March Round-Up

Murder Bimbo by Rebecca Novack. This one had SO much potential! The buzz due to the release pushed back. The cover, the title, the tagline, the concept! But whomp whomp, it fell so flat that I don’t even know where to start with my thoughts. I thought the idea of telling the same story in different ways could work - I liked contrasting the initial podcast story with what I thought was the “real” story to the ex, but then when the third act was just the same story again, but possibly the truth this time? I was not only tired of hearing the story (which was VERY lackluster and boring considering it was about an assassination) but finding out that she did it all to get an ex back? BORING. There’s so much potential for this storyline and it was just the worst possible outcome for the book. Proof that hype can do a lot of the work, and since my library didn’t have a copy, the author made money on me wasting hours of my life reading this, so at least there’s one “good” thing to come of this?

The Most Common Symptom is Pain by Rhiannon Conley. Poetry book of the month. I bought this years ago during SMOL Fair and read it but apparently never reviewed it! I like it a lot - the moodiness is so relatable, especially with the state of things now, and I love how so many poems take small moments or fleeting thoughts and turn them into something bigger and more beautiful, even if that beauty does include pain.

Judy Blume: A Life by Mark Oppenheimer. I think this is the best biography I could expect on an icon like Judy Blume. A friend once said, about Celine Dion, “she’s so famous she might as well be dead,” and I feel that about Blume. I know she’s alive and active and outspoken still, but she is SO epic that the idea of reaching her, or really knowing her, seems impossible. But I think Oppenheimer has shown us as much of her as possible, and it was honest and not always flattering, and that made me love it. Also, here's an article about a fallout between Blume and her biographer, which seems just as juicy as the book itself (aka not).

Going Short by Nancy Stohlman. My writing book for the month. This is probably my favorite flash fiction guide because it’s so spot-on and so matter-of-fact. I’m extremely biased because I also love Nancy’s workshops, but still - you can’t go wrong with this one. I’ve referred back to specific sections many times over the years, but this was only my second full re-read - and now I’m going to ensure I do that at least every year, because the info is so valuable and such important reminders for my writing.

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson. Jackson has been one of my favorite writers since gods in Alabama first came out, and though she’s shifted more toward thrillers, she still has incredibly strong, literary writing in these that makes them stand out compared to so many writers that seem to churn out suspense for the hell of it. This one had some great twists but above all I love her writing style and the realistic characters she creates.

You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir by Christina Applegate. I love Dead to Me and celebrity memoirs so despite not knowing much beyond pop culture surface-level stuff about Christina Applegate, I was really excited to read this one. She’s brutally honest and I think it’s refreshing. I also like how she didn’t name exes to protect herself from legal issues but you can look up her dating history and figure it out. (I feel so justified at one of them, who had been pinging my radar for a bit recently.)

Aphmau: Searching for Home by Aphmau. My kid loves Aphmau’s channel and really enjoyed this book, so he recommended it to me. It’s really cute and I love books that escape into games/imagination. This one ended on a great cliffhanger and he’s eager to read more… I am, too.

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhhà Lại. My son read this for school and it’s been a long time since I read a verse novel, so I wanted to read it too. I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the author’s note about how much was true, and her writing tips for descriptive writing!

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. I can’t count how many times I’ve read this book. It was just a fun read when nothing else was grabbing my attention. I love how silly it is.

The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy. I don’t know what to say about this book - intended as a compliment, because wow. I went in thinking it would be one of those epic tales of friendships across the span of a life, but it quickly became so much more than that, and the ending… oof. I’ll be thinking of this one for a long time, re-reading it and finding new details that will suddenly hold so much weight.

February Round-Up

It felt like I was back on track with reading this month, but it's almost on par with January! With the exception of the manuscripts I read for Split/Lip Press, phew! I read 33 this month and there are more coming in right before the deadline! I can't wait to see what's chosen.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing. I forgot how this book got on my radar but I’m so glad it did. I absolutely love Lottie and the chapter cliffhangers were just intriguing enough without giving me an anxiety attack like some thrillers try to do. That also means the resolution to this book felt right and realistic, instead of being a letdown like a lot of current thrillers end up. Definitely reading more by Downing ASAP.

