Wrapping up the year with a solid 125 books! Don’t ask me about the latest pop culture shows (other than CBS reality television), but I can hook you up with reading recommendations. I started this new habit as a doom-scroll replacement, so if you are also looking for escapism, come with me to worlds of cheesy romance, fun adventure, or dystopian worlds where the politicians are put in their place within 250-600 pages!
Here’s the wrap-up. First, the data. Then, the books!
Reminder/Disclaimer: These lists are based on my reading EXPERIENCE and all-out favoritism.
Favorite Reading Experience of the Year: It earns this award, because it’s rare that I get a read-aloud that works for my aging boys. We all laughed out loud. Then we watched the movie. Then we went to the play.
Best General/Misc. Fiction:
1.) Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley 2.) The Favorites by Layne Fargo 3.) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 4.) Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson 5.) The Big Fix by Holly James
Best Romance:
1.) Tangled Up In You by Christina Lauren 2.) Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto 3.) The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams 4.) Because of Miss Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 5.) Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Best YA:
1.) My Lady Jane by Cyntia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows 2.) Boy Band of the Apocalypse by Tom Nicoll 3-4.) The Hunger Games (reread) & Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins 5-6.) Ruthless Vows & Divine Rivals (rereads) by Rebecca Ross
Best Children’s:
1.) The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon 2.) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien 3.) Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt 4.) The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera 5.) Katie the Catsitter by Colleen Venable
Sci-Fiction/Fantasy:
1.) Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros 2.) The Martian by Andy Weir 3.) Tress of the Emerald Sea (reread) by Brandon Sanderson 4.) Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton 5.) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Non-Fiction/Memoir:
1.) Destiny of the Republic by Candice Miller 2.) Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green 3.) Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze 4.) In Gad We Trust by Josh Gad 5.) Your Story Matters by Richard Scrimger
Best Thriller/Mystery:
1.) Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano 2.) The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter 3.) Happy Wife by Lavender/Shores 4.) The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day 5.) Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
2026 TBR List
Okay, seriously, THIS year I’ll read it (maybe):
Coming-soon books that might distract me from the above list:
Are there any must-reads I’m missing? Send them my way. May all your 2026 reading goals come true.
It was a busy month where audio books kept this reading habit moving!
Total Books: 7 Audio: 5 Physical: 1 Mix: 2 DNF: 3
Genre: Sci-Fi Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary: Arthur Dent experiences a series of ridiculous events when Earth is destroyed.
I finally read it! And it was very British (more so with the audio book narrated by Stephen Fry). My husband warned me that it was a “set up” book for the overall series, and I’m glad I was warned. I had to battle my brain to figure out what to focus on (there are a LOT of names and new words thrown in there), but if you just buckle up and go along for the ride through the galaxy, you will experience some good chuckles.
Genre: Cozy (very cozy) fantasy Format: Audio Rating: 2.5/5
Summary: An insecure librarian finds a hot dude on an island, and she sells jam.
I wanted to like this book so much. I tried. In fact, after previously quitting it at 37%, I picked it up months later to try again. It is sooooo popular and sooooo loved, and I tried. This book was incredibly frustrating because of the massive potential. It was a cool world with a sentient spider plant as a sidekick. There were winged cats! She had blue hair! But good gracious, I was bored out of my gourd with this whiny librarian and descriptions of everything. There. Were. Winged. Cats. And. No. Point. To. Them. Anyway, it was a cool world with many lost opportunities to do cooler stuff with it. The only reason this got a three was because she used the word defenestration correctly multiple times. Did she show the emperor being thrown out the window and dive into political unrest? Not really. Oh well. (I should also dock it for a mer-horse birthing scene, but I have some holiday generosity in me I guess. No one needs a mer-horse birthing scene. Thank you very much.)
Summary: A young outsider marries into a bonkers rich neighborhood and everyone is a suspect when her husband disappears.
I picked this one up at a thrift store and really enjoyed it! I’m usually very distracted by choppy writing and “gotcha” moments in thrillers, but this novel flowed well and had an equal-opportunity suspect list. The end fell a little flat but I enjoyed the mystery and (literally) rich characters.
Genre: Thriller/Mystery Format: Audio Rating: 2/5
Summary: A caretaker moves into a spooky house full of secrets and creepy people.
This was my second chance for a Riley Sager book, and it will likely be my last. He has joined the exclusive group of “good-for-you-but-not-for-me” authors. It started out with such a strong premise and just the right amount of mystery. However, it spiraled from there, needing to be three hours shorter with 87 fewer twists. It felt like the brainstorming meeting for twists ended with: “Yes! Let’s just do ALL of it!” It was exhausting and unsatisfying.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary: Ghosts visit Scrooge and he’s all like, “WHAT!?”
You guys. This book was JUST like Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Almost word for word. It was amazing.
Genre: No-Fun Fiction Format: Mix of Audio/Physical Rating: 3/5
Summary: Strangers trauma-dump for an entire week.
I read this book, because I was sick of seeing it on every list ever. What was the hype? It was driving me crazy, and I was sure I would hate it – since my least favorite genres include popular literary fiction with sad main characters. The good news? I didn’t hate it! The bad news? It was just fine. If you like whiny people with baggage complaining for 367 pages, this is the book for you! Trigger warnings: pet death, parental death, infertility/IVF, miscarriage, adultery, toxic workplace environments, post-Covid settings, toxic parental relationship, spousal death, suicidal thoughts – ARE WE HAVING FUN YET WITH THIS CRITICS’ DARLING!? Goodness. Also, it was crass and annoying. I guess the fact that I’m still rating it a “3” is high praise and worthy of getting on some lists.
Genre: YA Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 3.25/5
Summary: Nerds fake-date until they real-date.
Overall, this is a solid YA novel. It’s refreshing that this romcom stays in its lane – tension and angst without sex or language (YA can mean ANYTHING these days). The main character is self-absorbed and the dude is oblivious: a match made in high school rom-com heaven. It was obnoxiously sweet, built for theater/gamer kids. I could be picky and go on tangents, but it was cute and appropriate for a general audience.
