Lia's List

Hello! My name is Lia. I'm in my early 30s, an English teacher, and I live in Montana with my husband and son. I just got back into reading after pregnancy and post partum temporarily wiped out my energy.

I just joined LT in the fall to try to find the name of a book I read in jr high and I've enjoyed hearing about what everyone is reading, recommending books to others, and trying to help others find long lost titles.

I mostly read mysteries for fun and YA lit for work but I like to vary up my genres when the mood strikes.

When I'm not reading or teaching I like traveling, cooking, riding bicycles, cross country skiing, knitting, and watching hockey.

I'm so excited to track my reading this year for the first time.

January:
- Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo - interesting and very original but a bit slow for me at times
- The Anatomy of Dreams by Chloe Benjamin - thoughtfully written with a bit of a long exposition
- The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak - quite a few names to remember but an entertaining spy novel for sure
- I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid - I understand why this book has mixed reviews but I LOVED the strangeness of it
- The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King - took me a minute to get into but I ended up really liking it, though it's different than his other works I've read
-The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - the first 2/3 were a very fun whodunnit (though with some heavy-handed characterization) while the last 1/3 was satisfying but not exactly shocking. Still a fun read.
- The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda - I loved this one. While the narrator wasn't super relatable to me, the description of a small town on the edge of civilization really came alive.
- The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin - great book for fans of YA historical fiction. Love that they coauthored this, it really made the two perspectives stand out
- Final Girls by Riley Sager - I have mixed feelings about this one, especially because I really liked Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix (which maybe isn't a fair comparison because their styles are so different). It doesn't maintain focus on the slasher theme as well as I'd hoped and the tension falters in the middle. It was fine but not as polished as his more recent novels.
- Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix - It was funny, revolting, scary, and original. Classic Grady Hendrix and I absolutely loved it.

Welcome, Lia!

Enjoy your 2025 reading!

Welcome to the group Lia. I am sure that you will find us a friendly bunch.

Thank you!! I'm excited to be here and to see everyone's reading progress.

My favorite books from January are:
- best setting: The Last to Vanish
- most thought-provoking: I'm Thinking of Ending Things
- overall favorite: Horrorstör

My goal for February is to chip away at my TBR pile. Wish me luck.

February:
- The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine - I have mixed feelings about this one. It was a fun and fast-paced read but by the end of it the characters were more like caricatures than people. It also threw around some heavy topics in a way that felt a little too cavalier.
- Camp So-and-So by Mary McCoy - I liked the beginning a lot but towards the middle the fantasy element was too much for me. It's the first book I haven't finished so far this year, and maybe I will go back to it at some point, but it just didn't keep my focus right now.
- The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - It was predictable but I didn't care. It was sweet and nice. And sometimes I just want to read happy books. The characters were great too.
- The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang - steamier then I was expecting but the characters were great and even the side characters felt fully developed.
- The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda - a pleasant beach read with some good twists at the end but her last one I read is still my favorite of hers
- Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid - I love Reid's character-driven style. This one was pretty different from Malibu, Daisy Jones, and Evelyn Hugo, but it was nice to see the titular character get more fleshed out after she wasn't exactly a sympathetic character in Malibu Rising.
- We Shall be Monsters by Alyssa Wees - I went back and forth on whether or not I liked this book the whole time I read it. The descriptions were beautifully written and it was a great exploration of mother-daughter relationships. However, the characterizations were pretty simplistic and the suspension of disbelief was a bit too intense for me. Then again, I'm not a big fantasy reader and I probably expected it to be more like Into the Heartless Wood based on the description on the back.
- The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda - I tore through this one. And although I saw a few of the twists coming, I definitely didn't anticipate others. Very fun read.
- Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz - I listened to this one, as is my preference with nonfiction, and it was read by the author, which I always appreciate. Simply fascinating, even as someone who never watched One Tree Hill.

>7 bustellogirl: Good luck reading, Lia. Quite a list, in January!

>9 EllaTim: Thank you! This bitter cold makes me just want to read and drink tea.

