6-8-25: My 39th finished book of 2025! Phoebe, a divorced professor, travels to the Cornwall Inn in Rhode Island to splurge on herself. Depressed and at the end of her rope she encounters the wedding people. Gathered at the Inn for Lila and Gary‘s wedding week. When Phoebe and Lila encounter one another in the hotel elevator their lives become entwined for the better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣9️⃣

6-5-25: My 38th finished book of 2025! Charlotte and Viva. Mother and daughter flitting around the country in a VW van that‘s seen better days. Living moment to moment without knowing the future. Except Viva has an ability to dance. When they finally settle down Viva can study in earnest and it is what gets her away from her mother, but Viva will always go back to help. Moving debut. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣8️⃣

6-1-25: My 37th finished book of 2025! Two timelines: Egypt 1936 and NYC 1978.A female archeologist, Charlotte, in 1936 helps to discover rare artifacts. Same woman in 1978 NYC,is a curator at the Met Museum where she meets a young girl named Annie.Charlotte‘s life in Egypt ended in teaser so her life now is strictly work.When a piece is stolen during the Met Gala she decides to travel back to Egypt to find it with Annie‘s help.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣7️⃣

5-26-25: My 36th finished book of 2025! Liz is a con artist. After meeting a rich woman at an art show gala, she is recommended to a friend to fly to Mexico to help hang a new art installation before the owners return from a retreat in Bali. What follows is a page turner of deceit, as Liz becomes someone else and starts to enjoy the lie. But murder follows her at some point she will need to shed this persona before it‘s too late. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖3️⃣6️⃣

5-23-25:My 35th finished book of 2025! Woodworking is a term used when you are trying hide within the woodwork, or hide your identity.There is a lot of that in this story but much of it comes to the surface as the story progresses.Erica,or Mr. Skyberg,is an English teacher who has a trans teenager in her class.Due to Abigail‘s forthright nature,Erica decides it is finally time to start her transition. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣5️⃣

5-18-25: My 34th finished book of 2025! Grady Green, an author who is waiting for the biggest news of his life, has lost his wife under mysterious circumstances. After a year of lamenting and not being able to write, his publisher suggests he move out to a special writer‘s cabin on the Isle of Amberly. It is there that he starts to lose his sense of reality but also starts to find his writing voice again. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣4️⃣

5-13-25: My 33rd finished book of 2025! Hannah is a very lost, until she stumbles onto a forum investigating a serial killer. She becomes so enamored by the thought of William she attends his trial and begins writing him letters in prison. They form a bond. But the bond is not healthy or safe for Hannah. She is not sure what exactly she wants from the jury, guilty or innocent. Either way will she be happy? ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣3️⃣

5-8-25: My 32nd finished book of 2025! A historical fiction account of a group of female mystery writers including Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie trying to become members in the male driven Detection Club. Once they have joined and realize they will never being taken seriously, they set out to solve a real life “locked door” mystery of a young nurse brutally murdered. They travel between England and France to find clues and bring justice.

4-30-25: My 31st finished book of 2025! Book 4 in the Sisterhood Series. Nikki along with her Sisterhood ladies are ready for their next mission. She has just returned from an island recuperating from a mental breakdown. She is finally talking to her ex Jack. And her mother, Myra and her boyfriend Charles are ready to send the ladies out to give the NSA a dose of his own abusing medicine. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣1️⃣

4-27-25: My 30th finished book of 2025! A novella about a woman who has lost her husband and is trying to navigate the next steps of her life while being bombarded by crazy mishaps and coincidences. Satirical is in the title and I guess it was, you definitely can‘t take it seriously by half way through, but it was entertaining and luckily a super quick read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣3️⃣0️⃣

4-26-25: My 29th finished book of 2025! Tegan has found herself pregnant and alone, with only the help of an attorney, Jackson, who is trying to facilitate a binding monetary contract with the man she had a one night stand with. When Tegan makes some harsh realizations, she decides to visit her brother to regroup. After a terrible crash, Tegan is rescued by Hank and Polly, but things don‘t turn out the way she would have hoped. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣9️⃣

4-23-25: My 28th finished book of 2025! Maya, ex military, is trying to put the pieces of her life back together again with her 2 year old daughter, Lily, after her husband is murdered in front of her. What happens next is a series of events that may connect her sister‘s murder many months earlier with this one. Maya has to investigate because the cops are dropping the ball. Is her husband‘s family in on it? ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣8️⃣

4-20-25: My 27th finished book of 2025! When a random hook up becomes something more, Rue, a scientist, can‘t figure out how to manage all the new feelings. An introvert by nature, Rue and Eli become entwined in a very sexual relationship that simultaneously involves his company taking over the company she works for, for reasons she will understand later on, but not before she learns how to accept she is actually allowed a happy ending.

