Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Miss Olympic Figure Skating? This Helps

03.02.26 | Life

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 4

11.30.25 | Life

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 3

11.21.25 | Life

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 2

11.14.25 | Life
30 Days of Thanks 2025

30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 1

11.07.25 | Life

What I Read // May 2025

06.04.25 | Books

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Miss Olympic Figure Skating? This Helps

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I’m a figure skating fanatic. I have very vivid memories of watching Kristi Yamaguchi as a child (she had this blue daisy costume I was obsessed with), and cracking open a Sports Illustrated for the first and only time to read about Tara Lipinski.

That means when the Winter Olympics come around, I’m ready to take in as much figure skating as I can. It also means when it’s over, there’s a crash. I can’t just watch Alyssa Liu’s free skate on loop forever or laugh at this Evgeni Plushenko-Ginuine mashup for the hundredth time.

So here’s what I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to fill the figure skate-shaped hole in my heart.

The Traitors: Season 4

Watching The Traitors was essential for me. I think Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir need to be everywhere; they make great TV.

I also could not get enough of Alan Cumming and the whole Scotland vibe.

Be Good Johnny Weir

Olympic commentary is obviously where Johnny Weir soars (and he did well on The Traitors, too), but his reality show is where I originally saw him take off.

Be Good Johnny Weir debuted on the Sundance Channel in 2010. It was two seasons of brilliant sports and reality TV, if you ask me. However, since it was on the Sundance Channel of all places, I don’t think it got a ton of traction.

I hope that it’s seeing new life now (or some – it’s currently streaming on Tubi), and I hope that you give it a go.

The show is occasionally absurd and regularly silly. In some episodes, Johnny would dress up as a Russian newscaster and interview his publicist or mom. In others, he’d horse around with his aunt or explain how soothing it is to vacuum lines into his carpet.

But for all the goofing around, the show gave a good look at Johnny’s athleticism, the dynamics of being trained by a mother-daughter-son-in-law trio, the shortcomings of the judging system, and the prejudice within the skating community.

In one episode, I’d tee-hee as Johnny poked fun at his rival Evan Lysacek, and in another, I’d be crestfallen watching Johnny receive news that his image wasn’t family-friendly enough for Stars on Ice.

For all the highs and lows, Be Good Johnny Weir made Johnny a star (in my eyes).

Beautiful on the Outside by Adam Rippon

If you need an autobiography that satisfies like an ice rink hot cocoa, this is it. In Beautiful on the Outside, Adam Rippon shares how he slowly and steadily rose to the top in US figure skating.

But of course, this is not some dry sports story. Adam opens the book explaining how he originally became obsessed with ice skating after seeing an illustration of a woman skating with a muff on the outside of a Christmas popcorn tin. I fully understand how something so small can spark a lifelong obsession. (For me, that was seeing Anastasia as a kid and then devouring any Romanov-adjacent movie, show, or book – and continuing to do so nearly 30 years later.)

Also, the audiobook version is essential. Adam’s delivery is flawless – just like his Rippon lutzes.

The Favorites by Layne Fargo

I’ll say this: I will forever think that figure skating is greater than ice dancing. It has jumps! There’s more drama! But Layne Fargo’s book about a pair of ice dancers has enough drama that I can ignore that these fictional skaters’ blades never fully leave the ice.

In this novel, two young skaters are paired together and quickly gain a lot of attention. Once they get to the Olympics, though, they break up in spectacular fashion. The book then follows the skaters after the incident for a new documentary.

It’s about childhood obsession, single-minded focus, and what happens when you go too far. It was great.

I, Tonya

I can’t get enough of this movie. Margot Robbie is flawless. Allison Janney is iconic. Even the small players like Paul Walter Hauser as Jeff Gilooly’s sidekick are fantastic.

I’m not going to provide any hot takes on this movie, but it’s solidly entertaining and also reminds you that figure skating was designed for athletes like Nancy Kerrigan and Peggy Fleming – not Tonya Harding.

Losers: Episode 3

You know how everyone was obsessed with Ilia Malinin performing backflips during his skates at the 2026 Olympics? It was a big deal – kind of. Backflips weren’t a legal move previously.

However, he isn’t the first skater to land one at the Olympics. That would be Surya Bonaly at the 1998 Nagano Games.

