Like the Comet

Listen. I don’t know what to say, other than my go-to escape from reality is books. So when you start the month with a less than ideal election, compounded by the sun setting by literally 5PM due to daylight savings, and top everything off with the weather turning to shit, ya girl was knee deep in a book at every turn lol.

So although we all thought I was a bit unhinged for reading 20 books in October, I said “hold my mocktail,” and did us one better at 21 books in November lol.

I partially blame it on being back in my “hockey romance era” (IYKYK) for a majority of this month, followed by an unexpected itch for mystery/thrillers, and an arbitrary goal of reading as many books nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards as I could before the voting window closed lol.

All of that to say, I think there’s a little something for everyone in this month’s reviews. So I appreciate you if you make it to the end, if not though, no worries lmao. I understand.

**All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh

MY YEAR OF REST AND RELAXATION by Ottessa Moshfegh

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: From one of our boldest, most celebrated new literary voices, a novel about a young woman’s efforts to duck the ills of the world by embarking on an extended hibernation with the help of one of the worst psychiatrists in the annals of literature and the battery of medicines she prescribes. Our narrator should be happy, shouldn’t she? She’s young, thin, pretty, a recent Columbia graduate, works an easy job at a hip art gallery, lives in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan paid for, like the rest of her needs, by her inheritance. But there is a dark and vacuous hole in her heart, and it isn’t just the loss of her parents, or the way her Wall Street boyfriend treats her, or her sadomasochistic relationship with her best friend, Reva. It’s the year 2000 in a city aglitter with wealth and possibility; what could be so terribly wrong?

My Thoughts: Okay let me start out by saying, if you do not like unlikable, morally gray, unreliable narrators then this book is not for you lol. The main character of this book is absolutely insufferable, but if you can get past that, then this story is kind of addictive. Pun not intended. It follows an unnamed narrator who decides to beat her insomnia by taking a year of rest and relaxation by way of prescription cocktails, over the counter sedatives, alcohol, and a variety of drugs - most provided by an eccentric therapist she found in the phone book. She hates her best friend who seems to be the only person who cares about her. Self-care is essentially non-existent and her lifestyle would put anyone in an early grave. She’s gorgeous and well-off with the fortune left behind from her deceased parents, so getting things to go her way isn’t hard. However, between losing track of time during drug-induced black outs and experimenting with way more substances than you’d find in a pharmacy, the narrator’s goal of finding sweet release via sleep becomes more and more difficult. Outside of the obvious that she clearly needs some in-depth therapy and probably a proper sleep test, this book douses you in dark humor and sets you on fire with the spark of its unpredictable nature. Like I said, it’s not going to be for everyone, but if you like a morally gray main character without a solidly-planned plot, this could be for you.

THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT by Christina Lauren (DNA Duo, #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached. Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie? Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

My Thoughts: It’s been a while since I’ve read the first book in this duology, The Soulmate Equation, but I remember liking it for the most part. So when I saw the audiobook for this one was available on Libby, I knew I had to jump on it. This story follows the best friend from the first book, Fizzy. She’s a successful romance author who suddenly realizes that she has hit a slump in her own love life and starts to feel like a sham. When she’s offered the chance to be the star of a new dating show, she decides to use this opportunity to her own advantage and convinces the director, Connor, to agree to her long list of demands. Honestly, the sparks between these two were obvious from the start. Fizzy is such a little spitfire and Connor was the perfect compliment to her lowkey chaos. The premise was really fun as it played on the concept of cult dating shows like The Bachelorette, but added a bookish twist that I think any romance reader would appreciate. There was a healthy mix of humor, cute and swoony moments, and THICC sexual tension that made their growing relationship feel much more realistic as time went on. By the end of it, I found myself SCREAMING that these two better end up together for the HEA we all deserve. If you read and liked The Soulmate Equation, then I definitely recommend continuing onto its successor!

A screenshot of the audiobook The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore in the Libby app. — The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat by Edward Kelsey Moore

THE SUPREMES AT EARL’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT by Edward Kesley Moore

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat diner in Plainview, Indiana is home away from home for Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean. Dubbed "The Supremes" by high school pals in the tumultuous 1960s, they’ve weathered life’s storms for over four decades and counseled one another through marriage and children, happiness and the blues. Now, however, they’re about to face their most challenging year yet. Proud, talented Clarice is struggling to keep up appearances as she deals with her husband’s humiliating infidelities; beautiful Barbara Jean is rocked by the tragic reverberations of a youthful love affair; and fearless Odette is about to embark on the most terrifying battle of her life. With wit, style and sublime talent, Edward Kelsey Moore brings together three devoted allies in a warmhearted novel that celebrates female friendship and second chances.

