Reading Lists Archives - How Sweet Eats

What I Read In November & December 2025.

Jessica — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:30:48 +0000

Here’s all the books I’ve been loving the last two months!

It was all about the holiday books these last few weeks – those are some of my favorite cozy reads of the season. And I will still read some into January too. Overall I read a bunch of great ones.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Most of these books are linked through bookshop (if available!) and I highly suggest shopping through there because it will support your local indie bookstore. You can choose the local bookstore to support! I support Penguin Books when I buy which is my fave here in Pittsburgh.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2025

An Academic Affair – 4.5 stars

Oh how I loved this one! It was such a good story and full of tropes that I love. Here, we follow two people who have been academic rivals forever! There is fake dating, so much tension, a ton of of witty banter – all things I love in a story. It moved pretty quickly and I didn’t want it to end!

59 Minutes – 4 stars

This was in my book of the month box and normally I don’t think I would have read it, but I’m so glad I did. I needed a thriller and this was different – not murdery or anything. The premise of this book is a nuclear attack hitting england and the characters only having 59 minutes to figure out how to survive. It felt super real and suspenseful. I definitely recommend it. Loved the characters in this one.

Good Spirits – 4.5 stars

LOVE this author’s books and this was so cute. I am usually not a paranormal fan but in this book we’re talking about the ghost of christmas past and and how he haunts. It is so good! I loved it so much more than I expected and it was perfect for a cozy read in the holiday season.

Where He Left Me – 3 stars

Bouncing back to another thriller! I knew I wanted to get through one more once I read alllll christmas books. This was another book of the month for me. The story follows a wife whose husband goes missing and she is left alone in a house where he grew up. I liked the mountain setting but it moved just a little slow for me.

Before I Forget – 4.5 stars

This was soooo wonderful. I was initially afraid this would be a hard read for me. The story follows a daughter who decides to care for her father with alzheimer’s – moving back in and repairing their relationship. This is so heartwarming, heart breaking and incredible. The characters are so wonderful and the ending is just lovely.

Merry Christmas You Filthy Animal – 3 stars

Ah! This was a hard one for me. I read last year’s version of the book which was a funny take on the grinch. This one threw every possible line/plot from Home Alone into the book that it could. It takes place after the first book, but it could be stand alone. The characters are cute and it’s an enemies to lovers story, but the constant references to the movie were a little too cringe for me. And I love Home Alone everything!

Merry Little Kissmas – 4.5 stars

Another cute one! I love a good holiday book. In this story, our female main character tries to find a date for her brother’s best friend to the hockey gala (haha). Enter fake dating, grump/sunshine and so much christmas fun. It’s adorable and was a little deeper than a quick little romance read. Loved it.

Sleighbells and Snowstorms – 4 stars.

Also loved this one. It is SO christmasy and cozy and fun, with a little bit of crime thrown in. Our main male character is looking to catch a jewel thief and finds love where he least expects it. There is forced proximity, great tension and it’s so cute. Apparently there are other books with these characters and set in this town, but this was the first I’ve read and it was great.

Cowboy Casual – 3.5 stars

This was cute! I read a few different cowboy/ranch romances last year and they all seem sort of similar – but I don’t mind. A little predictable, fun and light. This one follows a couple who reunite when one of them moves back to the hometown (and one never left). I love a second chance romance (my fave trope!) so I enjoyed it.

Heated Rivalry

I feel like I can’t even give these fair ratings because I am *so* obsessed with the tv show. It’s one instance where I’m glad I read the books after the show, because I love the actors in the show so much so I could picture them! There is a whole series of these books based on gay hockey romance – and this one follows two rivals who are drafted during the same year. It almost spans ten years of their life and it’s so good.

The Long Game

This is the follow up to Heated Rivalry and I loved it just as much, again for the same reasons! I have to say that I’m not sure I would have loved these books as much as I do without watching the show. I think they would’ve just been a cute quick little romance read. But the show gives them so much more depth and the books gives the show the background you need. I highly suggest both!!

The post What I Read In November & December 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In October 2025.

Jessica — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 02:45:57 +0000

Another great month of reading in the books! October isn’t my favorite reading month, but it IS when all the holiday books are released and I am going through those right now! You can find all my holiday books here.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN OCTOBER 2025

The Lost Bookshop – 3.5 stars

This has been on my list for so long and I finally got to it! The story is about a lost magical bookshop in Ireland. I don’t always enjoy the magical realism storylines but this was interesting. It goes between present day and 1921 and has a few different perspectives. There are definitely many sad and heart-breaking parts too, triggers like domestic abuse and parts that tie everyones story together. It missed the mark a bit for me though.

