Alright, alright, I know it’s been forever since I’ve posted anything really. But hear me out. From August to December life gets crazy. Back to school and then back to back holidays! Who came up with that calendar?! Anyway, my time to read steadily dwindled and with it, my finished books and my time to write. The ghost story I mentioned in my “Haunted by the Hands of Time” post? I never wrote it. Guys, it’s been rough. So I’m playing catch up with this post. Below are all the books I read from August 2022-December 2022. Let me know which one’s you’ve read in the comments! Some good Christmas/Winter themed book suggestions would be great too!

Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins

4 out of 5 stars

This is a great summer read! It’s basically a beachy thriller that switches between past and present. Written mostly from Lux’s point of view, a woman who experienced a tragedy and since then has been drifting. She has big travel dreams so when her and her boyfriend are offered $50,000 to take two girl on a deserted island vacation by boat, they agree. I decided to read this because I read and enjoyed Hawkins’ other book, The Wife Upstairs. Both of her books are quick read suspense novels.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

3 out of 5 stars

The premise behind this book is very intriguing. However, I found the ending to be lack-luster. The novel really isn’t a romance which is what it seems to be at the beginning. It’s a story about all relationships. If you’re into short books, it’s definitely for you.

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

4 out of 5 stars

This book is a wonderful testament to what it’s like to be a teenager/young adult and in love when your circumstances are always changing. Everything is so complicated in that time. You’re finding out who you are and so is everyone else. Making mistakes. Testing boundaries. Everything is complicated. Then, circumstances bring the young group of friends back together and they have to re-familiarize themselves with each other.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

4 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the romance between the main characters but I wasn’t a huge fan of the actual storyline. Mostly because it was so quirky/light-hearted. I’m just not into that too much. I’m unsure if I’ll be reading any more books by Katheirne Center. I do love the cover and the spine with all of it’s floral attributes though!

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

4 out of 5 stars

THE TWIST. Trying to puzzle out the mystery is so hard! I didn’t see it coming. Read it. A perfect winter mystery! Feeney also has a new novel out called Daisy Darker. I am looking into reading that one as well.

Love on The Brain by Ali Hazelwood

4 out of 5 stars

Ali Hazelwood does it again with “Love on the Brain.” Last year I read “The Love Hypothesis.” That was her debut novel. It was SO GOOD. This one doesn’t disappoint either! A romance novel you won’t forget.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

5 out of 5 stars

It’s official. Simone St. James is on my “favorite authors” list. A heart-felt story about a group of teenage girls with trauma who become friends while placed in an orphanage. One of them goes missing. Meanwhile, in the present, a woman is haunted by the disappearance of her sister. She goes on a mission to find the truth.

Darling Girl by Liz Michalski

4 out of 5 stars

I was so excited to read this story due to it’s twist on Peter Pan. In the end though, I wasn’t as impressed as I thought I’d be. In this novel, Peter Pan is cast as a villain. It delves into the Darling family, their relationships, and the impact Peter Pan has had on their lives. If you like re-tellings like Circe, you will probably like this too!

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

5 out of 5 stars

Riley Sager is another author that has made his way on my favorite author’s list. He is an author with an affinity for twists you don’t see coming. This book has the slightly over-used drunk/drugged traumatized woman watching neighbors from windows trope. The twists and the characters all make it worth it though.

Not A Happy Family by Shari Lapena

4 out of 5 stars

Lapena had me constantly guessing “who-did-it” all the way to the end. I liked that this novel of Lapena’s was a little more lengthy than her usual. I felt like it was a successful branching out for her.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

4 out of 5 stars

A horror Christmas novel? Who would’ve thought that exists?! Hill takes you on a journey following a child through adulthood and her trauma from an abduction by Charles Manx. By some wrongful miracle Manx escapes custody and seeks revenge. I was so happy I finally got to read this book! Christmas is usually too busy for me to be able to read a Christmas themed book but I made time for it this year.

The post Books I Read from August 2022-December 2022 first appeared on Gabrielle Stetz.

Book of Night by Holly Black

5 out of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this book because it is written by a popular young adult fantasy writer and is her first adult novel. Not to mention, it’s very interesting take on shadows. If you’re tired of the usual vampire/werewolf urban fiction stuff this book is right down your alley! It definitely ends with a lot of questions so I can’t wait for the sequel!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

5 out of 5 stars

Riley Sager has many many books in the horror genre. Thanks to Book of the Month and a dear friend, I decided to try one of his books. As you can tell from my 5 star rating I was very impressed! I’m definitely adding his other works to my to-read list. Psst he also just came out with a new book called The House Across the Lake. What I love most about my favorite horror/thriller books are giant totally-didn’t-see-it-coming twists! This one definitely has those. The haunted house and long-held secrets are just the sprinkles on top.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

3 out of 5 stars

I have one gaping hole of a genre as a reader and that is literary fiction. I don’t know quite how to explain it but I can’t stand some books that are literary fiction and more about symbolism and similar to books you’d be assigned in high school. This one fell in that category. I did read it all the way through (one time I read The Goldfinch by Donna Tart which also ended up in this assignment type feel category and I forced myself to read the whole thing. Huge waste of my time). It had a little excitement but for the most part I just wondered “what’s the point? where’s the action?”. It takes place in a pandemic induced apocalypse and follows multiple points of view.

