Congrats to When the Wolf Comes Home for being my first five-star read of 2025. Tartlets, this book. Blew. My. Freaking. Mind.
Nat Cassidy is a relatively new author to me. I read his previous novel, Nestlings, which I thought was fantastic. When the Wolf Comes Home is billed as a monster story, which isn’t my favorite genre of horror. I was tempted to sit this one out.
I am SO glad that I didn’t miss reading this one!
What’s When the...
Reading Ultra-Processed People changed the way I cook, shop, and eat. It’s simultaneously the most fascinating and terrifying book I’ve ever read.
And, no, it's not a horror book.
Buckle up, Tartlets. I have so much to say about this eye-opening health and lifestyle read.
What’s Ultra-Processed People about?
Ultra-Processed People is written by Chris van Tulleken, an award-winning BBC broadcaster, doctor, and scientist. He sheds...
It’s rare when a new literary voice stops me in my tracks, but that's exactly with The Continental Divide did.
There seem to be more debut books than ever these days, and I’m often left wondering how certain people ended up getting voted into the literary field of acceptance. Bob Johnson is a debut author who 100% deserves to be published. His book of short stories is a wonderful example of what great writing can do for you – or, do to...
My 50-page rule strikes again! It took me a little while to become invested in Mirror Me. I’m glad I persevered because I ended up really enjoying this unique and twisty psychological thriller from Lisa Willamson Rosenberg.
What’s Mirror Me about? Mirror Me is about Eddie, who dramatically demands entrance to a psych hospital one night after thinking he murdered his lover, Lucy (who also happens to be his brother’s fiancé…). The...
The Memory of Lavender and Sage perfectly captures my favorite women's fiction trope. We all know that I can't resist a “Woman buys ramshackle house in small rural town and renovates it, thereby renovating her whole life in the process” story.
You know what else? This one's set in FRANCE. Plus, author Aimie K. Runyan throws some magical realism into the mix.
Are you excited yet?
What’s The Memory of Lavender and Sage about?
The...
Welcome, Tartlets, to my living, breathing, ever-updating list of Books for Jane Austen Lovers.
If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you’re well aware that I’m a Janeite, a.k.a, a huge Jane Austen fan. I grew up on Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility (the books and the movies), and I’m always willing to read a retelling, reimagining, or continuation of Jane Austen’s beloved classics and timeless words.
I’ve read a...
There’s nothing bad about Pineapple Street. But... there's nothing great about it, either.
My book review today is for a novel that was getting all the buzz when it came out in 2023. Pineapple Street was a GMA Book Club Pick, and it was nominated for not one, but two Goodreads Choice Awards: Readers' Favorite Fiction and Readers' Favorite Debut Novel.
After such illustrious praise, I cracked open Jenny Jackson's debut novel with great...
You won’t believe how many people tell me to read Crying in H Mart after learning that I run a book-inspired recipe blog. It's probably the first book recommendation out of people's mouths. After reading just a few pages of Michelle Zauner's memoir, though, it's easy to understand why: her story is a love letter to Asian-American food culture.
Interestingly, though, I didn't love Crying in H Mart as much as I'd hoped to.
What is Crying...
“What’s up, bitches???” (If you know, you know!) I’m here with a book review for Grateful as F*ck: 22 Days to Transform Your Life with Gratitude by Francesca Amber, one of my favorite podcasters and motivational gurus.
What’s Grateful as F*ck about?
Grateful as F*ck provides daily prompts -- for 22 days -- on how to live a more grateful, meaningful life. Author Amber injects her personal experiences, valuable insight, and...
If you’re looking for a chilly winter read with a chilling premise, you need to pick up Echo: A Detective Harriet Foster Thriller.
What’s Echo about? Echo is the third and final book in the Detective Harriet Foster series by Tracy Clark. The primary plot of this novel focuses on Chicago police detective Harriet “Harri” Foster, who's working with her partner Vera Li to solve the murder of a billionaire’s college-age son and the...
