Book Haul

4 Stars • In Brain Damage by Freida McFadden, Dr. Charly McKenna, a dermatologist, suffers a brain injury from a gunshot, causing left-side neglect and memory loss. As she navigates rehab, she uncovers fragmented memories to identify her attacker, blending suspense, medical realism, and themes of trauma and betrayal.

#BrainDamage #FreidaMcFadden #Bookish

5 Stars • The Tenant by Freida McFadden is a tense psychological thriller about Blake Porter, a marketing VP, who finds his life unraveling after being fired for allegedly selling company secrets. Desperate, he agrees to take in a tenant, Whitney Cross, to help with mortgage payments. However, strange occurrences start to plague Blake, and he suspects Whitney is sabotaging his life and relationship with his fiancée, Krista.

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • Poirot Investigates (1924) is a collection of eleven short stories by Agatha Christie featuring the meticulous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. ⬇️

4 Stars • Elektra by Jennifer Saint retells the Trojan War through three women: Clytemnestra, betrayed by her husband Agamemnon‘s sacrifice of their daughter; Cassandra, a Trojan princess cursed to foresee doom but never believed; and Elektra, their daughter, torn between loyalty and revenge. It‘s a vivid, emotional take on myth, exploring female strength, trauma, and war‘s toll.

#Elektra #JenniferSaint #Bookish #GreekMythology

2 Stars • Pamela Dean reimagines the Scottish ballad as a 1970s urban fantasy set at Blackstock College, Minnesota. Freshman Janet Carter navigates academic life, friendships, and romances with Classics majors tied to the mysterious Professor Medeous. Amid literary discussions and subtle supernatural hints, the novel builds slowly to a magical climax. Blending coming-of-age themes with lyrical prose. It really didn‘t hit the mark for me.

4 Stars • Yes, I do read non-fiction. Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari dives into humanity‘s next chapter. With hunger, sickness, and war mostly under control, we‘re now chasing eternal life, constant joy, and superhuman powers through tech like AI and gene editing. ⬇️

5 Stars • The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys is set in 1957 Spain under Franco‘s regime. Daniel, an American teen photographer, uncovers the dictatorship‘s secrets through his photos while falling for Ana, a hotel maid with a tragic past. The novel explores oppression, forced adoptions, and Spain‘s silenced history, blending romance and historical truth.

#TheFountainsOfSilence #RutaSepetys #Bookish

5 Stars • Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi, set in 1930s British India, follows Sona, an Anglo-Indian nurse, who bonds with Mira, a half-Indian painter. After Mira‘s sudden death, Sona is blamed and fired. Tasked with delivering Mira‘s paintings to Prague, Paris, Florence, and London, Sona travels across Europe to clear her name, exploring identity and art amid a looming war.

#SixDaysInBombay #AlkaJoshi #Bookish

3 Stars • In Let Her Be (Hush #6) by Lisa Unger, Will, a troubled aspiring novelist, investigates his ex-girlfriend Anisa‘s seemingly perfect life after a toxic breakup and his suicide attempt. Obsessed with her social media, he suspects something sinister behind her idyllic posts. With friend Emily, Will uncovers clues, but his unreliable perspective blurs truth and deception in this 56-page psychological thriller.

#LetHerBe #LisaUnger #Bookish

Thank you #LiuBookGroup and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is August 5, 2025.

4 Stars • In Berlin by Eric Silberstein hits all the feels. Anna, a high-flying software engineer, gets blindsided by a spinal stroke, flipping her Berlin life upside down. ⬇️

5 Stars • In The Family Experiment by John Marrs, set in a dystopian Britain, overpopulation and poverty push couples to raise virtual "MetaBabies" in the Metaverse. A reality show pits contestants against each other for the chance keep their AI child or enough money to get a child through IVF, adoption. or other means. ⬇️

4 Stars • In The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose, Sarah Morgan, now married to Bob with a daughter, faces chaos when Bob‘s affair sparks a divorce. New DNA evidence reopens her ex-husband Adam‘s murder case, and the woman Bob slept with vanishes. Sarah battles suspicion and secrets in a twisty, fast-paced thriller, showcasing her cunning as past and present collide. I hope there will be a third episode in this series.