Green by Melissa Fite Johnson. My poetry book for the month. I’m biased because I’ve gotten to know Melissa as a friend, but this collection is so emotional and powerful. The little moments give way to deeper thoughts and feelings that have me thinking about my daily life and interactions in more poetic ways, wishing I could put them into words as beautifully as Melissa has done in this collection.

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh. I liked this one - the twists were ones I didn’t really see coming, mostly because the writing was so strong that I was propelled along, page after page, without feeling the need to stop and dissect what was happening to try and figure out what comes next. I like how it all wrapped up and will read more by this author.

Mystery in the Mansion by Lauren Magaziner. I read this aloud with my son because we love mysteries and choose your own adventures. I previously read this on my own.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. This book was interesting but I’m glad it wasn’t the first of Downing’s I read, because it didn’t make me want to read more. (Too Old for This was the first I read and I HIGHLY recommend it.) This one felt stale to me because the trope of the educated man who is level-headed and doesn’t use contractions secretly being a psychopath feels overdone. I feel like I’ve heard this voice too many times before. I also hated all of the characters so I didn’t care if it all went up in flames. Characters don’t have to be likeable but if I don’t care at all, I’m not going to enjoy the book.

A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing. I like Downing’s writing style a lot but this story just wasn’t it for me. It’s the third book I’ve read of hers, and the second where I really didn’t like any of the characters. The storyline wasn’t that compelling either - I wanted more, to have it really ramped up, but it almost read like a season of a CW show to me.

Delicious Strangeness by Stephanie Barbé Hammer. My writing book for the month. Just reading this really helped me understand what I love about magical realism and how I can pull it into my own writing more. The prompts kickstarted my imagination and I’m going to re-read this immediately, slowly, giving myself time for each prompt to see what I can create.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing. This one gave me twisted Tom Perrotta vibes, which I liked! I thought it was interesting without being overly suspenseful. It’s the fourth Downing book I’ve read, and the second one I really liked. I still recommend Too Old For This first, but this one is also worth a read.

Carver Country: The World of Raymond Carver by Raymond Carver. Beautiful coffee-table type book of Carver’s writings and letters with photographs of him, his desk/office, and the land where he lived and set many stories. The selections of his stories and poems went well with the photographs, but the letters and introduction by Tess Gallagher were my favorite parts because they were so eye-opening.

Out There by Kate Folk. I loved Sky Daddy but I am IN LOVE with these short stories. And Folk’s brain. These stories were fascinating and weird and many had wonderful twists at the end. “The Turkey Rumble” was especially a favorite that I didn’t think I’d like much at all when I started it, but the ending made it all worth it. I love that she’s not afraid to have narrators die in the end.

Stolen from the Studio by Lauren Magaziner. The second book in the Case Closed choose your own adventure mystery series. A re-read for me, but I’m reading it aloud with my kid this time. We take turns both reading aloud and making the choices.

He Started It by Samantha Downing. Downing’s books are so hit or miss for me. I’ve read 5 now and loved one, liked one, and trudged through the others. I love road trip books and this one had a lot of potential for suspense but it felt so lacking to me. Reading it was like wading through mud. I only finished thinking that the ending had to be worth it but… womp womp. Just a big no for me.

The Life of Chuck Book and Movie

It's no secret that I love reading books, then watching the movie or TV adaptation and comparing them, so here's the latest... The Life of Chuck.

The Life of Chuck by Stephen King. Read this on the recommendation from a writer friend who watched the movie. I like reading the books first to see what I imagine, so I got this from the library immediately. I love the story structure and how innovative it is to have the world exist because one person’s mind created it. This was a short story made up of beautiful moments and I read it in just an hour or so because I couldn’t put it down. Even with the sad ending (at the beginning), it was so wonderful that I just wanted to crawl inside of the story. I can’t wait to compare it to the movie.

It's also super cool that the dance scene is a flip book on the movie version of the book! Little details like that make things feel special.

Now to the screen adaptation...

