Dungeon Crawler Carl

Dungeon Crawler Carl 

by Matt Dinniman 

Dandy House, 2020. 433 pages. Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

The apocalypse will be televised! A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible. In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground. The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe. Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style. You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big. You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game--with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy. They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game. 

Yes, this book is as good as everyone says it is. It’s the kind of book that once you read it, you need everyone around you to read it because it’s so fun and you need to talk to someone about it. While it takes a heavy dose of suspension of disbelief to get into this book, the author makes it easy. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with detailed worldbuilding, distinctive characters who you fall in love with, a large amount of tabletop RPG and other game mechanics, pop culture references galore, and a writing style that keeps you hooked. This book is recommended for anyone looking for a good time. 

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Solo Leveling 

by Ch'ugong 

Yen Press, 2021. 311 pages. Graphic Novel 

Known as the the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung's contribution to raids amounts to trying not to get killed. Unfortunately, between his mother's hospital bills, his sister's tuition, and his own lack of job prospects, he has no choice but to continue to put his life on the line. So when an opportunity arises for a bigger payout, he takes it... only to come face-to-face with a being whose power outranks anything he's ever seen! With the party leader missing an arm and the only healer a quivering mess, can Jinwoo somehow find them a way out? 

Space Opera 

by Catherynne M. Valente 

Saga Press, 2018. 294 pages. Science Fiction 

Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny. They must sing. A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented by the remnants of civilization. Something to cheer up everyone who was left. Something to celebrate having escaped total annihilation by the skin of one's teeth, if indeed one has skin. Or teeth. Something to bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, understanding, and the most powerful of all social bonds: excluding others. Once every cycle, the great galactic civilizations gather for Galactivision--part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part, a very large, but very subtle part, continuation of the wars of the past. Thus, a fragile peace has held. This year, a bizarre and unsightly species has looked up from its muddy planet-bound cradle and noticed the enormous universe blaring on around it: humanity. Where they expected to one day reach out into space and discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of grave aliens, they have found glitter. And lipstick. And pyrotechnics. And electric guitars. A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent their planet on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of Earth lies in their ability to rock. 

Delicious in Dungeon 

by Ryoko Kui 

Yen Press, 2017. 191 pages. Graphic Novel 

When young adventurer Laios and his company are attacked and soundly thrashed by a dragon deep in a dungeon, the party loses all its money and provisions ... and a member! They're eager to go back and save her, but there is just one problem: If they set out with no food or coin to speak of, they're sure to starve on the way! But Laios comes up with a brilliant idea: "Let's eat the monsters!" Slimes, basilisks, and even dragons ... none are safe from the appetites of these dungeon-crawling gourmands!

Gate to Kagoshima

Gate to Kagoshima 

by Poppy Kuroki 

Harper Perennial, 2025. 304 pages. Fantasy. 

 

While in Japan researching her family's history, a vicious typhoon sends Isla Mackenzie 128 years back in time, to the dawn of the Satsuma Rebellion. There she meets her ancestors, and a charismatic samurai, Kei, with whom she unexpectedly finds romance. But, unlike her Beloved, Isla knows about the looming Samurai rebellion-and Kai's fate. Should she attempt to change history or somehow make her way back to the life she'd had before? 

 

This is an interesting time travel story with a sweet romance. While the pacing can seem slow at times, the writing helps you feel as though you are there with Isla, and things definitely heat up in the second half. Beautiful descriptions, likeable characters, and an insight to history that might not be familiar to a lot of people. The ending really makes the story. This book is recommended for fans of isekai or timeslip stories and atmospheric writing. 

If you like Gate to Kagoshima, you might also like: 

Fallen City 

by Adrienne Young 

Saturday Books, 2025. 397 pages. Fiction 

In the ancient walled city of Isara, rebellion brews as politics, faith, and forbidden love collide. Luca Matius, a young legionnaire destined for power, and Maris Casperia, the daughter of a Magistrate and apprentice to a Priestess of stolen magic, are drawn together by fate. When a deadly secret ignites a holy war, their bond turns them into symbols on opposing sides of a divine struggle. Swept into a web of prophecy and rebellion, Luca and Maris must decide whether love or destiny will shape the future of their world.

