My Spring Reading Retreat Reading List

 

I like to do imaginary reading retreats each season and plan my ideal reading list based off how I'm feeling and what the year calls for.  It's spring and while I love seeing the flowers start to bloom and everything turning green again spring is always a bit of a struggle for me.  Between the time change, allergies, and allergy meds I am dragging and foggy brained.  For my imaginary reading retreat I'd stay in a little cottage on the grounds of a large estate with beautiful gardens to walk through and maybe a water feature or two to sit near - and of course lots of comfortable benches and hammocks.  And unlike where I am now, in my imaginary garden cottage mosquitos don't exist.  Here's what I'm reading -

1. But Have You Read the Book? 52 Literary Gems that Inspired Our Favorite Films by Kristen Lopez - I love classic movies and am frequently surprised what was based on a book.  I also love a good flip through book

2.  The Self-Care Year: Reflect and Recharge with Simple Seasonal Rituals by Alison Davies  - This may not end up being for me but it does look interesting and I love the idea of it.

3.  How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis - Drowning is a bit of an overstatement but there are definitely times I feel overwhelmed and I've heard good reviews of this one.

4.  Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery - After some nonfiction I want to reread one of my very favorite Montgomery books.  

5.  The Healing Season of Pottery by So-Min Yon - This looks like a nice soothing read and would be perfect for my reading retreat.

6.  A Morbid Taste For Bones by Ellis Peters - After some healing reading a historical mystery sounds like a perfect next step.

7.  Every Single Secret by Christina Dodd - It wouldn't be a reading retreat without a fast paced thriller!

8.  Christa Comes Out of Her Shell by Abbi Waxman - I loved the last book I read by this author which had all the warm fuzzy feelings and found family goodness so this one is on the list.

9.  The Stormy Petrel by Mary Stewart - Now that the retreat is winding down I'm digging into some light fiction from a favorite author.

10.  The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai - For my final read I'm picking up this book that's been on my TBR since it came out. I've heard fantastic things about it as well.

What would you read during your reading retreat?

Who Will Remember - Historical Mystery Review

Goodreads: Who Will Remember (Sebastian St. Cyr #20) by C.S. Harris

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  August 1816.   England is in the grip of what will become known as the Year Without a Summer. Facing the twin crises of a harvest-destroying volcanic winter and the economic disruption caused by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the British monarchy finds itself haunted by the looming threat of bloody riots not seen since the earliest days of the French Revolution. Amidst the turmoil, a dead man is found hanging upside down by one leg in an abandoned chapel, his hands tied behind his back. The pose eerily echoes the image depicted on a tarot card known as Le Pendu, the Hanged Man. The victim—Lord Preston Farnsworth, the younger brother of one of the Regent’s boon companions—was a passionate crusader against what he called the forces of darkness, namely criminality, immorality, and sloth. His brutal murder shocks the Palace and panics the already troubled populace.

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, learns of the murder from a ragged orphan who leads him to the corpse and then disappears. At first, everyone in the dead man’s orbit paints Lord Preston as a selfless saint. But as Sebastian delves deeper into his life, he quickly realizes that the man had accumulated more than his fair share of enemies, including Major Hugh Chandler, a close friend who once saved Sebastian’s life. Sebastian also discovers that the pious Lord Preston may have been much more dangerous than those he sought to redeem.

As dark clouds press down on the city and the rains fall unceasingly, two more victims are found, one strangled and one shot, with ominous tarot cards placed on their bodies. The killer is sending a gruesome message and Sebastian is running out of time to decipher it before more lives are lost and a fraught post-war London explodes.

Genre:   Mystery - Historical

Why I Picked This Book:  I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series.

My Impression:  I really enjoy this series and the last few have really worked for me.  This latest mystery was no exception.  This isn't a quick and cozy read but one where the setting and time period are a heavy presence throughout the book.  The hardships in post-Napolean London are a major plot-point both for Sebastian and Hero and appear on every page in someway or another.  I love Sebastian and Hero's relationship and how they treat each other as equals.  