It’s Different This Time – 5 stars

Oh my gosh – LOVED. This was one of my favorites of the month. It was so good! I love a second change romance trope and this is it. We follow two roommates who lived together years ago, ended the friendship poorly and now are back in forced proximity. This was SO dreamy and the perfect description of autumn in NYC. I loved it so much!

Buckeye – 5 stars

Another fabulous one. Family stories get me every time. While it starts off a little slow, the story follows regular people living their regular lives experiencing everything we all do. Which is why I loved it. We live the lives of two couples over many many years and I miss them already. I read somewhere a description that called this a “sweeping saga” and that is how I felt! Everything is interconnected.

Play Nice – 4 stars

A book of the month pick again! This story follows an influencer who grew up in a haunted house that was possessed by demons, according to her late mother. This was a fun Halloween read and definitely creepy! It is also kind of funny and filled with a lot of family drama.

Seduction Theory – 3.5 stars

This was another book of the month find for me. I did like it, though the writing style is very different and takes a minute to get used to! The story follows a husband/wife team of professors and has lots of drama with affairs and campus life. It is definitely different but was so enjoyable for me.

Workhorse – 4.75 stars

Oh my gosh, I loved this book. I went into blind but it sounded so appealing to me – I could not put it down. It’s one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. I loved the setting too, as a true millennial. This story follows Clo who wants to get as high as she possibly can in the fashion magazine industry. The only downside is that it is very long but I still loved it.

The post What I Read In October 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In August and September 2025.

Jessica — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:52:52 +0000

I’m back, I’m back! I hate when I miss a month of book reviews. There are some of my favorite posts to write and the crazy month of September just totally got away from me. I still got a lot of reading done, despite losing my kindle in August! Spoiler alert: I found my kindle just last week (of course I ordered another one weeks ago because I can’t life without it) so now I have one to keep in my bag at all times and one by my bed. This is a book lovers’ dream!

I’ve read so many good ones in the last few weeks that I can’t wait to tell you about. And I can’t wait to hear about the best book you’ve read lately.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2025

Wild Dark Shore – 5 stars

This is an INCREDIBLE book. I don’t even know where to start! The story follows a family on an island off of antarctica who takes care of a seed bank. One day a woman washes ashore threatening everything they have. It was a little slow to start for me but shortly I was hooked and oh my gosh – you know SOMETHING is going to happen but you don’t know what. And it could be so many different things. It’s sad and dark but also incredible and the characters are just phenomenal. I have thought about it for weeks after finishing!

The River Is Waiting – 4.5 stars

Another one that is incredible. But also sad and moody and dark! The story follows a man who spirals into addiction, causes a horrible accident and ends up in prison. I was afraid I couldn’t get into this one and I almost didn’t read it because of the accident (IYKYK) but the story of him is really amazing. Very heartbreaking and even heartwarming at the same time.

The Heartbreak Hotel – 4 stars

Loved this one! The story follows a woman after a breakup who turns her home into a bed and breakfast so she doesn’t lose it. This is SUCH a cute story and I love the chemistry between the main character and her landlord. Super cute and sweet and my favorite kind of story!

My Favorite Lost Cause – 4.5 stars

This was another huge win for me. I LOVED the book before this that I read in May. Oh my gosh – I really liked this too. Now don’t freak out – the story follows step-siblings (I KNOW!!!) who fall for each other but trust me, it’s done in a way that is very “okay” and believable. I was very afraid to read this because I had no idea how it would pan out and it kind of freaked me out. But I loved it and the story is so good!

Forget Me Not – 4 stars

Many of my books the last two months came from my book of the month membership, and this was one of them. I definitely needed a thriller and this fit the bill. In this story we follow Claire who has struggled since her sister disappeared when she was a teenager. Claire finds herself at a surprising job and uncovers a few mysteries that are shocking and wants to find out if her sister is dead or alive. I think you can see where this is going. I really liked it and it kept me in suspense!

The Academy – 4.5 stars

LOVED this and was so excited to read it! I got a copy early when I was signing on Nantucket with Elin but waited until the fall to read. I adored it. It has the classic Elin feels but instead of being set on the island, this is written with her daughter and is set at a fictional boarding school. I love a drama like this! It felt like Elin but also fresh and new and is amazing to read this time of year!

