My SPOILER ALERT Book Reviews!

⭐ 3/5 Stars — The Intruder by Freida McFadden: When a Thriller Isn’t Really Thrilling 📚 Buy The Intruder on Amazon (affiliate link — it helps keep the caffeine flowing! ☕) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Child abuse • Physical & emotional abuse • Bullying • Substance use • Violence • Death • Mental illness 🕵️‍♀️ Spoiler Warning This review contains major spoilers . Proceed only if you’ve finished the book or if, like me, you don’t mind knowing everything before you even open it 😏 🧠 Overview The Intruder (2025) by Freida McFadden — queen of domestic chaos and “I did not see that coming!” twists — is a psychological thriller told in alternating first-person chapters from Casey (“Now”) and Ella (“Before”). But here’s the thing: this one reads a bit differently than McFadden’s usual brand of whiplash-level plot twists . It’s less “gasp and drop your Kindle” and more “oh, that’s kind of sweet actually.” It’s not a bad book — far from it — but for those of us who devour McFadden thril...

🦁 The Lion Women of Tehran — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) Affiliate Link: Buy The Lion Women of Tehran on Amazon ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Sexual assault, rape, pregnancy loss, imprisonment, political violence, war. 💬 Initial Thoughts This was a wonderful, touching story about two lifelong friends and how their paths diverge under the weight of politics, class, and time. It’s also a fascinating way to learn about Iran’s complex history , especially through the lives of women navigating love, revolution, and survival. That said — I’ll be honest — the book did drag a bit for me. 🫣 I think it’s not the book’s fault though… I’ve been binging historical fiction lately, and my brain might be waving a tiny white flag. Still, this was beautifully written and deeply moving. 🚨 Spoiler Warning! The full summary below includes major plot details and the ending. 📖 Full Plot Summary The Lion Women of Tehran (2024) by Marjan Kamali spans from 1950s Tehran to modern-day America, telling the story...

❄️ Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See — ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) 👉 Buy Snow Flower and the Secret Fan on Amazon (affiliate link) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Foot binding (graphic detail), child abuse, domestic violence, miscarriage, terminal illness, death, grief, and gender inequality. 💭 Initial Thoughts I think I’ve officially reached my historical fiction limit 😅. My brain is bursting at the seams with dynasties, customs, traditions, and tragedies. I might need a palate cleanser after this one. That said — Lisa See’s writing really is lovely. The story starts out strong, and the descriptions of Chinese traditions and foot-binding were vivid and emotionally powerful. My father’s mother actually had bound feet, and seeing them in person was something I’ll never forget — so reading about it here hit differently. Even though I’m already familiar with this practice, I still found her portrayal detailed and hauntingly accurate. But… halfway through, I started to drift. 😩 Maybe ...

🎭 Audition by Katie Kitamura — ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5) 🛒 Buy Audition on Amazon (affiliate link) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Pregnancy loss, abortion, emotional abuse, elder abuse, relationship tension, and grief. 💬 My Thoughts Some books feel like entertainment. Others feel like an experience . Audition falls firmly into the second category. Katie Kitamura writes in a way that’s hard to describe — it’s controlled, elegant, and quietly unsettling. The story moves slowly, but it absorbs you. You don’t just read it — you live inside it for a while. The premise sounds deceptively simple: an actress preparing for a new stage role meets a young man named Xavier, who claims to be her son. From there, the story morphs into something much stranger and deeper — about identity, performance, and the thin line between truth and illusion. I can’t say I fully understood it, and I’m not even sure it’s meant to be fully understood. It’s layered and cerebral, and at times it felt a little too “hig...

🌊 The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See — ⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5/5) Affiliate Link: Buy The Island of Sea Women on Amazon ⚠️ Trigger Warnings War violence, torture, mass killings, sexual assault, drowning, grief, and loss. 💬 Initial Thoughts I really wanted to love this one. After reading Lady Tan’s Circle of Women (which I adored!), I went into The Island of Sea Women with high expectations — and let’s be honest, it’s one of Lisa See’s most acclaimed novels. Everyone calls it her masterpiece. But I have to admit… I struggled. 🫣 I’d heard about the haenyeo women before — the incredible female divers of Jeju Island — and that’s what drew me in. Their real-life story is fascinating. But somewhere between the history, politics, and cultural detail, I started to feel like I was drowning in information (pun intended 😅). It’s beautifully researched, yes, but at times it felt like being lectured more than being told a story. The emotional moments should have gutted me — they just di...

