It's been a minute since I read a hardcore thriller so when I was deciding my next book after the Fourth Wing series, I knew it had to be one that would satisfy that urge. Ever since reading The Family Plot by Megan Collins, she's become one of my favorite thriller authors so when I got an ARC of her latest novel, Cross My Heart I knew I would be in for a treat. 

Cross My Heart was published on January 14th, 2025 so yes, I am a little more than a month late but it was worth it. This was one of the most interesting book plots I've ever read and had the hairs on the back of my arms standing up more than once. 

If you need an interesting, thoughtful and thrilling book to sink your teeth into, that isn't predictable or too gory, Cross My Heart is that book.

 When it was announced that there was a new book coming out called The Really Dead Wives of New Jersey, I was immediately seated. After I read the synopsis, I realized this book was going to be the perfect combination of reality TV and true crime.

As the biggest Bravo fan, reading a book about a fictional Real Housewives show taking place in New Jersey felt like coming home; it was familiar and like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

The book was so good and it teetered on the edge of fiction and real 'Bravo' life, which was so fun to pick apart because I was able to read between the lines.

Really Dead Wives had a bit of everything -- familial turbulence, wealth, fame, murder and secrets. Even if you're not a Housewives fan I think you would enjoy the book. It was definitely a page turner and I simply just needed to know how everything was going to play out...it surely didn't end the way I expected it to and I think there will be a sequel because it was left on a cliffhanger.

 There are very few pop culture phenomenons that I miss out on. I am usually right there in the center with bells on -- I love being part of a community, to be united by a common interest is one of life's greatest joys. Though, there are always exceptions to that rule of mine, and for the past few years, the rule was Fourth Wing.

Aside from Harry Potter and Twilight, I'm not big into fantasy genres. I've read ACTOAR and didn't love it, and have never found myself super interested in anything else that becomes popular. 

I've seen Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros around the block and knew everyone goes feral for it, but it never sparked my interest. I thought reading about a war college with dragons was too complicated and felt I was better off staying in my own lane.

That is, until I had a near nervous breakdown a few weeks ago and needed something to sink my teeth into to distract myself from the hellscape that was unfolding around me. I wanted to lose myself in a book, to really immerse myself in the world, in the characters and become one with the words I was reading. 

With Onyx Storm just being released and everyone very much in Fourth Wing mode, I decided to try my hand at it.

Well, I simply have no words.

I finished both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame within 4 days, and then took my time with Onyx Storm which I finished this past weekend...my life will never be the same.

This won't be my traditional book review, and I already talked about my obsessive personality and how it relates to Fourth Wing on Substack , so we're just going to chat about the entire series. 

If you're anything like me, there have been books on your TBR (to be read) list for years. I think I've had some books on my TBR for over a decade, which is slightly embarrassing. There are just some books that I've always wanted to read but never got around to it, mostly because something shiny and new comes along that distracts me. 

To me, it's always more fun to read something that just hit shelves than to read something that has been sitting on your list for a while. Perhaps there is a reason for keeping books on the shelf...maybe it's the fact that if you wanted to read them, you would. If something else is able to take your attention away, perhaps it wasn't worth having your attention at all.

Or maybe, you just love books so much that it's hard to control yourself and you want to read everything. 

I think I fall somewhere in-between...which leads me to today's post. At the start of the year, I wrote out a list of all the books I need to read this year; books that are half read, or have been sitting on my list for a while and I just never got around to it; books that I've been saving for a rainy day. The time is now.

 This is one of my favorite posts to write every year. I love looking through all the upcoming releases and adding them to my TBR. I love to see what my favorite authors are putting out, what debut authors are coming to publication and if there are any stand out non fictions to keep my eye on. 

While 2024 was a decent year, it seemed that publishing quieted down in the fall which probably had to do with the election so I wasn't enthralled with the choices. However, 2025 seems to be shaping up to be a stellar publishing year with so many good titles coming out. 

I'm also going to do a post with some of the books that are on my TBR that are backlist books. I have so many that I want to read and I'm going to prioritize them over others.

For now, let's get into what is being released this year that I can't wait to read!

 It's the first book review of 2025 and it's a good one! It's also one that is long overdue because it's been sitting on my shelf for a year. Fiona Davis is one of my favorite authors but whenever I get a book I'm excited about, I never read it right away. It's like I'm saving it for the right time.

Well, after Christmas was the perfect time. I wanted something that was wintery and holiday adjacent but not a romance or thriller. Enter a historical fiction novel about the Radio City Rockettes in the 1950s, The Spectacular. 

Fiona Davis writes the most beautiful books about New York City landmarks and their history, mixes in mystery, romance and brilliant, brave women are at the center of them. 

