My Favorite Books of July 2025

Of the 13 books I read, I gave two fiction books perfect grades. Here are my reviews.

Lie Lie Truth

Ali can’t believe how incredible her new adoptive family is. She feels so lucky to have escaped her abusive parents. 

Dennis, Connie, and her new brother, Dan, are such a typical family that it regularly brings tears to her eyes.

But Connie does have one little quirk. She freaks out when the kids play too close to the woods. Ali soon understands that it’s because some kids have gone missing, just a red ribbon hanging where they disappeared. 

Dennis tells Ali that she doesn’t need to be afraid. But soon, other people in the small town start saying Dennis is the killer.

The town’s men enact vigilante justice on Dennis. Then, years later, another child disappears, and the same trademark red ribbon appears.

I read Lie Lie Truth by James Caine on Kindle Unlimited. There were a few plot holes in the book, and I unraveled the plot pretty early, but I still couldn’t stop reading.

Saving Emma

I love Allen Eskens’s writing. I read his book, The Life We Bury, in 2017, and I still think about how amazing it was. I don’t think Saving Emma was as good, but it was still fantastic. 

The book is about Boady Sanden, a law professor and former Innocence Project attorney. He’s asked to help prove the innocence of Elijah Matthews, a mentally ill man institutionalized after being acquitted of murdering a megachurch pastor. 

At the same time, Boady is fighting to maintain custody of his adopted teenage daughter, whose estranged aunt wants her.

It’s a race against time and seemingly impossible circumstances to do the right thing in his personal and professional life.

I don’t know that I’ll read other books in the Boady Sanden series, but I loved this one.

Happy Reading!

There they are, my favorite books of July. There’s not a ton to pick from, but you won’t regret reading either of these.

As always, Happy Reading!

My Favorite Books of June 2025

I read 14 books in June. Of those, I gave four perfect grades. Here are my reviews.

Broken Country

I say I’m a thriller reader, but Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall isn’t a thriller, and I’m almost certain it will be one of my favorite books of the year.

Beth is a farmer’s wife. She’s living a routine but seemingly happy life, working the family farm with her husband, Frank.

When Beth’s brother-in-law, who also works the farm, shoots a neighbor’s dog that was attacking their sheep, it’s revealed that the dog belongs to Gabriel Wolfe. 

Gabriel is Beth’s first love (You know, the one who got away.), who has returned to town to live in his family’s abandoned estate with his young son, Leo. Gabriel and his wife divorced. Now he’s raising Leo alone.

Beth begins forming a relationship with Leo, which fills a hole she has because of the accidental death of her own son, Bobby. But their relationship also means she spends increasingly more time with Gabriel.

In the end, Beth has to decide. Does she stay with reliable Frank, whom she loves and who has always loved her, or does she try to rekindle the love she lost?

Did I mention that you spend almost the entire book knowing that someone is on trial for killing someone else, but you don’t know who, how, or why?

Night Watcher

I loved Night Watcher by Daphne Woolsoncroft. I read this book as a NetGalley ARC, and it did not disappoint.

The book is about Nola Strate. She’s the host of a late-night, call-in radio show where listeners share haunted sightings and true crime stories. She inherited the show from her father when he stopped recording.

It’s an interesting job for Nola because, as a child, Nola barely escaped a masked serial killer known as “the Hiding Man” after he murdered her babysitter. Now, she thinks he’s back. 

The book was giving Scream vibes at times, which I loved.

It wasn’t totally unpredictable, but it was still really good.

If you decide to read it, you also may want to know a little bit about the author. She is real-life host of a popular true crime podcast, Going West. Her aunt went missing in 1984 and has never been found. This lived experience absolutely shaped the Night Watcher book.

The Familiar Dark

How far will a mother go to get revenge for the murder of her child? Will she turn into the very thing she’s tried her entire life not to be and repeat cycles of generational trauma?

Those are the overwhelming questions that drive the plot of The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel.

When 12‑year‑old Junie Taggert and her friend Izzy are found murdered at playground, June’s mother Eve Taggert sinks parts of their Missouri Ozark town that she thought she’d left far in the past. 

Eve’s willingness to embrace the darkest parts and people in her life comes to the surface as she searches for her daughter’s killer.

To me, this book was really about what a mother can and will do to protect their daughter, even when the daughter is no longer there to protect. It was sad and difficult to read, but so worth it. 

The Poppy Fields

If you could sleep for a month and overcome your grief, would you?

That’s exactly what people do at The Poppy Fields, a research-based treatment center in California.

But here’s the hang-up. Most patients wake up ‘healed,’ but a small number lose all emotional connection to their loved one who passed. They’re basically just another person in their memory.

When we meet the three main characters, Ava, Ray, and Sasha, they’re at an airport in Missouri. There’s a tornado, and all the flights are canceled, so they decided to rent a car. But everyone else had the same idea, so there is only one car left. 

Then, they realize that they’re all going to the same place — The Poppy Fields.

The bulk of the book is about the trip and each of them learning why they’re headed to the fields, and that it’s for drastically different reasons.

Nikki Erlick wrote The Poppy Fields. She’s also the author of The Measure, which I loved. She’s quickly becoming one of my must-read authors because of the way she seamlessly connects characters in an unexpected way.

Happy Reading!

I didn’t read a lot (for me) in June, but I did read some great books. I hope you find something on the list to read and love. As always, Happy Reading!

My Favorite Books of May 2025

I read 25 books in May. Of those, I gave five books perfect grades. Here are my reviews.

Great Big Beautiful Life

Emily Henry has become one of my favorite writers. There’s just something about the fun details she includes in her descriptions that makes me relate to her characters. Still, I was a bit nervous to read Great Big Beautiful Life. I don’t love all of Henry’s books equally, and a lot of people weren’t liking this one at all. Still, I loved it.

The story follows two writers — Alice Scott, a hopeful journalist seeking her big break, and Hayden Anderson, a jaded Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer — as they compete to write the life story of the reclusive heiress Margaret Ives. 

Margaret invites them for a month-long interview in the remote Georgia town where she disappeared. Then, she offers them pieces of her past under strict secrecy. 

Alice and Hayden navigate their own evolving relationship and competition as they uncover memories from Margaret’s life filled with glamour, scandal, and heartbreak. To add to the mystery, their interviews with Margaret are on different days, so neither knows what the other is (or isn’t) learning about her.

The book is told through a dual timeline, which made it confusing for many readers. But I loved that it was more than just a love story. It wasn’t your typical Emily Henry book, but I still thought it was fabulous.

Say You’ll Remember Me

I read lots of different stuff, but I really consider myself a thriller reader. However, my best friend has been listening to Abby Jimenez books and really likes them. And I like a little summer romance reading, so I thought, why not?

I read Part of Your World last year. I gave it four stars, but I didn’t love it enough to keep going.