The mystery was an interesting one and did a good job of showing the danger of "do-godoers" without being heavy handed.    I love the at times gritty gloomy feel of this series and this book and how it compares with the cold power of Hero's father's world and the family coziness of the St. Cyr household.  This isn't the fastest paced read but it is a good one and one I really enjoyed from beginning to end.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I'm really looking forward to going back and reading the earlier books in the series and look forward to seeing how this series progresses.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like historical fiction or historical mysteries with a look at multiple sections of society this is a good pick.  It is a series best read in order though you can start with this one.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - April 13

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel - This sounds fascinating and heartbreaking and I've really been wanting to read this author.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli and Seeing Darkness by Heather Graham

Listening:  The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene

Two Fun Things I Did This Week:

1.  Sat outside on a pretty day with my dog and listened to my audio book

2.  Tried a new restaurant with friends and had such a good time!

Have a great week and happy reading!

The Seven Dials Mystery - Classic Mystery Review

Goodreads:  The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  A practical joke goes chillingly, murderously wrong in Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie’s classic detective story, The Seven Dials Mystery.

Gerry Wade had proved himself to be a champion sleeper, so the other houseguests decided to play a practical joke on him. Eight alarm clocks were set to go off, one after the other, starting at 6:30 a.m. But when morning arrived, one clock was missing and the prank then backfired, with tragic consequences.

For Jimmy Thesiger in particular, the words "Seven Dials" were to take on a new and chilling significance...

Genre: Mystery - Classic 

Why I Picked This Book:  This was the April pick for the Read Christie 2025 Challenge

My Impression:  While the plot isn't exactly the strongest in this mystery it's always been one of my favorites because it's so much fun.  Bundle Brent is one of my favorite Christie heroines and the time period is pretty much a character on its own.  I adore Bundles' father, Lord Caterham, and his absolute dedication to avoiding conflict and really any kind of activity. 

The mystery is a fun one and my enjoyment was enhanced by just finishing Lucy Worsley's biography of Christie before I started this book.  This is one of the books Christie considered a "thriller" and I couldn't help but wonder if Bundle's love of driving fast was a reflection of Christie's enjoyment of the same thing.  

This was a quick entertaining read with fun characters and a 1920s feel.  It's also a bit different from the standard Christie mysteries.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Of course!  I can't wait to pick up the May pick.

Would I Recommend this Book? Definitely!  This is a bit different from the classic Christie mysteries and is a fun read if you enjoy a 1920s setting.

Friday Fives - Five Non-Bookish Things That I'm Loving Right Now

 I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much.  This week I'm looking at 5 Non-Bookish Things I'm Loving Right now.

1. Duolingo - Will has been using the highest level of Duolingo for awhile for his language and I decided a few weeks ago to give the freebie version a try and I'm having so much fun with it!  I picked Irish to learn and added in math review and I enjoy both every day.  And it helps keep me from mindlessly scrolling with is always good.  

2.  Strawberry-Vanilla and Cherry-Vanilla Ollipop Sodas - I'm a big Diet Coke drinker but have started mixing these in to help with the soda fix and am really enjoying them.

3.  It's a Southern Thing YouTube Channel - I've been subscribed to this channel for awhile and while they don't post as often as I'd like their sketches never fail to make me laugh.  

4.  Murder in Paradise on BritBox - We finally started watching this show and I have really be thoroughly enjoying it.  The mysteries are great and I love the cast - even when they change things.

5. Dr. Teal's Epsom Salts - I'm always a fan of a nice hot bath but I've been having some insomnia and Epsom salt baths are helping so much.  My favorite versions are the Pink Himalayan salt one, the rose one, and the elderberry one.

What non-bookish things are you loving right now?

Books from the Backlog - Northern Lights

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Blurb:  The town of Lunacy, Alaska, was Nate Burke's last chance. As a Baltimore cop, he'd watched his partner die on the street - and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as chief of police in this tiny, remote Alaskan town. Aside from sorting out a run-in between a couple of motor vehicles and a moose, he finds his first few weeks on the job are relatively quiet. But just as he wonders whether this has been all a big mistake, an unexpected kiss on New Year's Eve under the brilliant Northern Lights of the Alaskan sky lifts his spirits and convinces him to stay just a little longer.
Meg Galloway, born and raised in Lunacy, is used to being alone. She was a young girl when her father disappeared, and she has learned to be independent, flying her small plane, living on the outskirts of town with just her huskies for company. After her New Year's kiss with the chief of police, she allows herself to give in to passion - while remaining determined to keep things as simple as possible. But there's something about Nate's sad eyes that gets under her skin and warms her frozen heart.

