August 2026 reading round up

August was a busy month for me and as such, not actually a great reading month. I'm still ahead of schedule when it comes to hitting my 100 books target for 2026, and as always I'm sharing below all the books I read in August 2026 and what I thought of them...

The Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley

I was so deep into this series throughout July, and I read the seventh book in the series at the beginning of August. It's a bit of a weird one, as the original sisters embark on a journey to discover the 'missing' sister - the seventh piece of the puzzle, who wasn't actually adopted by Pa Salt for reasons unknown. Honestly at this point I felt like I was kind of over it all, and the story really dragged a bit, and as she was never actually adopted into the family I still struggle to see the relevance. There's only one book to go, the story of Pa Salt, and I'm hoping that will make *everything* a bit clearer. 3 stars.

Glow Job by Kristen Bailey

I had soooo much fun with this one. It follows Ben, a chef/restaurant owner who has inherited a villa in Ibiza, and Chloe - burnt out and in desperate need of a holiday, who winds up attending the retreat that Ben starts hosting at said villa. It's just a whole barrel of laughs, awkward moments, fumbling romance and sunshine. One of my favourite reads of the year! 5 stars. (NetGalley arc)

Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena

I listened to this as an audiobook, and it's a decent domestic thriller; Jill and Ted are broke, and Ted's brother is incredibly rich, and together they decide to get rid of him in order to inherit his millions. But of course, things don't quite go to plan... it's nothing groundbreaking but it was an easy, enjoyable listen! 4 stars.

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

This was our book club pick for August and my god was it gorgeous! It's a sensational read about grief and the power of both books and friendship, and Libby Page just writes so beautifully. We follow X, a grieving young widow, who discovers that her late husband has left her one book a month starting from her birthday 6 months after his death. These books all have a reason behind them, and lead to some incredible adventures that allow her to heal over time. Simply gorgeous, 5 stars.

Around the World in 80 Dates by Jasmine Burke

Another one I just enjoyed immensely and had so much fun with; Amorie accidentally goes viral with a rant about her love life, and ends up with a column in a travel magazine where she has to go on 80 dates in the span of 6 months, while inter-railing around Europe. On day one she meets Noah, who becomes her travel buddy - he's looking for a steady girlfriend, so they agree to help each other. You can imagine the rest... stunning, brilliant, funny and just a good time for a holiday read. 4 stars! (NetGalley arc)

So, not many books read but some real gems in there this month - hopefully September, as we get into cosy season, will have a few more good ones coming through...

July 2026 reading round up

July is my birthday month, and while I didn't get any books for my birthday (shock horror!) I still read a fair few. Without further ado, here they are with quickfire reviews and ratings...

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones

This was a free audibook I listened to, and it was fine - one of those domestic thrillers where somebody turns up claiming to be a family member, and everyone is left to unravel the truth of the situation before danger hits. It was fine, nothing spectacular but a good listen! 4 stars from me.

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent

I absolutely love Lizzy Dent and have read all of her previous books, and as a big F1 fan I was really looking forward to this. I do think it might be time for me to just admit I can't read F1 romances - because there are always so many things that just don't add up when you actually know and love the sport. But that aside, this is a really cute and fun romance read for sure. 3 stars!

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

I decided on a whim to start Lucinda Riley's Seven Sisters series and as you'll see, I've been flying through them. For context, this is an epic series following a group of sisters who were individually adopted by a wealthy, mysterious man named Pa Salt. When he dies, he leaves each of the women a letter with a clue to their birth heritage. Each book is a split timeline, between the sister in question and someone from history with a strong link to them - so we follow two stories in each book.

Book one follows Maia, the oldest sister, as she discovers the death of Pa Salt and sets up the initial story for us. Her letter leads her to Brazil, and we see her story play out alongside that of a young woman called Izabela in the 1920s. This story is told to Maia by her biological grandmother, who she finally finds, and it's a fascinating tale that takes place in both Rio and Paris. 

Overall I think this is a great opening to the series and it really drew me in; the series as a whole is not without problematic characters/descriptions etc and you do have to really suspend your belief while reading, as the whole thing is a bit odd, but I enjoyed it a lot. I gave this one four stars!

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

Book number two follows Ally, the second oldest sister - who was out on a yacht when Pa Salt died, and comes back to the family home to get her letter and begin her own journey to finding out her heritage. Ally's story, marred by tragedy, takes her to Norway; here she learns the story of a young singer called Anna, which takes place 100 years ago and is linked to Ally's own heritage. At this point I started to realise how formulaic the books would be, but that's fine - they're just whimsical historical stories, and not everyone in them is good. But again it was an enjoyable read and I was still keen to continue the series! 4 stars for this one.

The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

I was racing through the series at this point and book three was no exception; this one follows Star, a really meek sister who is joined at the hip with CeCe of book four. The two are living in London, and Star's letter from Pa Salt directs her to an old bookshop in the city - here she meets a man called Orlando, and learns about a family history that goes back to the Edwardian times. The historical portion of this book follows Flora, thrust into London society when she least expected it, which sets off a chain of events that really change the course of history quite a bit. I absolutely adored Flora and her story - Star's side of things, not so much... overall I also gave this one 4 stars!

It should be said that in all of the books in The Seven Sisters series, the characters make really quite dreadful decisions when it comes to love and loyalty, at least in a romantic sense. You'll find a lot of reviews on Goodreads that will criticise the unlikeability of the characters, and honestly this is mostly true, but something about the series just really has me hooked.

The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

Book four was one I really wasn't looking forward to, as everything I'd seen of CeCe in the previous three books was just not doing anything for me. However, I was surprised to find myself really loving this one and I thought her character development was much better than most of the other sisters'. CeCe drops out of art college and heads to Sydney to follow her letter from Pa Salt; en route, she has a strange affair with a mysterious man, which isn't really relevant, but once in Aus she begins to learn about her heritage. The historical story, set 100 years earlier, follows Kitty - a clergyman's daughter who also ventures to Auatralia, where she marries the heir of a pearling company, and rallies against the mistreatment of Aboriginals. This history trickles down to CeCe herself and honestly I adored both halves of this story - I gave it 5 stars.

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

I listened to this as an audiobook, and as always with Lisa Jewell I thoroughly enjoyed it. We follow Jane, who finds a missing dog in her garden which leads her on a whirlwind amateur investigation into a missing girl, a creepy man, and a story that ties back to her own youth. It has a dual timeline, and a LOT of characters, but it's a really interesting plot and a great book.

The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley

Back into The Seven Sisters with book five, which follows the second youngest sister: Tiggy. Working on an estate in the Scottish Highlands, Tiggy is very spiritual and after a near miss with death decides to head to Granada - which is where the historic portion of the story starts, following a younger dancer named Lucia in the poor gypsy community who live in cave houses in the hills. Lucia grows up to be insufferable, but her family is intertwined with Tiggy's story and overall the historic side of this book is still quite interesting. It was my least favourite of the series so far, and I gave it 3.5 stars.

One element that's really common in this series is infidelity; as I said earlier, the characters throughout do make a lot of poor decisions when it comes to love. There is also another really random recurring character called Zed who has featured in a few of the stories (though not all) so far, who is a creep and an awful man, and will presumably become more relevant later down the line - if not, it's been an entirely pointless addition!

The Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley

The sixth book in the series follows superstar/addict Electra in NYC as she makes a series of terrible decisions (shock) and ultimately takes herself off to rehab, which is the making of her. This is interwoven with a historic story about a society girl called Cecily who heads to Kenya with her godmother in 1939 as the world is on the cusp of war - and honestly, I really enjoyed both the present day AND the past elements of this particular book, which made me happy. This was also the only one so far to make me cry and I gave it 4.5 stars!

As always, the characters do things that are totally unrealistic, but it is what it is. And there's a huge twist in this one at the end which had me so excited to read the next book.

Broken Rival by Tessa Bailey

I adore Tessa Bailey for her rom coms and sports romances - and this is completely different, but still fantastic. It's a sci-fi romance about a young girl who's parents figured out time travel and got in a LOT of trouble over it, so she's stuck in the wrong time and dealing with the consequences. When something tragic happens to the boy she loves, she finds herself trying to travel back in time to fix things - with very unexpected events along the way... I really really enjoyed this, it's a great concept and as always has excellent spice but a lot of plot. 5 stars!

The Nile Cruise by Caroline James

It's always been my dream to go on a Nile cruise, but alas - reading about it is as close as I'll get for now. This was a really strange book in all honesty, featuring a private detective who takes some time off to go on a Nile cruise, where she meets a whole cast of fascinating characters and takes plenty of inspiration from her favourite author Agatha Christie. This is definitely character-driven rather than plot driven, and overall it's just quite a sweet and charming book. Not for me, but has great reviews! 3 stars.

That was such a long blog post, as honestly there is so much to say about The Seven Sisters series - I might even write a full blog post once I've finished the whole series, just to get all of my thoughts out properly. Anyway, onto August...

June 2026 reading round up

I was really suffering with my ongoing migraines during June, so the month got off to a bad start reading wise - but then we had a fair bit of travel going on, so I managed to make up for it! Without further ado, here are all the books I read in June with quickfire reviews and star ratings...

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

I honestly don't know why I continue to put myself through it, but Freida's books always pop up in my recommendations on Spotify so I do tend to listen to them on walks, while I'm doing housework etc. This was honestly one of her weirder books, just so slow paced and the twist was SO late on, I was just bored by this point. 3 stars.

Blocked Shot by Rachel Anthony

I had this as an ARC from NetGalley but I'd obviously left it lingering on my kindle for a hot minute because this is already published; I read it start to finish in one 3 hour sitting, so I clearly very much enjoyed it! A sweet but spicy hockey romance, with my only gripe being that I felt like I didn't get to know any of the characters quite well enough... 4 stars!

Lies by T M Logan

I love a T M Logan thriller and I listened to this as an audiobook when I was really struggling to physically read; the plot felt very familiar to me, so I'm not sure if I've read it before (?!) but overall I enjoyed this. It's a domestic thriller about a man who follows his wife into a hotel car park, and ends up in an altercation with one of their family friends who disappears soon after. It's a race against time to figure out the truth behind what's actually going on... 4 stars from me.

The Bone Collector by Jeffrey Deaver

This was our book club pick for June, and I read it with a day to spare - it was a bit of a slog as it has a LOT of technical jargon in it. It's the first in a (very long) series featuring quadriplegic ex-forensic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme, who is sick of living but gets roped into helping with a serial kidnapper/killer causing havoc in NYC. It's a twisty case and a very interesting one, but I really did struggle with how detailed (though very cleverly written) this was. I will probably continue the series at some point but for now, 3 stars for this one.

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

I picked this up at a lovely little independent book shop I had a voucher for (West Kirby Books) as I love Ruth Ware's books - this was no exception! A really enjoyable mystery thriller, following on from The Woman in Cabin 10. We're following travel journalist Lo, still reeling from the trauma of the first story, as she heads to a luxury hotel to hopefully write a profile on the businessman behind it all - there, she runs into a bunch of people from book one, including the woman who had put her in grave danger but also save her life. Now planning an escape of her own, Lo ends up helping her - but at what cost to her own safety and freedom? Very well written and an all round really good read, with great pace and some surprising twists! I gave it 4 stars.

And that's all I read in June; a slow month for me, but I'm at 52 books for 2026 so far, so ahead of schedule for hitting my 100 books this year!

May 2026 reading round up

In May I had both a trip to London (long trains journeys!) and a holiday with a mix of flights and downtime. So, as predicted, I got a fair bit of reading done - and here's everything I read in May, with my usual quickfire reviews and ratings out of five...

Last Call by Lainey Davis

I grabbed this for free on Stuff Your Kindle Day, which is always a bit of a mixed bag, but I liked this one a fair bit. We follow Esther, who marries Koa - he needs a green card, she needs money to open her bar. Now he's back in the picture to sort some paperwork, and she's wondering if it's really just a business arrangement after all... It's a sweet story, super easy to read, but sadly the spice was sooooo cringe and badly done. 3.5 stars from me.

Wild Love by Elsie Silver

Ahead of my recent cruise I downloaded this whole series on KU, so I really hoped I'd fall in love - and I did. Wild Love follows billionaire music producer Ford, who has always had a soft spot for his best friend's sister Rosie; now she's back in town in need of a job, and he can't keep his hands to himself. Good job the feeling is mutual. Oh and there's a teenager claiming to be Ford's child. What could go wrong? This was seriously very lovely, a lot of fun, good spice and a brilliant start to the series. 4 stars!

Wild Eyes by Elsie Silver

Next up, book two - we meet West (brother of Rosie & best friend of Ford from book one) and Skylar. He's a doting dad and she's a pop star on the verge of a breakdown who finds herself in their small town with nowhere to stay. Again, the spice is phenomenal but the relationship that grows alongside it is genuinely so beautiful too. I liked this one even more, as we really start to develop more of a feel for Rose Hill and its inhabitants. 5 stars.

Wild Side by Elsie Silver

Book three of the Rose Hill series follows Tabitha and Rhys, who we've seen hints of in the previous two books - starting off as enemies contesting custody of Tabitha's nephew, they hatch a plan to get married (despite "really not liking each other") to keep things settled for this little boy. Also Rhys is a wrestler on TV which was so random but really cool to read about. Lots of yearning and tension. Very good spice. Honestly what I can say, Elsie Silver does it again! 5 stars.

Wild Card by Elsie Silver

The final book in the series made it hard to say goodbye to Rose Hill and the characters I had now grown so attached to - we're following fire pilot Sebastien and his estranged son's ex girlfriend Gwen, who is a yoga teacher. SO many good tropes; chance meeting, wrong number, son's (ex) girlfriend, age gap, small town... god it was fantastic. Another 5 stars - I thoroughly enjoyed this series and preferred it to the Chestnut Springs series!

I'm Gonna Get You Back by Eva Des Lauriers

This was a Netgalley ARC, and it's a YA story which teeters on the edge of romance and mystery - it follows an elite group of students who were all hoping for a 'Legacy' spot in their small town ahead of college, but one of them gets sabotaged. Now that all the Legacy students are back in town, she enlists her sort-of-ex-boyfriend to try and get to the bottom of who did it... I really liked this and gave it 4 stars.

Someone is Lying by Jenny Blackhurst

My wife found this for me in the bathroom on our cruise (random) and it made a nice change from reading on my Kindle while we were away. This is a great thriller set in a gated community, where one of the neighbours dies at a Halloween party - everyone is keeping something secret, and it seems like everyone had a reason to want her dead. The backstabbing and drama of a very small British community was *chef's kiss* and the storyline was really good too. 4 stars!