4-16-25: My 26th finished book of 2025! Brooke has just moved back to her hometown with her son Josh after being away for 11 years. Her parents have died and left her their home so she is starting over. Unfortunately the only job she can get is as a nurse PA at the local penitentiary where her high school ex is living out his days after a murderous night that Brooke witnessed and testified against him. Her old best friend Tim is there to help.

4-13-25: My 25th finished book of 2025! This one was an interesting true crime book about one woman‘s murder at the request from her doctor husband who was running a pill mill with pagan motorcycle gang members. It was a sad tale that ended on a low note. But chapter 7 was thrilling. A doc I used to work for in 2006, was the focus of this chapter. His same involvement with the pagans and being a prescriber of opioids in 2015 led to his arrest!

4-9-25: My 24th finished book of 2025! When Ramona and Grace were young girls they only had one dream, to be on the hit show In The Dollhouse. As young adults they finally get their chance to make the dreams come true. Being picked to study all of the arts at the Dollhouse Academy, where the famous TV show gets all its stars from, is everything they ever wanted. But as things tend to do, it all looks better than it really is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣4️⃣

4-6-25: My 23rd finished book of 2025! Loved this one! A murder mystery plot, mothers and daughters, a missing baby, a bad care home manager, a prison librarian, lots of twists and turns and in the end it was all cleaned up perfectly. I can‘t tell too much because I wouldn‘t want to give anything away! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣3️⃣

4-3-25: My 22nd finished book of 2025! Soft historical fiction tale about one of many “women‘s hotels” in the NYC area during the times ranging from late 40s through early 60s. For the singletons of the time, these hotels offered young women a decently priced place to lay their heads upon arriving in the Big Apple for the first time. Following many storylines of the girls who lived at the Biedermier Hotel it was at times fun but sad as well.

3-30-25: My 21st finished book of 2025! I really didn‘t like this book. As a fan of Palahniuk novels, I had much higher hope but they never came to fruition. I‘m not one to bail on a book so I saw it to the end hoping it would turn around and get better but that did not happen. Cecil and Otto are brothers in the English countryside and they come from a family of murderers. They are spoiled men who act as if they are still children. ⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣1️⃣

3-23-25: My 20th finished book of 2025! 1950. Ruby, a high school sophomore, is in a program in Philadelphia that could garner her a 4 year scholarship to college. Eleanor, attending Howard University, is studying to be an archivist. Both fall in love with men they probably shouldn‘t. Their paths will cross in ways they can‘t imagine. The time period is fraught with racism and classism but these women try their best to prevail. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣2️⃣0️⃣

3-19-25: My 19th finished book of 2025! Slow burn to a big twist ending. Nicky Hunter has a correspondence with a famous detective story author, Sebastian Trapp. Doubly famous due to the 20 year old disappearance of his wife and young son. When he finds himself on his death bed he reaches out to Nicky to come spend some time with him and help him get his story down on paper. She gets way more than she bargained for. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣9️⃣

3-10-25: My 18th finished book of 2025! Beautifully written story about a girl named Daphne living in LA trying to find love. Since she was little, before any romantic relationship, she receives a piece of paper with the name of the person and amount of time she will be with him. 1 night, 3 weeks, 5 months, 2 years. It‘s a story about finding love but also finding the love for yourself as well. Rebecca Serle never disappoints.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣8️⃣

3-8-25: My 17th finished book of 2025! I think I really got into this story because I went through menopause so early in life,37,and while the main character is suffering through perimenopause, I felt a connection of sorts.Beyond that, this story was a raw telling of one woman‘s journey through marriage and motherhood and everything that can happen when you let your guard down and start being real with yourself and your desires.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣7️⃣

3-2-25: My 16th finished book of 2025!Becker, a curator at Fairburn House, has loved the works of artist Vanessa Chapman since he was a young boy.Once she passed she left all of her art to the House and he is now in charge.When showing a sculpture containing a mysterious bone gets flagged by an anthropologist,Becker must venture to Chapman‘s home/studio on Eris Island.That‘s where he meets Vanessa‘s friend and protector Grace. Good except the end.

