A Cuppa Cosy Reads – August 2025

I feel like this year is just flying by and I can’t catch up! Before we know it, it will be time to be talking about the year as a whole and new reading goals- which is scary to think about. I would say August was a fairly average reading month for me; a couple of standouts, but on the whole nothing super special in any of the books. I read a total of 8 books and gave an average rating of 3.28. 

Loving a Vampire is Total Chaos by Aura Hayes 2 Stars – This book was total chaos…

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum 3.5 Stars – This book was so much fun in all good ways, but it was also just a standard thriller esque story. 

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 4 Stars – I thoroughly enjoyed all the coziness this book brought, but I also felt a little let down (possibly because it was so built up after all the publishing delays). 

Rush Week by Michelle Brandon 3 Stars – Another average thriller, though this one was more boring in certain parts than Mean Moms. I don’t know if it was too much with reading it during Rush Week or if it was the book itself (probably the latter to be honest).

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz 4 Stars – This was just a delightful novella- I could have read more about these robots trying to open a noodle spot. 

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 3.75 Stars – While I enjoyed this immensely and am looking forward to picking up the second, I also felt like at times it was a bit…long winded and was repeating itself in ways that wasn’t necessary (the author does a great job at showing not telling, but then would tell us after). 

How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie 3 Stars – This was solid in some parts and yet feel short in other parts. I felt like it was a little drawn out, so when we got to the punchy parts, it was already a little tiring to read. I enjoyed the last sections, but the lead up was a little overdone. 

To Have and To Heist by Sara Desai 3.5 Stars – This was cute and fun and a great comedy of errors, but I don’t think I need to read any further. 

And that’s it! A solid month if not as high a rating as I’d like. On to September and the start of all the autumnal reads. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – June/July 2025

June & July were a couple of busy months- both personally and for reading! I somehow managed to read 15 books across both months and across one and a half countries. It was two months filled of high highs and some very memorable lows (at least reading wise). I gave an average rating of 3.75. 

So, let’s get into it…

Lights Out by Navessa Allen 4 Stars: This is marketed as a “dark romance”, but I found it to be rather charming (no, I’m not sure what that says about me). While it can have darker themes, these are quickly pushed to the side as you get to know the characters and the story unfolds. 

Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon 4 Stars: This was just a classic Jewish good time. 

The Will of the Many by James Islington 4 Stars: This is one of those books that I just loved the complex nature that I had zero understanding of. Do I find that some things needed further meaning and explanation? Sure. Did we get that? No. Did I love it anyway? Yes. Especially that ending- I need more information now. 

This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune 3.5 Stars: I picked this up because it takes place on one of my favorite places- Prince Edward Island, Canada. I really enjoyed it, the romance was endearing, even if I’m not a second chance type of person (if this could even be a second chance- maybe more of a physical to emotional romance. 

Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry 2.5 Stars: Look this was overhyped for me in the worst way. I found the female main character to be obnoxious, the story to be too obvious and predictable and I just was not a fan from start to finish. 

The Compound by Aisling Rawle 3.75 Stars: This came a bit out of a left field, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Big Brother meets Survivor (in a weird way)? Sign me up! My only big complaint about this book was that at times it was almost too complacent, then it would do something shocking to try and push the characters into the arc, but the timing was off. Highly recommend though. 

House of Bane and Blood by Alexis L. Menard 5 Stars: Sometimes a book comes at just the right time when you’re in the right place and that was what this duology was. An excellent steam punk urban fantasy story that I loved from start to finish. This first one is full of world building (but not overwhelmingly so), and the beginning of the tension. 

City of Mirth and Malice by Alexis L. Menard 5 Stars: This is the second book in this duology, and I found it to be the perfect concluding story, while still allowing the door to be open for any future spin off stories (which I think could easily happen). This was a good balance between the world and the fantasy with the romance- neither one crowding the other out. 