5 Stars • Ricochet by Kellyn Carni is a thrilling YA historical fantasy where Anastasia and Alexei Romanov, saved by a magical garnet, navigate an alternate 1918 Russia. Blending rich history with multiverse twists, the story shines with Anastasia‘s fierce loyalty and fast-paced plot, though secondary characters could use more depth. A captivating 5-star debut for fans of magic-infused history.

#Ricochet #KellynCarni #Bookish #Romanov

4 Stars • The Perfect Marriage follows Sarah Morgan, a high-powered defense attorney, whose seemingly perfect life with her husband Adam unravels when he‘s accused of murdering his mistress. The plot twists are wild—every time I thought I had it figured out, Jeneva Rose threw in another curveball. Sarah‘s fierce determination to defend Adam, kept me glued to the pages, wondering if love, betrayal, or something darker was at play.

4 Stars • Lights All Night Long by Lydia Fitzpatrick gripped me with Ilya‘s quest from Russia to Louisiana, chasing truth about his jailed brother, Vladimir. The mystery unfolds through vivid dual timelines, blending suspense with deep family ties. Ilya‘s bond with Sadie and their search for answers hit hard, delivering a heartfelt, hopeful tale of loyalty and sacrifice.

#LightsAllNightLong #LydiaFitzpatrick #Bookish

3.5 Stars • The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden is a gripping, emotional ride through World War I. Nurse Laura Iven hunts for her lost brother Freddie in a war-ravaged world, blending raw history with a touch of spooky magic. Arden‘s beautiful writing pulls you into the heartbreak and horror, with a creepy figure, Faland, adding chills. A must-read for anyone who loves deep, atmospheric stories.

The air in the Baton Rouge airport tasted like toothpaste.

#FirstLineFriday @ShyBookOwl

Read in April 2025
18 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• All Good People Here
• The Marriage Act
• The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
• The Seven Year Slip
• Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy #Libby #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

5 Star • All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers is a tense thriller following journalist Margot Davies as she probes a cold case murder and a new abduction in small-town Indiana. The dual-timeline story delivers suspense and twists, though its JonBenét Ramsey parallels and ambiguous ending may polarize readers. A solid debut for true crime fans.

#AllGoodPeopleHere #AshleyFlowers #Bookish

(re)Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • Agatha Christie‘s The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) is a thrilling mystery-adventure that grabs you tight. Spunky Anne Beddingfeld, chasing a shady death and a brown-suited stranger in London, follows a cryptic note to a South Africa-bound ship. ⬇️

3 Stars • Christina Lauren‘s The Paradise Problem is a sparkling rom-com blending wit and warmth. Anna Green, a struggling artist, and Liam Weston, a reserved professor, fake a marriage at a lavish island wedding to secure his $100 million inheritance. ⬇️

4 Stars • The Inmate by Freida McFadden is a gripping psychological thriller that I couldn‘t put down. Brooke Sullivan, a nurse at a maximum-security prison, faces her ex, Shane, a convicted murderer she helped put away. ⬇️

4.5⭐️ • The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley is a gothic mystery set in 1938 at Thornleigh Hall. Gillian, a lonely teen, befriends Violet Claybourne and visits her decaying estate. A tragic accident entangles Gillian in the manipulative schemes of Violet‘s sisters, leading to betrayal, guilt, and decades of consequences. Alternating between 1938 and 1999, the novel explores family secrets, mental health, and the cost of belonging.

5 Stars • The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston is a romantic novel with a time-slip twist. Clementine West discovers her apartment sends her seven years back, where she falls for Iwan, a chef. In the present, he‘s her neighbor with no memory of her. The story is a contemporary romance with a blend of time travel and magical realism. ⬇️

5 Stars • In The Marriage Act by John Marrs, a dystopian Britain enforces the Sanctity of Marriage Act, promoting "Smart Marriages" with AI surveillance and penalizing singles. Four couples navigate the oppressive system, facing privacy loss, betrayal, and government control. A resistance group fights back in this suspenseful, twist-filled thriller.