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

This was recommended to me by one of my book club friends, and we usually have VERY similar taste in books so I had high expectations. I'm generally not a fantasy/romantasy reader, and this confirmed that for me - it took me AGES to get into, I was so confused by the seemingly endless different powers people had, it felt like someone took The Hunger Games (which I love) and just tore it up and badly stitched it back together. The last 20% of the book has a lot of action and did sort of leave me wanting to know where the story goes, so I may come back to the rest of the trilogy, but for now it's on the back burner. 2.5 stars from me...

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

I love magical realism, and this didn't disappoint - this was our book club read for May, and I really enjoyed it. We follow Clementine, who works in publishing and is currently grieving for her nana, who lived a life FULL of travel and lived in an old NYC apartment which has some sort of strange magical power to it where sometimes you step inside and it's 7 years ago. In the apartment, Clementine meets Iwan who is absolutely perfect. The problem? He's stuck in the past, and she's very much in the present. Will they ever make it work?! Swooooooon this was honestly lush, a few questionable moments for me but overall loved it a lot. 4 stars!

It's Not What You Think by Claire Mcintosh

I listened to this an audiobook and when I tell you it was absolutely NOT what I thought - this was so so good, one of my favourite thrillers of 2026 so far. We're following Nadeeka, who's boyfriend has been murdered; but a few days later, the police have zero record of a crime taking place, and it becomes a huge case as the detectives, and Nadeeka, try to work out what's really happened and how it relates to a far right political movement... Drama after drama, twist after twist. Loved it, 5 stars.

Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey can do no wrong in my eyes; I had this on my shelf for a while, waiting for the perfect moment, which happened to be a sunny Sunday on my egg chair in the garden. I devoured the story of Skylar, softball pitcher and people pleaser, and Robbie - NHL rookie who's a bit of a womaniser, until he meets her. As they head off to her family home for a week of fake dating and wild competition, sparks FLY and boy do they fly. This was sensational; 5 stars from me.

The Calling of the Grave by Simon Beckett

I read the first three instalments in the David Hunter series years ago, and picking this up felt so comforting. The series follows a forensic anthropologist and dives deep into some crazy cases, with this one being no exception - after trying and failing to discover where a serial killer has buried his victims the case goes quiet for 8 years until said serial killer escapes from prison, and David finds himself once again embroiled in the case and the drama that goes alongside a nationwide manhunt. Fantastic and can't wait to continue the series. 4.5 stars!

I can't wait to see if June is just as good of a reading month for me...

April 2026 reading round up

April got off to a bad start - I didn't read anything for the first week! But then we had a lovely long weekend and although mine was jam packed, I still managed to read a whole book and it was all go from there for the rest of the month. Here's all the books I read in April with my quickfire (ish) reviews and ratings...

Bourbon & Lies by Victoria Wilder

I got this book in a Wordy & Wild box one month and it's been sat patiently on my TBR ever since; I wanted a physical read for over the Easter weekend and ended up choosing this. I thought it was going to be a dark romance, but it's absolutely not - it's trying to be a bit of a cowboy romance, and follows Laney who has been dropped in Kentucky on Foxx land as part of the WITSEC program. Along with the romance between Laney and one of the Foxx brothers, Grant, we explore the reason she's in WITSEC as well as how this connects to where she is now. The 'crime' element was predictable but also lacking some detail, and honestly while the premise and plot were good I found the writing clunky and just a bit awkward. Overall, meh - 3 stars.

The Women by Kristen Hannah

This was our April book club pick, and I didn't know what to expect going in but I'd heard soooo many incredible things about this one, which follows Frankie as she heads to Vietnam during the war as a nurse, determined to do her bit and be a hero. We spend two tours in 'Nam with Frankie, witnessing the horrors and heartaches of war, the camaraderie and the day to day and the goodbyes - and then we see what it's like for Frankie to come home, not to a heroes' welcome but to a country who don't recognise the women of the war, and her life soon spirals out of control. This is beautifully written and I learnt an incredible amount; it's slow paced, but I think that's the nature of the story. I'm really glad I read this; 4.5 stars. 

More Like Enemigas by Stephanie Hope

This was a Netgalley ARC that had been on my TBR for a while and I'm so glad I finally read it! It's a sapphic enemies to lovers romance which follows Isabella, desperate to save her late father's restaurant, as she heads to a wedding with her estranged family members and tries to get to the bottom of a whole load of family secrets. Here she reconnects with a childhood friend-turned-enemy, who agrees to help her out... and the rest is history! A charming, no-spice romance which I gave 4 stars.

Death Write Large by Susie Dent

I read Susie Dent's first novel, and was pleased to get an ARC of the sequel; the plot isn't massively strong but it's incredibly well written, and really interesting - set against the backdrop of Oxford (which was nice for me as I visited Oxford for the first time last year!) it follows lexicographer Martha as she works to help the police uncover the story behind a string of murders which are linked to an Oxford linguistic cabal... the focus on language and the history of words in the book is brilliant, and the story is pretty good! 4 stars.

The Girls who Disappeared by Claire Douglas

This was a recommendation from my mum, and I really enjoyed it. It follows a journalist who heads to a small English town to make a podcast about a historic case missing persons case, and ends up getting completely embroiled in every aspect of it as the truth finally starts to come to light. It's a good thriller with a decent twist! 4 stars from me.

The Suitcase Swap by Lish McBride

What a fun read!!!!! I really enjoyed this one; it's a romance that starts with two people who mix up their luggage after getting off a flight to NYC, and meet up to exchange cases - one is a widower, one is divorced, and both are terrified at the thought of getting a second chance at love. The FMC is also a travel blogger which was super fun. This is just a very feel good, soft, nice romance read and I really liked it. 4.5 stars!

The Couple at No.9 by Claire Douglas

I spotted this in the charity shop shortly after finishing The Girls who Disappeared, so for 50p I couldn't leave it there! I really enjoyed this one - the plot is really strong and the mindblowing twists just kept coming. It follows Saffy, who has just moved into a cottage bestowed to her by her Gran, and during building work two bodies are found with a horrible connection to her family; there's a side plot which eventually connects to the main plot, and it's all just really well written. 5 stars from me.

Highland Games by Evie Alexander

This was a freebie on Stuff Your Kindle Day, and the books you tend to get this way can be a bit hit and miss - this one was definitely a hit, though! Despite having never been to Scotland, I just really seem to love romance books set there and this didn't disappoint; Zoe abandons her London life to live in her great uncle Willie's cabin in the highlands, much to the dismay of big burly Rory who wanted it for himself. Enemies to lovers vibes, spicy but also wholesome. Really enjoyed this one! 4 stars.

Too Fast to Fall by Karen Booth

As a certified F1 girlyyy I am always sceptical of F1/motorsport romances, but I got a Netgalley ARC of this one so I gave it a go - I read it over the space of one evening, as it was a really easy/quick read - it follows dog sitter and F1 fan Piper who jumps at the chance to take a 5-week job dog nannying for moody F1 driver Emilio and his dog, Gus. It's a typical instalove, grumpy x sunshine, will they/won't they kind of romance - a few of the racing parts fall a bit flat in terms of accuracy, and I could have done without the chapters from the dog's perspective, but it's fine! I gave it 3 stars.