My Thoughts: I saw the preview for this movie within the last couple of months when it was about to hit Hulu. So I decided to listen to the audiobook before watching the movie and I’m so glad I did. Not to sound like a snooty book nerd, but the book was definitely better than the movie. There are just so many nuanced things that are much easier to portray and explain via internal dialogue and some of that just did not translate visually to the screen. The characters in this book felt so real to me though. Especially the three women who make up The Supremes: Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean. The format of this story switches between the past when their friendship starts to grow throughout the 1960s and the present which is set in the mid-late 1990s. In the present, these three women are each navigating personal challenges: a recent cancer diagnosis, marital infidelity, and alcoholism brought on by loss—all struggles they choose to face alone. It’s only as their demons start getting too big to handle that they realize relying on each other will actually help carry the burden. I was personally obsessed with Odette’s character within this trio’s dynamics. She definitely had a tendency to provide the most comedic relief including the ability to see and chat with ghosts. This really was such a beautiful book about friendship, found family, standing up for yourself, and second chances. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for something that will pull at a multitude of emotional strings. Sidenote: I’m not saying I didn’t like the movie. I just liked the book much more.

A hardcover copy of Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez sits on a wooden barstool. — Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez

WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES by Isabel Ibañez (Secrets of the Nile #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: 1885, Egypt | Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira’s murder, and her mother’s betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she’s left with only one option to consider. Marriage to Whitford Hayes. Former British soldier, her uncle’s aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.

My Thoughts: After absolutely DEVOURING What the River Knows earlier this year, and the absolutely RUDE cliffhanger it ended on, I could not wait for this book. Of course, I preordered a physical copy (because just look at that cover art 😍) then proceeded to use my Book of the Month credit on the audiobook because I am who I am lol. This book picked up right where the last one left off and didn’t slow down for a second. Basically, after being swindled by her mom in the last book, Inez is determined to stop whatever black market sales of various artifacts they found in Cleopatra’s tomb that her mom has planned. However, literally everyone in this book has ulterior motives, even my boy Whit, so you never know who you can trust. I loved that this story had the same spirit of action and adventure we experienced in the first book. There was so much suspense and so many things that could’ve gone wrong; I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The plot twists were THICC and I did not see a few of them coming. That said, one of the plot twists that involved a character from the last book was SOOOO convenient, I kind of rolled my eyes at it. Otherwise, the rest of this Egyptian adventure was thoroughly enjoyable. I don’t think this book was as strong as the first one, but I liked it just as well. If you haven’t dabbled in this series yet, I highly recommend because it’s unlike anything else I’ve read in a while!

GOOD BOY by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (WAGs #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Hosting her brother's wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning's life. Already the family screw-up, she can't afford to fail at this, too. Especially after the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. Nobody—absolutely nobody—can find out about that, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. No matter how devastatingly sexy his smile, he's a giant manchild who's never been serious in his life. And if Jess wants to prove herself to her family, serious is what she has to get. For Blake Riley, this wedding is a gift from fate itself. The girl he has his eye on is the maid of honor, and he's the best man? Let the games begin. So what if Jess is giving him a little—fine, a lot—of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he's really a good boy with a bad rap. Beneath the flirty jokes and goofy smile, he's got layers—even if Jess doesn't want to see them. Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you've got to make an effort if you want to score. And Jess is just the girl he wants to win.

My Thoughts: Eeeek! Okay so I didn’t realize until after I started this book that it’s a spin-off of this author team’s Him series (Him and Us). So I was PUMPED to see that they’re now writing the stories of the side characters from that duology. I have to admit, since Blake Riley’s character is meant to feed into the Golden Retriever trope, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to put up with his obnoxiousness the entire book. However, the more we got to know him and the more Jess peeled back his layers, it felt like one of the most tasteful portrayals of a Golden Retriever character that I’ve read in a while. Their fling started within the Him series, so I was already decently familiar with who Jess and Riley were at the surface. Getting to know them at a deeper level though was so much fun. There was a lot of push and pull between these two, even after they started having feelings for each other. I loved that Riley felt safe enough to let his guard down and his smile slide when he was around Jess. It made him much more real to me as a reader trying to root for him in this relationship. He really stole my heart by giving Jess the unconditional validation she needed to have confidence in her new career path, and be proud of herself for finding something she’s good at. If you’ve read a Sarina Bowen/Elle Kennedy collab before, then you also know the spice in these stories is PRIME. Some of those scenes will definitely have you hot and bothered, so if you’re more of a “fade to black” type of romance reader, then this won’t be for you lol. Otherwise, I highly recommend this!

