The Dating Game
by Ally Zetterberg
Wickedly hilarious (6/18/2026)
The Dating Game is a hilarious tale of murder and board games. I found myself laughing out loud over and over with this one.
Tilda is a delightfully terrible person, and I found myself cheering her on even in her most awful moments. Her approach to dating, while misguided in part, certainly has some merit.
I greatly enjoyed this one!
Plant Lady
by Kang Minyoung
Vengeance is mine, saith the Plant Lady (6/12/2026)
This delightful tale of plants and death had me laughing and tearing up. Sometimes bordering on fantastic and other times just far too real, it is definitely one I will recommend again and again.
The Night Hunter
by Natalie Moss
Stranded (6/4/2026)
You know that feeling when you read a book that describes something so well you feel you're experiencing it yourself? That's what this book did to me.
The characters become stranded in the hot African savannah, and as they try to ration food and water, I found myself feeling increasingly thirsty.
Nothing beats a book that you have to keep reminding yourself is just fiction because it's making you so tense.
Somebody Worth Killing
by Jessica Payne
Mom Life Meets Hired Assassin Life (5/24/2026)
I loved this take on the life of a hired killer with morals. The idea of an assassin who is busy trying to stalk and kill somebody (who absolutely deserves it) while also juggling the many duties of a mom: sick kids, grocery runs, PTA, etc.
Such a fun -- can I use that word for a book about killing? -- book to read. The twists and turns were exciting, but for me, nothing beat the author's ability to create a completely relatable murderer.
Summer's Never Over
by Darby Bozeman
The woods have never felt so creepy... (4/19/2026)
This creepy thriller will have your skin crawling with goosebumps as you tread carefully through a summer camp deep in the woods. The characters are flawed and believable, and the plot has twist after twist to keep you guessing until the very end.
The Take
by Kelly Yang
What a ride! (4/5/2026)
What. A. Ride.
I loved every minute of this one. The characters were so ridiculously unlikable that I didn't know who to root for. But they were also so realistic and complex, with complicated motives and emotions. Every time I really started to hate one of them, they would do something half redeemable. And then just as I was ready to give them some grace, they would make me hate them again.
The backdrop for these characters is a story that engages themes of aging and discrimination, feminism, and the challenge of existing in a man's world without being a part of upholding that world.
An entertaining, thoughtful read that I would recommend to anyone.
The Jellyfish Problem
by Tessa Yang
Jellyfish, friendship, and grief (3/26/2026)
The Jellyfish Problem is a unique story of a woman who is grappling with loss, both through the death of her best friend and the estrangement of a lover.
While some of the writing felt odd and forced to me, I did enjoy the way the main character was forced to confront her painful experiences and move through them instead of just past them.
This was not my favorite overall, but I'm glad I read it.
Boring Asian Female
by Canwen Xu
Buckle up (3/4/2026)
Imagine you're at an amusement park and you get in line for what you think is a relaxing train ride. You get on and it starts out nice and slow, so slow you don't even realize you've climbed high into the air. And then suddenly, you plunge down a hill, gathering speed that drives you forward around twists and turns, over ups and downs. And just when you think you're finished and the ride is over, bam! There's another plunge.
So yeah. That's what reading this book was like.
If you're looking for a book that makes you say, "Whaaaaat?" out loud every few chapters, this is it. I loved it.
The House of Hidden Letters
by Izzy Broom
Mystery and history (2/14/2026)
The House of Hidden Letters has two stories that run side by side through the book, one a modern tale with the protagonist working on her own issues while also trying to solve a mystery of years long past.
While the story itself was intriguing and often emotionally wrenching, the characters are challenging to relate. The ending was a little too neat for my taste and seemed forced.
Fireflies in Winter
by Eleanor Shearer
Haunting and beautiful (1/29/2026)
Haunting and beautiful. Fireflies in Winter acknowledges the flaws within us all, while at the same time reminding us that we are never beyond redemption.
It took me a while to get into this book, but once it got going, I couldn't put it down. I love how the author puts the main focus on the relationships between the characters and how they change and grow. They are all so flawed and therefore real and relatable. Excellent read.
Son of Nobody: A Novel
by Yann Martel
Devastating, brilliant (1/21/2026)
An ancient epic poem, set alongside a modern epic tragedy, this gut punch of a book tells the tale of a man researching a lost story.
The two run concurrently throughout the book, giving the reader a stark reminder of the universal emotions that follows us through centuries. While grief and regret may come in different forms, they are no less a plague today than they were a thousand years ago.
Son of Nobody challenges the reader, but makes the effort to work through these dual tales well worth it.
When We Were Brilliant
by Lynn Cullen
Not my favorite (11/19/2025)
I had a difficult time slogging through this one. The second person narration grated on my nerves after a while, and the dialogue and interactions felt unrealistic and forced. There were good points being made, but I felt they got lost in the mix. Overall, just really not a favorite with me.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
An inter-generational heart wrenching and heartwarming tale (9/1/2025)
This edgy novel begins when teenage Izzy and her family are shocked by the family matriarch showing up to dinner with a woman on her arm. The conservative values of their family and culture don't allow for same sex relationships, and everyone is scandalized.
When Izzy's grandmother tells her story, we are taken on a journey of self-discovery and cultural navigation that is simultaneously inspiring and heartbreaking.
Lovable characters and a compelling narrative make this one a must-read. Just keep your box of tissues close.
Too Old for This
by Samantha Downing
Delightfully Deviant (4/14/2025)
I enjoyed this book WAY too much. It is a wild ride from the very first chapter all the way to the end. I loved the main character and her observations about people and life. Just an absolute delight of a horrifying book.
Serial Killer Games
by Kate Posey
Painful to read (2/2/2025)
I hate leaving negative reviews for books because I know the author puts so much into them. But I really did not like this book. I stayed through until the end, but it was honestly painful to read.
The twists were so abrupt I have whiplash, and the problems all seemed to dissolve tidily to make things nice and neat in the end.
I found the characters unlikable and over the top. I finished it so I could give a fair review, but it was hard.
Making Friends Can Be Murder
by Kathleen West
Fun, cozy mystery (1/23/2025)
Fun, cozy mystery that's perfect for curling up under a blanket on a chilly day or a long plane ride. I loved the characters and the way their different personalities shone through. The ending was almost too neat and tidy, but it added to the cozy mystery vibe.
All in all, a fun, light-hearted read for anyone who enjoys a mystery.
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida
A warm fuzzy blanket of a book (5/20/2024)
I never read a summary before I read a book because I like to approach it with an open mind. Because of this, I had no clue what to expect from We'll Prescribe You a Cat.
Hardly a page or two into it, I was in love with this incredibly sweet and heartwarming tale of the unexpected benefits of being sent home with an unexpected cat. This book brought me so much joy when reading it, and it left me with a lengthy list of friends for whom I plan to buy it.
I tend to shy away from books that I would describe as warm and fuzzy, but WPYAC proved a rare exception to my rule. It is a cozy, delightful little book, well worth the read.