So that's everything I read in April - I'm off on my honeymoon next week, so May might be a bit slower as we have a jam packed itinerary, but time will tell...

March 2026 reading round up

March was actually a great reading month for me in terms of the volume of books I read, and some were really fantastic too. From our book club pick to ARCs, audiobooks and more, here's everything I read in March 2026 with quickfire reviews and ratings!

Six Years by Harlan Coben

I listened to this as an audiobook, and having read a few Harlan Coben books before I had high hopes but honestly, I was just bored the whole way through. It follows a man who is desperate to find his way back to his ex, and when he hears her husband has died he sets out to find her - but she seems to have vanished and it's up to him to get to the bottom of everything. Honestly it was just dull! Not one of his best by a long shot and I gave it 3 stars.

Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon

This was a Netgalley ARC and I absolutely ate it up; it follows a pop star who wants to retire from fame, and ends up going to college - where she has a really hot, recently divorced professor who she is determined to befriend... and more. It's funny, it's touching, it has some really important background topics and it's also nicely steamy. LOVED it. 5 stars.

Text Me Maybe by Matilda Madison

Another Netgalley ARC and sadly one that really fell short; it's a sports romance, centering around a football club in Manchester, and I thought the premise was interesting - the new marketing manager arrives and ends up texting a wrong number, who of course also turns out to be someone at the club. The texting (and sexting) was just a bit cringe, and I don't think the author did enough research into either football clubs, marketing jobs or Manchester/the UK. All the errors were jarring and really took away from what could have been a good story. 3 stars.

Highland Getaway by Amber Eve

This was another Netgalley ARC, following an "influencer" on a press trip to Scottish Highlands hotel - although it turns out the email went to the wrong person, and she's not an influencer after all, just a normal woman going through a bit of a life crisis. I thought this was heaps of fun; very low spice but felt like high stakes, and the setting was great. Nothing groundbreaking, but a great read and 4 stars from me.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

This was our March book club pick, and I was so excited about it as I love an Em Hen. This felt super different to a lot of her other books, and I definitely did get Evelyn Hugo vibes, but I actually preferred this. Set on a Georgia island, it features two journalists who are both essentially auditioning to write the memoir of a now-reclusive former socialite. Professional enemies who just can't deny the spark between them - and peppered throughout, the history of an entire dynasty. I adored this and it was another 5 star read for me.

The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Another audiobook read, and I still don't know why I keep doing it to myself as I never rate her books highly - but they're easy popcorn thrillers and good to work to, I guess! This one is a split timeline, following a woman in a cabin in the woods during a storm, who gets an unwanted teenage visitor - and the second timeline, featuring a troubled teen living with a hoarder and wanting to do anything to change her life. The twist was good, as usual, but the writing was dull and the characters boring. 3 stars!

The New Neighbour by Valerie Keogh

This was a Netgalley ARC and my first read from this author, who I'd heard good things about - this was okay, but very slow paced with not a lot going on. The main character is fresh out of prison having served 5 years for drunk driving (and killing 4 people), and she is continuing to punish herself by living a tedious life when she starts to notice someone stalking her. The plot itself was good but it was tediously written, with repetitive descriptions and just not much substance. 3 stars.

The Long Haul by Hannah Doyle

I love a bit of magical realism - it might be my favourite sub-genre! This was another Netgalley ARC and it didn't disappoint; we're following our main character Nina on a flight to Australia, where she unexpectedly ends up sat next to her work nemesis AND spots her ex boyfriend (the one that got away) on the same flight. Then she wakes up - and it's the same day, over and over, with Nina caught in a time loop and trying to figure out what she needs to do differently to get out of this. It was a funny, charming, lovely slow burn romance and another 5 stars from me.

The Honeymoon Suite by Rebecca Taylor McKay

This is a really interesting domestic-style thriller, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Amalfi Coast in the 60s, following a couple on their honeymoon - but all is not as it seems, as the wife is incredibly melancholic and senses a brewing secret between her husband and their new friends... It's quite slow paced but really well written and enjoyable. I gave this one 4 stars.

In Her Own League by Liz Tomforde

My final read of the month as I've honestly not been drawn towards anything since finishing this, which is a spin-off of Liz Tomforde's Windy City series. It's a dual POV sports romance which follows the new baseball team owner Reese as she steps into the role, and the wonderful coach Emmett who we've seen in previous books in the series. I loved seeing the snippets of previous characters' lives, I loved the portrayal of such a strong woman in sports, and I loved their blossoming relationship. Honestly, despite the mixed reviews, I really adored this book. 5 stars of course!

I'm now 26 books into the year, which means I'm 2 books ahead of schedule to hit 100 books read this year. I've already had some great 5 stars reads which is so exciting, and I see a fair few more in my future...

February 2026 reading round up

February was a really slow reading month for me; I had a lot going on so I just didn't get around to reading as many books as I would have liked. However, that's not to say there's no books to review! Without further ado, here's all of the books I read in February 2026...

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

I mentioned this one in my 26 books on my 2026 TBR post, and it was our February book club pick. There is so much hype around this book, and at first I really struggled to get into the way it was written - this is translated, and I'm not sure if that's the reason. Regardless, when I *did* get into the book I absolutely loved it. This is the story of a small hockey town, absolutely rocked by scandal and tragedy; you get to know the entire town before the incident happens, which is so clever because you're left feeling as though you're part of the town, going through it too. This book shows the very worst of powerful men, of hockey, of boys being told they can do whatever they want to do. It's expertly done and I would highly recommend. 5 stars!

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

I really enjoy Alice Feeney's thrillers, and I listened to this as an audiobook on my walks and while working. We start with a woman who gets home from a run to discover another woman in her house, claiming to be her - and it only gets so much more twisted from there. Ultimately, this is a book about revenge and heartache, and a little bit of (maybe) murder. I really enjoyed it and again, this is one I'd recommend. 4 stars.

Chasing the Fire by Paisley Hope

I wasn't ready to let go of Silver Pines - Liv and Asher's story is the final one in the series, and it was just gorgeous as always. Hot fire chief with a tortured past x clumsy, sweet girl... this was just a really soft, lovely "cowboy" romance with a fake dating element and some good spice (but not too much) and that amazing found-family aspect too. Liv's kitchen goes up in flame and it's Asher to the rescue, and the 'protector' vibes were so well done. Loved this, 5 stars of course.

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

Sometimes you just need a little YA palette cleanser, and Lynn Painter is great for that. I read this around Valentine's Day, as it's a gorgeous time-loop novel set on Valentine's Day itself - our FMC Em keeps waking up on V Day, after having a really disastrous one, and tries to essentially make the day perfect in the hopes of getting it to stop repeating. It's a really fun and sweet story that I enjoyed immensely! I gave this one 4 stars.

Game, Set, Match by Jennifer Iacopelli 

This was a netgalley ARC and honestly, I found it disappointing. It's a sports romance that seems to be confused about who the main character is; the ending is incredibly abrupt, but not in the sort of way that feels like it's setting you up for a second book. I had only just started to connect with the various characters when it ended which was a shame. All in all, a bit of a let down - 3 stars from me.

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

I went into this thinking it was the next book in the One of us is Lying series but it isn't, so when my confusion was cleared up I really enjoyed this! YA thrillers are just a lot of fun in general; this one follows Ellery and her twin brother who have moved to small town Echo Ridge - a town embroiled in its own history of popular young girls going missing, which seems to be repeating itself. As Ellery and her new friends try to figure out what's happening, it gets messy! 4 stars.

