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The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham

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We’re all taught that you are innocent until proven guilty, right? Tell that to the internet! Faster than you can refresh on Reddit, Iris Henley went from popular at her high school to being accused of murder. In The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham, this YA thriller takes a look at how a tragedy can be turned into private entertainment.

Book cover of 'The Fall of Iris Henley' by Jennifer Graham featuring bold text on a black background, with colorful pom-poms and confetti.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

The Vibe: Black Mirror meets Mean Girls with a heavy dose of digital paranoia.

The Tropes:

  • 🧪 Hazy/Unreliable Memories
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Small Town Secrets
  • 👯‍♀️ Sisterhood over Everything

From the publisher: For fans of Megan Lally and Kara Thomas, a twisty thriller about a Texas teen accused of murder who’s desperate to clear her name.

Published on: February 24, 2026

Pages: 336

Genre: Young adult, Mystery, Thriller

Click for the synopsis of the book

What I Liked About The Fall of Iris Henley:

Relatable:

Everyone can relate to observing the popular cheerleader in high school who had the “perfect” boyfriend. You either loved her, hated her, didn’t care about her, or you were her. Iris was that person. When she walked down the hallways, people turned to say hi. That is until her boyfriend and best friend turned up dead, and everyone blames Iris.

Plausible:

The realistic online mob aggression is what captivated me in this book.

“In this town, the truth doesn’t matter as much as the latest notification.”

Middle School Teacher’s Note: Having seen how a single “He said/She said” Snapchat can dismantle a student’s entire social world in forty minutes, this book felt terrifyingly real. Graham captures that “no-escape” feeling of digital gossip perfectly.

Red Herrings:

Graham also did a great job of planting clues (red herrings) throughout the story to help you solve the mystery. The crazy part is that Iris wasn’t even sure if she was to blame. Alcohol can do that to a person. The real tension comes from Iris not being able to trust her own head. Watching her try to solve a crime she might have actually committed kept me turning pages.

Family Drama:

My favorite part of the whole book was watching the relationship unfold between Iris and her younger sister, Noelle. This subplot added heart to the chaos of the story. I felt that the family relationships in the story were realistic and were well-done.

Final Verdict:

This is like a young adult book for fans of Freida McFadden. It’s a little short on characterization, but the clues and fast pace of the story make it interesting. If you liked A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or you like watching Black Mirror, then you will enjoy this book. If you don’t like “mean girl” tropes, then you should skip it.

Where to Buy The Fall of Iris Henley and More:

Purchase The Fall of Iris Henley

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other mystery/thrillers:

  1. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden | Buy on Amazon
  2. Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy | Buy on Amazon
  3. Dead Money by Jakob Kerr | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jennifer Graham for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Leave a Comment:

Have you ever seen a rumor spiral out of control online? Also, do you prefer your thrillers with a narrator you can actually trust? Let’s talk in the comments!

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig: A Review of the Magical Realism Phenomenon

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Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you had changed just one decision that you made along the way? Different job? Different place to live? Different mate? Turned right instead of left? The Midnight Library by Matt Haig makes you really think about those decisions or possible regrets in your life.

Cover of 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig featuring a navy blue background with colorful illustrations related to books and life choices.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: The #1 New York Times bestselling WORLDWIDE phenomenon

Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction | A Good Morning America Book Club Pick | Independent (London) Ten Best Books of the Year

Published on: September 29, 2020

Pages: 304

Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism

Click for the synopsis of the book.

What I Liked About The Midnight Library:

Would your life be better if you made different decisions? The story follows Nora, overwhelmed by these very regrets, reaches a breaking point. However, instead of dying, she is taken to a “library” where each book represents what her life would have been like if a different decision had been made.

The book reminded me of the movie Groundhog’s Day in a way, which is one of my least favorite movies. That being said, I loved this book. Weird, right? Even though it was sort of predictable, which is why I don’t like the aforementioned movie, this book was full of hope and light. It helps your to realize that your life is the one you were meant to live, and really, there is a lot of awesome things happening to you. I love that this book made me appreciate what I do have in life.

This is a book that will stick with you for a while. I had to process my thoughts of it for some time now. I like when a book makes me do that when I finish reading it.

Where to Buy The Midnight Library and More:

Purchase The Midnight Library on Amazon (I do earn a very, very small percentage if you do…so, thank you.)