The Quit List
22% I was lukewarm about this author’s other book, but it was mostly because of the twist. I gave her another chance, and there were many things I liked about this book. However, a character was introduced that seemed like a “checking of the box” situation, and I was annoyed. Next!
15% I honestly enjoyed the start of this book. It would be great for fans of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife. It was purely a mood thing – old-people-adventures are a gamble for me. Next!
10% Again, not bad. But I wasn’t in the mood for the orphans-save-the-world-but-you-better-remember-they’re-orphans story.
Gotta wrap this up – it’s time for the End of the Year Review!
It’s baffling that we only have one more month to sneak in 2025 reading. Go team! Here’s the November round up!
Total Books: 8 Audio: 4 Physical: 3 Mix: 1 DNF: 5
Genre: Contemporary Romance (of the raunchy variety) Format: Audio Rating: 4.5/5 (on the audio book reread)
Summary: When their exes run off to marry each other, a bartender and librarian share an apartment AND EVENTUALLY THEIR HEARTS.
When this book first came out, I devoured the physical copy in two days. Revisiting it on audio book reminded me how much emotional baggage these characters had, but it was still a lovely romcom. Emily Henry’s characters and banter are hard to beat.
Genre: Children’s Fiction Format: Physical (read out loud to boys) Rating: 5/5
Summary: The neighborhood rascals crash the annual Christmas show, and we all learn lessons on judgement and kindness.
Look, some of this writing is going to feel 1972 dated (fat-shaming, Dad can’t eat because Mom didn’t make dinner), but this classic is a gem. BOTH of my boys laughed out loud, which is an event I will cherish (our read aloud times are shrinking). After reading it, we got to see the Des Moines Playhouse production, and it was just as sweet and lovely.
Genre: YA Romantasy (more graphic than I remember but still YA) Format: Audio *Reread Rating: 4.75/5
Summary: Picking up shortly after Divine Rivals, Roman and Iris must overcome allllll the things.
It was lovely to revisit this duology, a lyrical escape into a fantasy world. It ties up the loose ends from the first book and leaves just enough questions to wonder about the characters.
Genre: Thriller/Fantasy Format: Physical
Summary: Four friends grieve the loss of another, and their quest for closure leads them on a time-bending adventure to a spooky house.
Full disclosure: The author is my cousin! I was honored to get a sneak peek copy and push myself into a genre I rarely enter: descriptive time travel! The dialogue and vivid characters are the strength here, as the banter was very funny and the friendship was easy to picture. This ambitious story is the start of a nine-book series, so be prepared to just enjoy the ride and have a lot of questions along the way. Then become super jealous that I got to have those questions answered in a phone call after I finished the book. Ha! His passion about this story is infectious, and he obviously pulls from years of songwriting to create this descriptive book.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 2.75/5
Summary: A woman is arrested for murder and only her childhood pony can fix the problem.
I adored the first half of this book, and it had some serious Remarkably Bright Creatures vibes. However, the second half got dark and preachy and weird and choppy. The storytelling was clever (for fans of Homeward Bound), but it really jumped the shark a few times. We needed Tim Gunn to yell, “Edit, Designers!!!” A good read for animal rights and horse lovers – as long as they can handle merging timelines and random adventures.
Summary: A husband aims to repair marriage with the assist of a bunch of dudes reading romance novels.
I must offer a quick shout out to the romance bookstore in Des Moines: Shelf Love. After it appeared in my social media algorithm, I gave it a chance. It was adorable. As the only shopper, I decided to walk right up to the staff and have the following conversation: “I DON’T WANT CANCER OR DEMENTIA SUBPLOTS. GIVE ME A NICE LOVE STORY WHERE I ROOT FOR PEOPLE AND THEY ONLY NEED A LITTLE THERAPY.” “Got it.” “AND FUNNY.” “Okay.” (points out the different genres and narrows down authors I like/dislike) “And how do you feel about basic criticism of patriarchy?” “ACCEPTABLE.” “Great. Okay, here we go!” And – while this book still covered parental abandonment issues and slipped in a speech impediment subplot – this story fit the requirements. Nice job, local book store! If you have ever read regency romances, this is a sweet book combining romance genres. The sidekick friends are funny, the conflict feels real but not depressing, the loose ends are tied up. I took off some points for a few cringe words/phrases, but I’m being picky. I enjoyed it and will check out others in the series.
Genre: Thriller Format: Audio Rating: 4.25/5
Summary: A wife in the woods must escape and YIKES.
This book should have had a million trigger warnings for assault/domestic violence (the summary did not do it justice). Throw in a pregnancy story line and that should have called it for me. However, the audio book was so captivating that I HAD to finish it – and quickly. This author remains my “a better Frieda McFadden book for people that don’t like Frieda McFadden books”.
Summary: A rapid-fire whirlwind of fast facts and anecdotes about science and the human body.
What just happened. Wowsers. This was a fascinating read about what we know (AND DON’T KNOW) about the human body and what science has discovered (AND THE GROSS/DISTURBING WAYS THEY DISCOVERED STUFF). My husband recommended Bill Bryson as an author, and now I get to recommend this book back to him. I didn’t rank it higher, as it was seemingly random on what was discussed and the pacing was all over the place. However, it was a great non-fiction read and it peaked curiosity about many topics.
The Ode to Quitting (Honestly, I barely gave these a chance…so don’t be mad at me.)
There is a very popular male narrator and I absolutely can’t stand his voice. I forgot to check if it was him, and I had to turn it off immediately when he started speaking. D’oh! Next!
It seemed to be going in the name-dropping direction of the Stamos book. Next!
Started out with a cat sensing death. It seemed like this was going to be a long road trip, and I was not in the mood. Next!
This author was recommended to me. It’s a not-for-now, as I was not in the mood to read the script from a fake fantasy TV show mixed into the plot. Next!
I was so excited for this one, but it quickly morphed into a chore. It felt like I should have been almost done, but I was on page 43. OOPS. Next!
The first snow dropped this weekend, so I’m ready to curl up by the fireplace and get cozy with some great books to wrap up the year. Happy Reading to All!
