March 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

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange - I read this in a day and it had a hold on me. Emotional, like leaking tears a little close to the end without even realizing it. OCNJ library hardcover

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker - Dark and honestly not my typical as I don't delve much into horror-ish books but I loved the writing and sped through this. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/29

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith - The morning I started this, I wanted to take the day off of work and read it through but alas life happens and that's not always possible. I loved The Unsinkable Greta James by this author and this one was a love too. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/8

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney - I've not had a good go of it with recent Alice Feeney books so I was pleasantly surprised by the hold this one had on me. It's quick moving and held my interest throughout. OCNJ library hardcover

The Dark Hours by Amy Jordan - I'd read a series with Julia Harte, but I'm not sure that's in the cards here. I love a mystery set in Ireland and this one was a speedy read for me. OCNJ library hardcover

Trust Me on This by Lauren Parvizi - I grew to love these sisters despite what initially annoyed me about both and always love a road trip as a setting for a book. Even if it's actual big life check things off the list road trip over the see these things road trip. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/8

Husband Missing (Josie Quinn #22) by Lisa Regan - At 22 books in, Regan continues to deliver in the Josie Quinn universe, and when I reach the end of a book I'm happy she puts them out regularly because the cliff hangers get me every time. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn - While a woman estranged from her family reconnecting with them to find out magic runs through her bloodline is not anything new, this was an interesting take on the particular power of a line of witches. Feminism, protection of women in community, justice meted out in what could be construed as revenge? No chance I'm going to dislike it. I liked it a lot. The strangler storyline was a good pairing with those themes. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick - I loved the storyline and the characters, but it is down here instead of up there because it felt a little slow at times. I also think we're not too far from where these women were in the 1960s and that pisses me off, but not the fault of the book or author. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/22

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley - This did not blow my socks off and felt overindulgent at points but it also felt super familiar and made me text Amanda, Frank, Mark, and MFD immediately - the backbone of the book is people and their relationship to music and with each other through the lens of music and man if it didn't feel like revisiting hundreds of conversations and debates we've had over the years at bars and backyard parties and the like. Sometimes a book strikes a chord even when it's not a perfect book. OCNJ library hardcover 

Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey - It's weird to read something that feels like a budding romance against the backdrop of serial killing, is it not? It propelled me to finish despite spending a good portion of the first half wondering what type of book this was. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/29

A Killing Cold by Kate Marshall - Whew, what a family of nutters. That kept me going through this even when there were holes or the urge to consistently shout THEO YOU IN DANGER GIRL throughout. OCNJ library hardcover

Eat, Slay, Love by Julie Mae Cohen - This was a fun little darkly humorous revenge on a conman scenario that read quickly and don't require overthinking. We love these types of books for being a smooth ride not requiring a literary dissertation. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/8

Not For Me

The Sirens by Emilia Hart - Sad to categorize Hart's sophomore effort as "not for me" since I was so looking forward to it after reading and enjoying Weyward, her first. Loved the ties to the past and memory and water, but this did not do it for me otherwise. Lucy was an impossible character to like, and that didn't help. I'll definitely give the next Hart a go though. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/1

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang - Likely a good for you, not for me scenario here. I've had it up to my chin with hearing about wellness influencers and their toxic bullshit so that really hampered my enjoyment here. The story tends young, and 25 year old me surely would have liked this if social media was a thing when I was 25. Free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 4/29

Did Not Finish

 n/a

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What have you been reading?