books

My November TBR

Are you in holiday mode yet? I’m getting there. We’re halfway through the month and my first holiday audiobook came through on the Libby app, so maybe I’ll be enticed to start switching my pumpkins for stockings once it’s over. I do love the magic of the Christmas season. Okay, I guess I am kind of ready!

In the meantime, I’m really hoping to squeeze in another fall book plus I need to finish a fantasy book for book club, and I hope to FINALLY get around to the new Dan Brown. Ahhh, so many books, so little time! Let’s have a look at the five books I’m hoping to read this month.

Fall Reading Guide 2025

Autumn is here! The leaves are officially turning in Alabama! (This is probably due to the drought we’ve been having, but it still counts in my book.) The weather isn’t really cooler, but today I put on my cowboy boots with a dress anyway. “If you build it, they will come” right? I am really leaning into fall and all the things it brings: the colors, the pumpkins, the flavors, the sports, the holidays, and the books.

I have big goals every year to read all the fall books. It never happens, but it got me thinking about my actual autumn TBR (to be read) list. While it’s not too long…okay, that’s a lie. It’s totally too long, always is, but I can realistically squeeze in a few of these and already have some of them in my possession.

While making my fall TBR list, I was reminded of several books I’ve already read and loved for this time of year. I thought you might want to get into the spooky season, witchy season, vampire season, or cozy season mood with a good book. Below I will share a few books that I’ve read as well as the ones on my TBR list. It’s a little lengthy. (I can’t help myself; I just love books!) Grab yourself a beverage treat or a little snack and pretend you’re strolling the aisles of the book store. Okay, here we go.

Summer Recap Part 1

Summer. My favorite and least favorite time of the year. Favorite because I get a much deserved break from school. Least favorite because I hate the heat. Sweating and being hot in 100% humidity ranks up there as one of my least favorite things of all time, yet I still keep calling south Alabama home. Not for lack of trying to move, though. This time of year, I always ask Paul if we can please have a summer home in Maine. (He always says no.) Here in winter and spring, in Maine in summer and fall… Can you imagine? Those are my lottery winning dreams, though. Teachers don’t make enough for summer houses in Maine.

Book Review: What I Read in June

Summer reading is in full swing. I’m loving most of the books I’ve picked up, and I think I’ve found a top five book of all time! Keep reading to add some pretty stellar books to your TBR.

Book Review: What I Read in April and May

Don’t worry! I’m not doing long form reviews today. There are simply too many books to review. One day I’ll get back around to it. In the meantime, visit my Instagram page for full reviews and thoughts. Now we’ve got a lot to get into. Shall we?

Starting Off Right

While February is nearing its end, I’ve got a bit of catching up to do. I believe reflection is a great way to remember to be grateful for the things in your life. Helps keep things in perspective, ya know? So today I’ll be recapping the first month of the year and all the good and bad it brought with it.

Book Review: The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

Hello readers! It’s sequel time. After finishing The Housemaid for book club this month, I had to dive into book two, The Housemaid’s Secret, and boy is it a juicy secret! Here’s the format for this review- I’ll give you a synopsis, my review, who I think should read this, and a pairing of some sort. Now let’s find out about…

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

The Synopsis

Millie is back with another housemaid job but this time in a multi-million dollar penthouse in NYC. After being contacted by Douglas Garrick, she agrees to the job even if she gets the creeps in their apartment. Not to mention, Mr. Garrick has instructed Millie never to disturb Mrs. Garrick who is in the guest room and very ill. Under no circumstances can she knock and disturb her while she gets better. But things start to get a little weird- like when she finds blood on a white nightgown. Then something happens that causes Millie to have to open the door. As soon as she does, everything changes. Millie isn’t one to back down to a dangerous man, though. And she’s not about to start now.

My Review

If you thought the twists and turns in The Housemaid were good, you ain’t seen nothing yet! This book keeps you guessing until the very last page. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, things get flipped upside down. I flew through it due to the super short chapters. You’ll be reading *just one more* well past your bedtime.
I do think you need to read the books in order, but don’t let that scare you off. If you’ve got a lazy weekend, you’ll finish them both with no trouble. I gave it 4 stars.

Who Should Read It?

Anyone dealing with a book hangover or in a reading slump. Fans of thrillers. Fans of psychological thrillers.

Pair It With…

I’d pair this with a lazy weekend and book one.

I want to know all your thoughts on this one once you read it! Get your copy of The Housemaid’s Secret at your local library, independent bookstore, second hand book website, or here.

Book Review: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

Hello readers! Today, I’ve got a romance set in a small town in the Pacific Northwest with a king crab fisherman for a male lead and a music loving female lead. Lead? Main character. It’s quite charming. Here’s the format for this review- I’ll give you a synopsis, my review, who I think should read this, and a pairing of some sort. Without further ado…..

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

The Synopsis

In book one of this duology, It Happened One Summer, we meet the Bellinger sisters, Piper and Hannah. Piper’s story is told in book one. Hannah is our girl for book two, Hook, Line, and Sinker. In book one, Hannah and Piper find themselves nearly broke and in the small town where their father is highly regarded after his death. As they get to know the people in town, they start to make a life for themselves and that’s when Hannah meets Fox, a king crab fisherman who is a bit of a ladies man. They are forced to spend time together on their own and bond over Hannah’s love of music. This causes something to shift in Fox and causes them to strike up a real friendship.
Now for book two. Hannah and Fox have been texting each other for about a year sharing songs that perfectly describe their day or the mood they are in. When the film Hannah is working on hits a snag, she suggests heading to Westport for an authentic setting as the perfect backdrop. While planning, she realizes the guest room at her sister’s house is already spoken for, but Fox agrees to let her crash at his place. After all, they’re best friends at this point. When Hannah arrives Fox starts to see Hannah in a new light. But Fox has always been a playboy. Will he have it in his heart to change? Or will he throw away the best thing that might have ever happened to him?