Rose in Chains by Julie Soto 3.75 Stars: I think this is the first “dark romance” that I’ve read that I’ve felt uncomfortable during. Granted I don’t read a lot, and I am very aware of what my triggers are when it comes to books, I found this to have some very uncomfortable moments (as it should given the world). Still, I enjoyed the overall story and I need the next book ASAP. While I know where the trope is going, I am appreciating the tension and slow build/burn of the characters. 

The Hunters Way by Craig Raleigh NR: To be honest, I don’t know if I could tell you anything about this book today. Zero. This was an audio book my husband picked while we were driving, and I think that’s about all there is to tell. 

Gloves Off by Stephanie Archer 4 Stars: Stephanie Archers is like Elsie Silver or Elle Kennedy; I can usually count on her for a solid (if maybe not memorable) romance that’s a good time. 

A Photo Finish by Elsie Silver 3 Stars: This was a solid romance that covered some more …mature (? Not sure the word, just haven’t seen some of the convo’s that exist in here in other books) themes and conversations that I enjoyed. I also enjoy the parallel to the first Elsie Silver series of books that I read (this follows the sister from the reckless series of books). 

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza 5 Stars: What an absolute delight of a book. From start to finish I loved this. Maybe it’s because it ties very much into the current themes of social media, with a mystery twist, or it just came at the right time, but boy do I recommend this one for a fun time. 

Call Me Hunter by Jim Shockey 3 Stars: Another audio book selection by my husband, but this one I have thoughts one. I enjoyed it, though I think it was almost too expansive- the through line between the two timelines/stories became lost and muddled as the story grew. 

The Fraud Squad by Kyle Zhao 2 Stars: I was hoping for something fun and instead I got an annoying main character (who I don’t know if she was naïve or dumb), a very loose predictable plot, but fun details. Basically, The Devil Wears Prada but not. 

And that wraps it up! We’re halfway through August now and I’ve already read 4 books…will August shape up to be as good as the rest of the months this year? 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – May 2025

Um hi- where did May go and why is June going just as fast? I’m literally writing this post on a late evening because quite honestly, I have no time, but I really want to keep up with all the things (this is definitely me and how I handle life). Somehow June is shaping up to be just as busy as May, coinciding with a move- which means things should be winding down, except I’m me and I keep saying yes! 

Anyways- you didn’t come here to read about that this week, that was last week (and maybe next week who knows). You came here today to hear about all the books I read in May- and boy did I read books in May. I read a total of 9 books and gave an average 3.54 rating. There were some real highs and some real lows there, and only one “this was fine” book in there. 

So, without further ado…

Wild by Cheryl Strayed NR This takes the cake as my least favorite of the month and honestly probably of the year. We picked this for our book club and honestly- hated every minute. I could write an entire thesis on it, but the wonderful people on good reads have already done it (I did give an entire essay verbally at book club though). 

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose 4.5 Stars I actually loved this one- the set-up, the storyline, the ending- this was exactly what I wanted in a thriller…

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose 2 Stars However this was completely unnecessary and relied on the same plot devices as the first (which you spend the entire book going- surely, she wouldn’t). I did not need to read it and I will not continue if there are new books with this same character. 

Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey 3.75 Stars This was a solid romance, HOWEVER it felt flat in terms of characters. I felt like I was being told all these anxious things and being told that the characters felt this way, but I didn’t feel that. I also felt like the wrap up was very convenient. 

The Royals Upstairs by Karina Halle 3 Stars This is my OK book of the month. It’s a sister book and I just didn’t really need it. Convenient and not enough of the couple from the first book. 

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 4 Stars This was a good literary fiction read. I always enjoy when women make fields work for them, especially in era’s when it was harder, and this was one of those stories. This was just a really lovely read, hard at times, but overall, so good to read. 

Off to the Races by Elsie Silver 3.5 Stars I think one of my favorite aspects of this was the horse racing and that we were following an owner/trainer- this wasn’t something I had read before, and I really enjoyed it. I am going to continue on in the series as I know Elsie Silver will always be a solid romance for me. 

