June 2026 Reads

I fear my intros may have become the “skip to the recipe” section of food blogs, and if so, I both apologize and completely understand. 

So I’ll take a different approach this month and only give you one update: I need to re-stain my deck in a few weeks, but my HOA doesn’t allow pressure washers. So your girl has been speckled with mud and grime every night for the last week (yes, in this heat wave nonetheless) as I manually scrub every piece of wood… but look at how much better it looks!

I hadn’t done the spindles/railings as of taking this photo, but the main deck part is looking way better.

All right, I digress. Here’s everything I read in June. 

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Little One by Olivia Muenter

LITTLE ONE by Olivia Muenter 

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: From the outside, Catharine West’s childhood sounds idyllic—balmy days spent running barefoot through the gardens, plucking ripe tomatoes straight from the vine as sunlight warmed her skin. Her parents built a life that was simple and community-focused, an ethos that soon attracted others in need of a change. For a time, Catharine’s magnetic father was enough to keep the farm thriving, and temptation outside its gates. But as she grew older, the farm and family she was raised to love faded into something darker, forcing Catharine to evolve with it. ​It’s now been a decade since Catharine abandoned the farm and has done her best to reinvent her life, until an email from a charismatic journalist interrupts her peace. Her first instinct is to ignore the stranger’s prying questions—whether she knew about a mysterious “cult” in central Florida, whether she is the same “Catharine-with-an-A” who lived there for a time. But when she realizes the journalist knows far more than he’s letting on, she reconsiders. If Catharine can stay one step ahead of him, she may be able to find the one thing she never wanted to leave behind—her sister, Linna—and make sure her own secrets remain buried too.

My Thoughts: Okay, if there’s one thing I’m fascinated by, it’s cults. I can’t explain why, but give me a good cult-based docuseries, and I am hooked. So naturally, I had high hopes going into this book. Unfortunately, I have to admit it wasn’t quite as juicy as I wanted it to be. Catharine West escaped her father’s cult ten years ago and has managed to build a relatively normal life. There are still some toxic behaviors, particularly around food, that surface from time to time, but for the most part, she’s put those dark years behind her. That all changes when a journalist reaches out asking for an interview, something she’s successfully avoided up until now. But when he reveals he has a source who claims to know Catharine personally, she begins to wonder if it could be her estranged sister. From the very beginning, this book did a great job of holding my attention. It alternates between the present, where Catharine is grappling with how much of her past she’s willing to expose, and the past, where we slowly get a glimpse into what life inside the cult was really like. I appreciated that the author didn’t lean too heavily into shock value. While the story explores the psychological manipulation and control you'd expect from a cult, it avoids incorporating sexual assault or some of the more gruesome content that often comes with books like this. That said, I found the ending a liiiittle anti-climactic. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, but as soon as it reached its peak, I was like, "...that’s it?" Overall, if you’re looking for a mildly suspenseful story about a cult that doesn’t venture too far into disturbing territory, I think this would be a good one to pick up. Just don’t go in expecting a wildly intense or twist-heavy thriller.

Silvercloak by L.K. Steven

SILVERCLOAK by L.K. Steven (The Silvercloak Saga #1)

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: Two decades ago, the Bloodmoons ruthlessly murdered Saffron Killoran’s parents, destroying her idyllic childhood. Hell-bent on revenge, she lies her way into Silvercloak Academy—the training ground for her city’s elite order of detectives—with a single goal: to bring the Bloodmoons to justice. But when Saff’s deception is exposed, rather than being cast out, she’s given a rare opportunity: to go undercover and tear the Bloodmoons down from the inside. Descending into a world where pleasure and pain are the most powerful currencies, Saff must commit some truly heinous deeds to keep her cover—and her life. Not only are there rival gangs and sinister smuggling rings to contend with, but there’s also her growing feelings for the kingpin’s tortured son, with his vicious pet fallowwolf, his dark past, and the curious prophecy foretelling his death at Saffron’s hand. With each day testing her loyalties further, Saff finds her web of lies becoming harder to spin. And when one false step could destroy everything and everyone she’s ever loved . . . the detective who’s dedicated her life to vengeance just might die for it.