 

The Tides of Time 

by Sarah M. Eden 

Shadow Mountain, 2025. 356 pages. Romance. 

Fleeing Robespierre's Tribunal in revolutionary France, Lili Minet escapes to England only to have a mystical storm catapult her eighty years into the future. Rescued by lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce, she slowly builds trust with him and his grandfather. As danger from her past resurfaces, their fragile bond is tested, challenging them to rewrite history and save their love. 

The North Wind 

by Alexandria Warwick 

Saga Press, 2024. 441 pages. Fantasy. 

When the North Wind, a dangerous immortal whose heart is as frigid as the land he rules, chooses her sister as his bride, Wren of Edgewood will do anything to save her even if it means sacrificing herself in the process.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store

The Dallergut Dream Department Store 

by Mi-Ye Lee 

Hanover Square Press, 2024. 287 pages. Sci-Fi & Fantasy. 

Penny gets a sought-after job at Dallergut Dream Department Store and begins work at the front desk, helping slumbering customers find the dreams they need. This whimsical and cozy Korean bestseller offers a well-drawn world with a cast of colorful characters. This book takes place in the world we go to when we dream. Penny gets a job at one of the top dream department stores, and gets to try out working at each floor. In addition to following Penny’s story, each section describes a character who gets a dream, and the reader gets a little glimpse into their life and how their dream affected them. 

This is such a lovely and cozy story, perfect for reading before bed. The world of dreams is whimsical and it’s fun to imagine that this is what happens when we fall asleep. The sequel to this book, The Dallergut Dream-Making District, is equally as enjoyable. This book is recommended for people who enjoy cozy fantasies, and those who would like a relaxing and whimsical break from life. 

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Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop 

by Bo-Reum Hwang 

Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024. 301 pages. General Fiction. 

Yeongju is burned out. She did everything she was supposed to: go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. In a leap of faith, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop. In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster, and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju - they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live. A heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life - and the healing power of books, Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is a gentle reminder that it's never too late to scrap the plot and start again. 

The Full-Moon Coffee Shop 

by Mai Mochizuki 

Ballantine Books, 2024. 228 pages. General Fiction. 

In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they'll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon. This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and seemingly appears at random to adrift young people at crucial junctions in their lives. It's also run by talking cats. While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes and coffees and teas, the cats also consult them on their star charts, offer cryptic wisdom, and let them know where their lives veered off course. Because every person who visits the shop has been feeling more than a little lost. And for a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer, the coffee shop's feline guides will set them back on their fated paths. 

If Wishes Were Retail 

by Auston Habershaw 

Tachyon Publications, 2025. 226 pages. Sci-Fi & Fantasy. 

In this hilarious debut fantasy cozy, a rebellious--but enterprising--young woman and an ancient--but clueless--genie set up shop at the local mall. Alex Delmore needs a miracle. She wants out of her dead-end suburban town, but her parents are broke and NYU seems like a distant dream. Good thing there's a genie in town--and he's hiring at the Wellspring Mall. It'd help if the Jinn-formerly-of-the-Ring-of-Khorad knew even one thing about 21st-century America. It'd help if he weren't at least as stubborn as Alex. It'd really help if her brother didn't sell her out to her conspiracy theory-loving, gnome-hating dad. When Alex and the genie set up their wishing kiosk, they face seemingly-endless setbacks. The mall is failing and management will not stop interfering on behalf of their big-box tenants. But when the wishing biz might start working, the biggest problem of all remains: People are really terrible at wishing.

Don't Open Your Eyes

Don’t Open Your Eyes 

by Liv Constantine 

Bantam, 2025. 336 pages. General Fiction. 

Annabelle Reynolds has everything she's ever wanted. A devoted husband, two wonderful daughters, and a career she loves. She couldn't be happier. So why is she suddenly plagued by disturbing dreams of a future where she hates her husband and her daughters' lives are at risk? At first, she chalks the dreams up to an overactive imagination. But when details from her dreams, details she couldn't possibly have predicted, begin to materialize, she realizes these aren't just dreams but rather premonitions of a terrifying future. They all point to a singular choice, an unknown moment that holds Annabelle's life in the balance. Then Annabelle has a dream that her daughter Scarlett is in immediate danger. Someone wants Scarlett dead, and Annabelle has no idea who or why. Suddenly, every choice she makes is fraught with peril, with no inkling of which move could bring this terrifying vision to life. As Annabelle's present life starts to collide with the future in her dreams, she wrestles with how much control she really has over her destiny and whether she can change what is meant to be. 