THE SUN DOWN MOTEL by Simone St. James

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

My Thoughts: This book was CREEPY. Like, the hair on my arms were standing on end for half of this audiobook lol. Basically, Viv Delaney disappeared in upstate New York back in 1982. The case went cold and there hasn’t been any new information about her for decades. Fast forward to 2017 and Carly Kirk’s mom just passed away without ever talking about her sister who disappeared 35 years ago. So, Carly decides to take a trip out to the small town and unsettling motel where her Aunt Viv was last seen before she disappeared. This book had me hooked from the start, honestly. The format switches perspectives between Carly in 2017 while she’s digging up clues that might point to what happened to her Aunt Viv all those years ago, and 1982 when Viv was working the front desk at the Sun Down Motel. The formula for this story incorporated some of my favorite mystery elements like paranormal activity, questionable characters, murder plot points, and even just a DASH of budding romances. I honestly had no idea what the big plot twist was going to be until I was literally tripping over it, and even then, there was so much more that needed to play out. This was my second experience with a Simone St. James audiobook and there’s no way it will be my last. I definitely recommend this book if you like something decently creepy with a lot of mystery, but won’t keep you up at night lol.

THE WINGMAN by Stephanie Archer (Vancouver Storm #3)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: He’ll teach me to be a player, but convinces me to practice with him. We’ve been friends for years, but our flirting lessons and practice kisses push the bounds of friendship. We’re roommates, but sleeping in the same bed. He buys me a toy as a favor… but helps me use it. All that relationship stuff he’s always avoided? He doesn’t seem to mind it anymore. Rule number one of being a player is no attachments, but when Hayden sees me picking up other guys, he’s jealous enough that I wonder… Maybe my wingman's been waiting for me all along.

My Thoughts: All right y’all. I gotta say, I’m not USUALLY a huge fan of the friends-to-lovers trope. Like I don't actively seek it out, nor does it tend to be an automatic “yes” for me when I’m skimming through the premise of a possible next book. HOWEVER, Stephanie Archer told me to hold my beer and holy hell did she make me a convert. I was obsessed with the dynamics between Hayden and Darcy. Since they had the foundation of an incredibly healthy and strong friendship, their dynamics were so refreshing and believable, and they truly brought out the best in one another. Darcy just got out of a long-term relationship with a guy who minimized her personality and chipped away at her self confidence. She was determined to figure out who she was as an individual again, and I loved that Hayden was there to encourage, and lift her up in any way she needed. Although she was shy, Darcy was not afraid to tell Hayden what she needed. And, y’all, this boy was PINING. But respectfully. He didn’t want to push Darcy into anything she wasn’t ready for, so he patiently waited for her to be ready to experience the undeniable chemistry popping off between them. This author has a gift at writing stories that are both laugh-out-loud and habanero pepper SPICY. This book is for all the girlies in their hockey romance era that can appreciate an incredibly well-written friends-to-lovers trope.

STAY by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy (WAGs #2)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Can you fall in love with someone you've never even met? Hailey Taylor Emery has a hunch that her favorite client at Fetch—an anonymous virtual assistant service—is actually hockey star Matt Eriksson. Although it's against the rules for her to check his file, she's 95% sure she spends at least part of each day texting with her lifelong crush and catering to his every need. Still nursing a wounded heart thanks to her recent breakup, Hailey is perfectly content with some harmless online flirting... until she has to meet her client. Face to face. Cue: utter panic. Matt Eriksson is no stranger to heartbreak. He's still not over the destruction of his marriage, and it sucks to be the only guy on the team who knows the truth—that hockey and long-term relationships are a toxic mix. He barely sees his kids, and dealing with his ex makes him feel insane. The only person in his life who seems to understand is someone who won't show her pretty face. But it's nothing that a pair of fourth row hockey seats can't fix. Hailey can't resist the offer. Matt can't resist Hailey. Good thing he doesn't have to. Fire up the kiss cam!

My Thoughts: I might be biased because the MFC’s name is Hailey (terrible spelling tho lol), but like, this book had my eyes GLUED to my Kindle. Firstly, I loved the premise. It’s obvi still a hockey romance, but the meet cute for Hailey and Matt is unlike any other I’ve stumbled upon. Basically, Hailey runs a virtual assistant service, Fetch, that’s pretty similar to Postmates, but focuses on high profile clients and not just shopping for things. Matt, a famous Toronto hockey player, is a regular user of Fetch, and although both of their profiles remain anonymous in the Fetch platform, Matt and Hailey both suss out who the other person is. Which leads to some flirtations from Matt’s end and an internal meltdown for Hailey. I kind of loved that he fell for her first while she tried to maintain a professional relationship with him, even though it was clear as fucking day she was head over heels for this guy. The way their relationship grew was literally so sweet, and I could not get over how much they supported each other. We love partners who validate each other when they’ve exposed their rawest vulnerabilities. <3 There was a single-dad trope incorporated in this one, and to my surprise, it fuckin worked lol. Matt is not just a single dad, he is a ZADDY. Needless to say, if you’re in your hockey romance era, you gotta put this one on your list.

