July 2025 Reads

My links are all going to The StoryGraph now, since that's what I'm using instead of GoodReads for tracking (I still have some updates on GoodReads for Netgalley purposes). StoryGraph is Black-woman owned. GoodReads is Amazon owned and fuck billionaires. Please for the millionth time I beg of you, do not buy physical books on Amazon unless they are available literally nowhere else.  

You can find me on StoryGraph here. 

Engrossing Reads

We Are All Guilty Here (North Falls #1) by Karin Slaughter - I loved this book, and loved to see a little #1 beside it indicating more are coming. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Fifth to Die (4MK Thriller #2) and The Sixth Wicked Child (4MK Thriller #3 by J.D. Barker - The second and third books in the series are as riveting as the first. I love to come into a series late because all books are available to rip through. OCNJ library paper back for 2 and hardcover for 3

Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon - I love a cult theme, and this delivered on that. The aftermath life was a good storyline as well. Thanks to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor - Read in a few hours - good story and pace

Thanks to the publisher for the invite to a free advanced copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

The White Crow (Philomena McCarthy #2) by Michael Robatham - This series by Michael Robatham does not disappoint. Anxiously awaiting #3 Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood - I liked this concept but it took forever to progress, feeling like wheels stuck in mud at points. Despite that, I still felt it worthy to see through to the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross - Lots of thoughts and feelings over the themes in this book. Sensitive. Topical. I thought they were handled well. I don't mind alternating POVs but preferred Hazel's to everyone else's by quite a wide margin, which made those other POV chapters feel like work to get through and pulled my reading experience down a little. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman - This was strange as hell, and disconcerting at points, but worth it to see through to the end. Locked door mysteries are almost always strange and disconcerting to me, requiring a lot of suspension of disbelief, so it tracks. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox - Men. SMH. That's it, that's the whole review. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman walk into a Bar by Katie Yee - I really liked how this was written, I think it leaned in to how fleeting things in this life are, even when we think they are forever Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Not For Me

Beautiful Nights by Nina George - Did not like slash loathed all of these characters, which cast a pall over the things that drew me to it - the setting of a French seaside in summer, family drama, forbidden love affair. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez - For some reason I missed the memo in advance that this leaned to horror, which is not my comfort zone. Good for you, not for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exhange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline - Copy from Netgalley - pains me to not finish a book by an author I like but this was not it for me

Greenwich by Kate Broad - Copy from Netgalley

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What have you been reading?

July 2024 Reads

July is over? Time flies. I'd say we're deep into beach reading season, but my true beach reading season if there is one is August and September as July is the month of the year I'm at the shore the least.

TL, DR:

Engrossing Reads

The Boy (Broussard and Fourcade #2) by Tami Hoag - The series settles into itself here, and this was a quick few hour read. OCNJ library hardcover

We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston - Hard to put this one down.Set in Waco with multiple points of view and a cult storyline, this simultaneously felt familiar and entirely new to me. I loved the characters, especially the Sheriff and his wife. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore - I can say with confidence this will be in my top five of favorite reads of the year. This is a big mama and I devoured it all in a few hours. Love Moore's writing and I really enjoyed this story. OCNJ library hardcover

A Clean Kill (Garrett Mann #1) by Steven Konkoly - I liked this, really liked the cast of characters and hope #2 follows quickly. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen - This one was stressful and I mean that in a complimentary way LOL. Super quick read. I enjoy Pekkanen's solo novels a lot. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 8/6

Passed the Time Just Fine

Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn - There's a LOT going on here. A lot. Which helped keep the book on a brisk pace, and I can never argue with that. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 8/13

Wild Failure: Stories by Zoe Whittall - A good collection of shorts focused on women of all types with some dark humor thrown in for good measure. Super quick read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Strange Folk by Alli Dyer - This hits two of my sweet spots: set in Appalachia and a little mystical magic. It also features one of my detractions: a willful youth character who fucks things up. Good pacing. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 8/6

The Truth You Told (Raisa Susanto #2) by Brianna Labuskes -  A good sophomore effort in this series - I hope there are more, with more involvement from Raisa's sisters as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 9/10

The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman - Based on the cover art, I definitely thought this was more along the lines of the lighter with a dip of serious themes Fannie Flag books but this was definitely heavier than I expected. A good reminder not to judge a book by its cover. I enjoyed the book I ended up reading, which is what matters. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 9/3

