August Wrap Up

Between cramming in last-minute summer activities, squeezing in a few more camping trips, and getting knocked flat by the head cold from hell, August pretty much flew by without leaving me much time to write reviews. With everything going on, the month was over before I knew it.

Now it is September, and even though we are apparently breaking heat records, I am ready to shift into cozy season. I want the blankets, the tea, and a slower pace. Hopefully this month will bring exactly that.

As far as reading went in August, it was a bit of a mixed bag. I had a lot of one to three star reads, which had me questioning if maybe it was just me. Some books I was really excited for ended up being disappointing and hard to get through. Others completely surprised me in the best way, like Dungeon Crawler Carl.

So here are the most notable books I read in August, both the good and the not so good.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Favorites of the Month

Dungeon Crawler Carl & Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman
I finally picked up this series after seeing it everywhere on Goodreads and Facebook (I am not on TikTok lol) but I am glad I decided to give it a try. These books were incredible. I read the first two in August and immediately started the third one because I could not stop.

The humor, the chaos, and the creativity were exactly what I needed. I even told my 18-year-old son he has to read them. I may end up texting him random quotes from the books daily until he gives in 😂

If you want something funny, brutal, and surprisingly heartfelt, this series really does deserve the hype.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
I read this while camping, which ended up being the perfect setting. The atmosphere made it even better, and this book had twists that honestly caught me off guard. More than once I found myself gasping out loud. It kept me hooked the whole way through and reminded me why I love thrillers so much.

If you like twisty mysteries that keep you guessing, this one is worth picking up.

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
This one broke my heart. It is a beautifully written story that is heavy with loss and grief. It was hard to read at times because of how sad it was, but it stayed with me long after I finished. Painful and powerful, it is definitely worth reading if you are in the mood for something more emotional.

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Solid Reads

Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt
This was a solid thriller that pulled me in right away. The writing captured the tension and unease of being trapped in a situation with someone you thought you could trust, only to realize you were wrong. It had just the right balance of suspense and creepiness to keep me invested.

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
This one surprised me. I expected something lighter, but it turned out to be a cozy fantasy with a little more emotional weight. There was mystery, danger, and some melancholy that touched on human flaws in a thoughtful way. It felt both comforting and engaging, and I enjoyed the mix.

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The Disappointments

Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond
I was excited to find a copy of this so quickly after it came out on PangoBooks, and I grabbed it without hesitation. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. Some of the horror elements were interesting, but I struggled to stay invested. It felt like it was missing something that would have really pulled me in.

I Think I’m in Love With an Alien by Ann Aguirre
This one had a fun found-family element, which I usually love, but the rest of it fell flat. At over 400 pages, not much really happened, and some parts felt inconsistent. For example, the main female character has a fascination with aliens and even has tentacle “toys,” but then is written as asexual with only one mildly spicy scene. It just did not make sense.

I was hoping for something closer to Ruby Dixon’s style, fun and more developed, but this one felt slow and meandering. Even the side characters pairing off did not go anywhere. Overall, it was a letdown.

Hemlock and Silver by T. Kingfisher
I wanted to like this one, but it just did not work for me. The writing style felt jerky and uneven, which made it hard to get into the flow of the story. For most of the book, I kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really did until the last few chapters. By then, I was more bored than invested. I know T. Kingfisher has a big following, but this one was a miss for me.

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And that wraps up my August!. Some hits, some misses, but thankfully a few books that made the rougher reads worth it.

Any on this list that you read? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!

Happy September!

-The Scribbler

What Lies in the Woods-Full Review

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall is hands down one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. Seriously, this book had so many twists that I couldn’t even keep track of all the jaw-dropping moments. I’m talking audible gasps, straight-up shock, and moments where I just had to stop and take a breath. There were times I literally shot straight up out of my sleeping bag (I was camping when I finished the second half!) because the twists were so mind-blowing. 😮

From the very beginning, I had a few suspicions about where the story might go, but Marshall did such a great job of keeping me on my toes. It felt like there were hints sprinkled throughout, but nothing felt predictable. And when the twists came, they weren’t just surprising, they were shocking. Some of them hit me like a punch in the gut, leaving me reeling for a while. I couldn’t put it down; I just had to know what was coming next.