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus

Clearly I was on a YA hype in February - makes sense because it was a busy, stressful month and YA books are of course easier and quicker to read. Anyway, I enjoyed this one too - it definitely gave me we were liars vibes! Three cousins who haven't seen each other since they were little are invited to their estranged grandmother's island to work over the summer, and between them they try to get to the bottom of their family's many secrets and lies... quite slow paced but good nevertheless. 4 stars again.

So that's everything I read in February - not as many books as I would have liked, but there we are! Onto the next month...

January 2026 reading round up

Another year of reading has commenced! I'm aiming to hit 100+ books again this year, but as always I'm not going to pressure myself into it. Whatever happens, happens. Without further ado, here's what I've read in January (admittedly during a bit of a reading slump at the very beginning of the month...)

The Fellowship of the Ring AND The Two Towers by J RR Tolkein

I've always wanted to read the LOTR books, but they are incredibly intense - especially for someone who's not usually a fantasy reader. I opted for the audiobook versions, read by Andy Serkis, and honestly I've been having the time of my life. He embodies every single character so well, really bringing out the emotions of each situation and the humour sprinkled throughout the books. The books themselves are of course mindblowing in terms of plot, world building and the incredibly well written characters. It's mesmerising honestly and I'm loving it - I'm just waiting for my Spotify audiobook hours to renew so I can listen to The Return of the King!

The Right Move by Liz Tomforde

I read the first book in the Windy City series last year after I bought it with one of my birthday book vouchers, and I absolutely devoured it - so my wife got book 2 in the series for me and again, I read it in a day! It's a series of sports romances and this one follows the brother of the FMC from book one; Ryan is a big basketball star who likes his own space, and when his sister's best friend Indy moves in to his apartment with nowhere else to go things are tense. Super fun and spicy fake dating let's go. 5 stars.

Caught Up by Liz Tomforde

As soon as I finished book 2, I noticed the whole series was on KU so I immediately downloaded the rest and started on Caught Up, book number 3. This one follows superstar baseball player and single dad (!!) Kai, as he struggles to manage work and caring for his son; the field manager's daughter, Miller, is in town after quitting her job and ends up nannying... but of course, things get spicy and all loved up. Look, the books follow a formula but it's a GOOD one. And the banter in this one is amazing! Another 5 stars.

Play Along by Liz Tomforde

Anddddd book number 4, following Kai's brother Isaiah and the only woman on the medical staff, Kennedy, who he's been hopelessly in love with for years. They accidentally get married in Vegas and honestly, the rest is history. This one is the sweetest of the series, in my opinion, but still with plenty of spice. I loved the arc of their relationship and how they both really grew as characters individually. Love love love, and no surprises it's a 5 star from me.

Rewind It Back by Liz Tomforde

The last book in the Windy City series and I wasn't ready for it to be over, honestly. In this one we get Rio, one of the most lovable characters who we've seen in every other book so far - when his childhood sweetheart moves in next door AND gets hired to renovate his house, there are a lot of mixed feelings but it's honestly overall just so sweet. Yes there's spice but more than anything this one was just so LOVELY. I adored this entire series and I can't wait for the spin-off. 5 stars!!!!

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

I quite often listen to audiobooks while I'm working, especially if I seem to be having an admin-heavy day, and I got through this one in the space of two work days. It's a YA thriller, written as a dual POV between a boy who's searching for his missing girlfriend (who he's been accused of murdering) and a girl who has no memory of who she is. Twists, turns, botched investigations and plenty of pace. This was good! 4 stars.

The Weekend by T M Logan

I always enjoy a T M Logan book, and while this wasn't my favourite of his I still really liked it; I read this as a Netgalley ARC and it's due to release Feb 26th. It follows three couples on a walking holiday who find a backpack full of cash and go through all sorts of turmoil trying to decide what to do with - which, of course, leads to a whole heap of tension, violence and drama. The twist was quite obvious, in my opinion, but still an enjoyable read. I gave it 4 stars.

So that's everything I read in January 2026 with some quickfire book reviews; as always let me know if you've also read any of these books and what you thought of them...

26 books on my 2026 TBR

Let me tell you, my TBR is extensive. There are way more than 26 books on there, but I decided to pull out the 26 books I'm most excited to read in 2026 and share them with you for inspiration. Let's go!

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

I picked this up at a library book sale having heard so many good things about it, so it's definitely on my winter TBR for 2026. We'll actually be reading this for our February pick at my local book club, so it's a definite tick.

Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

I'm nothing if not predictable so of course there had to be a cowboy romance on this list; I grabbed this in a charity shop a while back and I've not read it yet, so it's definitely on my 2026 TBR.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

We read The Kite Runner for one of our book club picks this year and I was just blown away by it, so when I saw A Thousand Splendid Suns in the charity shop I *had* to pick it up.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

My friend picked up a signed copy of this for me from The Works, which is really special because Lucy is actually the Wirral just like me - I've just not got round to reading it yet, so it's definitely on my 2026 TBR!

The Weekend by T M Logan

T M Logan is one of my favourite thriller authors, and I have an arc of his upcoming release The Weekend from netgalley. I am of course aiming to read this before release day!

The Opposite of Murder by Sophie Hannah

Sophie Hannah is, always has been and always will be an auto-buy author for me; she's my favourite thriller author, and I've reviewed plenty of her books on my blog. I wasn't lucky enough to get an arc for this one but I'll be grabbing a copy as soon as it's released.

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

I actually read my first Abby Jimenez book in 2025, and this is an upcoming release which I'll definitely be trying to get my hands on and read in 2026.

Picture Imperfect by Jacqueline Wilson

I loved Jacqueline Wilson growing up, and I think it's fantastic that she's come back with a few adult novels. I actually went to the tour she did for this one so I have a copy, and I can't wait to read it this year.

Adversary to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

Another 2026 release, and one I'm so excited for - I've loved this series and I'm really hoping this wraps it all up nicely.

Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein (x3)

I've read The Hobbit, but I'm yet to actually read LOTR; I'm planning a big audiobook read of the whole series and I'm really looking forward to it. Dropping in with an update as I'm so late posting this blog post but I've listened to books one and two already. Stunning.

Drive Me Crazy by Lizzy Dent

I have loved Lizzy Dent since her debut and now she's got an F1 romance coming out?! Couldn't be more excited for this and I'm pretty sure it'll be a five star...

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

Yet another new release coming out in April, this is a thriller which I'm really intrigued about as it follows some online besties who meet IRL for the first time and well, we've all been there!

Honey by Imani Thompson

I have a big old list of arcs on Netgalley to get through and this is one of them, set to be a comedic masterpiece apparently! It's a feminist thriller and I'm very eager to see what it's all about.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

I love Em Hen, and I've read quite a few of hers now - but not this one, which I believe is her most recent romance. Very excited to hopefully pick it up in 2026!

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This wasn't on my radar, but it has been chosen for one of our book club picks so it's now made it's way onto my TBR and I'm so intrigued. Very much not my genre of choice but I love branching out.

One of us is Next by Karen M McManus

I am really trying to get through some of the book series I've started and abandoned, so picking up book two in this series is very much on my radar as I really enjoyed the first!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I've heard such great things about this book and it's been on my shelf for ages, so I hope 2026 is the year I get round to reading it.