My Thoughts: Ugh, okay. So this book has been getting a lot of hype lately, and while I did enjoy it overall, I also feel like it kind of fell short of my expectations. Twenty years ago, Saffron Killoran witnessed her parents’ murder at the hands of the Bloodmoons. Ever since, her life’s goal has been to become a Silvercloak and avenge them by killing the Bloodmoons’ leader. The only caveat to making it through the Silvercloak academy is that magic doesn’t work on her. Which wouldn’t be a huge issue, except that it’s completely unheard of and could make her a major threat to the entire magical community. As a result, she has to constantly find ways around unavoidable situations to convince everyone she’s just as affected by magic as they are. When her deception comes to light, the Silvercloaks give her an ultimatum that lands her undercover among the Bloodmoons. The biggest challenge is that she reports directly to the Kingpin’s son, Levan, and has to fight the growing urge to see him as anything other than evil. Listen, the premise was interesting, the pacing was solid, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between Saffron and Levan. However, I was getting increasingly frustrated with Saffron’s character arc because it felt like a non-starter. Every time I thought she was about to have a breakthrough and stop being soooo naive about the people she’s trusted for so long, she would quickly backtrack to her original judgments and never actually grow as a person. She does become more empathetic toward Levan, and there’s definitely some development surrounding the powers she possesses, but on a personal level, I found myself getting tired of Saffron by the end of the book. That being said, the ending took an interesting turn, and I’m definitely curious to see where it leaves her in the next installment. I’m almost wondering if I would’ve liked this one more had I read it on my Kindle instead of listening to the audiobook.

This Book Made Me Think Of You by Libby Page

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU by Libby Page

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When Tilly Nightingale receives a call telling her there’s a birthday gift from her husband waiting for her at her local bookshop, it couldn’t come as more of a shock. Partly because she can’t remember the last time she read a book for pleasure. Mainly because Joe died five months ago… The gift is simple – twelve carefully-chosen books from Joe, one for each month, to help her turn the page on her first year without him. Tilly sets out on a series of reading-inspired adventures that take her around the world. But as she begins to vlog her journey, her story becomes more than her own. With help from Alfie, the bookshop owner, her budding new following and her friends and family, can Tilly’s year of books show her how to love again?

My Thoughts: I’M NOT CRYING. YOU’RE CRYING. 🥹 Omg this book was so freaking heartwarming. Tilly Nightingale lost her zest for reading when her husband Joe got sick, and although he died six months ago, she still hasn’t been able to crack open a new novel. Deep in her grief and just going through the motions of life, she receives a phone call on January 2nd from the local bookstore saying they have an order for her to pick up. Confused, she goes in to learn before her husband passed away, he worked out a gift for her with the local bookstore owner, Alfie. Since this is the first full year without him, Joe has chosen a book for Tilly to receive each month. Y’all. This story was so freaking sweet. It had so many layers to it as Tilly collects the new month’s book, and each one has a small note from Joe in it with the inspiration behind his pick. What starts as a small gift, becomes a year full of new experiences, adventures, and opportunities Tilly never even imagined for herself. I loved watching her grow through her grief into someone so full of life. Not to mention, the supportive community she develops along the way. If you’re looking for something that strikes the perfect balance of sad and reflective with sweet and heartwarming, you have to give this one a read.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

YESTERYEAR by Caro Claire Burke

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: My name was Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive. Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the heir to a political dynasty? What Natalie’s followers—all 8 million of them—don’t know won’t hurt them. And The Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They’re sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn’t simply living the good life, she’s living the ideal—and just so happens to be building an empire from it. Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and now she’s expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a ruthless reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.

My Thoughts: I had to marinate on this book for a while before I could sit down and write a review for it. It is 10,000% worth the hype. The story follows Natalie, a homesteading influencer who appears to have the perfect life with her little family on their Yesteryear farm. In the prologue, everything seems to be exactly as Natalie has presented it to the world. But then you get a glimpse behind the curtain and discover she has two full-time nannies helping care for her five children, a production assistant making sure her content is picture-perfect, and an entire team helping her husband keep their crops thriving. Then the book begins...and Natalie wakes up in the 1800s. Listen, this literary experience was every bit as brilliant as it was unsettling. While you're trying to solve the mystery of how Natalie time traveled 200 years, you're also given glimpses into her life leading up to becoming the wildly successful influencer thousands of WASPy Christian tradwives aspire to be. Natalie is not a likable character, and I don't think she's supposed to be. It was hard to have much empathy for her when she clearly lacks the capacity to show empathy for anyone else. But honestly, I think that's part of what makes this book work so well. There is so much clever commentary woven throughout the story on issues that are especially relevant right now: the influence of religion on politics, women's roles within the family, the way social media success can distort an influencer's identity, and so much more. The only reason I couldn't give it a full five stars is because I wish the "aha" moment had come just a touch sooner. The opening had its hooks in me immediately, but by the time the big reveal arrived, I could feel those hooks starting to loosen a bit. Otherwise, I thought this was fantastic and HIGHLY recommend it.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion VOL 1 by Beth Brower

THE UNSELECTED JOURNALS OF EMMA M. LION: VOL. 1 by Beth Brower

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: “I’ve arrived in London without incident. There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.” The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

My Thoughts: This was quirky, and fun, and such a quick read! I can’t remember who recommended this to me, but it’s a whole series of journal entries from Emma M. Lion as she returns home after spending the last three years as a companion to her intimidating aunt. She learns the house and fortune she is promised when she turns 21 has not been taken care of by her cousin Archibald while she’s been away. Although there are a couple of serious tones in here, I’d say it’s mostly a quick-witted stream of thought from our girl Emma. I am for sure going to continue on with the rest of this series!

