Family secrets, grief, and an icon, The Essential Elizabeth Stone by Jennifer Banash, tells the tale of a woman who created an empire around herself. And even in death, she can crumble down her daughter’s life. With the release date of the 10th of September, just in time for a gloomy rainy day. Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free. All the thoughts and opinions here are my own. Title: The Essential Elizabeth Stone Author: Jennifer Banash Publication year: 2024 Length: 11 hours 15 minutes Genre: Literary Fiction Pace: Slow Story focus: Character Elizabeth Stone is more than a woman, she’s a brand, a lifestyle. And now that she passed away, she left all the empire that she built to her only daughter. Although, Juliet has no idea what she’s doing. She never wanted to be her mother’s successor or …
Please note: This is the 2024- 2025 edition of this challenge, not the HRCYED 2.0 for 2025-2026. Often, I spill here and there about a readathon I’m excited about. I can’t resist. I see a readathon, I see a challenge, I’m in. And the hardest, the better. Now, do I finish the readathons I started? No. So far, I’ve only had one completed readathon, but that doesn’t push me away to keep trying. When I saw on my YouTuber feed, in big bold letters, The Hardest Reading Challenge You’ll Ever Do, I knew I was in even before hitting the play button. Qwordy is a channel I’ve never seen before, but that didn’t push me away from this challenge. And to be honest, I need to spend a little more time browsing the interwebs because there are so many reading challenges and readathons for every taste that comes from small …
If you are looking for a bone-chilling, fast-paced story, look no further. The Bachelorette Party by Sandra Block is coming out on the 3rd of September to bring you just that. Snowed in at a murder lodge? Let the bachelorette party begin! Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book for free. All the thoughts and opinions here are my own. Title: The Bachelorette Party Author: Sandra Block Publication year: 2024 Length: 9 hours 31 minutes Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller Pace: Fast Story focus: Plot Alex has spent the last few months working as an intern in a popular crime news program, her dream job. To finally get a seat at the grown-up’s table and leave her intern position, she has to prove herself as an investigator journalist. And the case she chose was the 666 Killer. Over the months, this has become her obsession. …
It has been two years. Two years since I decided to tackle my TBR and reduce it to zero. Am I closer to that number than I was when I started? I like to think that I’m crushing it! Although I’ve only managed to cut it down to about 20 books. So, 10 books read per year. At this rhythm, it will take me a decade. At best! Looking back, the project was structured to force me to read the books I already own. That has changed completely. I ended book-buying bans, went through reading slumps, and thought about ending the challenge altogether. But life continues, and I’m still determined to see this through. I imagine I’m just taking a stroll, enjoying the view, and sizing down my TBR in the meantime. February I was still feeling the high of finally being out of the reading slump, and I got …
I don’t know about you, but this summer hasn’t been very summery. I think the weather is still trying to make up its mind. And while I wait for better days, it’s best to keep up with my summer reading. This time, I went to summer camp. Although this isn’t any ordinary summer camp, it’s Camp Lanier, where kids have been “going missing” for quite some time. Camp Lanier by Sylvester Barzey is a new release to bring some horror to your summer. Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free. All the thoughts and opinions here are my own. Title: Camp Lanier Author: Sylvester Barzey Publication year: 2024 Length: 5 hours 37 minutes Genre: YA, Mystery, Horror, Fantasy Pace: Fast Story focus: Plot Special offer alert! The ebook is currently FREE as a release promotion on various platforms like Kindle, …
If you are looking for a nice light read to keep you company in these upcoming warm months, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel could be what you need. In between spices and family secrets, a woman is trying to find her way. And it might happen to cross paths with a kind and handsome new neighbour. Disclaimer: Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for free. All the thoughts and opinions here are my own. Title: The Curious Secrets of Yesterday Author: Namrata Patel Publication year: 2024 Length: 9 hours 52 minutes Genre: Contemporary, Romance Pace: Medium Story focus: Character & Plot More than family secrets, this story is about a woman in her early thirties still trying to find herself. All her life, she was taught to continue the family tradition of spice healers, ayurveda. Although Tulsi always did …
After some unplanned hiatus, it’s time to get back to this little corner. I’ve missed so much sitting down to write about something that’s been on my mind. And, while I was away, I didn’t stop reading. Which means I have a few book reviews to come. Today, I’m focusing on classic sci-fi. No, it’s not Dune. I’m still making my way through that one at turtle speed. It’s 2001 Space Odyssey and 2010 Space Odyssey 2. While this was my second time reading 2001, I never got to write a review. Not all the books I read I write a review. Sometimes, a book is nice, but I don’t have enough to say about it to write a full post. And 2010 was heading in the same direction until it wasn’t. And so, I have some thoughts about reading 2001, watching the movie and then reading 2010. 2001: A …
From the author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series comes her recent standalone thriller Five Survive. Holly Jackson has become an author for me to keep an eye out for since I read AGGGTM. I haven’t finished that series, but I enjoyed the first book so much I’m reading everything she writes. So when I saw her newest book, I didn’t think twice. I wanted to read it. Eight hours. Six friends. One sniper. It was everything I needed to know. Title: Five Survive Author: Holly Jackson Publication year: 2022 Length: 10 hours 31 minutes Genre: Mystery, Thriller, YA Pace: Fast Story focus: Character & Plot Red and her friends are taking an RV for a road trip for spring break. Things are going as fine as they can be with six people cramped in a small space until they take a wrong turn in an isolated area …
