📚What I'm Reading Lately

Here are some favorites from the past few months:

Non-Fiction

Ordinary Time, by Annie B. Jones Bookshop / Amazon or even better! Order it from Annie’s bookstore, The Bookshelf!
Release date: April 22, 2025¹
Memoir

Annie and I met in London in 2019. I knew her then as a bookshop owner and I was immediately fascinated.² Reading Ordinary Time is just like hanging out with Annie—life-giving, personable, relatable, and funny. She’s a treasure!

I Thought It Would Be Better Than This, by Jessica N. Turner Bookshop / Amazon
Release date: April 8, 2025
Memoir, self-help

Jessica and I have been friends of friends for years until recently. We finally met face-to-face last August at a friends of friends celebration (yay, Annie!). Then a few months ago, Jessica was hiring for a few virtual positions so I sent her my resumé. She contacted me for a different job than what she had available and now I’m helping her behind the scenes as her book launch manager for I Thought It Would Be Better Than This. I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and it’s so good. Relatable to anyone who has gone through disappointments and grief—so, everyone. Through her honest writing and vulnerability she provides a ton of tools and resources to help you move forward.

I’ve Got Questions, by Erin Hicks Moon Bookshop / Amazon
Spirituality & Religion

Erin and I also met in London on the same trip as Annie. Another friend of a friend so it was amazing to finally meet in person. Erin’s curiosity with life was evident as we traveled through different parts of London and the surrounding countryside. She was a sponge of information. Her curiosity of faith in I’ve Got Questions maintains that honesty that she lives out every day. It’s beautifully written, feisty, and full of grace.

Dinner for Vampires, by Bethany Joy Lenz Bookshop / Amazon
Memoir

While my television was tuned to Nickelodeon and Disney Channel during the early to mid-2000s, Bethany Joy Lenz was a star on the TV series One Tree Hill and also leading a secret double life as a member of a cult. Dinner for Vampires is a biography and memoir of her life during that time. This book is fascinating and you could possibly finish it in one sitting.

Fiction

(reader reviews in quotes)

The Night We Lost Him, by Laura Dave Bookshop / Amazon
Mystery

“A suspenseful novel about estranged siblings who investigate their father's mysterious death and uncover a shocking family secret.”

A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem, by Kristen Bird Bookshop / Amazon
Mystery

"With a compelling mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes drama, the story channels Miss Congeniality vibes in the best way...a must-read for fans of murder mysteries with a side of sass and sequins!"

Promise Me Sunshine, by Cara Bastone Bookshop / Amazon
Romance

“This story is beautiful! I laughed, cried, and cheered. Cara Bastone is a must-read for me now. Great writing and memorable side characters, too.”

Back After This, by Linda Holmes Bookshop / Amazon
Romance

“Holmes once again crafts an engaging, appealing tale of a woman coming into her own and learning to leave her people-pleasing ways behind. But it is not just Cecily who readers will connect with; all of the cast members are fully realized, with their own motivations and insecurities. Blending witty humor, a tender romance, and true character growth, this is a winner.”

The Story She Left Behind, by Patti Callahan Henry Bookshop / Amazon
Release date: March 18, 2025³
Historical fiction

“Patti Callahan Henry has done it again, taking us on a beautiful journey weaving history with her imaginative stories.”

What about you? What books have you read lately that you can’t stop thinking about?

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p.s. Affiliate links through Amazon & Bookshop—I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my writing. ✍️

1. I received an advance reader copy through NetGalley

2. Greg and I have a mini-dream of owning a bookstore/speakeasy one day. Books on the first floor, the speakeasy in the basement through a secret passage. Like Narnia but with bourbon.

3. see #1