Tress of the Emerald Sea is, in a word, whimsical. And I adored it.

Last November I turned 30, and while many people would dread such a birthday, I was excited. So, of course, I threw myself a bookish birthday tea party!

Fredrik Backman is quickly becoming one of my very favorite contemporary authors. Beartown by Fredrik Backman is full of delicacy, insight, and heart.

This is a story about the brutality of the publishing industry, about the beauty of finding your voice through the art of writing; a story about racism and white guilt, about sacrificing your soul for fame and fortune.

In comparison, The Silent Patient is still far superior, but Alex Michaelides is still such an incredible writer that The Fury is still an excellent book.

Cozy fantasy is a popular genre these days, and since I love cozy books it was only a matter of time before I ventured into the cozy...

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a story about a hostage situation that never happened. But ultimately, this is a story about people.

Susanna Clarke has easily become one of my favorite contemporary authors. Unfortunately, she has only written two novels. But I did read...

Recently, I have found myself wanting to catch-up on popular books I didn't read when they initially came out because I was too busy...

I have read books that tried too hard to do too much, but this was the first time a book tried too hard to NOT do too much. 2/5 stars.

What better way to celebrate Valentines Day than reading the classic romantic thriller, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier? 4/5 stars.

A wholesome story full of simple warmth. But you will also find that rabbits can be darker than you might have expected! 2/5 stars.

If you enjoy dark history, or just history in general, read this book. 5/5 stars.

My year in review-- in books! Join me as I recap the books I read in 2024.

If you love Scotland and cozy stories about cats, I highly recommend The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard. 4/5 stars.

A hauntingly beautiful historical fantasy novel, that I highly recommend. 4/5 stars.

Spoiler-free book reviews of both Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë.

It's not often a prequel is even better than the original novel, but The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman is! 5/5 stars.

The pinnacle of the thriller genre. A spoiler-free review of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. 5/5 stars.

A truly brilliant historical fantasy novel that will have you weeping yet wishing for more! A review of R.F. Kuang's Babel. 5/5 stars.

"A tale of shipwreck, mutiny, and murder." Spoiler-free book review of The Wager by David Grann. 3/5 stars.

Need a new fantasy adventure? I highly recommend The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. 4/5 stars.

What started out as an accident, turned out to be a fun experiment: the year I only read books written by women.

A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, by Laura Hillenbrand. 5/5 stars.

Need a quick and cozy read, with a little bit of murder thrown in? Look no further than Juneau Black's Shady Hollow. 3/5 stars.

The classic angsty novel about how far one will go to stay young. Book review of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. 4/5 stars.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai is a delightful story about how good food brings people together. 3/5 stars.

Let me share the 11 books from my childhood that made me who I am today!

A review of one of the most magical, whimsical, and nostalgic stories: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. 4/5 stars.

A snapshot of old hollywood glamour from America's most loved comedienne. Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball truly dazzles! 3/5 stars.

An incredible historical fantasy adventure that is worth all 846 pages: Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. 5/5 stars.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton proves that your circumstances do not have to harden you to a cruel world. They can make you kind. 5/5 stars.

The truly incredible memoir of Malala Yousafzai: I Am Malala. 5/5 stars.

I have always been a huge Jane Austen fan, and now that I have officially read every Jane Austen novel, here is my ranking.

My husband and I venture on a bookstore crawl through our town and the neighboring cities!

Fall in love with France and with cooking as you read the humorous and touching memoir of Julia Child: My Life in France. 4/5 stars.

Spoiler-free reviews of Claudia Gray's Jane Austen "fanfiction": The Murder of Mr. Wickham and The Late Mrs. Willoughby

A good idea poorly executed. A spoiler-free review of Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. 1/5 stars.

Ad education will save your life. Educated by Tara Westover. 4/5 stars.

Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James: a murder mystery written in the style of Jane Austen, and set in her world! 3/5 stars.

I haven't watched the movie, but I have a feeling the book is better. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann. 5/5 stars.

A cultural phenomenon worth reading mostly because it is a cultural phenomenon. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. 2/5 stars.

Need your next book recommendation? I highly recommend Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. 5/5 stars.

Ready to fall back in love with reading? Let me help you (and give you your next book recommendation!)

Follow along with me as I review the books I read, create a home-library with my husband, and wax eloquent about all things literature.