🕵️‍♀️ The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Sequel to The Maid — and just as charming!) 👉 Buy The Mystery Guest on Amazon (affiliate link) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings This cozy mystery contains mild references to: Alcohol addiction Sexual harassment (brief mention) 💬 Spoiler Warning Full plot details and the killer reveal ahead! Proceed only if you’ve already read it — or if you, like me, don’t mind a few good spoilers. 😏 🧹 The Regency Grand Returns! If you loved The Maid , rejoice — Molly Gray is back! She’s now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and still as adorably literal, meticulous, and unintentionally hilarious as ever. When world-famous mystery author J.D. Grimthorpe drops dead in the hotel tearoom just as he’s about to make a big announcement, chaos ensues. Poisoned tea, missing spoons, and panicking maids — it’s all delightfully messy. And once again, Molly finds herself caught in the middle. 🕰️ Two Timelines, One Messy Mystery The story al...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb — Powerful, Raw, and Absolutely Heart-Shattering 🛒 Buy on Amazon → [Affiliate Link] ⚠️ Trigger Warnings This book contains depictions of: Child death and grief Substance abuse (alcohol, prescription drugs) Prison violence and sexual assault Suicide, depression, and trauma Racism, discrimination, and homophobia COVID-related deaths Read with care — this one hurts . 💔 💭 My Thoughts So right before I started The River Is Waiting , I was doom-scrolling through a Facebook book group when someone asked, “What’s the saddest book you’ve ever read?” I wasn’t even looking for book recs — but hundreds of people flooded the comments. And almost half of them said this one. So naturally, I thought, oh great, here we go. When I started reading, I was emotionally bracing myself for some next-level sadness. I finished Part One, where Corby accidentally runs over his son, Niko. Obviously devastating. But I was thinking, t...

💔 What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman — 4⭐ Heartbreaking Dual Timeline with Powerful Payoff 👉 Buy on Amazon: What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman (affiliate link — thank you for supporting the blog!) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings This book deals with very heavy topics including: Mental illness & psychiatric abuse Child sexual abuse Domestic violence Sexual assault & harassment Suicide ideation Institutionalization & forced treatments Death, trauma, and grief Read with care — but if you can handle dark historical fiction, this one will stay with you. 🕯️ 💭 My Thoughts This book was beautifully written , heart-wrenching , and slow-burning — in a good way. The pacing can drag at times, but honestly, it worked here. The alternating timelines between the 1920s and the 1990s are executed so smoothly that you can’t help but keep turning pages to see how everything connects. That said — Ugh! I have to vent: it drives me crazy when c...

⭐ 5/5 Review: The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang — The History the World Tries to Forget 👉 Buy it here: The Rape of Nanking on Amazon (affiliate link 💰) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings This book contains graphic depictions of : Rape & sexual assault 💔 Murder, torture & mutilation ⚰️ War crimes & genocide 🩸 Racism, imperialism & dehumanization Psychological trauma & suicide This is not an easy read — but it’s a necessary one. 💭 My Thoughts When I bring up the Nanking Massacre in the U.S., most people have never even heard of it. Some don’t believe it. Others change the subject. And when I mention the staggering death toll — hundreds of thousands — people tell me to “move on.” But moving on doesn’t mean erasing truth. Forgiveness isn’t denial. That’s why this book matters. The Rape of Nanking is one of those works that forces humanity to look itself in the mirror — and it’s not a pretty sight. Iris Chang’s writing is fearless, factual,...

⭐ 5/5 — Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance : I Came for the Thriller, Stayed for the Ache 💔 Buy it on Amazon: Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Child death • Grief • Mental illness • Depression • Suicide and suicidal ideation • Substance use • Sexual content 🤔 I Thought It Was a Thriller… So, funny story — I picked this up thinking it was going to be a psychological thriller. I mean, look at that title! Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance totally sounds like something with a twisty ending and an unreliable narrator, right? Nope. 😅 What I got instead was a beautifully written, gut-punching coming-of-age story about grief. And somehow, I’m not even mad about it. This book isn’t about plot twists. It’s about grief, guilt, love, and survival — the quiet kind of survival that takes years and reshapes you in ways you can’t even explain. 💔 The Story (with spoilers) Sally Holt grows up idolizing her older sister, Kathy. The girls are clo...

