May Recommendations

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmu, then you will enjoy this one.  It's messy and relatable.  Meet the Newmans lets you pull back the curtains on a perfectly portrayed 1950/60's  sitcom family who star in their very own sitcom.  When their ratings drop they must figure out a way to get back into the spotlight.  However, eac

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmu, then you will enjoy this one.  It's messy and relatable.  Meet the Newmans lets you pull back the curtains on a perfectly portrayed 1950/60's  sitcom family who star in their very own sitcom.  When their ratings drop they must figure out a way to get back into the spotlight.  However, each one of the family members have a dark secret that they're hiding from the public and each other.  This novel explores the social norms and societal expectations of the 60's including feminism, queer identity, privelege and family. Niven's writing is witty, intimate and emotionally observant. This one was a quick read, the writing style is sharp but light enough to bring light to the serious issues withought making you feel drained at the end.

3.68 ★★★☆☆ on Goodreads

Ongoing Series: Vol. 1–5

LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS! I honestly can't say enough about this book. T.J. Klune writes with warmth, whimsy, and emotion. 

A lonely case worked is charged with investigating a government sanctionsed orphange housing six of the worlds most "dangerous" children.  These kids include a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unident

Ongoing Series: Vol. 1–5

LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS! I honestly can't say enough about this book. T.J. Klune writes with warmth, whimsy, and emotion. 

A lonely case worked is charged with investigating a government sanctionsed orphange housing six of the worlds most "dangerous" children.  These kids include a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob name CHAUNCEY who's dream in life is to be a bell hop, a were-Pomeranian, and my favorite character, Lucy.. short for Lucifer, the Antichrist.

*side note, any time someone adorable is named Chauncey, I am automatically in love. When my oldest daughter was a toddler, she picked out a very creepy looking doll and named it Chauncey... totally normal name for a little girl to choose lol

The character development here is just perfection. They each had me laughing out loud at one point or another. 

While this seems like a light or cozy little fantasy story, there is a thoughtful and profound expoloration of prejuidice, fear based systems, government control, and the harm of labeling those who seem different as dangerous. Through found family, acceptance and compassion, it becomes both comforting and quietly radical. 

4.35 ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

Ongoing Series: Vol. 1–5

This is quite literally reading someone's journal. Think Bridgerton meets the Gilmore Girls. The FMC is smart, witty, snarky and strong willed. Nothing too dramatic has happened yet but I can't stay away from these. The characters are really well written and the core group of friends is so easy to fall in love with

Ongoing Series: Vol. 1–5

This is quite literally reading someone's journal. Think Bridgerton meets the Gilmore Girls. The FMC is smart, witty, snarky and strong willed. Nothing too dramatic has happened yet but I can't stay away from these. The characters are really well written and the core group of friends is so easy to fall in love with. This is the kind of story telling that makes me want to have lived in the 1880's. I think Emma and I would be great friends.

4.3-4.6 ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

Chelsea Handler has no filter and whether or not you like her as a comedian, you will like this . She is blunt, raw and honest. For me, reading a Chelsea Handler book is like sitting at a dinner table with my girlfriends and a few dirty martinis. This is probably one of the most hilarious memoirs I've every read. I was literally cackling 

Chelsea Handler has no filter and whether or not you like her as a comedian, you will like this . She is blunt, raw and honest. For me, reading a Chelsea Handler book is like sitting at a dinner table with my girlfriends and a few dirty martinis. This is probably one of the most hilarious memoirs I've every read. I was literally cackling while listening to this on audio.  

Chelsea occasionally throws in some surprisingly reflective and inspirational points you should hear. 

PS- if you decide to try Earthlings, read this after for a light pick me up.

3.8 ★★★☆☆ on Goodreads

Book 1: The Evermore Trilogy

A dark, emotionally intense fantasy romance about power, survival, and the complicated pull between enemies who might become something more. The heroine is clever, resilient, and forced into a dangerous political game where loyalty, control, and desire are constantly shifting. It’s moody, a little brutal at tim

Book 1: The Evermore Trilogy

A dark, emotionally intense fantasy romance about power, survival, and the complicated pull between enemies who might become something more. The heroine is clever, resilient, and forced into a dangerous political game where loyalty, control, and desire are constantly shifting. It’s moody, a little brutal at times, and very addictive if you like romantasy with morally gray characters and high emotional tension.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (moderate) — slow burn that builds into a few steamy scenes rather than constant spice.

