My first wrap-up post of the year (and also my first after a year), and I’m not even being creative. What’s the cover photo, you might ask? A cup of latte—not the books I actually finished this month.
As much as I love #readinginbed, #naturallighting, and #flatlaypictures, I can’t really do those very often anymore. My room in the co-living space doesn’t have a window, so I can only work with what I have. I hope my photos still live up to the standard of my past posts.
Aside from the nature of my current living situation, I think the picture captures the essence of my return to the reading world quite well. I used to have a blog named Rainy Days, Books, and Latte. It’s currently raining, so everything just clicks into place.
And now… enough with the chitchat! I want to thank you for sticking with me, even through a year with no wrap-up posts. Here’s mine for this month:
Solutions and Other Problems is a collection of autobiographical, illustrated essays by the one and only Allie Brosh. Through humorous stories from her childhood and deeply personal reflections on grief and loneliness, this book offers a unique and touching take on everyday situations—ones that make readers laugh, pause, and wonder.
Brosh has this incredible ability to take the most mundane topics, infuse them with fresh (and often ridiculous) ideas, and turn them into creative storytelling through humorous narratives and comical illustrations. Her reflections on grief and loneliness hit me so hard that I had to step away at times just to cry and to sit with my thoughts. Overall, I love this book so, so much. If I had to sum it up in just a few words, it would be this: “Allie Brosh lives to tell the tale. She truly does.”
Made in Manhattan follows the story of a Manhattan socialite, Violet Townsend, who’s tasked by Edith Rhode (her late grandmother’s best friend) to do the unthinkable: preparing an unpolished, long-lost grandson of Edith’s, named Cain Stone, to continue her family company’s legacy. It would certainly help Violet if Cain weren’t as hostile as he is. But from the moment they meet, the two radiate resentment toward each other—Violet because of Cain’s coarse attitude, and Cain because of Violet’s Barbie-like behavior.
I don’t think this is Lauren Layne’s best book ever, but I was certainly entertained (if you need proof: I finished it in one sitting!). If I’m being honest, I would even categorize Made in Manhattan as a too-good-to-be-true story—borderline cliché, even. I mean, a long-lost CEO-to-be getting My Fair Lady-ed? Still, this is such a fun book to read. Made in Manhattan is definitely a story meant to be enjoyed, not deeply analyzed—and I truly like that about it. I would totally recommend it if you’re looking for something light and fun to enjoy on a day off.
Back in 1965, teenage Frances Adams’ life is turned upside down when a fortune teller tells her that one day, she will be murdered. Despite the efforts of her best friends, Emily and Rose, to convince her not to take the prophecy seriously, Frances becomes obsessed with trying to solve a crime that hasn’t happened yet. She spends her lifetime compiling information on people around her in an effort to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
In the present day, mystery writer Annie Adams is contacted by a lawyer and asked to attend a will-reading with her great-aunt Frances in Castle Knoll, a quaint English village. But by the time Annie arrives at the enormous estate where her great-aunt lived, she and the others discover that Frances is already dead. As Annie attempts to solve Frances’ murder, she is unexpectedly drawn into her great-aunt’s past, the estate’s eerie ambiance, and the stories behind the people of the village.
This is actually my first Kristen Perrin book, and I must say her writing is one of its strongest highlights. I especially adored her narrative descriptions of Castle Knoll and the sprawling country estate. While both Annie’s and Frances’ perspectives kept me on my toes, the latter truly had me buckling my seatbelt. I couldn’t wait to see what would unfold once the diary reached its end. Overall, despite my questions and qualms, I truly enjoyed this book. It’s a solid cozy mystery that keeps your curiosity engaged, paired with strong, atmospheric writing.
Years ago, the Hollow girls disappeared without a trace. Grey (11), Vivi (9), and Iris (7) vanished for an entire month right under their parents’ noses. When they finally reappeared one day—naked, shivering, and holding a knife—they had no memory of what had happened. And they looked different, too: a half-moon scar carved into each of their throats, hair turned white, and eyes gone pitch black.
Iris, now 17, lives only with her mother, Cate, after both of her older sisters have moved out. Determined to live a normal, mundane teenage life, Iris quickly realizes that her striking appearance—and the eerie occurrences that seem to follow her—make that nearly impossible. When the three sisters reunite at one of Vivi’s gigs, something terrible happens: Grey disappears. And her disappearance appears to be tied to their mysterious past, forcing Iris to unravel the dark truths they’ve all been avoiding.
Reading this book was, without a doubt, a ride. I was completely immersed by how a seemingly mundane setting could feel so deeply unnerving. Just a few chapters in, I could already sense the creeping dread beneath everything. Krystal Sutherland’s writing acts like an anchor, keeping the narrative hauntingly steady and atmospheric. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Predicting the plot twist, however, wasn’t terribly difficult; the book leaves plenty of crumbs along the way. But having it confirmed—retold with such a deeply disturbing undercurrent—was an entirely different experience. It was horrifying in a way that lingers. I was a little (okay, a lot) creeped out, and yet I can’t deny how beautifully this story was carved.
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