Everyone Is Lying to You – 3.5 stars

I was excited to read this one because it has an influencer/blogger aspect! We all know that social media never depicts real life, but this story enhances that even more. It’s the story of two friends, one all but disappears and then many years later, is a famous influencer living with her big family. Very trad wife-esque! There is murder, mystery and all the great makings of a story that really lets you in behind the scenes of the social media life.

Happy Wife – 3.5 stars

This is another fun and twisty thriller/mystery! The story follows a married couple (with a fairly big age gap) in a community in Florida and one of them goes missing. It has great “who did it” vibes and even some funny moments too! It’s a fun easy read and I loved the peek into the fancy lifestyle. There was a little twist that really got me too!

You’ll Find It All Still Here – 3 stars

I’m all about a second chance romance! It’s probably my favorite trope. I was kind of surprised by this because it felt a little young – almost like YA. The story follows a women who loses her mother and in an effort to find herself again, goes back to her camp from her younger years. But this time, they have adult dating experiences. It’s cute and kind of predictable.

Beach House Rules – 4.5 stars

I can’t believe it took me all summer to get to this book! I adored it, much like her other books! It’s a fun little twisty one, where the story involves some white collar crime, a gossip-girl like instagram account and a fun beach rental. It was a fun peek into the coastal town and I loved the mother/daughter story. It also gave me Silver Girl vibes, one of Elin Hilderbrand’s books from years ago, which was one of my faves too.

For The Record – 4 stars

Ooooh this was a fun one! In this story, we follow two music stars (from different genres) who have a love/hate relationship. Enemies to lovers is so good here! Years later, they must reconnect in order to get the spark back in their careers. And it goes from there. I loved this, loved the ending and thought it was a super fun, quick read.

Anywhere With You – 4 stars

In this book, we have friends to lovers! Another super cute read, this story follows Charley who is desperately trying to stop her sister’s wedding and recruits her best friend for help. Of course this is a lovely little journey where sparks fly. I loved the chemistry between them and the banter was super cute.

The post What I Read In August and September 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In July 2025.

Jessica — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:05:46 +0000

Another great summer month of reading is wrapped up! I loved the books I read this month and still can’t get enough of summer reads! What are you reading?!

I shared my giant summer reading list, which is my favorite thing ever.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN JULY 2025

The Art of Vanishing – 4.5 stars

LOVED this one. I was so excited for it because I’ve followed Morgan on instagram for years. This story is so imaginative and incredible! Her writing is amazing. The story takes place in a museum, which I loved so much. The romance between our main characters was just so good – the talk of all the art – fabulous. The story really sucked me in right away and I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

Totally And Completely Fine – 4.5 stars

Another great one!! I was hesitant to read this one because it does deal with some grief and I was in the mood for a super happy book. This story is about a woman who lost her husband a few years ago and is trying to find her way. She also has a child. But the way the grief is handled is so beautiful and I loved the relationship between the main character and love interest. I also love the dual timelines in this one!

Broken Country – 5 stars

This book got me. Oh man. It was INCREDIBLE. It might be my book of the summer. It was not a happy story by any means, but I was left thinking about it for days after. This story is about a family who is torn apart, the timelines jump, there are basically two loves stories. There are a few twists in the book (the one at the end, I did see it coming but most of my family who read did not!) and the ending is a good while, albeit not exactly happy. It definitely keeps you reading – the timelines go back and forth so I do suggest reading over listening to this one.

Far And Away – 5 stars

I LOVE Amy Peopple’s books and this one did not disappoint at all. I love her writing style. This story is about a good classic house swap! Think The Holiday, but maybe funnier?! There’s a little mystery here and every character is just so good. She is fabulous at bringing a story like this together. I loved it so much. I cannot recommend it enough – you will be laughing hysterically.

Don’t Let Him In – 4 stars

I really needed a thriller and some mystery this month! I couldn’t put this one down. There are a few twisted storylines here and they will keep you guessing. The story switches is about a few women who have been conned by the same man and wow – he is a wacky one. There is so much going on here and it is nuts. Definitely kept me on my toes and wondering what would happen next.

The Island – 5 stars

This was a re-read for me! I read this the year it came out, in 2010! Along with the Blue Bistro, it is my favorite Elin novel. She also laughs when I tell her that because it’s a random one! I think it just hit me at a certain time and I was drawn to it. So I downloaded it when we were on the plane to Nantucket to read. This story follows a girl who cancels her wedding and heads off to Tuckernuck island with her mom, sister and aunt. I loved it just as much as I did the first time!

The post What I Read In July 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In June 2025.

