I‘ve been stuck reading neuroscience and psychology textbooks, but now I‘m on winter break!!! Naturally, I devoured a historical fiction brimming with WWII heartbreak, a bookshop and one of my favourite cities. A cozy and lovely read to start off my winter

Super interesting concept for a scary story but I have to say it was poorly executed. When I finished, I thought “What even is this book?” Unfortunately, the storyline was not laid out in a way that made my jaw drop with amazement, and in fact I am not really sure what happened, in a bad way.
Plus, the author used ellipses to transition between paragraphs when something creepy was going on. I definitely used to do that. In middle school.

Dystopian bunker corrupt leader type book. It was…..just as you‘d expect it to be. A bit “been there, done that”.

A Cute Rom-Com with a bit of tasteful lovey smut.

The smut was less than 5% of the book, so it was acceptable. Starts out as a baffling couples swap and turns into a tale of self discovery and self love. A nice and easy summer read!

Set in the not-so-distant future, reproduction has become a billion dollar industry in which prospective parents of any mix of genders can use their DNA to create embryos and then choose the embryo that has the most desirable traits. What is starting a newly elite race of humans has also opened the door for black market DNA sales to create a baby with your favourite celebrity.
Few weak points in the plot, but a different story is always nice.

Such an adorable read!

I loved the dry British humour. I loved seeing the protagonist‘s self-discovery journey. I loved the trajectory. The little part at the ended told from his ex‘s perspective was unnecessary but worked well! A nice cute summer read.

💨 I read this in a single afternoon. Speed!!!!

A gripping psych-thriller that challenges the bounds of family and chosen family. I find cult stories fascinating and this one gave a Jonestown vibe for sure. The characters are likeable albeit not complex and the story carries quickly. A fast summer read.

Gorgeous lyrical prose depicting a small part of history in Italy.

I had never read this author before this book, and I greatly enjoyed it. I like books where I acquire new words! This is a story of a seldom heard of Duchess in Italy and her Jekyll and Hyde husband, as well as trying to find a place in society as a young teenager with a massive role to play.

It started out SO strong and then fizzled out for me….
Hearing about Susan Lieu and her childhood was a rare glimpse into the life of first generation refugees from Vietnam. Her journey to understanding herself and her relationship her mother are fascinating.
However. I DNF this book. It got too repetitive for me as she continued to search for closure over and over and over. So idk how it ended and I‘m not sad about it!

Shocking, disturbing and all at once entertaining. “An Unthinkable Thing” contains many very disturbing events, so be warned.

I enjoyed the back and forth from case files to narrative in this book, and the author did a great job making some truly evil characters. Some good ones, too! Definitely a read that will leave you feeling uncomfortable, but may or may not have a justified ending.

What do you get when you cross a bunch of lies, a manipulative and narcissistic child and a whodunnit?

A bit of a snail crawl, to be honest.

It was engaging, but I found it a bit draggy! Three stars for this one.

This book had me saying “OMG” multiple times while reading it. Just when you‘ve got it figured out, you definitely do NOT. My only qualm is with the ending, although I suppose it definitely leaves you wondering “What is actually the truth here”. I read this so fast. I just had to figure out what was going on. A quick read with lots of cringes and twists.

I hope this gets made into a movie. A story like never before.

Women went to Vietnam, too. They may not have been handed guns and told to fight, but they battled the carnage and destruction and violence as nurses. The incredible Kristin Hannah tells the story of such women in this instant classic. Highly recommend.

Great story, Meh writing.

Looking for Jane is an engaging tale about the underground world of terminating a pregnancy in the mid-20th century, and the impact it had on generations of women. Set in Canada, it truly highlights how women‘s bodies have scarcely been their own property in historical contexts. We are fortunate today to have a CHOICE.

The writing was not spectacular in this book, but it was a quick read.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas‘ Sister.
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is such a breathtaking story. It flips back and forth from present day to post-WW2 1950‘s. It‘s the story of Gretel, whose brother is the famous Boy in the Striped PJs. Turns out even Nazis have families, and not all of them are bad.