Kin by Tayari Jones

KIN by Tayari Jones

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Vernice and Annie, two motherless daughters raised in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, have been best friends and neighbors since earliest childhood, but are fated to live starkly different lives. Raised by a fierce aunt determined to give her a stable home in the wake of her mother’s death, Vernice leaves Atlanta at eighteen for Spelman College, where she joins a sisterhood of powerfully connected Black women and marries into an affluent family. Annie, abandoned by her dissolute mother as a child, and fixated on the idea of finding her and filling the bottomless hole left by her absence, sets off on a journey that will take her into a world of peril and adversity, as well as love and adventure, and culminate in a battle for her life.

My Thoughts: I’ve seen several people talking about this book on my Insta feed, so I was excited to see the audiobook available on Libby. For the most part, this was a beautifully written coming-of-age story about two childhood best friends, Vernice and Annie, whose lives take them down very different paths. Annie sets out to find the mother who abandoned her as a baby and is rumored to be living in Memphis. The journey there is filled to the brim with adversity, and the struggles she faces only continue once she arrives. Vernice, on the other hand, heads to Spelman College in Atlanta. Known her entire life as the girl who witnessed her father murder her mother, college gives her the fresh start she desperately needs to shed that identity. Despite developing a romantic relationship with her dorm roommate, Vernice ultimately marries into an extremely well-connected, affluent family where everything is unfamiliar to her. The one constant throughout both of their lives is the deeply rooted friendship they've shared since childhood. Although I was invested in both of their stories, I have to admit Annie's determination to find her mother started getting a little old for me. It was like finding her became her entire personality. Even the side characters around her seemed exhausted by hearing about it all the time. I completely understand that the abandonment she experienced was foundational to her character, but it honestly got to the point where I found myself wondering how much longer the author was going to keep dragging that thread out. This book takes you through a wide range of emotions, and the ending is no exception. Overall, I would recommend this one, but I'd also suggest checking the trigger warnings before diving in

Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

INTO THE BLUE by Emma Brodie

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: In the summer of 2000, AJ Graves dreams of writing for SNL; instead, she’s stuck working in a video rental store, with slim odds of escaping her Massachusetts small town and large family. Then in walks Noah Drew, the enigmatic and intense scion of the Drew acting dynasty, and her life changes forever. Despite wildly different upbringings, the two forge a deep, cosmic bond first as friends, then as acting partners—until one day, Noah disappears without a word. Seven years later in New York City, AJ is shocked to find herself cast in the same intergalactic TV production as Noah, by then a well-known Hollywood heartthrob. As their on-screen characters grow closer every day, the lines between reality and acting begin to blur. Unable to stay away from each other, AJ and Noah are forced to confront the truth of what happened years ago—and the devastating secret that will send their lives careening apart, even as fate continues to draw them together.

My Thoughts: This is probably going to end up in my top three, if not my absolute favorite, romance of the year. The writing didn’t feel like a typical romance novel. There was so much depth to it, and I loved how intimately it made me feel like I knew these characters. If you’re a big fan of SNL or comedy and improv, this is going to be right up your alley. In the summer of 2000, Noah and AJ undergo intense training as acting partners under the mentorship of Noah’s aunt, Eudora, a famous actress from the cult-classic comedy show The Astronauticals. Their bond as improv partners grows almost as strong as the undercurrent of feelings developing between them...until one day Noah disappears without saying goodbye. Seven years later, they find themselves cast on the same new TV show, and everything that was left unsaid all those years ago comes bubbling back to the surface. From there, their relationship is touch-and-go, but somehow they always find their way back to each other. YOU GUYS. 😩 This book put me through such a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute I was grinning at their quick wit and banter, and the next I wanted to scream at my Kindle because their stubbornness just kept getting in their own way. One of my favorite things about this book was how each stage of their lives almost felt like its own story. It was like getting three books in one: the beginning had the feel of a YA novel, the middle read almost like recent historical fiction set in Hollywood, and the final section became this deeply emotional romance that completely wrecked me. Honestly, I kind of want to reread it as an audiobook just so it feels like a brand-new experience. I loved this book so much. I cried a little, but the tears were absolutely worth it. 🥲 I genuinely cannot recommend this one enough.