A Thin Dark Line (Broussard and Fourcade #1) by Tami Hoag - It took me a bit to sink into this world, and the blatant sexism and misogyny in the work place was fucking frustrating to read through, but I liked it. OCNJ library paperback

No Road Home by John Fram - A good quick read full of nutters. Just what the doctor ordered for summer evenings reading in one sitting. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Teacher by Freida McFadden - This woman is wild and keeps getting away with it because we keep reading them LOL. Paperback copy, passed on to me, I passed on

Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown - This kept my attention and I could not really tell who was good and who was bad, which I enjoy. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

The Bookstore Wedding (Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #2) by Alice Hoffman - I mean if you're going to write two related short stories why not write six or eight or 10 and give us a novella? Come on, Alice. Amazon first reads free book per month

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer  - I think this is being pushed as a romance? Loved the friendship trio in this book. Some parts of the story did not jive together but it was a quick and fine read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 8/6

Not For Me

Memories of the Lost by Barbara O'Neal - My least favorite of hers due to it reading more like a fairy tale, which is not my jam. Still a well written book I was happy to finish. Definitely a good for you, not for me book - many people will enjoy this and I look forward to the next Barbara O'Neal. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day - Not an easy read - it felt choppy and never found its rhythm. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - The miscommunication trope is not for me. This will be for many people. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Did Not Finish

Don't Tell a Soul by Jessica Huntley - book publishes 8/4, free advanced copy from Netgalley

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne - book publishes 10/15, free advanced copy from Netgalley

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What have you been reading?

Weekending second half of July 2024

July 19-22

Friday morning I was a prolonged victim of the dreaded windows outtage. By the time I got back on it was Friday summer hours and I was taking them. Friday night I dropped QV off to her foster's for the weekend and attended a backyard hang for Beth's 40th in Media. Saturday morning we left by 8 for Dad & Carol's and headed into Lewes for a walk around. MFD found a new pipe with a D on it at the antique store so of course had to buy it. We had lunch at Agave, stopped at another antiques store, and hung around outside until my brother, Aub, and the kids arrived from their extended NC vacation. Hotdogs and hamburgers and crushed potatoes and ice cream, the Phillies, and bed. Sunday we had a big breakfast then went to Rehoboth to bop around - MFD went to the beach, I trolled some shops, everyone else did the games and then we had lunch at Rehoboth Ale House when the news hit of Biden dropping out. We headed back to Dad & Carol's before doing sunset on the beach complete with cartwheels and a dog living its best life before heading home and running down to see the Shook fam under the light of a full moon. Monday MFD and I left around noon, picked up QV, and got home around 4. I painted my nails and called it a day. 

July 26-28

Friday I had breakfast with a coworker at Pretty Bird in Yardley and took full advantage of summer hours in the afternoon, lounging around and watching the opening ceremonies. I was in bed before 8:30. Oop. Saturday MFD and I did a quick back and forth to the shore for turnover made awesome by soem gifts left behind by Melissa & Jim. Another trashcan maggot scenario, vomit. At least he was there to deal with them this time. We got back home at 3 something, showered, and headed to the annual Sannelli summer BBQ to catch up with our peeps and covertly root for the hotdog eating beagle BB. We got home around 12:30 and I was up another hour. Whew. Sunday I slept in and then felt off all day. I returned a bunch of shit to Nordstrom Rack, did a quick stroll through Homegoods looking for shore bedding with no luck, picked up a Target order, cleaned up my room and purged two drawers I've been meaning to purge for six months...of course this took 10 minutes. Why do I sit on this. I also cleaned the shower and put up a new organizer in there. We went to MFD's Gram's for dinner with her and his uncle, bringing Mark's fantastic lasagna from our freezer. Another early to bed night.