I've read every single one of Fiona Davis' books and this is definitely one of my favorites. Her new one, The Stolen Queen, came out last week and I need to order it, just as soon as my low-buy month is over or I have the extra money & need a little treat. 

I was in a reading slump this year. I didn't read as many books as I wanted too, and the books I did read, I didn't really love. I don't know if I was choosing the wrong books, or was just too distracted to really immerse myself into the story, but it wasn't a great year of reading.

I'm writing this on December 26th and I've read 39 books. I'd like to fit in one more before New Year's Eve, even if it's cheating and it's a super short book... I'd just like to have an even number.

I set a goal of 50 books, and while I thought that was low enough, I knew by at least April that I wasn't going to hit it. I could make excuses -- I traveled more, work was busier than usual, or I couldn't find the right book but realistically, my attention span decreased. I scrolled a lot more on my phone and found myself watching more television. Reading wasn't my priority but I want that to change and go back to 'normal' in 2025.

Despite all of that, I did find some books I really loved and that will stay with me for a long time.

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying the day with your loved ones, or spending it however brings you a speck of joy. 

If you're looking for a cozy, romantic and fun book to jump into it to keep the Christmas spirit alive, I have the perfect book for you...Christmas is All Around by Martha Waters. It was released earlier this fall and I had an ARC of it, that I, of course, just finished a few weeks ago.

I've loved all the Christmas books I read this year but this one was particularly fun to dive into it.

Fallon Ballard is one of my favorite authors; her books are always interesting, funny, fresh and romantic. They are quintessential rom-com but feel slightly less corny than some others that I've read. She's an excellent writer, does the right amount of spice and really just delivers on all accounts.

I received an ARC of her latest novel, , All I Want Is You, and when I realized it was a holiday rom-com, I was thrilled. When I realized it was a second chance romance with a splash of enemies to lovers, I was even more excited. When I realized it was about two exes who are both writers, I was officially sold. 

This was a hard book to put down; I ended up reading more than half of it in one sitting, something I haven't done in a while.

All I Want Is You was the perfect romance novel; it made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me want to text my ex or download Hinge.

 Let the season of holiday books commence! I had a bunch of ARCs on my Kindle from NetGalley and finally decided to round them all up and see what I wanted to crack open next.

The winner of the first book of the season was Jenny Bayliss' latest Kiss Me at Christmas. I've previously read Jenny Bayliss "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" in 2022 and it was definitely not my favorite Christmas read....but, Kiss Me at Christmas was the complete opposite. 

I really loved this book; it was truly beautiful and encompassed so much about the Christmas spirit. It was a delight to read and made me really happy.

 Dove Pond is one of my favorite book series I've ever read; it is like a cozy night on the couch with a Barefoot Dreams blanket, Gilmore Girls on the TV and a cup of tea. I've talked about it so much on the blog over the years and with every book Karen Hawkins releases, I fall deeper in love with the characters, the town, and the Dove sisters.

This summer, another Dove Pond book was released and of course, I pre-ordered and immediately started reading when it was delivered to my Kindle. However, unlike the other Dove Pond books, "The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams" took me a little longer to finish. While it gave me all the Dove Pond vibes, and I liked Tay Dove's secret Dove sister gift, it left a little to be desired.

It was definitely my least favorite Dove Pond book but it's essential to the series and I need another book ASAP.

 I've read all of Alice Feeney's books (with the exception of I'd Lie) and they always are my favorite thrillers. She has a way of writing flawed characters that you're rooting for while also providing twists and turns that you never saw coming.

I had been putting off reading Feeney's latest book that was released a few months ago, Good Bad Girl. I've been trying to be better at not buying every book I want and taking them out from the library when I'm ready to read them. That's what I did with this one; I knew I wanted to read it but it wasn't an urgent need so I waited for availability at the library. 

I'm glad I didn't buy it, because as much as I enjoyed it, it wasn't my favorite Alice Feeney book. 

The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore wasn't on my TBR list until I heard it mentioned on a podcast and from the elevator pitch alone, I was hooked. I put a hold on my Libby app and within a few weeks, she was mine. It has been taking me a little longer than usual to finish reading books but this one took me less than a week.

Does anything sound more enticing than following a reality dating show villain through the creation of her arc? I love a story that involves the behind the scenes of a television show, especially a reality one where you know there is a good chance some of this stuff is true.

The Villain Edit was thrilling, disturbing, frustrating and enthralling...it was all the -ing adjectives and I couldn't recommend enough.