It was another semi-slow reading month, but with cooler weather comes some bookish snuggles by the fireplace. I hope. Also, CAN THE WORLD CHILL OUT SO THAT I DON’T FEEL THE NEED TO CONSTANTLY ESCAPE INTO FICTION. Goodness.
Total Books: 7 Audio: 4 Physical: 2 Mix: 1 DNF: 3
Genre: Contemporary Romance (A comfort reread!) Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary: A fan of romance novels gets lost and winds up in her favorite fictional city.
I was in need of a guaranteed comfort read, so I picked up this Ashley Poston gem. It didn’t translate as well in audio-only (if I had to hear about his “minty eyes” one more time….), but it’s still a solid dose of magical realism and a tale of yummy escape.
Genre: YA Fantasy Format: Audio/Physical Mix Rating: 3/5
Summary: The most fierce assassin of all the land has period cramps for multiple paragraphs.
After being the near-only person in my demographic that did not fall in love with A Court of Thorns and Roses, I decided to give the Maas universe another chance with her YA series. While it was FAR better, it still left me with zero desire to pick up the next book. The pacing was all over the place. They yada-yada-ed multiple murders in the castle, but then wallowed in a (boring) love triangle? They introduced a ghost queen (A GHOST QUEEN) but then the main character just hung out in the library? She’s described as the fiercest assassin in the land, but she didn’t notice when things were left on her pillow and was kind of bad at the champions’ “tests”? Pass on this one, go reread Hunger Games.
Genre: Thriller/Mystery Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary: A rich lady is murdered and everyone has a motive.
A book cover like this always makes me intrigued but wary. Too many thrillers turn into a “gotcha” game with choppy writing. However, this one kept me interested and the audio book was engaging. I figured out half of the twist, which gave me the satisfaction of playing along while still getting the entertainment of the other half. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it, but I will return to this author if I get the itch for another thriller/mystery. So that’s high praise! This is another copy-the-true-crime-podcast-vibe kind of book if you’re into that kind of thing.
Genre: Old-Timey Horror *I was too distracted by the language to be scared while reading, but I admit it was creepy looking back on it.* Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Summary: An eccentric scientist makes a creature that’s wicked ugly.
Speaking of large men with minty eyes…… After a significant learning curve to keep up with 1800s English, I honestly had a good time with this one. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I was fascinated by this psychological thriller full of weirdo characters. Frankenstein is pretty messed up, dude, and I was intrigued by the creature – who is hilariously wordy. The language alone was an adventure, and I had fun translating it into a modern version in my head. (This was part of my quest to keep up with my niece’s AP Lit reading list. I’m not sure if I will finish this task, but I checked off this beast!)
Genre: Fiction Format: Physical Rating: 3/5
Summary: A series of life events through the eyes of a neurodivergent young girl.
I appreciated this unique novel, but it wasn’t fun. It’s very hard to understand the story through a character who has difficulty processing her own world. I have so many unanswered questions. However, the feelings and confusion were honest. You will realize as you flip through the pages that it’s all told in second person, and you kind of hate that as your brain rebels against the POV.
Genre: YA Romantasy Format: Audio (Reread) Rating: 4.5/5
Summary: A magical typewriter connects coworkers in the middle of a war between gods.
I mean, isn’t the summary enough!? I wanted to revisit this story before diving into the newest release in this universe, and it was interesting to see what scenes I vividly remembered and what memories were lost. This book reads like a movie (which I love), but oof, I forgot how much it punched you right in the heart. It’s WWI meets The Daily Planet meets magical gods. If you read it, plan on picking up the sequel immediately.
Genre: Memoir Format: Physical Rating: 3/5
Summary: Jen Hatmaker talks about recovery after divorce and general trauma.
This was my first Jen Hatmaker book, but I’ve followed her on social media for years. I knew this would be a tough read (Covid, infidelity, religious trauma), and it was – for many reasons. The writing was crisp and funny in spite of the topics, but it jumped all over the place. The storytelling was great, but it was a bit tone-deaf when discussing healing. I am not minimizing her trauma at all, but the vast amount of resources she had to cope with (community, huge supportive family, money, therapy, vacations, advisors, etc.) would make it a challenge to relate to the average person going through something similar.
The Quit List
I listened to 26% of the audio book, and it was a chore to press play. There was a lot of potential, but I felt nothing toward the characters. It was not fun.
I wanted a quick read and fun rom-com, but 4% was enough to let me know that it was going to be way too sweet and cheesy for me. And that’s saying something.
What started as a seasonal and charming rom-com gave me the ick quickly. I held on for 28%, but the whiplash between rated-g Hallmark movie and explicit raunchy phrases gave this book an identity crisis.
Happy Halloween! I have some interesting and fun books queued up for November. Stay tuned!!
It was a slow(er) reading month. Work picked up, trash shows came back on TV, and my brain was distracted (Heidi gestures wildly to the state of the world). I also took a break once I reached my yearly goal of 100 books! Huzzah! Celebrate! Yay!
Summary: Two toxic people are hot for each other while a bunch of bad stuff happens!
Oh, Abby. I love her writing but don’t love when she goes overboard with the trauma. And, woah buddy, it was like she spun a Wheel of Trauma every time she was bored and decided to sprinkle in another depressing topic. It was too much, and the main character was ridiculous (not in a good way). Emotional affairs, infertility, organ donation, OCD, manipulative mothers, worries of home invasion, and more! Sprinkle in cursing, miscommunication, and an explicit scene and yikes! I need a Jimenez time out!
Genre: Thriller (?) Format: Audio Rating: 2/5
Summary: Miserable people on a train get murdered. No one is fun.
Look at the cover! Cool Train! Okay, that was the best part. Move along. Unfortunately, I read the reviews of “not his best work” and “he does over the top twists, but this was ridiculous” AFTER reading the book. A cold & unstable lady lures all of the people that wronged her father on a 13 hour train ride to get arrested. But they start getting murdered. I don’t mind twists, but I like them to make sense. This book did not make sense. Looks like I’m still on a quest for a go-to thriller author. Next!
Summary: Three girls seek assistance from a quirky teacher to save the town from a secret society and a giant worm monster.