Weekending first half of July 2024

July 4-7

Lake - pitstop in Philly - shore long weekend that actually felt like a long weekend, which we love. Thursday Lori and I had our annual 9 am Fourth of July hotdog from the fire house at the Montrose celebration and wandered around the green where there were so many more tents this year than normal. I was feeling off and was happy to relax and read the rest of the day. Friday I woke up and knew I had a UTI even though it's been 10 years since I had one. Lori took the dogs, I did telehealth and lay back down, and we headed out to pick up my prescription and went out to Russel Farms where I got delicious peaches and tomatoes. I was operating at about 50% all day so lots of laying down, some snoozing and reading. If you are sick away from home, it's good to be somewhere that feels like home to you. Saturday I set off back to Philly for a pitstop to do a Target pickup and Aldi pop in, make pasta salad, unpack and re-pack my car, and left for the shore around 4:30. It was hotter than the devil's asshole in Philly and I was wearing long sleeves at the shore. Sunday I went to the library to pick up a much anticipated hold and had myself a beach day. Lots of reading and relaxing this weekend!

July 12-14

Friday my mom came over for a visit in the morning bearing the gift of bagels. A fresh everything bagel with cream cheese topped with cucumbers? Can't beat it. I had Friday hours which I ended up working through to get something done and also because I need to flex some time this coming Tuesday. I hastily threw together a bag and Saturday morning I was on my way to the shore solo while MFD held down the fort in Philly with all the pets. I did turnover, then went to the library, picked up a salad and some ice, and strolled down Asbury Avenue and back up the boardwalk, stopping for a Kohr Bros mint cone and people watching. Back at home I read and walked down to see the sunset. Sunday was a beach day, and I was happy to see my oldest friend Jen and Neil for a bit. More reading and nail painting and sunsetting and packing up to not be back for nearly two weeks and then early to bed. 

That'll do it. I still do reels on Instagram with snippets of the weekend and the musical accompaniment of a song I heard at some point...you can always find them here. 

SMD

 

July 2022 Reads

Well, July and the last two weeks of June. Going forward I'll  keep to the months and post at the end of the month or the very beginning of the next month. I should just say whenever I get to it, because it's still for me and do people read blogs anymore anyway? I don't think so. I've tried to post what I read for the week in Instagram stories, but I am 50/50 consistent on that. 

Here's what I've been reading since mid-June:

Engrossing Reads

Upgrade by Blake Crouch - I devour Blake Crouch novels, and this one was no different. It might be my favorite since the Wayward Pines trilogy. Timely and so interesting even as a non SciFi type of reader. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown - This was a lot to think about. Some great commentary on what is expected of women as mothers, and how deep they bury those expectations even among “family.”

And what is family?

There were some things that I hated in regards to rigidity of characters and an almost carefree attitude of two men, but the more I think about it the more I think that might have been the point. Some people will absolutely hate this for the writing itself, it has a slightly syrupy combined with patronizing and omniscient type of flavor? Difficult to describe, but if you get a few chapters in and that's you hating it, stop. 

TW for infertility, adoption. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center - I loved everything about this, and disliked the main character for a much shorter time period than any other Katherine Center novel. A really good book to get you out of a reading rut. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier - I love starting a story and thinking it’s going to be about something and it’s really about something else. I enjoyed peeling back the layers on this one. Hillier has become a new favorite. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Do not know anything or care anything about tennis and I loved this. Carrie Soto forever. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes August 30

Passed the Time Just Fine

The It Girl by Ruth Ware - A few years back I decided Ruth Ware was not for me after thinking The Woman in Cabin 10 was absolutely ridiculous, and I have been happy with that path. I was sent this unprompted and decided to read it and it wasn't bad, I zipped through it and only raised my eyebrow a few times. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Corinne by Rebecca Morrow - This was slow the first 15%, and I would have liked more at the end that dealt with now life in exchange for some of the kissing or sex scenes - not in a prudish way but there were a lot of both, and I would have taken less of either and more dealing with life outside of their home? As a non-religious person all of that was difficult for me concept-wise. Overall passed the time fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - A new book by the author of AJ Fikry? I tried to temper my expectations going in and I'm glad I did. I have absolutely zero interest in gaming and anything associated with it and Zevin managed to hook me into the story anyway. The relationships and characters were excellent, deep, memorable - the main characters and also the side characters. 

