This was the perfect cozy mystery to kick off a wonderful year of reading on the horizon. Very short and sweet story about a mysterious letter that connects “family” and ends with a familial introduction and murder – on the same day. The ending leaves you wanting a sequel where Harriet is a full-time private investigator getting justice for all the people on the margins.
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The Mysterious Death of Junetta Plum
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Once Upon a Time in Dollywood
BOnce Upon a Time in Dollywood
Read AlongThis was one of my favorite author conversations ever. I loved getting to chat with Ashley and learn more about her journey as a debut author on Reese’s Book Club. This story pulled at the heart strings and showed the layers of grief, complicated family dynamics, choosing yourself, blending families and what anxiety and depression can look like in all types of people. The romance was secondary, for me, but the love story was such a sweet slow burn. Would absolutely recommend!
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Secrets Like Ours
A-Secrets Like Ours
Read AlongI am a true thriller/mystery lover and feel like I have read every “trope” out there but this was the first book in a long time that truly left me shocked. Whatever I thought was going to happen, never happened and what did happen, was completely unexpected. The perfect book to end the year!
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The Dark Maestro
B+The Dark Maestro
Read AlongA powerful second Brendan Slocumb for me! In true Brendan fashion, I loved the music tie in. I felt myself disliking every character at some point or another which caused tension between wanting to DNF and needing to know what happened. The ending (maybe even the entire book with the crazy storylines and layers of crime) was truly gave me all the S.A. Cosby feels and redeemed almost every character. I do wish there was a follow-up book to know what happened after the first Dark Maestro concert!
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The Happiness Collector
A-The Happiness Collector
Read AlongA really fun read that restored a bit of hope in how we celebrate and appreciate joy even in the most uncertain times. Loved listen via audio!
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This is a Safe Space
BThis is a Safe Space
This was the perfect audiobook thriller to kick me out of my reading slump! Fast past and a true shock when the true details came to light. Loved the ending!
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People of Means
B+People of Means
Read AlongY’all, when I say I couldn’t have seen the ending coming, I COULD NOT HAVE SEEN IT! This book was a powerful reflection of movements, how we show up in times of distress and how secrets make and break a family. I love any dual timeline historical fiction book so this is going high on my favorites list for 2025.
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This Could Be Forever
B+This Could Be Forever
Read AlongA truly adorable, coming-of-age, interracial love story set at UMD. I absolutely adored these characters and their unlikely love story. Ebony, the author, was such a gem to have on #LotsofBooksClub. We loved learning about her own story that inspired this book and her writing process behind this novel.
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The Making of Jackson Parrish
B+The Making of Jackson Parrish
Exactly who I thought early Jackson would be: rash, entitled & completely unwilling to take responsibility for all the death and destruction he caused. Book was great, audio felt like a dramatized version and was a bit hard to get through but the story made so much sense. Can’t wait to read the rest of the prequels!
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Chaos Theory
B -
Can’t Get Enough
ACan’t Get Enough
Read AlongI am so incredibly sad that this series is over because all three books were a breath of fresh air in the romance book world. I think this book was my favorite in the series and the ending was so endearing and empowering. I can’t wait to read what’s next for Kennedy Ryan!
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The Ruling Class
A-The Ruling Class
Read AlongIf Scandal was based on high school students. Professional fixer, decade long secrets & a race against the clock for the last 50 pages or so. Somehow, at 350+ pages, this book completely f l e w for me. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
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Meet Me at the Lake
AMeet Me at the Lake
Read AlongAny book with alternating timelines is an automatic partial win in my book. This was such a sweet read and I love the second-chance romance between Fern and Will. Also loved the second-chance theme in Fern’s friendships once she moved back home. Such a fun summer read!
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The Fire Next Time
A+The Fire Next Time
Read AlongI am on a personal mission to read every James Baldwin novel, along with a few other classics, before year end. This book is so interesting because there’s a composition of two letters that really lead the charge. Examining the consequences of racial injustice in America is compelling in itself and I can’t imagine him writing this in the 90s – what a thought provoking and prolific writer.
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French Windows
C+French Windows
Read AlongA solid 3.5! Started strong then got a bit confusing (especially listening) to know which story you were on. The ending definitely had a twist I didn’t see coming.
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James
B+James
Read AlongPercival Everett is a new to me author and his humor and tact are beyond amazing. The ending was such a breath of fresh air seeing Jim (James) take his, and his family’s life, into their own hands and shape a better future for themselves.
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Only Because It’s You
COnly Because It’s You
Read AlongAn overall strange book that I had such high hopes for. The fake marriage is a classic romance trope that I tend to love but this book started strange and then ended quite strange. Overall, happy there was an happy ending!
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Happy Land
A+Happy Land
Read AlongAnother 5/5, wonderful read by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Admittedly, I am new to learning about heirs’ property, especially here in North Carolina, and this book was a great intro. Of course, a non-fiction novel, but the amount of research and knowledge shared was incredibly informative. Dolen was also a treat to have join our June #LotsofBooksClub conversation to chat about this book and our first read from her in January 2022, Take My Hand.
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The Ten Worst People in New York
C+The Ten Worst People in New York
Read AlongThis book started strong and pretty hopeful than about 70% through, took a serious nose dive. The entire ending of the brother and sister on the run and who is actually lying and the random escape boat? Very, very confusing and hurt a this book that started strong.
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Harlem Rhapsody
B+Harlem Rhapsody
Read AlongSuch a fun historical fiction of prominent leaders and writers including the main character, and unsung hero of women writers in the 1920s, Jessie Redmon Fauset. Victoria is also an incredible conversationists and was such a treat to have join #LotsofBooksClub this summer!
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Razorblade Tears
A+Razorblade Tears
Read AlongAnother 10/10 from S.A. Cosby. Intense, heart-felt and blind with rage – he never misses! His books are quite intense and quite vulgar, at times, but his writing and storytelling are both off the charts (also, our first #LotsofBooksClub pick by S.A. Cosby).