Books lately.

To say I've fallen behind on my yearly reading goal is an understatement. I usually pick things up in the summer though!

I've looked back through my posts and I cannot find any book updates since the beginning of February. So here we go....

***The theme is "lying", apparently.***

I gave Everyone is Lying to You 3 stars. I really enjoyed the beginning. I thought it was poignant and timely for this culture we live in. The end got a little out of control. It would've been 4-5 stars for me but it got a bit unnecessary (audio).

Count My Lies was really good. I can't remember why it didn't get 5 full stars but I read it compulsively over a couple of nights. It's free on Kindle Unlimited so you should grab it to read this week if you haven't yet! (BOTM hardcover)

I gave Read Between the Lies 5 stars without question. It was an insane psychological ride and I can't believe more people didn't rate it higher. If you like a slighty unstable narrator, this is for you. I couldn't put it down. (Kindle Unlimited)

It's Not Her was awful. I must've been feeling really generous on the day I gave it 2 stars. The system is rigged because this is not a good book. (BOTM hardcover...not linking it because I don't think you should read it.)

I generally like Robyn Harding's books and most are on Kindle Unlimited. I gave The Party 4 stars because it held my attention and kept me motivated to read after a very long dry spell (6 weeks maybe?) where I just couldn't find a book. (Kindle Unlimited)

John Marrs books are crazy and the beginning of this one started out really promising-like. I was seriously enjoying the audio of You Killed Me First and then it kind of went off the deep end for me. I don't think I finished it, but I invested a lot of time in the first half (his books are also pretty long) so I'm counting it. (Audible)

Freida McFadden's latest. I liked The Divorce and I read it in a day or two. I will say that the beginning is better than the end. It doesn't matter; I'll always pick up her books. (Kindle Unlimited)

Dan Gutman is a very reliable middle-grade author and I saw this recommended as a read aloud on a teacher's Instagram page. It came out a few years ago. I got it from the library and we listened to it in the car and Wells really enjoyed it. I would say it's great for audio or a read aloud. There were some weird things about it I DIDN'T like but you can read that in the reviews. Overall, I'd say Houdini and Me is good for middle-graders because it blends just the right amount of historical background with fictional/fantasy. (Libby audio)

So that takes me up to ...12 books for the year so far. Not great, Bob. 

But I'm currently working my way through these:

I read A Wrinkle in Time back in 2011, so I'm counting it. We are listening to it in the car. 

January Books. 2026

I'm not starting off the strongest, but I'm doing better than I anticipated given how lackluster I was about reading a few months ago.

I already lost track of my DNFs for 2026, but maybe I'll look into my kindle because I feel like that's important info to pass along to others. 

Reminder that my goal for this year is 50 books....I'm also keeping track on an Instagram highlight if you want to keep up in real time and not just once a month --when I hopefully remember to post here about books because sometimes I forget. 

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

I tried this because many recommended it as a different look at The Wizard of Oz. I'm not an Oz fan at all, but this was to be historical fiction about Emily, who would become Dorothy's aunt. I was, to be honest, hoping for something with a similarity to Z, the book about Zelda Fitzgerald I read many years ago. 

It started off with a lot of promise but then was lacking and then got really repetitive and just retold the story of The Wizard of Oz from a slightly different viewpoint. I would give it 3 stars for the first 1/3 of the book but it got really into lore by the middle and I didn't care. 

College Girl Missing

This is one I already mentioned in January, but the story of Lauren Spierer fascinates me and I think she has a lot more in common with, say, Maura Murray than a Natalee Holloway type of victim. 

Anyway, true crime is how I disassociate for sure, so going back and listening to some coverage on the case and then listening to this book was really informative. 

The Wedding Vow

This was an interesting one but there was a LOT going on. It's a thriller of sorts, taking place in the UK, which I like, but I needed a chart to keep track of who everyone was. I knew there'd be a couple of big twists and my predictions were mostly right and I do think the author was just throwing at a plot point dartboard and if it stuck, she put it in the book. 

It came recommended and was like a 4 month wait at the library. 

Dear Debbie

I don't know why I get so excited when I see she has a new book out. 

The first 1/4 was awful. Just so overwritten. The middle was kind of good? Good enough to keep me reading. I kept seeing glimpses of real suspense. 

The end was awkward. That's all. It was just awkward.

If you have kindle unlimited and get it for free, give it a try I guess. I wouldn't buy it.