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Hidden One (Kate Burkholder #14) by Linda Castillo - Another solid Kate read. As always, I prefer Kate in Painter’s Mill but also enjoy her outside of it, on her own usually gives us more depth to her and her past and that was the case here. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Tanqueray by Stephanie Johnson, Brandon Stanton - Like an update and fleshing out of the instagram stories. I'm glad this is in print and that Stephanie has some comfort in her later years by sharing her life stories that most of us consumed like wild on the internet. Normalize paying people for their content if we're going to continue to consume it this way Hard cover, own, pre-ordered through Bookshop

The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams - I got this in the spring of 2020 and never read it. It was fine? I am nearly always fine with Beatriz Williams, I enjoy her writing a lot and typically like her characters. Both were true here. Although I am weary and wary of anything touching WWII even remotely, so that storyline was only meh for me. Also typical of Williams, it was slow out of the gate and racing to the finish with gabs of shit in between, aka a lot of pages many of which I would have taken a red pen to as an editor to cut, and some things never explained or not lining up. Hard cover, own

Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin - I don't really read cute books, but this was cute and a smidge witchy and YA and not super deep, which was good for me at the time I read it and served as a palate cleanser for me which is always appreciated. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes today

Not For Me/Did Not Finish

One of the Girls by Lucy Clark - Pacing felt a little off, and the actual action rushed at you in the last 10%. I ended it sort of annoyed at myself that I had stuck through. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland - I could not connect with this book or bring myself to care. Beth was really hard to take as the driving character and the unreliable narrator/untrusted woman is overdone recently in books so it is a victim of that as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Lodger by Valerie Keogh - Can we stop with the unreliable narrator, particularly the female unreliable narrator? I'm done. Absolutely nothing believable or connectable in this entire book.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering - Nah. NFM. From Netgalley

First Born by Will Dean - DNF, from Netgalley

Groupies by Sarah Priscus - DNF, from Netgalley

The Counselors by Jessica Goodman - DNF, from OCNJ library

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (Aristotle & Dante #2) by Benjamin Alire Saenz - I regret to inform you that this was a DNF for me, which is hard since I loved the first one so much. As I was moving it to the DNF shelf on Goodreads, my eye caught on a review (I standardly do not read the reviews of others before I read something) that said something like this book was the Walmart version of the first and that made me laugh like a hyena but also agree hard copy, own

Such a Good Mother by Helen Monks Takhar - DNF at 30%, free copy from Netgalley 

What have you been reading?

July 2019 Recommendations

Vornado Fans - Before I bought one last year, I was like I have to be an asshole to spend over $50 on a fan. I may be an asshole for other reasons, but buying Vornado fans is not one of them. I have this larger one and this smaller one at the shore in our apartment. We get no air flow in there and unless we want the AC on all the time, we need good air circulators that don't take up a lot of room. These are the real deal. I have a flat one at home and compared to a $13 Honeywell air circulator, the difference in how much cooler the air is with the Vornado is remarkable. For people who want fan noise and need to travel with a fan, that flat one would be good for you. They drown out most of the noise from our rental above us and that is awesome, plus they're powerful but small which is important for us in small spaces. Amazon links are affiliate links

This is the flat Vornado

Arm & Hammer Plus Oxi Clean Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator - Michelle got me some of this to try and it is the real deal. It removed the yellow from dried dog puke on a quilt and also removed stains on the couch in our shore house from I don't know what (looks like maybe dropped chocolate and cheetos). I grabbed it in a panic because I didn't have any resolve carpet cleaner upstairs - that's what I usually use to spot clean the denim couch covers in our rental if I think the stain will surpass Seventh Generation dish liquid.

Cosori Air Fryer - I got this at the beginning of April, and even after my oven was fixed, I still use this a few times a week. If you know me and my previous ways of buying kitchen gadgets and appliances and then never fucking using them, you are also amazed. I waited nearly four months to post about this just to be sure I was still using it because I know myself. I asked people in Instagram stories which air fryer they recommended. Alison recommended this one. I read about a million reviews. This was a great pick. I will never make hard boiled eggs outside of the air fryer again.

Trying now: Dropps Laundry pods. I paid around $8 for a sample order before I went all in. Some people on the gram reported back that they love this. I hope I do as well. I have switched to powder laundry detergent already but the ingredients are not eco-friendly. Dropps has plant-based ingredients, no animal testing, and comes in recyclable and compostable cardboard packaging vs. the big plastic jugs of laundry detergent, 68% of which are not recyclable... Anyway I just started using it and will report back.

What are you recommending this month?