If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that I’m obsessed with books. I love reading, am known to have overflowing bookshelves (to be clear, this is because I don’t have enough bookshelves, not because I own too many books), and diligently track what I read on Goodreads. So, here’s a list of some recent books (from Jan. 2023 until now) that I’ve read and loved, as well as some books I’m not so patiently waiting for.
Recent Books I’ve Read and Loved
- “The Brothers Hawthorne” (The Inheritance Games 4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – This book focuses on Grayson and Jameson Hawthorne, two of the four Hawthorne brothers we meet in “The Inheritance Games” (Start here if you haven’t read the series! We follow a girl named Avery as she finds out she is the sole heir to a billionaire’s fortune – a billionaire she’s never even met.). Grayson must solve a mystery to protect his sisters, and Jameson has to break into a secret club to fulfill a favor from his father. I absolutely loved reading this book and getting the brothers’ perspectives. As with any Jennifer Lynn Barnes book, it’s a total page-turner. I was hooked, and I can’t recommend this book (and the series!) enough.
- “Barbie: The Screenplay” by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach – I’m not totally sure this counts as a book, but I bought it at Barnes & Noble, so we’ll say it does. This is the screenplay for the iconic “Barbie,” and it comes with a note from Gerwig and Baumbach about the writing process. I really enjoyed reading the script, especially after seeing it come to life a few months prior. It was a very quick read, as most screenplays are, and I highly recommend it, especially if you’re into films and screenwriting.
- “The London Séance Society” by Sarah Penner – Set in 1873, this book follows Leanna as she travels to Paris to gain insight into her sister’s death through Vaudeline D’Allaire, a talented spiritualist. However, Vaudeline is called away to work on a high-profile murder, and Leanna must go as her understudy. The women must team up with the men of The London Seance Society, and when they do, they begin to realize just how shady the Seance Society is. I loved this book. Sarah Penner is incredible at writing gripping mysteries with tons of historical detail. I can’t recommend it enough, and if you haven’t read “The Lost Apothecary,” Penner’s debut, add it to your list as well!
Anticipated Releases:
- “Funny Story” by Emily Henry (April 23, 2024) – I’ve read all of Emily Henry’s previous books, so this is a release I’m super excited about. In this book, we follow Daphne who moves to a new town after her fiance Peter leaves her for his childhood best friend Petra and winds up becoming roommates with Petra’s ex. Together, the two devise a plan to make Petra and Peter jealous.
- “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” by Holly Jackson (April 2, 2024) – Any book Holly Jackson writes, I will read. She is the queen of the mystery genre. Every book she writes is a total page-turner, and I love them all. In her upcoming novel, we follow Bel, whose mother Rachel disappeared when she was just two years old. Sixteen years later, filming for a documentary on Rachel’s case begins, and Rachel reappears with a strange reason for her disappearance. So, Bel takes it upon herself to investigate her mother and try to uncover the truth
- “The Familiar” by Leigh Bardugo (April 9, 2024) – This is Leigh Bardugo’s first standalone fantasy novel, and since she usually writes longer series, I can’t wait to read this one. In this book, we follow Luzia, a servant who has magical powers. Her mistress finds out about the powers and orders her to help the family with them, which gets Luzia noticed by Antonio Perez, a former secretary for the king of Spain. He wants to use Luzia to help the king against the war against England and get back into the king’s good graces. But, with all the attention and fame, things become dangerous for Luzia.
I hope this list gives you some new reads to look forward to as well as some new books for your to-read list. Happy reading!
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