If you enjoy Kate McKinnon, this is a slam dunk. For most of the book, my kid and I read along with her divine narration. Sometimes she got a little lost in the weeds with the characters, but it was just ridiculous in such a fun way. I’m almost bummed it has “for young ladies” in the title, because I had to talk my son into reading it. Once he understood the type of humor, he was invested and really enjoyed it.
Summary: A husband and wife trick each other back into love after a four year fight.
Miscommunication annoys me, but this was a charming treat. I survived the “why won’t they just talk to each other!?” elements of this book by enjoying the fun sidekick characters yelling “WHY WON’T YOU JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER!?” The entire book is this scene from Friends, and I’m not mad about it:
Summary: A high strung doctor and a guy down on his luck get thrown together for a ridiculous adventure.
The only way I’m going to enjoy a story about “working through grief with a splash of instant-romance” is if there is also a LOST JEWEL and MURDER! This was an easy-to-read delight of a book that could have turned very obnoxious very quickly. I will look for this author again when I need a lighter romance detour – which is high praise.
Genre: Fantasy/Adult Fairy Tale (A reread of a comfort book!) Format: Audio Rating: 4.5/5
After (wildly gestures to all current events), I needed to distract my brain with lovely world-building and a gather-the-gang adventure. I liked reading it more than the audio book, but it was still a delicious tale allowing charming escapes for my noggin.
THE QUIT LIST: Apparently, I would fail AP Literature. In a quest to read what my niece was reading in high school, I picked up the book 1984. Wow, it’s ROUGH. A society where history is being erased and there are giant posters of a toxic leader and freedoms are being eroded? NOTHING TO SEE HERE. (It was actually affecting my mental health…..so, sorry Niece! Go on without me!)
It still feels like summer, but I sense books and blankets in my future. Happy Fall Reading!
You can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the August anxiety out of the teacher. The anticipation of school, work, and multiple family birthdays always gets me a bit worked up, so I decided to take a break from any chance of explicit content (violence, gore, romps in the hay). It was an almost exclusive PG-13/YA/MiddleGrade list this month, and I have to admit it was a fun reading detour.
Genre: YA Dystopian Format: Physical Rating: 3.5/5
This was a solid ending to the Inhuman duology, but it was evident the books were written years apart. Apparently the author had a major block and trouble finishing this one (as told in the acknowledgements). It showed through character changes in the love triangle, and some plot points seemed pretty forced. However, this still stands as a solid YA Dystopian tale with great world building, the right amount of angst, suspense, and memorable characters.
Genre: Nonfiction Format: Audio Rating: 2.5/5
I usually loathe parenting books of any kind, but desperate times call for desperate measures – especially since my attitude with one of my children usually comes out like this:
In a quest to be more empathetic, this book helped me remember that eating uses all the senses and it can be a big mental block for a lot of kids. While there is nothing earth-shattering awesome in these tips and most suggestions make me fight my inner beast, I will TRY some of the advice here. Operation: Eat Noodles 2025 is a go.
Genre: YA Fantasy Format: Mix of Audio/Physical (The narrator was good but it was a bit over the top. Ha!) Rating: 5/5
Sometimes there are books that are just TREATS. This was a treat. A friend recommended this, and I had no idea what I was getting into. Take 1500s British history, but make it set in a world where people can turn into animals. Just don’t ask questions. It’s a tale of found family and quests and humor. Just roll with it and enjoy, okay??
A seventh grader navigates peers, teachers, and family, while learning more about her neurodivergent brain. This was an interesting free verse novel on about autism and accommodations and friendship. I read it with my incoming seventh grader and would highly recommend it, as this book provided great talking points on a variety of issues. (He gave it a full 5/5, by the way.)
Genre: YA Format: Audio Rating: 2.5/5
This was a generous rounded-up-“3”. Somehow, a pop star/secret agent/bodyguard book with car chases, concerts, shootings, and espionage was…..boring? I’m all about suspending disbelief, but these trauma-bonded teens had zero chemistry and needed to move on from each other immediately. Hence, I shall not continue on with the sequel. (I just didn’t have the heart to DNF a fourth book in a row.)
The cast of characters on a Mars settlement was built of interesting people and realistic kids. However, there were some MAJOR plot holes (why mention conflict on Earth if you’re going to never resolve it?) and some convenient closure (it all could have been fixed by reading an email from years prior). Overall, solid middle grade fiction, annoying at times. And huge trigger warnings for kids that have ever feared for the lives of parental/grandparent figures. Eek.
Genre: YA (slight magical realism) Format: Mix of Audio/Physical Rating: 4.25/5
Coming of age tales are not my favorite, but I got over myself enough to finally pick up the traveling pants. The feelings and angst and interwoven tales were just lovely – even though I was constantly laughing that a book from 2001 seemed like an ancient historical text. Could you even imagine 4 teen best friends that wrote letters to each other and didn’t have constant updates? That was almost more unbelievable than size-shifting pants. The characters were honest but hard to read at times (because girls are complicated!). While somewhat dated, teen angst is as current as ever. My only complaint is: YOU HAVE MAGICAL PANTS TO WORK WITH AND IT’S MOSTLY JUST A SYMBOL OF THEIR CONNECTION. BUT YOU HAVE MAGICAL PANTS!? AND EVERYONE IS JUST COOL WITH IT? NO NOTES? WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT THE MAGIC IN THE PANTS!?
Genre: YA Format: Audio Rating: 1/5
Yes, it is always harsh to give a “1”. While I was expecting Aladdin with a twist, I was not expecting a retelling to suck all the romance, humor, and FUN away. The first 25% is exactly like the movie. Then it diverges with the idea that Jafar gets the lamp/genie first. So, remember the most depressing 5 minutes of the movie where Jafar is Sultan? It’s 70% that. With some gore? Ew. Anyway, NEXT!
Solid pacing, great (British) humor, solid twists, dumb fun. It was a thrift store find and the most pleasant surprise. (Pairs well with KPop Demon Hunters!)
