Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games) | by Suzanne Collins

 

In preparation for the movies I reread the book. I stand by my previous review. I love this book and can't get enough of Haymitch and The Hunger Games World. 

As many fans of this series know this book is about Haymitch's Hunger Games and that ramifications of them. 

It's the fiftieth annual Hunger Games and twice as many tributes are being sent to the arena. Two from each district. Haymitch is just living his life in district 12 and loving his girl but his fight in the Hunger Games will change everything he knows. It will change it in unimaginable ways that will explain so much to readers and break their hearts.

I just hope the movie lives up to the book! I recommend doing a reread before the movie. 

The Stars Are Fire | by Anita Shreve

It is the summer of 1947. Grace lives on the coast of Maine. She is 5 months pregnant and has two young children. Her best friend, Rosie lives next door to her and also has two children. The summer has been dry and hot perfect conditions for for the wildfires that are raging along the coast. Grace and Rosie's husbands are out fighting the fire when it reaches them.  

They are left to fend for themselves and have to use their wit in order to survive and keep their children safe.  They watch as their homes burn to the ground with only the ocean to keep them alive. Grace barley survives, her husband is unaccounted for and now she needs to find shelter and a way to provide for her and her children.  

Grace finds bravery within herself and slowly manages to find unimaginable freedoms then everything she has built starts to fall apart when the unexpected happens. 

The Great Fires of 1947 (also known as October Fury) is a real even that occurred. It took place between October 13 and October 27. Over 220,000 acres were burned and nearly 1,000 homes were destroyed.  Shreve's writing pulled me back to the fires that took place in San Diego in 2003. I could smell the smoke in the air, visualize the thickness of the air and feel the heat. I could see the blazing orange/red of the sun and picture the apocalyptic setting. 

Good writing has a way of bringing back memories and creating new feelings. I haven't experienced any of the traumatic events that took place for Grace but I could imagine them because the writing pulled me into the characters emotions. This might be Shreve's best book to date despite the melancholic feelings left behind. 

The Midnight Train (The Midnight World, #2) | by Matt Haig

 

Wilbur is on the midnight train. This isn't any ordinary train it's a train into the past. Wilbur and his guide Agnes will revisit important moments in his life. Moments that shaped him into who he is, moments that broke him, moments that healed him and memories he held close to the heart.

Wilbur's most meaningful life moments are with his love, Maggie. Seeing those moments makes Wilbur ache to change his past but it could cost him as it breaks the rules. 

This book feels like a modern take on A Christmas Carol, in which the main character reflects on their life and learns life lessons along the way. This left me emotionally wrecked. It's beautifully written and will leave readers earning for the past and looking into their future. 

Someone in the Attic | by Andrea Mara

Someone in the Attic opens in true horror fashion. A woman home alone in a tub, a creak from above, a stranger in their doorway and then death. 

The dead woman's name is Anya and her childhood friends might be next. Julia, Eleanor and Anya have been keeping a secret amongst them and that secret might hold the clue to who killed Anya. 

A tiktok video appears of a masked man dropping from Julia's attic door and walking around her home. The police are called but find the attic empty. Julie's young son starts to see things, her daugher finds more tiktok videos. Things go from creepy to downright scary fast. 

Julia starts to question everyone and everything in this psychological thriller. Expect a fast paced ready that will keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

Vanguard (Razorland, #4) by Ann Aguirre

The Razorland Saga continues with Vanguard. The focus is on Tegan. She goes on an epic journey as a ship's doctor. She befriends many on the way but her most meaningful relationship is with Szarok the Uroch who is trying to save his people by finding them a safe place to live in peace. 

Their relationship is beautiful and forbidden.  The build is slow and characters undergo major changes. While this isn't my favorite book of the series it highlights one of my favorite characters and is a lovely conclusion to a great series. 

The Poison Daughter | by Sheila Masterson

 

One kiss from Harlow Carrenwell results in death. She uses this to her advantage to seek out vigilance against men who hurt women. Her first husband is dead and she is betrothed to her next victim but he holds a secret that can change her life forever.

Harlow is the daughter to a founding magical family - a family that uses their powers to take out who they see fit including her new betrothed family. Henry's family has their own magic  and agenda but who he is as person makes Harlow weak in the knees. She's falling for the enemy but secrets surface that have her questioning everything. 