What I really loved, though, was the characters. The way they were written made me care about them more than I usually expect from a thriller. The main character, in particular, had so much depth. I found myself rooting for her, even when I wasn’t sure who to trust. The way her past and present collide kept me hooked, and the relationships between the characters added another layer of complexity to the story. There was a real emotional depth to it that I wasn’t expecting, and I loved that about this book.

Without giving away spoilers (because this is one you need to experience for yourself), I’ll just say the twists are wild. I thought I had it all figured out, but Marshall kept me guessing until the very end. The ending itself? Absolutely perfect—tight, satisfying, and yet still leaving me thinking about the book long after I finished it.

If you’re a thriller fan, What Lies in the Woods is a must-read. I don’t think you’ll see half of these twists coming, and I loved the way the characters were developed alongside the suspense. It’s a ride from start to finish, and if you’ve been on the fence, go ahead and dive in. You won’t regret it!

Happy Almost-Spooky-Season!
-The Scribbler

The Berry Pickers-Full Review

This review is so delayed...but we went camping again (yay!) and I feel like I am going to be spending this next week catching up on laundry, housework, my day job, reading, and reviews.

But we had the BEST time and the lake we went to was absolutely gorgeous! Here are just a few pics of it, and they do not do it justice! We caught a few fish, sat around the fire playing Mad Libs, and picked a ton of huckleberries 💖

Alien Romance That Didn’t Land

I so, so wanted to love I Think I’m In Love With An Alien by Ann Aguirre. The premise had me hooked from the start. I was excited about the idea of a quirky, fun romance with a dash of sci-fi and, of course, a found family dynamic. And, let’s be real, who doesn’t love an alien romance? There were definitely aspects I enjoyed—especially the fantastic cast of characters and the plot itself—but, unfortunately, it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

First off, I have to mention the characters because they were really what kept me going through the story. The found family element was by far my favorite part of the book. The camaraderie between the characters felt genuine, and their quirks made them so lovable. I especially enjoyed how Jen and her friends supported each other after their return from Space Con. It felt like a community of misfits, each with their own strengths and vulnerabilities.

However, the relationship dynamics felt a little off for me. Here’s where things get tricky. I wasn’t aware going into the book that the female main character, Jen, is gray asexual. I completely support and appreciate the representation of asexuality in fiction, but I think it would have been helpful if this had been made clearer in the blurb. Had I known, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up, as I tend to gravitate toward romance books with, well, romance scenes. The single mildly spicy moment in the book just wasn’t enough to satisfy my expectations. After reading so much Ruby Dixon (the absolute queen of alien smut), I was craving more than what was offered here. But that’s on me for not researching the book more thoroughly.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a critique of the book’s treatment of asexuality. I think the representation was done well, and if you’re asexual, this could be a great read. Though Jen is gray asexual, Tam (Seeker), the male lead, isn’t, but he’s only interested sexually in someone with whom he has an emotional bond. This dynamic is intriguing, but it still felt like a different kind of romance than I was expecting. For me, buying a romance book and not getting the romance in the way I was anticipating felt like a bit of a letdown.

Another aspect of the book that didn’t sit right with me was the portrayal of Jen’s family. After returning from Space Con, her family was so horrendously hateful that I had trouble buying it. I get that family dynamics can be complicated, but the level of animosity from her family felt over the top. There’s a small glimpse of her relationship with her mom before going to Space Con, and while it was tense, it didn’t seem like the kind of relationship that would lead to the level of disdain her family had for her. It was just hard to believe given what little we saw of their interactions before.

And, spoiler alert, I absolutely ship Poppy and Ravik. I know that things don’t quite play out the way I was hoping, but I really felt that Poppy should have gone with them. It would’ve been a better ending for me personally, and I think it would have made me feel a lot more satisfied with the book as a whole.

Overall, I Think I’m In Love With An Alien wasn’t my cup of tea. While I loved the found family aspect and the unique characters, the lack of romance (in the way I was expecting) and some of the character dynamics just didn’t work for me. But I can see how this could be a great read for those looking for more representation of asexuality in romance or for readers who prefer a slower burn when it comes to relationships. If you’re into that, this book may be just what you’re looking for.

Any other alien romance books you'd suggest? I have binge-read ALL of Ruby Dixon's books and haven't found another one that is comparable but am desperate for my alien smut fix!