The Divorce by Freida McFadden

THE DIVORCE by Freida McFadden

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: What is a happily ever after really worth? Naomi was living the quintessential love story. Boy meets girl. They fall in love, get married, buy a dream house, start a family… Then―he kicks her out, hires the city’s best divorce lawyers, drains their accounts, and takes up with a 20-something. It’s a brutal end to the story. Naomi should accept defeat: move into a dingy apartment, get back into the workforce, and piece together the shattered remains of her life. Except, why should she? Instead, Naomi fixates on her husband’s new girlfriend. What begins as cynical curiosity soon twists into obsession―and then into something far darker. As Naomi uncovers secrets she never imagined, she realizes her own life may be in danger. But if it keeps her perfect family intact, isn’t it worth it?

My Thoughts: Y’all. The one thing I appreciate about Ms. McFadden is that she’s got a reliable formula so that you kind of know what to expect going into one of her new books, but she’s also just chaotic enough to include some new unhinged shit she hasn’t exposed you to before lol. So it doesn’t feel like the same story over and over again. However, if the main character/narrator says she loves her husband, just know you’re about to enter a whole dysfunctional shit storm. I don’t want to say too much about this plot without giving anything away, but I’m FOR SURE lowkey embarrassed I didn’t pick up on who you could really trust until I was almost 70% of the way into the book. 😅 Did I think find the ending groundbreaking? No. Was this a quick and easy read that scratched the mystery/thriller itch for me? Absolutely. If you’ve enjoyed Freida McFadden books in the past, I’d say this is worth a try.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI by Ashley Elston

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price. Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move. Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in. Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek. Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone.

My Thoughts: Ashley Elston wrote First Lie Wins, which was one of my absolute favorite books of 2024. So when I saw she had a new one out, I was excited, to say the least. Although this story didn’t completely blow me away the way First Lie Wins did, it still had all the elements that made me fall in love with Elston’s writing. Camille Bayliss is married to Ben, a powerful and highly successful lawyer. She’s wanted a divorce for quite some time and knows he’s been hiding something. The challenge is getting him off her trail long enough to figure out exactly what that "something" is and use it as leverage against the ironclad prenup standing in her way. Through a series of connected clues, Camille recruits Aubrey Price to essentially "play" her a few towns over while Camille secretly puts her own plan into motion to spy on Ben. Things get even more tangled when we learn Aubrey believes Ben knows something about the hit-and-run that killed her parents ten years earlier. Then one morning, Ben is found murdered in cold blood in his office, launching an investigation into who could have killed him. As more people become involved and more secrets come to light, it gets harder and harder to know who can actually be trusted. Listen, while I don’t think this one was quite as clever as First Lie Wins, I was absolutely invested in figuring out who killed Ben and how he was connected to Aubrey’s parents’ case. It was a super quick listen and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re looking for a mystery thriller that keeps you guessing without being overly anxiety-inducing, I definitely recommend giving this one a read!

That’s it for June!

Hopefully, you’ve found some titles worth adding to your summer reading list! Speaking of which, I’d love to hear any recommendations for the perfect reading-by-the-pool books.

2026 Book Count: 59

And if you haven’t already… add me on Goodreads or StoryGraph.

March 2026 Reads

Well, March was Women’s History Month, and the fun fact I learned is that it became a widespread social norm for women to shave their legs in the 1940s when America had to ration resources for WWII, nylons included. So instead of going au natural, most women just started shaving their legs instead.

How wild? And now you know.

Aside from my March Madness brackets immediately jumping into the nearest dumpster fire by round two of the tournaments, the month itself wasn’t too shabby. My highs and lows of March are as follows:

Lows: Ya girl tweaked her back again, and although it usually clears up after a week or so, we’re heading into week three of this mess…which is honestly more annoying at this point than it is painful. 🙄

Highs: We’re finally starting to see some spring weather up here, I got to catch up with friends from home both in person and over FaceTime, and I finally took the plunge and booked a solo trip to Acadia National Park for later this summer (v excited for this one)

It also felt like my luck with books improved this month! Oddly enough, I read a lot of stories with unlikable or morally gray characters, but I’m kind of into it. There’s something comforting about knowing a character is a lowkey trash human, yet they’re still being true to who they are. I just appreciate that level of authenticity lol.

So let’s get into everything I read in March, shall we?

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

Circe by Madeline Miller

CIRCE by Madeline Miller

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--neither powerful like her father nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power: the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts, and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from or with the mortals she has come to love.