#TheMarriageAct #DarkFuture #JohnMarrs #Bookish

4 Stars • Eleven Numbers by Lee Child, is a short story about a math professor Nathan Tyler who is recruited by the White House to decode a Russian nuclear algorithm. Sent to a Moscow conference, he faces danger and betrayal in a tense, twisty espionage mission.

#ElevenNumbers #LeeChild #Bookish

2.5 Stars • Awe by Dacher Keltner explores the science of awe—the feeling of wonder from encountering something vast. Triggered by nature, art, kindness, or rituals, awe reduces stress, boosts empathy, and fosters connection. Keltner shows it‘s accessible daily, promoting health, creativity, and meaning. Through science and stories, he encourages cultivating awe to transform life.

#Awe #DacherKeltner #Bookish

4 Stars • American Housewife by Anita Abriel follows Maggie Lane, a 1950s radio host turned TV star of The Maggie Lane Baking Show. Despite her lack of domestic skills, she must uphold a perfect housewife image. As fame grows, her marriage falters, an old lover reappears, and a past secret threatens her career, forcing Maggie to confront her ambitions and identity.

#AmericanHousewife #AnitaAbriel #Bookish

4 Stars • Wish You Were Gone is a thriller about Emma Walsh, whose husband, James, dies in a suspicious car crash. Planning to confront him about his alcoholism, Emma instead uncovers his secrets and questions his death's circumstances. With her friends and grieving teens, she navigates mistrust and hidden truths. Multiple perspectives reveal James‘s facade, blending family drama and suspense with twists until the end.

3.5 Stars • Trust by Hernan Diaz is a Pulitzer-winning 2022 novel about wealth and perception in early 20th-century New York. Told through four perspectives—a fictional novel, a tycoon‘s memoir, a ghostwriter‘s account, and a secret journal—it follows financier Andrew Bevel and his wife, Mildred. Each section reframes their story, revealing Mildred as the true genius behind their fortune. The book explores truth, power and narrative unreliability.

5 Stars • Haruki Murakami Manga Stories 3: Scheherezade; Sleep adapts two short stories by Haruki Murakami into manga.

• Scheherezade: Habara, a confined man, relies on a woman dubbed "Scheherezade" for supplies, sex, and stories. She recounts her teenage obsession with breaking into a boy‘s house, but her tale cuts off, leaving Habara longing for her return. ⬇️

Catching up with first few books ... (re)Reading with Christie‘s Capers Group on #Litsy (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • 1920 • The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie‘s first novel, introduces Hercule Poirot. Set during World War I at Styles Court, it follows the poisoning of wealthy Emily Inglethorp. Narrated by Captain Hastings, ⬇️

5 Stars • The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride is about a mixed Black and Jewish neighborhood in Pottstown, PA, back in the 1920s and ‘30s. It kicks off with a skeleton found in a well and follows Chona, who runs this little store, and her husband Moshe, who owns a theater. It‘s all about how these folks stick together and deal with life‘s messy stuff like race and belonging.

#TheHeavenAndEarthGroceryStore #JamesMcBride #Bookish

4 Stars • We Solve Murders by Richard Osman follows retired cop Steve Wheeler and his thrill-seeking daughter-in-law, Amy, a security officer. When Amy‘s client, novelist Rosie D‘Antonio, is tied to a murder and Amy‘s framed, the trio embarks on a global chase. They uncover a conspiracy linking influencers‘ deaths to a criminal, Francois Loubet, and Amy‘s firm, solving the case with humor and cleverness.