But I thought, “I’ll give Say You’ll Remember Me a try, since everyone is talking about it.”

Ok, this love story starts with a cat’s butthole, so I really didn’t think I was in. Until it made me cry.

I can probably count on one hand the number of books that have made me cry.

I’m not going to give it away, but the relationship with Hank got me. I mean, the main couple’s relationship is adorable, don’t get me wrong. But Hank did me in.

Overall, a fun summer read that tackles all types of relationships.

That Librarian

When was the last time you screamed at the book you were reading or listening to? If it’s been a while, you need to read The Librarian by Amanda Jones. 

Jones is a school librarian in Louisiana who stood up at a public meeting in 2022 and said, ‘Hey, kids deserve access to diverse books.’”

What happened next? Online harassment. Threats. A defamation lawsuit. All for defending the right to read.

But Amanda didn’t back down. That Librarian tells her story — the trauma, the legal battle, and why she refuses to stay silent.

At one point in the book, Amanda writes: “Hell hath no fury like a librarian scorned.” 

I believe her after reading this book. 

It’s raw, it’s honest, and it’s gonna make you mad.

Here are a couple of interesting things I learned from the book:

• The majority of the books people want to ban are about certain topics, specifically related to the LGBTQ+ community.
• Most people who advocate for banning specific books boast that they haven’t read them.
• People often misrepresent or even misquote books they want banned. Again, they haven’t read them, so they take what they see online about the book as fact.
• Then, these people bully those who stand against censorship.

If you don’t want your child to read certain types of books or you don’t want to read specific books, that’s totally ok with me. But that doesn’t give you the right to decide what everyone else should have access to.

As Amanda wrote in her book, “You start banning one thing, and you’re on a slippery slope to banning everything.”

And I can promise you that there’s something you think you have a right to access and read that someone else thinks is wrong. 

If you’re like me and think book banning is just plain un-American, you’ll want to read this book.

The Perfect Marriage

Can you love an author but not totally love her books? I’m not sure.

I love Jeneva Rose’s stuff here on TikTok. She makes me laugh, especially when she talks about Scott, the guy who doesn’t like her writing.

I’ve read four of Jeneva Rose books, and I didn’t dislike any of them. I also didn’t give any of them five stars. And I DNF’d one of her books.

But when The Perfect Divorce came out, I was drawn in by how beautiful the book was. I also knew that I needed to go back and read The Perfect Marriage before I read it.

I loved The Perfect Marriage. It’s Jeneva’s best work to date, IMO. I even ended up liking it more than The Perfect Divorce.

The book is about a powerhouse defense attorney, Sarah Morgan, whose husband is arrested for murdering his mistress. And she takes the case to defend him.

It’s told from the perspectives of Sarah and Adam. 

And there are some amazing plot twists that you won’t see coming!

The Wedding People

Phoebe Stone’s life is in crisis, and she’s just trying to escape.

The recently divorced adjunct literature professor checks into the bucket list Newport hotel, where she quickly discovers that she’s the only guest at the hotel who isn’t there as part of the wedding party.

So, guess what happens?

Yep. She becomes part of the wedding. A HUGE part.

It all sounds light, but this book has a ton of depth and touches on some serious subjects, including suicidal ideation, death, grief, adultery, professional crises, complex family dynamics, etc.

I don’t want to give anything away, but trust me when I say The Wedding People by Alison Espach is a must-read about coming to terms with who you are and finding love and relationships in unexpected places. 

Happy Reading! 

There they are, my five favorite books of May. I think it’s fair to say we’re moving into summer reading season, which means you’ll likely see more romance on my reading lists. Regardless, I hope you find something on the list to read and love. 

As always, happy reading!

My Favorite Books of April

Of the 10 books I read in April, I gave three thrillers perfect grades. Here are my reviews of my favorite books of April. 

Playing Jenna

Kiersten Modglin has done it again! Playing Jenna may just be my favorite book of hers yet.

Monroe Perry’s life shatters when her husband leaves her for a mysterious woman named Jenna. But as Monroe digs deeper, she uncovers secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

I had some ideas about where this book was going, but the queen of the plot twist still had me surprised. 

The entire time I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but think about the terrible things we do to women. Then, we blame their responses on them.

For example, back in the 19th Century, researchers called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder hysteria, and they thought it was a woman’s issue and was related to their uterus. They later discovered that these women, whom they thought were just nuts, were actually having severe trauma as a result of widespread sexual abuse by everyone from family members to clergy they were taken to to help heal them.

I guess Jenna’s problems aren’t so new at all. 

Check this book out, but read the description first, just in case you’ll find it triggering.

The Business Trip

Do you randomly talk to people in public? Like when you’re standing in line or maybe on a plane? This type of casual conversation is super common here in Oklahoma. And I do it around here, but I don’t like talking to people on planes. 

The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia gave me all the more reason to stick to my silence during travel. 

Stephanie, a dedicated news director, and Jasmine, a woman escaping an abusive relationship, cross paths on a flight to Denver. 

Days later, both text their friends about meeting an “amazing guy” named Trent McCarthy. 

Then, both women seem to vanish.

There was a pretty big plot hole in this book, but the book was just so dang good that I forgave it. I was into the storyline right from the beginning.

You Killed Me First

Do you ever read a book and the whole time you’re reading, you think, “This is just ok for me. I’ll probably give it four stars.” Then, it just leaves your jaw on the floor at the end?

That’s what happened to me with John Marrs’s book, You Killed Me First.

The book starts when a woman awakens bound and gagged inside a bonfire, moments before it’s lit. Then, we spend the rest of the book wondering who the heck it was and why she was there.

The story is told through three neighbors and “friends” — Margot, Anna, and Liv. And each of these women has a ton of secrets, even from each other. 

What got me a little confused about the book is when it went back in time. For whatever reason, I had a difficult time weaving that narrative into the current-day aspects of the book. 

But when it all comes together in the end, you wonder which of these women is the worst.

Happy Reading!

There they are! My favorite books of April. If you’re into thrillers, you’d love any of these books. Either way, I hope you find something to read and love. 

As always, Happy Reading!

I read 21 books in March. Of those, I gave nine books perfect grades.

My Favorite Books of March 2025

The nine books I gave perfect grades consisted of three nonfiction books and six fiction books. Here are my reviews.

No Two Persons

I truly believe that some books come to you at the right time, and it changes the way you feel about them. And each person experiences a book differently.

That’s probably why I loved No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister.

The story centers on Alice Wein, an aspiring writer who pens her debut novel, Theo, following a personal tragedy. The novel then finds its way into the hands of nine diverse people, each uniquely affected by its narrative.