Tentacle Kitty by John Merritt NR I picked this up at the book fair because it looked adorable- creatures sharing tales of adventure around an afternoon tea? Sign me up. And it delivered- just a fun short read! 

Little Heaven by Nick Cutter 4 Stars This was my final read of the month and what a way to go out. What Nick Cutter does so well is really setting the atmosphere, while you’re reading, you really get absorbed into his world and when you come out of it it takes a little bit of time. I always know his books are going to be dark, uncomfortable, and all encompassing. 

And that’s it for the month of May! It was a good reading month overall (I don’t know how I did it to be honest) and with summer coming, all the travel happening, and a break from saying yes to everything…well I’m looking forward to how many books I’ll be consuming!! 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – April 2025

April (specifically the second half) was not kind to me- in any way outside of my husband and kids. I didn’t do a lot- of reading or of much of anything else. I don’t have too much to say other than I hope to get back to regular posting (blame a lack of focus for the disappearance) and regular reading. This is going to be a very small post as I only read 5 books. My average rating wasn’t that high either, probably right around a 3. 

Collide by Bal Khabra 3 Stars As far as a romance- this was fine. My biggest complaint is that there was a lot of telling not showing in a way- I was reading these feelings, but not quite feeling them. There were also a couple of timing issues and bringing things back up that hadn’t been fully discussed prior. 

Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli 3.5 Stars While I didn’t feel like this needed to be written, and I felt it very formulaic, this was not a bad read. The romance was good, but the pacing was slightly off. 

Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody 3.25 Stars This is a good start to what I’ll assume is a trilogy. It’s a Les Misérables reimagining (that I didn’t even realize that was written on the back until I was 60% already knowing that) and I really like this almost Sci-Fi/Fantasy view. I will say- I am very interested to see where the story will go, if it’ll differentiate from the original or stay the same. 

1984 by George Orwell NR This was the book choice for my local book club and it was very…topical. I think that’s all I’ll really say on it. 

Story of My Life by Lucy Score 3.75 Stars I really enjoyed this- might be my new favorite Lucy Score, BUT my forever critique for Lucy Score is that she could edit down 100 pages and the story would be better for it. Looking forward to the “sister” stories that’ll come from this world. 

And that was it! Here’s to hoping May will be kinder. I know this was short and a bit harsh, but that’s where my mindset is at and honestly that’s ok. 

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – March and Q1 Stats

Where did March go and what even did, I read? Seriously- thinking back I don’t know what happened (aside from Spring Break- which those posts are coming!) and even less of an idea of what I read. I’m going to actually have to go back into my reading log to see what happened. 

Ok, now I’ve referenced back- I read a total of 9 books and gave an average rating of 3.43. Not terrible! We’ll just ignore the fact that I had to review things to remind myself of those reads haha. I’m not going to reread my reviews; I’m going to write from what I remember at this time. Sometimes I think that is actually better because then you get a more accurate review- what stood out at the end of it all. 

The Charlie Method by Elle Kennedy – 3.75 Stars – I really enjoyed this third book in this series. I’m not sure if there will be any more after this, but I did feel like this was a good conclusion. We saw some great character development across characters we knew and those that were introduced in this book, while still keeping with the fun-ness of a romance. 

The House of My Mother:  A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke – NR – How do I feel about this book? I mean it was freeing for Shari to write, triggering at times to read, and provided an insight that I don’t think that we’ve gotten from the Franke family. I read this after watching the Hulu documentary (and very much remembering when everything went down with the family), and I found that it gave so much information and insight. 

The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn, Translated by Martin Aitken – 3 Stars – To this day, I still don’t know what to make of this short, strange, little story. Told in jumbled up entries, this is a futuristic novel that just makes you question everything from the story to your own reading of the words. But not in a good way (in my opinion). 