And now, things in Lunacy are heating up. Years ago, on one of the majestic mountains shadowing the town, a crime occurred that is unsolved to this day - and Nate suspects that a killer still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life - and the new love - that he has finally found for himself.

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I've been in a bit of a slow reading phase right now and am trying to avoid a slump. This is technically a reread but it's been so long since I've read it it doesn't really count.  Roberts' books are always pretty fast reads and seems like a good book to mix in to maybe get me back on pace.

A Proposal to Die For - Mystery Review

Goodreads:  A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate, Diana, and her very wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard…the Fourth.

Roped into joining Diana’s ”pre-bridal” retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort, Jess hopes to fade into the background, get some work done, and maybe find some time to unwind. Their first day is anything but relaxing: Diana is furious about the mountain spa’s lack of cell phone reception, the couple next door argues constantly, and Jess swears she just saw a drug deal go down. To top it all off, she’s warned to stay out of the woods by the gruff and sexy chef, Dean Osbourne. Is this a retreat or a horror movie?

As Jess tries to do her job while placating the bride-to-be and her increasingly over-the-top demands, she spends more and more time with the resort owners, finding herself much more in tune with the laid-back Osbourne family than her social climbing “boss.” Between a meditation garden-related drowning and Jess’s discovery of a body in a sauna, it's clear that deadly secrets abound at the Golden Ash. Now it’s up to Jess to unravel the mysteries here in the mountains—before all her plans are cancelled…permanently.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've enjoyed other books by this author and this sounded like a fun mystery.

My Impression: I really like this author's writing style, her characters, and her quirky humor and this had all of those in spades.  Jess has an interesting business setting up the perfect proposals and gets pulled into the pre-wedding drama of a high school mean girl.  I liked Jess, Kiki, and the Osbourne family and I enjoyed strongly disliking Diana and Aubrey.  

There's a lot of setup for this book and it made for a bit of a slow start.  Once the first body falls and Jess engages more with the Osbourne family I did feel that the pace picked up and it helped Diana become more amusing.  She's really dreadful so when it was a small group of characters she got to be a bit much.  

I loved the setting and the complications a mountain top remote setting made for the characters and the investigation.  Despite the slow start I overall enjoyed this mystery and will be reading more from this author.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  I would.  For the most part I enjoy Harper's books and am looking forward to reading more from her.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy this author's books or enjoy a book with humor and quirky characters and don't mind a slower start this is a fun read.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Books With Springy Covers

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Books with Spring-y covers so I dug through my TBR and found 10 books that look like spring to me.   It turns out spring-y covers means pastels and flowers. 

1.  Southern by Design by Grace Helene Walz

2.  Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas

3.  The Cottage Around the Corner by DL Soria

4.  Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

5. Looking for Love in all the Haunted Places by Claire Kenn

6.  Lost Among the Living by Simone St. James - This has a certain dreariness that reminds me of early spring.

7.  To Fudge or Not to Fudge by Nancy Coco

8.  Who's Dead Doc? by JM Griffin - Pink and bunnies!

9.  The Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell

10. Aunt Dimity and the Enchanted Cottage by Nancy Atherton  

What makes a cover spring-y to you?

No Roast for the Weary - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: No Roast for the Weary (Coffeehouse Mystery #21) by Cleo Coyle

Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  As much as master roaster Clare Cosi adores coffee, the landmark shop she manages won't survive if she doesn't sell enough of it. So when the Village Blend's customer traffic grinds to a halt, she turns to her staff for creative ideas, and the Writer's Block Lounge is born.

Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the shop, is upset by this news. Years ago, a group of accomplished writers used the shop's second-floor lounge to inspire each other, but the group disbanded when something dark occurred. Though that history is shrouded in mystery, Clare presses forward...

Soon the Village Blend tables are filled with aspiring novelists, playwrights, and poets, all happy to be coaxed, cajoled, and caffeinated by her coffeehouse crew. Clare admires the stamina of these scribes, many of them toiling at night jobs—driving taxis, tending bar, ushering for Broadway—while penning projects during the day.