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other “cozy reads:“

  1. Falling Apart and Other Gifts From the Universe | Buy on Amazon
  2. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston | Buy on Amazon
  3. Twice by Mitch Albom | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: I do earn a very, very small percentage if you do buy this book from this link…so, thank you. This review is my honest opinion.

Leave a Comment:

If you could change parts of your life, would you?

Food Fix Uncensored: Inside the Food Industry’s Biggest Cover-Ups by Mark Hyman

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I went to the grocery store yesterday and, for the first time in my life, I actually felt angry. Not because of the prices, but because of what I learned in Dr. Mark Hyman’s new book, Food Fix Uncensored. Once you see the ‘Toxic Triad’ of food, pharma, and farming on every shelf, you can’t unsee it. Here’s why this book ruined my typical shopping trip (in a good way). If you’ve ever wondered why your healthy habits don’t seem to be enough, this book was written for you.

Book cover of 'Food Fix Uncensored' by Mark Hyman, featuring a rural landscape with a barn and text highlighting its status as a New York Times bestseller, discussing food industry cover-ups.

3/5 stars ★★★☆☆

From the publisher: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Young Forever, uncover the powerful web of corporate interests that are hijacking our food, our health—and our future.

“A roadmap to reclaiming our vitality.” —from the foreword by Dr. Casey Means, author of Good Energy

Published on: February 10, 2026

Pages: 480

Genre: Health and Wellness

To read the synopsis of the book: https://amzn.to/4rW0rwh

What I Liked About Food Fix Uncensored:

The Uncensored:

Many of my favorite wellness podcasts are those done by Dr. Hyman. He asks great questions, and seems, well, human, which I like. The “uncensored” part of this book, which I admire, is his willingness to call out specific lobbyists and corporations that are contributing factors to the demise of our health. He shifts the blame to the system, and not just to my lack of willpower at the grocery store. He plainly points out that it is the food environment that is adding to the corruption of healthful eating.

Fighting Back:

Dr. Hyman doesn’t just leave us hanging with the doom and gloom that has overtaken our food in America; he is actively trying to fix our food system by founding the Food Fix Campaign. “…the campaign brings together a team of policy experts, regenerative agriculture leaders, medical professionals, soil scientists, and communications strategists to deliver a singular message: our food system must become a tool for health, not harm.” He is slowly getting politicians on both sides of the aisle to wake up and fight back.

Words of Wisdom:

I found myself highlighting so many sections of the book. Here are some of my favorite quotes:

** 1. “Every major crisis we face – skyrocketing disease rates, economic collapse, environmental destruction – traces back to one thing: our food.”

** 2. “I hope you can give me the benefit of the doubt when I say that this isn’t about Left vs. Right – it’s about life vs. disease, health vs. corporate greed. If we can’t set aside ideological differences to address the single biggest driver of our nations’ health crisis, then we’ve already lost…”

** 3. “Even more alarming is the fact that many chemicals and agricultural drugs banned in Europe and other countries remain perfectly legal in the United States. Why? Because our regulatory system operates under a ‘prove it’s dangerous first‘ model.”

** 4. “The same American food companies that fill grocery store aisles with dyes, fillers, and chemicals linked to cancer, hyperactivity, and metabolic dysfunction have no problem removing those same ingredients when selling their products in Europe, the United Kingdom, and even China.”

What Does This All Mean?

I have been listening to a lot of wellness podcasts lately, and they have all been saying the same thing: food is medicine. If you look at the flip side, disease is also caused by the wrong foods. Politics aside, this should make you angry. If you’re like me, you’ll want to learn how to do better. That’s why this book matters.

I’m going to be honest, though. The book isn’t a thrill ride every second. Sometimes, I wondered who the book was geared toward because some of it went right over my head. That being said, there are many seeds of wisdom, and that is why I enjoyed this book.

Where to Buy Food Fix Uncensored and More:

Purchase Food Fix Uncensored

To visit his website

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other health and wellness books:

  1. The Foodie Diet by Ella Davar, RD | Buy on Amazon
  2. Living Proof by Tiffany Graham Charkosky | Buy on Amazon
  3. Fast, Feast, Repeat: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny: Intermittent Fasting by Gin Stephens | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Dr. Mark Hyman and Little, Brown & Company for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Leave a Comment:

I’ve become passionate about health and wellness books lately. Has anyone else noticed the difference between US food and European versions? It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Europe, so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Exploring Cult Life in Little One by Olivia Muenter

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Most of us have secrets we’d like to keep buried. But when an investigative reporter knocks on your door, you’re forced to decide: do you keep running, or do you finally face the truth? In Little One by Olivia Muenter, Catherine West has to decide if the truth is more dangerous than the lie. The truth about being raised by a charismatic cult leader might be better left off at the tomato farm.