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor

5 out of 5 stars

Oh. My. God. This. Book. Remember earlier when I mentioned that my favorite books have the crazy twists in them? This one has those. I literally had to back track and keep reading some sentences over again because my brain couldn’t process the twist even though I knew it was there. I’m still trying to puzzle what all the twists snowball into. On top of the twists, I really liked how the author made her main character a female single mother reverend. And pointed out the difficulties with that title. I hope to read more by C.J. Tudor.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

5 out of 5 stars

Dang! I have been reading some good books lately! This author writes in such a beautiful way that I wish I had more words to describe it. The characters and character development are top notch. I will be honest, I saw some of the ending coming BUT that is so low on the totem pole compared to everything else in the book. It follows the story of Elizabeth Zott who is a female chemist in the 1950s/60s who struggles to fight patriarchy in the world but especially in science. You also learn about the lives that Zott touches and the results of that interaction.

The post Books I Read in July 2022 first appeared on Gabrielle Stetz.

Britt Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

4 out of 5 stars

I have to give it to Fredrik Backman. He really has a way of creating a cooky character and making them likeable and also grow. I got hooked on his books after reading “A Man Called Ove.” I’ve also read “Anxious People.” I have no idea what order I’d put them in. They are all fantastic reads! He has a way of turning the turmoil and torture that a character is experiencing into moments of humor and understanding.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

5 out of 5 stars

I read this book in a matter of hours late into the night. I couldn’t stop! This book is being added to my all-time favorites list for its beautiful ability to capture the feelings a person feels in the situations described in this book. READ IT! It’s even going on my re-read list, which consists of approximately three books so that is a rarity. This book simultaneously destroyed me and relieved me. Get excited because the sequel/prequel, “It Starts With Us” comes out October 18, 2022!

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

3 out of 5 stars

I was honestly disappointed in this book. It received very good reviews and it was my first book by this author. I felt that there was more opportunity for twists and turns and shocking revelations than what was provided. I’ll probably give this author one more shot so if you know of a particularly good one by her, please leave a comment below!

The Hacienda by Isabel Canas

4 out of 5 stars

The Hacienda is dangerously close to a 5 star rating for me. This is this author’s debut novel and I definitely need more from her! The story grabbed me and held on to the end. A spooktacular and horrific story surrounding the history of a house in Mexico. Read this one! You won’t regret it. And if you have a taste for just a little bit more, you can listen to Book of The Month interview her on their podcast. You’re welcome.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5 out of 5 stars

Reid hasn’t disappointed me yet! This one ties for my favorite of hers with Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Reid has an amazing way of creating character depth and desire to follow their story. And if you haven’t picked up on it yet, she chooses a character from a previous book to turn into a major character in her next one. It’s a really unique and subtle concept. This book follows Mick Riva’s family. Mick Riva is one of Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

3 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the concept but I think the author’s writing style threw me off. After reading this book I have often looked at my regrets differently. The angle this book shows of if we went back to our regrets and made different decisions we might still not end up happy really put a twist on the present for me. It’s a really quick read if you’d like a philosophical twist on your summer reading.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

5 out of 5 stars

I have loved every one of Emily Henry’s books! This one ties for top spot for me with her other novel, People We Meet On Vacation. This book taught me so much about editing novels as well which I loved and honestly it gives me a little more writer’s confidence. This novel falls in the romance category with a lot of glorious witty banter and sexual tension. Enjoy!

The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

4 out of 5 stars

I loved the concept of this book and the crazy twists and turns! It is based off of a therapy group of women who were “final girls.” If you are not privy to what a final girl is, let me enlighten you. A final girl is the woman at the end of the slasher horror film who kills the killer and is the sole survivor. In this book, non-theatrical final girls who have been part of this secret support group for years start to be targeted one by one. This is the second Hendrix novel I’ve read and it was another great one. Grady Hendrix writes horror novels and he can get as dark and twisty as Stephen King. So, if you’re a King fan, definitely check this author out.

The post Books I Read in June 2022 first appeared on Gabrielle Stetz.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

5 out of 5

Oh. My. God. This. Book. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and so creeped out! And the ending? Mind blown Hoover writes a lot of romance and this book is a sort of romance thriller. This book was definitely the best one I read this month.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

4 out of 5

After reading this one I’ve read all of Lucy Foley’s books. In case you were wondering, The Guest List is my favorite followed by The Hunting Party and then this one. I enjoyed reading from all the different character perspectives but I felt something fell short with the story and the main character. Still a good quick read though!

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

3 out of 5 stars

I loved reading about Italy and all of the fancy views and restaurants but I felt there wasn’t enough going on in the story. I will still be reading her older and more popular novel, In Five Years though.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

5 out of 5

If you like a spooky ghostly murder story you’ll love this! I fell in love with Beth Greer’s character and story. Shea Collins’ character was the perfect embellishment. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

4 out of 5

I don’t read a lot of science fiction but this novel has been on my list for years. I finally made it through! The one element holding this book back the most from my 5 star rating is all of the space and space colony jargon. It was hard to read through in the beginning. The battles in this though? So so good! And a good amount of them too! I loved all of the camaraderie and humor from the Canterbury’s crew. It’s a long book but definitely worth it.

The post Books I Read April and May 2022 first appeared on Gabrielle Stetz.