, to be honest—but this felt excessive. It gave major “tween who just discovered swear words” energy. I guess it was supposed to make the dialogue feel edgy or authentic? It didn’t.

Let’s talk about Sadie for a minute. She was one of the most insufferable characters I’ve read in a long time. She’s selfish and needy and borderline mean to the people around her. And yet, the universe bends over backward to hand her everything she wants. She finds a dream apartment in New York City (after getting fired from her job, no less), lands a bartending gig instantly, and then and the icing on the cake: she starts a florist business and it becomes so successful in just a few months that she’s able to open up a storefront… in NEW YORK CITY. (All because she has a multimillionaire for a friend who is able to invest in her business.) Oh, and she’s also super hot, great in bed, and her friends think she walks on water.

Lastly, let’s get into the romance. Jack is as exciting as a piece of dry toast. He is one-dimensional and serves solely to make Sadie’s life easier. He gives her a place to stay, converts part of his home into a flower shop workspace (with industrial coolers and everything!), and once they’re dating, he’s drawing baths for her every night and hand-delivering meals. I mean… I would love to have a Jack in my life, but there was no chemistry, no tension, nothing to give him any sort of depth.

Ultimately, this book wasn’t for me. And I think this author might not be for me either. This is the second book of hers I’ve read, and both felt more like wish fulfillment than realistic storytelling.

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (5.5.25)

I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams by Jordan Chiles (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction (Memoir) • 2025

Short synopsis: The sensational two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles’s heartfelt, inspiring memoir chronicling her unlikely path to the podium.

I devoured this memoir. Does anyone remember The Magnificent Seven, the 1996 women’s gymnastics team that won gold? I was obsessed with all of them (I was 8 years old during those Olympics, so the perfect age to fall in love with gymnastics) and read all of the autobiographies that came out afterward. This memoir gave me that same feeling of excitement. This memoir is packed with behind-the-scenes insights about elite gymnastics and life at the Olympics. Parts of the memoir are heavy, as Jordan had a rough start to her gymnastics career. Her first coach was emotionally abusive and would constantly berate her about her weight, causing Jordan to exhibit disordered eating habits and suffer from depression. She also dealt with a whole lot of racism from parents and gymnastics officials. Jordan doesn’t sugarcoat this experience, as she writes with brutal, striking honesty.

I loved getting an inside glimpse of Jordan’s friendship with Simone Biles—so rare to see something so supportive and healthy in such a competitive world. It was also really fun to get the nitty-gritty details about what it’s like to be in the Olympic Village. (She had two vastly different experiences, as her first Olympics was in 2021 and they had strict Covid protocols, and her second Olympics was in 2024 and things were back to normal.)

Jordan also details what it was like to win the bronze medal on floor at the 2024 Paris Olympics and then have it taken away—not because she didn’t earn it, but because her coach was supposedly a few seconds delayed on submitting the inquiry into her technical score. She’s still fighting to get that bronze medal back, which I believe wholeheartedly she earned fair and square.

I already admired Jordan, but after reading this, I’m even more in awe of her strength and determination. (Recommendation source: Sarah from Sarah’s Book Shelves Live.)

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren (★★★★☆)

Print • Owned (Amazon) • YA Romance • 2017

Short synopsis: Bisexual teen Tanner Scott plans to quietly finish high school in conservative Utah, but when he joins a prestigious writing seminar on a dare, he unexpectedly falls for his mentor, Sebastian, a Mormon prodigy, upending his carefully laid plans.

This isn’t the kind of book I usually expect from Christina Lauren, who are known for their cute contemporary M/F romances. Still, this queer YA romance had their signature style—great writing paired with a really sweet love story. I loved Tanner—his confidence in his sexuality, even as he navigates the need to stay closeted in a conservative Mormon community, was really compelling. He was a fun character, and I loved being in his head. Sebastian’s story was heart-wrenching. He knows he’s gay, but living openly would mean losing both his religion and his family. The authors built real emotional tension here; I truly didn’t know how they were going to solve this conundrum. How will Tanner and Sebastian have their happy ending? In the end, I really love the way they pulled it all together. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

Confessions by Kanae Minato (★★★★☆)

Audiobook • Libby • Thriller • 2014

Short synopsis: After her young daughter is killed by two of her students, a grieving teacher unleashes a chilling plan for revenge that upends her entire classroom.

