Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Books

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What I Read // July 2021

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Summertime is prime reading time as far as I’m concerned. I love to sit out on the patio with a book after work or read a few pages at the beer garden. And this month I queued up plenty of audiobooks as I prepped for my first craft fair in 17 months.

Not every book was a winner this month, but there were a few standouts.

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones • ★★☆☆☆

This one has been on my TBR list for a while, and when my library hold came up, I was happy to claim it. But this story—about a family torn apart by a woman claiming to be a long-lost half-sister—wasn’t a thrill.

Sure, there were lots of turns and twists as characters tried to learn more about this half-sister and the family she supposedly belonged to, but the resolution wasn’t really satisfying. And it didn’t end up being that stunning. I think I’m becoming harder to please.

The Perfect Nanny by Leila Silmani • ★★☆☆☆

When I rented this from the library, I was really hoping for a twisty, domestic thriller.

But it just wasn’t. To me, there wasn’t much exciting here. A family hires a nanny and they are thrilled with her work. After a while, the polish wears off. This just didn’t seem new to me.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite • ★★★★★

This is an incredibly quick read at just 226 pages, but Braithwaite made the most of every word.

This book was thrilling, funny and left me thinking for days. What if my sister was a serial killer? Would I still love her like Korende loves Ayoolya?

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray • ★★★★☆

It became a bit of a summer tradition to pick up a bit of historical fiction like this each summer. It all started with a handful of Fiona Davis books and it grew from there.

The Personal Librarian definitely fits in this category for me and was such a good read. This book is a factionalized version of the life of Belle da Costa Greene, librarian to JP Morgan.

Belle is a fascinating character in this novel and IRL. In order to make her way in society, she suppressed her Black identity and passed as white. This helped her become a librarian at Princeton and then later for Morgan. She was intelligent, outspoken and intuitive. And this novel does a great job following her story.

The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey • ★★★☆☆

I had this book on my list for a while and really wanted to savor it. I mean the premise was great: A museum director moves her taxidermy to a great estate during WWII to protect the collection. Once there, pieces start moving and eerie stuff begins to happen.

Fantastic, right? The summary gave me The Silent Companions vibes (and I loved that book). The first two-thirds were satisfying but things took a less spooky turn toward the end. And it sort of felt lame and unexpected. But the build-up was good. It’s a B-.

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith • ★★★☆☆

I’ll say it, this description from Chirp grabbed me: “As curator Ellie prepares for an exhibition, she’s horrified to learn that the paths of a famous Dutch painting and its forgery — which she herself created — are set to converge.”

Ooh! Like what a scandal! The book was not as scandal-focused as I anticipated, but a good listen nonetheless.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // June 2021

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This month, I made it a priority to improve the quality of my reading. First, I went to renew my library card. That means more ebooks and audiobooks for me (provided I get myself on the waitlist ASAP). Second, I bought myself a salt lamp (just like ten years after the trend). I was reading with one when staying at my parents’ house and it made reading super soothing. So with these two things at the ready, I’m ready to share what I read this June.

The Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham • ★★☆☆☆

I am a sucker for any story about dressmakers, seamstresses, textile artists and the like. If the protagonist wields a needle, I am in.

But I just could not get into this book. I will admit that the ending was very satisfying (aren’t all revenge plots?), but getting there felt long and tedious.

Meet Me at the Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan • ★★☆☆☆

After reading The Bookshop on the Corner last month, I felt compelled to give another Jenny Colgan book a try. The bookshop book was sweet, easy to listen to and was the perfect amount of fluff.

Meet Me at the Cupcake Café was perhaps just a little too fluffy for me, though. I didn’t find myself liking the characters very much. I found them to be a little flat and pretty dull. If you’re really into British books about small bakeries, by all means, go for it. But I won’t be picking up any more books in this series.

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten • ★★★☆☆

Oooh I love a good scary book. I find I read them the fastest and it does feel good to sit at home and read all day.