My Thoughts: So I read The Song of Achilles last June and it was instantly clear how talented of a storyteller Madeline Miller is, and Circe was no exception. Born unremarkable in the eyes of the gods, Circe is the black sheep of her family, desperate for any kind of acceptance. After turning a beautiful nymph into a sea monster out of envy, she’s revealed to be a sorceress and exiled to the island of Aeaea, where she’s forced to live out the rest of her very long life. It’s on the island that Circe really starts to come into her own and starts using her powers to transform the ship crews who take advantage of her kindness into animals. I will say, the pacing before her exile felt much quicker compared to her life on the island. Not that her time there is boring by any means, but there’s only so much that can happen when she can’t leave without risking the wrath of Zeus or her father, Helios. That said, the writing is absolutely beautiful, almost lyrical. Some of the metaphors and dialogue had me in complete awe of Miller’s brain lol. I kept thinking there’s no way I could ever come up with something that eloquently phrased. Also, the audiobook narrator’s voice is genuinely mesmerizing and makes it incredibly hard to press pause. If you’re into Greek mythology or just love a strong retelling, this one is definitely worth the read. 

Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert

GIRL ON GIRL: HOW POP CULTURE TURNED A GENERATION OF WOMEN AGAINST THEMSELVES by Sophie Gilbert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: When did feminism lose its way? This question feels increasingly urgent in a moment of reactionary cultural and legislative backlash, when widespread uncertainty about the movement’s power, focus, and currency threatens decades of progress. Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at The Atlantic and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism, provides one answer, identifying an inflection point in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the energy of third-wave and “riot girl” feminism collapsed into a regressive period of hyper-objectification, sexualization, and infantilization. Gilbert mines the darker side of nostalgia, training her keen analytic eye on the most revealing cultural objects of the era, across music, film, television, fashion, tabloid journalism, and more. And what she recounts is harrowing, from the unattainable aesthetic of Victoria’s Secret ads and explicit music videos to a burgeoning internet culture vicious towards women in the spotlight and damaging for those who weren’t. Gilbert tracks many of the period’s dominant themes back to the explosion of internet porn, tracing its widespread influence as it began to pervade our collective consciousness.

My Thoughts: This was FASCINATING. Honestly, it’s a wonder any of us millennial women made it out of the ’90s and early aughts even semi-functional and with a modicum of self-worth, because… SHEESH. The book breaks down how the content and cultural messaging across music, film, television, fashion, celebrities, and more shaped society’s expectations of how women should behave, act, look, think, etc.. My jaw was on the floor for most of this tbh. The author was shedding light on things I hadn’t even thought about in decades. What really stood out to me though was just how wildly contradictory it all was. For example, young women were expected to protect their virginity to avoid being labeled as “sluts,” yet entire blockbuster storylines, like American Pie, center on guys trying to get laid. Which, in turn, positions female characters as gatekeepers and having sex as the ultimate quest for young men. And don’t even get me started on body standards. We grew up in an era where extremely thin bodies were held up as the ideal (i.e. Paris Hilton, Brittney Spears-esque physique at that time), only for that standard to shift with the rise of the Kardashians to a “snatched waist with curves” aesthetic. Like, we really couldn’t win lol. Although I do think we’ve made some strides from where we were as a society at that time, there’s still PLENTY of this toxic messaging plaguing our cultural conversations today. Anyway, if it wasn’t already obvious, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone willing to pick it up.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

DEAR DEBBIE by Freida McFadden

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sometimes, enough is enough… Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction. Or at least, she did. These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice. And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

My Thoughts: OKAY, FREIDA! I have to say, the last few Freida McFadden books I’ve read have started to feel a little similar, so this one was a really pleasant surprise. The story alternates between Debbie’s POV as she tries to maintain her perfectly curated life while it slowly unravels, and her husband’s POV as he scrambles to deal with losing his job while desperately trying to keep it from her. Y’all. If there’s one thing I loved about this book, it’s how unapologetically, lowkey unhinged Debbie Mullen is. Like do not mess with her unless you want to end up violently ill from some book club sandwiches or have your deepest, darkest secret blasted on the town’s main news site lol. Her diabolical shenanigans would honestly be more concerning if she weren’t doing (most of) it for the sake of her family. There are a lot of moving parts here, but I appreciated that it never felt hard to follow. The audiobook was incredibly bingeable, and I flew through it. The only reason I couldn’t give it a full five stars is that part of the twist didn’t feel super easy to catch. Looking back, sure, there are hints, but when everything was revealed, I was like, “Deb… how was I supposed to piece that together?” Anyway, if you love a good Freida McFadden thriller, this is definitely one of the more enjoyable ones I’ve read recently.