This is a gripping book that hooks you right from the beginning. When aspects of the dreams start coming true, it keeps you guess just how much of the dreams will become reality. With lots of twists at the end, this book, while it can be slowly paced at times, is still a wild ride that is fun to read. Don’t Open Your Eyes is recommended for people who enjoy domestic thrillers, and is likely the type of book to pull you out of a reading slump. 

If you like Don’t Open Your Eyes, you might also like: 

Simultaneous 

by Eric Heisserer 

Flatiron Books, 2025. 278 pages. Science Fiction. 

Federal agent Grant Lukather works for an unknown department of Homeland Security called Predictive Analytics. They look for patterns in tips and chatter to prevent a terrorist event before it happens. One of these calls, about a possible explosion in New Mexico, leads Grant to a case with unimaginable consequences. He meets Sarah Newcomb, a therapist who uses past-life hypnosis in her treatment but has recently stumbled upon a phenomenon that seems to defy logic. Grant follows this thread to another crime: a copycat killer case in Colorado. With the help of one of Sarah's patients, they embark upon an investigation that spans multiple states, timelines, and consciousnesses. With limited time and only a tenuous grasp of how this phenomenon works, the unlikely trio are in a race for their lives--past, present, and future. 

Don’t Let Him In 

by Lisa Jewell 

Atria Books, 2025. 360 pages. General Fiction. 

When charming Nick Radcliffe enters Nina's life, her daughter Ash grows suspicious, uncovering unsettling secrets that connect them to Martha, a florist with a husband who keeps disappearing, leading all three women toward a chilling truth they never expected. 

Famous Last Words 

by Gillian McAllister 

William Morrow, 2025. 326 pages. General Fiction. 

It is June 21st, the longest day of the year, and new mother Camilla's life is about to change forever. After months of maternity leave, she will drop her infant daughter off at daycare for the first time and return to her job as a literary agent. Finally. But after she arrives at the office, police officers storm the foyer: in the city, just near her work, a man has taken three hostages and is now in a tense standoff with law enforcement. And Luke, the person she's loved for more than a decade, the father of her child, is involved. But he is not a hostage. He is the kidnapper. All she has is a half-written cryptic note that Luke left for her. Seven years after the crime that shocked the nation, and her husband's subsequent disappearance, Camilla has slowly accepted that she will never have answers about what really happened that day. But just as she prepares to let Luke go for good, an anonymous location, sent to her by text message, reignites her suspicions about the kidnapping and sends her on a dangerous search for the truth. What follows is a propulsive, twisty story of motherhood, marriage, and the secrets at the heart of our closest relationships.

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart 

by Shauna Robinson 

Sourcebooks, 2025. 384 pages. General Fiction.

Lauryn Harper had a plan. A high achieving, perfectly constructed, five-year plan. But after a (totally blown out of proportion) mishap at work that plan is put to the test. As punishment for her mistake she is transferred to the Ryser Charity Department, a branch of her corporation that just so happens to be located in the hometown she abandoned long ago - the same hometown that her powerful corporation is responsible for running into the ground. Horrified at the thought of returning and facing those she left behind (one in particular keeps coming to mind), Lauryn quickly comes up with a new impress her boss enough that she's briskly whisked back to her big city life. However, it soon becomes clear that sticking to plans isn't that simple, especially when her ex-best friend enters the charity department demanding they help revitalize the town by throwing the famous Greenstead Fall Festival. Confronted by her past wrongs, Lauryn immediately agrees to host the festival on Ryser's dime, but soon enough Lauryn is swept away in town hijinks, chaotic planning committees, and a second chance at a childhood friend that shows her why home isn't necessarily a place she has to run from. 

This book was a cozy autumnal read with likeable characters. The plot to bring back the fall apple festival runs parallel to the plot of Lauryn and her ex-best friend reconnecting and putting behind the past that drew them apart. It has all the elements of a contemporary romcom, but without any romance, which I found to be delightfully refreshing. This book is recommended for anyone looking for a cozy contemporary read, especially one that doesn’t include any romance. 

