In the Weeds by B.K. Borison (★★☆☆☆)
Print • Library • Contemporary Romance • 2022
Short synopsis: Burned out by life as a social media influencer, Evelyn returns to the last place she felt like herself—and to the farmer who isn’t sure he can trust her not to leave again.
How much did I dislike this book? When I finished the epilogue and saw there was a second epilogue, I said, “Oh hell fucking no,” and snapped my Kindle shut. I adored two other novels by this author, so I was excited to read this one, but omg, it was just so boring. The characters had zero chemistry, the plot never felt remotely believable, and the ending made me roll my eyes so hard. It had none of the charm and coziness of Lovelight Farms or the banter and spark of First Time Caller. It was just a bland romance, and if this had been my first BK Borison book, I wouldn’t have understood the hype. Skip this one, friends!
How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin (★★★☆☆ 1/2)
Audiobook • Libby • Mystery • 2025
Short synopsis: After a local fortune-teller is murdered, a woman investigating the mystery uncovers long-buried secrets that connect to her great-aunt’s decades-old search for the truth behind a deadly crash.
This is the second book in a mystery series set in a small English countryside town, the first one being How to Solve Your Own Murder. I really enjoyed that first novel and thought the second novel was… fine. It was the kind of “brain candy” book where I didn’t feel like I needed to concentrate too hard while I was listening to it. Even if I missed something, I was sure I would figure it out along the way. For me, this is a pleasant reading experience. I don’t want all my books to be like this, but every now and then, I like an uncomplicated book with likable characters and an easy-to-follow plot. It’s not a standout, but it’s a fun way to pass the time.
All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert (★★★★★)
Print • Owned (author signing) • Nonfiction • 2025
Short synopsis: In this deeply personal memoir, Elizabeth Gilbert traces how an unexpected friendship became the love of her life—and how heartbreak ultimately led to profound self-discovery.
I did not expect this book to have such a profound effect on me. I hadn’t heard much about Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest release when I bought a ticket to her author talk in Tampa. Then I started hearing about all the controversy surrounding the book, and I found myself less excited to read it. I went to the event, fell deeply in love with Liz because she is so damn charismatic, and then put the book on my shelf to wait for the right moment. And hoo boy, was this the right moment. This memoir is about many things, but at its heart, it’s about Gilbert’s sex and love addiction and the codependency that shaped so much of her life. AKA, the very thing I’m working through in therapy right now!
This book was a revelation. Gilbert writes with her signature blend of vulnerability and insight, crafting sentences that stop you in your tracks. It’s about the joy of finding the love of your life, but also how addiction, abuse, and unimaginable grief can utterly ruin you. I won’t judge a single thought Gilbert had during her partner’s cancer battle. Much has been said about the section where she contemplates killing her partner to end her suffering. For me, I found it utterly heartbreaking and incredibly courageous for Gilbert to share these thoughts, knowing it would change the way people saw her. I’m not here to argue with you if it did change the way you view her. I’m just saying that it landed differently for me.
I have a feeling this will be one of my favorite books of 2026 because it touched me so deeply. It reminded me why I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing so much and captured the grit, complexity, and rawness of grief in such a profound way. I’m so grateful she wrote this memoir because, at this point in my life, I truly needed it.
What are you reading?
I cannot read that Gilbert because even the thought of reading about addiction gets me feeling all anxious and sweaty. It’s a thing about me, for sure. I’m glad you found it so affecting though! I love a book that moves me and maybe even changes me in some way. I’ve had that experience before and it’s very meaningful.
I’m almost finished Lady Tremaine – have you read it? It’s a retelling of Cinderella from the stepmother’s POV, and it’s really good. I would have finished it last night but Rob and I ended up watching two episodes of the Pitt instead, which is a very different experience from reading Lady Tremaine. I’ll finish it today!
I haven’t read Lady Tremaine yet! My friend got it from Book of the Month a few months ago so I’m patiently waiting for her to finish it and pass it along to me. Ha! I’m looking forward to reading it!
Definitely steer clear of the Gilbert book – it is NSFN!
Thanks for saving me from reading that first book! I’ve read and liked 2 of that author’s other books so might have read this. But 2 epilogues? WHAT??
I have heard about the controversy of the Gilbert book and won’t be reading it. I am glad it worked for you, though!!
Right now I’m reading “Culpability” which is our August book club book when I am the host. It’s so good and a very timely read with all the conversations around AI.
I don’t blame ANYONE for not wanting to read the Gilbert book. It’s definitely for a specific type of person/reader, so I’m glad it worked for me.
I’ve heard so many good things about Culpability! I’ve loved all of his other books so I need to get around to this one soon.
Huh! I’ve heard the controversy around Gilbert’s book and was not going to read it- but your review makes me think I would like it. it sounds really good, and hey, who are we to judge, anyway???
I’ve seen How to Solve Your Own Murder and been mildly curious about it. I’ll probably read it at some point, but skip this one.
I would say give the Gilbert book 50 pages and see how you feel about it. It’s very “woo woo” at times, which doesn’t work for everyone. It’s not a book I would broadly recommend, but I really enjoyed it myself.
Gah, it’s crazy that book is so bad and it’s #2! Did you listen to the Shelf Respect where they did a snake draft for new books and someone drafted her upcoming (vampire? werewolf? Oh, Grim Reaper?) book? Think you will read that series?
I like that—recognizing and embracing we need brain candy books from time to time! I didn’t have anything to listen to and am doing a Freida McFadden for that reason.
I love that Gilbert’s book touched you so deeply! And I arrived at the same point as you with her revealing contemplating killing her partner. She was being brutally honest to tell that part of the story! The book was very eye-opening for me, since those are not addictions I am familiar with, and I appreciated her story and some of her concepts (like earth school). The woo woo poemy chapters were not for me though 😂
I probably won’t read that series from B.K. Borison. I’m not into fantasy romance like that. I’m the opposite of Jamie – give me good, old-fashioned contemporary romance ANY day.
I definitely started skipping the poems when I was reading it, ha. I started reading them and then I was like, “Nah.” It was a very eye-opening book. Since I’m doing so much work on my own codependency in therapy, it was really helpful in that respect!
I think I am the opposite of her too. On the latest free episode of Shelf Respect she was talking about how she really dislikes contemporary romance and it made me think of our in-person convo about how much our tastes differ from hers! (However! If you do decide to dip into romantasy I recommend Silver Elite or The Fourth Wing on graphic audio)
I am glad I am not the only one who skips poems (I skip music lyrics too). And I am so glad it’s helping!
I wasn’t going to comment on this post (I rarely comment on reading posts since I feel like I never have much to contribute), but I just wanted to say that I am glad to know that you loved Elizabeth Gilbert’s book. I never read Eat, Pray, Love (I know, I’m like the 1 person who hasn’t), but I listened to and loved Big Magic a few weeks ago. Her tone and style just worked for me. She narrated the audiobook and it really did feel like a friend was just talking to me. Reading your post makes me wonder if I should give some of her other books a try, too. Hm…