Right away this book intrigued me when I saw it on some “Coming Soon” lists. A filmmaker travels to a rural Swedish town that was suddenly abandoned 50 years prior. No one knows exactly what happened and how the population disappeared overnight. He goal is to get to the bottom of the story, starting with letters here grandmother—a former resident—wrote around the time of the town’s collapse.

However, once the filmmaker and her crew get to the town, eerie stuff starts to happen, and soon what occurred becomes scarier than anyone thought.

It was a decent read, but I did have a few issues with some portrayals of mental health here. But I read it and if someone said they liked things like The Blair Witch Project, I’d suggest this to them.

One by One by Ruth Ware • ★★★★☆

I love a good Ruth Ware book. In a Dark, Dark Wood remains one of my favorite thrillers, and I have to say that One by One competes with it.

The gist here: A small tech company goes on a corporate retreat in the Alps. It’s all very fancy and they plan to ski the week away. Right away, it’s obvious that not everyone gets along. Then an avalanche comes and changes everything.

I really enjoyed this. I stayed up late on work nights just to get some extra pages in—a maker of a satisfying read.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris • ★★★★★

I have been waiting for this book to come out for a while now and I absolutely devoured it. Pitched as a mix of Get Out and The Stepford Wives, I was obviously sold on the synopsis alone.

I really don’t want to give much away here, but I’ll give you the setup. Nella works as an editorial assistant in a prestigious New York publishing house. By and large, she feels her perspective as a Black woman is overlooked. She works hard, she tries to get the company to prioritize diversity. When the company hires Hazel, another Black editorial assistant, she’s excited for how the company might just start to change for the better. But soon Nella is left behind as Hazel climbs the ladder.

I won’t give more away. I can truly say I didn’t foresee how this book was going to go. It kept my attention until the very last page.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // May 2021

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Five books in a month is pretty good! It’s outdoor reading season so that always helps me turn a few extra pages.

Better Luck Next Time by Julia Claiborne Johnson • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Better Luck Next Time introduced me to the concept of “divorce ranches.” These locales were essentially resorts where women in the ’30s-’70s would relax, gain residency in Nevada and bid their time until their divorces were finalized. I’d never heard of this before and was fascinated by the idea.

And Better Luck Next Time painted a really interesting, entertaining and compassionate picture of the women who temporarily called these places home and the men who worked these ranches—though in this case they were fictional.

Definitely pick this one up this summer. It was a solid four-star book, bordering on five.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After reading the first two books in this series, I was really excited to finish with Act Your Age, Eve Brown. After all, this was the title that initially attracted me to these books. With a plotline about a girl taking over the kitchen of a quaint B&B, how could I resist?

But I didn’t enjoy the last installment as much as the other Brown Sisters books. I just never came around to the characters in this one. I found the other sisters (Chloe and Dani) much more interesting than Eve. That being said, if you’ve read the others in the series, don’t stop short. It was still light, fluffy and enjoyable.

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reading a book set in the arctic in the middle of May when it’s 70º outside? Yep, I did it.

The gist here: Virginia Reeve and a team of women are hired by a wealthy woman to search for the members of a lost arctic expedition. This expedition (Franklin’s Lost Expedition) was a real thing—which I did not know going into this book. All along the way, the women have to deal with difficult personalities and even more difficult terrain.

So I learned something with this book and I got to try a new type of historical fiction. It was good (but not a standout).

Still Lives by Maria Hummel • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am a sucker for things that are labeled as Target Club Picks or Reese’s Book Club selections. These books are reliably satisfying. Need proof? Here are a few that I’ve read and really enjoyed: The Woman in the Window, The Sanatorium and The Guest List.

This was a satisfying read (though not the best thriller I’ve picked up in the past year). The night of her opening, artist Kim Lord goes missing. At first, gallerists think this may be a stunt to promote the show (a show depicts famous murders), but as time goes on, things become less clear.

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been reading a lot of lighter fare recently, including this fluffy read from Jenny Colgan. It was sweet: A girl laid off from her job as a librarian moves to Scotland and opens up a mobile bookstore (so not a bookshop on the corner, despite what the title may indicate). She makes friends, learns to love her new home and finds her purpose in life.