If you like darker romantasy vibes similar to From Blood and Ash or the tension and politics of A Court of Thorns and Roses, this one is a fun ride for book club discussions.

4.2  ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

 A moody, mystery about a young woman who accidentally receives a letter saying she’s inherited money… and decides to show up and pretend it was meant for her. What follows is a creepy, atmospheric story set in a decaying estate with a strange family, buried secrets, and the constant feeling that something is very wrong. It’s gothic,  ten

 A moody, mystery about a young woman who accidentally receives a letter saying she’s inherited money… and decides to show up and pretend it was meant for her. What follows is a creepy, atmospheric story set in a decaying estate with a strange family, buried secrets, and the constant feeling that something is very wrong. It’s gothic,  tense, and perfect if you like tarot readers and mysteries that slowly unravel.

Spice level: 🌶️ (very low / basically none) — this one leans fully into suspense rather than romance.

3.8 ★★★☆☆ on Goodreads

A memoir about how she got pulled into a controlling religious group during the height of her acting career and the slow, complicated process of realizing what was happening and finding her way out. It’s honest, sometimes shocking, and really fascinating if you’re interested in the psychology of manipulation, identity, and starting over a

A memoir about how she got pulled into a controlling religious group during the height of her acting career and the slow, complicated process of realizing what was happening and finding her way out. It’s honest, sometimes shocking, and really fascinating if you’re interested in the psychology of manipulation, identity, and starting over after losing years to something that felt normal at the time.

I was a HUGE One Tree Hill fan so it's crazy to find out she was going through all of this during filming.

I especially like listening to memoirs on audio when they're read by the author.

4.24  ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

Book 1: The Ashes of Thezmarr

A fast-paced romantasy full of magic, danger, and enemies-to-lovers tension. The story follows a powerful, battle-hardened heroine who gets pulled into a deadly mission that forces her to work with a very dangerous (and very intriguing) ally. There’s a lot of action, political tension, and that slow simmer of 

Book 1: The Ashes of Thezmarr

A fast-paced romantasy full of magic, danger, and enemies-to-lovers tension. The story follows a powerful, battle-hardened heroine who gets pulled into a deadly mission that forces her to work with a very dangerous (and very intriguing) ally. There’s a lot of action, political tension, and that slow simmer of attraction that keeps building as the stakes get higher.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ — solid romantasy spice with tension and a few steamy scenes, but the plot and world still lead the story.

4.16 ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

Anxious People is one of those books that’s funny, a little chaotic, and unexpectedly emotional. It starts with a failed bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation during an apartment open house, but it’s really about a group of strangers who are all quietly struggling with their own anxieties, regrets, and messy lives. The story sl

Anxious People is one of those books that’s funny, a little chaotic, and unexpectedly emotional. It starts with a failed bank robbery that turns into a hostage situation during an apartment open house, but it’s really about a group of strangers who are all quietly struggling with their own anxieties, regrets, and messy lives. The story slowly unravels everyone’s secrets in a way that’s both heartwarming and surprisingly deep.

4.16 ★★★★☆ on Goodreads

A dramatic historical novel set in ancient Mesopotamia that follows a powerful woman fighting to hold onto her throne in a world ruled by men, politics, and war. It’s full of ambition, betrayal, and power struggles, with a main character who’s ruthless, strategic, and impossible not to root for. If you like epic stories about complicated 

A dramatic historical novel set in ancient Mesopotamia that follows a powerful woman fighting to hold onto her throne in a world ruled by men, politics, and war. It’s full of ambition, betrayal, and power struggles, with a main character who’s ruthless, strategic, and impossible not to root for. If you like epic stories about complicated women who refuse to be controlled, this one is a great pick.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️ (low to moderate) — a little romance and sensual tension, but the focus is really on power, politics, and survival.

4.08 ★★★★☆ on Goodreads