If you like Lauryn Harper Falls Apart, you might also like: 

The Second Chance Year 

by Melissa Wiesner 

Forever, Hachette Book Group, 2023. 327 pages. Romance. 

Sadie Thatcher's life has fallen apart in spectacular fashion. In one fell swoop, she managed to lose her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend-all thanks to her big mouth. So when a fortune teller offers her one wish, Sadie jumps at the chance to redo her awful year. Deep down, she doesn't believe magic will fix her life, but taking a leap of faith, Sadie makes her wish, opens her eyes, and . . . nothing has changed. And then, in perhaps her dumbest move yet, she kisses her brother's best friend, Jacob. When Sadie wakes up the next morning, she's in her former apartment with her former boyfriend, and her former boss is expecting her at work. Checking the date, she realizes it's January 1 . . . of last year. As Sadie navigates her second-chance year, she begins to see the red flags she missed in her relationship and in her career. Plus, she keeps running into Jacob, and she can't stop thinking about their kiss . . . the one he has no idea ever happened. Suddenly, Sadie begins to wonder if her only mistake was wishing for a second chance. 

Adult Assembly Required 

by Abbi Waxman Berkley, 2022. 374 pages. General Fiction. 

A young woman moves to Los Angeles to escape her life and discovers she doesn't have to leave all of herself behind to make a fresh start, from USA Today bestselling author Abbi Waxman. When Laura Costello moves to Los Angeles, hoping to finally get away from her overprotective family, she doesn't expect to be homeless after a week. (She's almost certain she didn't start that fire . . . right?) When she's rescued by a charming but eccentric bookseller and installed in a slightly chaotic and entirely illegal boardinghouse, she isn't sure if she's fallen on her feet or just out of the frying pan. A handsome housemate, a landlady with regrets, and the unwelcome attention of an old flame conspire to make Laura's life far more complicated than she hoped. However, a set of new friends who widen her experience--and knowledge of trivia--will do their very best to help this transplant put down roots and learn what it really means to be an adult. 

Sophie Go’s Lonely Hearts Club 

by Roselle Lim Thorndike Press, a part of Gale, 2022. 457 pages. General Fiction Large Print. 

Newly minted professional matchmaker Sophie Go has returned to Toronto, her hometown, after spending three years in Shanghai. Her job is made quite difficult, however, when she is revealed as a fraud--she never actually graduated from matchmaking school. In a competitive market like Toronto, no one wants to take a chance on an inexperienced and unaccredited matchmaker, and soon Sophie becomes an outcast. In dire search of clients, Sophie stumbles upon a secret club within her condo complex: the Old Ducks, seven septuagenarian Chinese bachelors who never found love. Somehow, she convinces them to hire her, but her matchmaking skills are put to the test as she learns the depths of loneliness, heartbreak, and love by attempting to make the hardest matches of her life.

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The Unwedding

The Unwedding 

by Ally Condie 

Grand Central Publishing, 2024. 337 pages. General Fiction. 

Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world. She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth? But now she's traveling solo. To add insult to injury, there's a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now, she isn't certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling. When Ellery discovers the body of one of the wedding party floating in the pool in the rain, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it's clear something horrible is brewing. 

This book got me out of a reading slump. It hooked me from the start, and kept me guessing what would happen next, all the way to the end. Not only is there intrigue for finding out the killer, but each guest seems to have a secret, including Ellery, our narrator. A fast-paced story, just enough is revealed at a time to keep the reader wanting more. It’s a suspenseful and intricately-plotted novel, perfect for a rainy fall day with a cozy blanket and a cup of tea. This book is recommended for anyone looking for a book they won’t be able to put down, and people that enjoy hearing about other people's wedding drama. 

If you like The Unwedding, you might also like: 

The Midnight Feast 

by Lucy Foley 

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024. 354 pages. General Fiction. 

It's the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests' healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the "Manor Mule" cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen. And yet, just outside the Manor's immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. The local community resents what they see as the Manor's intrusion into the local woods and attempts to privatize the beach, and small skirmishes have erupted on the edges of the property between locals and the staff. And the whispers keep coming, about an old piece of pagan folklore — it must be folklore? — the Night Birds, an avenging force that can be called upon to make right wrongs that elude the law. Though surely everything at the Manor has been done above board. On the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. There's been a fire. A body's been discovered. Something's not right with the guests. What happened on the grounds of the Manor the past 36 hours? And who — or what — is the cause? 