Game, Set, Match by Jennifer Iacopelli

Sports romances are some of my favourite books and this is a steamy tennis romance so it's right up my street! (Another NetGalley ARC)

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter

I really enjoy a YA read, and Lynn Painter's have always been ones I've found worth reading. I picked this up in the charity shop just before Christmas, so it's definitely on my TBR for the year.

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham

A new-to-me author, I actually got this book in my Wordy & Wild subscription box last year; I seem to really favour romance books set in Scotland, so of course I've got high hopes for this one!

Fall into Temptation by Lucy Score

I really enjoyed the Knockemout series by Lucy Score, but I've not read anything else from her so when I saw this one in the charity shop I had to pick it up; I'll be saving it for autumn...

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

This is out of my comfort zone for sure, but I got a proof from Scribner and I'm really looking forward to reading it - it's a historical thriller!

The Pledge by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

This is another NetGalley ARC I need to get to, and one I'm really looking forward to - it's a thriller set on a remote island full of billionaires. Sign me up...

Champagne Problems by Hannah Grace

I've enjoyed Hannah Grace's previous romance reads, and this is another F1 romance - so I'm sure I'll love this one just as much. It's set to come out this autumn!

So those are 26 books on my 2026 TBR; of course, there will end up being a LOT more books I want to read throughout the course of this year, but these are top of my list at the moment. Let me know if you've read any of the other that are already out, or have your eye on any of the newer releases.

December 2025 reading round up

12 months of books, and my grand total was (drum roll please) 107! I'm pretty proud of that, my aim was 100 so to surpass that is really nice. I read such a wide range of genres, and my ratings were all over the place, but overall I feel it was a good reading year for me! Without further ado, here's everything I read in December to round out the year...

Good Spirits by B K Borrison

My second A Christmas Carol retelling of the year! A very cute and fun rom-com - dual POV following a young woman who is visited by the hot ghost of a sailor meant to show her the error of her ways. But all is not as it seems and also he's hot, so you can imagine what happens there. I really enjoyed this!! 4 stars.

Hot to Go by Kristen Bailey

This was just SO much fun! Another dual POV romance, this time following two people who meet on holiday and form an instant connection but things go south and they lose touch ...until now. It's not particularly spicy, but it's really funny and the characters were well developed. Just an all round good time and 4 stars from me.

The Yacht Party by Benedict Brown

This was an ARC from netgalley; I loved the premise (any thriller which is set during a reunion of some kind is right up my street) but this fell kind of flat. It's told from three different POVs, one after the other, which meant the pacing felt a bit all over the place - the characters were all quite unlikeable, and the plot was vastly unbelievable. An easy read nevertheless but 3 stars from me.

Love in the Fast Lane by Tyra Prince

This year I officially became an F1 girlyyy and I am truly obsessed; however, this was my first motorsports romance - another netgalley ARC, and this time a YA. Is it the most realistic depiction of motorsports? Probably not, but it was really sweet and follows a girl who is headhunted to be an engineer for a team, only to have their two superstar drivers fighting over her. I flew through it and really enjoyed it. 4 stars!

Do You Remember? by Freida McFadden

I'm not a Freida lover, but I do find her popcorn thrillers are good to stick on as an audiobook while I'm working or doing bits around the house - which was exactly what I did with this one, which follows a woman who has complete amnesia, waking up every morning believing it's 7 years ago, not recognising her husband and so on. By it's very nature, it's repetitive; I feel like some authors would be able to write this without it being boring, but alas. The twist was pretty good, though. Overall it's 4 stars from me.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

A good old ice hockey romance but this time set at the Olympics?! Sensational, I absolutely adored this (another netgalley ARC) - it teeters on the edge of YA and adult, and only has the most teeeeeny bit of spice which is rare for a hockey romance so if that's something you're looking for, this is a winner. It follows an ice hockey star at her first games, who is fake dating a photographer who just so happens to be her biggest rival's brother... yikes! Actually 5 stars from me for the final read of 2025, how exciting.

So there's my final reading round up of 2025 - I read 107 books and of course, had the best time. I'm aiming for 100 books again in 2026, so we'll see if I hit that... Follow me on Goodreads if you're on there, I'd love to connect!

November 2025 reading round up

I can't believe this is the penultimate reading round up of 2025 - this year has flown by! Without further ado, here's everything I read in November 2025 and what I thought of them...

The Hidden Girl by Lucinda Riley

I picked this up in Waterstones when I was spending my birthday gift vouchers, and my wife actually chose this for me as she liked the cover. It's not my typical genre of choice, but I was absolutely awed by this book. I ended up choosing it for our mini bestie book club, and I was so pleased I did. It's a beautiful story about a young girl who is whisked away from her quiet Yorkshire life in the 60s to become a model; intertwined with her life, and the tragedies that happen to her, is the story of two young siblings during World War Two. The way the story seamlessly weaves between the decades and shares so many perspectives is expertly done, and it's just honestly fantastic. 5 stars from me!

Their Double Lives by Jaime Lynn Hendricks

I listened to this one as an audiobook while working; it's a mediocre thriller about a woman who's been paid to kill a man at a country club and what happens when she can't go through with. Told from the dual POV of her and the man's fiancée across two timelines, it's relatively well-written and the twists, though not too difficult to guess, are tied up nicely. I gave this 3.5 stars.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

What a whole lot of fun! This is the kind of fantasy I can get behind; I'm not an ACOTAR girly and I don't read about faes and dragons etc, but cute witchy urban fantasy with cosy vibes? That's a bit of me. This book had been on my TBR since last autumn, so I was really happy to finally get around to reading it this year. A very enjoyable, easy read - well written and cute with a fast paced storyline and good spice! 4.5 stars from me.

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus

I read this for our November pick at the main book club I go to, and I loved it - YA thrillers are definitely one of my favourite genres, and this didn't disappoint. I *had* seen the TV show, quite a while ago, so I had a vague sense of what was happening but I'd forgotten the twist and had a completely different suspect in mind. It's really well told and a very interesting story; I gave this 4 stars, though it's more of a 4.5, and I'll definitely continue the series.

On The Ferry to Skye by J A Forde

I absolutely loved this - books set in Scotland really seem to do it for me. It's a lovely romance about two childhood friends who never quite get together, then completely lose contact. When life brings them back together, it's a bit of an enemies to lovers, second chance romance situation and it's gorgeous. With the exception of some really questionable decisions by the FMC, I really enjoyed everything about this. 4.5 stars!

What Have I Done? by Teresa Driscoll

This was a thriller ARC, and it was good! It follows a family who have been drawn into the orbit of a cult, lead by a very dangerous woman, and the whole family get completely wrapped up a whole lot of drama which all stems back to one horrific event a year or so prior to when the book is set. The twist was really good and I enjoyed the subplots too! 4 stars from me; releases January 2026.