Could I see the ending a mile away? Sure. But it was a nice easy-breezy listen.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // April 2021

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April was a good month for reading. I started a new series (I never read series) and even read a five-star book. I don’t give out five-star reviews regularly, so when I do, you know I mean it.

And I suppose this begs the question what makes a five-star book? So glad you asked! A five-star book (that’s a perfect Goodreads score FYI) is one that’s really well done for its genre. It’s also one that I think about for a good while after finishing it.

The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers, pick this book up. The Girl Before trades off between Emma and Jane, two women that rented a smart home at different times. Both women moved into the house after undergoing trauma and both seem to have a lot in common.

It was a speedy book that I got through in less than a week. And while I did find it compelling and wanted to find out what happened, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. I’d say there are a lot of triggers here, so please tread carefully.

This being said, you might like The Girl Before if you enjoy books by B.A. Paris.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Before last year, I never really read a lot of rom-com-ish books. But after picking up The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living last year, I found these reads (and listens) really satisfying, especially during stressful times. I mean, I love a good thriller, but sometimes you want something to soothe and uplift instead of terrify.

Anyways, Hibbert’s title Act Your Age, Eve Brown was what initially attracted me to the series. However, since Eve’s story is part three of three, I figured I’d start at the beginning with Chloe.

Chloe is the oldest of the Brown sisters and is not looking for love. Of course, though, she meets a handsome but slightly aggravating neighbor. This read was quick, breezy and cute.

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So quick, breezy and cute, in fact, that I instantly downloaded the second book in this three-part series.

Dani is the middle Brown sister and is also not looking for love. She’s a Ph.D student who is serious about achieving her goals but not serious about relationships. By some fluke, she and a coworker attract a lot of positive social media attention and are labeled as #couplegoals. The two stick together to take advantage of the fame all the while trying not to catch feels.

It’s cute. And yes, I do have the third book already downloaded.

The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox • ⭐️⭐️

What can I say? The idea of Hester Fox novels always seems better than the books themselves. Just like The Witch of Willow Hall, I found this book to be slow-moving and disappointing.

A minister moves to a small town in Maine (promising!) and finds that pretty much everyone in the town hates the widow who lives on the outskirts of town (cliche but I’m interested). And some spooky things start happening. But they never seemed that spooky. And they all seem contrived. Ooh the murderer is taking tips from Poe!

The characters were so bland! And it wasn’t spine-tingling. Maybe it’s time I take the other Hester Fox books off my to-be-read list.

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For me, a book is worthy of five stars if I can’t stop thinking about it after I’ve read it. That, to me, is the marker of a really well written, thoughtful book.

And that’s exactly what Yellow Wife was. This work of historical fiction is loosely based on the life of Mary Lumpkin, an enslaved woman who spent much of her life as the mistress of the jailer of Richmond Jail in Virginia.

In this book, Pheby Dolores Brown is born into slavery but with the promise of being educated and freed when she turns 18. Unfortunately (but predictably), this promise isn’t kept by the owners of the plantation where she lives. Instead, she is transferred to a jail in Richmond where enslaved people are punished and traded. There the jailer takes her as his favorite mistress or yellow wife. There she settles into an uncomfortable routine but manages to develop some warm relationships.

Yellow Wife is a challenging read because it doesn’t shy away from the heartbreaking and unsettling history of slavery. But it’s also a fantastic read because it’s wonderfully written and portrays Pheby’s really difficult story with compassion and understanding.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // March 2021

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March was a good month for reading. I feel like I got in a pretty good variety this month too (at least for me).

Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Almost every winter I pick up a book like this one. I’m perpetually drawn to historical fiction set in Russia—particularly around the revolution.

This book was slow to start—a tale about a former Bolshoi ballerina auctioning off her collection of jewels—but gained speed about halfway through. I know that seems like a bit of a wait to really get into a book, but the payoff was beautiful.

If you enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow or The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers, you’ll like this book.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book came highly recommended by several friends, and it deserved every bit of the hype.

Red, White & Royal Blue was the perfect escapist book to read during the dullest months of the year. I think it might have hit even harder if I read it pre-2021, but it was still an absolute delight. Do I want to provide you with more details? Nope. I think this rom-com can stand on its own.