This is Not a Game 

by Kelly Mullen 

Dutton, 2025. 310 pages. General Fiction. 

Widow Mimi lives on idyllic Mackinac Island where cars are not allowed and a Gibson with three onions at the witching hour is compulsory. Her granddaughter, Addie, is getting over the heartbreak of her fiance, Brian, dumping her and cutting her out of the deal for the brilliantly successful video game, Murderscape, they invented together (with Addie doing most of the heavy lifting). When Mimi gets an invitation from local socialite Jane Ireland—a seventy something narcissist who is having an affair with her son-in-law—to a charity auction, it is the perfect excuse to get Addie to join her for the weekend. What Mimi isn't telling Addie is that a blackmail threat from Jane looms over the party's invitation. In case the scene wasn't already set for a turbulent weekend, a big storm rolls in, trapping everyone in the mansion. And then, Jane's body is found. Soon Mimi and Addie are caught in a dangerous game, relying on their skills... to narrow down the suspects. When another body turns up, the sleuthing pair realize someone else is playing a deadly game, and they might not survive the night. 

The Engagement Party 

by Darby Kane 

William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. 354 pages. General Fiction. 

Emily Hunt went missing from her affluent liberal arts school on graduation weekend. Her body was found floating in a river, and a quiet loner who most people on campus really didn't know died by suicide. A tenuous link—one text—bound the two dead students together and was enough for law enforcement to close the case. But they got it wrong and now someone is determined to set it right. Twelve years later, college friends gather to celebrate an engagement over a long overdue getaway on a swanky private island in Maine—with only one way in and one way out. Sierra Prescott, invited as a guest and unconnected to past events, is the only person who soon senses not all is what it seems. The tension in the air is ignited when they find a dead man in the trunk of a car with a note: time to tell the truth. And things only get worse. As a torrential storm strands them together, the group’s buried stories begin to surface and secrets are bartered. To survive this deadly party, they'll need to stop a killer before they become prey.

Just For the Summer

Just for the Summer 

by Abby Jimenez 

Hachette Book Group, 2024. 418 pages. Romance. 

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it's now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They'll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other's out, and they'll both go on to find the love of their lives. It's a bonkers idea & and it just might work. Emma hadn't planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka. It's supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma's toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they're suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected--including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together? 

This is a delightful summer romance read. The premise is unique and fun, and the characters are real, honest, and written in a way that makes you really care about them and on the edge of your seat to find out what happens next. While it’s a fun romance with a guaranteed happy ending, it doesn’t shy away from real topics like parental abandonment, and it does so in a very compassionate way. This book is recommended for fans of Emily Henry, contemporary romance, and those that need just a little more hope in love. 

If you like Just for the Summer, you might also like: 

Maya’s Laws of Love 

by Alina Khawaja 

Mira, 2024. 309 pages. Romance. 

Maya Mirza's unlucky-in-love past seems to be turning around when she ends up in an arranged marriage to the on-paper perfect man; but as she heads to her wedding in Pakistan, she finally meets the man of her dreams, who isn't the man to whom she is arranged to be wed. 

Same Time Next Summer 

by Annabel Monaghan 

G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2023. 302 pages. Romance. 

The ultimate summer nostalgia read, about an engaged woman who comes face to face with her first love who she hasn't seen in fourteen years, but who she spent every summer with from age five to seventeen when he broke her heart, calling into question everything she thought she knew about their love story, and herself. 

One Golden Summer 

by Carley Fortune 

Berkley Romance, 2025. 382 pages. Romance. 

Good things happen at the lake. That's what Alice's grandmother says, and it's true. Alice spent just one summer at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen--it's where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life. Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she's most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately, though, she's been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry's Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it. Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he's all grown up--a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice's soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart. Because Alice sees people--that's why she is so good at what she does--but she's never met someone who looks and sees her right back.

