9. Ward D by Frieda McFadden
Getting stuck overnight in a psych ward sounds exciting and terrifying, and this one touched on both feelings! I thought she weaved the past/present stories together really well, and I definitely fell for some of the characters. Also, I love a good “Do we trust this character?” moment, and this book had many of them. I definitely recommend it!
8. The Layover by Lacie Waldon
Listen, this is the lightest read of all of these books, but I also loved it. It’s a classic rom-com beach-read kind of book, but it was perfect for the trip I was on! I loved the setting and the characters, and I totally fell for the enemies-to-lovers situation. If you’re looking for a light read while sunbathing, this is it.
7. One of Those Faces by Elle Grawl
I am a sucker for an unreliable narrator, and, man, was this one unreliable! I will say I absolutely hated the ending, but something about it just really hooked me in. It’s intricate, suspenseful, and leaves you guessing. I really enjoyed this read.
6. The Cuban Heiress by Chanel Cleeton
Chanel Cleeton is one of my favorite authors because she beautifully ties history and fiction together! I love all of her books I’ve read so far, and while this one was not my favorite, I did really like it. She does a great job of creating her characters and making you feel like you were there. This was also probably the *spiciest* read I’ve had so far this year.
5. Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
This was the most recent one that I read, and of the three Unger books, this was by far my favorite. There were quite a few unexpected and some expected twists, I really liked the characters; overall, it was a very good read.
4. What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Full of twists and turns and some absolutely wild moments! I really liked the different perspectives on what happens to a friend group after trauma and how each person responds. I stayed up late reading this book almost every night, waiting to find out what happened next.
3. The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley
Another beautifully told historical fiction, but this one was told by two main characters. Foley did an incredible job of keeping the story flowing between past and present, and I connected with all the characters. A beautiful story about mothers and daughters and the bond that can span lifetimes.
2. The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
This was another sort of supernatural twist book that I found so intriguing! I also loved how folklore was woven into the story. It was really well done all around. The descriptions were so vivid; I found it very easy to lose myself in the story and really feel part of it.
1. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
This was the first book I read this year, and it set the bar high! Even when I started to figure out the twist, I was still excited to keep going, not just to see if I was right but to see which of the characters did. Another great read.
Clearly, I’m not a professional book reviewer, but I thought I’d share my thoughts to give you some ideas on what to read this summer and beyond!
My goal is to read fifty books by the end of the year, so I still have a bit of a way to go! But I think I can do it.
I’d love to know what books you’ve loved (and hated) this year — tell me in the comments!