Book cover for 'Little One' by Olivia Muenther, featuring a colorful gradient background with spider webs.

The Quick Stats:

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: A searing novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such a Bad Influence, follows a young woman whose life is upended when a journalist uncovers her mysterious and hidden upbringing. 

Published on: February 3, 2026

Pages: 414

Genre: Literary Cult Thriller

To read the synopsis of the book: https://amzn.to/3OK5uAZ

What I Liked About Little One:

The Setting:

Set in the sweltering Florida fields, Muenter excels at sensory detail. I could practically feel the humidity on my skin and found myself wanting to swat away bugs while I read. She perfectly captures the slow decay of the farm and the claustrophobia of the old buildings.

Cult Life:

Muenter’s portrayal of cult life feels hauntingly authentic. She highlights the tragic irony of the farm: what starts as a sincere search for a simpler way of life becomes a cage built by a charismatic leader. It’s a powerful exploration of how a ‘God-complex’ can turn a patch of Florida paradise into a psychological prison.

Sisterhood:

I loved reading about the relationship between Catherine and Linna. Although they are a found family, you could feel the love between them through most of the story. I kept cheering for both of them to succeed

The Ending:

I didn’t see the ending coming, and that is my favorite way for a book to end. It made me want to talk about it with someone else. I thought it tied up the book perfectly and was brilliantly done.

Content Warning:

The book does deal with a lot of traumatic issues. This is a heavy read, and at times, I felt uncomfortable, even though I couldn’t stop reading. If you are worried, look it up, but I don’t want to give anything away.

Where to Buy Little One and More:

Purchase Little One: https://amzn.to/3OK5uAZ

Want to learn more about the author? https://www.oliviamuenter.com/

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend this true story about living in a cult:

  1. Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to Netgalley, Little, Brown & Company, and Olivia Muenter for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Leave a Comment:

 Catharine spent a decade building a perfect life to hide her past.

If you were in her shoes, would you have opened the door for that journalist, or would you have kept running? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

A Wild Ride: Review of ‘Dear Debbie’ by Freida McFadden

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Finally, a book for everyone who’s tired of ‘taking the high road.’ Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden is what happens when a polite advice columnist chooses violence and has the IQ to get away with it. Buckle up! Debbie Mullen is an MIT graduate, and she has decided to stop playing by the rules. It’s about to get messy!

Book cover featuring the title 'Dear Debbie' by Frieda McFadden, with scissors and a red poppy flower on a green background.

The Quick Stats:

Read more about Dear Debbie!

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a biting subversive thriller about what happens when women finally choose to take justice into their own hands – with killer results.

Published on: January 27, 2026

Pages: 336

Genre: Psychological Thriller

What I Liked About Dear Debbie:

You already know you’re in for a wild ride the second you see Freida’s name on the cover. She is the undisputed queen of the ‘wait, what?‘ moment. She takes everyday, relatable characters and plunges them into chaos, leaving you convinced that the most dangerous people aren’t in high-security prisons; they’re living right on your street.

If you’re old enough to have read the ‘Dear Abby’ columns, then you can imagine if Abby finally snapped, traded her typewriter for a tactical plan, and started solving her readers’ problems with a shovel instead of a pep talk. Wouldn’t that have been great?

My favorite part about Dear Debbie was the humor. I don’t go into Freida’s books thinking that they are going to make me laugh, but this one truly cracked me up. Her ‘drafts’ for her column were foreshadowing and funny at the same time. Do you have a husband who snores? A neighbor that tries to outdo you? Have to attend PTA meetings? Have teenagers that don’t understand you? Debbie is deeply annoyed by the same things as us; she just takes matters into her own hands.

The final reveal isn’t just a twist; it’s a total wrecking ball that makes every single page leading up to it worth the adrenaline. THAT is the reason that I find Freida books so fun and why I gave it four stars. It’s not a book that I will remember years from now (which is when I give a book five stars), but I did enjoy it.

Where to Buy Dear Debbie and More:

Purchase Dear Debbie on Amazon (I do earn a very, very small percentage if you do…so, thank you.)