Surya was (and still is!) an incredible athlete. She’s a powerful skater with a distinct style; unfortunately, this style wasn’t what the figure skating establishment was into. Throughout her career, she was plagued by what she perceived to be unfair and overly subjective judging (rightfully so, IMO). She protested this at the Lillehammer Games by removing her medal. Four years later, she’d perform her backflip as an act of defiance to the Olympic judges (it’s awesome).

You can get the story via this episode of a sports documentary series – a thing I would never watch otherwise!

See you in another four years to talk figure skating!

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30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 4

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Coming back to this series has been a great exercise. It’s given me the space to reflect on this year and to get back into writing. Thanks for being here.

DAY 22: A place you feel at home

My husband’s family owns some property with a cabin. For the longest time, I didn’t quite know what to do with myself when I went there. I felt like a guest and like I couldn’t just rummage around in the cupboards for a treat or wander around on my own. Those were all my own limitations (my husband was very open it about this place being shared from the very beginning).

Over the years, though, I’ve really embraced this as a second home. Reading on the back deck is one of my greatest joys. Lighting a new candle at night feels special. Inviting friends to join us for a fire is such a treat. I’m so lucky to share this place, and to have a family that welcomed me there from the very start.

Day 28: Love given or received

Holding my son for the very first time was the most intense and instant feeling of love. I’m so grateful that he’s here.

Day 24: Art that inspires you

I want to give a major thanks and shout out to Bobbie of Forage Art House. She photographed our son twice this year, and her work is stunning. She took the most wonderful photos of our little ham and all his expressions. Looking at some of the photos, I thought to myself I’ve never looked this happy before. Her work captured exactly how I feel as a mom. Thank you, Bobbie.

Day 25: A film you enjoy watching

Somewhere on the internet, someone pitched the idea that you can tell a lot about a person by their favorite Kirsten Dunst movie. Instantly, I felt that. Whoever that was, thank you for that framing!

For me, I waffle between Marie Antoinette and Drop Dead Gorgeous. Dick is also a favorite, but I think Michelle Williams really owns that one.

Day 26: The best kind of weather

I love the chill of a fall morning or even a snowy day that keeps me inside.

But every time I walk outside on a cool morning in late summer, I’m filled with joy. That sweatshirt-in-the-morning, shorts-in-the-afternoon weather makes me think of all my Augusts in northern Wisconsin and time spent with my family.

Day 27: Your favorite food to eat

It’s got to be frozen custard in a cake cone. That’s it. That’s the answer. Thankful to live in Wisconsin, the (I assume) frozen custard capital of the world.

Day 28: Wisdom that resonates

Over and over, I keep coming back to done is better than perfect. This maxim grounds me so often, especially when I devise lofty plans for everything from cleaning schedules to birthday decorations to holiday to-do lists. Not everything needs the be the most immaculate or unique. It can be good.

These words have helped me as a creative person, as a friend, as a mom.

DAy 29: A goal you’re working on

Since this is a busy season, I feel like I can’t commit to any major goals (or think critically about them). But right now, I’d like to make a few holiday crafts. That’s it. They bring me outsized joy, and they do a lot for my well-being. Maybe in a few weeks I’ll be sharing a Christmas quilt or some handmade ornaments.

Day 30: Reasons you love yourself

I love myself because I have not been broken. The past few years have been extremely challenging: I lost my mother-in-law, our two cats, my mom, and my great-aunt. I also gave birth to a little boy who is the greatest joy of my life!

If you had asked me a decade ago, I would have thought all of those events (the latter three all took place in 2024) would have destroyed me. They did not. I’m grateful for my resilience and strength.

Thanks for keeping up with this series this month! Share what you’re grateful for below!

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30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 3

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Welcome back to 30 Days of Thanks! It’s almost Thanksgiving, and I’m not fully ready (but still excited).

Day 15: Your favorite memories

In a week, our son will be one! Naturally, I’m reflecting a lot on the day he was born. Holding him for the very first time is the most tender and wonderful memory I’ll have. I’m so, so grateful for this little boy.