Then one of their fictions turns fatal when a shocking secret leads to a deadly end. Unless Clare can untangle this mystery, uncover the truth, and stop a desperate killer, she fears more of these weary writers may be marked for eternal rest.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've read a few books in this series and I can never resist a cold case.

My Impression:  This is a very long running series centered around a coffeehouse that has been around for decades.  Clare is the main character and currently in charge of Village Blend though with oversight from her former mother-in-law, Madame.  Added into the mix is Madame's son and Clare's ex-husband Max who is usually up to something on the shady side which is one of the subplots in this series.  The coffeehouse is filled with a collection of quirky baristas all with their own arty interests.

Even though I've only read a few books in the series I had no problem at all jumping into this one.  The mystery was an intriguing one and I always love when a modern-day mystery has links to the past.   I'm also a huge fan of digging into the past and researching potential suspects.  I did figure out a few things ahead of Clare but I did enjoy the mystery overall.

While I had no trouble figuring out the characters and how they related to each other I do think this would be a better series read in order.  There is a lot of banter and non-mystery related interactions.  I imagine this would be a delight if you were invested in the characters but if you're coming in fresh it gets a bit tedious and slows the pace.

Overall, this is a good mystery with an urban setting that is a bit unusual for a cozy mystery.  There's a full cast of quirky characters who all bring a bit of unique knowledge to the investigation.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Yes, though I think I will go back a bit in the series to get to know the characters a bit more.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would recommend this series but I think you will enjoy this book more if you start earlier in the series.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

This Week in Reading - April 6

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

A Wonderful Christmas Crime by Jacqueline Frost - I love this Christmas-y cozy mystery series so even though it seems crazy early to even be thinking about Christmas books I couldn't resist picking it up.

O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany - Another Christmas cozy and another favorite series!

Currently:

Reading: A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper and Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley

Listening:  Someone to Wed by Mary Balogh

Not much happened this week.  I taught classes, worked on training my own dog, and worked on homeschool with Will.  I did buy myself cupcakes at a local bakery as a treat and very much enjoyed them.  I haven't been reading as much lately though I'm not sure why.  I'm trying to be a bit more of a mood reader to see if that helps.  

Have a great week and happy reading!

Monthly Reading Recap - March 2025

Monthly Reading Total:  13 - This was my lowest month for awhile.  My audio book listening has taken a hit lately which is part of the problem but overall it's just been a lower reading month.

Type:

Print: 5

Ebook:  5

Audio: 3

Genre:

Mystery - 9

Fiction - 3

Nonfiction - 1 

Favorite Books of the Month:

The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret and My Search for the Real Me by Paul Joseph Fronczak -The case has fascinated me since I first stumbled across it a few years ago and this book was even better than expected.  I really loved how it dealt with the evoloution of genetic genealogy as an investigative tool and the emotional fallout from a search like this.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - This took me a bit to get into but once I was in I was absolutely hooked.  I loved how the relationships between the three generations evolved and the mystery was good too!

Bookish Armchair Travels:

Domestic Travel: I visited Arizona, Illinois, and Tennessee for the first time and revisited California (twice) and Connecticut.

International Travel: I visited England 3 times - twice during the 1930s - 1950s and one time during present day as well as a remote and isolated island in Scotland.

How was your March reading?  Where did your books take you?

Friday Fives - April TBR

 

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This is the first Friday in April so I'm picking out five books I hope to read this month.

1.  The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli - This is a review book I'm so excited about.  I love historical fiction and this one sounds fascinating. 

2.  Sweet Little Lies by Jill Shalvis - I'm working on making some progress on my TBR and focusing on reading the quick fun reads that have been sitting there for far too long.

3.  Seeing Darkness by Heather Graham - Pretty much ditto above but this is one that's on my Priority list for 2025.

4.  Parting Breath by Catherine Aird - This is on my Classics list for this year and I love Aird's mysteries.

5.  Murder at Kensington Palace by Andrea Penrose - I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series but then stalled out with it.  I'm really looking forward to picking this one up this month.

What are you hoping to read in April?