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn

GEEK LOVE by Katherine Dunn

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: This is the story of the Binewskis, a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out ― with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes ― to breed their own exhibit of human oddities. There's Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan . . . Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins . . . albino hunchback Oly, and the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family's most precious ― and dangerous ― asset. As the Binewskis take their act across the backwaters of the U.S., inspiring fanatical devotion and murderous revulsion; as its members conduct their own Machiavellian version of sibling rivalry, Geek Love throws its sulfurous light on our notions of the freakish and the normal, the beautiful and the ugly, the holy and the obscene. Family values will never be the same.

My Thoughts: Y’all… this book is fuckin weird lol. But also kind of endearing? It’s technically classified as horror, but I’d call it more of a cozy horror. Like, yes, there are some unapologetically disturbing and gross moments. However, the overall experience feels like slowly settling into the discomfort of it all, if that makes sense. The story is told primarily from the perspective of Oly Binewski—an albino hunchback and the youngest daughter of the Binewski carny family, known for their human oddities. While her disability isn’t “unique” enough to make her part of the show, she plays a key role in keeping everything running behind the scenes. The narrative shifts between past and present from Oly’s POV, but the earlier timeline is really where the meat of the story lives, and there’s A LOT going on. Between the Binewski family dysfunction, the power struggle between the eldest brother and their father over control of the show, a growing amputation cult, creepy side characters, attempted fratricide, and more, it’s equal parts unsettling and impossible to look away from. Huge credit to the author for creating such distinct, fully unique characters. They’re not necessarily likable characters, and most of them are a bit morally gray, but they’re definitely vivid in their own bizarre way. I will say, the climax felt a little rushed. After such a long, winding, chaotic journey with the Binewskis, everything seemed to wrap up in the span of maybe a page before we were abruptly pulled back into the present timeline. That said, I still genuinely enjoyed my time with the absolute shitshow that is Oly’s life, and I wouldn’t be opposed to picking up another “cozy horror” in the future lol.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

THE MEASURE by Nikki Erlick (REREAD)

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice. It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge? The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

My Thoughts: The first time I read this book was in 2024 (OG review) when we were only a couple years removed from wearing masks everywhere and coming off a very controversial presidential election. Two years later, my sentiment still stands: this is one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read. The story follows eight different characters as the world adjusts to a new normal where a mysterious box appears on everyone’s doorstep, containing a string whose length reveals how long they’ll live. Obviously that’s enough to plunge everyone into a mild Menty B. People can choose to open the box or leave their fate unknown, continuing life as they did before. Per usual in America, because we’re the worst, society quickly splits into long-stringers and short-stringers, and that “us vs. them” mentality starts plaguing everything: healthcare, politics, education, and more. This is a FANTASTIC pick if you’re in a book club and looking for something that will spark great conversation. It’s also just an incredible read in general if you want a story that forces you to pause, reflect, and think a little deeper about your life.  

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

CAN’T GET ENOUGH by Kennedy Ryan (Skyland #3)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Hendrix Barry lives a fabulous life. She has phenomenal friends, a loving family, and a thriving business that places her in the entertainment industry's rarefied air. Your vision board? She’s probably living it. She’s a woman with goals, dreams, ambitions—always striving upward. And in the midst of everything, she's facing her toughest challenge caring for an aging parent. Who has time for romance? From her experience, there's a low ROI on relationships. Anyway, she hasn't met the man who can keep up with her. Until...him. Tech mogul Maverick Bell is a dilemma wrapped in an exquisitely tailored suit and knee-melting charm. From their first charged glance at the summer's hottest party, Hendrix feels like she’s met her match. Only he can’t be. Mav may be the first to make her feel this seen and desired, but he’s the last one she can have. Forbidden fruit is the juiciest, and this man is off limits if she plans to stay the course she’s set for herself. But when Maverick gives chase—pursuing her, spoiling her, understanding her—is it time to let herself have something more?

My Thoughts: I’ve said it in recent months’ reviews, but ya girl is just not in her romance era this year. So I was definitely nervous that mood was going to overshadow my experience with this book. However, I think because this story follows protagonists in their 40s—who are established, know what they want out of life and a partner, and actually have their priorities straight—it felt much more realistic instead of cheesy or overdone. Hendrix and Maverick initially connect over their shared experience of caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s, and the friendship (and eventual relationship) that grows from there feels really organic. Maverick’s side is a bit more intense as he relentlessly, yet respectfully, pursues Hendrix. However, it’s still easy to see that she’s catching similar feelings, even as she’s torn between following her head or her heart. Another aspect I really loved is that Hendrix doesn’t want kids and sticks to that. I feel like so often authors have their female leads say they don’t want children, only to have them “meet the right person” and completely change their minds. And sure, that can happen. But women who are genuinely happy being the fun aunties to their friends’ kids feel so underrepresented in this genre, and we need more stories like this. If you’ve read other books in the Skyland series, or you’re just looking for a romance that feels a little more mature than usual, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.