This book is spicy AF. I wasn't expecting just how spicy it would get. The magic not something I usually care for is phenomenal and had me turning pages to see what would transpire. The drained ones while dangerous and deadly are intriguing and could have their own book. 

This is a world that is beautifully crafted and needs further exploration. Prepare yourself to feel uncomfortable due to heavy themes that could trigger some readers (not me). Expect secrets to unravel that will make you gasp. I went into this book blind at the suggestion of a friend and I am glad I did otherwise I might not have picked it up what has been one of this years favorite reads. 

The Lowe Job by Grace Alexander

Lili Lowe gets caught in a compromising position in the back of a car with a local politician. A married politician. A major scandal upturns her life and that of her siblings and mother. Her mom, Lydia isn't one to sit things out and used this scandal to their advantage by exploiting it and turning it into a reality series. Her sisters become household names and their drama flows off the pages - one might just say that some of their stories are much more interesting than Lili's. 

The Lowe Job starts off strong but then it made a strong dive downwards. I was expecting something else and for that I blame myself for not finding this to be a less than stellar read. I nearly DNF'd it several times but pushed forward because it was a BOTM book. It's about 200 pages too long and has way too many characters which lead to poor character development. Overall it is well written but not executed in an entertaining way. 

Hollow Bones |By Jodi Picoult

Expected Publication Date: September 26. 2026

Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old when her mom had an appointment at the World Trade Center. Her mom never came home. Molly was raised by her father and than later her stepmom. It was a loving home but the events of 9/11 changed in her life in more ways that one. 

One of the ways is that Molly made it her life mission to save as many lives as possible during times of disasters such as epidemics, plane crashes, storms, etc, eventually becoming the head of the Road Island Department of Emergency Preparedness. Her husband, Jesse is a polygraph expert and is no stranger to disasters.  

Postpartum psychosis a much currently debated topic plays an important role in this book. 

This is all you need to know at this point. Anything else will spoil the book for you. Picoult is an author's who's books I always go into reading blind. The story is told in multiple points of views and in different timelines. Picoult weaves an emotional story with ease making it feel impossible to put this book down. Expect some dark themes and twist and turns. 

** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review 

Ruby (Landry, #1) by V.C. Andrews

I am a sucker for older VC Andrews Books. It's been ages since I have reread the Landry series. It has the same soap opera feel and drama that pulls readers into the story line.

Ruby Landry is a teen girl who lives with her Grandmere Catherine in the bayou. Grandmere is a cajun spirtual healer and has passed those belief's on to Ruby. They have a close and loving relationship as Ruby's mother died when she was born. Her life has been simple, loving and filled with poverty but her innocence in more ways that one is about to be taken from her. 

Ruby starts a sweet relationship with her classmate Paul Tate but his parents forbid the relationship. When she finds out why she has to make a difficult decision to stick by his parents wishes. Her Grandpere Jack is a drunk and cruelty knows no bounds. 

A series of tragic events force Ruby to fleep to New Orleans to find her biological father but the reunion is anything but happy. Her twin and stepmother resent her existence making her life at times unbearable and teaching Ruby that money does not equal happiness or class. 

My Sweet Audrina (Audrina #1) | By V.C Andrews

Audrina Adare is the second Audrina. Her older sister was the first Audrina. The sister who died and who was perfect. Audrina wants nothing more than to be like her namesake because being like her means her father would love her the way he loved the first Audrina. 

Audrina lives with rules after rules. She is isolated and home schooled.  Her cousin Vera lives in the same home as her but she makes Audrina's life miserable. Vera has much more freedom but her anger and jealousy make her life and that of others in the house less than desirable. 

Audrina's mother and Aunt are characters that add to the mystery of this book but the true secret holder is her father. 

I have read this book several times and each time it manages to get crazier! If you like gothic and macabre books this one is for you. 

Brain Damage | By Freida McFadden

 

Dr. Charly McKenna life changed the night a bullet tore through her skull. She went from having a thriving dermatology practice to learning how to walk and talk again. Her memory is in shambles and she is stuck in a rehabilitation clinic. Memories start to slowly resurface and it leaves her questioning everything she knows. 

This is a FAST paced book. I listened to it and I was hooked! It's dark, funny and entertaining.