Jessica — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 01:31:52 +0000

It’s hard to believe that my younger self used to FLY through books weekly in the summer. This month, I lost a whole week while we were on vacation because I didn’t really have a second to read! I still read SO many great books – pretty much everything by my favorite authors of the summer.

I also shared my giant summer reading list, which is my favorite thing ever.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN JUNE 2025

Atmosphere – 5 stars

I am an OG TJR fan – I’ve been reading her books since 2014 when she was writing strictly romance. I LOVE everything she writes. I never think her next book will interest me/live up to the hype/compare to the others I’ve loved and they always do. It’s wild. This story follows astronauts and it is so compelling and nonstop exciting. I absolutely loved it and I really didn’t think I would this time.

Mansion Beach – 5 stars

Another huge huge favorite of mine!! I love reading her books every summer and this one is fabulous. It’s a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby and it is SO great. I absolutely love her writing and this story is fascinating and exciting. The character development is incredible and so is the detail.

The Love Haters – 3.5 stars

Oh look – another one of my favorite authors! Seriously this was the best month of reading ever. This one is very cute and I really liked it. Probably not my favorite of hers but I still enjoyed it. The main character takes a job based on a tiny white lie and the story unfolds from there. Lots of swimsuit/body talk which I was over halfway through. Oh and the dog storyline was super cute!

It’s a Love Story – 4.5 stars

Shocking – another favorite summer author. And this was such a great summer read! We follow a child actor who is now a studio exec and promises that a famous popstar can write a song for the movie she is producing. We have pure enemies to lovers between her and the cinematographer. His family is fun and hilarious and he brings her right into it – it’s great! Many of my favorite tropes are in this one.

Til Summer Do Us Part – 3.5 stars

This is a fun quick summer read. Our main character (who is divorced) pretends to be married so she can fit in with her coworkers who are mostly men. Her best friend’s brother partakes in this fake marriage and they end up on a marriage retreat. Forced proximity, one bed, all of those fun tropes are included. It’s cute one, light and funny at times!

Sounds Like Love – 5 stars

Ah this one was SO good. Love love loved it. We follow a musician who pretty much has writer’s block (music block?!) and ends up back in her hometown hoping to get some inspiration and find the words. She ends up meeting another musician who is stuck on the same song (sounds crazy right?) and they decided to finish it together. This is phenomenal and I loved it so much. If you love music, you will LOVE this.

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What I Read In May 2025.

Jessica — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:14:33 +0000

It’s one of my favorite reading months of the year! Ohhhh there are so many great books out right now. I am really looking forward to the summer months.

I read some wonderful ones this month. I also shared my giant summer reading list, which is my favorite thing ever.

Can’t wait to hear what’s on your list.

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN MAY 2025

The Names – 4.5 stars

I ordered this in my book of the month box and it was excellent. This story is stunning and heartbreaking and one that I could not put down. I had to know what happened. We meet Cora who is trying to escape an abusive husband and has to name her newborn son. She and her daughter want different names and the book goes off based on which name the son would have. The storyline can be a little confusing and I really had to pay attention (I think it would be difficult on audio), and some scenes were absolutely hard to read and devastating.

One Golden Summer – 5 stars

O.M.G. – Every Summer After is one of my favorite books ever and I didn’t think this could compete. It absolutely did and I loved it JUST as much. This is Charlie’s story – the brother from the first book – and it is incredible. Funny, heart warming, a storyline with a grandma – it’s lovely and such a feel good and thoughtful book. I adored it and am so sad it’s over.

The Griffin Sisters Greatest Hits – 3.5 stars

Jennifer Weiner is a must read for me every summer and and has been for almost 20 years. This was super cute and I loved the 2000s nostalgia (obviously). We follow a pop star sisters who shoot to fandom and then break up and disappear. It does give Daisy Jones vibes but I loved the timing of it all and the 90s/2000s references. Cute and was definitely hard to put down.

My Favorite Bad Decision – 5 stars

Oh how I LOVED this. It was so, SO good. Our female lead is forced to climb mount kilamanjara by her father (right? weird?) and ends up on the trip with a previous crush. It’s an enemies to lovers, sort of a second chance romance (kind of) trope and I adored it. I was afraid I wouldn’t – the climbing storyline did not interest me – but oh my gosh it was FABULOUS. Spicy but not until at least 60%+.

The Last Trip – 4 stars

Oooh this is a twisty one. I was almost afraid to read it because the story follows a couple on their babymoon. It is definitely crazy and not something I would normally pick up but I was craving a thriller. There is a twist that happens with the husband, the owners of the cabin – it’s a bit crazy but definitely something you can’t stop reading. I had to know what happened!