I've read all of Riley Sager's books and I don't think there has been one that I didn't love; even the ones that everyone else didn't love like The House Across the Lake, I appreciated. I'm always excited whenever Sager releases a new book and it immediately gets added to my TBR. That was no different with his latest novel 'Middle of the Night'. 

I was going to pre-order or pick the book up from my library but then I saw it was available as an add on for Book of the Month and decided that was a better solution. It matches all my other Riley Sager books so that's always a plus.

I had purposely stayed away from any reviews or think pieces about the book so my opinion wouldn't be clouded, and I succeeded. I flew through the book and my thoughts were interesting... 

Back in 2019 when it was announced that we were getting a series called American Royals that had the United States still having a monarchy, I was immediately enthralled. I love anything royals, obviously, so the fact that we were getting a book where America had a monarchy, descending from George Washington, the first king of America was right up my alley.

Originally, American Royals was only supposed to be a standalone book, and then it was extended to have a sequel, then a third book and finally the publisher's caught on that readers were obsessed and continued to allow Katharine McGee to write.

I've reviewed a few of the American Royals books on the blog over the years (linked below) so it feels only right that I would conclude the journey with a review of the final book in the series, 'Reign'. 

Emily Henry is my favorite writer, I think I can confidently say that now after finishing her 5th novel. I am awestruck every time I open a page she has touched and overwhelmed with emotion, thought and feeling. 

I've gotten into a pretty good groove of pre-ordering her books but then letting them sit for days, weeks or months before I pick it up because I know the minute I touch it, it'll be finished. The novelty will wear off and I will have to wait a long time for another story. 

That's what happened with Funny Story which was released in April but I didn't start reading it until last week. What happened next? I finished the book in less than 24 hours... once I crack open the fresh Emily Henry there's no stopping me.

I will admit that I wasn't that intrigued by the plot but I was hoping for the best...turns out, Funny Story might've just over taken Book Lovers as my favorite Emily Henry novel.

Jaclyn Goldis's debut novel "The Chateau" was one of my favorite books of 2023 so when I saw that she was coming out with a new novel this year, I was ecstatic. The Chateau was a very traditional mystery thriller that I enjoyed every second of; it was straightforward with the classic twists so I figured "The Main Character" would be similar.

I was extremely wrong... The Main Character was unlike any other story I've ever read. It was a very different main plot that I don't think any other book has ever had. It was incredibly mysterious, untraditional and unexpected. I loved every second of it.

Sophie Cousens is one of my favorite romance authors; she writes such beautiful stories with flawed main character that intertwine love and life. Cousens has a really wonderful way of making romance a key part of the story without having it be the only thing that matters to the characters. 

Her characters are always at odds with some other part of their life that ties into romance. It makes the story more real, more relatable, more raw and she does it with style, with high emotions, eccentric side characters and humor. 

I will read anything Sophie Cousens writes and one of her more recent novels, "Before I Do" is no exception. 

I had an ARC of Before I Do but never got around to reading it until now; jokes on me because I loved it!

 I am so behind on my 2024 reading challenge and I honestly don't think I'm going to catch up... which is fine. It'll be the first time in 5 years that I don't hit it and I need to accept that...that's not going to stop me from reviewing all the books I do read!

One book that I did recently finish was Olivia Muenter's debut novel "Such a Bad Influence" and it was incredible. I've followed Olivia's writing career since she was at Bustle, and I've always loved her authentic, raw view of reality. She is never afraid to put it all out there and I appreciate it so much. She's also an incredible writer, so I knew her novel was going to be a knock out.

The minute Olivia announced her book, I preordered it and just from the summary, knew I was going to love it. I love thrillers just like Olivia so the fact that she wrote an influencer domestic thriller (which is probably more of a mystery) was just a bonus. 

As we get deeper into the influencer economy and people become more familiar with it, we're going to see even more fictional content taking place in these worlds which I'm very excited for because it feels like unchartered territory. 

Holly Jackson stole my heart when I read her first series, "The Good Girl's Guide to Murder". It was the perfect mix of YA and thriller, without being too naive and immature. In my opinion, I wouldn't even describe Jackson's writing as YA, though that's what the industry has dubbed it.

When I saw that she was releasing a new novel, "The Reappearance of Rachel Price", with a summary that knocked my socks off, I immediately pre-ordered it and waited patiently for release day.

I pre-ordered the book on my Barnes & Noble Nook and even though I was waiting for the release, I didn't read it until two months later because I have issues that as excited as I am for a book, I rarely read it as soon as I get it in fear of making it go by too fast. 

Well, I didn't let this story linger for too long because once I read a few chapters, I finished the entire book in one day. I haven't done that in years, read from cover to cover, so you know that it was well worth it.