The writing was beautiful, and the author weaved the characters together in an interesting way

The Arrangement

Sometimes, I need to listen to TikTok sooner. I’m pretty sure that’s where I first heard about Kiersten Modglin, but I put off reading her books for some unknown reason. I read multiples this month. I didn’t give all of them perfect grades, but it was enough to convince me that I’m going to read everything she writes. Her plot twists are *chef’s kiss*.

Speaking of plot twists, The Arrangement had so many that my head was spinning!

The book is about Ainsley and Peter Greenburg, a couple whose marriage is on the brink of collapse. In a desperate attempt to save their relationship, Ainsley proposes an open marriage arrangement. 

Each partner can date someone new once a week, but they must never discuss the details of these encounters. 

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, everything, of course.

The Devil at His Elbow

Like seemingly everyone else, I watched the Netflix series about the Murdough family and thought, “What in the actual…?” 

When I worked as a full-time journalist, I often thought that you just couldn’t make up some of the stories we covered. The Devil at His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein has some of that. 

It also makes you think that this is exactly what all those stereotypes about people who think they’re above the law are about.

Oh, and of course, I love a book written by a journalist.

The book traces the legal family’s century-long dominance in a South Carolina town and the downfall of Alex Murdaugh. It examines events leading up to and including Alex Murdaugh’s trial for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. 

At various times during the book, you’re left wondering which Murdaugh is the worst. I’m still not sure I can answer that question, but I have a pretty dang good idea.

The Dream Job

Guess who? Kiersten Modglin again. 

The Dream Job is about Autumn Sanderson, who, burdened by debt and caring for her ailing mother, is desperate for employment. When she’s invited to interview for a mysterious company offering an exorbitant salary, she seizes the chance. 

But the unconventional hiring process requires her and five other candidates to spend a week in an isolated luxury cabin, participating in strange challenges and revealing their deepest secrets. 

As the week progresses, Autumn, now known as “Lark,” begins to question the company’s true intentions and the safety of her situation.

The Good Neighbors

The Good Neighbors was the first Kiersten Modglin book I read. I started it on a Saturday morning and finished it that night. I couldn’t put it down.

I now wonder if I’ve ever given the same author so many perfect grades in a month. I doubt it. Heck, I don’t even think I’ve read this much by the same author in a month. And read another of her books this month that I gave a B!

The book follows Bryant and Harper Page as they relocate to the small town of Lancaster Mills. Their initial interactions with neighbors Jason and Tori Fuller are unsettling, but they try to put them aside. After all, they are new to town, so they want to make friends and be good neighbors. And the Fullers, with their perfect lives and careers, seem like ideal people to get to know.

The Pages become increasingly entangled with the Fullers, and things get increasingly strange until they’re downright scary.

Be careful with the company you keep.

The House of My Mother

Ok. Here’s how you should handle this. First, go to Hulu and watch Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke. Spend some time wondering how one woman can be such a cruel piece of crap. Then, go read The House of My Mother by Shari Franke, Ruby’s daughter, to get an even more detailed, insider perspective.

Shari is the eldest daughter of the controversial “8 Passengers” YouTube family. In her book, she exposes the stark contrast between her family’s public image and the private reality of her upbringing under her mother.

Shari recounts experiences of strict discipline and emotional abuse, providing insight into the darker aspects of influencer culture. She also touches upon her mother’s involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt, a relationship coach/cult leader (Let’s call it what it is.) promoting controversial (abusive) parenting methods.

The Let Them Theory

I love Mel Robbins with her no-nonsense, practical advice, so I was less than patient waiting for The Let Them Theory to become available in print. Once I finally got the book, I was in the middle of reading another book in print, so I saved it for vacation as a little treat.

I loved this book, but it wasn’t Mel’s best. I found it repetitive. There were also some chapters that didn’t apply to me in this season, which is totally fine. Still, I gave it a perfect grade. Not because I think theory is so unique. In fact, there’s been some controversy about whether it’s even Mel’s original idea.

What I loved about the book, and where the power really lies, is on the other side of the theory — Let You. It’s really all about recognizing that you can’t control other people, so you let them do or think whatever they want. It’s not up to you. But where your power lies in how you choose to respond. I love this message on personal responsibility and focus on it a lot with our adult children. 

What can you control? You. That’s where your responsibility lies.

The support for that message alone was worth giving this book a perfect grade.

Too Late

Do you ever read a book and think, “Have I already read this?” I thought that repeatedly while I was reading Colleen Hoover’s book, Too Late. But according to my GoodReads, I haven’t read it. I still can’t put my finger on what it reminded me of, but it was great.

The story is about Sloan, a young woman trapped in an abusive relationship with Asa, a controlling and dangerous drug dealer. She stays with him out of necessity and a little bit out of love. His financial support is her only means to care for her sick brother. 

But, when Carter enters her life, everything changes. Carter is not just a new recruit in Asa’s operation. He has a secret mission that puts both him and Sloan at risk. 

I like trying to understand what makes people think and behave the way they do. I felt like Sloan did that with Asa, which provided depth to his character. 

Also, if you read it, tell me why Asa was Vanilla Ice in my mind.

What Lies Between Us

If you’ve read anything by John Marrs, you know he’s a genius. If not, you’re missing out. Marrs, who also is a former journalist, is another author I always read. Also, if you’re interested, his TikTok is interesting. He talks about his books, his life, and being a writer in general.

In What Lies Between Us, Maggie is spending her twilight years confined to an attic. Her daughter, Nina, has Maggie chained up. Nina thinks Maggie is responsible for her father’s disappearance and, generally, everything that’s ever gone wrong in her life, so she’s punishing her.

The story alternates between Maggie and Nina’s perspectives in the present day and through 25 years of flashbacks. It shows us how many secrets a family can really have and the lengths a mother will go through to help her child.

Happy Reading! 

Wow! You got a lot from this post! A couple of shows to binge, nine books to read, and potentially a new favorite author? What more could you want?

I hope you find something on the list to read and love.

As always, Happy Reading!

My Favorite Books of February 2025

I read 19 books in February. Of those, I gave three books perfect grades. Here are my reviews.

All in Her Head

My best friend is a witch. I called to tell her how proud I was after reading All in Her Head by Elizabeth Comen and lamenting about a time when my physician bestie would have been considered a witch for having healing powers.

Things haven’t gotten much better when it comes to the nonsense around women’s health or female physicians, despite ample research that patient outcomes are better overall with female doctors.

The book explores the history of women’s healthcare, revealing how medical practices have historically marginalized and misunderstood women, and how they continue to do so today. 

To say I screamed at this book might be an understatement. But let me tell you something, it’s not all in your head.

The Good Girl

Spoiler alert: The main character in Michelle Dunne’s book, The Good Girl, is not, in fact, a good girl at all.

Grace Murphy may serve up lattes and seem like a boring barista, but she is anything but. Most of the time she has a man tied up in her house and she spends her off hours torturing him to death.

Why?