I don't know why I thought Chuck was Kevin Costner... something about the image looks like him to me. Am I crazy? It also made me think of the In & Out cover, which is Kevin Kline, so maybe I just merged "dancing on a movie cover" and Kevins and had that impression. I also don't know a lot of "current" actors, so me thinking it was Kevin Costner was actually me thinking that I was "in the know" and had some movie knowledge by identifying the actor from this random shot alone. But I digress.

I liked the movie overall. I liked the callbacks about math and the stars, which, if they were in the book, I missed them or had forgotten by the time I watched the movie (maybe two weeks later, but two weeks in January 2026 is two fucking lifetimes, so consider that).

I liked that some of the same actors from Act 3 were in other acts as different(?) roles at the dance in Act 1, though it also seemed that Marty was a teacher at the school when Chuck was a kid, talking to him at the dance, yet wasn't old enough in Act 3 for that to be true... Am I missing something here? I'm convinced I have a degree of face blindness because I don't recognize people until I know them very well (see also thinking Chuck was Kevin Costner), so maybe it wasn't the same actors? And I understand how Chuck knowing them when he was young would bring them to life in Act 3, the way that's framed, so maybe I'm just nitpicking too hard at something that shouldn't be a big deal.

Beyonf that, there were some differences, like Chuck's time in a band is glossed over, which impacts the dance scene in a subtle way. Honestly, the shift of that moment linking back to his grandmother is so much more touching to me. That was a great change.

Overall, I liked the book better than the movie just because I felt like it had more depth. I learned more about Chuck in the story. But in the movie, it felt like some random peeks into his life without really feeling the weight of who he is. That made the ending seem a little flat, because I wasn't connected to Chuck like I was in the story.

I keep seeing things about this being an "uplifting" movie, and maybe it's just the fact that I read the story and watched the movie in January 2026, but it really doesn't feel that way to me. It feels really dire. Knowing you're going to die and the waiting being the hardest part... yes, exactly, except now it's breathing down our necks. The moments of Chuck's life that we do get to see are sweet, yes, and though he dies young he still had a full life - I get all that. But it's not uplifting to me.

Have you seen and/or read The Life of Chuck? What are your thoughts? Let's talk about it!

January Round-Up

As 2025 came to an end, I gave myself a few reading goals. My overarching goal is to read books from my shelves, because I've bought a lot of books that sound great, then get distracted when my library holds come in, or someone recommends a book to me, yada yada yada. But beyond that, I want to read one writing book each month, and one poetry collection each month. While I feel like I didn't read much this month (dammit, doomscrolling), I did accomplish those two goals by the skin of my teeth.

Though I didn't read as much this month as I usually do according to trackability, I did read 9 short story/flash fiction collection manuscripts for Split/Lip Press, with more to read over the next two months. So I can't claim those since they're not published...yet, but I've read some great ones.

The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire, #1) by Tui T. Sutherland. My son wanted me to read this book because he loves this series. It was more violent than I thought it would be considering how much he likes it, but overall it was a good book and an interesting premise. I don’t think I’m going to blaze through the entire series soon, but if I don’t know what to read, it’s definitely something I’d be willing to pick up and see what happens.

Short Cuts by Raymond Carver. Part of my short story project for the month. I originally read this in 2008 or 2009 and probably watched the movie around then, too. I’ve re-read some of the short stories since, but this is the first time I re-read the entire collection. I read it right after watching the movie again so I liked seeing how the director interpreted some of the stories.

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith. I read this for the Cozy Mystery Book Club. I love culinary cozies and I’m a tea fan, so I liked that aspect of the storyline. The mystery was fairly intriguing as well. However, the writing style seemed really basic. I was always aware I was reading a book because everything was told and explained instead of shown through action and dialogue, so that was disappointing. Daisy was a weak character, too. She had no personality and deferred to men so much. She was a widow and mentioned her late husband a bit, which is understandable, but she kept saying she “didn’t know why” she had feelings for handsome, kind Jonas, but also went on dates and seemed trying to force something with Cade, which had been her prom date but was really dismissive and somewhat controlling of her. I found it off-putting that she kept acting like she wanted to be with him even after admitting how he treated her annoyed her. Get a backbone! I wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t for book club. Read the full review here.