HELLO STRANGER by Katherine Center

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sadie Montgomery never saw what was coming . . . Literally! One minute she’s celebrating the biggest achievement of her life—placing as a finalist in the North American Portrait Society competition—the next, she’s lying in a hospital bed diagnosed with a “probably temporary” condition known as face blindness. She can see, but every face she looks at is now a jumbled puzzle of disconnected features. Imagine trying to read a book upside down and in another language. This is Sadie’s new reality with every face she sees. But, as she struggles to cope, hang on to her artistic dream, work through major family issues, and take care of her beloved dog, Peanut, she falls into—love? Lust? A temporary obsession to distract from the real problems in her life?—with not one man but two very different ones. The timing couldn’t be worse. If only her life were a little more in focus, Sadie might be able to find her way. But perceiving anything clearly right now seems impossible. Even though there are things we can only find when we aren’t looking. And there are people who show up when we least expect them. And there are always, always other ways of seeing.

My Thoughts: Katherine Center truly has a gift at writing incredibly quirky, yet incredibly relatable characters and this book is no exception. For starters, apparently face blindness is a very real medical condition (you can Google it), and I cannot imagine waking up from a surgery and not being able to see people’s faces in their entirety. What a shock to the system! It was super easy to empathize with Sadie once she realizes she has to start identifying people through other contexts. Her character was so much fun to follow through this rom-com. She’s just imperfect enough and has a ~fatal flaw~, but it doesn’t make her unlikable. Especially as she starts interacting with her neighbor Joe who sees her in less than ideal situations. This guy is literally GOALS in terms of thoughtfulness, patience, and reliability. He does everything with intention behind it, and I cannot express enough how much I was swooning. The plot twist to this book was pretty predictable, but it didn’t make me enjoy it any less. Some people compare this premise to Shallow Hal, which yes, they are similar adjacent, but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% comparable. Either way, if you’re looking for a fun rom-com with a unique premise, I highly recommend picking this one up!

FAKE DATES AND MOONCAKES by Sher Lee

Rating: DNF @ 51%

Summary: Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn. Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons. In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems. Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

My Thoughts: Womp, womp. I can’t remember how I discovered this book, but I feel like I’ve been seeing its cover a lot lately, so I figured I’d give it a try. It’s fine. Basically, this guy Dylan works at his aunt’s Chinese takeout place in Brooklyn and they’ve been struggling financially for a while. In order to make some money and rejuvenate their business, Dylan wants to enter a Mid Autumn Festival mooncake making competition because they’ll get hella publicity from it. While doing a takeout delivery, he meets this hot, rich kid named Theo, and things start to quickly progress between them. I got to the part where Theo takes Dylan to a family wedding where Dylan feels incredibly out of his league. However, I’m just kind of bored? Like I never find myself wanting to open this on my Kindle. Mainly because Dylan feels like the only wellthought-out character in this book. Theo is super surface-level and some parts of his personality feel like they exist for the convenience of pushing the plot forward. Idk. I’m not saying I’ll never give this book a second chance, but it won’t be any time soon.

ALWAYS IN DECEMBER by Emily Stone

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Every December, Josie posts a letter from her home in London to the parents she lost on Christmas night many years ago. Each year, she writes the same three words: Missing you, always. But this year, her annual trip to the postbox is knocked off course by a bicycle collision with a handsome stranger--a stranger who will change the course of Josie's life. Josie always thought she was the only one who avoided the Christmas season, but this year, Max has his own reasons for doing the same--and coincidence leads them to spending the holiday together. Aglow with new love, Josie thinks this might be the start of something special. Only for Max to disappear without saying goodbye. Over the course of the next year, Max and Josie will find that fate continues to bring them together in places they'd never expect. New York City. Edinburgh. The quiet English countryside. And it turns out, Max had every reason to leave and every reason to stay. But what does fate hold for Josie and Max as Christmas approaches again?

My Thoughts: Not me tryna keep my shit together at work right now because I decided it’d be a grand idea to finish this audiobook during the morning office grind. OH MY GOD. Talk about both a slow burn and whirlwind romance. I was WHOLE HEARTEDLY invested in this audiobook from the very first little smirk Max gave Josie after she ran him down with her bike by accident. God my heart was torn back and forth between these two characters. There was a perpetual lump in my throat every time they couldn’t exactly articulate what they meant to one another. Then every time Josie and Max fell into the same wavelength where their connection was undeniable, it was like the lump melted into a gush of warmth that permeated throughout my chest. There is so much grief in this book in so many forms while providing just the right amount of hope. It keeps you invested in how this thing between Josie and Max was going to play out. I honestly did not see the plot twist coming, but after it did, I was so surprised I hadn’t clued into it before. If you’re looking for a Christmassy romance that will rip your heart out and sew it back together repetitively, this book will give you all the feels.

VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Put the kettle on, there’s a mystery brewing… Tea-shop owner. Matchmaker. Detective? Sixty-year-old self-proclaimed tea expert Vera Wong enjoys nothing more than sipping a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy ‘detective’ work on the internet (AKA checking up on her son to see if he’s dating anybody yet). But when Vera wakes up one morning to find a dead man in the middle of her tea shop, it’s going to take more than a strong Longjing to fix things. Knowing she’ll do a better job than the police possibly could – because nobody sniffs out a wrongdoing quite like a suspicious Chinese mother with time on her hands – Vera decides it’s down to her to catch the killer. Nobody spills the tea like this amateur sleuth.

My Thoughts: I’ve been LOVING some cozy mysteries lately, and this book was basically at the top, if not near the top, of every list I Googled for my next cozy mystery. Luckily, my book club was also on board for making this our book for this month. I decided to go the audiobook route and am really glad I did. The number of voices this narrator delivered was insane. Especially since this book covers multiple POVs from about five different characters. There was a lot of comedic relief, specifically related to Vera. When she finds a man dead in her tea shop one morning, she’s convinced it’s a murder and that the police won’t be much help at proving that, so it’s up to her to solve this mystery. There’s a few parts where Vera sounds a little delu-lu lol, but I loved her unabashed behavior to pull people out of their comfort zone and reveal their secrets so that she can check them off her suspects list. There’s a big theme of found family that was incredibly endearing, and I found myself much more invested in the relationships growing between these different characters than the actual mystery itself. Also, I never would’ve predicted who the actual killer was lol. Like I guess if I had been paying more diligent attention to the entirety of the book, I would’ve made a couple of connections quicker. That said, I’m honestly glad I didn’t because I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed my time with this audiobook as much as I did if I already knew who killed the guy lol. If you’re looking for a fun, cozy read for the winter that also has plenty of comedic relief and relatable characters, I highly recommend adding this to your bookshelf.

HOME IS WHERE THE BODIES ARE by Jeneva Rose

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: After their mother passes, three estranged siblings reunite to sort out her estate. Beth, the oldest, never left home. She stayed with her mom, caring for her until the very end. Nicole, the middle child, has been kept at arm’s length due to her ongoing battle with a serious drug addiction. Michael, the youngest, lives out of state and hasn’t been back to their small Wisconsin town since their father ran out on them seven years before. While going through their parent’s belongings, the siblings stumble upon a collection of home videos and decide to revisit those happier memories. However, the nostalgia is cut short when one of the VHS tapes reveals a night back in 1999 that none of them have any recollection of. On screen, their father appears covered in blood. What follows is a dead body and a pact between their parents to get rid of it, before the video abruptly ends. Beth, Nicole, and Michael must now decide whether to leave the past in the past or uncover the dark secret their mother took to her grave.

My Thoughts: I’ve been on a mystery thriller kick lately, and after looking through what books were nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards for 2024, I somehow managed to get this audiobook on Libby before a waiting list started. This was my first Jeneva Rose book and it will not be my last. It was creepy, twisty, had multiple unreliable narrators, and had me on my toes until the very end. It’s been years since they’ve all been in the same room, but after their mom passes away, estranged siblings Beth, Nicole, and Michael all return to their childhood home to sort out her estate. They stumble upon a VHS tape that has much more than just their old home videos on it - there’s accidental footage showing a secret both of their parents took to their graves. Cue a larger search into what happened that dark night all those years ago and seeing their parents in a new light. Since this book is from the POV of each sibling, it was impossible to know whose perspective you could trust. Especially when some of their individual narratives aligned with one another, while others provided contradictions. Although I did guess the plot twist right before it happened, there was still a moment of second guessing that I had it figured out due to the strategically placed, well-executed red herrings. If you love a little murder in your mystery lead by some unreliable narrators, you MUST add this book to your TBR pile!

HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, searching for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams— one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairy tale cut short by a devastating betrayal. Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah’s longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men . . . and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

My Thoughts: This book was like making your favorite recipe from memory and absolutely NAILING it. It had historical fiction, a dash of mystery, and a healthy serving of romance for the perfect, well-rounded story I was craving. The format switches between three major time eras. The present (2022) when Mallory Dunne is taking it one day at a time after her young son accidentally ate a poisonous mushroom that has left him with kidney failure, the recent past (2008) when Mallory first spent her summer with Monk Adams, and the past (1952) in Cairo, Egypt where a woman named Hannah Ainsworth is living with her wealthy British diplomat husband after WW2. This whole experience had so many layers to it, and I appreciated that although Mallory and Hannah both had their own flaws, it was clear these flaws were forged from resiliency after adversity. There were a few mystery elements to this book, including how Hannah and Mallory are connected, but I thought the pacing of how everything was revealed panned out perfectly in alignment with what was going on in all three timelines. I honestly went into this book not knowing what to expect and ended it as one of my favorite historical fiction books of this year. If you’re a fan of Kate Quinn or Elizabeth Gilbert’s book The City of Girls, I definitely recommend putting this one on your To Be Read list.