My favorite books from February are:
-best romance: The Love Hypothesis
-best thriller: The Perfect Stranger
-overall favorite: Dinner for Vampires

My goal for March is to read more nonfiction

March:
- Verity by Colleen Hoover - this is the first of her books I've read and, as a mom, some parts were hard to read. Overall, I liked the idea of mixing romance and thriller, but the end felt choppy and the characters weren't very likeable (which is fine but I'm not sure it was intentional)
- Writing with Power by Peter Elbow - this has a lot of good advice but it's quite a bit of theory and could use more practicality, like something I would've read in college
- First Time Caller by BK Borison - I needed something nice after Verity and this was just that. I can't help but think Borison needs a better editor though. The characters were inconsistent at times and there was a pretty obviously inconsistency at one point. Still a nice read.
- The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin - so, SO good. Unpredictable (partially because it's true) and although a few parts at the beginning made it hard for this mama to keep reading, I'm glad I powered through
- Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey - this is the second book this year I didn't finish. I wanted to like it but I gave it 100 pages and couldn't get into it. Great descriptions of Alaska though.
- Night Swim by Megan Goldin - I tore through this one. It was rough subject matter but well written with tension throughout.
- Dark Corners by Megan Goldin - this is a semi-sequel to Night Swim and I enjoyed it but not as much as the first
- Phantasma by Kaylie Smith - while at times predictable, I enjoyed this one. I had put off reading it because of the gore warnings but as a reader of Grady Hendrix, I didn't think it was that gorey.
- Mile High by Liz Tomforde - very sweet romance. Not super realistic (most characters were emotionally intelligent and communicative) but it was nice.
- The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - I almost didn't finish this one when I realized it was almost exactly like The Last Mrs Parrish but I'm glad I did because the ending of this one was better
- Icebreaker by Hannah Grace - so good! I loved how developed the side characters were and how everyone had their own struggles and growth
-How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix - I was so disappointed by this one. I usually live Grady Hendrix but this one started slow and I only made it about halfway through before giving up. If you're afraid of / intrigued by haunted puppets and/or dolls, this will scare the crap out of you. But, fortunately or unfortunately, I'm not and I didn't.
- Offside by Avery Keelan - the characters were very endearing but it was about 200 pages too long (out of almost 600). Cute but needed some editing.
- Survive the Night by Riley Sager - I've read several of Sager's books but I think this one is my favorite. It had the captivity of Misery + the hallucinations of The Shining + the timeline of I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Fantastic.
- The Never King - Nikki St Crowe - I asked a local bookstore owner for a recommendation for a book similar to Phantasma and she recommended this. It was bananas. I really liked parts of it (deceitful fey, dark rendition of a classic) but the graphic sex scenes were jarring to say the least. I finished it because it was so short but I really wish it had more character development.
- Scattered Minds - Gabor Maté - I don't remember who told me about this book but I need to find them and hug them. It was the most thorough analysis of ADHD I've read and had so much practical information for people with ADHD as well as their teachers and families. I know that it got some criticism for relying on the author's personal story but I felt that it added some humility and personalization to the subject matter. My husband has really aggressive ADHD and this really helped me understand him more.

>12 bustellogirl: It is funny, Lia, I have seen some readers absolutely lauding Ivey's book as one of the best reads ever and then several of my pals, like you, were thoroughly underwhelmed.

>13 PaulCranswick: I honestly think it's a matter of personal preference. Her word choice and imagery are beautiful. I just couldn't get into the plot or characters. I think if I were into that flavor of fantasy it would be a page-turner. Her writing is not bad by any means; it's just not a flavor of fantasy that I personally enjoy.

>14 bustellogirl: Yes, Lia, and fantasy is not my go to genre although I like it more than "hard sci-fi". I prefer plot over pondering mostly so she probably wouldn't be for me.

>15 PaulCranswick: Same. I think the mark of a favorite genre for me is one that even if the book isn't that great, I still enjoy reading it. I'm super picky with fantasy because it's not my favorite. And yeah, I need things to happen.

>16 bustellogirl: For me, I guess I am still in my childhood sometimes and I like a book to tell me a story.

My favorite books from March are:
Favorite nonfiction - The Many Lives of Mama Love
Favorite thriller - Survive the Night
Favorite romance - Icebreaker

Overall favorite - Phantasma

My goal for April is to read more books recommended by friends

Hi Lia -- I found you!! Starred now and I'll try to keep up. : )

>18 bustellogirl: "My goal for April is to read more books recommended by friends." Careful what you wish for. LT can be a dangerous place with book bullets (BBs) flying everywhere!! LOL. Happy reading.

