November 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

Jigsaw: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman - Alex Delaware never fails to deliver, even after 40+ books Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 2/3/26

Wildwood by Amy Pease - This is the second book with these characters and you know I'm going to advise you to read the first one before this. I enjoy these characters, and this plot was good too.  More of them, please. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book comes out 1/6/26

Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's Open AI by Karen Hao - Fuck AI is my standard position, so I went in knowing this would probably hit with me. It did make me hate big tech and technofascists more. This is all a fucking nightmare. Hard cover, borrowed

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave - This requires suspension of belief, but so did the first. This was a well done follow up IMO, a different type of story than the first. Capable women rule. I'm going to see Laura Dave in person in January so I've bought a hard copy since the ticket comes with one for signing if you choose. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 1/6/26

Burn Down Master's House by Clay Cane - Whew. It's always werid to say you liked a story that originates in slavery and all the awful shit that goes along with it, but sorry fellow white people, this is the kind of shit we should be required to read...especially those white people who are very "slavery was years ago, get over it." This was very well done - loved the four paths and it was clearly well researched. Great writing. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/27/26

Passed the Time Just Fine

My Ex-Husband's Ex-Husband by Rachel Cohn, Melissa - I liked this so much more than I thought I would. A silly little story, with some deep cut shit here and there. The setting was tops. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon - For something with under an hour in the title, lord this drug on. I think this would've been an excellent short story. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben, Reese Witherspoon - I've read every Harlan Coben and this book is at the bottom of the pile. Hardcover, borrowed

Did Not Finish

Darkrooms by Rebecca Hannigan - Via Netgalley, publishes 1/13/26

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What have you been reading?

October 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller - I love a Kirsten Miller book, and this was no exception. They always speak to my rage over the status of women in the world.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - Big love for this book, I read it at exactly the right time Thanks to the publisher for the free advanced copy via Netgalley

How About Now: Poems by Kate Baer - This spoke to the midlife woman I am. I'm a Kate Baer stan. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, purchased a paperback after

Same by Hannah Rosenberg - Enjoyable - loved the friendship and womanhood writing. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley - I'd read about these people forever, different branches of them. Love her writing and stories. OCNJ library hardcover

Passed the Time Just Fine

Where He Left Me by Nicole Baart - Not my favorite Nicole Baart, but a solid read nonetheless.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage - Good concept, loved the Cherokee roots of the story, but it felt a little all over and was WAY too long. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 

The Glowing Life of Leean Wu by Mindy Hung - A little magical realism, family dynamics with multiple generations of women - ticks my boxes. Pacing a little off and slow to get into. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan - I was excited at the components of this in theory, but the unfolding didn't exactly deliver. I considered not finishing, but hung in through the end. Definitely a different type of reading experience than most Gilly Macmillans I've read, where I rush through and it feels not long enough.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens - This felt like reading a mash up of a bunch of books I've already read and that movie with Woody Harrelson and Juliet Lewis. Just not good, felt recycled. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf - This was a wild combination of things. Not my favorite Heather G novel, but readable still. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee - Via Netgalley 

The Plot Twist by Eleanor Goymer - via Netgalley 

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What have you been reading?

September 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda - I always enjoy a Megan Miranda book, and that was true in this case. They're quick reads and they always pull me in. OCNJ library hardcover

Heart the Lover by Lily King - This book, this book. I sunk into it and loved it. It spoke to the English major in me - heaven for lit nerds. Gorgeous writing. Shattered me in the best way, several passages will live inside of me forever. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Fox by Joyce Carol Oates - I love a boarding school book. She's a master, no notes. Well, maybe one note? The books are long as hell. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Women, Seated by Zhang Yueran - Read almost like a short story or novella. This depressed me to no end but I liked it. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Boom Town by Nic Stone - I couldn't put this down. Loved the characters. The psycho character was even well done. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Keep This for Me by Jennifer Fawcett - Solid quick hitter beach read. It was wild, and unbelievable, but it was engrossing. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Librarians by Sherry Thomas - I loved these people and the setting, obviously. A quick beach read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham - Elin's book with her daughter, more YA-ish but still identifiable as a Hilderbrand book. This was a quick, engrossing read. OCNJ library hardcover

Passed the Time Just Fine

A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon - Lots going on in here, but a quick mover and read on the beach in a few hours. I knew who it was early on but didn’t know the why or how, and that felt a little thrown together Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 