The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

THE COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: The Japanese phenomenon that teaches us the simple yet profound lessons required to liberate our real selves and find lasting happiness. The Courage to Be Disliked shows you how to unlock the power within yourself to become your best and truest self, change your future and find lasting happiness. Using the theories of Alfred Adler, one of the three giants of 19th-century psychology alongside Freud and Jung, the authors explain how we are all free to determine our own future free of the shackles of past experiences, doubts and the expectations of others. It’s a philosophy that’s profoundly liberating, allowing us to develop the courage to change, and to ignore the limitations that we and those around us can place on ourselves.

My Thoughts: Not sure where to start on this one. I’m not saying the title is complete clickbait, but it’s probably a big reason people pick this up if they don’t read the description first. *cough cough* Me lol. That said, it was a delightful surprise that the content is told through a narrative rather than the info-dump style most nonfiction self-help books lean toward. The story unfolds over a few days of conversations between a skeptical young man searching for a happier life and an older philosopher. Through these discussions, the philosopher breaks down the theories of psychologist Alfred Adler and how shifting your mindset can lead to a more liberated way of living. Listen, I can’t say I agreed with everything they discussed, and I do think if you already have a decent level of self-awareness, this book won’t feel as earth-shattering as the title promises. However, it was still interesting to noodle on some of the ideas. For example, the classic question: are you doing something good because it’s the right thing to do, or because you want recognition for it? Or the idea that parents shouldn’t praise or reprimand their children because each person is responsible for their own happiness. Even encouragement, like pushing kids to succeed academically or join extracurriculars, could be seen as self-serving, since it reflects back on the parents. So yeah. Did I get out of this what I expected? Not really. Would I recommend it? It’s short and a quick read, so if you’re in the mood to challenge your perspective and think a little differently about how you approach life, it’s definitely worth checking out.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives...inside their favorite books. The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?

My Thoughts: Okay, we all know I’m a Kate Quinn STAN. Her historical fiction is basically an auto-recommend for me because she never misses, so I was so excited to see her dabble in a different genre. This book has the premise every bibliophile dreams of: imagine being able to step inside your favorite story, interact with its beloved characters, live in its world, and build a life there. Sounds pretty dope to me lol. After stumbling upon a mysterious door in the Boston Public Library, Alix Watson discovers she can do exactly that through the Astral Library. But before she even gets the chance to choose which book to enter, things go sideways, and she’s recruited as a library page to help The Librarian uncover who’s threatening the Astral Library. Y’all, this book was so fun. Quinn still taps into her historical fiction prowess as the characters dive into classic worlds like Sherlock Holmes, The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, and more. I loved the full-on literary adventure as Alix and The Librarian race to expose the antagonist while protecting the Astral Library and everyone in it. The only thing that pulled me out of the story a bit was how often Alix reiterates that she’s a size 22. There’s even a character who’s a fashion designer helping outfit her for each new world, which fit the story overall, but the repetition of stating her size felt unnecessary. Like, I promise we didn’t forget since the last time you told us lol. All that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed Quinn’s first stab at magical realism. If you already love her writing style from her historical fiction, I think you’ll have just as much fun with this one.

The Compound by Aisling Rawle

THE COMPOUND by Aisling Rawle

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Lily—a bored, beautiful twentysomething—wakes up on a remote desert compound alongside nineteen other contestants on a popular reality TV show. To win, she must outlast her housemates while competing in challenges for luxury rewards, such as champagne and lipstick, and communal necessities to outfit their new home, like food, appliances, and a front door. The cameras are catching all her angles, good and bad, but Lily has no desire to leave: Why would she, when the world outside is falling apart? As the competition intensifies, intimacy between the players deepens, and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between desire and desperation. When the producers raise the stakes, forcing contestants into upsetting, even dangerous situations, the line between playing the game and surviving it begins to blur. If Lily makes it to the end, she'll receive prizes beyond her wildest dreams—but what will she have to do to win?

My Thoughts: UMMM. Take Love Island and add a lowkey Hunger Games twist? Hell yeah. Several people have recommended this book to me over the past few months, so I finally gave in, and it did not disappoint. This book was straight-up addicting. Packed with unlikable, morally gray characters, it was almost impossible to predict what would happen inside The Compound as housemates competed for everything from luxury items like clothes and jewelry to basic comforts like a fridge or a couch. As more contestants are evicted, the stakes get higher, the rewards get more extravagant, and the competitions get increasingly ruthless. Plus, the overall goal isn’t to end up in a couple, but to be the last man standing. U GUISE. This was such a suspenseful ride, mostly because of how unpredictable it all felt in this slightly eerie, unsettling way. I especially loved how the producers are treated like this mysterious, behind-the-scenes force. You never actually see them on the page, but they’re pulling every string, good and bad, throughout the entire experience. If you’re a fan of reality TV like Love Island or competition shows like Big Brother or Survivor, I think you’ll have a very good time with this one.

