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  • My FIVE Favorite FIVE Star Reads from November 2025!

    My reading month in November was great! It wasn’t my highest reading month of the year, but I did read a lot and I simply loved so many of the books I read. It was very difficult to narrow down five books for this month (and I may have cheated just a tad).

    I read 16 books in November and 5,341 pages, for an average of 334 pages per book. I read 12 books by female authors and 4 books by male authors. I borrowed 8 books and owned 8 of the books I read. I read 1 physical book, 6 eBooks, and 9 audiobooks. I read 7 books that are a part of a series, finishing 4 and starting 0, while DNFing 2 series. I read 3 middle grade, 1 young adult, and 12 adult books. I shared 2 read alouds with my kids and read 2 new releases. Of the 33 books on my yearly TBR list, I read 0 books and DNF’d 2, leaving me with 1 unread book on the list. I read 10 five star reads, 3 four star reads, 4 three star reads, and 0 one or two star reads.

    Here are my favorite reads from last month!

    So True a Love by Joanna Barker

    This regency romance mystery is the second in the series, though they can both be read as stand alones. I love this series, I wish there were twelve more! It’s a little cheesy, but super fun to follow the main characters as they solve mysteries together while falling in love.

    Death Comes at the End by Agatha Christie

    Death Comes at the End is a little bit of a different book for Agatha Christie than usual–it’s more historical, set in ancient Egypt in 2000 BC. For that reason, I was nervous to read it, but I got sucked in and couldn’t put it down. Despite the different setting, it is very much a classic Agatha Christie book, with great characters, amazing set up for a murder mystery that keeps you turning pages, and a twist at the end.

    The Love Haters by Katherine Center

    The Love Haters is Katherine Center’s newest book and was so fun. Katherine Center always has fun and quirky main characters and this was no exception. While the story got a little silly at times, it did so in the best way possible for a rom com. It was fun and light for the most part, but with a more serious plotline (following body image) to give it a little depth. I loved the family relationships and the healing that took place as well.

    Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

    Stacey Lee is one of my favorite authors for historical fiction and I’ve been reading through her backlog. Despite being published quite a few years ago, Outrun the Moon really lived up to my expectations. This has a hate-to-friendship that is very satisfying, a focus on family and grief, and a strong female lead who is so fun to read about. On top of all that, I learned a lot about this time in history, in way that makes the story come alive.

    Two Truths and a Murder by Colleen Cambridge

    Two Truths and a Murder is the fifth book in the Phyllida Bright series, a series I have been devouring as each book has been released. Phyllida Bright is the fictional housekeeper for Agatha Christie and, taking inspiration from Poirot, solves mysteries as they come up. I love the characters and the mysteries themselves in these books and this one was fun as we went “home” to Mallowan Hall after being in London. I loved seeing Phyllida deal with the drama of managing a household staff again between her sleuthing and her romance.

    The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 7

    So I know I’m cheating by adding in a sixth book here, but I just couldn’t quite narrow it down. I’ve loved The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion and this new volume was just as delightful. I haven’t been able to get to volume 8 because I didn’t read it before my Kindle Unlimited ended, so I’m hoping to get to it soon (and then wait impatiently with everyone else for volume 9 to come out).

    Those were my favorite books of November! What were your favorite books last month? Is there a book you recently read and just loved? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

  • My FIVE Favorite FIVE Star Reads from October 2025!

    October was a slower reading month for me as things started to get busier with the holidays approaching. I still had some great reads (and some not so great reads) and was able to enjoy a lot of atmospheric books for fall and Halloween.

    I read 15 books in October and 4,311 pages for an average of 287 pages per book. I read 10 books by female authors and 5 by male authors. I borrowed 8 of the books I read and owned 7 of them. I read 3 physical books, 4 eBooks, and 8 audiobooks. I read no new releases. 7 books were part of a series (starting no new series and finishing 1) and 7 stand alone books. I read 4 middle grade, 3 YA, and 8 adult books, sharing 4 read alouds with my kids. I reread 1 book and had 14 new reads. Of the books I read, 7 were by “new to me” authors” and 7 were by authors I’ve previously read. I read 4 books from my 2025 TBR list, bringing the total read or DNF’d to 29/33, leaving 4 to be read. I had 6 five star reads, 4 four star reads, 4 three star reads, 1 two star read, and 0 one star reads.

    Here are my five favorite five star reads from last month!

    A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge

    A Murder Most French is the second in a series following a friend of Julia Child, the famous chef, as she solves murder mysteries. It is a fun series and I liked this second book more than I did the first (though her Phyllida Bright books are still my favorite!). I’m excited to continue on with the series.

    Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie

    Three Act Tragedy is a Poirot book that actually follows a few other characters trying to solve the mystery before Poirot gets very involved. Despite this, I really enjoyed the mystery and did not see the solution coming. I always love Agatha Christie’s characters and this book was no exception to that.

    Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

    Mother-Daughter Murder Night was just exactly what I wanted to read for October–it was a more serious murder mystery thriller but still a clean read. I really loved the grandmother-mother-daughter relationship and how that grew and changed throughout the story. I wish this was a series and I could read more!

    Palmyra by Susan Evans McCloud

    Palmyra is a thriftstore find that I found quite awhile ago and since I love Susan Evans McCloud, I finally got around to reading it. This story is set in Palmyra during the time that Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon and setting up The Church of Jesus Christ. It takes place in Palmyra during that time, but those events are mostly background setting for the main character’s friendships and relationships. It was a little hard to really get into, but by the last quarter of the book, I had a hard time putting it down and it became one of my favorite reads of the month.

    The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Volume 6 by Beth Brower

    The Unselected Journals has become one of my favorite series–I just love Emma and the escapades she gets up to and the quandries she puts herself into and especially the friendships she forms. They are all so fun to read about. I am highly invested in her life. I had other reads I wanted to get to for October, so I only read the sixth, but I am already reading the seventh now and plan to finish the eight as well in November.

    Those were my favorite books of October! What were your favorite books last month? Is there a book you recently read and just loved? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

  • Five Star Reads from September!

    I had a great reading month in September! I participated in 30 Books in 30 Days and Series September and had so much fun with both readathons.

    I also had a lot of five star reads, so I’ll jump right in!

    Sammy Keyes by Wendelin Van Draanen

    I read the last five books in the Sammy Keyes series and all five were 5 star reads for me! I love Sammy and her friends so much and was so sad to see the end of the series, though I loved the ending!

    A Ben of All Trades by Michael J Rosen

    This is a short book highlighting earlier aspects of Benjamin Franklin’s story. I loved learning a little more about Benjamin Franklin and liked the book’s focus on how Franklin’s exploration early in life helped him become the man he was. I listened to the audiobook, but I read that the illustrations are well worth reading the physical book.

    The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett

    This middle grade book about two boys who love to prank people was funny and a wild ride. I loved the themes and I can see my kids loving it when they are just a little older.

    Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

    I read at least one Agatha Christie book a month as I’m working my way through her many novels and they are often my favorite reads of the month. This Poirot mystery was no exception and was such a fun read.

    Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

    The kids and I read the first Mighty Jack book last month and the Zita the Space Girl books earlier this year. This month, we finished both graphic novel series (the series have the same book as the final book in their series) and absolutely loved them both! The finale was so well done and really showed the growth of the characters from both series.

    Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

    I grew up watching this movie with my friends and have always loved it, so when I found out that there was a book, I had to read. The book had its differences from the movie, of course, but I loved it. It’s great in its own way, just as the movie is.

    Murder by Invitation Only by Colleen Cambridge 

    This series follows the fictitious housekeeper of Agatha Christie as she solves mysteries that seem to occur in her presence. I loved the first two books and was happily anticipating this new release in the series. It was just as enjoyable a read as the others and I can’t wait for the next release!

    Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose by Nancy Springer

    Enola Holmes is another series I’ve loved for a long time. I didn’t realize until recently that there was a new book in the series out, but when I did, I devoured it. It is so fun to watch Enola solve mysteries and get herself out of tight predicaments. It was a highly enjoyable read.

    Zoey and Sassafras by Asla Citro

    My kids and I listened to volumes 1-6 on Audible and all loved it. It follows a little girl who loves science and can see magical creatures. It was the perfect combination for my own girls! The narration was also well done and the story cute.

    Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

    I love Liane Moriarty’s writing style, I think she is so good at giving just enough information that the reader is then dying to know more. It works particularly well with the thrillers she written, which this one is a thriller. It’s a wild ride.

    Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale

    This middle grade graphic novel follows Diana, the only child on the island of the Amazons, as she tries to find a friend. The illustrations are lovely, the story is fun, and the characters are all likable. I also read the sequel and rated it 5 stars, though I think I liked the first book in the series more.

    Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

    This was my only reread this month. I read it aloud with my kids and it was so fun to share a childhood favorite with them. They loved it and literally squealed at the marriage proposal at the end. It was a fun way to finish the month!

    What did you read in September? I would love to hear about the books you loved in the comments below!