Day 16: A book that made you think

I read The Secret History of Home Economics three years ago, and I think about it regularly. I have an extended rant in my review of the book, but know this: Home economics was likely one of the most practical classes in high school curricula, and now it’s fading fast. It’s the area of study that taught people how to – I hate this term – adult, and we all needed it.

Day 17: What you love about nature

While I have a lot of indoor cat hobbies, I feel very much at home outside. I think that has a lot to do with growing up camping and in Girl Scouts. I’m grateful to my parents for instilling this appreciation for nature in me as a child. I’m also thankful to my husband for committing to thoughtful stewardship and care of the natural world, especially in the spaces we’re lucky enough to own.

What I love most about nature right now is sharing it with my son. He loves being outside. He loves everything from a walk in the park to playing in the leaves to sitting out at the campsite. Seeing the world through his eyes is a joy and something I’m so thankful for.

Day 18: Tasks that bring you joy

My husband and I agree: Baby chores are the best chores. He loves washing baby clothes. I love putting them away. I love running baby errands. He loves washing baby dishes. Parenthood has unlocked a lot of joy for both of us, even in the seemingly mundane.

Day 19: Lessons you’ve learned

This year I learned how much the ordinary can be wonderful. I’ve learned how simple things, like a morning walk to McDonald’s with my son or a solo trip to Costco, can fill the metaphorical cup. Not everything needs to be Pinterest-perfect; I knew this already, but now I also feel it.

Day 20: Where you find beauty

We have an extremely small yard. It’s not glamorous, it’s not fully landscaped, the lawn is full of weeds and bumps. But as I sat in the back yard this fall with my son, I thought it really is beautiful out here. It’s small, but I’m grateful to have a small patch of ground that we call ours.

Day 21: What makes you laugh

We listen to a lot of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend in this house. We had on the Chris Fleming episode recently and realized we had never seen any of GAYLE. So we’ve taken to watching an episode or two on occasion, and it gets me every time. Thankful to still be able to tap into the glory days of YouTube and discover something that keeps us laughing.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Share what you’re thankful for below! I’ll be back on November 30 with this month’s last installment.

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30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 2

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Back at it! This has been a really fun exercise. I’ve taken a pretty long break from writing, and I’m glad to be back.

Day 8: Activities you have fun doing

I cannot overstate the joy that sewing brings me. I’ve tackled just a few projects this year, but each has totally filled my metaphorical cup. This summer, I made my son’s baptism outfit. I haven’t made a garment since the first few months of the pandemic, and sewing that little romper reminded me of the joy and challenges of the process. I’ve also worked on a few decorations for my son’s birthday party, and I am absolutely giddy at getting to stay home one day soon and make more. I’m grateful that I can find a few pockets of time here and there to sew (and I hope I can make more time in the future).

Day 9: Friends you’re lucky to have

I’m so grateful to my friends, and I’m lucky to have each of them in my life. Sometimes I feel like I’ve been swallowed a bit by motherhood — not in a negative way, but in a way that sometimes prevents me from prioritizing these relationships. I regret that, but I also am so grateful that I have those friends to return to when I come up for air.

Day 10: Animals that make you smile

First, I have to shout out our two cats Ember and Merlin. They are so fun, so sweet and only occasionally nightmarish. 

But outside of these two, I’m grateful for all the creatures that wander through our yard, despite living in the city. This includes deer, foxes, an opossum and, most recently, six turkeys.

Day 11: A time when you were fearless

I have a lot of feelings about giving birth. I had a really good experience overall. At the same time, I felt like I didn’t fully absorb the process and wish I would have done a few things differently. Labor and birth and all that goes with it is incredibly overwhelming, and I felt like I benefited a bit from that tunnel vision to work through it all.This being said, I felt like I went into the hospital and delivered my son with as little fear as I could muster. I had worry, but not fear. He was born perfect. I’m forever grateful for that.

Day 12: What (or who) uplifts you

When I was fairly far into labor, one of the nurses said to me that when things change in labor, it often can be a good thing or at least a sign the situation is progressing. I remember her saying something like, “No matter what, we’re going to tell you you’re doing a good job. You puked? Good job! You feel like you need to change positions? Good job! You need a sip of water? Good job!” I found that little speech to be really uplifting. I’m grateful to her and the other nurses who cared for me in the hospital. They are so compassionate and encouraging. I regret that I only remember one of their names, but Chanah, know I’ll always be so grateful to you and all your help.