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other psychological thrillers:

  1.  The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark | Buy on Amazon
  2. The Profiler by Helen Fields | Buy on Amazon
  3. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: I do earn a very, very small percentage if you do buy this book from this link…so, thank you. This review is my honest opinion.

Leave a Comment:

 I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy

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If you thought The Girl on the Train was a trip, wait until you step foot in Hawthorne Heights with Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy. Murphy takes the classic ‘unreliable narrator’ trope and flips it on its head, delivering a domestic thriller that feels less like a book and more like a ticking time bomb.

Book cover of 'Ours is a Tale of Murder' by Nora Murphy featuring a dramatic sunset background with silhouettes of trees and houses.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: “A shocking collision made all the more satisfying by Murphy’s brilliant twists…Clear your schedule―you won’t be putting this down until that last, mesmerizing page.”  ―Carter Wilson, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Tell Me What You Did

One quiet neighborhood

Three different families

Bound by murder

Published on: February 10, 2026

Pages: 384

Genre: Psychological Thriller

To read more about the storyline: https://amzn.to/4qpr1Mt

What I Liked About Ours Is a Tale of Murder:

Points of View and Storylines:

We’ve all seen the ‘perfect’ suburban neighborhoods on TV, but that definitely isn’t what’s happening in Hawthorne Heights. I love a book that has different storylines, and you just know it is all going to come together in the end. At first it was a little confusing with the different characters, but stick with it. It’s totally worth it. In this “domestic noir,” you just know that something terrible is lurking around the corner at all times. It’s what makes a reader want to keep reading. Murphy does a wonderful job of weaving different point of views together throughout the story. I’m in awe of how she pulled all of this together.

The Twists:

Let’s just say “whoa.” You’ll know the big one when you read it. It was so unexpected, and it was my favorite part of the whole book.

The Pacing:

It’s a book where you can just feel the dread. The shorter chapters keep the story moving at a breakneck pace, and I wanted to keep reading. It’s isn’t necessarily a “whodunit” story, but the suspense of doom and uneasy feeling is what makes this a good book.

The Characterization:

Murphy provides an interesting look at people that could be living in your neighborhood today. The seemingly perfect young couple, the mother who will do anything for her son, the parents who cherish one child over the next, and then there are the sons who are next-door neighbors, but don’t feel a part of their families. Each of them is smart in their own way. This is one thing that I truly enjoyed about this book.

Where to Buy Ours Is a Tale of Murder and More:

Purchase: https://amzn.to/401burl

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other psychological thrillers:

  1. Cross My Heart by Megan Collins | Buy on Amazon
  2. The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes | Buy on Amazon
  3. House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Nora Murphy for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author, visit her official website.

Leave a Comment:

This book gave me major The Girl on the Train vibes. What’s the last domestic thriller you read that actually made you double-check the locks on your doors? I need more for my TBR pile! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Her Cold Justice by Robert Dugoni

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What would you consider more dangerous: a killer walking the streets, or a system that doesn’t care who it locks up as long as the file gets closed? I didn’t have an answer until I finished this book. Robert Dugoni returns to the rainy streets of Seattle to tackle the dark world of jailhouse informants and systemic corruption. If you thought the first two books were intense, Her Cold Justice proves that sometimes the truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.

Book cover of 'Her Cold Justice' by Robert Dugoni, featuring a stylized illustration of a woman with long hair against a backdrop of jail bars.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: To save a client accused of murder, defense attorney Keera Duggan must fight a complex web of corruption in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

Published on: January 27, 2026

Pages: 399

Genre: Legal Thriller

If you would like to read more about this book: https://amzn.to/49ZUPJl

What I Liked About Her Cold Justice:

From Student to Grandmaster:

This is book #3 in the Keera Duggan series. This can definitely be a stand-alone book, but it was fun to revisit the main characters from the first two books in the series. I feel like I would want to hang out with Keera. In the first two books, Keera is learning the ropes of being a lawyer from her dad. This time, Keera takes the lead, and it was fun to read how she performed in the courtroom. Her relationship with her family stands out a little more in this book. I love that it is messy, but loving at the same time. As Keera notes in the book, some shadows in Seattle are longer than others, but her family is always there to help her navigate them.

Checkmate in the Courtroom:

You have to love reading courtroom dramas to enjoy this book. Dugoni puts you right into the action. As a reader, you feel like you are sitting there and observing the whole court case. The details are just enough so that you can picture everything, but there aren’t so many that you feel overwhelmed or lost.

