Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward ★★★★☆ If you’re a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, you’ll find a lot to love in Crown of War and Shadow, even if the setting is brand new. It’s got that

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester ★★★★☆ Dark Sisters is a dark, unsettling piece of witchy horror, a subgenre I don’t usually enjoy. In DeMeester’s hands, though, I finally understand the appeal. This novel is atmospheric, feminist, and deeply uncomfortable in

The Exes by Leodora Darlington ★★★★☆ The Exes is a tense, emotionally messy romantic suspense that understands one essential truth: past relationships don’t stay in the past, especially when there’s unfinished business and questionable judgment involved. Darlington handles complicated dynamics

Blackthorn by J.T. Geissinger ★★★★☆ Blackthorn is a fever dream masquerading as a romance novel. It’s dark, lush, and soaked in legacy, lust, and layered betrayals. Geissinger delivers a genre-blending experience that moves from second-chance enemies-to-lovers into gothic horror and

A Land So Wide by Erin A Craig ★★★☆☆ A Land So Wide is dripping with the atmospheric charm Erin A. Craig does so well—fog-drenched cliffs, crumbling estates, and a touch of the eerie that makes you second-guess the edges

Preserving the Seasons: A Guide to Canned, Jammed, Frozen, Dehydrated, Freeze-Dried, Quick-Pickled, and Infused Produce, Herbs, and Flowers by Holly Capelle ★★★☆☆ Preserving the Seasons is a visually appealing and accessible guide for beginners or casual home preservers. It covers

Caught Up by Navessa Allen ★★★★☆ Not quite as good as Lights Out, but damn—the spice was just as satisfying. Allen shines when it comes to character development, and I loved watching Junior and Lauren’s dynamic unfold. Their chemistry? On

Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent ★★★☆☆ This one took me a while to get into. The first half felt slow and disjointed, like I was reading two completely separate stories and waiting for the threads to finally tie together. I

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson ★★★★★ Holly Jackson is a master of creating suspense. I wasn’t sure how she was going to handle an adult title, but she more than exceeded my expectation. I’m not afraid to say

Ferment: Simple Recipes from My Multicultural Kitchen by Kenji Morimoto ★★★★☆ Note: This book doesn’t release until September 2025 Fermentation books can be hit or miss—either too simplistic and safe, or so complex they feel like a lab manual written