Problematic Summer Romance – 4 stars

Just finished this over the weekend and I really liked it so much. At first I thought it was a little cringe – it is a (big) age gap romance and the constant talk of him knowing her as a child, her childish behavior, etc – I didn’t think I would get past it. It made me feel a little weird, ha. But I love Ali Hazelwood books soooo much and this one did not disappoint. The setting was stunning and incredible.

Definitely Better Now – 3 stars

Another book of the month find. In this one we follow Emma who is a year sober after she stopped drinking and following the program. She is very young so it is from a different perspective and at time it seemed all over the place but I ended up really liking the ending! The character development really is wild and the ending is promising after some trainwreck scenes (ha IYKYK). It was very raw and real!!

The post What I Read In May 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

My Summer 2025 Reading List!

Jessica — Fri, 23 May 2025 10:30:47 +0000

It’s time! I love to kick off Memorial Day Weekend with my summer reading list.

This is one of my favorite days of the year. Oh my gosh – there are SO many great books this year. My list doesn’t even cover them all. I am so excited about all of these reads for the season! I reference this list all summer long and it saves me if I’m unsure of what to start reading.

The first half of the list is full of books that are already released, with the second half in order by release date. There are some weeks where I just can’t even wait for a new release. I have 99% of the books linked below to bookshop.org. If you are able to purchase the books through bookshop, it would mean so much to me! Bookshop supports YOUR local independent bookstore. To me, bookstores are MAGICAL. I walk in and instantly feel like I’m in a Nancy Meyers movie and could stay there all day.

If you prefer to purchase on amazon, I’ve also made a 2025 summer reading list shop here for easy access.

Also! If you’re new around here, my go-to reads and favorites picks are most types of women’s fiction. Light, fun, beachy reads are my #1 choice. I love to listen to nonfiction, memoirs and autobiographies on audible. I like thrillers, but have a few triggers that I stay away from. I read to escape, to get lost in the story, to feel like the characters are my friends. And I actually love the day after I finish a great book and can’t even stand to start a new one because I’m mourning my new (character) friends. It’s the best worst feeling.

I can’t WAIT to hear your recommendations in the comments, what you’re reading now and what’s on your list!

MY 2025 SUMMER READING LIST

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid

Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer

Back After This by Linda Holmes

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman

My Friends by Fredrick Bachman

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

Love Camera Action by Noel Stark

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

You Make My Heart Stop by Becky Hunter

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Swept Away by Beth O’Leary

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz

What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon

What Will People Think? by Sara Hamdan

Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage

What If I Never Get Over You by Paige Toon

Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

Saltwater by Katy Hays

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

The Tenant by Frida McFadden

Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein

The Influencers by Anna-Marie McLemore

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

The Names by Florence Knapp

What If It’s You by Jilly Gagnon

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave

One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

I Want You More by Swan Huntley

The Last Session by Julia Bartz

Tell Them You Lied by Laura Leffler (5/27)

The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson (5/27)

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster (5/27)

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly (5/27)

Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (5/27)

Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey (5/27)

Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore

It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan (5/27)

Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto (6/3)

So Happy Together by Olivia Worely (6/3)

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (6/3)

We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry (6/3)

What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (6/3)

Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (6/3)

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch (6/3)

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (6/3)

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady (6/3)

Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells (6/3)

The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison (6/3)

Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh (6/3)

The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward (6/3)

Flashlight by Susan Choi (6/3)

With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (6/10)

The Last Illusion of Paige White by Vanessa McCausland (6/10)

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess (6/10)

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb (6/10)

Confession of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight (6/10)

Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (6/10)

Last Night Was Fun by Holly Michelle (6/10)

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel (6/10)

This Is Not a Ghost Story by Amerie (6/10)

The Nimbus by Robert P. Baird (6/10)

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten (6/10)

Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson (6/10)

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston (6/17)

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman (6/17)

The Ripple Effect by Maggie North (6/17)

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick (6/17)

Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine (6/17)

I Did Warn Her by Sian Gilbert (6/17)

Someone Knows by Vi Keeland (6/17)

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (6/24)

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates (6/24)

Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler (6/24)

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood (6/24)

Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores (6/24)

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino (6/24)

The Dark Library by Mary Anna Evans (6/24)

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (7/1)

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager (7/1)

Summer on Lilac Island by Lindsay MacMillian (7/1)