Well, Grace and her younger sister had the type of childhood most people couldn’t live through. They survived, and Grace promised her sister that they’ll never be without food, shelter, or safety again. 

This is normally the part of the review where I ask if Grace could be saved before she takes it too far, but she clearly already has. 

Work It Out

I truly believe that some books come to you at the right time, and it changes the way you feel about them. This sorta happened with Work It Out by Mel Robbins. I say “sorta” because things are good for me at work right now, so I didn’t need the advice. But I had two friends who were absolutely going through it at work when I started reading this book. I love Mel, and I found myself recommending they listen to this book and passing her advice on to them.

In the book, Mel records coaching sessions with several women who are having common problems at work. They tell their stories and she helps them uncover the reasons for their issues and gives advice for how to handle the problems and next steps. The advice part was totally worthwhile. You also can see how she reaches those conclusions and can apply the advice to other issues.

Happy Reading!

There they are! My favorite books of February! They aren’t necessarily my usual fare, but I hope you find something here to read and love.

As always, happy reading!

I don’t know about you, but when the weather gets cold, it gets dark earlier, and the sky is gray more days than not, I find myself getting a little bit down.

It’s been gray for what seems like weeks around here, which makes me think I’m probably not the only one wondering how to cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I hope this post helps.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as “seasonal depression” or “seasonal blues,” is a type of depression that typically occurs at certain times of the year, most often during the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter. 

People with SAD may experience symptoms such as:

• Low energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in sleep patterns (such as oversleeping)
• Increased appetite (often craving carbs)
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed

Scientists don’t really understand what causes seasonal depression, but they think it’s all about the sun. They think changes in sunlight exposure affect melatonin and serotonin levels in the brain. I agree with them because my entire mood changed the one day the sun was shining this week.

How to Cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder

I’m pretty sure the best way for me to cope with seasonal depression would be to just move somewhere it’s always sunny. I’m not necessarily opposed to that idea. But, until then, if you’re like me and miss the sunshine, water, and warmth of summer, here are some things you can do to offset the seasonal blues.

1. Manage Sleep

Wanting to sleep is probably the most common of my symptoms. I love taking naps anyway, but I find myself especially drawn to cozying up under a blanket on the sofa when the weather is cold and dreary.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a nap unless it impacts your sleep at night or keeps you from getting done what you need to do during the day.

The best way to stay on an ideal sleep schedule is to recognize how much sleep you need then create a routine to ensure you get it. Most people need seven and a half to nine hours of sleep to feel fully rested, although some people can get away with as few as six hours of sleep a night. Once you’ve determined how much sleep you need, do basic math regarding when you need to wake up, then set a consistent bedtime routine that will have you in bed and asleep at the necessary time.

Go ahead and nap if you aren’t getting enough sleep, and you can. But don’t nap just because you want to hibernate.

2. Listen to Music

I wish you could see my dog and I dancing around the kitchen to Shake It Off. It’s seriously a sight. 

But no matter how silly it seems, it always makes me laugh.

Music improves mood and is an effective way to fight depression by regulating emotions and improving mindset. Consider listening to music in your car, while you do chores or exercise, or even while you work if you can do that and still concentrate.

3. Go Outside

Now this one may not be super realistic during some seasons. When it’s cold, it’s cold, and I’m not going outside either. But make it a point to spend time outside on the more pleasant fall and winter days.

Taking a walk can boost your physical and mental health, reducing seasonal depression symptoms and improving your overall mood.

Sometimes, I feel better just going outside with the dogs for a minute or walking to the mailbox. Bundle up and enjoy even a short walk when you can.

4. Exercise

Most people exercise less in the winter because we can’t do so outdoors. Pushing yourself to continue a winter exercise routine will give you more energy during the colder months. And exercise is so good for your mental health. It releases endorphins that make you feel so much better.

5. Spend Time with Loved Ones

You may have to force yourself to leave your house, but spending time with loved ones will put you in a better mood. Commit to lunches or outings with friends. Put them on your calendar and keep those dates.

Even better, spend time at home with family or friends, watching a movie, working a puzzle, or playing a game. Indoor activities can be fun too! Not as fun as hanging in the pool, but still…

6. Work Publicly

One way to counter some of the depleted energy and desire to do things that comes with seasonal depression is just to get out of your normal routine. Don’t work at home where you are tempted to take a nap. Instead, go to a coffee shop were the background buzz and amazing smells will help you focus and be productive.

7. Try Light Therapy

Exposure to bright light, especially in the morning, helps regulate the body’s internal clock and boosts mood-enhancing chemicals like serotonin. Can’t seem to get that sun to shine? There are other ways! Use a “happy light” that mimics natural sunlight for about 20–30 minutes every morning. I know it sounds suspect, but I have one and it works!

8. Get Some Vitamin D

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that we get from multiple natural sources, including healthy food and the sun. Vitamin D deficiencies during colder months can cause use to experience SAD. To avoid this, consider taking a Vitamin D supplement or eating foods rich in vitamin D, like fatty fish or my favorite, cheese.

9. Cozy Up

There’s nothing wrong with giving in to your natural desire to rest. Put on some comfy pants, make a nice cup of tea, and curl up with a good book. Enjoy the seasonal change and the perks that come with it, like all those hearty, yummy soups. Just don’t fall into the habit of doing this every day at the sake of other things you need to get done. The important thing is that this behavior is a choice, not a method of avoidance.

Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

It’s kinda ridiculous that we have the weather to worry about among everything else, but here we are. If you’re dealing with seasonal depression, just remember that it will pass. Soon enough, we’ll be basking in the sun, smelling like a coconut, and listening to people complain about how hot it is. Ah… I can’t wait!

You may remember that I didn’t reach my goal of reading 200 books last year, so I set the same goal for 2025. 

I started the reading year off strong by finishing 20 books in January.

My Favorite Books of January 2025

Of the 20 books I read last month, I gave seven perfect grades. That’s a pretty strong reading month! Those consisted of two nonfiction books and five fiction books. Here are my reviews.

Atomic Habits

I read Atomic Habits by James Clear in print, which always takes me longer. But I’m so glad I have the physical book because I can see myself returning to it often.

The book is about identifying habits worth keeping and those you need to change and then how to make those adjustments. The most helpful part of the book is the little behavioral tips Clear provides to help you make your desired changes. 

For me, the most challenging part of the book is identifying the habits you want to change and not trying to do everything at once. Perhaps that’s why I think I’ll return to it?

Love, Mom

In Love, Mom, Mackenzie Casper’s mom is a best-selling thriller author. But when Mackenzie’s mother dies in what seems like a tragic accident, Mackenzie starts getting letters from the deceased.

What she learns is that perhaps her mother’s books aren’t quite as fiction as they seem. Who knows more about her mother’s secrets, and how can Mackenzie uncover them?

