Stats
Total books read: 8
Book of the Month: 3
2026 releases: 4
Physical books: 4
Audiobooks: 4
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews (5 stars) – I’ve been an Ilona Andrews fan since I started reading her in grad school 15 years ago and discovered that her books are an incredible escape. Their newest release had everything I love about their books (found family, great action, a smart and determined main character, an intriguing love interest) but introduced an entirely new world and new-to-them facet of the genre. I absolutely loved this reading experience, and am anxiously anticipating the announcement of the sequel.
It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over by Anne de Marcken (5 stars) – This was everything I look for in a short novel – beautifully written, impactful, strange, and haunting. I picked this up on my South Africa trip and was fascinated by it; it’s a great example of why short books can be so amazingly concise yet convey everything they aim to.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (4 stars) – I was really unsure about this book at first as it isn’t my typical vibe, but I was completely entertained by the full-cast audiobook and nonstop drama.
How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh (4 stars) – Another one I enjoyed more than expected, this contemporary bookish romance had good emotional depth and I enjoyed the dual narration POV.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 2 by Beth Brower (4 stars) – I’m still on board with this series that I keep seeing all over everyone’s Bookstagram. Book 2 was definitely better than book 1, and I’m interested to see what happens with all of these characters.
A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman (4 stars) – I’m now all caught up with Dungeon Crawler Carl, which is bittersweet. This might be my least favorite in the series, which doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, but the floor concept didn’t grab me as much as others have, and I wasn’t getting as many amazing moments as we have in past books. But I’m still fully on board with this series and author.
The Wedding Week by Aisha Saeed (3.5 stars) – I started off fall reading vibes early this month with the first thriller I’ve read so far in 2026; I enjoyed the premise, setting, and writing, but I get frustrated when the main character isn’t telling the reader everything they know.
Dead Weight by Hildur Knuttsdotti (3.5 stars) – This felt less like a horror/thriller than it did a short fiction read, but was another aspect of my fall reading vibes starting early.