The Life of Chuck by Stephen King. Read this on the recommendation from a writer friend who watched the movie. I like reading the books first to see what I imagine, so I got this from the library immediately. I love the story structure and how innovative it is to have the world exist because one person’s mind created it. This was a short story made up of beautiful moments and I read it in just an hour or so because I couldn’t put it down. Even with the sad ending (at the beginning), it was so wonderful that I just wanted to crawl inside of the story. I can’t wait to compare it to the movie.

Very Nice by Marcy Dermansky. Wasn’t sure what to expect with this one but it was a nice, quick read as a snow storm blew into my area. I read it in one night. I liked the different points of view and how all the characters came together. The ending was a little lackluster to me, considering Chekhov’s gun and how much potential there was there, but I liked the author’s writing and would read more from them.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. I’d heard about this since it came out and was intrigued based on the title alone. My favorite aspect of this book was definitely the cultural insights. I think the title definitely sets a different idea in your mind and the story didn’t live up to THAT, for me, but it was still enjoyable and I loved how some chapters were short, reading almost like flash fiction pieces, and sometimes the chapter titles came directly into play with the content so you had to keep it in mind as you read. The ending was kind of meh though, like leading into more of the same instead of a resolution.

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene. I love mysteries but have never read a Nancy Drew book, so I wanted to start with the original. It was an interesting book, definitely providing a glance back at the time. I don’t think it’s interesting enough to read the whole series, but I know there are some “modern” spins on it, I think with a younger Nancy as the main character, so I’ll probably give those a try too, just to see. I didn’t necessarily dislike the book, but I don’t think it stands the test of time and can hold its own in the current literary field.

 

Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd. My writing book for the month. I’ve read several of Kidd’s novels, years ago, but didn’t know she’d written a writing book. It was exactly what I wanted (and needed) to start the year fresh. I love her approach to writing and how she shared finding inspiration, nurturing an idea until it becomes a story, and more. I highlighted so much in this book - really helpful quotes to revisit when I feel stuck in my own writing.

The State That Springfield Is In by Tom C. Hunley. My poetry book for the month. Maybe a cheat because it’s a re-read and I know I’d love to read it again, but honestly, I should have been re-reading it every year since my first time (in 2020) because it’s just that good. My previous review: These poems were told in the voices of Simpsons characters - beloved and obscure. It was pretty eye-opening to think of these characters as real people, and they randomly pop into my head and make me remember them as more than just fictional sitcom characters. I can’t recommend this enough to Simpsons fans, poetry fans, or people who love fictional characters as if they were real.

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith

Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith

I read this for the Cozy Mystery Book Club, and you can check out the discussion here.

I love culinary cozies and I’m a tea fan, so I liked that aspect of the storyline. The mystery was fairly intriguing as well. However, the writing style seemed really basic. I was always aware I was reading a book because everything was told and explained instead of shown through action and dialogue, so that was disappointing.

Daisy was a weak character, too. She had no personality and deferred to men so much. She was a widow and mentioned her late husband a bit, which is understandable, but she never got into her grief, so even bringing him up felt hollow and didn't add anything to the story.

Beyond that, she kept saying she “didn’t know why” she had feelings for handsome, kind Jonas, but also went on dates and seemed trying to force something with Cade, which had been her prom date but was really dismissive and somewhat controlling of her. I found it off-putting that she kept acting like she wanted to be with him even after admitting how he treated her annoyed her. Get a backbone!

I did like the aspect of an adopted daughter wanting to find her birth mother and how that was handled. It felt really rushed at the end though, and a lot of that action happened off the page. And also, it was all facilitated by... guess who? A man! So that was kind of a bummer.

I think this would have been a much better book is Daisy (and her aunt Iris) were stronger characters - and stronger women. I wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t for book club.

Convenience Store Woman vs. Sky Daddy

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori

vs

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk

I read both of these books in December 2025 and saw some similarities. As far as I can remember, both were recommended in the back of The Collected Regrets of Clover by 

Mikki Brammer (but my memory is terrible so don't hold me to that). I was on library hold lists for both and got access to Convenience Store Woman first.