One of the twistiest-turniest crime thrillers I‘ve ever read. Could not see what was coming next! This plot line took such a precise amount of finesse. Just when you think you have the story solved, you start finding yourself thinking “What?! HOW!” A very entertaining quick read.

This book is STUNNING. One of the strangest stories I‘ve ever read, but it approaches love and loss with unflinching rawness and honesty. If you would have told me a book about a man mutating into a shark would be one of my favourite books of the year, I would have laughed at you. But, here we are. It‘s poetry. It‘s prose. It‘s art and paint and canvas. It‘s a love story. But mostly about self love and selfless love. Read it. Five stars.

An incredible story of a woman‘s resilience in the face of oppressive Islamic faith. This story truly opened my eyes to the reality of what it means to be an Islamic woman and how some western cultures are not helping them move forward. Having studied religion and female oppression extensively, I found this book gave a pure-voiced clarity about what I already feared for Islamic women

This was a super cute RomCom. Bit of smut (yuck), but overall a sweet little story! Nice and fluffy with lots of doggies and NYC elite life.

I guarantee most women have been dissatisfied when visiting the doctor at least once. This book is an in-depth look at the history of medicine for females and is nothing short of eye-opening. As women, ailments are often written off as being hormone-related or “normal”, when it‘s not “normal” to feel uncomfortable, in pain, sick or worse. Women should read it. Men should read it. And the patriarchy should read it. Full stop.

Full disclosure, this is a pandemic book set in New York City, which was one of the most COVID-19-wracked cities in the USA. Jodie P did her research, as per usual. It wasn‘t your typical Jodi P book, tho, in that it‘s told from a single POV. I read it in two days. It fully immersed me. It‘s a book about finding hope in a dark time and finding yourself along the way.

I can‘t decide if Barbera Kingsolver is a literary genius or a whack that scored a book deal. This is the first book by her that I‘ve managed to get through and it was a ride for sure. Not a roller coaster per se, more of a train without tracks or speed control that occasionally punches you in the face and also can put you to sleep. But it took me over two weeks to get through it. Maybe it‘s a metaphor for the long journey of addiction?

Cute aesthetic, quick tips, but not life-changing. This book would be great for an early twenty-something who is sick of getting blackout wasted. As someone who has reevaluated my own relationship with alcohol, this book wouldn‘t quite do it for me in terms of revolutionizing my relationship with booze. However, the author is like a friend reinforcing my decision in this book, showing me it‘s cool to be a sober almost-30-year-old lady.

This book has so much potential. Great plot about a murdered mistress, a powerful female attorney character, dual-perspective storyline and a twist at the end! Some of the writing left a bit to be desired. “Discoveries” came from thin air, but it was still an enjoyable read for sure.

Fascinating and disturbing read. Forensic psych is so interesting to me. This book just goes to show the severe and significant impact that trauma has, even on the most giving of our species: women.

Recommended to me by a dear friend! Another satisfying Picoult book. Great characters, a few types of love and a mystery to be solved. Pretty good read!!

Don is a quirky man whose social conventions differ from most of us. He establishes a method by which to search (scientifically) for a wife, and tumbles down a rabbit hole of unexpected variables to his research. I can‘t wait to read the next book in this series!

Oh Freida. You are a masterful twister of plots, but you don‘t have to twist EVERYTHING. Somethings should just be left as is. This book started out with some eye rolls. Then things were explained. Then she wrecked them anyways. Not my fave Frieda book. But, I enjoy few things more than a creepy psych ward!

This is the most complicated case of radicalization, groupthink and a cultish following I‘ve ever heard of. The social psychology involved to create a community of over 1,000 and have them all die for the cause is beyond evil. The Jonestown Massacre may go down in history as the most atrocious murder-suicide this world has ever seen.

A warm read of interwoven stories and a perfect little seaside town. The characters in this book feel like family, including the sea life. Certainly a pleasant read!

Laura McKowen‘s relationship with alcohol absolutely consumed every aspect of her life, putting herself and those she loved in real danger. Honest, heartbreaking and inspiring, “We Are the Luckiest” pulls you through a woman severely addicted to alcohol and how she battled shame, denial and self hatred to now live a sober, happy life. It‘s a book that would make even the most casual drinker rethink their relationship with alcohol.