The Human Experiment: Two Years and Twenty Minutes Inside Biosphere 2 by Jane Poynter – NR – Spoiler Alert, during Spring Break we visited Biosphere 2, an experiment that took the early 90’s by storm. Folks trying to keep a second, fully enclosed atmosphere viable and regenerating to live and exist in. This book was written by one of the “Biospherians” who lived inside for 2 years- to encompass her early life to post Biosphere. I found it to be well done and very interesting, even if I found that she still throughout the book couldn’t call certain things out for what they were. 

Fake Empire by C.W. Farnsworth – 3 Stars- I remember writing in my review “The miscommunication trope is strong with this one” and I still stand by it. That is the singular thing I remember from this book – the miscommunication was way overboard and annoying and definitely took away from some things. And not just the miscommunication between the characters, but between the author and reader as well. 

Magnolia Parks Into the Dark by Jessa Hastings – 4.5 Stars – I don’t think this concluding novel (concluding for Magnolia at least) could have gotten any better. It was such a solid ending, filled with equal parts of joy and sadness. It felt like we left in a really strong, full circle moment and I loved it. 

You Killed Me First by John Marrs – 3.75 Stars – I think John Marrs is always just a solid easy buy and read for me. The thriller is thrilling, the book is fast paced, and there is always some fun level of banter somewhere. This one was no different and I loved seeing the suburbs of his brain and characters rather than the city life. 

Everyone on this Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson – 4 Stars – I enjoyed this mystery, the second “locked door” mystery from this author. The story is captivating and enjoyable with a…doesn’t know what he’s doing but has rules narrator. I don’t know how I felt about the ending- conflicted to say the least, but still a solid read overall. 

The Secrets & Lies of Military Wives by Jenna Lumb – 2 Stars (generously) – I picked this up to be supportive of a fellow military spouse in a book group I’m in and because the people reading it in the group were giving such rave reviews. What I found were stories I either already knew (because I either lived where they took place or knew of them through groups/friends) OR stories that didn’t strike far from the norm of any military spouse group. We won’t get into the stereotyping because that’s standard and I don’t care about that, but what I will say is that this doesn’t offer much beyond just retyping the stories you’ve probably already read or seen. 

So, that’s that for March. 

I wanted to take a quick moment and do a little check in on the reading year as we are now fully finished with Quarter 1 of 2025 (WILD!) and wanted to see kind of where I stand. Apps do wonderful things and tell you these things haha.

So, so far in 2025 I have read a total of 10,577 pages across 25 books. I’ve bounced around the genres, though not as widely as I’d hoped, so I will note that and see where/what I can adjust. My current average rating for the year is 3.55, which I’m hoping will improve as I read more throughout the year. Overall, I’m feeling really good about this reading year at this moment. 

Some standouts out of those 25 books are the Daisy Haites portion of the Magnolia Parks universe, The Favorites by Layne Fargo, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros. 

How is your reading going? Any goals? Favorites?

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Reading in 2024 and 2025

I’m going to do a bit of a combo post- mostly because we are well past the whole “best books” season and I’m ready to focus on what is to come rather than what has already happened. So, 2024 was an OK reading year by rating. However, I found myself having more fun while reading, e.g. I despised something but I had a lot of fun reading it, or something was average but I was reading it with a friend so that made it better. 

In 2024 I read a total of 70 books and gave out an average rating of 3.3 (is that accurate? Maybe- this was calculated by Goodreads so it’s not precise). My goal for 2025 is to read 75 books (though I’d like to get closer to 100), but I also want to focus on quality of book- reading what I enjoy or enjoying the experience rather than just the number. 

Let’s talk about some of the standouts as I peruse my little Goodreads graphic for 2024…

First up, a genre…

I read a lot of hockey romance this past year. We could talk about that all day long, but I’d rather not lol. I found new favorite authors in Elle Kennedy (she’s an auto buy), and Stephanie Archer. I did have some misses, notably Pucked and Pucking Around. We will just conveniently ignore those. Hockey romance led me to dabble in other sports romances- baseball, racing, and rodeo-ing were also in the mix and it’s safe to say I enjoyed them as well (for the most part). For 2025 I do plan on continuing to dabble in this hyper specific genre (as in sports romance), but I want to be a bit pickier about it. 