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

HALF HIS AGE by Jennette McCurdy

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.

My Thoughts: I felt so yucky reading this book lmao. Like, I was SOOOOO uncomfy. A few important things I need to state immediately: 1) DO NOT read this book if you haven’t read Jennette McCurdy’s memoir yet. I feel like it’s absolutely necessary to understand her real life traumas in order to truly appreciate the storyline here. 2) This is more of a bonus than it is necessary, but I listened to the Call Her Daddy podcast episode with Jennette talking about this book and it put a lot of things into perspective in a way that made me settle into the rest of the story better. 3) Don’t be fooled by my 2.5 star review. Although this is fiction, I think her raw, almost abrasive writing style definitely carried over, and I think that’s a huge facet to this novel’s experience. If you don’t already know, the book follows a 17-year-old girl, Waldo, who becomes obsessed with her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy, who is easily twice her age. After coming onto him a few times, the two begin an intense, secretive sexual relationship, hiding it from Korgy’s wife and everyone around them. Y’all. Ima say it again: I was so uncomfy lol. McCurdy pulls zero punches here. The book is vulgar, melancholy, and abrasive—it honestly left me feeling almost emotionally nauseous by the end. That said, she does a phenomenal job exploring the dynamics of an age-gap relationship: the imbalance of power, the addictive highs and devastating lows, and what happens when that kind of chaotic flame finally burns out. I don’t know if I can necessarily recommend this book, but if you do decide to read it, for once in my life, I DO NOT recommend the audiobook lol. It was rough in a way that forced you to move through it instead of stopping or jumping ahead of things.

She Memes Well by Quinta Brunson

SHE MEMES WELL by Quinta Brunson

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: From Emmy Award-winning writer Quinta Brunson (creator and star of Abbott Elementary) comes a deeply personal and funny collection of essays about trying to make it when you're struggling, the importance of staying true to your roots, and how she's redefined humor online.  Quinta Brunson is a master at breaking the internet. Before having any traditional background in media, her humorous videos were the first to go viral on Instagram’s platform. From there, Brunson’s wryly observant POV helped cement her status in the comedy world at large, with roles on HBO, Netflix, ABC, Adult Swim, BuzzFeed , the CW, and Comedy Central. Now, Brunson is bringing her comedic chops to the page in She Memes Well, an earnest, laugh-out-loud collection about this unusual road to notoriety. In her debut essay collection, Quinta applies her trademark humor and heart to discuss what it was like to go from a girl who loved the World Wide Web to a girl whose face launched a thousand memes. With anecdotes that range from the ridiculous—like the time she decided to go clubbing wearing an outfit she describes as "Gary Coleman meets metrosexual pirate"—to more heartfelt material about her struggles with depression, Quinta's voice is entirely authentic and eminently readable. With its intimate tone and hilarious moments, She Memes Well will make you feel as if you're sitting down with your chillest, funniest friend.

My Thoughts: I kind of picked this book up on a whim after recently getting into Abbott Elementary, and when I tell you that show gets a solid 8–10 loud cackles out of me per episode, I’m not exaggerating. So naturally, I was excited to learn more about where Quinta Brunson got her start and how her comedy career has evolved. Y’all. This is the first time in a long time that I actually eyeball-read a memoir instead of going the audiobook route, but mainly because I couldn’t get it on Libby lol. Honestly though, experiencing her stories and essays on the page was just as enjoyable. I loved her writing style. It feels exactly like the way she talks, which is how I prefer to write as well, so it felt less like reading a polished, professionally edited book and more like sitting down to catch up with her over coffee. She gives a behind-the-scenes look at so many parts of her life: her family and upbringing, friendships and relationships, her comedic origin story, what it was like becoming an internet sensation through memes, and even heavier moments like losing a cousin to gun violence around the same time as George Floyd’s murder. While it’s clear she loves making people laugh, I really appreciated getting to see her more vulnerable side too. I believe this was written before the first season of Abbott Elementary aired, so I’d definitely be interested in hearing more about her life since then, but overall, this is a memoir I’d absolutely recommend.

That’s it for March!

Still have yet to name my sourdough starter, but I have started dabbling in some sourdough starter discard recipes and they are soooo good. To be fair, I don’t even name my endless houseplants, so committing to a name for my sourdough starter feels like a lot lol. 

2026 Book Count: 27

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