This book was so… weird. In a good way, I think. It had a very unique structure with only six chapters, and each one serving as a vignette. We get the perspectives of the people connected to the murder of the teacher’s daughter, including the teacher herself, the suspects, and even a seemingly random student.. The narrators did such a great job with this novel and really brought the characters to life. This was one of the most uniquely told stories I’ve ever read, and I’m still in awe of this author and how she crafted such an inventive plot. That said, the book felt repetitive, since each chapter revisits the same events from different perspectives. Because of that repetitiveness, I contemplated abandoning it at one point. But since it was a short audiobook (6 hours), I decided to push through. And I’m glad I did because the ending was worth it. It’s not a fast-paced thriller, but if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn mystery with an unusual format, this one’s worth a try. (Recommendation source: Meredith from Currently Reading.)

What are you reading?

Categories: Books

What I’m Reading (4.28.25)

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace (★★★☆☆)

Print • From a Friend • YA Romance • 2022

Short synopsis: Anastasia Allen is laser-focused on making Team USA, but a rink mishap forces her to share ice—and tension—with hockey captain Nate Hawkins. When her skating partner’s future is jeopardized, she must consider the unthinkable: teaming up with the one guy she swore she’d never like.

Oh, goodness gracious. This book was both compulsively readable and so damn silly (and not in a good way). It’s not well-written, and it’s entirely too long (it was originally self-published before a publisher picked it up after it gained popularity), and it needed a strong editor. There’s so much passive voice. So many things that just don’t make sense. I don’t believe for a second that Anastasia is an elite figure skater. She barely practices, spends far too much time partying, and isn’t doing any sort of other conditioning work to be at the elite level. And somehow I’m supposed to believe she’s training for the Olympics? While going to college full-time and having a full social life? Nah, man. Still, I decided to just go along for the ride and not think too deeply about this very obvious plot hole. The romance in this story was adorable and I truly couldn’t get enough of Anastasia and Nate. They had such chemistry! I love the ups and downs of their relationship—it very much read like a college relationship—but how they were mature and talked through things every time. The author brought up a ton of important topics in this book: disordered eating, gaslighting and abuse that is not from a romantic partner, adoption, expectations, female friendship, and toxic masculinity. Essentially, this is a book where you need to suspend your disbelief and just go along for the ride. It’s a lot more fun that way! Will I read more from this author? Probably not. I think I have aged out of these types of romances.

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny (★★★★★)

Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2024

Short synopsis: When a series of cryptic clues and a sudden murder shatter the calm of Three Pines, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his team uncover a looming threat far more sinister than a single crime—one with consequences that could ripple across nations. 

I had seen a lot of disappointing reviews of this book, the 19th in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series (and yes, you absolutely have to read this series in order!). So maybe it was because I had lowered expectations but I ended up loving it! I wish more of the book had taken place in Three Pines, but I still loved following all the different plots and seeing how they wove together in the end. More than ever, this book made me think about the relationship between Gamache and his second-in-command, Beauvoir, and how much I adore their relationship. It is a hard-fought relationship that had some very low lows at times, but there is something inherently good and abiding about it now. Maybe the real love story isn’t between Gamache and his wife, but between Gamache and Beauvoir (and I don’t mean that in a romantic sense, but in a platonic life partners sense). Anyway, I enjoyed this book a lot, and the final few chapters had my pulse pounding! I’m very curious as to what comes next in this series. (4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.)

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (★★★☆☆)

Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Thriller • 2025

Short synopsis: After his wife vanishes without a trace, author Grady Green is consumed by grief—until a year later, on a remote Scottish island, he sees a woman who looks exactly like her. 

Sigh, this book just wasn’t very good. I’ll give the author credit: the story hooked me—I was curious about what was happening from beginning to end. But once everything was revealed, it was a big letdown for me. I just didn’t find any of it to be all that realistic. It was hard to be in Grady’s head—he was so miserable and sad, and made very questionable choices—and I don’t think the author breadcrumbed the eventual plot twists enough. This thriller has a pretty low rating on Goodreads despite only being out for a few months (3.65), and I can totally see why. (2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.)

What are you reading?