The Spirit of Love by Lauren Kate (7/1)

Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster (7/1)

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (7/8)

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean 7/ 8

Darling Beasts by Michelle Gable (7/8)

Totally and Completely Fine by Elissa Sussman (7/8)

The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani (7/8)

This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs (7/15)

Love is a Warsong by Danica Nava (7/22)

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson (7/22)

Gracie Harris Is Under Construction by Kate Hash (7/29)

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda (7/29)

Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum (7/29)

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen (8/5)

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer (8/5)

Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings (8/5)

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing (8/12)

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye (8/12)

For the Record by Emma Lord (8/12)

All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi (8/19)

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell (8/19)

The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander (8/19)

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham (8/26)

The Academy Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (9/16)

P.S. FOR OTHER READING RECOMMENDATIONS:

you can check out all of my reading lists here!

Especially my 2024 summer reading list, my 2023 summer reading list, 2022 summer reading list, 2021 summer reading list, 2020 summer reading list, 2020 fall reading list, 2020 winter reading list, 2019 fall reading list, 2019 winter reading list, my 2018 summer reading list and my 2017 summer reading list!

(This is not sponsored and I purchase all books myself! There are a few affiliate links above to bookshop and amazon. Thank you!)

The post My Summer 2025 Reading List! appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read in March and April 2025.

Jessica — Thu, 01 May 2025 10:45:28 +0000

A little late on my March reads for you! Oh my gosh – I hate that I missed sharing last month so we’re combining. I had a lot going on with the release of Easy Everyday an just couldn’t get to it. But! The good news is that I have read a TON of great books the last two months. Like so many good ones. And now, we’re into my favorite book release months – summer reads have always been my favorite – and I couldn’t be more excited.

And hear about what you’re reading!

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. I read SO many books from this box. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN MARCH & APRIL 2025

Promise Me Sunshine – 3.5 stars

A book of the month pick for me. I almost didn’t read this because it deals with best friends + cancer (still scarred from Firefly Lane 17 years later, you know?), but I am so glad I did. the main character loses her best friend and is in a sea of grief. She finds comfort in an unexpected person who says he will help her complete her “to live” bucket list. This was so sweet – Miles, the main male character – is just wonderful an SUCH a good guy. I really enjoyed it.

You Between The Lines – 4 stars

Another book of the month find! We have two aspiring writers who have known each other since high school attending the same program. I love a second chance romance and this has some enemies to lovers in it too. These characters are super real and I loved how they turned out in the end. I highlighted SO many lines in this book.

Say You’ll Remember Me – 5 stars

Oh my gosh – this is heart wrenching and wonderful and I can’t even tell you how much I loved it. We have a date between the perfect guy Xavier and Samantha who is in the midst of a family crisis. She can’t really get involved with anyone at the moment. But these two have *so much* there between them. But! These two have so much going against them it’s crazy. There is a family illness trigger here and that was hard for me, but not enough to skip one of my favorite author’s books!

Fun For The Whole Family – 5 stars

I live for a family drama!! They are some of my favorite books. In this one, we follow four siblings, some are a mess, and there are secrets too. This had me all over the place – the siblings are estranged, but come back together and then get stuck together. If you haven siblings, you will get so much of this and there is a ridiculous amount of feeling in all of it. Lots of nostalgia here!

Passion Project – 4 stars

Another book of the month box find! This is SO cute. We follow Bennet who is deep in grief, has no desire date, and stands Henry up. He suggests that they take on a project of doing fun and exciting things as friends and it is exciting! I loved the slow burn of this book and SO much of it is real and relatable. I loved the ending and the characters are fabulous.

Famous Last Words – 4 stars

This is a domestic thriller and oh boy did it keep me guessing. A literary agent wakes up to a weird note from her husband and then later finds out that he is the one holding people hostage. This sucked me in instantly and couldn’t wait to find out what happened! It’s full of twists and turns and is shocking, even if a few moments are a little predictable!

Count My Lies – 3.75 stars

I definitely needed another thriller the last few weeks! I got this in my book of the month box. In this book, we follow Sloane who tells a lie and ends up as a nanny for a super rich family. Lots of twists in this one and the family isn’t what you think! I couldn’t put it down.

Great Big Beautiful Life – 5 stars

Emily Henry can do no wrong in my book and this was another winner for me. Her writing is just SO incredibly relatable for me. This story follows two writers who have the chance to tell a tabloid star’s life story. Oh my gosh, this gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes which is probably my favorite book of all time. I LOVED the every character, the story is a bit drawn out but in the best way possible. The ending is good. The whole book is not as romancy as her others, but I didn’t even need that. I loved it.

