Books

Thrillers, rom-coms, memoirs! It’s been a packed month of reading for me. I added six books to my yearly tally. I’m now at 42!

Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

I’ve been a longtime fan of Maria Bamford’s. I recall seeing a half-hour set on TV probably 20 years ago, and I was instantly hooked.

Since then, I’ve followed her pretty closely: I’ve listened to her albums, watched Lady Dynamite, caught her voiceover work, tuned in for Zoom comedy shows and still recall the Target ads she starred in.

Perhaps that’s the reason I didn’t love her memoir (don’t get me wrong—I liked it quite a bit). Since I’ve kept up with her and her work, a lot of the stories inside were familiar. This being said, it’s a very good listen (how could you not opt for the audiobook in this case?). And I really admire how open Bamford is about her journey with mental health—even from a very young age. I take those stories to heart, and I’m so thankful she readily shares them.

The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James • ★★★★☆

Is it just me, or is 90% of historical fiction set in WWII-era Europe these days? When I saw that The Woman in the Castello was set in 1965 Italy and was filled with gothic themes, I had to pick this one up at the library.

In this book, actress Gabriella gets her big break in an Italian thriller. It’s a great opportunity for her career but also gives her a chance to provide for her mother and daughter. The catch with this role: It’s being filmed in her estranged aunt’s castello. After a single day of filming, that aunt goes missing. Soon Gabriella suspects something is very wrong, and soon the spooky themes from the script start to infiltrate her time on set.

This book felt fresh yet comforting (yes, comforting—even for a thriller) to me. I say it’s a great read for fans of historical fiction, thrillers and gothic novels. Lucky for me, I’m all three.

Mister Magic by Kiersten White • ★★★☆☆

Ever feel like one of your childhood memories was more fever dream than reality (like the show Zoobilee Zoo)? That’s what Mister Magic is to generations of children. Despite being on the air for decades, there’s no evidence of the show—or its sudden absence on TV schedules since a cast member suddenly disappeared. Now, the last remaining cast members are coming together to record a podcast.

Now how great of a hook is that?

I’ll say that Mister Magic is a well done and intriguing book, but it didn’t quite deliver on the horror or thriller premise that was advertised. Instead, it leans more into escaping controlling communities and religion. I think that likely made it a more complex story, but I felt it got tangled at times.

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager • ★★★★☆

I read my first-ever Riler Sager book last month. I’m hooked.

The House Across the Lake started with some strong Rear Window vibes. This is fine! But it’s been done. Well, those Hitchcockian feelings were just the start.

Yes, Casey, a celebrity in exile, does develop an unhealthy habit of spying on her neighbors across the lake. But she’s also struggling with the death of her husband and addiction. She’s also suspecting something is very wrong when she doesn’t see her neighbor for days after a wine night gone awry.

This is a just-right early fall read. Coming down from a weeklong, lakeside trip and going into cool days, this one hit the spot.

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

Michael knows me well. He recommended this book about women in a remote Norwegian village in the 1600s. After all the men at sea during a storm, the women have to fill in the gaps and keep the village running.

Years later, a magistrate (or comptroller or some other miscellaneous figurehead), is sent to the town along with his wife to establish some sort of order. Well, this guy prides himself on finding witches. Unsurprisingly, he finds them everywhere he goes.

I have mixed feelings on this one: The first half of this book was incredibly slow. But the reward was excellent.

Ruby Spencer’s Whisky Year by Rochelle Bilow • ★★★★☆

This book didn’t have to try very hard to get me hooked. The protagonist, Ruby, is a food writer struggling to figure out what her next steps are. I am in that precise boat!

Instead of pondering infinitely over cold brew coffee and quilting like me, Ruby decides to move to Scotland to get some new perspective and work on drafting a cookbook. Swap Scotland with Ireland and you have a literal dream come true for me.

In Scotland, Ruby tries to find her place in her small community while also trying to make her cookbook dreams come true. And there’s also a handsome Scot involved. The path to happily ever after (or happily what’s next) isn’t precisely linear. What Ruby thinks she wants isn’t the same as what she actually wants. I think that’s a good reminder for me, and it’s part of what makes this a more satisfying read.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

In the past, August has always been my most prolific reading month. This year, though, I got through just four books! That’s OK, thought because there were some great ones in here. And when I wasn’t reading, I was spending my time quilting and unwinding up north.

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

I’ve got to face it: This is the year of Ireland. Michael and I visited back in July and ever since I’ve been reading, listening, cooking and watching anything and everything Irish—including this book.

There’s an innate charm to this book. It’s set in a rural Irish community where the library delivers books by bus and the protagonist, Hanna, spends her spare time fixing up a cottage she inherited. And because this is a cozy sort of story, it falls on Hanna to ensure that her local library (and the bus) stays open.

I found Hanna to be sort of a dud for most of the book, but I will say the book picked up steam in the last quarter. It’s quaint and easy reading. You don’t have to read it, but I won’t stop you from picking this one up either.