More or Less Maddy

No one writes medical fiction like Lisa Genova. Of course, being a neuroscientist probably doesn’t hurt the efforts.

More or Less Maddy is about Maddy Banks, a freshman at NYU who has bipolar disorder. The book is an excellent look at Maddy’s struggles with mania and depression and how she and her family cope with the disorder. 

One of the things that really struck me about this book is how the writing almost seems manic during Maddy’s episodes of mania. It was super honest and powerfully written, and provides a good look at how out of control a person with bipolar may feel and how they may want to be considered.

Raised by a Serial Killer

Imagine suspecting that your father might not just be abusive — he may have killed people. Then, imagine what you would do when you began to suspect that your father may have killed multiple people — that he might be a serial killer. 

This is no made-up scenario for April Balascio. Her father was Edward Wayne Edwards. He’s known to have killed at least five people, at least some of them while becoming a speaker on rehabilitation and an FBI informant. 

Balascio wrote about growing up with Edwards and becoming aware of his crimes in her book, Raised by a Serial Killer. It’s a fascinating look at how people can wear multiple faces and learn to get away with unspeakable things. It’s also about the damage those people leave behind, including in their own families.

Say No More

Having a troubled sister is challenging. If your sister is as troubled as Audrey Hoedemaker, it can even land you in trouble.

Maureen has always loved her little sister, even when the younger girl started showing signs that she was living a troubled life. In fact, Maureen even took her sister in. That’s when she learned she was a con artist and maybe even a murderer. 

But now it’s too late. Maureen is the one in trouble. Did her sister set her up?

Say No More by Caroline Overington is an Audible Original, which means you can only find it on the platform, but it’s totally worth a listen. I was shocked at the plot twist. I’m going to read more of Overington’s work.

Some Boys

I love a realistic YA novel that looks at the complexities of growing up and how young people survive and sometimes even thrive in situations far beyond their years. Patty Blount’s book Some Boys is just that.

Grace had the biggest crush on Zac, the start of her school’s lacrosse team. So did one of her best friends, but it seems that Zac chose her. 

Grace thought she was lucky, right until Zac raped her and left her lying in a field near a party the police busted up. 

When Grace comes forward with what Zac did, it seems no one believe her, especially with the video Zac circulated. She becomes the school outcast, and even her former best friends are coming after her.

It seems like no one is on Grace’s side, except her mother, who is doing her best to support her daughter.

But Ian found Grace in the field that night. He took her to the hospital, and he has questions that don’t quite fit with what he knows of Grace. Will Zac’s best friend uncover the truth and help give Grace the strength she needs to move on?

Tell Me Three Things

Remember what I wrote above about YA? It still applies here with Julie Buxbaum’s book Tell Me Three Things. 

Jessie is struggling. As if her mother’s death after battling cancer wasn’t hard enough, now her dad has suddenly remarried to some rich woman and uprooted them from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Jessie doesn’t fit in with the kids at her new private school or really anyone in LA, including her snotty stepbrother. She misses home and her best friend. 

Then Jessie gets an email from Somebody/Nobody. He offers to help her understand the people at her new school. The closer they get via email and text, the more Jessie wonders who SN is and when he’ll choose to reveal himself.

Happy Reading! 

There they are, my favorite books of January! It’s interesting that I read two YA novels in the same month since I don’t read them often. Either way, I hope you’ll find something on the list to read and love. As always, happy reading!

Why I Deleted Social Media Apps

Did you know that the average person spends just more than two hours a day on social media? In that way, I guess what I saw as a problem was actually pretty average.

I was spending about 2.5 hours a day on social. This time was spent between all my favorite apps, but mostly only Facebook, which actually is one of my least favorite social media outlets. 

But I’m not sure it was the time spent that mattered so much. What really became obvious to me was how distracted I was. I would sit in the family room staring at my phone instead of talking to my family. I wouldn’t hear my husband ask me questions. I was missing out on being present because I was busy documenting, posting, and talking to people who were far less important to me than those in front of me. 

And you know what else? It was pissing me off. I found myself frequently irritated or complaining about something I saw on social media. Something that had nothing to do with me or was far removed from my daily life.

In other words, I was distracted and irritated by stuff that I probably shouldn’t even have known, let alone cared about. That makes no sense! I needed a solution.

The solution I came up with was to delete the social media apps from my phone. 

Let me clarify. I did not give up social media. I don’t need y’all looking up my accounts and giving me grief. I honestly don’t have the option to delete some social mediums because I post to and monitor them for work. But I’m not sure I’d completely delete social, even if I could. I get positive things out of it, like keeping up with loved ones I don’t see regularly.

But by deleting the apps from my phone, I’m attempting to take control of my time and attention. So far, I don’t feel like I’m missing a thing. Well, except dopamine…

Dopamine Withdrawal is Real

The first day I deleted social media apps from my phone, I noticed myself habitually trying to click where the Facebook icon used to be. It was more annoying than anything. Still, I felt proud of myself. 

But the second day… Oh. My. Goodness. 

I was a bear cub by that second day.

That’s when I realized I was having dopamine withdrawal.

You see, social media triggers the release of dopamine, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter in the brain. This happens when you get a like or comment, connect with someone else on the medium, see something you like, or are surprised by what comes up next. 

Think about it: If you’re active on multiple social media outlets like I was, that’s a ton of dopamine hits every day just from scrolling. 

While you can’t be diagnosed with dopamine withdrawal, that doesn’t mean it’s real. There are a lot of things that aren’t official diagnoses that 100% exist. Dopamine withdrawal is one of them.

What Are the Symptoms of Dopamine Withdrawal?

Symptoms are exactly why I know dopamine withdrawal is real. It may not be a medical condition or an official diagnosis, but it’s definitely something you can feel.

Symptoms of dopamine withdrawal include:

• Depression, sadness, or emptiness
• Fatigue or lack of motivation
• Irritability or restlessness
• Difficulty focusing
• Anxiety
• Sleep disruptions
• Headaches or body aches

For me, I’m annoyed and feel like I’m not sure what to do with myself. So, that third bullet point is present for sure. Know what I decided to do? What I do best — research and write.

How to Manage Dopamine Withdrawal

Here’s the thing: I think this whole no social media on my phone is a good thing. So, what am I going to do instead of scrolling Facebook, talking about books on Threads, or watching TikToks? How am I going to get the dopamine I want and need in healthier ways? 