We Can Only Save Ourselves by Alison Wisdom • ⭐️⭐️

I don’t know about this one. I was tempted by We Can Only Save Ourselves after seeing a review on Bustle. A novel about a high-achieving high schooler that leaves her perfect life to follow a charming man and his house of followers. I mean, I love a good cult story (Wild, Wild Country anyone?).

But the book was disappointing. While I understand that, sure, a perfect student might want to rebel and leave her life behind, her motivations were incredibly vague. And the cult leader’s point of view was nonexistent. It just felt sort of toothless. Meh is my final review.

Bunny by Mona Awad • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Where on earth do I begin? I have never ever read anything like Bunny. Nevertheless, I couldn’t put it down.

This story of intense female friendship gone totally awry had me reading into the wee hours and regularly thinking WTF. It was funny, creepy and inexplicable.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I waffled between three and four stars on this book but opted for the higher score because overall it was an enjoyable read.

This book is structured the way a lot of historical fiction seems to be now: with a dual timeline. Overall, I found the story about Nella and Eliza working in the apothecary in the 1790s more compelling (I mean, who am I to resist a story about a female apothecary that sells tinctures exclusively for the benefit of women and demise of evil men?), but the half of the story in the present day wasn’t too bad.

If you liked The Taxidermists’ Daughter, I think you’ll like this.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // February 2021

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Only a few books to report on this month, but I’ve got a few in the works right now that I’m really enjoying. Stay tuned!

The Lost History of Dreams by Kris Waldherr • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one-sentence synopsis was all I read before diving into this book: “A post-mortem photographer unearths dark secrets of the past that may hold the key to his future, in this captivating debut novel in the gothic tradition of Wuthering Heights and The Thirteenth Tale.”

Sounds good right?

The book was fine. Not enough photography for my taste! And I spent a lot of time asking myself, wait, why should I care about this?

The Deep by Alma Katsu • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OK, I think this book deserves exactly 3.5 stars—and that’s the general consensus on Goodreads as well.

The Deep is a satisfying retelling of the sinking of the Titanic. Can my ’90s kid brain ever get enough of it? It seems not!

But what I liked about this version was that it wasn’t just a straightforward fictional retelling focusing on the richest passengers (though, they do make appearances). Instead, The Deep follows a stewardess on the Titanic and the strange, occasionally spooky occurrences that seem to follow her on the ship (and later in life too).

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This February we got so much damn snow in Milwaukee. SO MUCH. So listening to this book about guests snowed in at a hotel in the Alps was a great match atmospherically.

I’ll tee you up and let you read the rest: An on-leave detective and her boyfriend takes a trip to visit her brother and his fiancée for an engagement party at this fancy new hotel. The luxury hotel once was a tuberculosis sanatorium, which gives it sort of an unsettling feel. And then there’s a murder. And then everyone gets snowed in. I don’t want to tell you any more!

I’ll say this: If you enjoyed The Hunting Party, you’ll really like The Sanatorium.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // January 2021

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In 2020 I read and listened to a whopping 50 books. That’s more than I read in 2018 and 2019 combined.

This year, I’m hoping to tackle a solid 40, though my stretch goal (ugh, who am I?) is 50. I’m off to a good start with five books in January.

The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sometimes you just need a halfway decent domestic thriller to listen to while you walk around the neighborhood or do some crossword puzzles.

The Nanny, a story about a woman who suddenly reconnects with her former nanny in adulthood, is exactly that. It was intriguing and fun to listen to. Maybe it deserved four stars? Let’s go with 3.5.

When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hands down, When No One Is Watching was my favorite read of the month.

Initially, I put off reading this book because I thought I knew what the plot was and had been disappointed by books like that in the past (ahem Lock Every Door by Riley Sager). But whatever you think the plot will be, it’s not that.

I won’t give a speck of it away because it’s such a good read.

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read The Broken Girls by this author a few years back and loved it. I’d definitely consider The Sun Down Motel to be in the same vein as that novel. This is a solid modern ghost story.