Day 13: An act of true kindness

Early this year, my friend Gina came by to meet my son. I am so grateful to her for many reasons (including the crash course on babies she gave me last fall). During this visit, she snapped pictures of me and my newborn. “No one ever gets pictures of moms,” she said. It’s kind of true. That gesture was so thoughtful and kind. It’s one of the many, many kind things people have done for me this past year, but it’s one I’ll remember.

Day 14: What you’re proud of

On a professional level, I’m really proud of my resilience this year, and, for the first time in a while, I’m excited about the work I’m doing. I’m grateful to my new manager for understanding my strengths and giving me opportunities to shine.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Share what you’re thankful for below, and stay tuned for new editions every Friday.

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30 Days of Thanks 2025 // Week 1

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I’m pretty behind here, but I didn’t want to skip out on this tradition (though I never completed last year’s; I had a baby that last week of November!). As ever, I’m following @positivelypresent’s #gratitude30 prompts. The prompts are a bit different this year, and that’s fun for me!

DAY 1: Your favorite story

I’m taking this prompt as my favorite story from the past year. This year, I’ve slowed a bit on reading, but have found a few good reads along the way. I think my favorite in 2025 has been The Sentence by Louise Erdrich, one of my favorite authors of all time. Erdrich creates such endearing and dynamic characters, and she also manages to create slightly mystical worlds that feel so tangible. The Sentence is set 2019-2020, and it touches a lot on the early days of the pandemic and the events following the death of George Floyd. She reaches back to this not so distant history with a lot of care and manages to shed new light on it.

DAY 2: Clothing you love to wear

I packed a brand new pair of pajamas when I went to the hospital to have my son. They were nothing special — just a $30 set from Target. But putting them on after laboring and giving birth and recovering felt like real luxury. I still like to wear them on the coziest days.

DAY 3: Emotions you feel frequently

Seeing my son grow, I feel so much joy and awe. Seeing him roll over for the first time was something I gasped over. Now he’s on the verge of walking, and it’s really something that fills me with a lot of wonder and gratitude.

DAY 4: A color you enjoy seeing

I saw a woman at the mall the other day in a stunning emerald skirt, and I had to stop her. It was so loud an unexpected! I feel like there’s a lot of very neutral dressing happening right now, so seeing a bright pop brings me joy. For the record: I was in an oversized college sweatshirt and a navy hat with “Camembert” stitched on it. Fashion!

DAY 5: What you find comforting

There’s something I find supremely comforting about being in our home, snuggled up in bed or on the couch and watching the snow. We had an early snow this fall, and watching it come down made me feel so much ease.

DAY 6: The best season of the year

I love the transition of fall. I love spending the early weeks outside at farmers markets, orchards, and fairs, and as it gets later, I like to embrace staying in to bake something homey or just to relax on the couch with something that feels like fall. For me, that’s Twin Peaks, various ghost shows, and every Thanksgiving episode of Bob’s Burgers. 

DAY 7: Songs you love to listen to

During my maternity leave, I made a playlist of all the songs I liked to listen to with our son. That list captures a very particular moment in time. Our first months together, lots of bonding, lots of snuggles. I listen to those songs when I need a little comfort or want to reminisce about that time. I’m grateful to my past self for putting it together.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Share what you’re thankful for below, and stay tuned for new editions every Friday.

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What I Read // May 2025

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I’m truly shocked at how well I’ve kept up with my reading so far. I suppose having quiet time at home from essentially 8 PM onwards helps. I think I did the bulk of my reading after our son’s bedtime and during naptimes. It’s a good routine for all of us.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda • ★★★★☆

I hate to say it, but I always thought of pet-focused books as being kind of hokey. I think Marley and Me is to thank (and, nope, I’ve never even read it!). But We’ll Prescribe You a Cat availed me of that misconception.

Within a few pages, I felt like I was snuggling up with a comfy blanket, a cup of tea and, of course, a cat on sunny morning.

In We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, a handful of patients visit the unusual Kokoro Clinic for the Soul. The doctor there is odd and has one treatment: cats. Chapter after chapter, patients take home pets to cure what ails them: work struggles, dealing with cliques at school, coping with loss, and so on.