Here are some ways to manage dopamine withdrawal that make sense to me:

• Gradually Reduce Usage. Maybe going cold turkey wasn’t the best option, but I didn’t trust myself to moderate my social media usage with those apps right there, all the time. I’m still checking my social. I’m just doing it a few times during work breaks. What I’m noticing is that I’m looking at fewer mediums because I’m not making that habitual tour of my apps. Also, I realize I’m not missing anything when I check it. 
• Engage in Healthy Activities. Exercise, meditation, or hobbies can naturally boost dopamine. As you know, reading is one of my favorite hobbies. I’ve already noticed that I’m reading even more without social media at my fingertips. While being on my Kindle app nonstop isn’t helping my screen time, I still feel like I’m using my devices in a better way.
• Connect Socially. I have a lot of friends I text nearly every day outside of social media. I’m still connecting with them via text or phone. It helps me stay socially connected and not feel lonely.
• Be Patient. I’m trying to be patient and show myself some grace. I knew I was addicted to social media, and this would take some time. I didn’t expect to be a total grouch, but I probably should have. I’m trying to give myself some grace and celebrate the wins.

Positive Ways to Replace Dopamine

Here’s the thing. Dopamine itself isn’t bad. It’s probably negative that I was getting so much of it. It’s absolutely a problem that I was getting it from something negatively impacting me and the people around me. So, how am I going to get dopamine in positive ways while weaning myself off of so much social media? I have some ideas. 

Exercise

Exercise is like the leafy green of life. It’s so good for you in every way, even if you don’t love it. I already focus on getting at least 40 minutes of exercise a day. I’m going to keep doing that to get those positive benefits, including dopamine.

Mindfulness

You may remember that I told y’all I was going to be more mindful in 2025 anyway. So, I’ve been doing some deep breathing several times a day, journaling, and really focusing on gratitude, including my daily gratitude texts and recognizing glimmers. Really savoring those little moments, like when the warm shower spray hits my face for the first time or that first sip of coffee in the morning, gives me an excellent hit of dopamine.

Bonding

Texting with friends, watching a TV show with my husband, and cuddling the dog are all ways I feel good about spending my time… so much more so than seeing what nonsense that girl I went to high school with is posting now. This type of bonding never feels ick or leaves me unfulfilled.

Music

I’m a couple of paragraphs away from putting Taylor Swift on the Sonos speaker and dancing around the kitchen. I kinda can’t wait. I love music. It always lifts my mood. I see a lot of listening to music in the upcoming weeks.

Sunshine

Everything about sunshine makes me happy. Yes, it’s like five degrees here, but that doesn’t keep me from sitting in the chair by the window and reading a book while the sun streams in. I’ll be opening up that sunroof and walking outside every chance I get.

To-Dos 

Getting things done helps with a little boost of dopamine. Whether it’s decluttering a drawer or marking something off my to-do list, I’m going to do my best to take a moment to recognize tasks as I complete them.

What’s Next?

What’s next for me and this whole social media thing? I really don’t know. Right now, I’m just trying to break the chains. Then, I’ll see. I don’t think I’ll have every social media app off my phone forever. But I’m not going to reinstall them until I can trust myself to use them in a way that’s healthy for me. 

As far as this glass-half-empty attitude I’m sporting… it’ll go away. Until then, I’ll just keep on doing my best, right?

My 26 Favorite Fiction Books of 2024

I read 172 books in 2024. Of those, I gave 26 fiction books perfect grades. Here are my reviews.

Archer’s Voice

Books often don’t live up to the hype, but Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan certainly did. I don’t think I sobbed like other readers claim they did, but I teared up multiple times while reading. That’s a lot for me.

The book is about the unlikely love of two people riding out their trauma in the small town of Pelion, Maine. 

Bree Prescott goes to Pelion to run from her trauma and re-establish her safety.

For Archer Hale, his Pelion and everything about it is where his trauma originated and stays.

But when the two meet, they discover that they can conquer a lot together despite their differences.

Dreamland Burning

I grew up in what was then a small town north of Tulsa. Our family still lives in that area. I’m sure being from there is one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. The depictions of Tulsa were spot-on, making me reason that the telling of the Tulsa Race Massacre were just as accurate.

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham is the story of Rowan Chase, 17, who lives in a wealthy part of Tulsa with her well-to-do parents. When skeletal remains are found during a remodel of the family’s guest house, Rowan makes it her mission to find out who they belong to.

Simultaneously, the reader learns the story of Will Tillman, 17, who tried to avoid hate labels and save Black people in 1921 during the race massacre. 

It’s the juxtaposition of the teens all those years apart and their individual dealings with race issues and hate that make this book compelling to any reader, even if they aren’t from the area.

Funny Story 

She’s won me over. If Emily Henry writes it, I’m going to read it. I just love her quirky writing style. Her examples and descriptions are so spot-on.

Because I love Henry, like so many people, I couldn’t wait for Funny Story to release. It didn’t disappoint.

Daphne thought she was about to marry the man of her dreams. Then he suddenly announced that he was in love with his best girl friend and leaving her so they could be together. 

So, Daphne, who had uprooted her life and moved to his small town, finds herself without a home (his), friends (they were his), or family nearby. 

The only thing she really has is a love for her job at the local library and some loose connections to people she and Peter once knew. Is that enough to stick around and try to form a life there? 

Gray After Dark

She’s done it again! Gray After Dark is Noelle West Ihli’s new release, and it’s just as fabulous as we’ve come to expect from her after reading Ask For Andrea and Run on Red.

Miley is abducted during a morning run while she’s working at a mountain lodge. The men who abduct her are some kind of off-grid doomsday folks. They’re smarter than they seem and are excellent marksmen. Miley is an Olympian, but it may take more than her athleticism to escape her current situation. 

I confess that I didn’t love this book when I first started reading it. Miley isn’t my favorite character from this author. But the more I read, the more wrapped up I got in the story. In the end, I couldn’t put it down.

Heart Bones

When I finished this book, I thought, “How does she do that?” I don’t want to love Colleen Hoover books because it just seems so cliche, but I’ve really liked most of them I’ve read. She has an amazing talent for storytelling. Heart Bones was no exception.

When Beyah Grim’s mother ODs, she goes to spend her last summer before college on a full scholarship with her father she barely knows and his family. She doesn’t really have a choice. It’s that or be homeless, so Texas it is. 

Beyah is happy to discover that her stepsister could actually be a friend, even if their lives are so much different. And when Sarah introduces Beyah to the next-door neighbor, Samson, her life changes forever.

How to Read a Book

You can cover super complicated issues in a thoughtful, entertaining, and even adorable way. That’s what How to Read a Book by Monica Wood does. 

Violet Powell is a 22-year-old being released from prison after serving time for an impaired driving crash that killed a local woman. Her sister refuses to take her in but sets her up with a place to live and some money until she can get back on her feet. Of course, how is she supposed to cope with what happened and learn to forgive herself when even her sister doesn’t forgive her?

At a local bookstore, Violet runs into Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who ran her prison book club. Harriet isn’t supposed to have interactions with inmates outside of the prison. But then again, Violet isn’t an inmate anymore. Harriet finds herself wanting to help the young woman, maybe even as a way to fill the void in her life.