I recommend it for an afternoon in (and aren’t all afternoons in these days?).

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of my first listens of the pandemic era was The Little Strangers, another novel by Sarah Waters. Now, almost a year on, it seemed right to read one more of her books.

This novel, about a common thief trained to act as a lady’s maid, definitely kept me listening. And there were lots of little twists in here that I enjoyed. Overall, though, it wasn’t my favorite read of the month. Maybe if I read it at another time, I’d give it four stars.

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This new release is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre. I’ll admit that I’ve never read the book, but I have seen the movie and I loved the concept. So, of course, I had to grab this 2021 version.

It did not disappoint. It was a nice domestic thriller that had me reading whenever I had a spare moment.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // November + December 2020

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I slowed down on my reading in the fall but made up for it in the final month of 2020. I read (and listened to) 50 books this year!

The Ancestor by Danielle Trussoni • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s nothing I like better than this setup: A normal woman living her life finds out that she’s the heir to some great fortune or manor home or legacy. I am a sucker for this! Which I why I picked up The Ancestor.

It was not your standard gothic tale or ghost story, and that was kind of refreshing. Parts were a little silly to me, but I was definitely along for the ride here.

The Alibi Girl by C.J. Skuse • ⭐️⭐️

A disappointing read. I found the protagonist to be weird, whiny and too childlike (even though she was supposed to be relatively naive). It was just blah.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones • ⭐️⭐️

I started this book mid-October thinking it would be a nice read for the spookiest time of year. It took me until nearly the end of November to finish. I just could not get into it. I felt like I didn’t know the key characters very well, I was confused constantly and just couldn’t settle into the plot.

After Me Comes the Flood by Sarah Perry • ⭐️⭐️

I bought this audiobook on a lark because a) it was on sale and b) it was described as “gothic.”

The idea here was really intriguing. A man has car trouble, goes up to a home for help and is greeted like the people were expecting him. And he stays. What an unsettling start!

But this book didn’t go anywhere. At the end, I was asking myself, so what was the point?

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OK, I loved this book. I downloaded this audiobook to listen to while cross-stitching some Christmas gifts and it was absolute perfection.

Did I know who would end up with who within the first ten minutes? Sure. But the ride there was really enjoyable and festive and not even that corny.

I won’t give a stitch of this one away because I want you to really enjoy it while you snuggle up with a blanket, a craft and a cup of hot chocolate.

Christmas in London by Anita Hughes • ⭐️⭐️

Inspired by The Twelve Dates of Christmas, I downloaded this audiobook. Readers, let me tell you: This one was downright implausible.

A random baker is plucked from obscurity based off one pan of cinnamon rolls, gets flown to London to star in a Christmas cooking special all without any TV experience? Oh, and she’s also the worst? As in “Oh I thought instead of going to that important rehearsal, I’d go sightseeing! I’ve never been to London! I’m adorable!” NO.

Also… as someone that works in food media, I can tell you that being a good baker does not make you a good on-camera personality. Also, all those Christmas shows are filmed in the summer—not on Christmas Day. COME ON.

One Day in December by Josie Silver • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OK, after one good cozy holiday read and one awful one, I hit my stride again. It took me a while to acclimate to this book (it was a little cheesy at first), but once I did, I really liked it.

It was a nice read to coast into the holiday season. Add it to your list for next year! That’s what I did—I downloaded the book in January 2019 and just held onto it for a good while.

The Haunting of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was my last read of 2020—my 50th book! I’m a big fan of Wendy Webb. Her books are all set on the Great Lakes and are all spooky and cozy.

This wasn’t my favorite of hers (those would be her first four books), but it was still a nice read to curl up with as it snowed. Plus, the setting in this novel is based on Bayfield, Wisconsin, one of my favorite places. It was nice to take a trip there in this book.

As always, you can keep up with what I’m working on over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // October 2020

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October is my favorite month of the year, so I wanted to soak up all the scary spooky vibes that I could. I had some good picks this month (and I’m working on a few more still!).

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a pretty short book, and a quick read like this was the perfect way to kick off spooky season. Even if you’ve seen the movie, I highly recommend picking this one up.