NO ONE CAN KNOW by Kate Alice Marshall

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: Fourteen years ago, the Palmer sisters―Emma, Juliette, and Daphne―left their home in Arden Hills and never returned. But when Emma discovers she’s pregnant and her husband loses his job, she has no option but to return to the house that she and her estranged sisters still own . . . and where their parents were murdered. Emma has never told anyone what she saw the night her parents died, even when she became the prime suspect. But her presence in the house threatens to uncover secrets that have stayed hidden for years, and the sisters are drawn together once again. As they face their memories of the past, rivalries restart, connections are forged, and, for the first time, Emma starts to ask questions about what really happened that night. The more Emma learns, the more riddles emerge. And Emma begins to wonder just what her siblings will do to keep the past buried, and whether she did the right thing staying quiet about what was whispered that night: “No one can know.”

My Thoughts: I gotta admit, the start of this book is a little bit of a slow burn, but once the plot starts plotting, and the twists start twisting, you better buckle up. Basically, fourteen years ago, three sisters - Emma, Juliette, and Daphne - left their childhood home after their parents were brutally murdered there. Now estranged, none of them have returned until Emma and her husband find themselves in a bit of a financial bind and have to move in as a temporary housing solution. Being back in her old stomping grounds stirs up the 14-year-old rumors and brings some people out of the woodwork that Emma hoped she’d never have to see again. Including Juliette and Daphne. This book was pretty fuckin twisty. Like there were MULTIPLE times when I was like “oh. Duh. No question, so-and-so did it.” Then the story would take a hard left and leave me looking like a clown lol. I mean even after finishing this book, I’m still not even sure I know “whodunnit” lmao. That said though, if you’re a big mystery/thriller fan who likes a book that isn’t easily predictable, then I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

My Thoughts: This book is one of the Goodreads Choice Awards nominees and when my request for it finally came through in Libby, I jumped on the audiobook. Listen, these authors have a fucking GIFT at writing one-liners for quirkier characters and this book was no exception. Anna Green had me LAFFIN for a majority of this story. She’s just so ridiculous, yet incredibly relatable in a feisty and flawed sense, I couldn’t help but audibly chuckle every time she said something off-handed. Liam was the perfect love interest for her too. As a quiet, put-together guy with his life planned out, he was basically the complete opposite of Anna, yet they fit together OBJECTIVELY well. I loved the easy rhythm they fell into on this extravagant trip for Liam’s younger sister’s destination wedding. There was just enough chaos and healthy conflict to test the strength of their connection, which made it that much more believable. If you’re looking for a fun, sweet, and steamy romance set in a tropical location (hello, literary vitamin C during the winter months), this is the perfect story to get sucked into.

COLLIDE by Bal Khabra (Off the Ice #1)

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: An ultimatum from Summer Preston’s thesis advisor thrusts her into an unexpected collision with the hockey team’s captain, Aiden Crawford. She’s caught between conflicting desires of fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a sport psychologist and staying as far away as possible from the god-awful sport. And once she meets Aiden—well, let’s just say he confirms all her worst assumptions about hockey players. Being the captain of the college hockey team has its perks, except when a reckless mistake by Aiden’s team threatens to jeopardize their entire season. As punishment, Aiden’s coach nominates him as the subject of a student research project. Participating is the last thing he wants to do, especially since the girl leading the project looks like she could wield his skates as a weapon. Summer can’t stand Aiden’s blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand why she’s twenty years old with a twenty-five-year plan. But their bickering soon turns to bantering—and once they let their guards down, there’s nothing to check their feelings.

My Thoughts: Continuing to feed my hockey romance era heart, I stumbled upon this gem and am so glad I did. Overall, I really loved it! I loved Summer and Aiden as individual characters, and was obsessed with them together. We love enemies-to-lovers and he-falls-first tropes sprinkled into a book about the school-serious girl ending up with the super star athlete. It was definitely a bit of a slow burn, but as soon as those sparks flew, things got SPICY. In addition to all of the super sweet things Aiden does for Summer that had me drooling with swoon! That said, there are just a couple of things that bothered me and caused me to dock it a star. The first is that it felt like Summer was resistant to her connection with Aiden for a touch too long. Like even after they were already showing relationship behaviors and had opened up to each other, she all of a sudden was like “NOPE. WAIT. I need to go on a date with other people!” So it gave me some whiplash and felt like her resistance was just getting old. The other thing I didn’t love is a flimsy plot point regarding how a certain situation gets pinned on Summer that might cause her to be expelled. Not to give any spoilers, but someone finds something of hers near the scene of the crime, but that location is literally the entrance to a busy academic building on campus that students are walking in and out of all day every day. So I gave it some side eye because I’m sure PLENTY of students drop personal belongings all the time and it wouldn’t be THAT conspicuous to find something of hers in that specific building. Anyway, those things aside, if you’re in your hockey romance era or are looking for something outside of the typical sports romance authors, I definitely recommend checking this one out.