But one person is even more shocked to see Violet in the bookstore where he fixes things. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, can’t believe he’s come face-to-face with the young woman who killed his wife. Can he forgive her? Can he help her forgive herself? Can these three struggling people help heal each other?

If Something Happens to Me

Imagine this. Two teenagers are at a popular make-out spot when suddenly the car door is ripped open, the boy is knocked unconscious, and someone takes the girl. 

Creepy, right? 

That’s the background from Alex Finlay’s book, If Something Happens to Me.

Since that night five years ago, Ryan Richardson has changed his name and started law school. But he still can’t leave behind the anguish of never knowing what happened to Ali.

Then, while he’s on a school trip to Italy, Ryan’s father calls. Ali’s car, which was missing after that night, was found in a lake in their hometown. Two dead men were inside with a note in Ali’s handwriting. It read: “If something happens to me…”

Obviously, this discovery brings back all types of memories, emotions, and concerns for Ryan. Then he sees a face that he remembers from that night, right before he was knocked out. Is this man following him around Italy? What does he know about Ali’s disappearance? Is Ryan in danger?

Listen for the Lie

I absolutely loved Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera. Like, “Who cares about sleep because I have to know what happens next” loved it. And, that’s super high praise from me because I adore sleep. I’ve told multiple people that it was my favorite book of the year.

Lucy’s best friend, Savvy, was murdered years ago. Everyone thinks Lucy did it, even though she was never convicted. Lucy also isn’t sure she didn’t kill Savvy.

Now, Lucy’s grandma insists she return home for a visit just as a hit true crime podcast about Savvy’s murder launches. And, everyone in town is trying to prove Lucy did it, save her from her accusers, or both.

I’m digging this new format where a book reads in podcast episodes, but only if it’s done well. This one was.

Morning in This Broken World

I strongly believe in the love of chosen family. Maybe that’s part of why I enjoyed Morning in this Broken World by Katrina Kittle so much. But I really loved the book because of Vivian Laurent’s character. I want to be just like the no-nonsense, feisty Vivian when I grow up.

Vivian isn’t sure what to do with herself after her husband, the love of her life, dies. The couple was living in an assisted living center so Vivian could get the help she needed caring for her husband, but now the center is going on lockdown for COVID, and she doesn’t want to be stuck there without him anymore.

That’s when Vivian discovers that her favorite nurse, Luna, and her two children are facing eviction. Is this the beginning of a strange win/win? 

Vivian invites Luna and the kids to move into her home with her, keeping her company and helping her stay in the house.

As the unlikely foursome begins going through life together, they discover that they’re exactly the family each of them needs.

One of Our Own

Seriously, what is Lucinda Berry trying to do to us? It’s like she decided to rip every mother’s heart out with her last few books. One of Our Own is the same situation. 

FYI: This book has gotten some criticism in the reading community because she released it in audio format on Audible. So, if you don’t have access to that, you can’t listen to it. I advise getting a free trial subscription because it’s worth it!

Felicia is volunteering at a local crisis center when a call comes in one night from a teenage girl who is threatening to take her life. The girl was drugged and gang raped at a party, and a video of the assault is being shared among her classmates.

During the call, Felicia discovers that the girl goes to her son’s school and that they’re the same age, which makes her all the more driven to help the young woman.

Felicia is so desperate to help the girl that she provides her cell phone number, which is totally against protocol. The girl begins calling and texting Felicia when she needs help and telling the woman about the revenge she’s planning. The more Felicia knows, the worse the situation gets.

Slammed

Slammed by Colleen Hoover is about 18-year-old Layken “Lake” Cohen, who moves to Michigan with her family after her father’s death. Struggling to adapt to her new life, Lake meets her neighbor, Will Cooper, who shares her passion for slam poetry.

Lake and Will’s connection is instantaneous, and sparks fly between them. This wasn’t a surprising part of the book at all. You saw it coming as soon as she pulled the U-Haul into the driveway.

What was surprising was the plot twist that comes after. That’s the part that made me throw the book and cuss my best friend for telling me to read it.

Lake and Will’s relationship is cute, if unrealistic, and a bit taboo. Their shared love of slam poetry adds something to the book, with some of the story actually written as slam poems they deliver to each other. I didn’t necessarily love that aspect of the book, but it was unique.

I loved the other characters in the book, including Lake and Will’s little brothers and Lake’s mom. She was probably my favorite character — so wise and fierce.

I should probably also confess that I read the second book in this series and didn’t like it nearly as much. I never read the third one.

That’s Not My Name

Mary thinks she’s been saved when a police officer finds her on the side of the road. But when her father comes to claim her, saying he’s been searching for her, something doesn’t seem quite right.

The longer Mary is with her father, the more unexplained memories she has. Are these memories parts of dreams or something else?

I love an unexpected plot twist, and That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally certainly delivered a few.

The Best of Friends

Lucinda Berry is quickly becoming one of those authors who I read, regardless of what she’s writing about. If you know, you know. This woman knows how to rip your heart out, as I wrote earlier. The Best of Friends was no exception.

Three moms who are best friends have three teenage boys who also are best friends. The boys are hanging out at one of their houses one night. Two end up shot: One dead and another in critical condition. The uninjured boy has gone mute. No one knows exactly what happened.

As you can imagine, these terrible circumstances would challenge any friendship, no matter how strong. Add in husbands and lots of questions about who shot whom, and these women are left grappling for the truth while trying to protect their sons.

The Heiress

Camden doesn’t want Ashby House or anything to do with it, despite his famous mother, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, having left it and all of her money to him.

But when his family calls him to beg for help because Ashby House is falling down around them, he agrees to come release funds to fix their home. Cam and his wife, Jules, head back to North Carolina and into a home filled with jealousy and hate.

Cam is trying to leave the house and all its secrets as quickly as possible, but Jules and his family have other plans in mind.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was filled with interesting twists that I didn’t see coming and characters that were easy to dislike.

The Ice Breaker Series

I’m not big on the Rom Com, meet cute kinda book, but my book club convinced me to give these spicy hockey romances a try, and I ended up loving all three of them. I rarely love a whole series. I’m the person who usually quits after the first book. But I was surprised by how fun these books were, all while showing depth in the characters and storylines. 

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is about Anastasia Allen, a fiercely determined college figure skater who dreams of making it to the Olympics. Nathan Hawkins is the beefy, charming captain of the university hockey team. Through a series of unexpected circumstances, their worlds collide, and what starts as friction between them evolves into a slow-burn romance filled with tension and humor.

Reading about Stasi becoming friends with the guys on the hockey she and Nate’s relationship developed was really fun. But what kept me reading the book — despite it having a TON of characters, which I usually don’t enjoy — was seeing how Anastasia was going to handle the blatant abuse by her smug, narcissistic skating partner, Aaron.