The Power of the Pieces: More Than Just a Supporting Cast:

This court case is personal for Keera. The nephew of her lead investigator, JP Harrison, is on trial, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In my head, I pictured JP as Winston Duke (from the Avengers). Handsome, commanding, and fiercely protective! Watching his struggle to keep it professional while his own family was on the line was one of the most emotional parts of the book.

And of course, there’s Paddy “The Irish Brawler” Duggan. He still has his demons, but seeing him put his daughters first reminds you why this series has so much heart.

It’s been interesting to see the personal growth of the characters throughout this series. This is why I would start with the first book in the series, but it isn’t necessary.

His Final Move: Why the Acknowledgments Matter:

He write up about his mom touched my heart. I felt his pain and love all in one. It said a lot about Dugoni’s character which makes me want to read more of his books.

My Rating of Her Cold Justice:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I kept going between four and five stars. I’m not sure this will be a book that I will remember in years to come, which is when I give a book five stars, but I do recommend that you read it. Robert Dugoni is one of my favorite authors, and I always know I am going to love the book, even before I start it.

Read this if: You love courtroom tension, you’ve followed Keera’s sobriety journey, or you want a legal thriller that feels “real” and grounded.

Where to Buy This Book and More

Purchase Her Cold Justice:

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this Robert Dugoni book, I highly recommend these other titles by him:

  1. Beyond Reasonable Doubt | Buy on Amazon
  2. Hold Strong | Buy on Amazon
  3. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell | Buy on Amazon
    • One of my Top 10 Favorite Books!

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Robert Dugoni for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author, visit his official website.

Leave a Comment:

What is your favorite book by Robert Dugoni? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Ranking Your Friends? The Social Nightmare of One Little Mistake By Miranda Rijks

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We all have that one moment we wish we could take back. A word said in anger, a secret shared with the wrong person. But what if your most private, judgmental thoughts didn’t just leak, but that they also went viral? In One Little Mistake, Miranda Rijks explores the terrifying reality of how a single click can dismantle your friendships, your career, and your entire way of life. How far would you go to hit ‘delete’ on the truth?

A book cover for 'One Little Mistake' by Miranda Rijks featuring a broken and smeared red lipstick tube. The book is placed on a white marble surface next to a physical tube of red lipstick. Text overlay reads: 'One Click. Total Chaos. My Review of One Little Mistake by Miranda Rijks. 4 Stars.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: They were best friends forever. Then Kate made one little mistake…

Published on: November 9, 2025

Pages: 284

Genre: Psychological Thriller

If you would like to read more about this book: https://amzn.to/3LSEazw

What I Liked About One Little Mistake:

The Cover!

I’m not sure what appeals to me so much about the cover, but it is definitely eye-catching. The broken lipstick is a good symbol to the story. It reminds me of how your life can become “broken” or unravel in just one day.

The Last Half!

I’ll be honest: the beginning was a bit of a slow climb for me. However, if you can push past the initial building up of events, you’re in for a wild ride. The momentum completely shifts at the halfway point, and from there, it’s a race to the finish. The second half is packed with enough twists and turns to keep any mystery lover satisfied. I found myself staying up late just to see how the fallout would finally land.

Relatable

I like a psychological thriller that has a relatable story line with it. This domestic story shows that not every home is perfect, and not every friend group is as close as it appears.

My Rating of One Little Mistake:

I’m landing on a 4-star rating, though in my heart it’s a 3.5. While the characters were hard to root for, the sheer momentum of the second half won me over. If you can push past the slow build, the payoff is worth it. The idea of “ranking” your friends is odd, but in reading how the author came up with the story, it seems there are people that actually do that. If you enjoy books about the dark side of suburban life and/or friendships, then you might enjoy this book also.

Where to Buy This Book and More

Purchase One Little Mistake here

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this psychological thriller, I highly recommend these titles:

  1. The Marriage Rules by Samantha Hayes | Buy on Amazon
  2. The Profiler by Helen Fields | Buy on Amazon
  3. What’s Yours Is Mine by Jennifer Jabaley | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Incubator Books, and Miranda Rijks for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author, visit her official website.