At Last by Marisa Silver - This sounded like the setup for a great story, and I still believe it is. The execution of it fell a little flat though, and the pacing was off.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards - This drug quite a bit in places, and seemed convoluted as well. I still wanted to know what happened so I stuck until the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas  - A little laggy in spots, and lots of suspension of belief, but as an afternoon beach read it passes the time just fine. Also the twist and outcome were wild Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Fulfillment by Lee Cole - This took me quite a while to get into, but I eventually did and saw it through although I considered putting it down a few times. I got a free digital copy from Netgalley but also won a copy in a giveaway and read the paperback

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy - I liked the atypical structure of this, and threading the pieces together through these women and their friendships over the years. I originally thought this was about a sister relationship (Desiree and Danielle, which could have been a separate novel) but really liked how everything was woven in. A quick read, good writing Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

N/A

Did Not Finish

American Werewolves by Emily Jane - copy via Netgalley

The Belles by Lacy Dunham - copy via Netgalley 

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What have you been reading?

August 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

Kiss Her Goodbye (Frankie Elkin #4) by Lisa Gardner - Love this series - this book’s new characters stole my heart. More Frankie Elkin please! Free advanced copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham - I tore through this. So good, I was on edge the entire time

Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan - Appalachian setting is one of my sweet spots. I couldn't put this down - great pacing. I'd read more from these characters and definitely from this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein - Absolutely loved this as a fan of women's sports in general and as a soccer adjacent person most of my life through family. Heartbreaking and amazing throughout - I really loved this. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Couple's Secret (Josie Quinn #23) by Lisa Regan - Not my favorite Josie but still a solid delivery and reading experience. They can't all be favorites, although most of the 23 books have managed to be. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Passed the Time Just Fine

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku - Easy and enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal - Loved the components of this story, but the characters were frustrating and stuck in spots so it took me a while to get through Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell - What actually happened here came a little out of nowhere, but I still couldn't put the book down. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

High Season by Katie Bishop - Just okay - old murder storylines relying on younger adults as witnesses are difficult, and this was no exception. Made more difficult by not liking any of the characters. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje - I liked the writing - you could feel the yearning - and was fascinated by the relationships. Also enjoyed the Croatia factor Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion by Chris DeVille - Loved that the chapters began with a playlist. The book felt overloaded with info to me though, like nonstop, and it wasn't exactly a right fit for me music-wise, so I just skimmed the chapters/albums that were not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review 

First Light, Last Light by Glen Sorestad - I really enjoyed this, made my way through slowly. It might have been my first encounter with a volume of Canadian poetry. I preferred the nature poems over the people poems. Mid-Winter is a standout for me! Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Not For Me

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen - I standardly enjoy books by this author but this one was not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

Ruins by Amy Taylor - Copy via Netgalley

The Perfect Murder by Amanda McKinney - Copy via Netgalley 

The Violet Hour by Victoria Benton Frank - Copy via Netgalley 

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What have you been reading?

July 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

We Are All Guilty Here (North Falls #1) by Karin Slaughter - I loved this book, and loved to see a little #1 beside it indicating more are coming. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Fifth to Die (4MK Thriller #2) and The Sixth Wicked Child (4MK Thriller #3 by J.D. Barker - The second and third books in the series are as riveting as the first. I love to come into a series late because all books are available to rip through. OCNJ library paper back for 2 and hardcover for 3

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon - I love a cult theme, and this delivered on that. The aftermath life was a good storyline as well. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor - Read in a few hours - good story and pace

Thanks to the publisher for the invite to a free advanced copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The White Crow (Philomena McCarthy #2) by Michael Robatham - This series by Michael Robatham does not disappoint. Anxiously awaiting #3 Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood - I liked this concept but it took forever to progress, feeling like wheels stuck in mud at points. Despite that, I still felt it worthy to see through to the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross - Lots of thoughts and feelings over the themes in this book. Sensitive. Topical. I thought they were handled well. I don't mind alternating POVs but preferred Hazel's to everyone else's by quite a wide margin, which made those other POV chapters feel like work to get through and pulled my reading experience down a little. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman - This was strange as hell, and disconcerting at points, but worth it to see through to the end. Locked door mysteries are almost always strange and disconcerting to me, requiring a lot of suspension of disbelief, so it tracks. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox - Men. SMH. That's it, that's the whole review. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman walk into a Bar by Katie Yee - I really liked how this was written, I think it leaned in to how fleeting things in this life are, even when we think they are forever Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

Beautiful Nights by Nina George - Did not like slash loathed all of these characters, which cast a pall over the things that drew me to it - the setting of a French seaside in summer, family drama, forbidden love affair. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez - For some reason I missed the memo in advance that this leaned to horror, which is not my comfort zone. Good for you, not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exhange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline - Copy from Netgalley - pains me to not finish a book by an author I like but this was not it for me

Greenwich by Kate Broad - Copy from Netgalley

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What have you been reading?