So many “👏HECK YES” moments when listening to this book! Based on American education systems, but so relatable for any teacher. These systems are crippled and crumbling. Listen up, world. Something has to change.

Ghostly ghouls and murder? Not to mention a mysterious heiress!

Unfortunately it was a bit draggy for me. Seemed to take me forever to finish this one! Lots of excitement but it gets a 🤷‍♀️ from me.

As a woman, the first thing people ask if you‘re not drinking is “Are you pregnant?” Why should the only reason someone stops drinking be because they are knocked up? This book was a bit too “poison the patriarchy” for me in some parts, but I did highlight dozens of quotes that I plan to revisit. It made me re-evaluate my relationship with alcohol and take a step back from consuming it all together. Definitely worth the read.

Important read.

This book is about strong, intelligent women who do not back down. I hope to someday be as fearless and well-dressed as Kathryn Conroy, and as forward thinking as Madison. Law school, high ranking public officials and killer (wink wink) wardrobe.

Clever, cunning and concise. This was a great story about counterfeit luxury goods and the immensity of the market through which they‘re passed.

Little Christmas cutie. Pushy main character who becomes quite lovable. Mix in some serious content and some holly jolly. Not bad!

Honestly, I knew very little about her before reading this. However, she is a strong writer and has one hell of a story. She faced horrific trauma in the years she was “away at boarding school”, and the accounts of abuse and emotional torture from other survivors is finally coming to light.
she‘s a total business badass with a keen sense of fiscal prowess. Her legendary family may have given her the Hilton name, but she built Paris herself.

It‘s the story of a young girl who spirals into a schizophrenic war with herself, entangling her family every step of the way. The worst part? This book is told from the perspective of her 8-year-old sister, Meredith. Reading about a child experiencing one of the least-understood mental illnesses consuming her sister is both heartbreaking & extremely graphic. Some scenes left me nauseous. Mostly this book is an immensely disturbing rollercoaster.

Anyone who has/works with/interacts with/was once a child should read this book.

Dr Bruce Perry‘s Neurosequential Model is laid out with heart-breaking stories of children who have faced trauma. Not for the faint at heart, but worth pushing through. The first 4 years of a child‘s life are do instrumental in healthy brain development that trauma through these first years can literally derail their entire lives.

This was incredibly difficult to listen to. JWF is so incredibly brave for sharing the appalling and horrific details of the abuse she faced. This book is not for the faint of heart. It should be known that this book contains graphic descriptions of abuse, including sexual abuse, molestation and rape.
I believe this story has to be told to show other survivors and victims that they are not alone and that the abuse they face is not their fault.

This book was rapid action mixed with some relevant racial conflict. Very quick and exciting read!

This book is an unabashed look at her life from childhood to now dripping in denial. Maybe my psychology side is showing, but reading this book was like looking inside the mind of a delusional individual with very real and unresolved issues.

What a beautiful story of love and perseverance. You can feel the love between these two from the second they meet! A feel-good, Nicholas Sparks-esque love story for the ages.

Lyrical prose, murder, insanity, potential psychopathy and human obsession all set in an aged library with quirky patrons. A quick read and a gentle thrill.

Allow me to begin by saying I‘m not a huge fan of fantasy, and I‘m definitely not a fan of books dripping with smut.
This is one of the most immersive books I‘ve read in a very long time. It contains power, dragons, competition, lust, corruption, war and just the right amount of deliciously descriptive lovemaking. It takes an incredibly masterful author to compose such a story, and @rebeccayarros achieves this tenfold.

Buckle up! You‘re in for the wildest custody battle of your life!

This book had me shaking my head and dropping my jaw numerous times. What happens when an ambitious man tries to take your child from you? Trust me, this book is NOT your typical custody battle

This was truly a novel of ambition at all costs. Friendships (acquaintance-ships?) become ruined through theft, defamation and assumptions. Although it was an interesting look at the world of writing and publishing, I can‘t say it was the best book I‘ve ever read. I don‘t hate it, but didn‘t love it either.

A bit of a long drag for a thriller, but a fascinating glimpse into psychopathy and emotive expression.