>19 Berly: haha! There is worse shrapnel. Thanks!

April:
- Butcher & Blackbird - Brynner Weaver - sort of like spicy Dexter. I loved the multiple perspectives and the chemistry between the main characters. Parts were gorey and sort of gross so not for the faint of heart but it was an entertaining read.
- The Invisible World - Nora Fussner - great premise but the ever-shifting perspectives slowed the pace down. While it did have plenty of thoughtful moments and unique characters, I was hoping for more scary/creepy material.
- Love on the Brain - Ali Hazelwood - predictable? In places. But also funny and cute and thoughtful and full of fun facts, wonderful characters, and digs at standardized testing. Sooo good!
- The Write Thing - Kwame Alexander - so many great lessons and ideas about teaching poetry in here! And, best of all, lots of suggestions for poems that students can actually understand and mimic, often separated by grade level.
- Middletide - Sarah Crouch - definitely more of a mystery than a thriller because grief was explored a lot and it was rather morose in several chapters. However, it was beautifully written and generally a solid book.
- Enchantra - Kaylie Smith - I loved this one, possibly more than the first but I haven't decided yet. I hope she adds another book to this series!
- Thistlefoot - GennaRose Nethercott - very original and metaphorical. Took me a while to finish, but strong message
- Lights Out - Navessa Allen - such a fun rom-com. I hesitated to read it at first because of the TWs but I ended up really liking the mix of romance, comedy, and thriller elements.
- Wildfire - Hannah Grace - not as much tension as the first but it was sweet and the summer camp setting was fun.
- Leather & Lark - Brynner Weaver - definitely tamer than the first one but it was a fun read.
- Under One Roof - Ali Hazelwood - cute but definitely not as good as her others I've read due to the limited setting and disjointed ending.
- Pumpkin Spice Cafe - Laurie Gilmore - basically a Hallmark movie but funnier. It was an easy, predictable, cozy read for sure.
- The Deal - Ellen Kennedy - cute, quick read but with some heavy-handed conflict at the end
- Behind the Net - Stephanie Archer - it was fine, just predictable and not a lot of conflict in the second half of the book
- The Anxious Generation - Jonathon Haidt - SO good! A must read for parents and school employees
- Hexed - Emily McIntire - super fun, definitely a series I'll read more of

>21 bustellogirl: I enjoyed Butcher & Blackbird and read the second book Leather & Lark also, although I haven't made it to the third yet.

>22 elorin: I just ordered the 2nd and 3rd! Did you enjoy the 2nd?

>23 bustellogirl: I liked Butcher & Blackbird more, but I definitely enjoyed Leather & Lark also.

>24 elorin: I just finished Leather & Lark. I feel like less happened than in B & B. I still liked it, too, though.

>25 bustellogirl: I just bought Scythe & Sparrow.

>26 elorin: I just finished it. I'll be curious to hear what you think.

My favorites from April are:

Favorite fiction book: Lights Out
Favorite nonfiction book: The Anxious Generation

