Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Thriller • 2025
Short synopsis: After losing 11 bidding wars, Margo becomes dangerously obsessed with securing her dream home before it hits the market—crossing boundaries that threaten to unravel her job, her marriage, and her life.
Unhinged is the only way to describe this book. I devoured it in a single day during my reading retreat. I have never gone through the house-buying process (nor ever wanted to own a home in the obsessive way Margo does), but I’m going to assume some people may find Margo relatable (at least in the beginning), especially those trying to buy a house in a competitive market. However, as the book progresses, Margo becomes increasingly unhinged, unlikable, and almost impossible to root for. And yet, there’s something compelling about the extreme lengths she’ll go to get her dream home. This book was full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming, so if you’re looking for a “WTF did I just read?” experience, this is the book for you!
Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis (★★★★☆)
E-Book • Libby • Contemporary Romance • 2011
Short synopsis: Lilah Young never expected a passing-through pilot like Brady Miller to upend her carefully guarded instincts, but their undeniable pull challenges both her roots and his resistance to staying.
This was a reread for me (I first read it in 2016), and revisiting a 2011 romance in 2026 is… interesting. And while it may not be fair to judge this book through a modern lens, some of Brady’s behavior is a bit misogynistic, and Lilah could be a bit of a pushover at times. That said, this book is a super quick, uncomplicated read (I finished it in about 24 hours post–reading retreat), and while it lacks the emotional depth you see in a lot of contemporary romances today, it’s still an easy story that delivers a good time.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vols 1 and 2 by Beth Brower (★★★★☆)
Audiobook • Hoopla • Historical Fiction • 2020
Short synopsis: In 1883 London, Emma M. Lion chronicles her life at Lapis Lazuli House alongside her eccentric cousin, formidable aunt, and a cast of delightfully odd neighbors.
Everyone on Goodreads seems to be reading this series, so I finally had to give it a try, and I was not disappointed. The first two books in the series are written as novellas (under 150 pages), and the audio for both is under 8 hours. Since I listened to them back-to-back, I thought I would review them as one unit. These novellas are incredibly fun, with a lovable heroine in Emma. I want to be her friend! I’m so glad I have six more books in this series to read and that the author is planning on writing more. I want to stay in Emma’s charming world forever and ever.
What are you reading?
i keep hearing about Emma M Lion! I want to read it. And I’ve heard that the books get better and better as you go along. These books are kind of hard to find though- they don’t have them at my library or Barnes and Noble. I guess I have to order them.
I believe that the Emma M Lion books were self-published and only recently got popular, so that’s why they’re hard to find. I’ve been listening to them through Hoopla, but I don’t think you do audiobooks, womp.
I have some bad news, Stephany. I read the first Emma Lion book and was less than impressed. I will not be reading more. We were on such a roll of agreeing on things!
Aww, that’s okay! I can definitely understand why some people might not like them. They are a balm to my soul right now, ha.
What a great group of books. I’ve heard good things about that first book but I think the unhinged nature of the woman would annoy me too much. Ha.
I am reading “Meet the Newmans.” I’ve heard pretty good things about it and like it so far. It’s set in the 60s which makes me very glad that I did not live during that era as the lack of women’s rights/freedoms sounds awful.
Lisa! I “won” Meet the Newmans in a Goodreads giveaway MONTHS AGO and I still haven’t received it. I’ve held off on reading it because I’ve been waiting for my copy. Did Goodreads scam me?!?! Gah.
I don’t think Best Offer Wins is a Lisa book. I think you would get very annoyed by the main character very easily.
I’m still in the queue for Best Offer Wins, and since I’m going to have to pause all my holds because I’m going on a trip, it will be a long time until I read it. But I can’t wait! I like unhinged, sometimes.
I just had a couple of less-than books, but now I’m reading the new Elizabeth Strout and it’s everything I hoped it would be and more!
Sometimes, you just want to read a book about an unhinged woman to make you grateful for your life, HA.
OMG, Best Offer Wins sounds insane. I think I need to check it out. This is one of those life events that consumes you that I didn’t understand until I went through it (like my snis did before me and I didn’t get it), but when we first toured our house I could INSTANTLY imagine us living there and was obsessed for like a week. Then we got to work (and moved in 6 months later!).
I am also interested in Animal Magnetism cause I love pilot stories LOL.
I am reading For the Love of the Grind and just finished Before I Forget. Is that one (the latter) on your radar?
I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about Best Offer Wins then! Give it a try!
Ooh, please read Animal Magnetism and tell me how many things about pilots/planes the author got wrong, hahaha.
I’ve never heard of Before I Forget, or at least I don’t think I have?!?!
I am tempted to! 😂
I think you would like Before I Forget! It’s a really tender, well-done story about a young woman caring for her dad with dementia. I thought it might feel triggering for me since both my dad’s parents had it but it was done with so much dignity and care that it left me feeling really good ❤️