Books from the Backlog - Picnic in Someday Valley

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas

Blurb: Marcie Latimer longs to run away from Someday Valley—especially since her ex-boyfriend spun a web of lies that almost led to tragedy in neighboring Honey Creek. Little wonder so many locals have turned their backs on her. But not Brand Rodgers. The quiet cowboy comes to listen every time she sings at Bandit’s Bar, offering a glimpse of safety and calm that Marcie’s rarely known.
After Texas Ranger Colby McBride saved Honey Creek’s mayor, Piper Mackenzie, from a fire, she claimed him with a kiss. That was five months ago, and Colby still isn’t sure where they’re headed. Piper loves her town—but does she love Colby? And is he even ready for what comes next?

Pecos Smith, Honey Creek’s emergency dispatcher, is grateful to have a new bride he adores and a baby on the way—even if one vital piece of the puzzle is missing. But as trouble comes stalking through the valley, lives will cross surprising paths. And Marcie, who’s always felt that a forever love was out of reach, might discover that Someday is the perfect place to find it . .

.Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I read the first book last year and really enjoyed the characters and meant to read the second book pretty quickly.  But then my library updated their Hoopla audiobooks and dropped this series and I kind of forgot it existed.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)
Source:   Publisher

Description:  Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I absolutely loved the first book so of course I need to pick up the second book!

My Impression:  I don't know if I want to have a Vera in my life or if I absolutely don't!  I both adore her and am terrified her but I always enjoy time spent in Vera's world.  Her absolute confidence in herself and her meddling ways are so fun and I think I would be okay with it if I could have a helping of whatever delicious meal she's cooking up.  

Things have settled down from the previous adventure but Vera is getting a bit restless.  Soon though she stumbles into another murder investigation and into the world of social media.  Vera's investigation into the death of a young influencer brings her into contact with the man's social circle and they are pulled into Vera's world whether they like it or not.  I loved the reactions of the characters from the previous books as they realize what's happenings and it's always entertaining to watch someone encounter Vera for the first time.   

While I enjoyed this both for the fantastic found family aspect and for the mystery itself it wasn't quite as wonderful as the first book.  There's some repetitiveness that drug the plot down a bit.  I got that all the characters were hiding something but there's a lot of handwringing with no progress in revealing those secrets for a bit too long.   Despite the slower moving plot I do love the found family aspect of this book and I can't help but enjoy anytime Vera is on the page.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  While I don't think this was quite as magical as the first book I did really enjoy it and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Would I Recommend this Book? I would - though if you haven't read the first book you do really need to pick that one up before starting this one.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

Top Ten Tuesday - Books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read If...

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  In honor of April Fools Day, today's topic is Books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read.   I'm picking a few prompts and choosing books You'd Be a Fool Not to Read If....

You're Looking For A Cozy Mystery:

The Whole Cat and Caboodle by Sofie Ryan - This cozy mystery series involving secondhand store owner Sarah, a slew of senior citizens who run a PI firm, and a cat with some serious attitude is always good and a great series to try.

Murder, She Wrote: Murder Backstage by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran - I was deeply suspicious of this series as I didn't think a book based on a show could be any good but it turns out they're just as fun and as cozy as the show.  The series is long running, and you can jump in anywhere.  

You're Looking For A Love Story with Characters You Can't Help But Like

Funny Story by Emily Henry - I loved both Miles and Daphne and the world they inhabited.  The side characters were fantastic and I was completely rooting form them as a couple.

The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan - This wasn't quite the house swap story I expected but I loved all the characters and it was just a delight.   

You're Looking For A Classic Mystery:

Overture to Death by Ngaio Marsh - I don't always love Marsh's books but this was a delight with a fantastically clever method of murder.

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie - This is one of her earliest books and such a fun one with a good mystery, a heroine with a longing for adventure, and a touch of espionage.  

You're Looking For A Twisty Thriller That Will Keep You Reading But Won't Be Too Scary:

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell - Multiple POVs with a podcast format and twists and turns that kept me guessing made for a page turning read and a fantastic audio book.

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass - This multi-POV thriller involving a violent attack, stalking, murder, and missing persons kept me locked in but didn't give me nightmares.

You're Looking for Found Family Goodness:

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman - This was lovely found family in both the literal and metaphorical sense with a big helping of books!

The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander - After the death of her mother Jess is pretty much alone in the world and lands in a little English village in a small cottage and in possession of an old phone box.  This is a little slower but lovely.

What books do you think people would be a fool not to read?