Continuing along the genre trend and romance trend…

I read, as many people also probably shared for 2024, a lot of Fantasy Romance. A Lot. It still stands to be my favorite sub-genre of both the fantasy and romance genre’s. Sarah J Maas, Rebecca Yarros, Scarlett St. Claire, Penn Cole (a new favorite there), Abigail Owen, and Kaylie Smith all toped my list in 2024. Most of these authors have books coming in 2025 that I have pre ordered and will be reading once released. There were not too many misses in this category that can’t be explained by age or trope. 

Finally, just a couple honorable mentions for books I enjoyed that don’t fit into either category above, I enjoyed The Family Experiment by John Marrs (the third or fourth in an interconnected series), The Last One by Will Dean, and The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst (this is an all-time favorite and could fit into the fantasy romance but it’s much more cozy fantasy than anything else). 

Looking back, I do see some true standouts of 2024, books that will easily make a favorite of all time or re-read section and I also seem some real…not great books. In 2024 I joined a book club, which is continuing through part of 2025 and that has really been incredible. I’ve found such a wonderful group of women to come together and chat books (both the one read that month and beyond) and life once a month. It’s been such a blessing of our time here. I’m looking forward to continuing it on and then hoping to find another once we move. 

One other goal I have for 2025 is to actually stick to and complete a reading journal for the year. I’ve worked hard on creating one for 2025 and I want to desperately stick to it. I think it will really help when it comes down to doing lengthier reviews and posts (as I do plan on getting back to those here on the blog this year). I was heavily inspired by several users on TikTok and have created some really beautiful spreads and ideas for my reading. 

(Oh, and to harken back to my LAST post- I’ve backed up my computer through 2019…so that’s something at least)

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August 2024 Reading Wrap Up

I feel like posting a reading wrap up is a sure sign that we are back! Back in action! August was quite the reading month- I introduced a new series on my social media (IG, Facebook, Tik Tok all- @acuppacosy) where I pair a couple of books with a cocktail of a sort and then you get my thoughts on the cocktail, the books and if it worked out. I’ve filmed two episodes so far (posted one, another is coming very soon!) and I truly am enjoying it. I’ve also posted a “silent review” video to pair with this post. So, shameless plug if you’re not following me on social media, you’re possibly missing out haha! 

 Ok. Let’s get into books and thoughts and reviews, shall we? A little stat breakdown for you- I read a total of 7 books (and DNF’d 1), with an average rating of 3.12. My favorite was The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, and my least favorite was Quicksilver by Callie Hart. See all my thoughts below! 

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 4 Stars I really enjoyed this story- it is simply a coming-of-age story, with a minor climatic event, but ultimately it is a story of friendship. It ambles around a little bit, but in a way that works, and the writing is wonderful. 

 Quicksilver by Callie Hart 1 Star This was not my jam…at all. I found the trope redundant; I wasn’t a fan of the characters. Not sure what else, but it just did not work for me.  

Born of Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout 4 Stars I really enjoyed this concluding novel to the series- and make no mistake, this is the superior series in the world that Jennifer Armentrout has created.  

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 5 Stars This was easily one of my favorite books of the month, maybe even of the year. This was just a wholesome cozy fantasy romance. Very low stakes, I would almost just consider this a cozy romance, but there are some fantasy elements within. 

 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh 3.5/4 Stars I’m not sure where this falls on the rating scale. I enjoyed this book, and the twist was spot on (both of them), but I also didn’t feel super strongly about “loving” it. It is a solid thriller.  

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay 2 Stars Boy was this a disappointment. I liked the script, that was where Tremblay really shined, but when we went into the narrative of the book it lost me. I can understand the reasoning and where the jarring can work for the story, but instead for me it just pulled me out in a different way.  