I sped through The Woman in Black in about three days and really enjoyed it. It had all the elements of scary stories I love: a dilapidated old mansion, a specter, a curse. Just go read it quick!

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started The Wonder a few years back but just had a hard time with the protagonist—she was unlikeable! But I rented the audiobook from the library and really settled into this story.

It was gloomy, atmospheric and mysterious which made for a great early October listen.

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I love a good scary movie or show, it’s not too often that I read horror books. But this month I really wanted to dive into some spine-tingling reads.

The gist here is that a family moves into a new apartment next to a cemetery. It’s the perfect location for the family and they become friends with their neighbors. As great as this all seems, there’s something spooky going on there. Soon, tenants start moving out one by one until this family is living in this giant complex all alone.

The Graveyard Apartment really came through for me. In fact, after I finished this book, I had to take a break from scary stuff for a few days. That’s a hallmark of a good scary read!

The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland • ⭐️⭐️

The first chapter of this book was really intriguing. A woman comes home to find a little boy in her kitchen calling her “mum” like it ain’t no thing.

But the rest was pretty blah and I found the protagonist to be unlikable. Skip it.

Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends by Anna Lardinois • 👻👻👻👻

Let me say first that I am a huge fan of Anna Lardinois. She operates Gothic Milwaukee, the best spooky tour company around. I’ve gone on her ghost tours, spooky boat tour and have had the pleasure to run into her around town. She’s charming, smart and so fun to talk to.

Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends is just the sort of book you want to pick up this time of year. It’s full of short spooky stories from the Milwaukee area—some well known, some lesser-known.

I’ve read parts of this book before, but this October I read stories each night before bed and it was such a nice treat to settle in with a little local lore.

As always, you can keep up with what I’m working on over on Goodreads!

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What I Read // September 2020

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I’ll be real here: I spent all of September trying not to go overboard on scary stories so I had something to look forward to for the spookiest month of the year. Here’s what I read and listened to this month:

Vintage by Susan Gloss • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Once in a while, a fluff book is nice. Vintage was definitely pure fluff and an easy listen. Did I see the end coming from the very start? Yes. Did I still listen? Also yes.

The book, about a vintage shop owner, is set in Madison, Wisconsin, and the author would not let you forget it. For someone that lived in Madison once upon a time, this was sort of heartwarming (hearing Pinkus McBride given a shoutout was sweet), but it was overkill. I felt like I was being hit over the head with charming details about a city that loves to remind you how charming it is.

The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James • ⭐️⭐️

This Gothic-ish book was really promising in theory, but wasn’t super satisfying.

I’d elaborate, but I don’t need to spend any more time on this book. Next!

The Girl with the Golden Scissors by Julia Drosten • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love a good bit of historical fiction, especially if it includes any of the following: is set in Europe, involves a hobby I enjoy or is about an independent lady.

The Girl with the Golden Scissors had all three and it was a good read. It’s a story about an orphan moving up in the world, first as a student, then as a maid and then as a seamstress and entrepreneur. I love that sort of arc. I didn’t love how part of the book ended up set during World War I (I just don’t love wartime fiction), but still enjoyed this read.

The Perfect Couple by Lisa Hall • ⭐️⭐️

This book was fine. After reading a lot of historical fiction (some of which I’m still working on), I wanted a domestic thriller without a lot of Gothic trimmings.

The Perfect Couple fit that just fine. I waffle between two and three stars because the characters were so annoying, but I also was compelled to keep listening. Honestly, this is what I’d consider a good airport read. Nothing more or less.

The Last Mrs. Parrish • ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another suspenseful domestic story. The Last Mrs. Parrish is definitely a beach read (or listen in my case).

I was poised to give this book a lower rating until halfway through the book shifted perspectives from one woman to another. It switched up the whole novel, not necessarily in an unexpected way but satisfying. This reminded me of a B.A. Paris novel, but a bit more plausible.

Save this one for when you finally get to go on vacation again. You’ll like it.

As always, you can keep up with what I’m working on over on Goodreads!