BETTING ON YOU by Lynn Painter

Rating: 3/5 stars

Summary: When seventeen-year-old Bailey starts a new job at a hotel waterpark, she is less than thrilled to see an old acquaintance is one of her coworkers. Bailey met Charlie a year ago on the long flight to Omaha, where she moved after her parents’ divorce. Charlie’s cynicism didn’t mix well with Bailey’s carefully well-behaved temperament, and his endless commentary was the irritating cherry on top of an already emotionally fraught trip. Now, Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing Bailey the wrong way, she starts to look forward to hanging out and gossiping about the waterpark guests and their coworkers—particularly two who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cozy pair will actually get together. Charlie insists that members of the opposite sex can’t just be friends, and Bailey is determined to prove him wrong. Bailey and Charlie keep close track of the romantic progress of others while Charlie works to deflect the growing feelings he’s developed for Bailey. Terrified to lose her if his crush becomes known, what doesn’t help his agenda is Bailey and Charlie “fake dating” in order to disrupt the annoying pleasantries between Bailey’s mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. Soon, what Charlie was hoping to avoid becomes a reality as Bailey starts to see him as not only a friend she can rely on in the midst of family drama—but someone who makes her hands shake and heart race. But Charlie has a secret—a secret that involves Bailey and another bet Charlie may have made. Can the two make a real go of things…or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start?

My Thoughts: This book was cute! It’s been a while since I’ve read a YA romance, let alone Lynn Painter. The last book I read by her was Better Than the Movies, and that book was super fun. So I had high hopes for this one. Bailey and Charlie’s origin story actually started about a year prior on a long flight from Alaska to Nebraska. It was Bailey’s first solo flight after her parents’ divorce and all she wanted was a seamless experience. However, her irritating seatmate made that nearly impossible, not to mention they mixed like oil and water. Especially on the opinion as to whether men and women can be friends (taking a page from When Harry Met Sally). Fast forward a year when Bailey realizes one of the people she’ll be working with at her new job pretty regularly turns out to be the disgruntled Charlie. Although some of Bailey’s inner dialogue felt a little cringey, I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two come together to be friends and confidantes (even if Charlie refuses to call her a friend and instead refers to her as a coworker). Even more so watching them help each other through the vulnerable parts of life, specifically related to what one another was going through at home. Although most of this was pretty predictable, I still enjoyed my second go with Lynn Painter’s writing. I gotta say, some of the things Bailey pulled though, there’s no way I would’ve ever gotten away with as a teenager lol. If you’re looking for a quick YA romance that’s easy to read, I’d definitely recommend grabbing this one!

FIVE SURVIVE by Holly Jackson

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary: Eighteen year old Red and her friends are on a road trip in an RV, heading to the beach for Spring Break. It’s a long drive but spirits are high. Until the RV breaks down in the middle of nowhere. There’s no mobile phone reception and nobody around to help. And as the wheels are shot out, one by one, the friends realise that this is no accident. There’s a sniper out there in the dark watching them and he knows exactly who they are. One of the group has a secret that the sniper is willing to kill for. A game of cat-and-mouse plays out as the group desperately tries to get help and to work out which member of the group is the target. Buried secrets are forced to light in the cramped, claustrophobic setting of the RV, and tensions within the group will reach deadly levels. Not everyone will survive the night.

My Thoughts: LOL. Okay so like if I’m being honest, I almost DNF’ed this book. I was in one of those weird moods where I couldn’t figure out what book I wanted to listen to next. So I had paused this one and started a different book, but ended up coming back to it anyway. Although this story only takes place over the span of eight hours, it was definitely a slow burn to start for me. None of the characters are THAT likable. Red is fine and I ended up liking her much more than I expected by the end of it, but it took a hot minute to get there. Let me rant about Oliver though. This is the type of guy who would mansplain your area of expertise to you because he watched a documentary about the field once like five years ago lol. He’s the type of guy who has all the money he could ever want, but would suggest you pay the bill on a date out of his ~solidarity for feminism~. He’s FOR SURE the type of guy who you’d fake an orgasm with just to get it over with lmfao. Basically, he is the WORST, and he becomes more unhinged as this long night goes on. I was chanting for the group just to throw him outside of the RV for the sake of their sanity. As for the plot, I correctly guessed one of the main plot twists basically within the first 20% of the book. I almost considered not continuing on because I assumed I had it all figured out. To my pleasant surprise, although I guessed that plot twist correctly, I did not see the other ones coming. The last portion of this book is a whirlwind and definitely took my, what was going to be, a flat three rating up to a 3.5. If you’re looking for a high-tension book with some mystery, unreliable characters, and a surprise ending, I definitely recommend giving this one a try.

THE PLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Kate Stewart

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER. When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree. Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed. Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage. I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog. I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart. I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday. I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push. I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match. Fa la la la la, la FML.