My goal for May is to continue chipping away at my ever-growing TBR pile

May:
- Not in Love - Ali Hazelwood - the preface is accurate in that it's less of a comedy than her other books but I really enjoyed the depth of the characters
- The Nanny - Lana Ferguson - super fun read, even if it did have the typical 3rd act break up
- A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas - great description but the action stalled in the middle. I did enjoy it but it wasn't what I expected
- Circe - Madeline Miller - this has been in my TBR pile for a while. It was beautifully written but rather dense. I definitely had to pay attention to each page, which is hard for me at this point in the school year.
- The Mistake - Ellen Kennedy - I actually think this was better written than the first one, though some loose ends weren't tied up as nicely as I would've liked
- The Score - Ellen Kennedy - the first 80% of this book was so good and quite funny. The last 20% took a more serious turn but the ending was nice.
- All's Well - Mona Awad - total fever dream. I'm still processing whether I liked it but it was definitely entertaining
- Gild - Raven Kennedy - not at all what I expected but such a good fantasy novel
- Daydream - Hannah Grace - almost didn't finish this one, definitely my least favorite of the trilogy. It just drug on, especially towards the end, and the characters didn't seem believable
- Glint - Raven Kennedy - so good. Much better than the first. I'm really into this series now.
- Gleam - Raven Kennedy - I can't say I liked it better than the second one but there were some definite highlights. Great world building and characters throughout.
- Love, Theoretically - Ali Hazelwood - this was so good! Very sweet and real. Every bit as good as The Love Hypothesis.
- Mr. Heartbreaker - Piper Rayne - a quick, lighthearted read. Not the best writing I've read but not the worst. Some characters could've had more depth.
-The Goal - Ellen Kennedy - this one started strong but lagged in the middle. I almost didn't finish it but the ending was good so I'm glad I did
- Glow - Raven Kennedy - the first half of this book was so slow I almost gave up on the series. But the second half was so good I'm glad I stuck it out.
- Mr. Broody - Piper Rayne - fun and touching, a good follow-up
-Mr. Swoony - Piper Rayne - loved the dovetail with the last one. A quick read
- Gold - Raven Kennedy - I'm all for multiple perspectives but there were so many in this one that the first 60% or so had some serious pacing issues. The last part was really good, I just wish the first but was paced better.
-Goldfinch - Raven Kennedy - I think this is the first time I've ever read all of the books in a 6-part series but I'm so glad I did. This was probably my favorite of the sextet.
- Mr. Charming - Piper Rayne - super cute; a good final addition to the series.
- Crossed - Emily McIntyre - I read half of this one and couldn't finish it. I'm all for morally grey love interests, but I just felt bad for the FMC and was not rooting for the MMC at all.
- Deep End - Ali Hazelwood - definitely different than her other books in that it was less funny and more spicy but still a fun read.

>27 bustellogirl: I just finished Scythe and Sparrow. It was so different from B&B, and L&L. The long lead up to the physical interaction almost lost me, but I hung in there and I think it was worth the wait. Not the hottest piece of smut I've ever read, but it had its sexy moments and it was definitely romantic.

>30 elorin: I'm with you on the level of smut. I expected more physicality earlier on for sure. I agree that it was romantic but the pacing almost lost me too. Especially when they drift apart later on. It seemed less urgent than the relationships in the other two. I am glad I read it and it was at least fun and romantic.

My favorite reads from May were definitely the Plated Prisoner series, specifically the 6th, 1st, and 2nd books, in that order.

My goal for June is to finish more series

June:
- Scarred - Emily McIntyre - While not a retelling like the other books in the series, this was a very fun read.
- Wretched - Emily McIntyre - This is probably my favorite of the series so far.
- Hooked - Emily McIntyre - I put off reading this one after The Never King threw me for a loop, but I did like it. All over the place and a bit Jerry Springer at the end but nothing if not entertaining.
- Consider Me - Becka Mack - one of the better hockey romances I've read in a while
- Play With Me - Becka Mack - I think I liked this one better than the first
- Unravel Me - Becka Mack - definitely more somber than the first two but a very happy ending
- Truly Madly Deeply - LJ Shen - this came up as a suggestion on KU and it was so fun! Less predictable than I expected.
- Beneath the Stars - Emily McIntyre - such a beautiful story spanning decades
- Beneath the Stands - Emily McIntyre - I'm so glad these two MCs got their own book
- Wildest Dreams - LJ Shen - every bit as good as the first
- The Dark One - Nikki St Crowe - I read this in an attempt to finish the many series I've started this year, and I'm glad I did. I liked it better than the first one and have honestly made peace with the strangeness.
- A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J. Maas - while this was undoubtedly better than the first, it was still too long. The ending, like the first, was good though
- Their Vicious Darling - Nikki St Crowe - the most exciting book in this series so far
- The Fae Princes - Nikki St Crowe - I'm glad I came back to this series, despite how odd the first one was. I look forward to the second set.
- Devourer of Men - Nikki St Crowe - now that I am used to St Crowe's writing style I am really enjoying the no nonsense of it all
- Devour the Dark - Nikki St Crowe - I tore through this one.
- Beneath the Hood - Emily McIntyre - this one could've used more twists but I like how the books in this series show each character's perspective on overlapping events
- Twisted - Emily McIntyre - finally finished this series. I put off this book because of the summary but I actually enjoyed it
- Beneath the Surface - Emily McIntyre - this is the story I've been waiting to read from this series and it did not disappoint

>33 bustellogirl: I don't think that I have ever read a hockey romance, Lia.