It sounds so simple, but that’s part of the joy. Sometimes all you need to set you right is a cat (and a good book).

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle •🎧• ★★★★☆

Wolf in White Van pulls you backward through time. It begins with Sean who runs a mail-in role-play game. Two high schoolers who subscribed to this fantasy world began to blur the lines between imagination and reality. As Sean deal with these ramifications, you go back in time with him. How did this game begin? Who is Sean? How did he come to be?

Darnielle leaves you to connect a lot of the dots which makes Wolf in White Van (and his other novels) an exceedingly interesting read.

Enjoying the audio versions of these is almost essential. Darnielle has a unique voice in the literary and literal senses, and they both augment his work.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich • ★★★★☆

I’ve never read a Louise Erdrich book set in the present era. I wondered for a split second if this could match The Master Butchers Singing Club or Four Winds. Because she is Erdrich, all she does is incredible.

The first chapter of The Sentence was not what I expected; it kicks off with Tookie unknowingly committing a crime and going to prison. That wasn’t what I was interested in. However, the book quickly flashes forward to Tookie’s life after prison. She’s married, works at a bookshop (run by a fictional Erdrich!) and deals with sometimes irritating customers.

After her most aggravating customer dies, Tookie believes she’s being haunted. And somehow, Erdrich weaves this ghost story into what the world was like in 2020, from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to the death of George Floyd and beyond. It’s masterful and heartwarming. Maybe I should nudge this one to five stars?

The Witches of Santo Stefano by Wendy Webb • ★★★☆☆

I’ll say this: I don’t think that Wendy Webb is the best writer in the world. Despite having gothic themes, her books are filled with Hallmark movie-esque characters (and some plot holes). But I still find her books irresistible.

All are set in the Midwest, several in Wharton, a fictionalized version of Bayfield, Wisconsin (one of my favorite places); that’s certainly a major part of the appeal.

The Witches of Santo Stefano starts in Wharton where soon-to-be-divorced Cassie discovers in family records that her great-grandmother’s cause of death was witchcraft. Cassie feels the need to get to the bottom of the witchcraft mystery (and to get away from her spouse) for a while, so she travels to her family’s ancestral home: Santo Stafano, Italy.

From the jump, Cassie is in an Italian Hallmark movie: She befriends the owner of a cafe and her Airbnb host, gets a crush on a local, and gets all up in the family business of her new friends. It’s cute. It’s very cozy. It’s also not as scary as Webb’s other outings. I’ll also say that I found the family tree portion of this book a little confusing. I think the story went back one generation too far if you ask me!

See you next month! And remember, I’ll be over on The StoryGraph this year!

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Unsolicited Advice: Make a Baby Playlist

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Vinyl records

I know many people create birth playlists or even queue up a particular song the moment their child is born. I knew this was not for me, but I did know that the first song I’d play my child was important.

As I looked at him that first morning, I wondered what song I would play him. What would be a proper introduction to this side? What song would encapsulate my feelings for him? What song would be emblematic of our family? I know the song did not matter to him, but the symbolism mattered to me.

That morning while I held him in the hospital room, I pressed play on “Dreams” by the Cranberries and whispered Oh, my life is changing everyday //In every possible way // And oh, my dreams // It’s never quite as it seems // ‘Cause you’re a dream to me.

I began to think of this as our song. Sometimes I’d sing it to him as he drifted to sleep or put it on as I swayed with him in his room.

As the weeks went on, music began to take up bigger parts of our day. I’d put on soft music for him as we relaxed in his nursery (“Girl from the North Country” by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash). Other times, I’d queue up something fun while we did baby activities like stretching or bouncing (“I’m Gonna Be” by the Proclaimers or “Can I Kick It” by A Tribe Called Quest). Other songs were just for having fun as we moved around the house (“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and “Someone New” by Hozier). And there were just some songs that struck a chord as they came up on various Spotify playlists; I played “The Story” by Brandi Carlile a lot.

After about two months, I realized I wanted to capture as much of these moments as I could. It wasn’t enough to just think of my son if I heard “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison in passing; I wanted to have these moments saved in a time capsule of sorts. Enter the playlist.