The next book in the series, Wildfire, was the story of Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts meeting at a party. Yep. It was a meet cute. Russ is a shy fella, but the two are pretty taken with each other.

After one awkward make-out session, neither is sure they’ll see each other again.

Then, Aurora shows up to serve as a camp counselor at her favorite camp from childhood, like she does every year. But guess who is on the counselor roster this year?

I was so excited for the third book in the series. Daydream is about Henry Turner, everyone’s favorite quirky member of the Maple Hills hockey team. 

Henry was nominated to be this year’s team captain and is putting a ton of pressure on himself not to fail at the task. He’s also struggling in one of his classes, making junior year a real challenge.

To make matters even more complicated, Henry meets Halle Jacobs, a literature nerd who just might be the answer to his class problems and the cause of a lot of other life drama. 

The Last Girl Left

In The Last Girl Left by A. M. Strong and Sonya Sargent, Tessa Chamberlin was the only survivor of a beach house mass murder that left her best friends dead. 

Five years later, she is stuck in survival mode and can hardly even leave her bedroom in her sister’s house. Her sister is growing concerned that she isn’t living like she survived that night.

Tired of living off her sister’s goodwill, Tessa gets an offer she can’t refuse. She’s to write a book about her experience. But the kicker is that she has to return to the beach house and process what happened. 

Of course, as soon as she returns, Tessa is plagued with creepy happenings. Are these things a trauma response to being back in the place where it all happened or is someone still out there trying to get her?

The Last Love Note

When I started The Last Love Note by Emma Grey, I wondered why it had so many amazing ratings on Goodreads. Then, I suddenly understood.

Cameron and Kate have a once-in-a-lifetime love. They are the type of couple others envy. And their adorable son, Charlie, rounds out the perfect little family. 

Then, Cameron gets early-onset Alzheimer’s and dies, making Kate a widow with a toddler.

When we meet Kate, it’s been two years since Cameron died, but she’s still a mess. She’s trying to hold it all together, but she barely gets through the day because of her grief. Her goal is to survive and take care of Charlie. She never considers that she should be taking care of herself too.

When a storm messes with a ton of flights, Kate is left stranded for a weekend in Australia with her boss and greatest source of support, Hugh. Once Kate is away from her day-to-day responsibilities, her grief hits her strong and she’s forced to process it and consider what the future might hold for her.

What Have You Done?

I changed who I thought “done it” several times when reading What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena. That’s usually the sign of a good book for me. 

When a farmer finds a teenage girl’s body dead in his field, everyone in town begins to look suspicious.

Diana Brewer’s death has residents of the small town of Fairhill locking their doors and giving their teens curfews. It also has them giving their neighbors the side eye because this doesn’t seem like an outside job. Someone among them is a murderer.

The Measure

If you could know how long you would live, would you want to know? 

It’s the underlying question in The Measure by Nikki Erlick.

Imagine getting an unexpected package on your front porch. The package is a box with a string inside. The string tells you exactly how long you’ll live.

Now imagine that everyone gets one. 

You know what’s inside…

Do you open it? 

How does the knowing (or not) change you? How does it change others around you? How does it alter how society operates?

The Measure is the story of a group of people and how they handled the knowledge that came with their strings and how they were all somewhat tied to each other.

I love how many questions it gave me to ponder.

The Teacher

Freida McFadden is another one of those writers. If she writes it, I’m going to read it. 

But all Freida books aren’t the same. I seem to either love them or be basically indifferent about them.

I loved The Teacher, even though a lot of other people didn’t.

Addie is a troubled student. Last year, she was involved in a scandal when a teacher was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with her. The teacher was like Eve’s work dad, so she’s not thrilled when the new year rolls around, and Addie is on her class roster. She’s even less happy when she discovers that Addie is one of her handsome husband, Nate’s, students. 

Will Addie set her eyes on Nate? Is Nate smart enough to see the danger this student might present? Will Eve’s jealousy and suspicions get the best of her?

I didn’t like a single character in this book, but I loved the multiple plot twists.

This Summer Will Be Different

Spoiler: This summer won’t be different. Neither will reading another Carley Fortune book. I sobbed when I read This Summer Will Be Different, just like I did when I read Every Summer After. 

Lucy loves her annual trips to Prince Edward Island with her best friend, Bridget. The island and Bridget’s family’s traditions there are comfortable and wonderful to Lucy. 

Lucy and Bridget are the closest of friends, with just one rule. Lucy is not allowed to fall in love with Bridget’s younger brother, Felix. Falling for Felix would be the ultimate betrayal in a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime friendship. 

I bet you can’t guess what happens?

What Does It Feel Like?

I haven’t read a Sophie Kinsella book in years. I read a bunch of her “Shopaholic” books back in the day before I transitioned into reading mostly thrillers. But when I read that What Does it Feel Like? was a fiction version of Kinsella’s real-life diagnosis with brain cancer, I felt called to read it. When I tell you that I consumed this book and it changed my life, it’s no exaggeration.

Eve is a successful novelist who is walking the red carpet at the movie premiere of her most recent book. The next thing we know, she wakes up in the hospital with little memory and no idea why she’s there.

Eve has terminal brain cancer. The doctors removed a tumor from her head, which means she has to relearn basic things like walking, rebuilding her short-term memory, and coping with her diagnosis and its impact on her, her husband, and their five children. 

But what happens in the process is that Eve is able to focus on what’s really important in life. She celebrates all she has while mourning what she may not experience in the future.

What Happened to Nina

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by Dervla McTiernan before, but What Happened to Nina? had me hooked from the beginning. It’s probably in my Top 2 books of the year.

From the outside, Nina and Simon look like a perfect couple. But when Nina goes missing during a weekend away with Simon, her family wants answers.

Simon says the two broke up, and he left Nina at his parents’ lakehouse. His wealthy parents surround him with support and legal representation.

But here’s one thing we know for sure. A mother doesn’t quit. And Nina’s mom will stop at nothing until she gets answers about where her daughter is.

Where Blame Lies

Josie Stratton survived what most people can’t even imagine. She was a college student when she was kidnapped and kept chained to the wall in an empty warehouse for 10 months. Her attacker, who always wore a mask, but Josie recognized by his voice, killed himself before he could be caught. 

Eight years later, Josie is still trying to leave it all behind and start a “normal” life. She’s just moved to an old farmhouse left to her by an aunt who recently passed, and she’s finally feeling like the future is a challenge she’s ready to take on. Then, another woman is found dead under circumstances nearly identical to how Josie was kept

Did Josie identify the wrong man? Either way, is she safe?

Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan was predictable in some ways, but it had a really great plot twist. I’d love to see it made into a movie.

Happy Reading!

There they are! My 26 favorite fiction books of 2024. Gosh, I had so much fun reviewing them. This is a great list! I hope you find something here to read and love.

As always, happy reading!