My Friends is another warm and thoughtful story from Fredrik Backman. I really enjoyed the way he brings out the beauty in everyday life and makes ordinary characters feel so real and relatable. The book is touching, funny in places, and deeply moving at others. Even when the pacing slows down, it feels intentional—like you‘re meant to pause and reflect along with the characters. I had to pause and let it all sink in at the end!

By far my favorite Donlea book

Dr. Sloan Hastings, a forensic pathology fellow whose personal DNA project turns her life upside down. When her test results reveal she‘s actually “Baby Charlotte” — the child at the center of a decades-old Nevada disappearance — Sloan is pulled into a web of family secrets, murder, and small-town corruption.

The story follows Alex Armstrong, a young woman whose life is shattered when her family is murdered and she is wrongly accused of the crime. Ten years later, Alex is still fighting to prove her innocence, while working as a legal researcher who digs into cold cases for others. Her relentless pursuit of truth uncovers secrets far more dangerous than she could have imagined. I did figure out the twist but still a great read!

This was not my favorite book of Freida‘s. I thought most of the early part of the book was very juvenile but as I got deeper into it- I couldn‘t put it down. Definitely a good ending but the first part was tough to plow thru.

When law student Becca Eckersley is found murdered in a quiet North Carolina town, the case is quickly silenced—until journalist Kelsey Castle begins her own investigation. This one I did not see it coming - my favorite kind of book!

The characters were fun and interesting and the storyline was well crafted!!!

A group of friends head out on a remote week long getaway.

One by one, people start dying. The group quickly realizes that this is no accident—someone is targeting them. As paranoia escalates and trust erodes, dark secrets are revealed and who we thought we knew well is changed forever. You just never know people sometimes!

The story begins with a car accident that leaves the main character, Teagan, stranded in a remote forest with an injured foot when a huge nightmare of a man Hank rescues her and takes her home with him. But is Hank scary and evil? As the tension builds, layers of deception unravel, revealing that not everyone is who they seem. I was shocked by it all!

I wanted to love this book but it fell short. The mess I had to go thru to find out who the body was and the ending was a shortfall. This story was a mix of a lot of nothing. I need to learn to dnf more books!

When Amy takes on a single-night psychiatric ward rotation, she ends up face to face with her best friend from high school-she faces vanishing patients, escalating paranoia, and buried secrets — all wrapped in fast-paced suspense. This one was my favorite so far!! I thought I had it figured out a few times- like Will- was he the unhinged guy in seclusion or really who he said he was- mind blown. As I got closer to the end I figured it out.

Blake Porter, recently unemployed and living with his fiancée Krista, rents out a room to a seemingly perfect tenant, Whitney—but is she really perfect. Blake‘s life begins to unravel amid strange noises, gaslighting, and growing paranoia. Unfortunately he has an enemy and I for one did not see this one coming! There are some laugh out loud moments and of course but I couldn‘t put this down- needing to know what the heck was going on!

When Blythe has her daughter Violet, she‘s determined to be the best mother possible. But from the beginning, something feels off—she struggles to bond with Violet in a way she can‘t quite explain. As the years go by, Blythe becomes convinced there's something deeply wrong with her child. However, her husband repeatedly dismisses her concerns, leaving her to question her own sanity.
It absolutely lives up to the hype!

The novel centers on Emma Palmer, who, after discovering her pregnancy and facing financial hardship, returns to her childhood home in Arden Hills—a place she fled fourteen years prior following the unsolved murder of her parents. As another murder occurs, Emma and her estranged sisters, Juliette and Daphne, are forced to confront their shared past and the secrets they've kept from each other. A lot of secrets and the ending is unhinged.

Millie is a housemaid who becomes entangled in the dark underbelly of the wealthy family she serves. When she meets Douglas Garrick her instincts tell her something is off- but it‘s not him whom she should be worried about. This story kept me entertained the entire time, I swept thru this quickly as I had to know how it ended!!

This was a pretty intense ride. The main character Chloe's struggle with her own psyche adds depth to the plot. The writing is engaging, maintaining a pace that kept me on the edge of my seat. The end seemed a bit messy with all the players involved but I definitely did not see the plot twist coming -and that‘s what I love.

Gary and Phoebe were by far my favorite parts of this book. I did not annotate this book and regret that I did not. What a beautifully crafted story. The messy, the ugly, the pain, the recovery from the pain, the beauty in realizing this isn‘t the end but maybe the beginning, and that perhaps it‘s ok the person we are with isn‘t right for us and walking away won‘t kill us. Highly recommend!