Every time I hear a song that reminds me of those early days, I add it to this list. I listen to it with him at home, I listen to it when I’m missing him. It’s an aural comfort blanket that we can snuggle up with together.

So here’s my unsolicited parenting advice: Make a playlist for you and your child(ren). Keep one and add to it forever. Make one seasonally. Just make one. Like a good mix CD, a playlist will transport you to those tender moments.

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What I Read // April 2025

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My reads this month were extremely varied. I’m glad for it! It gives me some idea of where I want to go in the coming months with what I pick up.

Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler • ★★★★☆

When I heard Anna Marie Tendler, the artist who was once married to John Mulaney, was writing a book, I was so eager to pick it up. When I heard it was not a gossipy take-down of Mulaney, I became less interested. This was petty and wrongly reduces Tendler down to the role of being a celebrity’s wife instead of being an interesting, talented person in her own right.

In Men Have Called Her Crazy, Tendler details the time she spent in an in-patient psychiatric facility in 2021 along with stories from her life. She focuses especially on her history with men, her various professional and educational pursuits, how she coped with trauma, and finding moments of peace. I found Tendler to be infinitely charming. Her writing is self-reflective and smart, and she puts into words a lot of the experiences many women have with suppressed rage—especially rage that stems from experience with men.

This book could be hard for some to read as it deals with psychiatric issues and unhealthy relationships, so please proceed with caution.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones • ★★★★☆

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead starts with a body. Janina finds her neighbor dead in his home. She has her suspicions about what killed him. Later, when a police officer is found dead in the woods, she tries to tell the police what’s going on.

It all sounds very traditional murder mystery, but I assure you it’s not. This book, originally written in Polish, is slightly absurd and un-put-down-able. It has me excited to pick up another book from Tokarczuk.

Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green • 🎧• ★★★☆☆

Full disclosure: I became aware of John Green through Instagram. The algorithm would feed me fun reels from him, some of which would mention tuberculosis. Only later did I realize he wrote The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns (neither of which I read). I queued up Everything Is Tuberculosis since I like a nonfiction listen here and there.

I learned a lot while listening, but I don’t think this is something I’d recommend to others. It lacked some of the charm I had expected based Green’s videos (but also, maybe that expectation was unfair).

Holly by Stephen King • ★★★☆☆

Like everyone, I’ve absorbed a lot of Stephen King throughout my lifetime. I’ve seen The Shining, It (both versions), Misery and plenty more. Despite all this, I’ve never read anything from King. Why I started here with Holly, the third in a series, is entirely random.

My thoughts are… It was entirely entertaining but not my favorite. The story was kind of a gross one (cannibal serial killers). I also don’t think I’m entirely sold on King’s writing style. I found the dialogue to be very unnatural and sometimes clunky. I had a hard time believing that two characters would meet and in the first 15 seconds learn their thoughts on COVID, how long they lived near Bell College, and what a great employee they once had five years ago—all unprompted besides a hello.

This doesn’t turn me off the idea of reading more from King in the future (he seems like a cool guy and he’s responsible for The Shining which I love), but I don’t think I’ll be rushing to pick up another in the near future.

See you next month! And remember, I’ll be over on The StoryGraph this year!

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What I Read // February + March 2025

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Turns out reading is different with a baby! I’m reading just as much as ever – I still pick up a book every night before bed and at lunch most days, but I just haven’t been able to fit audiobooks in the same way I used to. That’s OK! I still had a few good reads these past few months.

So far, I’ve read eight books in 2025; my goal is 35.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston • ★★★☆☆

Who doesn’t like a quick thriller once in a while? I feel like it has been a minute since I’ve picked up one of these. First Lie Wins isn’t the best domestic thriller in the world, but it’s entertaining.

“Evie” is sent by her mysterious boss to get close to Ryan. “Evie” isn’t real, but maybe her feelings for Ryan are. And maybe no one is who they say they are? The shifting identities in First Lie Wins were fun to keep up with, but I won’t insist you read this one.

Read if you liked: Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins, I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix • ★★★★☆

No secret here: I’ve loved ever Grady Hendrix book I’ve ever picked up. My feelings for Witchcraft for Wayward Girls are no different, though I do think his latest book is pretty different than the rest.