I've previously read translations, including the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, and I appreciate how hard it can be to translate work and keep the author's original intentions and the beauty of their language. I also know that there's still a lot lost, and cultural context can certainly shape your interpretation of a book.

It took me a bit to get through the book, but here are my thoughts:

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori. This book was interesting until incel Shiraha came into play. His rants were too realistic and repetitive, so I had to skim a lot of his sections. The resolution definitely improved my thoughts of the book, but I was much more intrigued by the essay included at the end that spawned the book idea. I like the concept of the romantic relationship with the store more than the overall novel itself.

When I got access to Sky Daddy, I read it all basically straight through. Here are my thoughts:

Sky Daddy by Kate Folk. I wanted to read this book because the title made me laugh and I was curious about how the concept would play out, but damn did it become my favorite read in December 2025! I read it in about a day and keep thinking about it. I wish it had gone on longer just because I want to immerse myself in Linda’s world more, but I have to say the ending is PERFECT and I would be so angry if it ended any other way.

Overall, there were a lot of similarities with the main characters, in my opinion. I'm not sure if they were meant to be autistic or just... "different" because honestly, the more adult women I meet, the more I feel that we're all drastically different in wonderful ways, and without a diagnosis and being told if someone is autistic, it's hard for me to tell. But these characters were certainly not "typical" female main characters, and I love them both for that.

That said, they were both a bit naive, moreso the narrator in Convenience Store Woman. She seemed oblivious to how she was being treated by the incel and put up with it for appearances, and I wish she was stronger than that. The Sky Daddy narrator seemed to be using the man as much as he was using her and kind of turned that situation on its head by the end, which was more satisfying, whether it was "wrong" of her or not.

I think the "relationship" in Sky Daddy was more interesting and engaging. I think that's what the author of Convenience Store Woman was trying to do, but it didn't come off that way because the incel derailed things, whereas in Sky Daddy, nothing came between the narrator and her planes. I'm not sure if that relationship aspect was something lost in translation or if it just wasn't really present in the story. It was definitely clear in the essay at the end, so I think that was the intention, but maybe the author didn't want to follow it through for the novel, or maybe it was an editorial decision.

If I had to recommend just one, it would definitely be Sky Daddy. I keep thinking about the ending and am ready to read it again, honestly, because the writing style was so engaging and I'm willing to just read anything and everything about this character's daily life.

Have you read one or both of these? What were your thoughts?

Castle Dark Series by Veronica Bond

I first read Death in Castle Dark in August 2024 after getting the recommendation from the Cozy Mystery Book Club (though I read it too late to participate).

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond. First read: It’s the first book in a cozy mystery series (A Dinner and a Murder Mystery Series). I love the setting of a castle used for murder mystery dinners because it’s already engaging and spooky - then add in a real murder, and I’m hooked! 

Re-read December 2025: I heard there was a new third book in this series so I wanted to re-read the first. This is SO cozy to me - I love the mystery dinner theater concept, and set in a castle makes it that much better. This is one I'll definitely re-read again.

Castle Deadly, Castle Deep by Veronica Bond. This one didn’t pull me in as much as the first. I thought Nora’s relationship drama seemed kind of middle school and immature, and that dragged on for most of the story. Some of the twists were good though, so the ending redeemed the book overall. Also too much dependence on the Doll's House play - explaining it too much.

Death at a Castle Christmas by Veronica Bond. This was a bit too sweet for me. It felt like it was more of a clean romance than a cozy mystery. The ending seemed especially over the top, with everyone getting engaged for Christmas? After dating six months? I also felt like the storyline of the men trying to find treasure in the castle was a bit too similar to the last book, which is disappointing. I’d read another installment if it went back to “seeing” the murder mysteries performed in the castle - I think there could be 3 or 4 unique storylines around that concept and I wouldn’t think it was too played out.

The first book will always be a cozy mystery I'd like to re-read. However, the second seemed like too much filler, while the third seemed like it was trying too hard to wrap up the series. I'd read further installments if they focused more on the mysteries than sugary-sweet romance, but I have a feeling the author was indeed trying to wrap up the series with this delayed third installment.