2-26-25: My 15th finished book of 2025! The story of two brothers, Peter-a lawyer and Ivan-a professional chess player, who have just lost their father to cancer. Intertwined with romance for both brothers, as well as grief for their father, their cold mother, their lost youth and their broken relationship. Back and forth they spar, but they love just as deeply. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣5️⃣

2-20-25: My 14th finished book of 2025! Fantastic concept but a fizzled ending. Alfred Smettle, a Hitchcock super fan, has bought a house by his old college campus, redone it, and turned it into the Hitchcock Hotel. On the 1st anniversary of its opening he invites his friends from college for a weekend of fun, and murder. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣4️⃣

2-15-25: I hear it‘s snowing in Philly right now while I‘m reading a new book in Florida💖

2-14-25: My 13th finished book of 2025!Fantastic story about living life to the fullest. When a flight to Sydney becomes overtaken by a woman giving out predictions of how and when everyone on the plane will die,people become fraught with worry that the woman might actually be a real psychic.Following a group of passengers in different chapters and in others learning the life story of the so called psychic leads us to the idea that you must live.

2-9-25: My 12th finished book of 2025! Wild and wacky story about an alcoholic actress mourning the loss of her husband and her career at her family‘s lake house in Vermont. With a colorful cast of characters to keep her busy,Casey Fletcher and her binoculars,a la Rear Window, keep an eye on the other inhabitants of Lake Greene which continuously gets her into trouble.A little far fetched but it‘s Riley Sager so I‘m not surprised.⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣2️⃣

2-7-25: My 11th book of 2025! The Blue sisters started out as a foursome, Avery the lawyer, Bonnie the boxer, Lucky the model and the youngest Nicky. After the loss of one, the other three must come to terms with their grief both separately and together. When their parents decide it is time to sell their NYC apartment, the sisters must come together to empty the place and say goodbye to their lost sister. Moving, sad, uplifting.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣1️⃣

2-1-25: My 10th finished book of 2025! One Perfect Couple is the name of the new reality show that Lyla and Nico have just been picked for. Along with 4 other couples they embark on a long trip to the Indian Ocean to start filming until there is a terrible storm that wipes the island clean and pits couples against each other in order to survive. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣1️⃣0️⃣

1-29-25: My 9th finished book of 2025! Jessica, Norah and Alicia are sisters but not by blood. They grew up in a foster home called Wild Meadows. Ms. Fairchild was their foster monster. Treated horribly they bonded and as adults they reminded sisters. When their childhood home is knocked down and bones are found under the ground the sisters are called back to Port Agatha to answer questions about their past and Ms. Fairchild. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣9️⃣

1-26-25: My 8th finished book of 2025! Based on the true story of Winnie Ruth Judd and the trunk murders of 1931, this true crime novel was pretty intense. The murders and their aftermath were heinous. And it was hard to be such a slight girl could manage what she did, but she ran for awhile, finally was incarcerated and the rest of her life was spent incarcerated in one form or another. A tale of madness that led to murder. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣8️⃣

1-21-25: My 7th finished book of 2025! How can you not love Carol Burnett? She truly seems like a lovely person. And she is so funny. This book is like little snapshots of her life spanning her humble beginnings and going right up to the publication of the book in 2010. Many wonderful anecdotes about her TV show, some of her movies, her wonderful famous friends and of course her family. Highly recommend if you are a fan of hers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣7️⃣

1-20-25: My 6th finished book of 2025! Fantastic story! Told from the point of view of Camden and Jules, a married couple, and letters from Camden‘s adoptive mother, Ruby, this story is a wild ride of confessions and plot twists. Cam and Jules must go back to Ashby House, where Cam grew up, to finally receive his inheritance. But he doesn‘t want it or anything to do with his adoptive family.Many secrets are hidden in Ashby House.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣

1-19-25: My 5th finished book of 2025! Written by the author of The Thursday Murder Club, is a new series. Amy, a body guard, Steve her father in law and Rosie the famous author, set out on an adventure around the globe to solve a case involving the murders of several influencers on Instagram. Steve is a retired cop and not involved in much until Amy starts getting implicated in the murders. And Rosie, she is along for the ride. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣

1-11-25: My 4th finished book of 2025! Frieda McFadden never disappoints. Sydney is looking for love on a dating app called Cynch. After a horrific date that ends with a mystery man saving her, Sydney embarks on something that feels real for one. Tom Brewer, who we learn a lot about in flashbacks, is a doctor who is sweeping Sydney off her feet after a brutal murder leaves her feeling scared and alone. Is Tom “the one”? The twist was shocking!