Dove by Paisley Hope

I adore Paisley Hope - her writing style is honestly brilliant. I believe this book is set before the first book in the Soldiers of Bedlam series (confusing but whatever) and it follows Sean, ex-soldier and member of the town's very intense motorcycle club, and Layla: struggling student/server who has been left orphaned after her parents were killed by another MC. The spice is intense but so well done, and the plot is of course very insta-love but also very cute. Overall I just really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars,

The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah by Jean Meltzer

My 100th book of the year and my first holiday romance of the season! This is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, but with a Jewish twist and set in NYC. It follows a TV producer who is married to the job, and still reeling from her divorce - throughout Hanukkah, while preparing for a big live action TV show, she is visited by eight 'heartbreaks' who take her on a journey through her life to see what she can learn. With a second chance romance plot too, this was an enjoyable read although I found it a bit odd in places where the character literally explains she is living in a retelling. That felt a bit jarring! Overall though, 3.75 stars!

Second Chance Romance by Olivia Dade

Rather unimaginative title aside, this was a really sweet... second chance romance, of course, set in a small town following an audiobook narrator who goes back home upon learning about the death of her old best friend, who actually turns out not to be dead but running a cute bakery. The two rekindle and things go from there, but there are plenty of fun subplots and the romance is an enjoyable slow burn. 3.5 stars!

Some really good reads in November, and I was thrilled to hit the 100 books mark for 2025 - I'll probably end the year at around 108, but we'll see in my December reading round up...

September 2025 reading round up

So, at the beginning of the month I published my August 2025 reading round up and I completely missed out two of the books I read in August - I'd been slacking on updating my Goodreads, clearly! Anyway, I've included them here along with everything I read in August 2025 with quickfire book reviews and ratings for you to enjoy...

family of liars by e. lockhart

One of my forgotten August reads! I read we were liars way back in lockdown, and I adored it; I went on to watch the TV adaptation this summer, which I also enjoyed a lot, so I thought it was definitely worth continuing with the book series. The sequel is actually a flashback to the liars' mums' childhood on the island, and the events that shaped them into the three very different women they are in the timeline of the first book. While I didn't love it as much as the first, this was still a great read and I'd recommend this series for sure. 4 stars!

we fell apart by e. lockhart

Another forgotten August read - this time an ARC and the third book set in the we were liars universe. This one is set during the same summer as the Sinclair fire, and honestly the whole book felt like a fever dream - with an 18 year old girl searching for her estranged father at his coastal commune, trying to unravel the mystery of her family history. It's an intense but interesting read with some wacky characters, plenty of drama and a captivating plot. Also 4 stars from me.

Mile High by Liz Tomforde

That brings us to September, and I finally went over to Liverpool to spend all my birthday book vouchers. One of the books I picked up was Mile High by Liz Tomforde, having heard great things about the Windy City series. And this did NOT disappoint - it's long for a romance novel, but it was worth every single page and I loved it. Hockey romances just hit different and this one has a really nice amount of spice balanced with yearning, family dynamics, hockey and fun. 5 stars from me and I cannot wait to continue the series...

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

I love this series, and I was fully expecting book 3 to be the conclusion to the narrative - but it's definitely been left open for a fourth (and hopefully final...) instalment. The characters just charm me so much, and I love the universe it's set in, but I don't think there's really anywhere else to go with it and I do wish it had been wrapped up in this one. While trying to solve the riddles to save the kingdom and avoid falling further in love with each other, our protagonists deal with drama after drama - and now everyone around them seems to be falling in love, too. Honestly I do love it, but I hope book 4 wraps everything up as I fear anything else would just lead to boredom and an unsatisfying ending... 4.5 stars for this one!

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Big fan of Holly Jackson's YA thrillers, so I was eager to see what her first adult thriller would be like. This follows Jet, a young adult who ends up getting attacked on Halloween - she survives, barely, only to be told she will certainly die in the next week. This gives her the perfect chance to solve her own murder, which she attempts with the help of her best friend Billy. The whole time I was thinking "this girl has a brain aneurysm, should she be doing that?" as she runs around Vermont confronting people and looking for evidence. That aside, though, this is a really enjoyable read that definitely still leans more towards YA. I gave it 4 stars.

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

These books are everywhere and as we're now officially in autumn it only felt right to pick up the first in the series - especially given as I'd bought a few of the other books already. This is your typical cutesy small town romance: they meet, fall in love, something goes wrong and threatens to cut their happiness short, then everything works out and they run off into the sunset. It's a tried and tested formula, and it works. What got me with this one, though, is that everyone says it's spicy - and I don't know if I just read *really* spicy books but genuinely I did not see anywhere near the level of spice I was expecting based on comments and reviews I've seen. Overall though, a nice and cosy autumnal read which I rated 3 stars.

The Cows by Dawn O'Porter

I have a mini book club with two of my best friends, and this was our most recent pick - I expected great things from this and sadly, the book did not deliver. Funny but almost accidentally (there are lines you think are jokes but then there's no punch line and you're left feeling baffled) this is a story of three women navigating modern life. One's a mum, one is a desperate to have children, and one is happily child-free by choice. Their lives overlap and intertwine in various ways as they battle the pressures of womanhood; it felt like this could have been such an interesting book with so much to say, but honestly it fell so flat and overall it was a disappointing read. Clunky writing, characters who aren't fully fleshed out, just meh. 2.5 stars from me.

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore

Continuing the Dream Harbor series with book two, it was of course much of the same - a cutesy romance with very little spice, a third act 'conflict', and a happy resolution. This one is of course focused around a bookshop which is a lovely element, and there is a bit of a mystery going on too which was fun. I did enjoy getting to know the town and the whole cast of characters a bit more, and I will definitely continue with the rest of the series because I can read one of these books in around 3 hours. But is it as good as people make out on TikTok? Definitely not. I gave this one 3 stars.

What the Wife Knew by Lia Middleton

I've been slacking with ARCs lately, and this was actually the only one I read in September (oops)! A courtroom thriller focusing on a murder trial, we follow a KC who is defending his client while also navigating a rocky time in his own relationship - is it all connected?! Honestly I guessed what we going to happen pretty early on which is unlike me; nevertheless it was an interesting and enjoyable read, especially if you like courtroom/law-based stuff. But yeah, nothing groundbreaking and 3 stars from me.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas

This was the October pick for the other book club I'm in, and I really enjoyed it - it's a thriller about two sisters who swap lives, and something devastating happens during the process which was really aimed at the other sister. What follows is a twisty narrative as the family reels from the shock and tries to figure out what happened, why and who did it... some excellent plot twists and a really well fleshed out story. 4 stars!

So that's everything I read in September 2025, some newer releases and a wide mix of genres. Let me know if you've read any of these, I'd love to hear your thoughts...

August 2025 reading round up

I read 11 books in July, so August was going to have to be pretty good to beat it - sadly it wasn't, as I ended up really poorly and couldn't read much. But I did end up ticking off 7 books over the month, so keep reading for my quickfire reviews and ratings...

Fake Skating by Lynn Painter

I've read quite a few Lynn Painter books and was thrilled to get an ARC of her newest (releasing end of September). It didn't disappoint, and might be one of my favourites of hers! It's a fake dating romance, as the title suggests, mixed with hockey and it's YA too. A really easy, enjoyable read that also touches on some tougher topics. The characters are well-rounded and book is brilliantly written. 4 stars!

Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington

I was very into the concept of this, which I got as a NetGalley ARC (it's out in November) - it's a YA thriller following a girl who is grieving the loss of her best friend, a beauty influencer in a small town that is basically run by a make up corporation. Our main character's brother returns home to help her through the grief, and together they go on their own journeys to discover what really happened. It's a great storyline with some good representation, but it felt overly long and the writing drags a bit. I gave this 3.5 stars!