When TV host Avery Mason gets ready to air a memorial show involving a 9-11 victim who was identified by bone fragments, she‘s sent on a murder investigation to find the truth. The twists and turns were gripping and kept me wanting to read to find out what happened and how things ended. I like that Donlea doesn‘t leave anything open and wraps the story up nicely. Highly recommend!

I love adding to my TBR. Drop me your favorite book of all time.

One of my favorite Booktok influencers did not like this book. Perhaps this story has been done before but it kept me hooked the entire time. What a trip! Cavanagh is one of my favorite authors by far and he did not disappoint me with this story. It took me a minute to connect one of the main characters to the entire story line and I did figure out what was happening near the end but still suspenseful! Great book!

First time reading this author. I‘m not into paranormal stories as I do not believe in ghosts or apparitions. This story was quite interesting and kept me intrigued the entire time. I was not happy with the ending. I felt like it was rushed, and I hate when endings are rushed, overall was a good read.

The story revolves around main character Sydney, who finds herself entangled in a web of lies when she enters a seemingly perfect relationship with Tom, the ever so handsome doctor. There are soo many characters in this book who are questionable and when I say I did not see the ending coming - those are my favorite sort of stories. I thought I had it and was completely wrong. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren't their own and soon discover the sick twisted mind behind their made up stories. These women are smart, quick, and brave-quite the opposite of their captor.

The book started out interesting, and honestly I wish she would have continued with Celia‘s story instead of the two additional stories she added. The story was unlike anything I‘ve ever read, the end made me slam my book

A plot filled with twists and turns that challenge preconceived notions about guilt and innocence. As the journalist Sydney Ryan digs deeper, the stakes escalate, making it a compelling read that probes the nature of belief and the media‘s role in shaping public perception. I think I just found my new favorite author. I couldn‘t wait to sit down and read and find out what happened next. Donlea kept me coming back for more!

No real plot line- I do have to read the follow ups because I have to know what happens and where this goes. I must say the obnoxious clothing descriptions were annoying and I pray the other books are not as bad- we don‘t need to know every piece of clothing and brand. Intense love story!

The story follows Carol who is struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event that has left her grappling with grief and the profound emptiness it brings. When Carol‘s ex-husband shows up at her office with yet another trauma to add to her plate, they escape on a journey of the past and healing of old traumas. The level of love and forgiveness throughout these pages is heart wrenching. The storyline is unique and the character growth is strong

"Long After We Are Gone" by Tara Shelton Harris is a poignant exploration of grief, love, and the complex tapestry of human relationships. The narrative delves into the aftermath of loss, capturing the emotional turmoil of those left behind. Harris crafts deeply relatable characters, each grappling with their own pain while seeking connection and understanding amidst their struggles.

"The Vanishing Half" by Brit Bennett is a powerful exploration of identity, race, and the complexities of familial bonds. The novel centers on the lives of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree Vignes, who grow up in a small, Southern Black community. When Stella chooses to pass as white, it sets the stage for a profound rift between the sisters, leading them down starkly different paths.

I‘m glad I could get to the end of this story. Again I think it was not a well written book but cute. Definitely a cute love story! The ending was pretty good. I am super happy for Thayer and Salem and will carry their story with me for some time. First book was the best of the three. I think I was most impressed with Caleb‘s growth- the rest remained mostly unchanged.

I have to finish this series just to see where it ends. It‘s really a cute story but very cheesy. The constant references to how short life is and live everyday yada..it‘s sort of annoying or how he calls her sunshine. One minute she has an engagement ring then they got new rings since they didn‘t have any- did she forget what she wrote a chapter back? Overall cute story second book not as great!

18 year old Salem‘s life has been full of trauma. When her 30 year old neighbor, Thayer moves in her whole world is turned upside down. This definitely has some open door activity and some SA triggers. I am into the next one now because I need to know what happens with this couple. It‘s more of a YA read but still good and easy!

I adored this story. The tragedy, betrayal, lies- yet all the love and healing and compassion. What a roller coaster ride. Clara was by far my favorite character- followed closely by Miller and Morgan. Jonah I felt was a filler and had no real depth. I ate this up in a day! Quick easy read with quite an unusual situation that sets everything in motion.