-The Scribbler 

Spinning Silver-Not My Favorite, But Worth the Read

 

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik was definitely a struggle for me, and there were moments, about 150 pages in, when I seriously considered not finishing it. I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by Novik, so I pushed through, hoping it would eventually click. While it did take me a while to get there, I’m glad I stuck with it. The book ended up being profound in ways I can appreciate, even though it wasn’t quite for me.

One of my biggest challenges with Spinning Silver was the constant shifting of perspectives. Novik doesn’t always give you much warning when jumping between characters, and sometimes it felt jarring. It wasn’t just that the points of view changed, but that they often did so unexpectedly, without much forethought or transition. I get why it’s necessary for a multi-layered story, but it was hard to stay connected to the characters when the narrative kept flipping so frequently.

That said, I did enjoy the core plot and the different perspectives once I adjusted to the pacing and structure. The world of Spinning Silver is steeped in folklore, particularly Jewish folklore, and Novik does a wonderful job creating a complex, magical world. If you love fantasy rooted in mythology with intricate world-building, this book definitely delivers in that regard.

But I’ll be honest: did I laugh and cry in the final pages? Yes, I did. And I’ll admit, despite my earlier frustrations with the book, it made me want to give it five stars, even though I don’t think it quite earned it. The emotional payoff at the end was powerful, but the journey there was more challenging than enjoyable for me.

Ultimately, Spinning Silver wasn’t one of my favorite books, but I don’t regret reading it. Naomi Novik is still a brilliant writer, and her ability to weave complex narratives is impressive. If you’re into folklore-based fantasy with rich, layered characters and a deep cultural backdrop, I think you’ll find a lot to love here. Just be prepared for a more difficult reading experience than you might expect.

Have you read any of Naomi Novik's books? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments!

-The Scribbler

Book Review: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

 Starting out my review with a quote from the book:
“Then again, why not here? Why did France and Germany and all those places get to have fairytales but not West Virginia? Wild, West Virginia. Wonderful, West Virginia. Beautiful and dangerous and dark and strange West Virginia. Why didn’t they get to have magic here, where the hills rolled like ocean waves and the morning mist was as thick as the silence of a family keeping secrets.”

August Amazon First Reads Pick: Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt

 

My Amazon First Reads pick this month was Please Don’t Lie by Christina Baker
Kline and Anne Burt, and oh my gosh, did this book deliver! I flew through it. It was packed with tension, twists, and eerie suspense that had me up reading way past my bedtime. I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter,” and the next thing I knew, it was 2 a.m.

From the start, I was hooked. The main character, Hayley, is complex and compelling, with a dark, twisted backstory that refuses to stay buried. She and her husband, Brandon, relocate to a remote house (which is gorgeous and massive) in the Adirondack Mountains, meant to be a fresh start, but the sense of isolation is palpable. Brandon seems too good to be true at first, and let’s just say, that’s never a good sign.

As winter sets in and the cold weather begins to trap them in place, Brandon’s behavior shifts in unsettling ways. At first it’s subtle, then it becomes increasingly alarming. I could feel Hayley’s growing terror and her sense of being completely alone. When she meets Megan and Tyler at the local hardware store, it feels like a lifeline, especially when she and Megan instantly bond over their shared love of self-help books. But something about that instant connection raises a red flag, and it turns out to be more than just a quirky coincidence.

The novel is layered with secrets, deception, and psychological tension. Hayley is not the only one with a past. Brandon is hiding something too, and that hidden history begins to unravel in deeply disturbing ways. His decision to move Hayley off the grid, away from friends and family, becomes more and more suspicious, and the isolation starts to feel like a trap instead of a retreat.

The suspense is incredibly well done. I felt genuine fear and dread for Hayley. There were moments that gave me actual chills. I kept wanting to shout at her, “Get out now!” But of course, things are never that simple.

And then, the twist. Without giving too much away, I did not see it coming. The book kept surprising me all the way to the final page. The themes of trust, trauma, and survival are raw and intense. 

Slight spoiler alert: Hayley doesn’t make it through unscathed. In fact, she loses almost everything. That devastation added such emotional weight to the story and made it linger with me long after I finished it.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that’s atmospheric, character-driven, and emotionally intense, Please Don’t Lie needs to be on your list. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

What did you think of it? Did you pick another one for your Amazon First Reads? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading-

The Scribbler