When I Picture You by Sasha Laurens

This one is a sapphic YA romance, and another one I read as a NetGalley ARC - release date is set for September. I really enjoyed this; it's a beautifully crafted childhood friends to lovers plot, with the added drama of the pressures of coming out as an A-list celebrity. Did some parts of it feel a bit far fetched? Sure, but that didn't take away from how good this is. I'd definitely recommend, and I rated it 4 stars - possibly 4.5!

Fix Them Up by Maggie Grant

When I see 'small town romance' I immediately think of them being set in the US; this one, yet another NetGalley ARC (releasing in October and perfect for a cosy autumnal read), is actually British and I adored it. Honestly gorgeous - it follows our main character Kat, in the wake of her dad's death. She returns to his home town to renovate and sell his childhood home, but ends up falling for the local builder and really, the community as a whole. It's beautifully written, emotional and lovely, with a true golden retriever MMC. My first 5 star book of August.

The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden

I finally finished the Housemaid series, and this third instalment was another good one - and I think it rounds off the overall story really well. I listened to this as an audiobook, although I wish I'd read a physical copy instead but we can't have it all. Millie is now married with kids, the drama of the previous two books behind her, excited for a fresh start - but with neighbours who talk too much, hidden rooms and a fierce daughter of her own, nothing is really as it seems. I gave this one 4 stars.

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

I listened to an Alice Feeney audiobook in July and loved it, and there's quite a few of hers available for free on YouTube so I decided to pick another. This one focuses on a woman who's in a coma, but she can hear everything going on around her and she's trying to get to the bottom of what's happened to her - the POV flicks between her current day, the time leading up to the accident, and also some childhood diary entries about her and her best friend. There are many layers to this book and at times I was unsure how they would connect, but they do and the twist is great. A really interesting domestic thriller! 4 stars.

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén

I very rarely read translated fiction, but myself and two friends have formed a mini book club and this was the book chosen for our first read - something completely out of my comfort zone! It's a reflective literary novel following Bo, an elderly man who is slowly losing grip on life as he knows it. His wife is in a home, his beloved dog is under threat of being taken away, and he has carers visiting multiple times a day to help with basic tasks he can no longer do himself. Told through a mix of carer log book entries, Bo's present day thoughts and experiences as well as Bo's memories of his own childhood and adult life, it's a beautifully written tale that explores the vulnerability of being elderly. A very emotional book, and 4 stars from me.

So that's everything I read in August - let me know if you've read any of these and what you thought of them!

July 2025 reading round up

July was an incredibly busy month, but also wound up being a really good reading month. As usual, there's a good mix of ARCs, thrillers, romance novels and more - so without further ado, here's everything I read in July 2025 with my quickfire reviews and ratings...

The Writer's Retreat by Samantha Verant

This was an ARC via NetGalley, and honestly I didn't enjoy it whatsoever. I had high hopes as the premise - a murder goes down at a writing retreat with a cult aspect to it - sounded right up my alley but it felt so flat. It was so complex with all these different POVs and timelines, which didn't flow well at all, and the characters were incredibly insufferable. Just overall felt like a slog to read. 2.5 stars from me.

The Lucky Winners by K L Slater

Another NetGalley thriller ARC, this time centred around a couple who win a stunning Lake District house in one of those crazy raffles - but of course, one half said couple has a past they're desperately trying to run away from, and the publicity doesn't help matters. Their dream home turns into an absolute nightmare. This was well paced and well written, and I really enjoyed it - though the ending was a tiiiiny bit flat. Overall, 4 stars.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

I read this as an audiobook (for free on youtube) and it was fantastic - such a fascinating concept and a really compelling story, which I genuinely enjoyed listening to. We follow a writer, who's wife has disappeared; in the hopes of finally being able to write a new book, he moves into a writing cabin previously owned by a bestselling author - in the middle of nowhere. What could go wrong?! It's expertly crafted and the twist was pretty mindblowing; the remote Scottish island setting is always a treat, too. Easy 4.5 stars from me.

Real When I'm With You by Lucy Powrie

I read this as a NetGalley ARC, and I knew going into it that it was YA etc; I've read Lucy's books before and, as always, this was really beautifully written and it's a lovely story. It has great neurodiversity and LGBT+ representation, but this could also be its downfall - it honestly felt really forced, rather than being a naturally woven part of the plot. It's a shame but overall I still enjoyed this book, which is a fake-dating romance following an autistic girl and a sweet barista. 3.5 stars but I'm definitely not the target audience here...

Love Me Do by Lindsey Kelk

This was one of the books I got for my birthday this year, and my first ever Lindsey Kelk. I have to say I really enjoyed it! Set in LA, it follows a British copywriter who is supposed to be visiting her sister but ends up playing matchmaker for her hot neighbour. It's just a lot of fun, quite a surface level romance but a really nice summer read nevertheless. 4 stars!

The Teacher by Freida McFadden

Still putting myself through Freida audiobooks on my walks and when I'm working - they're easy listening, but they're really not great books. This one is about a messy student and teacher relationship, and what happens when said teacher's wife finds out. It has a pretty good twist at the very end which I didn't see coming, but overall it's not very thrilling. 3 stars.

Rush by Daphne Loveling

This was an indie pub that I picked up on Stuff Your Kindle Day, and I was really expecting a dark romance given that it's a motorcycle club book, but it really wasn't dark at all. It was actually quite sweet, very 'insta love' with some found family and some decent spice. I enjoyed it, and it's a very quick, easy read, though the writing isn't fantastic. 3 stars!

The Situation Ship by Kate Callaghan

This is billed as a murder mystery romance, and that's basically exactly what it is, but it was a really odd blend of the two genres - with added spice. Bonus points for being set on a cruise ship, it follows an A-list celeb in the wake of a family death who then becomes wrapped up in multiple murders happening on board which she investigates with her new bodyguard, a hot detective. I did enjoy this but it just felt like it didn't know what it really wanted to be. 3.5 stars from me.

Body Check by Elle Kennedy

This was another birthday book, and it's actually Elle Kennedy's first ever book (as far as I know). It's a sports romance (loveeeee) based around a girl having a one night stand with a hockey player, who coincidentally plays for the hockey team her (possibly corrupt) father owns. The story navigates their blossoming relationship alongside the pressures of family life and hockey drama. I really enjoyed this and it's only a short one! 4 stars.

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden

I actually really enjoy this series - definitely her best work. This is the sequel to The Housemaid, following the same protagonist a few years down the line as she finds herself still trying to be the saviour for women in sketchy DV situations. They're well written, still popcorn thriller-esque but genuinely very good and I'm glad I've continued reading the series. The twist wasn't really that big of a twist but nevertheless, 4 stars from me and another physical read, rather than an audiobook...

The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright

This was an ARC from NetGalley, and did I enjoy it? I didn't love it, but it was okay; it follows a couple who have moved to the seaside in anticipation of their new baby, and join a parenting class filled with locals. The plot develops as they form friendships (and rivalries) with the other couples, and it builds up into a huge and devastating drama. Honestly the twist just annoyed me because it was one of those that just wouldn't occur, because you'd know certain information about your partner that would make what actually happens completely avoidable. Trying not to include spoilers but yeah, silly twist and overall not a thrilling read. 3 stars.

11 books in July, and August is already off to a great start! Feel free to let me know your latest read in the comments too, as I'm always open to recommendations...