Cash – 4 stars

This is the first in a series but they don’t necessarily have to be read in order… though it does help because the ending is a little cliffhanger! These are like cowboy country spicy romance books, haha. I liked them and thought they were cute. Cash is about the oldest son and the daughter of the man who became a father figure to him. She inherits the ranch and it is a serious enemies to lovers trope, which I love.

Wyatt – 4 stars

This is the second in the series and it’s just as cute. Wyatt is another one of the brothers and this is a friends to lovers trope. Equally as cute. He and his best friend who have always been in love with each other (but neither has known) agree to fake date. Lots of tropes in these books, ha! Still very spicy but you just need to be prepared going in. If you’re a Yellowstone fan you will like these.

Sawyer – 4 stars

The third book just came out last week! They are such quick fun reads. This one follows Sawyer who is a single dad and our trope in this book is single dad meets single mom. Very cute! Each one of the boys has an attitude of super grumpy, or super funny or the realistic one. The books are so predictable but I love how easy they are to read and the characters are all mostly great! Just finished it yesterday.

Story of My Life – 3 stars

Lucy Score started a new series set in Story Lake an this is book one. I have to say that at this start of this book, I was soooo turned off by the main character, who was in a downward spiral of life and just living very… gross. I had a hard time getting past it! But then it gets cute and she (a romance writer) buys an old house (without seeing it) and a family of brothers do the renovations. Sparks fly, of course. It’s a funny little town, sort of having a Stars Hollow Vibe! Another enemies to lovers trope.

Care and Feeding

Loved this memoir even though it was hard to read at time. It was my favorite from March. The author worked with both Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali and lived a very interesting life, albeit quite chaotic at times. She is a great writer and I laughed out loud many times!

The post What I Read in March and April 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In February 2025.

Jessica — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:31:17 +0000

I didn’t get to read as much as I like this month, but most of what I read was fabulous!

What was your favorite read of the month?!

I do have a book of the month membership – I love it so much. That’s where I got a few books from this month. I get so many of my new releases and debut author books there. You can sign up for one here.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN FEBRUARY 2025

First Time Caller – 5 stars

LOVED this one so much! Oh my gosh. This is inspired by sleepless in seattle – need I say more?! We follow Aiden who hosts a love hotline and receives a call from a young girl about her mom. She wants her mom to find love. It is SO cute. Loved the banter, how likeable the characters all were and how the story flowed. It is such a great one if you love a romance!

We Could Be Rats – 4 stars

This was a book of the month find for me. Oh my gosh – it is so multifaceted. Its quick and you can’t put it down, it’s heartbreaking but also funny at times. In this book we follow the relationship of two sisters – one who is basically the golden child and the other one who is fairly troubled and stuck in the past. Gah. The characters are so likable, I loved them both. This is a pretty short quick read too!

The Rules of Fortune – 4 stars

I have followed Danielle Prescod forever so I was super excited to read this! I got it as my amazon first reads. If you love books packed with family drama, you will eat this up. We follow a super rich family dealing with the death of their patriarch and tonnnnsss of family secrets are revealed. We jump back in time and learn all about what made the family as they are today. The characters are sooo good in this. Really liked it and it’s a must read.

I Might Be In Trouble – 3.5 stars

I got this in my book of the month box too! This was a good one – def quirky and funny at times but also quite dark. The story follows a writer who has a one night stand and wakes up to find the date dead. He calls his literary agent and that whole aspect just had me howling because I love my agent dearly and have been with her for a long time. So in that sense in was funny and relatable but it also digs deep into his past.

Deep End – 4 stars

ahh I have so many thoughts on this book! I love Ali’s books so much – she writes incredible characters who are so smart and realistic. This story follows two collegiate swimmers (one olympian!!) who enter into a BDSM relationship consensually. I don’t love the whole 50 shades of gray aspect and really had no desire to read that, but it ended up being different than I thought. I LOVED the story and the swimming storyline. I sort of thought the main male character was a bit detached. It’s very high spice level. But so good! I couldn’t put it down.

Dream Girl Drama – 2.5 stars

I was not the hugest fan of this one. I loved the hockey storyline of course, but the main female character drove me crazy at times. The story follows Chloe and Sig who have an intense meeting which is full of major first lust. Only to learn that their parents are engaged to be married. The whole Chloe moves storyline and he pays for everything was a little unrealistic to me. I did like the characters and there was definitely growth at the end, but it still was not my fave. I also saw the twist at the end coming, but it was a nice one.