Genre: YA Format: Audio/Physical Mix Rating: 4.25/5
This is what fairy tale retellings should be – hitting all the main points of the original plot but adding fun twists. This mash-up involves Cinderella and a Star-Trek-like TV series. It’s got all the characters of the original tale, but this time you have to get the food truck home from the cosplay convention on time. I’m a sucker for Ashley Poston and was charmed by trying one of her YA books.
The Quit List
These lovely YA reads fell victim to “PLEASE STOP EXPLAINING THINGS – IF YOU CAN’T START ANY REAL ACTION BY 12%, I’M OUT”. Cool covers, interesting premises, slow starts. Next!
Weyward is a “DNF for now”. I have trouble engaging with jumping timelines and parallel stories (even though it’s clever story telling and very popular). It’s a me thing. I know this one is on all the lists, so if I need to give it more of a try, please let me know.
I’m in the middle of two FUN books right now, so happy September reading!
This genre is hit or miss for me, but Julie Clark’s writing delights me with consistent page-turner energy. It’s the same suspense as a Freida McFadden book, but the overall style doesn’t make me feel like I’m just waiting to be tricked – I’m more of a partner with the protagonist, if that makes sense. Anyway, this is a mystery full of family drama and general creepiness. A writer is hired by her estranged father to write his memoir, but she must solve all the puzzles. Murder! Secrets! Eek! If you like any Dateline/Cold Case shows, this is a pretty good book to scratch that itch.
Genre: Sci-Fi Format: Audio Rating: 4/5
Sure, it’s dated (1995 is shockingly 30 years ago) and an unnecessary sequel, but who cares! Ian Malcolm is back with a new group of dummies on an island, trying to find out what they can learn about dinosaurs without being dino-murdered. Slow and steady, this book actually contains less gore and a smaller cast than the original, which was nice. However, there is still plenty to dry heave about in this lovely tale of “no! don’t run THAT way!”
Genre: Nonfiction Format: Audio (read by the author – an excellent audio book) Rating: 4.5/5
This is an odd “first John Green book” for me to pick, as he is known for dramatic YA novels – but I’m familiar with his brother’s books and follow both of them on social media. This book recently flew into popularity, and I understand why. It’s a great (and unsettling) overview of the history, research, treatments, and effect of tuberculosis. He spells out the challenges and impacts of the disease, while presenting the information in an accessible, personal, and readable way. It would be a great gateway nonfiction book for reluctant readers. My only complaint would be that it didn’t go even deeper into the material, but he did supply books to read if you wanted to do just that.
What do you do with a book that is perfection for the first 70% and then enrages you with the ending? Hahahaha. I don’t know, but this was that. I adored the sentient typewriter story – it had major The One and Only Ivan vibes. The writing was beautiful, but the twist SUCKED. I have had horrendous luck with books lately that lure me in with cuteness and then drop trauma, cancer, dementia, etc. This book took a turn, and I’m still mad about it.
Look, I will never actually recommend a Bridgerton book. You did not hear about any of these stories from me. However, if you were ever curious about any of Julia Quinn’s books, I would honestly start here. It delivered all the banter and silliness and tension and escapism and fun like the original books without being too problematic or full of trauma dumping. Maybe I loved this one because I finally got a break from surprise cancer and dementia subplots! Huzzah!
So much set up, very little payoff. I kept going and going, waiting for the author to tie up any loose ends on this story – but she said “nah, let’s just set it up for 350 pages and then end the book”. Gah! In a future where AI prevents crime by flagging suspicious dreams, a woman is detained without a hearing and gets lost in the system. There were so many questions about the woman and her fellow inmates, the staff, her lawyer, the corporation, her family, and more! I’m all about leaving things open to interpretation, but give me sooooooooome kind of closure. Anything. Whhhhhhhhhhhy.
Parts of this book were the epic quest hilariousness that I’ve been looking for. Parts of this book were just icky and confusing. How do I reconcile such a roller coaster!? A naive lady inherits a magic sword that pops out a guardian when unsheathed. The woman and the sword-guy get the hots for each other while on an adventure to protect her inheritance from a toxic extended family. The first 40% was amazing and adorable (think Cinderella meets Tangled meets Aladdin), but it just goes downhill from there. I’m glad I tried it, but I doubt I’ll be picking up the sequel. (Trombone slide)
Jesse Sutanto novels have been pretty positively neutral for me, but she definitely understood the assignment with this Mulan retelling. What a treat. The Meant to Be series has a few duds, but this book joins the Rapunzel remake (Tangled Up in You) at the top of my book list for the year. The story is updated to find Mulan filling in for her father in the male-dominated finance industry. She goes to “war” in attempt to buy a company, that just happens to have a hot Shang as the CEO. If you are a fan of the animated movie and need a contemporary romance that you can tell other people about without blushing, this is a fun one.
Did I snort laugh when I saw this cover? Yes. Did I want to read it? No. Did I change my mind when the blurb said, “Love’s about the catch them completely off gourd?” Yes. Yes, I did. Do I regret it? A little.
There were some excellent parts of this funny little book, but it went off the rails a few times and lost a lot of its charm by the end. It takes a lot of skill to bounce between….ahem…..relations…..and very serious chats about pumpkin farming. I recommend the first 30%. If you go beyond that, it’s your own fault.
Genre: Children’s Fantasy Format: Physical Rating: 3/5
My eldest won this at his school’s “Book Bingo”, and we decided to read it together. I warned him it was weird and charming. And, like I remembered, it was weird and charming! Many clever parts of this book sailed right over both of our heads, but it was nice to revisit this tale of a man stranded in the desert hearing tales from a little prince from the sky.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 3/5
This book was on a Goodreads list of “Magical Realism”, so I gave it a go. I like weird stuff. The first half was the vibes of Practical Magic (the movie, not the book), and I was pulled in. So far so good. HOWEVER. If you create a world where the dead can communicate via dreams after people eat magical pie and there’s a mysterious cat that leads you places…..do NOT spend 93% of the book drudging up old family drama and relationship issues. You have magical pie and curious birds and a mysterious cat to work with!!!!!!!!! It might as well have been a nosy neighbor sneaking messages to the people to solve their relationships, as the magic was a bit pointless. What was the reason for having magic in the book if I just have to listen to people trauma dump and awkwardly hang out!? (As far as cozy relationship/trauma dumping books go, it was fine.)
