The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer

It's a lofty temptation indeed when a whimsical book summary about an overworked adult's childhood dreams coming true comes with literary award nominations. Although, even if The Wishing Game did not come with any accolades, it would have intrigued me enough to open it, because I am also an overworked adult who yearns for childhood … Continue reading The Wishing Game, by Meg Shaffer →

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells, by Rachel Greenlaw

You would think after Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic was such a disappointment that I would not read any other book compared to it. While I probably will not put such high expectations on another Alice Hoffman book, I certainly would read another book about a family filled with magical women in a small town dealing … Continue reading The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells, by Rachel Greenlaw →

Lovelight Farms, by B.K. Borison

I've set a pretty high standard for romantic comedy novels lately, especially with my introduction to Abby Jimenez. I've simply found that this genre of books has to have a very specific set of tropes or characteristics in order to really sparkle, especially when it comes to the male protagonist. Might that be a bit … Continue reading Lovelight Farms, by B.K. Borison →

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

If there was a trifecta of books that my classmates and I read in elementary school, it was Roald Dahl's Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and James and the Giant Peach. I suspect it was in part because we all had seen the movie versions of these stories and were familiar with them before … Continue reading James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl →

Carrie, by Stephen King

Carrie is, and probably will remain, my favorite Stephen King book. I’ve read it so many times that there is a deep crease in my copy’s spine. I can picture so many scenes with spine-tingling clarity, thanks to King’s masterful writing. Which is ironic since Carrie was his first published novel. I’m glad that Mr. … Continue reading Carrie, by Stephen King →

The Writing Retreat, by Julia Bartz

When trying to find something to read, I thought maybe I would need something frothy and fantastical. Given everything going on in the world right now, it seemed like the best solution. It worked during the pandemic, so I thought it would work now too. But nothing seemed interesting. Then, I was going back and … Continue reading The Writing Retreat, by Julia Bartz →

The Witch Haven, by Sasha Peyton Smith

You all know by now of my love (okay, perhaps obsession at this point) with witch books, but The Witch Haven presented a new historical angle to this obsession. The book takes place in 1911 New York City, with a summary that promised mystery, underground societies, and magical sisterhood. So of course I was going … Continue reading The Witch Haven, by Sasha Peyton Smith →

‘Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King

I'm most certainly a broken record when it comes to Stephen King at this point. Many of you probably saw King's name in the review title and thought, "I can sit this one out, since it'll be nothing but praise and adulation for King." I mean…you would not be wrong about that. King's career has … Continue reading ‘Salem’s Lot, by Stephen King →

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire

I try not to hop on bandwagons, but I could not help myself. The Wicked movie, based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, captured my imagination unlike any movie I've seen in forever. If Elphaba and Glinda were icons before this movie, they have been absolutely cemented into pop culture … Continue reading Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire →

Holes, by Louis Sachar

Welcome to another edition of "Book that Stephanie Liked a Lot as a Kid But Did not Fully Appreciate Until Adulthood." And this time, we're covering the children's classic Holes. Holes appeared in me and my sisters' classroom libraries when the 2003 Disney movie adaptation came out. All three of us read it, and consequently, … Continue reading Holes, by Louis Sachar →