I wasn‘t sure what to think of this story at first. A lot of the time I felt as if there was a lot of fluff, but once I got to the grit of the book it all made sense. There is some PPD- which I have not read a lot of and I enjoyed this being a part of the story. There is mystery, secrets and a lot of lies. Didn‘t see the ending - I was not able to call out the ending/didnt see it coming.

What did I just read! When the mayors wife is murdered, Mason, who is on the autism spectrum (or is he??) is found next to her body. What you think is a clear cut case isn‘t- as it never is what you suspect in Berry‘s novels. The deceit and lies in this book are shocking and the end I never saw coming!! Characters were good, some I felt added no value -but overall good read!

Tricia and Ethan head out to see a showing for their potential forever home. What happens when stuck inside after a snowstorm strands them is anything but shocking. The twists and turns made me need to find out what was happening! I annotated this book in the beginning with my thoughts and boy I was off base! Good quick thriller about lies and deceit and the consequences. Characters did not have much growth and Tricia annoyed me but good read!

"A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara is a profound and emotionally wrenching novel that follows the lives of four young men—Jude, Willem, Malcolm, and JB—over several decades in New York City. The narrative delves deeply into themes of friendship, trauma, and the enduring scars of the past, centering primarily on Jude St. Francis.

I cried but not to the extent everyone else did -geesh. It was a touching story and I‘m glad it‘s done!

Jones masterfully weaves tension and suspense, creating an atmosphere filled with unpredictability. The characters are well-developed, especially Pammie, who embodies the archetype of the manipulative mother-in-law with chilling intensity. Readers are drawn into Emily's plight, as she navigates her growing unease and the increasingly sinister dynamics at play. I never saw it coming!

I loved every character and the entire story- I did not like my tears at the end. The story revolves around a 39-year-old woman named Solene, who unexpectedly becomes involved with a much younger man, a 20-something pop star. Lee skillfully navigates themes of age, maturity, and societal expectations, creating a compelling narrative that challenges conventional notions of romance. Now onto the movie ❤️

The story follows seven-year-old Elsa, a bright and imaginative girl who has a unique relationship with her eccentric grandmother. When her grandmother passes away, Elsa is tasked with delivering her grandmother‘s apologies to various people in their community. The end of this book had me in tears thinking of how horribly I miss my own grandmother. This book was a journey!

The Inmate is a gripping psychological thriller. The story follows single mom Brooke Sullivan who suffered a horrific tragedy in her teenage years. The twists and turns in this book had me reeling and I saw none of it coming- when I thought I did I was proven wrong. Well played McFadden- well played!

The story centers around an unassuming protagonist who finds herself entangled with a charismatic but enigmatic coworker. As the plot unfolds, McFadden skillfully weaves tension and suspense, revealing dark secrets that challenge loyalty and trust. When I thought I knew what‘s happened - turn the page and I‘m somewhat blindsided. Quick fast paced read! Now onto The Inmate!

Following the journey of Santiago, a young shepherd who dreams of discovering his personal legend—a quest for self-discovery and fulfillment. As he travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure, he encounters a series of mentors and challenges that impart profound life lessons about destiny, love, and the interconnectedness of all things.

My favorite quote “it‘s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.”

"Three Weeks With My Brother" is a heartfelt memoir co-written by bestselling author Nicholas Sparks and his brother, Micah Sparks. The book chronicles a transformative journey they undertook together, blending personal anecdotes with reflections on family, love, and loss. Through their travels, the brothers navigate the complexities of their lives, including the challenges brought by the many deaths in their family. Must read! ❤️

The story follows a couple, Erin and Mark, who embark on a dream honeymoon but stumble upon a shocking discovery while scuba diving. There was too much left unfinished or explained. This was mediocre at best, the writing was all over the place, at times massive unnecessary detail that should have gone into explaining what happened- I would not recommend.

I was not horribly impressed with this book or the ending.

A gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of truth, trust, and betrayal within a friendship dynamic. This story follows a group of girls who attended camp as young girls and committed a horrendous act. Now some 20 years later they are back together and once again nothing good comes from them being together. A lot of stuff was quickly wrapped up but not completely.

A poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores themes of love, loss, and the enduring impact of war. The story follows the intertwined lives of two main characters, Chaos and Ella-each grappling with their past and the scars of their experiences. The gut wrenching ending had me having to wipe my tears so I could see thru my teary vision! Must read!!

That was intense- we never really know someone do we! When a girl goes missing her new young crush is assumed to be responsible, but did Liam really do it. I could not put this down and I did not see the end. I had a completely different thought. Thanks Freida!

5th book of 2022!