Genre: Fiction Format: Physical Rating: 3.75/5
Nothing to See Here made me a fan of Kevin Wilson. This book gives all the fun of his writing, following a group of half siblings on a road trip to find their father. One of my favorite tropes is “assembling a team”, and this book embraces the “get in the car and keep adding quirky characters” vibe I was looking for. While the ending is a bit anticlimactic, it was an interesting and easy-to-read book with vivid and memorable characters.
When Bridgerton books are good, they are charming and fun (see above). When Bridgerton books are bad, they are problematic and cringe (this one right here). Oof. It started out with an adorable While You Were Sleeping vibe, but then turned into an icky slog. There were cute moments….but there were also lies and using self-induced food allergic reactions to avoid truth-telling. Super weird. I read comments that this was the worst in the series, so I might give the third one a try after a Julia Quinn break.
Genre: Nonfiction Format: Audio Rating: 5/5
Look, did I plan on getting absorbed into the events surrounding the death of the 20th president, James Garfield? No. My husband was also a little confused when his wife started giving a play-by-play of the election of 1880. But this book awakened the part of me that was a social studies minor once upon a time. The author weaves together Garfield’s life, the politics of the time, the story of Alexander Graham Bell, and the troubled life of the assassin. I love when history books are suspenseful. Takeaways: American politicians have always sucked, but Garfield was a decent guy. Garfield didn’t even want to be president and voted against himself at the convention. Two of his kids died of diseases we now have vaccines for and it will make you very thankful for modern medicine. Speaking of… Garfield totally could have survived the gunshot wounds, but his doctor didn’t BELIEVE IN GERMS AND DIDN’T WASH HIS HANDS. (I’ll save the gore, but it was not a pretty death, y’all.) History repeating itself is stupid (birther movement for Arthur Chestnut being from Canada, anyone?). It took until the THIRD presidential assassination in 1901 to have security guards for presidents. Bonus Jeopardy points if you know who was killed. I had forgotten. Might be time for another book.
Genre: YA Dystopian Format: Physical Rating: 4.25/5
This random pick from the YA section hit all the right notes of early 2000 dystopian gems (This came out in 2011, and I wonder if the market was a bit saturated by then. I had never heard of it.). If you have a teen that doesn’t know where to go after Hunger Games, this is it. A love triangle, great world building, a quest, excellent cliff hangers on almost every chapter to make you keep reading past your bedtime. There’s angst and annoying parts, but that is the joy of the YA dystopian genre! I will warn against violence/gore, but it’s comparable to Hunger Games. I’ll be picking up the sequel ASAP to finish the story!
The Quit List Returns!
Everyone was miserable, and I realized I didn’t care which character was murdered. Next!
I do not want to read about multiple different erections within the first 8% when they are not even being fun. Next!
And on that note (ha!), it’s time to sign off on another month of reading. August is about to get busy, but I’ll try to get a few good stories rolling!
It was a no-quit June! Nothing to overly rage or rave about, but there are some solid reads in this month’s list. It’s a shorter blog, because June continued May’s busied life pace. However, I have high hopes for July and am in the midst of two thrillers already. So stay tuned!
Oh, this one hurts, as an Emily Henry romance is usually a sure thing. I applaud her for branching out and pushing her genre/format, but this one fell flat for me. The premise was great and the potential was plentiful, but I was an incredibly frustrated reader. The plot involved two writers interviewing a (very unlikable) woman about her (very boring) family history in a competition to write her biography. The romance was pretty forced and the narration was unreliable. I’m going to reread Funny Story or Beach Read soon to recover.
Just like the first Katie book, this was an okay story made better by an eager tween reading it aloud to me. The whole cast is back, and the cats continue to steal the show. The plot is rather disjointed and the angst is strong, but it’s cute and harmless. Superheroes and cats – enough said.
Genre: YA Dystopian Format: Audio/Physical Mix Rating: 4/5
Heartbreaking and brutal, I only picked this up to complete the reread of the original series. It was fascinating to discover which scenes I remembered vividly, which ones I completely forgot, and which details were connected to the latest book, Sunrise on the Reaping. It was worth the reread, but the emotional damage is real.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 3/5
An uptight lady rages against inappropriate books and opens her own little free library. A rascal switches all the book covers and she’s actually loaning out the books she banned. Often charming, but mostly preachy, any rating could be justified for this book. The format was interesting, the premise was adorable, the wokeness (even when agreed with) was heaaaaaavy handed. I loved the characters and way the story was put together, but I wish the lessons didn’t have to be spelled out. At times, it comes across as rather condescending, even though the author clearly wants to portray both “sides” of the issues presented.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 2.25/5
After being intrigued the by the cover and blurb multiple times – but ultimately passing over it again and again – I gave this one a shot. I can’t remember the last book that has given me so many mixed feelings. A couple falls in love, but the man is diagnosed with a condition where he slowly turns into a great white shark. Any fan of mine knows that plot point is the one that I’m loving. It’s so weird, dude. But then it goes and messes it up with another character’s backstory of teen pregnancy and domestic violence and chronic awfulness. Then it gets interesting – back to the weird shark stuff! – but then the epilogue bums me the heck out. It’s a roller coaster that I definitely wanted to get off of after a couple loops.
Genre: Memoir Format: Audio Rating: 4.25/5
It’s hard to be self-deprecating and arrogant at the same time, but this book somehow pulls it off with humor and charm. Josh Gad gives behind the scene stories about The Book of Mormon, the Frozen franchise, Beauty & the Beast, and much more, all while blending in personal stories about events that shaped his life and career. Ping-ponging between stories of his grandparents surviving the Holocaust, his family life, Covid times, and Hollywoord anecdotes can be boggling, but Gad manages to keep it tied together. This book is often over-the-top and mushy, but that seemingly matches the author. I would definitely recommend the audio book!
Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sneak Attack Explicit! I should have looked it up ahead of time and was not prepared based on the first 2/3!) Format: Physical Rating: 3.25/5
Bait. And. Switch. Uggggggggggh. The first 70% of this book was a dream of a Sleepless in Seattle retelling. To the point where it was a 5-star-recommend-it-to-people situation. But, oh, how it took a turn. This innocent charmer turned into a teenage horndog of a story where I did not want them to be together at the end. At one point, I might have been caught by my husband as I muttered “gross” out loud. Oh noooooo! The leading man turned into a needy, insecure fixer-upper. She teaches him that he can love and be a human after all – ew. But, seriously, the first 70% is WONDERFUL. Hahahahaha.
Genre: Fantasy Format: Audio Rating: 3.25/5
Discovered through Instagram, I wanted to give this Kansas City-based self-published author a chance. Her book was read in audio format by Julia Whelan, and it seemed like a good genre switch up, so why not!? Overall, I loved the character writing and was engaged. A woman travels back in time to discover that she is Guinevere. Yes, that one. It’s interesting, but there was a LOT of this book that could have been cut out or seemed out of place. (It felt YA, but then characters swore a lot, there was a consent issue with magical mind tricks, and it had one brief explicit scene and slight gore…so that was confusing). Several plot points were brushed away with “It’s magic! Don’t ask questions!” (Honestly, I don’t mind that, but blending modern times with King Arthur is a challenge.) There were things I really enjoyed, and things that were incredibly frustrating. In summary, I liked it, but I’m not sure what to do with it overall.
Ashley Poston does weird + banter so well, and her new novels are my must-reads. This one started out slow for me, mostly because I wanted a quirky beach read – and do you know what slows down a “fun-kiss-cam-causes-a-telepathic-connection” romance? A subplot of Parental. Early. Onset. Dementia. Ugggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggh. However, it does pick up and become just as lovely as her other books, featuring songwriting and the North Carolina coast.
That’s a wrap for June, and I’m very hopeful for some excellent July reading. See you next month!
I will confess that most of these reviews will leave you thinking, “Heidi, why did you even read these? Some of these seem like real duds!” Honestly, May has been a month full of distractions, and I pretty much had to rely on available audio books to get any reading done. Finish anything at all took effort, so I’m winning with what I’ve got!
If you are a nerd in need of delight, read this book! Although the setting is a depressing dystopian landscape, an adorable robot just wants to serve people. Joined by a character called “the wonk”, Uncharles the Valet goes on a quest to complete his tasks. This book is sometimes slow and wordy and preachy, but it’s funny and sweet and will scratch of itch of wanting to read a sci-fi tale.
Genre: RomCom/Action Format: Audio Rating: 3.25/5
This was big, dumb fun – but also a little obnoxious. Ha! If you are a fan of characters that fall into insta-love and cheesy action movies, this would be a good read. She’s a professor, he’s the nephew of a deceased “fixer”. They meet, are super hot for each other (rated PG), she gets kidnapped, hijinx ensues! Just like the movie Speed, the new relationship would never make it long term. However, the book explicitly states several times their attraction is NOT situational. (It’s totally situational, and it’s a good thing the epilogue was three months later instead of three years later…they are doomed.)
My husband likes this series a lot, and it’s now a show on Apple+! Maybe it was reading two robot books so close together…Maybe it was being dropped into the story with extremely little world building…Maybe it was the 1/2 human, 1/2 clone concept that confused me. But it was just fine for me. I actually really like how they did the first episode of the series, so I might pick up the next one someday to keep going with the TV show – but I have other stories beating this series in the reading priority queue!
Genre: YA Sci-fi-ish Format: Audio Rating: 2/5
This books answers the questions: What if Percy Jackson was less fun? What if Hermione was a damsel in distress and Hagrid died? In other words, this was not great. It had SO much potential and then fizzled. Hard. The “romance” was so uncomfortable and the language was unnecessary. It was written like a cheesy middle grade book about an alien being a new kid in school – but then they threw in some make out sessions and swears to make it YA. Ew. The only interesting character was brought in during the last 10% to set it up for the next book, but I will gladly stop the series here.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: (a generous) 2.5/5
I feel bad marking this book lower than a “3” on Goodreads, because I knew this wasn’t going to be for me. I finally picked up an Elin Hilderbrand book, because it checked off a library challenge category for a writer who has attended the Iowa Writer’s Workshop. I would be willing to try her books again, but this one was not for me. If you like lies of omission and love triangles where every combination is toxic, I have a book for you! This book is a very long set up to a sequel and the most interesting part was in the last 30 seconds. Boo.
Genre: Memoir/Comedy Format: Audio Rating: 4.25/5
If you like Nate Bargatze’s stand-up, you will likely enjoy this book. It’s a bit of an organizational mess and full of rambling stories, but it’s fun and good for a laugh.
Genre: Fiction Format: Physical Rating: 3.25/5
Oh, senior-citizens-solving-murder-books, I just can’t stop trying to like you. Life Freida McFadden thrillers, I keep coming back – even though I know it’s just not for me. It’s a recurring joke that Vera describes herself as a helpless old woman. She is portrayed like a confused 87 year old, which is often annoying, since she’s really in her early 60s. Anyway, there was nothing wrong with this book, but it took me over a month to finish it. It was funny and charming and had an interesting ending, but I actually paused it multiple times to read other books. I didn’t want to quit it, because there was nothing “wrong” with it. It was just a slog for me to finish. Anyway, if you like nosy busy bodies, Vera is your gal.
After a no-quit-April, the “quit list” is back in play. D’oh!
I was really looking forward to this one, but I had to stop at a mere 14%. I tried it in physical and audio form, but I had to call it. Why? Well, a 33 year old woman returns to the lake where she lived when she was 17 – and basically regresses to all the feelings and angst and longing of being 17. I do not need to be or feel like being 17 again. Next!
DNF it once, shame on you. DNF it twice, shame on me. I really tried, Sanderson! After 25% on the second attempt, I finally called it. If the character said “storms!” or “damnation!” one more time, I was going to lose my mind. Premise was cool, but it was not for me.