Leave a Comment:

Have you ever wished there was a “delete button” for something that you did in your past? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode I, Bad Boy By Chris Orcutt

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Dust off your Walkman, grab your Trapper Keeper, and race home to watch MTV. If you know what I’m talking about, then you are going to love the first installment of a 9 book series by Chris Orcutt titled Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode 1, Bad Boy. This trip down memory lane to 1986 is totally righteous and anything but bogus.

Book cover of 'Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode 1, Bad Boy' by Chris Orcutt, featuring a vintage cassette tape with the title prominently displayed.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: “Coming-of-age and teen romance collide in a bodacious and authentic journey through the 1980s…”

Published on: January 20, 2026

Pages: 386

Genres: Coming-of-age, historical fiction, romance

If you would like to read more about this book: https://amzn.to/4b8BXKv

What I Liked About Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome:

Nostalgia:

I can’t think of a better time to be a teenager than in the 80s (other than the 50s maybe), and this book brings back all of the nostalgia from that time period. This is the first book of nine installments that brings back the memories of making mixtapes for your friends, and living with parents who smoked all of the time.

I laughed at the memory of answering the home rotary phone in one room, running to your bedroom to lift the receiver in your room, and then running back to the other room to hang up the other receiver. It brought back memories of my sister listening in on my phone calls, my mom getting on the line to tell me to go to bed, and then screening my calls once we got an answering machine.If you can’t relate to any of this, then this probably isn’t the book for you. If these moments ring true for you, Orcutt’s novel will be a total blast!

A vintage rotary phone on a white background.
A classic rotary phone, reminiscent of the 1980s.

Playlist:

One of the book’s most brilliant features is the music playlist built right into the story. Orcutt scores each chapter with iconic 80s hits that serve as a clever ‘soundtrack’ for the plot. Instead of just reading the lyrics, I actually sang them to the tune in my head! It was so much fun to treat each song like a puzzle, hunting for hints about what would happen next. Tell me, which 80s song always gets you singing along?

A vibrant pink cassette tape labeled 'Madonna' from the 1980s, resting on a wooden surface with blurred vintage audio equipment in the background.

The Characters:

Avery “Ace” Craig is your normal teenage boy. What I enjoy about his character is that he smart and respectful. He may be “hunky,” but his newfound status of “good-looking” among the girls happens almost overnight. I remember when I came back to school in the 10th grade and all of a sudden, the guys were taller than me and had muscles! It was the strangest thing. Avery is shocked by all of the girls’ attention, as well.

Since this is a coming-of-age story, you get the down and dirty mind of a teenage boy also. This is definitely not a young adult book that I would recommend to my students. This book is SPICY! I actually had to ask my husband if this is truly how a teenage boy’s mind works. I’ll let you guess what he said.

There is a wide range of female characters also. They are pretty common of what you would see in any normal high school. The sweet, the slutty, the smart, the shy, and the scrupulous. I wonder which character you are going to cheer for when it comes to who is best for Avery?

The Parts of Bodaciously True…That Made Me Laugh:

** “He stuffed his sweater in his bag and walked into her tiny classroom. Across the room, Miss Shipley sat on her desk with her legs crossed. She was correcting a stack of papers with a red pen.”

Why did this make me laugh? After teaching for 32 years, I can honestly say that I never sat on my desk to grade papers. It also cracked me up because at that time, everything was graded with a red pen. It was about the 2000s when it also became “outlawed” to grade with a red pen. We didn’t want to hurt the students’ feelings. 😉

** “Avery checked the mailbox, hoping the tapes he’d ordered from the Columbia House Record and Tape Club had arrived, but the box was empty.”

I can almost smell the cardboard box that those tapes came in. The exhilaration you felt when you saw the box in the mail was like no other. Oh, and in the book, Avery uses that company to get back at someone else. So funny, but you are going to have to read the book to find out what happened.

My Rating:

I enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read the next installment when it comes out in April. It’s a lot of spice (if that bothers you, don’t read it), a lot of humor, and very relatable. I wish the first book had ended in a different way, but it helps to know the next one will be out soon. This is why I gave it four out of five stars.

Where to Buy This Book and More

Purchase Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode I, Bad Boy

Looking for more coming-of-age stories?

If you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, I highly recommend these titles:

  1. Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann | Buy on Amazon
  2. Influenced by Sara Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis | Buy on Amazon
  3. The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Chris Orcutt for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author (who is a great communicator!), visit his official website.