Tea and Empathy

Tea and Empathy 

by Shanna Swendson 

Shanna Swendson, 2023. 210 pages. Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

Welcome to Rydding, the hidden village you might stumble across if you need a home and a fresh start. For Elwyn Howell, the village is a lifesaver when she finds it just as she's run out of strength and hope while running for her life. The abandoned healer's cottage welcomes her, even though she's given up on that calling. She opens a tea shop instead, using her knowledge of herbs and her empathic gift that allows her to select the perfect tea for each customer. Soon, she's feeling at home in the village community. She's afraid it's too good to last, a fear that's confirmed when she finds a wounded man unconscious in her garden. Was he sent by the people who are hunting her? Not even he knows, since he has no memory of who he is or how he got there. As she nurses him back to health, they develop a close bond, but the specter of both their pasts--the one she's fleeing and the one he doesn't remember--gets in the way. He doesn't know what life he may have left behind, and she lives in constant fear that her old life will catch up with her and she'll end up convicted of a murder she's not entirely sure she didn't commit. They can't hide forever, not even in Rydding, and if they want to have a future, they'll have to confront their pasts. 

This book is like a cup of tea on a cozy sunny day. Following Elwyn’s journey as she settles into Rydding, and accepts that that’s where she actually wants to be, was such a joy. As its title might suggest, this is a soothing read, but that doesn’t mean that it has no plot. There is plenty to keep you entertained, between a mysterious man who has no memories, to a plot to blame a murder on an innocent person, and all of it gets wrapped up nicely. Tea and Empathy is recommended for fans of cozy historical fantasy, and for anyone who likes the idea of living in a small town in a lovely cottage that does all of the cooking and cleaning for you. 

If you like Tea and Empathy, you might also like: 

Legends & Lattes 

by Travis Baldree 

Tor, 2022. 294 pages. Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

Come take a load off at Viv's cafe, the first & only coffee shop in Thune. Grand opening! Worn out after decades of packing steel and raising hell, Viv, the orc barbarian, cashes out of the warrior's life with one final score. A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen. However, her dreams of a fresh start filling mugs instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune's shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners, and a different kind of resolve. 

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

by Sangu Mandanna 

Berkley, 2022. 318 pages. Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

 As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules ... with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos "pretending" to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously. But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and ... Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat. As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for. 

The Honey Witch 

by Syndey Shields 

Redhook Books/Orbit, 2024. 359 pages. Science Fiction & Fantasy. 

Twenty-one-year-old Marigold Claude has always preferred the company of the spirits of the meadow to any of the suitors who've tried to woo her. So, when her grandmother whisks her away to her cottage on the tiny Isle of Innisfree with an offer to train her as the next Honey Witch, she accepts immediately. But her newfound magic and independence comes with a price: no one can fall in love with the Honey Witch. When Lottie Burke, a notoriously grumpy skeptic who doesn't believe in magic, shows up on her doorstep, Marigold can't resist the challenge to prove to her that magic is real. But soon, Marigold begins to care for Lottie in ways she never expected. And, when darker magic awakens and threatens to destroy her home, she must fight for much more than her new home--at the risk of losing her magic and her heart

A Fragile Enchantment

A Fragile Enchantment

by Allison Saft 

Wednesday Books, 2024. 373 pages. Young Adult Fiction. 

When Niamh, who’s from a working-class Machlish family, receives an invitation to serve as the tailor for the royal wedding of Avaland’s Prince Christopher to the Castilian Infanta Rosa, she boards the ship, convinced that this Season will change her family’s fortunes. Her ability to imbue emotions into her embroidery has earned her a reputation among the high-born, but using magic comes at a cost to her lifespan. Niamh arrives on Avaland’s shores, only to find the country in turmoil. The exploited Machlish are striking in droves, a gossip columnist has alienated the court, and most troublesome of all, the brooding and reluctant Christopher, who goes by Kit, simultaneously vexes and beguiles her. With patience and persistence, Niamh pierces Kit’s thorny, magicked defenses, but personal and political histories threaten their future. 

This is a richly detailed book with complex characters and a swoon-worthy romance. Niamh is a people pleaser, and the way that her magic has a cost to her own health seems to be a metaphor for people who give too much to other people without taking care of themselves. Her interactions with Kit are fiery, and their relationship helps them both heal in different ways. The blend of regency historical fiction with fantasy is seamless and the pairing of genres goes together perfectly. 