🏛️ Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown ⭐ 3/5 — Great Start, Messy Finish 📘 Buy Society of Lies on Amazon Genre: Campus Thriller / Secret Society Mystery Author: Lauren Ling Brown Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ Vibe: Ivy League corruption, dual timelines, sisterhood, betrayal, and way too many people named Cecily doing shady things. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Racism, sexism, and classism Grooming and sexual coercion Death and murder Substance use Abuse of power Revenge and blackmail 🚨 Spoiler Warning Full spoilers ahead! I’ll be diving into exactly who killed who, who covered it up, and who probably should’ve stayed out of Princeton altogether. 🏛️ Overview I love a dark academia setup — secret societies, elite campuses, rich kids with too much power, all that morally gray chaos. The first half of Society of Lies absolutely had me. I was hooked. 👏 The premise ? Fantastic. The dual timeline between two sisters (Maya in 2011, Naomi in 2022)? Perfectly executed earl...

⭐ 5/5 Review: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng — Jiangshi , Justice, and Pandemic-Era Rage 🦇👻 👉 Grab Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng on Amazon 📚 (affiliate link) ⚠️ Content & Trigger Warnings Racism / xenophobia (COVID-era) 😷 Graphic violence & murder 💀 Sexual harassment / assault (mentioned) Child abuse & death 🧸 Suicidal ideation & mental illness Animal cruelty 🐈 Police corruption / cover-up First Impressions 💬 Wow. Just—wow. This is a level of horror mastery I wasn’t ready for. I went in blind (new-to-me author + didn’t even read the blurb) and got walloped by a story that’s scary, timely, and deeply personal . If you love ghost stories —specifically jiangshi from Chinese folklore—this will scratch an itch you didn’t know you still had. Growing up in China, jiangshi terrified me; decades in the U.S. made me forget that fear. This book brought it back… in the best, creepiest way. 🫣 Baker tackles COVID-e...

🌲 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore ⭐ 3.5/5 — Beautifully Written… and a Bit of a Brain Workout 📘 Buy The God of the Woods on Amazon Genre: Literary Mystery / Family Drama Author: Liz Moore Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ Vibe: Missing children, toxic wealth, tangled timelines, and a mystery so layered you might need a spreadsheet. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Child death and drowning Alcohol and substance abuse Infidelity and emotional neglect Mental illness and hospitalization Domestic violence Misogyny and classism 🚨 Spoiler Warning Major spoilers below! I’ll be talking about the ending and the big reveals, so if you want to experience the mystery firsthand, bookmark this and come back later. 🌲 Overview Let me start by saying: this is a good book . Maybe even too good. As in, academically good . The kind of book that makes you want to underline quotes and then immediately lie down afterward because your brain hurts. 😅 Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods has everyth...

🎓 Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay ⭐ 3.5/5 — When Overprotective Parents Take Things Way Too Far 📘 Buy Parents Weekend on Amazon Genre: Thriller / Campus Mystery Author: Alex Finlay Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ Vibe: Elite college secrets, missing freshmen, FBI chaos, and one twist you’ve probably read before. ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Death of a child / college student Suicide and suicidal ideation Abduction / captivity Child sexual abuse (past) Violence and gun use Classism and trauma Substance use 🚨 Spoiler Warning This review is full of spoilers — if you plan to read Parents Weekend soon, maybe bookmark this and come back later! 🎒 Overview So here’s the setup: five college freshmen — Blane, Mark, Libby, Stella, and Felix — mysteriously vanish during Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University. The disappearance shocks the campus and sends their parents, FBI agents, and half the Bay Area into full panic mode. But this is an Alex Finlay novel, which means ...

⭐ 5/5 STARS: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers — The Most Delightful Cozy Mystery You’ll Ever Read 🍵💀😂 📖 Buy Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers on Amazon (affiliate link) ⚠️ Trigger Warnings Death/murder (non-graphic) Mild emotional abuse references Themes of grief and loneliness 💬 My Reading Experience If you love cozy mysteries , you can stop searching — this is the one. Seriously. Case closed. 🕵️‍♀️ Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is, hands down, one of the funniest, most heartwarming mysteries I’ve ever read. The story is part whodunit, part found family, and part comedy gold — and I honestly don’t think a cozy mystery can get better than this. Vera Wong herself is a total icon . She’s nosy, hilarious, bossy in the most loving way, and somehow manages to mother everyone around her even while solving a murder. Imagine your favorite aunt, your grandma, and a private detective all rolled into one sassy powerhouse with a t...