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, set in 1970, follows Neva (who goes by Fern for most of the novel) as she takes up residence in a home for unwed mothers. While there, she discovers a book on witchcraft. She and a few friends dip their toes into the witchy waters, but Fern dives in more deeply with some unintended consequences.

Yes, there are the delightful bits of campy nostalgia, terrific world building and well written relationships, but Witchcraft for Wayward Girls feels a bit more serious than Hendrix’s other novels. Maybe that’s because I’m a new mom and all things maternity and baby are more sensitive. Maybe it’s because the inspiration for this book is more serious; Hendrix wrote in the author’s notes about how members of his family were sent to these homes for unwed mothers and how harrowing those experiences were. This book tugged at my heartstrings, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Read if you liked: Grady Hendrix’s other books, The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy, City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill • ★★★★☆

I felt like the first 20 or so pages of When We Lost Our Heads were a little tough for me. The writing seemed a little rigid to me; maybe the sentences were structured too similarly?

Whatever the case, I’m glad I stuck with it. When We Lost Our Heads follows the lives of two wealthy girls growing up in 1880s Montreal. Marie is blonde and charming, and Sadie is brunette and very clever. Together these two are quite devious. When Sadie gets sent away after an “accident,” their lives diverge – for a time.

As O’Neill weaves in more characters, like baker Mary and midwife George, the story gets interesting. How all these characters come to inhabit the same spaces was pretty exciting to see. Also, I loved the setting! I want to Montreal years ago, but was able to place a few of the settings throughout the book.

Read if you liked: Sex Wars by Marge Piercy, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, books by Mona Awad

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle • ★★★★☆

I picked up Darnielle’s Devil House several years ago and have Wolf in White Van on my TBR list. His second novel, Universal Harvester, totally escaped me until just last week.

With a synopsis that mentioned late ’90s video stores and comparisons to The Ring, it was a must-read for me. In Universal Harvester, VHS tapes start showing up to the local rental shop with strange bits of footage spliced into the film. Nothing truly gory, but some unsettling snippets. Video clerk Jeremy wants to get to the bottom of it. Or does he?

For me, this book became less about Jeremy solving some small town mystery and more about the writing. I find Darnielle’s voice to be really compelling and unique. I can almost hear him narrating his work. If it didn’t come in paper form, it could have been transformed into an album.

Read if you liked: The Devil House by John Darnielle, We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix

See you next month! And remember, I’ll be over on The StoryGraph this year!

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On Grief and Joy

Filed Under: Life Tagged With:

It’s been nearly a year since my mom died. It still feels unreal. Often, it feels like she’s just absent, but might walk in the door at any time or be on the other end of the phone. She feels as immediate as ever; after all, I’m surrounded with memories of her, gifts from her, thoughts of her. But at the same time, when I try to connect with her, I don’t feel her there. When I try to push through the ether to send her a prayer, I feel like I’m leaving a voicemail. She is all at once there and not.

And when I think of the joy my son is missing by not having her, I break. My mom was the most fantastic mother on the planet. She was born to it. She always made me feel loved, she was so fun, she was so kind, she was straightforward, she was soft, she was tough, she knew how to get things done. To think my baby won’t know her laugh is soul-crushing. To think my mom won’t know his coos is heartbreaking.

But I also know that in some way, she knows him, that maybe she held him before he was born. After all, I had dreams of her: a dream that I told her I was pregnant, a dream where she told me what name she liked best. She is there, but not in the way I most wish her to be.

Losing my mom makes every moment precious. It makes me quick to express joy and also grief. Every moment with my son is wonderful, something to cherish. I also grieve every passing second knowing he will never be so small or fragile again. I am at once enjoying every moment in the moment, trying to soak it all in, but at the same time I feel those moments fleeting. I wonder if my mom ever felt that way, if she tried to wring every ounce of happiness and wonder out those early months. How did she carry the burden of motherhood with her grief? After all, she lost her mother not long after my sister was born (and years before I came into the world).

Knowing that we both have trod the same path feels like some sort of curse, but I also feel some comfort. My mom gave me all the love and happiness and joy I could have asked for without her own mom to turn to. Now, I’ll do the same for my son. I hope, like me, he feels so loved by his mother.