If you like A Fragile Enchantment, you might also like: 

The Hedgewitch of Foxhall

by Anna Bright 

HarperTeen, 2024. 389 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Magic is fading from Wales--choked off by King Offa's Dyke, the enemy earthworks that spans the entire border. Even the dragons have disappeared. And now an attack is imminent. Prince Taliesin would love to watch magic die. Prince Dafydd fears it, and the throne. But when their father promises the crown to whichever son can destroy the dyke and restore magic to Wales, the brothers are forced into an uneasy rivalry. Ffion works hedgewitch magic for poor folk, not princes. Unlike the power-hungry Foxhall coven, she uses only what nature can spare. But when the coven's greed costs Ffion everything, she will need power beyond her wildest dreams to get back what she's lost. So when Prince Taliesin arrives, begrudgingly seeking a witch's aid, Ffion agrees to help him--even if it means walking from one end of Wales to the other with the most use-less peacock she's ever clapped eyes on. Even if it means striking a bargain with Dafydd behind Tal's back. The fate of Wales depends on their quest . . . and so might the fate of Ffion's heart. 

Divine Rivals 

by Rebecca Ross 

Wednesday Books, 2023. 357 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. 

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

by Deya Muniz 

Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 235 pages. Young Adult Comics 

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert. But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?

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An Unlikely Proposition

An Unlikely Proposition 

by Rosalyn Eves 

Farrar Straus Giroux, 2024. 298 pages. Young Adult Fiction. 

Seventeen-year-old widow Eleanor devises a plan to survive the Season and keep her fortune intact, while Thalia, after a disastrous first season, struggles to be taken seriously as a female writer but instead finds herself smitten with a man from her past. 

This is a sweet book with a main character, Eleanor, who is hesitant to trust people and learns that she can have a family and people who care about her through both her fake engagement and the friendships that ensue. The secondary story, Thalia, is about a woman who has sworn off love after a scandalous failed elopement, but comes to learn what real love is, and has a fun adventure into the poet society of London (with plenty of mentions of your favorite poets from that time period). This is a wholesome read with complex characters, recommended for fans of Sarah M. Eden, Bridgerton, and the like. This book is the second in a duology (the first book is listed below) but can be read as a stand-alone. 

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An Improbable Season 

by Rosalyn Eves 

Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. 346 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

In this extravagant, 1817-set Regency drama by Eves (Beyond the Mapped Stars), teenage cousins Thalia, Kalliope, and Charis—each with ambitions of their own—together arrive in London for their first collective social season . Each teen’s plan is quickly derailed by a series of curveballs. Thalia’s hopes to impress the literary cognoscenti to make inroads for a career as a poet lead to her swooning for a disreputable rake; softhearted Kalli’s goal to make waves as the life of the party until she ensnares the right husband is upended when she finds herself accidentally engaged after her first event; and bookish Charis, who wants to make connections in the scientific community, unexpectedly becomes a social butterfly. As scandal arises and the trio’s loyalties are tested, they are forced to reconcile their initial desires and current predicaments if they hope to move forward together into their uncertain futures. 

The Davenports 

by Krystal Marquis 

Dial Books, 2023. 379 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

This stunningly wrought historical fiction debut follows a group of Black teens navigating classism, familial expectations, gender norms, and racism in 1910 Chicago. William Davenport is the formerly enslaved head of one of the city’s few wealthy Black families. As such, his children—Olivia, John, and Helen—and their associates are constantly in the public eye. While Olivia is courted by a proper Black Englishman, she meets a civil rights activist who makes her question her privileged upbringing and encourages her to face ongoing postslavery horrors. Olivia’s best friend, Ruby, is in love with John, though his interest has always been fleeting. But when it becomes clear that marrying John would benefit her family, Ruby starts plotting a scheme to win his heart. Meanwhile, Helen would rather work on vehicles than conform to traditional gender roles, and the siblings’ childhood friend turned maid, Amy Rose, has ambitions to start her own business. Marquis perceptively explores the history and momentous impact of Black achievements and wealth during an underreported period in U.S. history. 

