New bookstore opened today in my town. Cannot tell you how excited I am to spend all my money there! ☺️

Loved the unique storytelling: a mystery told in reverse. Plenty of twists (especially the last one) kept me glued to every page. Only downside was every character was pretty unlikable. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Was all over the place in terms of subject matter this month, but all of these reads kept me intrigued!

I liked the writing style and characters, but the subject matter wasn‘t totally my thing. Excited about the tv adaptation though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It seems like everyone raves about this author, but I found this one to be pretty repetitive and kinda boring. There were also too many chick lit tropes, but maybe it‘s just me. 🤷🏽‍♀️

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Some fantastic 5-star reads this month! 🤩

Had so much fun at the LA Times Festival of Books today! Also picked up some fun merch. ☺️

Some great titles this month. ☺️

Several truly great nonfiction reads this month. 😍

Thought this was fascinating, and I‘m definitely going to try and integrate some of these suggestions into my lifestyle. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great start to the new year! ☺️

Thought this was a fascinating book. I have so much admiration for these two people! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

2025 was a fantastic year for reading! 📚❤️

One of the best books I‘ve read in a while! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/10/16/the-humans-book-review/

This was such a moving and impactful book. Reminds me to keep fighting for a better future! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full book review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/09/29/something-lost-book-review/

Such a fascinating read from a truly inspirational woman (who is NOT afraid to spill the tea!!!). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/09/15/the-art-of-power-book-review/

I do not get the popularity of this author at all. This book had way too many characters and a weird supernatural twist that I just didn't buy. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/08/31/on-the-street-where-you-live-book-review/

Loved this fictional look at Henry VIII's sixth (and final) wife, Katherine Parr. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/08/15/firebrand-book-review/

Haven‘t read a book this good in a looong time. It definitely shifted my perspective and made me cry (which is rare for a nonfiction read). Will be recommending this for sure! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@nytbooks just released their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century list. I‘ve only read 34, but have a ton of these books on my shelves. ☺️📚🩷

I know we‘re well into July, but here was June‘s wrap-up. Gotta step up my game for the rest of the summer! ☀️

This book felt really pedantic at times and was definitely a slow-burn, but I still found myself appreciating the characters and the writing in the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/06/30/bright-objects-book-review/

One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time! Definitely signing up for Emiko Jean's fan club right now! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/05/10/the-return-of-ellie-black-book-review/

I love magical realism, but this book had several missteps that were hard for me to get past. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/04/19/the-cemetery-of-untold-stories-book-review/

Absolutely loved this memoir! Lieu's mother died at the age of 38 after a botched plastic surgery operation; she writes about how this event impacted the rest of her life. So moving! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/04/17/the-manicurists-daughter-book-review/

I might be in the minority here, but I thought this book was awful. The premise could have been interesting, but the execution was really poor. ⭐️

Full review: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/04/10/the-sleepwalkers-book-review/

Not in the database yet - This memoir was absolutely fantastic - such interesting insights from the mind of a sociopath. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/04/01/sociopath-book-review/

This memoir just didn't do it for me - I wanted more of a deep-dive into race relations from a white-male perspective, but it was just autobiographical details from this dude who basically failed upwards. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/03/24/the-right-kind-of-white-book-review/

This was such an incredible memoir from an immensely talented writer. I can definitely see why Oprah picked it for her book club! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/03/18/the-many-lives-of-mama-love-book-review/

And I'm adding my copy to my Pango shop, if anyone wants to purchase it: https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/ekonrad

Not sure why this book isn't in the database yet, but “Jaded“ by Ela Lee was a definite 5-star read for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/03/15/jaded-book-review/

Three books for the price of one - don‘t mind if I do! Love getting my birthday book and Book of the Year selection for #botm. 💕

I'm usually all for weird writing, but this just didn't work for me at all. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/02/27/say-hello-book-review/

This historical fiction read wasn't a slam-dunk for me, but I did appreciate the insight into the colorism and classism present during the late 1940s. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/02/20/the-house-of-eve-book-review/

Chung is quickly becoming one of my fave short story writers. I love her style, and there were several truly wonderful stories in this collection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/02/06/your-utopia-book-review/

This book was endlessly frustrating with an MC I couldn't stand. Couldn't wait for it to be over. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/02/03/set-for-life-book-review/

Never had an easier time picking a Book of the Month! So excited for The Women! #botm

This book didn't quite live up to my expectations - not enough magical realism and a separate storyline that kept taking me out of the action. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/01/22/the-bullet-swallower-book-review/

I was so intrigued by the premise of this book, but it completely fell flat for me. The writing style was frustrating, and the mystery wasn't all that thrilling. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/01/16/maude-hortons-glorious-revenge-book-review/

This book was a true masterpiece, IMO. Beautiful writing, though completely terrifying! A true investment since it's 880 pages, but well-worth it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2024/01/11/the-deluge-book-review/

Didn‘t hit my total of 136 from last year but it was still a wonderful year of reading! ☺️📚✨

Of course I had to hit up the Barnes and Noble sale yesterday. The endorphins I get entering a bookstore can‘t be matched! ☺️

There were some flaws with this book, but it wasn't a terrible read. I did appreciate learning about Oneg Shabbat, which was a group of people that tried to document Jewish people's lives in the Warsaw ghetto during WWII. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/11/24/we-must-not-think-of-ourselves-book-review/

So glad I took a break from contemporary reads to pick up this classic! When a spooky carnival comes to town, two 13-year-old friends must fight to save themselves in a true tale of good vs. evil. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/11/18/something-wicked-this-way-comes-book-review/

This espionage thriller was missing the thrills for me. Action didn't pick up until 87 percent in, and the ending had way too many loose ends. ⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/11/09/the-helsinki-affair-book-review/

Wish I was taught more in my own education about what occurred when schools were ordered to desegregate, but this book was so educational and eye-opening.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/11/05/a-most-tolerant-little-town-book-review/

Was such a fan of “The Power,“ so I was excited to give this a read. It did not disappoint! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/11/02/the-future-book-review/

This was obviously going to be a must-read for me: short stories, Jordan Peele, African American writers, and horror. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/10/29/out-there-screaming-book-review/

Ward is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. This novel, about a young enslaved woman who connects with the supernatural, is both heartbreaking and powerful. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/10/19/let-us-descend-book-review/

This memoir was powerful but did remind me a lot of “Educated.“ Sinclair is a poet, and it shows in her lyrical work, but this definitely could have benefitted from stronger editing. #arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/09/21/how-to-say-babylon-book-review/

Loved the character development in this book and the plot itself was remarkable. I was just a little turned off by the slow pacing. #arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Full review at: https://erinkonrad.com/2023/09/16/the-museum-of-failures-book-review/