>29 bustellogirl: By the way doesn't that make 75 books at the end of May? Congratulations anyhow if my calculations are correct. xx

>35 PaulCranswick: I like them. As a hockey fan and romance fan, it's a natural crossover.

Thank you! I haven't really been keeping count. I've never logged my reading before so I'm excited to see how many I can read this year.

Do DNFs count towards one's total? Asking for a friend lol.

My favorite book from June was Beneath the Stars. My favorite series was the Never After series. Emily McIntyre all the way.

My goal for July is to finish the ACOTAR series so I can get back to some stand alone books.

July:
- A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J Maas - definitely the best one so far in that it was the most exciting.
- A Court of Frost and Starlight - Sarah J Maas - I heard this compared to a television series doing a Christmas episode. Very accurate.
- A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J Maas - I don't care what anyone says; this was by far the best in the series. It was the only one that didn't feel too long.
- Twisted Love - Ana Huang - I wanted to like this one but I got a little over halfway through and it just wasn't for me. Adding it to my DNF pile for the year.
- Faking with Benefits - Lily Gold - fun, quick read.
- Nanny for the Neighbors - Lily Gold - not as light as FWB but still entertaining
- Three Swedish Mountain Men - Lily Gold - definitely the silliest but so fun
- Triple Duty Bodyguards - Lily Gold - this one was my favorite because of the mystery elements
- Signs of Cupidity - Raven Kennedy - slower burn than I thought but love the premise and author
- Bonds of Cupidity - Raven Kennedy - loved it!
- Crimes of Cupidity - Raven Kennedy - probably my favorite so far
- For the Love of Cupidity - Raven Kennedy - not as good as the first 3 but a cute novella
- Sheer Cupidity - Raven Kennedy - this is the story I've been waiting for out of this series. Didn't disappoint
- April's Fools by Ivy Asher & Raven Kennedy - a fun and quick read with a strange ending
- Can't Fix Cupid - Raven Kennedy - this was so great, even if some of the dialogue was a little awkward. Great stand alone.

This month was the slowest reading-wise for me so far this year because we moved into a new house. (Whoever said moving across the country is easier than moving across town was absolutely right.)

My favorite thing I read this month was the Heart Hassle series, specifically Crimes of Cupidity and Can't Fix Cupid.

My goal for next month is to read more physical copies of books (these were all eBooks out of convenience).

August:
- King of Wrath - Ana Huang - Glad I have this author another chance
- King of Pride - Ana Huang - Solid addition to the series
- King of Greed - Ana Huang - more serious than the first two but perhaps more realistic too
- King of Sloth - Ana Huang - I really liked this addition to the series. Definitely a story I wanted to read about.
- Local Woman Missing - Mary Kubica - the first 3/4 was so good but hard to stomach at times. The ending was okay.
- King of Envy - Ana Huang - definitely more of an action genre than the others but entertaining for sure
- Dark and Darker Still - Nikki St Crowe - very different from the others in the series but I loved the story and hope she writes more in this universe
- Caught Up - Navessa Allen - not as shocking as the first but still super good. I can't wait for the 3rd installment in March

I cannot believe how quickly August went by -- and I only read 8 books! Of them, my favorite was Caught up for sure.

Next month I'm hoping to get back to double digits.

September:
- The One and Only Ivan - Katherine Applegate - I somehow never read this before now but it was so sweet -- I see why so many kids love it
- Pretty Rings & Broken Things - Kat Singleton - I didn't realize this was the 2nd in the series but I enjoyed it nonetheless
- Handsome Devil - LJ Shen - definitely different than the other two in the series but I did enjoy it. Not sure if I'll be reading the next one just because it sounds a little intense
- Next to Heaven - James Frey - not at all what I expected but entertaining, if a bit predictable at the end.
- These Silent Woods - Kimi Cunningham Grant - not what I expected; interesting but also sort of sad
- A Touch of Darkness - Scarlett St Clair - the characterization and description could be stronger but still a fun quick read
- A Touch of Ruin - Scarlett St Clair - I liked Hades' perspective so much more than Persephone's. I was afraid it would be too predictable but it absolutely wasn't.
- A Touch of Malice - Scarlett St Clair - definitely more sad than the first two but the side character development was better for sure

>41 bustellogirl: Yeah, all of sudden it’s September… I had a bit of a dry spell too.

>43 drneutron: glad it wasn't just me. Here's to a more productive fall!