#WeSolveMurders #RichardOsman #Bookish

Catching up with first few books ... Reading with Christie‘s Capers Group on #Litsy (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • "The Secret Adversary," Agatha Christie's 1922 novel, introduces Tommy Beresford and Tuppence Cowley, unemployed friends who start "The Young Adventurers, Ltd." ⬇️

Read in March 2025...
14 Books
Six 5-Star reads this month:
• Spells for Forgetting
• Whisper Me This
• The Pastures of Heaven
• The Only One Left
• You Killed Me First
• Do Not Disturb

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy #Libby #Everand #Audible #Kindle #Bookish

5 Stars • 🩵 the book • Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young is a mystery with magical realism set on the fictional island of Saoirse. Emery Blackwood and August Salt, former lovers, are reunited after fourteen years when August returns to bury his mother‘s ashes. ⬇️

5 Stars • "Whisper Me This" by Kerry Anne King follows Maisey Addington, a single mother who returns home when her mother falls into a coma and her father is suspected of abuse. As Maisey uncovers family secrets, including a hidden twin sister, she confronts a legacy of domestic abuse that has shaped her life. ⬇️

5 Stars • The Pastures of Heaven is a short story collection, published in 1932, that weaves together the lives of various residents in a California valley. The book consists of twelve interconnected tales, each focusing on different characters whose dreams, flaws, and struggles subtly intersect. The valley, described as a paradise-like setting, serves as a backdrop that contrasts with the often troubled or unfulfilled lives of its inhabitants.

Thank you #FarrarStrausAndGiroux and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC. Publication: May 20, 2025.

3 Stars • The Doorman by Chris Pavone is a thriller set in a tense NYC night, where Chicky Diaz, a doorman at the elite Bohemia building, navigates chaos after an NYPD shooting sparks protests. Amid class and racial divides, Chicky carries a gun, secrets unravel among residents, and a deadly showdown looms, blending suspense with social commentary.

Reading on #Litsy with Christie‘s Capers (Reading Agatha Christie's books in publication order) Hosted by @Librarybelle
#AgathaChristieClubR3

4 Stars • The Murder on the Links is the second novel featuring Agatha Christie's famous detective, Hercule Poirot. Published in 1923, the story begins when Poirot receives an urgent letter from Paul Renauld, a wealthy Frenchman living in Merlinville-sur-Mer, requesting his help due to fears for his life.

3.5 Stars • The Family Inside is a tense psychological thriller about Iris Blodgett and her daughter, Ellory. Reeling from her husband‘s unsolved murder three years earlier, Iris faces eviction after losing her job. Her boyfriend, Hugh Smoll, an architect, offers them a place in his mother‘s eerie, old mansion, Ravencliff, which he‘s renovating. Iris soon learns Hugh‘s family—siblings and spouses—lives there too, a detail he hid. ⬇️

5 Stars • "The Only One Left" by Riley Sager is a Gothic thriller set in 1983. Kit McDeere, a home-health aide with a troubled past, cares for Lenora Hope, an elderly, mute woman suspected of murdering her family in 1929 at Hope‘s End, a decaying Maine mansion. As Lenora types her story, Kit uncovers deception among the estate‘s odd staff, leading to shocking twists in a suspenseful mystery.

#TheOnlyOneLeft #RileySager #Bookish

4 Stars • "How to Sell a Haunted House" by Grady Hendrix follows siblings Louise and Mark as they try to sell their late parents‘ home, only to face supernatural chaos from a sinister puppet, Pupkin, and their family‘s dark secrets. Released in January 2023, it‘s a horror-comedy mix of grief, rivalry, and spooky absurdity.

#HowToSellAHauntedHouse #GradyHendrix #Bookish

3 Stars • Meant for Me by Tay Marley follows Addie May, who, after losing her sister, flees to Georgetown, Texas. Taken in by ranchers, she meets Zac, a farmhand who helps her heal. Confronting her past, Addie finds hope and love, rediscovering life after grief.

#MeantForMe #TayMarley #Bookish

5 Stars • "You Killed Me First" by John Marrs is a psychological thriller about three women—Margot, Anna, and Liv—whose lives collide in a suburban neighborhood. Starting with a woman waking up bound in a burning bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night, the story rewinds eleven months to reveal their secrets and escalating conflicts. What begins as a shaky friendship unravels into blackmail, attempted murder, and a deadly climax.

Seriously.