***Quick interjection- when it comes to romance, I don’t typically have a lot to say, so you might see the next two reviews (and future romance ones) being a bit shorter. And yes, I’m reading romance, I started sometime in the New Year, and it has stuck haha.  

Drive Me Crazy by Carley Robyn 3 Stars This was a solid romance- a racing romance that I quite enjoyed. The spice level wasn’t the highest I’ve ever read, but it was a cute one that I enjoyed.  

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson 3 Stars This was another solid romance- I might have preferred this one above Drive Me Crazy. A bit more spice and the third act was a bit more…a fight (?) rather than a miscommunication.   

That wraps up August! I will say- I am excited to get into the ‘Ber months, the more atmospheric reads, the darker novels. Happy Reading!

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A Cuppa Cosy Reads – June 2020

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another month and it’s time to talk about all the books I read in June…or lack thereof. I feel like June wasn’t my best reading month as I was solo parenting for a good amount of it, there were numerous other things needing my attention, and I read a couple whoppers of a book (aka longer tomes). None the less, I am here today to talk about some of those books that I’ve read. Since this post is going up a few days before the end of the month, I’ll also be including my current read as I will be finishing that before the end of the month as well. 

Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams (Purchase) 4.5/5 Murder in the Mystery Suite is the first book in a series of “cozy mysteries”. We follow along with a young mom as she learns that the life she had always known was a “cover” for her family history. Secret societies, books, murder and mystery follow and each book raises the stakes. These are just quick, easy, “feel good” mysteries. 

Who Do you Serve, Who Do You Protect? Police Violence and Resistance in the United States Edited by Maya Schenwar, Joe Macare, and Alana Yu-Lan Price (Purchase) NR This is a collection of essays about police brutality and race in regard to police brutality. It was incredibly eye opening, brutally honest, and just a hard, but important read. I highly recommend if you are looking for a book that will break down a lot of the issues that happen with police custody and BIPOC. 

The One by John Marrs (Purchase) 5/5 If you want a roller coaster of a thriller, with a unique premise, this is the book for you. In The One we follow five characters in a world where you are able to find your genetic soulmate. Scientists have isolated a strand of DNA that tells you exactly who you were meant to spend your life with. The only problem? It is focused on the genetic aspect, not the WHO of each person. As these five characters find their match, lives unravel and change in a heartbeat. An absolutely incredible book, this one will keep you reading late into the night. 

Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams (Purchase) 4.5/5 This is the second book to Murder in the Mystery Suite and this one was my favorite mystery out of the three I’ve read in this series. I’m not going to say too much as this is a series that builds upon itself, even though the mysteries are different. What I will say is that I love this setting and the concept of the stories and it’s just a joy to read each one. 

Beloved by Toni Morrison (Purchase) 5/5 Beloved is the story of a slave woman during and after the Civil War and her life. It is incredibly difficult to read, both in part due to the storytelling, but also due to the atrocities she experienced and lived through. Her trauma comes through in every single page. This is such a good read, laying out the facts of what she went through (in a different way than the police brutality book), and then her PTSD from those atrocities. It is not a book I was able to read straight through, I had to put it down about halfway through, read something light, and then go back to it, but it was very much worth reading. 

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson (Purchase) 4/5 This is the second book in the Mistborn trilogy, and I waited all month to read it, and it was well worth that wait. We pick up a year after The Final Empire and the action starts right on page 1. I loved the deepening of the world, the new lore that was discovered throughout, as well as the politics and intrigue that was going on. I will say, similar to The Final Empire, there were parts that lagged and were tough to get through, but the last third of the book was nonstop. 

And finally, I am currently reading Murder in the Mystery Suite by Ellery Adams (Purchase) and, of course, loving being back at Storyton Hall. As of writing this, I’ve only just started, but these are quick easy reads, so I anticipate finishing this up in a day or two at the most. 

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