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia • ★★★★☆

I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic, so I figured Moreno-Garcia’s latest, Silver Nitrate, would be a good bet. There’s quite a bit going on in this book: 90s-era film editing, 30s-era movie making, magic, cults and potential Nazis. It seems like a lot but the author assembles the story so deftly. Did I understand the magic aspects 100%? Nope. But it’s magic!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins • ★★★★☆

I read The Wife Upstairs by Hawkins a few years back and loved it. Reckless Girls delivered that same great tension—this time in a tropical paradise.

From the jump, this book delivers a bit of unsteadiness. After her mother’s death, Lux finds herself on her own—and soon falls for (and follows) handsome Nico to Hawaii. There, two young women hire the couple to sail them to a remote island. Despite being uninhabited, they run into other tourists while visiting. It obviously isn’t great.

This is a dynamite summer read. I recommend enjoying this one while floating in a pool with a tall glass of iced tea.

Return to Valetto by Dominic Smith • 🎧 • ★★★★★

This was a fantastic listen. The narrator, Hugh Fisher, performed this novel beautifully (he did the same with Smith’s other book The Last Painting of Sara de Vos).

In Return to Valetto, Hugh returns to a near-abandoned town in Italy to visit his family, including his nearly 100-year-old grandmother. While the visit is meant to celebrate his grandmother, it’s plagued with troubles from the start, including a squatter who believes she has a claim to the villa.

That’s conflict enough, but this novel opens up into something much deeper. I won’t go further than that because this book delivered more than I ever expected. And the ending was divine.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

I put a lot of pressure on myself with my July book selections! I felt like I had to have the perfect picks to enjoy on my way to and in Ireland. I did buckle under the pressure and ended up choosing a lackluster scary read (more below) for the trip. I did, though, spend a little time reading Dubliners by James Joyce—very fitting.

The Toll House by Carly Reagon • ★★☆☆☆

I thought that snuggling up with a good ghost story on a misty Irish morning was going to be the move. But The Toll House didn’t deliver for me.

While remodeling her home, Kelda discovers a death mask hidden in the wall. Scary! After removing it, her son starts to act up and weird stuff starts going on at home. But it was just too slow but also predictable for me. I’d pass on this one and likely won’t return for anything else from Reagon.

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

I wasn’t sold on this book when I first rented it. Two people sharing an apartment but never meeting one another. As if!

But guess what: This book captured my heart. The story of how Tiffy and Leon—polar opposites—endear themselves to one another through notes was adorable. And this book dove into some deeper issues as well, like controlling partners and abusive relationships, but in a very sensitive but matter-of-fact way. I really enjoyed this one and will be seeking out the TV series!

A Good House for Children by Kate Collins • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

I am an absolute sucker for a gothic tale about a family moving to a remote and dilapidated manor. But A Good House for Children is so much more.

In the present day, Orla and her family move to an old Georgian home. During the week, her husband is away and it’s just her and her young son who, despite her best efforts, isn’t talking. Orla’s stressed and lonely, but is making better art than ever—and also seeing things.

Decades earlier, Lydia is nannying for a wealthy family in the same home. She wonders what the house is hiding and what it is that she’s seeing out of the corner of her eye.

There’s a lot here to unpack, but it’s a satisfying read if you love gothic novels and feminist themes (that’s me!).

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall • ★★★☆☆

I’ve read so many of these cozy, witchy rom-coms, and honestly, I’m not sick of them. They’re the literary equivalent of sipping a maple latte: delightfully seasonal and perfectly sweet.

Do I need to go into detail? Probably not, but here are the basics: Aria is a bit of a magical mess, but nevertheless finds herself in league with masterful mages and witches as they compete to oversee a magical garden in her hometown. Spoiler: She’s not as much of a mess as she thought. And it’s pretty darn cute.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

I did a lot of listening this month (as indicated by the 🎧). And I dabbled in some areas I don’t frequent often: cozy mysteries and memoirs. Check out what I thought of these six reads.

You Are Here by Karin Lin-Greenberg • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

I waffled on downloading versus renting this book for a while. It’s more rental caliber to me. So why is that?

Well, I was really intrigued by the summary. Would-be strangers in upstate New York all find themselves with not something but someplace in common: the local mall. Like many malls, this on is on its last legs. However, for the characters in You Are Here, the mall is essential. These folks range from a hair stylist, her young son, a high school food court worker, a book store manager and an old woman who walks the mall.

I was on board with this book until the 75% mark when a violent tragedy happened very suddenly. And I’m just not sure how I feel about it. I wished something else could have been used to shift the book toward its conclusion.

The Witch of Tin Mountain by Paulette Kennedy • ★★★☆☆

I’ll admit: I think the whole dual timeline structure is a bit overdone. But The Witch of Tin Mountain does a triple timeline and it works.

This story, told from the point of view of three narrators over many decades, helps to emphasize the generational aspects of the story: a tale about how generations of Doherty women have helped their community with cures and folk magic, yet how they’re often the first targeted (by one unpleasant preacher in particular).

What I loved most about this book was the atmosphere and also how these generations of women were all family—yet that relationship wasn’t always defined by blood.

Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly • 🎧 • ★★☆☆☆

Michael and I are headed to Ireland this July. To amp myself up for the trip (not that I need it), I wanted to squeeze in a few breezy books set in Ireland.

This one didn’t quite do it for me, though. In Buried in a Bog, Maura visits Ireland after her grandmother’s passing. It was her gran’s dying wish. While there, she falls in with the locals—for better and worse. She gets to cozy up in an Irish pub but also has someone scary stalking her as she “investigates” a murder.

Maybe it was the narration. Maybe the cozy mystery genre isn’t for me.

Lucky Leap Day by Ann Marie Walker • ★★☆☆☆

Yep, another book set (partially) in Ireland to get me into the spirit of the Emerald Isle. Unfortunately, this book didn’t get me jazzed.

I’ll give you a quick synopsis. Cara takes a solo trip to Ireland, a trip she originally planned with her ex. While there, she meets Finn, a very handsome Uber driver/musician/tour guide. In a Leap Day haze, they get married—after knowing each other just 72 hours. After discovering they married, Cara and Finn have to figure out what to do next. Head to LA? Get divorced? This is not a spoiler. It all happens in the first five pages.

Now, I am 100% on board with silly rom-coms. I love them—when they are well done. This one just wasn’t though. Why is that?

First, I have to ask if the idea of marriage licenses is totally unknown? Characters should understand that without any paperwork, a union is not binding in any way. This should not be a hiccup in any plot. It should not be a plot. Full stop.

Second, the character development here was minimal and poorly paced. Cara is only described as being a workaholic with a screenplay in her drawer. That’s it. 200 pages in suddenly she’s a passionate baker? Oh and then that’s never mentioned again. Meanwhile, Finn gets plenty of passions. In fact, he gets another toward the end of the book where he suddenly is a gifted actor.

The last straw for me: For some inexplicable reason, the dog narrates the epilogue!

The Only One Left by Riley Sager • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

At last! A new Gothic novel that hits all the eerie, atmospheric marks! Old mansion? Check. Rugged Maine coast? Got it! An outcast forced into taking a job as a nurse for a suspected murderer? It’s here! And that’s all you need to know before rushing to download this one.

Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

I haven’t watched Queer Eye in a minute, but I do have a soft spot for Jonathan Van Ness. This book was exceptionally raw (as advertised) but it was also joyful and uplifting. I 100% suggest you opt for the audio version so you can hear Jonathan tell his story himself.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

I’d say four books in a month is pretty solid for me! These were all audiobooks, which I will be noting with a 🎧 going forward so you know if I’m taking the narration into account. Does it matter? Probably not!

Hotel Portofino by J.P. O’Connell • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

I’ve started categorizing certain TV as “shows to point your face at.” These types of shows are decently interesting and entertaining but don’t exactly inspire you to rave about them to friends. I count Versailles and The Gilded Age among these. And I’d say Hotel Portofino is precisely this type of book. It was a nice listen, a decent story, but nothing I’ll insist you read.

Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie • 🎧 • ★☆☆☆☆

I was waffling between two stars and one star on this book, but to hell with generosity. This book was not good.

So, on the surface, Episode Thirteen has a good setup. Paranormal investigators from a Travel Channel-esque ghost show arrive at the supposedly haunted Foundation House. The team consists of Matt, the lead investigator and die-hard believer, his wife Claire (a skeptic), Kevin (a former cop and paranormal researcher), Jessica (an actress trying to get her big break on the show) and a camera operator.

But the execution of this is just so poor. I’m not sure if DiLouie was trying to be meta or self-aware or what, but he uses every single horror trope—or just any trope—you can think of, but in an inartful way.

There is zero character development. Every character is a stereotype. Everyone is aggravating. Oh the believer encountered a ghost as a kid and has been searching for that high since? Oh the cop is a tough-as-nails type?

And the conclusion? I felt like DiLouie didn’t have a good idea of where he wanted the book to end, so it was just more of the same on top of more of the same. People are lured into the bowels of the house? Oh and then deeper? Deeper still? Anything else? No? YAWN.

The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis • 🎧 • ★★★★★

There was a time where I read maybe four Fiona Davis books in a single summer. This book reminded me why that was: Davis is excellent.

In The Chelsea Girls, friends Hazel and Maxine first work as USO entertainers before searching for success in the New York City theater scene—Hazel as a playwright and Maxine as a leading lady. Just as the two start to find their place in the limelight, their latest production is threatened by the Red Scare and McCarthyism.

How this book takes these women from WWII to 1950s New York to later in their careers is beautiful. It speaks to the time while also portraying how complicated friendship can be—and how it can endure.

Husband Material by Alexis Hall • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

I read the first book in this series, Boyfriend Material, this time last year. It also got four stars from me.

So what’s going on for Luc and Oliver this time? A booked and busy wedding season. I really like how the story unfolded over the course of four wildly different weddings: a dear friend’s, an ex’s and a coworker’s.

It was a nice way for the book to unfold and to learn more about these two as they, spoiler, plan their own nuptials.

As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.