Category: Mystery

Adult Fiction, LGBTQ+, Monthly Wrap-Ups, Mystery, Poetry, Romance, Series, Short Stories

Monthly Wrap-Up: October 2025

Michelle

I read 14 books in October. I’m looking forward to another great reading month in November!

My favorite books read in October were Cackle by Rachel Harrison, Inheritance by Nora Roberts and Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun.

Books Read In October:
📖 Cackle by Rachel Harrison
📖 Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison
📖 George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
📖 The Witches by Roald Dahl
🎧 Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison
📖/🎧 Inheritance by Nora Roberts
📖 Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
📖 How To Survive A Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
📖 Re-Coupling by Harriet Shenkman
📖 Every Step She Takes by Alison Cochrun
📖 Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
📖 Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
📖 Say A Little Prayer by Jenna Voris
📖 This Foreign Affair by Harper Bliss

What did you read in October? Which was your favorite?

Adult Fiction, Humor, LGBTQ+, Memoirs, Monthly Wrap-Ups, Mystery, Nonfiction, Romance, Short Stories

Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2025

Michelle

I read 10 books in July. I’m looking forward to another great reading month in August.

My favorite books read in July were: Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko, When We Go Missing by April Henry and The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff.

These are all the books I read in July:

📖 Girls Like Girls by Hayley Kiyoko
📖 When We Go Missing by April Henry
📖 25 Alive by James Patterson
📖 With A Vengeance by Riley Sager
📖 The Murder Game by Carrie Doyle
📖 The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
📖 Show Me Where the Hurt Is by Hayden Casey
📖 The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
📖 Easy Crafts For the Insane: A Mostly Funny Memoir of Mental Illness & Making Things by Kelly Williams Brown
📖 Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine

Adult Fiction, Art, Books, Events, LGBTQ+, Memoirs, Mystery, Swag

Barnes & Noble Pride Festival @ Union Square, NYC

Michelle

I went to two out of three days of Barnes & Noble Union Square’s Pride Festival this year! 

On Sunday afternoon they had a panel of authors called “Let Me Be Perfectly Queer” moderated by author TJ Alexander and featuring authors Christina Li (The Manor of Dreams) Debbie Millman (Love Letter To A Garden) Jesse James Rose (Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex) and Prabal Gurung (Walk Like A Girl). 

It was a lovely and powerful conversation! They gave out free swag like bookmarks, pins and body art and I even got a reserved seat! There was also a cute Heartstopper backdrop for lots of photo ops!

Of course I got to Barnes & Noble early to browse and scored some other books as well! Besides the books from the events, I’m most excited to read the art books I bought. 

Here are the books I got signed on Sunday at the event:

Here is the swag I got on Sunday:

Here are the other books I scored while there Sunday:

Monday night was another panel called “GYA.” It consisted of queer YA books. The authors in attendance were Zikiya Jamal (If We Were A Movie) Alice Lin (Love Points to You), Page Powars (And They Were Roommates), Brian Selznick (Run Away With Me), K. Wroten (Everyone Sux But You). It was moderated by David Levithan.  

The second night was just as magical as the first with all kinds of incredible questions answered and audience engagement. We even got to take photos with each author as we got their books signed! The staff at Barnes & Noble Union Square is amazing; kudos to them for keeping everything flowing so smoothly. 

I had so much fun on both nights and came home exhausted! I am SO excited to read ALL the awesome books I bought 🌈📚💜

Adult Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Netgalley Reviews, Series

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

Michelle

Ages 18+

In this latest installment of the Finlay Donovan series, Fin is at it again. She and her sidekick/friend Vero begrudgingly help Mrs. Haggerty, her elderly, nosey-body neighbor who unfortunately has been caught with a dead body in her backyard. What have they gotten themselves into this time? This series reminds me so much of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I feel like Finlay and Steph could be besties!

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Netgalley Reviews

The House of Cross by James Patterson

Michelle

Ages 18+

The most recent book in the Alex Cross series, The House of Cross follows Alex as he hunts down a serial killer after America’s best attorneys. During his investigation, however, Alex’s wife Bree and his best friend Sampson go missing, and up the anti significantly. Will he solve his case and be able to save his wife and friend?

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Netgalley Reviews, Thriller

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Michelle

Ages 18+

In August 1975, Barbara Van Laar vanishes from her summer camp in the Adirondacks. This was fourteen years after her older brother Bear, had gone missing from the same camp, never to be found again. The premise seems intriguing and I was excited to read this one, but I was bored with it about halfway through. Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

Historical Fiction, Mystery

Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb

Michelle

Ages 18+

Slocumb’s sophomore novel is a page-turning historical thriller that musicians and non-musicians alike will devour! Told in a dual timeline, the novel follows musical prodigy Josephine Reed who begins to work with Fredrick Delaney in the jazz age. In the present day, music professor Bern and his friend Eboni in the present, a powerhouse duo determined to dredge up the secrets of the past and bring justice to those who deserve it. 

Mystery, YA Fiction

Girl Forgotten by April Henry

Michelle

Grades 9 – 12

Piper Gray starts a podcast for her high school senior project. Her goal is to find out as much information as she can about a case about a teen her age, Layla Trello who was murdered seventeen years ago. The story follows Piper as she interviews police, Layla’s family, and even a teacher who went to school with Layla. Will Piper solve the case or just make a mess of everything all over again?   

Adult Fiction, Mystery

The Forgotten Girl by Daco S. Auffenorde

Michelle

Ages 18+

Blue Bishop wakes up in a hospital bed after being in a coma and knows nothing about herself but her first name. Eventually she learns that she fell from a fourth floor hotel window. But did she really fall or was she pushed? She is determined to find this and lots more answers in the following days and beyond. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Blue didn’t gain her memory back for most of the book which is usually not the case for these types of books, at least in my experience. I was kept guessing until the end. The book was fast-paced and intriguing! I look forward to reading more from Ms. Auffenorde in the future. 

Thanks to the author for a review copy of this book.