Yours From the Tower 

 by Sally Nicholls 

Walker Books, 2024. 297 pages. Young Adult Fiction 

Tirzah, Sophia, and Polly are best friends who've left boarding school and gone back to very different lives. The year is 1896, and Polly is teaching in an orphanage, Sophia is scouting for a rich husband at the London Season, and Tirzah is stuck acting as an unpaid companion to her grandmother. In a series of letters buzzing with atmosphere and drama, the friends air their dreams, hopes, frustrations, and romances. The three friends want such different things-- the security of marriage, the chance to help others, the excitement of love. Can they find happiness in a world where their opportunities aren't as open as their hearts?

The Garden Maker's Book of Wonder

The Garden Maker’s Book of Wonder 

by Allison Vallin Kostovick 

Storey Publishing, 2023. 256 pages. Nonfiction 

Each season in the garden brings new joy and fresh inspiration for connecting with the wonders of the natural world. In The Garden Maker's Book of Wonder, gardening lifestyle influencer Allison Vallin Kostovick (Finch + Folly) invites fans of cottagecore, gardening, and nature-based living to share her journey as she crafts, cooks, dreams, and creates. Drawing on decades of gardening experience, and illustrated with vibrant photography from her own home and garden, The Garden Maker's Book of Wonder offers sage advice on growing bountiful harvests of favorite vegetables, herbs, and flowers. All levels of gardeners, from dreamers to the experienced, will delight in the variety and creativity of Kostovick's projects, activities, and recipes for enjoying the magic and whimsy of the natural world—no matter what season. From planting a pollinator playground to building a rustic trellis from tree branches, cooking with freshly picked peas and mint to making a sweet viola tub soak, and growing a bird seed mix to crafting one-of-a-kind jewelry beads from the husks of the Job's Tears plant, the inventive ideas in this rich treasury are sure to make it a favorite to keep and to give to anyone who aspires to a more nature-connected lifestyle. 

This is a lovely book containing useful gardening tips and ideas of crafts and recipes for living seasonally. The pictures in the book are beautiful and it’s ideal for browsing through on a quiet afternoon in the sunshine. This book is recommended for people interested in gardening, cottagecore, living a slower life, or living seasonally. 

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The Cottage Fairy Companion 

by Paola Merrill 

Yellow Pear Press, 2022. 166 pages. Nonfiction 

The Cottage Fairy Companion is your accessible and beautiful guide to mindful living. It teaches the fundamentals of cottagecore style through the practices of The Cottage Fairy’s daily life. Use mindfulness for healing and fulfillment. Paola Merrill, author and creator behind the popular YouTube channel The Cottage Fairy, left a hectic life in the city for the rural mountains in search of a deeper connection to herself and the world. She learned that nature is the biggest teacher of all—if we open our eyes to its wisdom. Mindful living can be applied in most walks of life, and Merrill’s writing encourages you to find healing and fulfillment, wherever you are. Inside this enchanting book on mindful living, you’ll find: Insight to creating a cozy and inspiring space, living in alignment with natural cycles and seasons, and gardening and making tea. Original illustrations and breathtaking photos of the author’s cottage, crafts, and the countryside. Calming, meditative prose to promote tranquility and stillness in a hectic world. 

The Little Book of Cottagecore 

by Emily Kent 

Adams Media, 2021. 256 pages. Nonfiction 

Returning to the simpler life has never been easier. If you're craving the aroma of freshly baked bread, spending more time in nature, or seeing the sunlight filtering through homemade curtains, then cottagecore is for you! The Little Book of Cottagecore helps you make simple living a reality with delightful cottagecore activities you can enjoy no matter where you live. Whether you're interested in baking pies from scratch, basic sewing and cross stitch, gardening, beekeeping, or making candles and soaps, this book is full of fun, hands-on activities that make it easy and enjoyable to unplug from modern life. Full of step-by-step instructions and homegrown inspiration, you'll find fun, practical ways to enjoy rustic and relaxing cottagecore activities in your everyday life. 

Joy in Your Garden: A Seasonal Guide to Gardening 

by Joy Bossi and Karen Bastow

Cedar Fort, 2010. 336 pages. Nonfiction

Joy in Your Garden: A Seasonal Guide to Gardening contains loads of encouragement for novice and experienced gardeners. Joy Bossi and coauthor Karen Bastow have compiled all the information that newbies or novice gardeners will need to find success in their gardens. And more experienced gardeners will find new applications for old gardening traditions, plus enough humor to keep them 'digging' through the ups and downs of gardening in any yard.