I tried to start this one twice. Apparently I like my Hazelwood characters a little bit older. I did not want to read about college angst or doing it. I am officially elderly. If there’s going to be lusty youth, there better be dragons and near-death situations involved. I don’t need this realistic ridiculousness.
I also started these books. I’m not ready to quit them yet, but I am not in the mood. They will be put in my later pile, for I am in a reading SLUMP, y’all!
That said, it’s SUMMER VACATION! May the FUN reading commence! Best of luck to you, fellow readers, and send me some FUN summer reading recommendations. If it has cancer, grief, sad animals, family conflict, or old people solving crime, I don’t want it. Give me quests and funny and sidekicks and mysteries and adventure and weirdos. MMwah!
Honestly, I don’t know the difference or why April is a lucky reading month, but I might try to make this an annual event. Per usual, we have a weird, random, disturbing, and delightful variety of reading material this month.
By the author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise comes a quirky and silly book about marriage and motherhood and getting caught up in a hostage situation that just happens to be the plot of your failed novel. Last month, I complained about books that smothered me in issues and took away the fun. This story still had heart and issues, but it was a dumb, wild ride and FUN….the way I like my issues.
Genre: YA Dystopian Format: Audio/Physical Mix Rating: 5/5 (probably overrated but I don’t care.)
Look, I knew I was going to get my heart stomped on, but SERIOUSLY SUZANNE COLLINS. This was horrendous torture while being an amazing addition to the Hunger Games series. I was so mad at The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes because it was a vague ending that lacked enough connection to the originals (for me). Well, BOOM. This book solves everything and connects the books and I need some time to recover from the emotional spiral of this mess. For future readers: Make sure you have read Songbird and Snakes (even though I didn’t like it) and reread Catching Fire. It will be worth it.
Genre: Romance/Fairy Tale Retelling Format: Audio/Physical Mix Rating: 2.5/5
The Meant to Be series has given me one favorite (Tangled Up in You) and a whole lot of misses. There were things I loved about this and things that I hated. How do you make the dad character in a Little Mermaid retelling as the irredeemable villain when the band manager “Ursula” is right there?!? Overall, it was fine, but definitely not anything to recommend.
Genre: Memoir Format: Audio Rating: 3.75/5
Oof. All the trigger warnings. (Seriously, be careful….several types of abuse in detail mixed with religious trauma) This is a cross between Educated and Counting the Costs. It’s a captivating book but very troubling. I’ve deleted multiple sentences multiple times trying to write commentary/explanations. It’s just….a lot…..and very depressing to remember how easily culture and religion can become weaponized.
Genre: Nonfiction Format: Audio Rating: 3/5
In their second book, Sara and Beth continue to provide common sense, optimism, and compassion about the state of the world and overcoming differences. However, even though this book came out in 2022, it already feels dated. I need a new edition called “2025 NOW WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!?? NO, SERIOUSLY, NOW WHAT!?”
Genre: Fiction Format: Physical Rating: 3/5
It’s weird and funny and thoughtful and boring. Scalzi says this is loosely grouped together with Starter Villain and The Kaiju Preservation Society, but I did not like this one nearly as much as the others. The short story vibes made pacing a challenge. I laughed out loud and loved the premise, but the random tangents were frustrating. If you need a real CHEESY story, this is it.
Genre: YA Fiction Format: Physical Rating: 3/5
I read this with my sixth grader for his reading group. I can sum up my feelings with: “Eh, I’ve read worse…” This is definitely more YA than middle grade, dealing with romantic feelings and the afterlife. A teen dies, discovers that you then age backwards in a second-half-of-your-life situation, and then gets reborn. It was not great and sometimes questionable (spying on Earth and aging backwards are sketchy elements when it comes to relationships/romance), but I didn’t completely hate it.
I hate miscommunication as a romance trope, which is why I loved this book. Ha! They were VERY clear about their feelings toward each other, but they needed to figure out logistics and a heap ton of traumatic family issues to find their happily ever after. Like her other books, Abby Jimenez uses humor and banter to pull you in and then stomps on your heart with stupid feelings. She wrote in a way where I devoured this book in two days and could picture scenes like a movie in my head. How’s that for high praise? I couldn’t give it a full 5 (a couple pet peeves hit me) but it was very, very close.
Genre: Fiction Format: Audio Rating: 3/5
What a weird little critics’ darling. On a quest to branch out, I picked up this retelling of Greek mythology from the female perspective. And, ooh, lady, it was weird. Did I almost quit during the God-birthing-a-monster c-section event? Yes. Did I almost quit later during the Goddess-c-sectioning-herself scene? Absolutely. But I didn’t! If you like short stories and a million characters and poetic writing and monsters and murder and no plot but also too much plot, this will be a TREAT. Summary: Lots of people come to an island. Then they leave the island. And then that happens 18,000 more times.
Genre: Memoir-ish Word Art Format: Audio (the only way to go here) Rating: 3.25/5
I may not have much experience with drugs, but I have read two Jenny Slate books. I’m pretty sure it’s the same feeling. The second book should be called Jenny 2: Slate Harder. It’s over-the-top and wonderful and bonkers and uncomfortable and a treat but also strange and awful but good. It’s a Jenny Slate book of wordy fun.
Even though graphic novels can be just as challenging as chapter books, I normally wouldn’t “count” this toward my reading goal. However, I had an eager 12 year old reading every single word out loud while making sure my eyeballs paid attention to every single illustrated frame. It counts. This was an adorable story with undercover superheroes and lots of cats. What’s not to like?!
I have come to terms with the fact I need to break up with Freida McFadden books. I’ve tried. I want to like them. But this April Fools’ birthday girl does not like investing hours into a book with nothing to do but await trickery. This was an over-the-top doozy of UGH. Do you remember the scene from The Office where Michael lists all of the pros and cons of being with Jan and sneaks in “I’m unhappy when I’m with her”? Hahahaha. There are many fun things about these stupid twists (and they are fast page-turners), but I’m unhappy when I’m reading them. Bwahaha! (I’m sure I’ll pick one up again someday…)
May is looking promising with a new Emily Henry book, a local visit from Abby Jimenez, and the end of the school year. Go team!!