1-7-25: My 3rd book of 2025! My 3rd memoir in a row. Thankfully, this one was written by someone who is alive and well and happy. Jane Lynch is a funny lady, I was first introduced to her on Glee and then I backtracked into all her movie appearances. She never ceases to crack me up with her wild antics. She has had a very interesting life so far. A few low points but nothing too dramatic. This was just a nice read compared to the last two.

1-5-25: My 2nd book of 2025! Yes, another sad memoir by someone who has already passed. I‘ve wanted to read this since it came out and I wish I had before he passed because I believe it would have hit different. It was a funny but very honest look at his life as an addict and alcoholic and how many times he tried to get clean. How he didn‘t die sooner is anyone‘s guess but I think he truly wanted to stay alive & help people which I hope this did.

1-1-25: My 1st finished book of 2025! I read this in a day. A fascinating look at the daughter of Elvis Presley‘s life through her own words and those of her daughter, Riley. Sadly, Lisa Marie passed away before this book was finished so her daughter‘s words are heard throughout the memoir to help flesh it out. Lisa Marie came from rock and roll royalty but had a difficult life with many ups and downs but she loved her children fiercely.

12-31-24: My Year in books for 2024. Supremely disappointed in only having read 53 books. I usually read over 100 but working a full time job has left me so tired after work that I tend to fall asleep when I read. My family still thinks it‘s insane that I even read this much, they‘re cute. Anyway, Happy New Year to all!! May 2025 be a great year of reading! 💖📖💚🎉

12-31-24: My 51st finished book and my final book of 2024! This was a re-read because of all the Wicked screenings and paraphernalia my daughter and I have purchased since the movie came out. When I read this the first time I loved it. Then I saw the musical and eventually the movie and I have to say I don‘t love it as much. Besides the characters names there is so much that is different. It was a tad disappointing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣5️⃣1️⃣

12-26-24: My 50th finished book of 2024! When Deacon Thorpe is found dead at his Nantucket summer home, his best friend and manager becomes executor of Deacon‘s will and puts him in charge of gathering all 3 of Deacon‘s wives & 3 kids, out the the Nantucket home to discuss what‘s next and spread his ashes.1st wife Laurel and their son Hayes. Second wife Belinda and their adopted daughter Angie. And current wife Scarlett and their daughter Ellery.

12-23-24: My 49th finished book of 2024! A page turner with an anticlimactic ending. The Merton family don‘t like each other. After the deaths of the mother and father, a “robbery gone wrong”, all 3 adult children and the cleaning lady are under suspicion. What transpires is a back and forth of no one trusting anyone else. All 3 children stand to inherit millions and everyone knows it. Their aunt believes any of them could have done it.

12-21-24: My 48th finished book of 2024! Absolutely stunning book about the love between two best friends, they are chosen family. Dannie, a corporate attorney and Bella, the owner of an art gallery in NYC have been best friends since they were 7. Very different women who adore one another. Dannie has a plan but it is thwarted one night when she wakes up to an alternate situation with a man she‘s never met. It all comes full circle.

12-19-24: My 47th book of 2024! What can I say about Matt Haig…he seems like a genuinely decent human being and his latest shows that. Grace Winters is left a bungalow in Ibiza by an old colleague she hadn‘t spoken to since the 70s. Confused and alone in London she decides to brave the scariness of leaving for parts unknown and arrives to find a quirky cast of characters waiting for her. Including some underwater sea grass. She finds her way. 💖

12-11-24: My 46th finished book of 2024! This was a sexually charged novel about the life of a bisexual writer. From growing up in a small town in Vermont where his mother and stepfather taught him a love for Shakespeare to the town librarian who taught him a love for reading and himself. We follow him into his late 60s through his youth, to NYC and the AIDS epidemic, and back to Vermont again. A love letter to being true to yourself. 💖

11-30-24: My 45th finished book of 2024! Lauren gets home late one night to find her husband waiting for her. Problem is, when she left that evening she wasn‘t married. Can you imagine an attic that delivered you husbands? It‘s kind of a nightmare. I kept waiting for her to wake up but no, it was a magic attic. As Lauren cycles through husbands she learns a lot about herself most of it not great. How many should she go through? How can she choose?

11-29-24: My Wicked Tree! You can‘t see Glinda‘s wand but you get the idea 💖💚

11-28-24: Happy Thanksgiving to all!! It‘s my granddaughter‘s 1st Thanksgiving and of course we watched Charlie Brown‘s Thanksgiving. 🍁💖