Leave a Comment:

What is your favorite 80s song or a specific memory from that era? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

The 20 Best Books I Read in 2025: A Year in Review

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They say we aren’t the same person we were a year ago, and looking back at my 2025 bookshelf, I have the receipts to prove it. Over the last twelve months, I’ve traveled through centuries, lived many lives, and gained new perspectives. Out of all the books I devoured this year, these 20 titles changed how I see the world. If you’re looking for your next obsession, these are the stories that earned a permanent spot in my mind. What are the 20 best books that I read in 2025? Read on to find out!

An open book displaying 'My Top 20 Books of 2025' with a stack of illustrated books, accompanied by a steaming cup and glasses on a wooden table.

The Order of the 20 Best Books:

Many were published in 2025, and some from years ago. They are not in any certain ranking order. I’ve mainly listed these in reverse chronological order, starting with my most recent read and working back to the beginning of the year. First you’ll see the chart, and then you can scroll for the explanations and review links.

#TitleAuthorGenre
1TwiceMitch AlbomContemporary Fiction
2Heart the LoverLily KingComing-of-Age
3Falling Apart and Other Gifts…Catherine Ryan HydeContemporary Fiction
4Living ProofTiffany Graham CharkovskyMemoir / Health
5Life, and Death, and GiantsRon RindoCultural Fiction
6Motty’s VowDiane Wahn ShottonHistorical Fiction
7The Last AssignmentErika RobuckHistorical Biographical
8Fast, Feast, RepeatGin StephensNon-Fiction / Health
9In the Veins of the DrowningKalie CassidyRomantasy
10Michael Without ApologyCatherine Ryan HydeContemporary Fiction
11Darling GirlsSally HepworthPsychological Thriller
12The GhostwriterJulie ClarkSuspense / Thriller
13My FriendsFredrik BackmanContemporary Fiction
14Promise Me SunshineCara BastoneContemporary Romance
15The WriterJ. Patterson & J.D. BarkerMystery / Thriller
16Hold StrongRobert Dugoni, et al.WWII Historical Fiction
17The FavoritesLayne FargoContemporary Fiction
18The Girl Goes HomeDorian BoxCrime Thriller
19The River is WaitingWally LambLiterary Fiction
20The River’s DaughterBridget CrockerMemoir

My List From 2025:

  1. Twice by Mitch Albom
Book cover of 'Twice' by Mitch Albom featuring a silhouette of a couple by the water on a blue gradient background with the text 'a novel' and 'What if you got to do everything in your life—again?'

  • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4qPskVz
  • My review: https://judiholst.com/exploring-mitch-alboms-twice-a-life-reimagined/
  • My why: This book is incredibly creative. Albom teaches us that living a “perfect life” might not be worth living at all. Even though this book had some “magical” qualities to it, the character of Alfie is extremely relatable. You learn his hopes, flaws, yearnings, and aspirations. You can’t help but love his character.
  • Pages: 320

2. Heart the Lover by Lily King

Cover of the book 'Heart the Lover' by Lily King, featuring an orange background with graphic illustrations of eyes and flowers.

3. Falling Apart and Other Gifts from the Universe by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Book cover of 'Falling Apart and Other Gifts from the Universe' by Catherine Ryan Hyde featuring two individuals in a field of sunflowers under a cloudy sky.

4. Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy by Tiffany Graham Charkovsky

Book cover of 'Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy' by Tiffany Graham Charkovsky featuring a woman in a red dress with her head turned, against a light green background.

5. Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo

Book cover of 'Life, and Death, and Giants' by Ron Rindo, featuring a silhouette of a giant against a natural landscape.

6. Motty’s Vow: A Novel of Family, Duty, and Resilience by Diane Wahn Shotton

Cover of 'Motty's Vow' featuring a girl in historical attire holding thread and scissors, with an American flag and a farmhouse in the background.

  • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3LplxD7
  • My why: I don’t like the cover, but the book was great. It is a powerful story, and every single character was well-written. I love a great historical fiction book, and this was an interesting one that takes place during the Civil War.
  • Pages: 391

7. The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck

A book cover for 'The Last Assignment' by Erika Robuck, featuring helicopters flying over a tropical landscape. The title and author's name are prominently displayed, with a gold accent at the top.

8. Fast, Feast, Repeat: The Comprehensive Guide to Delay, Don’t Deny Intermittent Fasting by Gin Stephens

Cover of the book 'Fast. Feast. Repeat.' by Gin Stephens, featuring a fork and knife graphic.

  • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3LIxnZ6
  • My why: This is the best book I have read on intermittent fasting, and I have read many. Stephens breaks down intermittent fasting in such easy terms. I also like that she explained the “why” of each part of the process.
  • Pages: 352

9. In the Veins of the Drowning (The Siren Mage, #1) by Kalie Cassidy

Book cover for 'In the Veins of the Drowning' by Kalie Cassidy, featuring a dramatic blue and black design with swirling golden decorations.

10. Michael Without Apology by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Cover of the book 'Michael Without Apology' by Catherine Ryan Hyde, featuring a silhouetted child holding a sparkler against a twilight background.

11. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Book cover of 'Darling Girls' by Sally Hepworth, featuring the title in bold white letters over a blue swimming pool, with the tagline 'Revenge is sweet...' and quotes from publications.

  • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/3YAFY31
  • My why: When you are looking for a good psychological thriller, always turn to Sally Hepworth. I read this in one day, which is rare. The story line is disturbing, but that was what made it so interesting.
  • Pages: 368

12. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Book cover for 'The Ghostwriter' by Julie Clark, featuring a partially burnt page with flames in the background.

13. My Friends by Frederik Backman

Book cover of 'My Friends' by Fredrik Backman, featuring three people swimming underwater, with a vibrant blue background and bold white text.

14. Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

Book cover of 'Promise Me Sunshine' by Cara Bastone, featuring two people looking at a sunset by the water, with a peace symbol in the foreground.

15. The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

Book cover for 'The Writer' by James Patterson and J.D. Barker featuring a woman in sunglasses against a red background with gold text.

16. Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree

Book cover of 'Hold Strong' by Robert Dugoni, featuring a sunset over the ocean with a sailboat in the foreground.

17. The Favorites by Layne Fargo

Cover of the novel 'The Favorites' by Layne Fargo, featuring a dramatic and artistic design that hints at themes of scandal and obsession.

18. The Girl Goes Home (Emily Colby, #4) by Dorian Box

Book cover of 'The Girl Goes Home' by Dorian Box, featuring a dark road leading to a bright light with trees framing the scene, and the title prominently displayed at the top.

19. The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

The book cover for 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb, featuring serene lake and sky imagery with a stylized title and a note indicating it is part of Oprah's Book Club 2025.

  • You can buy it at: https://amzn.to/4sK0OL6
  • My review: https://judiholst.com/emotional-journey-in-the-river-is-waiting-by-wally-lamb/
  • My why: I love to read books about prison life! This book makes you feel all of the feels. One minute it’s gut-wrenching and the next it is hopeful. It is like taking an insider’s tour of an American prison, and you wish you could escape it. I believe Lamb balanced characters well. He not only included the inmates but also portrayed the COs and the people that work inside a prison effectively.
  • Pages: 480

20. The River’s Daughter: A Memoir by Bridget Crocker

Cover of 'The River's Daughter' by Bridget Crocker featuring a small boat on dark blue water with the title and author's name prominently displayed.

Closing Thoughts On My Best 20 Books of the Year:

Looking back at these 20 titles, I realize that my “2025 self” was shaped by the stories I chose to let in. Some taught me about resilience in the face of history, others made me rethink how I care for my body, and a few simply gave me a place to hide when the world felt too loud.

Books are more than just ink on paper (or electronic in my case); they are the “receipts” of where we’ve been and who we are becoming. As I clear off my Kindle to make room for my 2026 reading list, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s talk books in the comments:

  • Which of these titles have you read?
  • Do you have a “must-read” recommendation for me to start the new year?
  • What was the one book that changed your perspective in 2025?

Happy reading, and here’s to another year of great stories!

On a Side Note – Do You Need Help Sleeping?

Can I just tell you about my new favorite product this year? It has saved my sleep and my sanity! Every night I was waking up between 2-4 am, and I COULD NOT fall back to sleep. I would read my Kindle, I would pray, I would sing songs, and I would take deep breaths. I couldn’t shut my mind off. I finally realized it was just too quiet, and I needed something to lull me back to sleep. I bought one of these the other day, and it has saved me! I use it as a sleep mask while I play “deep sleep music” on YouTube through my phone. This is so comfortable! I am a side sleeper, and this is incredibly comfortable. You can even wear it while you are working out. I now own three because they are cheap, and I can change them out throughout the week. I highly recommend it.

Check it out: https://amzn.to/4qshTr7

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Use the Code While You Can!

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