My Review

Admittedly, I was a big fan of book one, so book two was a no-brainer for me. I do not think that you have to read the first one to understand everything about the second book, but I did like knowing the context of everything going on. It’s worth your time to read both. I thought this was a great summer read due to its light and fluffy content. Nothing got too serious, and I had fun reading it. I will warn the more sensitive readers that this has some open door romantic content. If that’s not your thing, skim through those parts or skip this series altogether. I’m sad to not visit Westport anymore, but I’m sure glad I got to visit it for two books. The narrator on audio is a tad annoying, but not so annoying that I needed to stop listening. I gave it 4 stars.

Who Should Read It?

Lovers of romance and romcoms. Readers that don’t mind a bit of spicy content. Music lovers. I didn’t play this up enough. There’s so many music references in this book. I loved that! Read this if you’re a fan of the friends to lovers and forced proximity tropes.

Pair It With…

Any of the records mentioned in this book but playing your favorite record will work. I think this one also pairs well with a pool or the beach. And of course…with book one, It Happened One Summer.

Let me know if you visit Westport and get to know the Bellinger sisters! Get your copy of Hook, Line, and Sinker at your local library, independent bookstore, secondhand book website, or here.

Book Review: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Hello readers! If you’re looking for a page-turner, I have just the book for you. Here’s the format for the review- I’ll give you a synopsis, my review, who I think should read this, and a pairing of some sort. Let me tell you about…

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The Synopsis

Millie is an ex-con in desperate need of a job so she can move out of her car and not jeopardize her parole. Going back to prison just isn’t an option anymore. When she gets wind of a live-in housemaid position where she’ll be cooking, cleaning, and taking care of a young child, she jumps at the chance. She’s sure her background check will cost her the position, but to her surprise, she gets the job. She’s relieved and can’t believe the beauty of the house where she’ll be working and living. That is until she’s shown the creepy staircase that leads to the room where she’ll be sleeping. She shakes off the unsettling feeling and revels in the relief that it’s not her car she’s sleeping in anymore. But then the first day of work starts, and things take a turn for the worse. But she never expected it to get as bad as it does.

My Review

I finished this book in one day. I listened to it on audio and couldn’t find it in me to hit the stop button. It had me hooked from the prologue and didn’t let go until the end. It was full of twists and turns, the chapters are short, and it was a wild ride. I had a few issues with some things that felt were loose ends, so I am giving this one 3.75 stars.

Who Should Read It?

Anyone who loves a psychological thriller. Anyone trying to get out of a reading slump. I finished this one right after Fourth Wing, and let me tell ya, that one will give you a book hangover. The Housemaid pulled me right out of it and got my mojo going again. I’m a big chicken when it comes to scary things, and this was not bad at all. Creepy? Oh yeah! But not so bad that I couldn’t read it.

Pair It With…

Well a creepy staircase obviously! 🙂 I would pair this with a bright sunny day or a project like painting because I’m a big ol’ baby when it comes to reading scary things. If I were more thick skinned, I’d pair it with a dark and stormy day on my couch listening to the thunder and the rain for all the moody ambiance.

I hope you pick this one up sometime soon. I’m currently reading the sequel now. It’s shaping up to be as spooky as the first one. Get your copy at your local library, independent bookstore, secondhand books website, or here.

Book Review: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Hello readers! I can’t wait for you to read about this spectacular book. (See what I did there?) Here’s the format for this review- I’ll give you a synopsis, my review, who I think should read this, and a pairing of some sort. Without further ado…..

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

The Synopsis

Marion is a nineteen year old dance instructor. She lives at home with her father, Simon, and older sister, Judy. Her mother died when she was just a child, so it’s been the three of them and their housekeeper who has been with the girls their whole lives. Marion also has a boyfriend, Nathaniel, who is just back from a European trip and is ready to settle down with Marion and get started on a family of their own. But Marion isn’t sure she’s ready for that at such a young age. She craves adventure and purpose for her life that doesn’t involve making meals, running a household, and raising children. When she learns of an open audition for the Radio City Rockettes, she decides she must try.
Meanwhile, NYC has been plagued by the “Big Apple Bomber” for sixteen years and keeps escaping the clutches of the police. At the end of their rope, the NYPD decides to enlist the help of Dr. Peter Griggs, a psychiatrist who has an interesting and unconventional way of studying criminals and the mentally ill.
By chance, Marion and Peter find themselves working together with the police to help find the bomber. Marion soon finds she’s much more of a standout than she thought, and uses this self realization to her benefit and the benefit of the entire city.

My Review

I thought this was a splendid book. I found profound statements such as, “She hadn’t realized until now what a passive participant she’d been in her own life, gliding along with everyone else’s desires for her future.” I was angered by certain, outdated standards placed on women. My heartstrings were tugged several times making me feel sad and sympathetic. My heart rate climbed when the bomber got a little too close for comfort. I also enjoyed a peak into the behind-the-scenes world of the Rockettes audition process. I gave it 4 stars.

Who Should Read It?

This book is for fans of: historical fiction, 1950s New York, the stage life, the Rockettes, family drama, a good mystery, mental illness in the 50s vs. now

Pair It With…

I’m pairing this book with a fuzzy blanket and maybe even a Christmas tree. While the book isn’t even focused on Christmas, the story does take place during December while the Christmas Spectacular is the show that’s performed at Radio City Music Hall. Do you have to save it until December? Certainly not! But if your TBR pile is overflowing like mine, adding this to your holiday reads won’t be a disappointing move.

I hope you pick this one up sometime soon. When you do, let me know how you like it! Get your copy at your local library, independent bookstore, secondhand books website, or here.