The post What I Read In February 2025. appeared first on How Sweet Eats.

What I Read In January 2025.

Jessica — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:20:57 +0000

Here’s everything I read in January! There were lots of great ones – we had such cold, snowy weather and I got a ton of reading time in!

What was your favorite read of the month?!

Most of these books are linked through bookshop (if available! some are only on amazon.) and I highly suggest shopping through there because it will support your local indie bookstore. You can choose the local bookstore to support! I support Penguin Books when I buy which is my fave here in Pittsburgh.

Okay, keep me posted on what you’re reading below!

WHAT I READ IN JANUARY 2025

The Favorites – 5 stars

Oh my gosh. I wish I could give this 1o stars. I LOVED THIS. I can’t stop talking (or thinking) about it, and I’m sure it has to do with my figure skating obsession in the 90s. This story follows two very young ice dancers who start skating together at the age of 10 or so. They have a very intense volatile relationship. The writing of these characters is incredible – you love and hate them all. They are endearing but so incredibly flawed. The entire story that I expected to happen, had happened by 25% in. It’s a wild ride and I loved it.

Beg Borrow or Steal – 4 stars

I loooove this author’s books!! I’ve read the two before this – and while you don’t need to read them in order, it helps with the characters a bit. This story is an enemies-to-lovers trope and so good! We follow Jack and Emilia who are neighbors and enemies but then find themselves having to work together (for a semi-funny reason!). It’s super cute, funny and enjoyable to read!

Beautiful Ugly – 4 stars

I definitely needed a thriller last month with everything else I read. This was in my book of the month box and it was a good one! This story follows an author who hits the bestsellers list and at the same time, his wife goes missing. There are so many twists in here and lots of fun characters (the dog!). It’s a crazy psychological thriller and I couldn’t put it down!

The Path To Loving Him – 3.5 stars

This was a cute classic Meghan Quinn book that gets very heated right off the bat! I read this because I’ve read all the other books in the series that follow the family members. They don’t need to be read in order, but it does help if you read them in order just to understand some of the characters. This one follows the oldest brother of the family who is the guardian of his niece. He has a one night stand and then it ends up that this girl is supposed to be working with him. Of course it does! Hahaha. It’s cute and fun and quick.

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus – 3.75 stars

I was so inspired to read this after Remarkably Bright Creatures! This one was a little slower and took me a big longer to get into, but ultimately was still good. We follow Penelope who has just gone to college and her parents have divorced. She digs deeper into her past and I loved the family drama & secrets aspect of it.

The Heart of Winter – 4 stars

Oh my gosh, this is heartbreaking and lovely and I could not stop reading. I don’t know what drew me in because this is normally something I wouldn’t read – fearing it would be too sad. This story follows a couple who have been together FOREVER and it starts with a diagnosis for one of them. Then it flips back and forth from past and present. It’s about so many little moments and everyday life but how it adds up to a big life/marriage. Definitely left me in tears.

Still Standing – 2.75 stars

This is where we get into the mind numbing spicy books I read this month. Ha! I blew through a few. This one was interesting… I read it because it followed the story of a motorcycle club (again! Like a few months ago!) and I can’t get over sons of anarchy, ever. While the story was okay, I had SUCH a hard time following the writing of the accents/speaking style of the club members. I would have to read sentences multiple times to understand what they were saying. I understand that is a part of it but this felt so much more intense.

Champagne Venom – 3 stars

Another one!! This and the below are a series and have to be read in order. Um, I loved these because they follow a russian mafia family… ha! I mean, I loved Sopranos so it reminds me of that. The main (male) character is pretty awful and while you can see some redeeming qualities that will eventually come out, there is SO MUCH back and forth in this book of “will they or won’t they.” I mean, it takes it to a new level. And it’s the same argument and reaction every single time! This ends on a cliffhanger.

Champagne Wrath – 3 stars

And goes into this book! Which is a continuation of the same family and story. I did like how the family came together in some of this story. There was still a lot of back and forth. I kind of saw what was coming at the end (these are pretty predictable) but it was still such a crazy story to read. Definitely a quick read that I couldn’t put down.

The Let Them Theory

I am a huuuuuge Mel Robbins fan!! I listened to this last week and love to do these books of audio since the author narrates. I’ve been following Mel for over five years and just adore her. I think she is so down to earth and real. And I also LOVE the premise of this book. Stop wasting your time on things you can’t control. I LOVE IT.

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