#majicmonday @Eggs

I read 166 books in 2025 (mostly bangers, I must say! 🙌🏽), and these are the ones that I still think about constantly:

Slanting towards the sea by Lidija Hilje
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
This is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Diaz

Giving this book a second chance after I bailed on it 2 years ago… It‘s going well!

Currently reading…I stumbled upon this title while browsing NetGalley recently and was intrigued.

So far it‘s been an interesting (and dare I say, uncomfortable 😅 at times), but I can‘t put it down!

#arc Pub Date: 1/13/26

3.5⭐️

This was an entertaining read, had some interesting twists, but it still left me wanting more…Or maybe less.

Everyone in the story seems to be carrying a secret, and as those were revealed, I found myself thinking: Well, this was convenient…

Also, one of the main events that happen in the story was heavily hinted at, so that took the shock out of it.

Overall, happy I read it, but expected more.

#arc Pub Date: 1/6/26

The rumors are true, this show is 🥵

Current audiobook…This is horrifying, but such an important read.

#SheSaid

Gave up at almost 60%. Everything in the story feels like a filler right now (after 2 big reveals), and it is dragging.

Felt like reading a thriller and found this on my January ARCs…

#arc Pub Date: 1/6/26

I loved this book way too much considering how it devastated me…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sorry, friends. This one didn‘t do it for me. Bailed at 35%.

Started this 3 days ago and I‘m absolutely loving! First time reading Kawakami 😊

#arc US Release Date: 3/17/26

Current audiobook…This is the book for my IRL book club and I am so behind 😅

Bailing on this at 70%. I‘m just so bored…

This story is packed with a lot of aimlessness and obsessive behavior…Which I kind of loved! 🤣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this because it was MESSY! I could relate and was also shaking my head at the situations that happened in this family. I was thoroughly entertained, even though the secret reveal and the ending were not a complete shock.

If you love family drama that is not that deep or surprising, read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Currently reading…finally! Only 10% in and already loving it!

I enjoyed my time with this one, even though I felt that the story dragged a bit at times.

The birth scene on this was the closest to the real thing I‘ve read in a book, so far.

3.5 ⭐️

Saw a post about this book today and was intrigued. Was available at the library, so I started it immediately.

Dismal reviews on GR, which made me even more intrigued 😅

Will report back soon!!

So excited to have received an ARC of this one. I loved The Bright Years!

Current audiobook…Another story I am giving a second chance and the audiobook is really helping.

I wanted to read this because I watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, but this feels like she handed in her journal and it was turned into a book.

So glad I gave this one a second chance on audio! Enjoyed this story so much and that plot twist was 😮‍💨

Loved the narrator on this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed my time with this. Very glad I decided to go for the audiobook when I felt that the pace of the story had slowed down.

Gave this one 33% before I gave up. Found the story bland and slow.

I‘m trying to get my “Currently Reading” list to a single-digit number by Dec 31st.

Using the audiobook to make some progress on this one…

Current audiobook…Tried reading this on Kindle once and could not get into it. Enjoying the narrator on audio.

Bailing at 16%. The recounting of the child and sexual abuse on this is too much for me to handle at this time.

Current audiobook…One chapter in and I‘m already horrified!

Enjoyed the story about Mia and Cricket, but it did get a little bit predictable at around 50%.

I am a soccer fan and really enjoyed that aspect of the book.

3.5⭐️

The Endicott siblings have been estranged for 3 years, until Jude invites everyone for a weekend in a small town in North Dakota. Everyone shows up and we are treated with past POVs of their life and the road trips they took with their Mom, Frankie.

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I loved all the characters involved, and I shed a few tears while reading this.

Read this!

5 ⭐

I love these end of year lists! 😄

What a beautiful memoir celebrating a family‘s legacy. Sheppard becomes her family‘s historian and recounts their life in Cuba, their exile to the US and what that has meant to all the generations that have followed.

Loved the author‘s attention to detail and research. The chapter about her second trip to Cuba as an adult is especially touching.

Read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have a knack for picking up a book at bedtime that completely sucks me in.

Don‘t be fooled by the cover and title of this book 😅

Nancy and Tina are some fierce women and I loved their stories. I really enjoyed both of their POVs, especially Nancy's.

Loved Lola Akinmade Åkerström's writing and I was especially grateful for the Author's Note at the end explaining her research for the historical events featured in this book.

There are some turn of events in this book that I did not see coming and made me gasp out loud.

Read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Current audiobook…

LOVED!!

The way this book took a dark turn at 49% that had me putting it down and just staring at my ceiling multiple times last night…

Friends: I messed up and read this book by one of my favorite authors thinking it was coming out this week so that you can all go and read it…But it is releasing in March 2026!

But, please, please add this to your TBRs!!!! ❤️

Story centers around 2 families and how everyone‘s lives were affected by a decision made by 2 of the parents.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

This was too bleak. The good parts did not make this story worth it for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was deep-diving into my Kindle last night and stumbled upon this, started reading a bit to see if I should move it up on my TBR…Haven‘t put it down since!

Also, this cover ❤️

I read this in 2 sittings. It delivered what it promised: A one-day look into Ning's life as a nail salon owner.

Even though this takes place in a nail salon, I feel that if you work, or have ever worked in the service industry you will relate so much to this.

Loved!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mother/daughter stories seem to be my go-to lately and I‘m not mad about it…

Current audiobook…I have never heard of this woman before I saw this memoir making the rounds, so of course I was curious.

Going into this blind was probably the best choice for me, because WOW

So glad I decided to give this story a second chance!

I did become annoyed a few times with January and Gus, but then something would happen that will keep me there.

LOVED the supporting characters on this (I might love Pete more than January and Gus, tbh).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not my pick, but I loved this one, too!

After loving all her other books on audio, time to give Beach Read another chance.

Even with a short story collection, where most were written before his beloved novels, Arriaga‘s narrative is unmatched.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you‘re looking for me this Sunday this is where you will find me…This story has me hooked!

*Publishing March 2026* #arc

I felt like I was in a fever dream while reading this. I could feel the restlessness of the FMC while she was just trying to live a life.

Through her words, Nedreaas smacks you right in the middle of this story and never lets you go.

There are a lot of "gasp out loud" moments in this story, but the most shocking to me was the very descriptive self-termination of pregnancy (trigger warning).

3.5⭐️

Wonderful debut! I loved the tension I felt throughout the book as Christine's book tour progressed and she became more entangled with her past without wanting to.

Pham's sprinkles throughout the story about what happened in the past were well-paced and keeps you coming back. The Maine chapters were very interesting and I did not expect that ending.

A great depiction about how relationships can shape a woman‘s life.

4⭐️ Releasing: 1/20/26