September wasn't super productive but I'm getting there.

My favorite series this month has been Touch of Darkness.

My goal for October is to mix in some scary books.

October:
-Beach Cute - Beth Reekles - the idea of this was cute but I struggled to get through it because I wanted more to happen.
-Things We Never Got Over - Lucy Score - I loved this one! Not sure why I waited so long to read it.
-Things We Hide from the Light - Lucy Score - every bit as good as the first
-Things We Left Behind - Lucy Score - I absolutely loved this series, especially the mix of action, romance, and mystery
-The Dead Guy Next Door - Lucy Score - a fun, zany action rom-com. The ending was a little long but overall I liked it.
-We Used to Live Here - Marcus Kliewer - my first spooky book of the month and it was so good! A couple things were left unclear but I devoured this one in one sitting.
-With a Vengeance - Riley Sager - honestly I found this underwhelming. I usually love Sager's books but this one was more knock off Agatha Christie
-Lucky - Marissa Stapley - so fun! hard to read as a mom at times but worth it.
-The House at Watch Hill - Karen Marie Morning - I absolutely devoured this. I wish all 3 books were out!
-Be Still My Heart - Emily McIntire & Sav R. Miller - predictable but a good mix of thriller and romance
-Play Nice - Rachel Harrison - an interesting mix of horror and an exploration of grief. Good Halloween read.

>2 bustellogirl: I love The Woman In Cabin 10!

>12 bustellogirl: I haven't read The Housemaid, but I own it, would it be a good read?

>48 louisisaloafofbreb: Woman in Cabin 10 is so good! If you haven't read The Last Mrs. Parrish then absolutely. It's a little crazy but definitely a fun read.

>49 bustellogirl: I need to read The Death Of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware as well, I own it (my dad bought me it) and I never got around to reading it- but i'll check it out, I love crazy reads haha

>50 louisisaloafofbreb: ooh! I haven't read that one. Report back!

>51 bustellogirl: Will do! Once I start it

My favorite books from October were the Things We Never Got Over series and The House at Watch Hill.

My goal for November is to have another double digit month.

November:
-Hot for Slayer - Ali Hazelwood - more of a novella but very well written
-The Man Made of Smoke - Alex North - I love his books but this one was sadder than I expected
-What Lies in the Woods - Kate Alice Marshall - super quick read. A little predictable but not boring.
-I Need You to Read This - Jessa Maxwell - I picked this up because it was a staff pick and it was cute (kind of like Thursday Murder Club) but not my favorite
-Red City - Marie Liu - I tried to read this one but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe because of the academia aspect.
-The Quiet House - Kiersten White - the premise of this book sounded so good but I just think it was trying to do too much. Also it needed more action throughout.
-The Midnight Feast - Lucy Foley - I'm not sure if the middle had pacing issues or if I was reading it in too small of chunks. I loved how everything came together in the end though.
-The Paris Apartment - Lucy Score - I did see some of the twists coming but definitely not others. Good read.

My favorite book this month was The Paris Apartment.

My goal for December is to read at least 5 books so I can be at 150 for the year.

December:
-The Last House on Needless Street - Catriona Ward - I really enjoyed reading this but it was pretty sad for being shelved as a horror book.
-Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore - Emily Krempholz - I struggled with this one. I'm not sure why but it was hard for me to get into. Maybe because I've been reading more thrillers lately.
-The Hunting Party - Lucy Score - this one started interesting enough and I really liked the setting but overall I found it sort of lackluster.
-Seasons of Carnage - Brynne Weaver - super fun read. Glad she started this new series.
-The Good Girl - Mary Kubicas - kind of anti climactic. It was ok.
-Spicy Little Curses - JT Geissinger - kind of all gas and no brakes but a fun, quick read nonetheless

>54 bustellogirl: My grandma was reading The Paris Apartment, she didn't like it very much

>57 louisisaloafofbreb: oh really? I thought it was fine. At this point I'm just looking for something where I don't guess every single twist lol

>58 bustellogirl: Yeah, I got her back into reading lol, with Freida McFadden

My favorite book of December was Seasons of Carnage. My goal for 2026 is to read at least 125 books.

This years highlights:
Phantasma
Horrorstor
The Anxious Generation
The House at Watch Hill
Lights Out
Plated Prisoner series