My Thoughts: Okie doke. I haven’t read a Kate Stewart book since I FLEW through her Ravenhood trilogy back in April of 2022, even though I had been absolutely obsessed with her writing throughout all three of those books. So, when I saw she had a Christmas-themed standalone, I figured what better way to get into the spirit of the season than a spicy little romance? Basically, Sloane’s life is not going to plan. Especially now after she worked her ass off for a promotion at work only to be passed up for her male counterpart. As a career woman, she hasn’t had much time for romance or to get serious with anyone, so she’s heading home for Christmas with the family by herself. Only to find out her brother has brought a coworker who didn’t have anyone to celebrate the holiday with and who also ends up being the ex who broke her heart and ruined romance for her almost 20 years ago. Listen, this may be a lowkey slow burn romance, but the TENSION between Sloane and Eli was palpable. I loved that the format is dual POV so that we could see what was going on in each of their heads throughout this entire week. It was just really, really sweet how after 17 years apart, all of the undeniable chemistry these two shared all those years ago easily surfaced again. Also, Kate Stewart has a way of making you care not only about the main characters, but everyone around them too, and WHEW. The side characters in this story had me in a chokehold. Not to mention, obliterate my ovaries with Sloane’s youngest nephew Payton having a sunrise date with Eli every morning. Like shit. Hit me square in the heart with relentless cuteness, why don’t you? Anyhoo, all of that is to say, if you’re looking for a well-written, spicy holiday romance, this book is a must read!

PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Summary: Darley, the eldest daughter in the well-connected, old money Stockton family, followed her heart, trading her job and her inheritance for motherhood but giving up far too much in the process; Sasha, a middle-class New England girl, has married into the Brooklyn Heights family, and finds herself cast as the arriviste outsider; and Georgiana, the baby of the family, has fallen in love with someone she can’t have and must decide what kind of person she wants to be.

My Thoughts: Okay so I know when I rate books a three, I usually have several issues with the book. And like, I do have a couple of issues with this book, but I also genuinely enjoyed it. I probably won’t ever read it again, and I don’t know if it’s because Marin Ireland was the narrator for the audiobook, but I just really appreciated my experience with this story. It was a bit of a slow burn to get into, but once I started developing my own relationships with Darley, Sasha, and Georgiana, despite their flaws, I was hooked. Although they all try to portray a flawless lifestyle, it was the messier parts of their personalities and situations that had me invested in their stories. Particularly Darley and Sasha because they seemed a bit more mature than Georgiana. However, even by the end of the book, I think I was most satisfied with how Georgiana’s storyline wrapped up. There’s also an uncomfortability factor that plays into the overarching theme because you’re following three very well-off women, two of whom come from hella money and one who married into it. So there was a bit of “oh boo hoo, you’re still rich. Now what?” moments for me. Once their lives started getting messy though, it was easier to find empathy for each of them. This book wasn’t perfect, but I definitely enjoyed my time listening to it. I recommend it if you're a fan of multi point of view books that expose the intricacies of how imperfect people’s lives can be even when they seem to have it all.

CHECK & MATE by Ali Hazelwood

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess. Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the door to sorely needed cash prizes and, despite everything, she can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist.... As she rockets up the ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games aren't only on the board, the spotlight is hotter than she imagined, and the competition can be fierce(-ly attractive. And intelligent...and infuriating...)

My Thoughts: The five stars this book received is unapologetically due to vibes more so than the objective quality of plot and characters lol. The audiobook narrator was fantastic and I was sooo much more invested in this chess-themed romance than I ever expected to be. It was almost like settling into my Queen’s Gambit obsession circa 2020, but make it a young adult romance. Mallory is the prodigy of a Grand Master chess player, but hasn’t touched a board in three years until she’s coerced into playing in a charity tournament where she unexpectedly beats the world champion, Nolan Sawyer. This turns into a whirlwind of chess weaseling its way back into her life and exposes all of the things Mallory has deprived herself of ever since ~something~ went down with her dad that left her family to struggle. I was OBSESSED with the connection between Nolan and Mallory. Even just the way their brains worked and how they anticipated the other’s moves on and off the chess board. Although there was a patch of plot where Mallory decides to be a petty, selfish little punk that left me incredibly frustrated, I still couldn’t help rooting for her to put the misogyny of the chess world to shame. Also, shoutout to Oz for his endless comedic relief and blatant honesty lol. If you haven’t given this book a try, it’s a super quick read and definitely different from any other YA romance I’ve ever read.

That’s it for November! Thank you so much for pushing through if you’ve made it to the end lol. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and an even better holiday season!

I don’t know where my mood will take me in terms of books next month, but hopefully it will include some recommendations for you to start off the new year with.

2024 Book Count: 136

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YOUR TURN! What’s your favorite audiobook of 2024?