Review: My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir

My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow from She Writes Press via NetGalley.  It will be published around November 11, 2025.

My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir by Rachel Lithgow is a snapshot of her life as she navigates divorcing, raising children, and trying to get back on the dating scene.  Rachel just confirms my experience with dating at this age.  It sucks.  I also realized that bad dates are almost tropes themselves.  They are universal stories.  I think I have dated some version of every guy she mentioned.  Ugh.  Still, I give her props for sticking with it and for also getting out of the unhealthy.  If you need to laugh rather than cry about your own dating journey, you might want to pick this up.

Bonus points for a cute cat on the cover.  As a crazy cat (and dog) lady, I will say it is not as bad as Rachel thinks.  

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Review: The Third Gilmore Girl

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to The Third Gilmore Girl written and read by Kelly Bishop.  I love watching Kelly Bishop act, so I was sure I was going to enjoy hearing the stories of her career.  What I wasn't expecting was how much I would love Kelly Bishop the person.  As a childless-by-choice woman, it is uplifting to hear someone else tell their story.  But where Kelly really got me was her love of animals.  That's basically my personality.  It was joyful hearing Kelly talk about the furry companions who have filled her heart with so much love.  Finally, I have always loved A Chorus Line but did not know that one of the characters is based on her.  It makes sense though, and I will never be able to watch it again without thinking of her.

Bonus points for Venus.  I have had that companion that I never traveled without.  I get it.

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Review: So Thirsty

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison was the perfect read for spooky season.  Because it is right on the cover, I am not giving anything away by saying VAMPIRES!  While there are vampires, this is really a story about soulmates.  What lengths would you go to for someone you love? Is there anyone you love so much that you would want to have them around forever?  Really think it through before you go making your vampire posse. It was giving me strong Thelma and Louise vibes.  I loved it!  

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Review: Atlas of Unknowable Things

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.  This book is due to be published on October 7, 2025.

Atlas of Unknowable Things by McCormick Templeman is a trippy, wild mystery with gothic and horror elements.  I thought the cover looked cool and sure I like a book about dark academia.  I was surprised at how quickly I got sucked into wanting to solve the mystery of what happened to the disappearing women.  Was it werewolves as some speculated?  Honestly, I could have read a whole other book just about the idea that people accused of witchcraft may have been practitioners of a misunderstood, forgotten religion (not Wicca).  If you like puzzles and your horror more spooky than graphic, give this book a read.  

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Review: This Inevitable Ruin

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman from Ace via NetGalley.  This book is available now.

I had a real dilemma around This Inevitable Ruin, the seventh book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, by Matt Dinniman.  I just finished the sixth book, and I know the eighth book is maybe not even a twinkle in Matt's eye yet.  I was going to hold out.  I was going to read a 900 page book before I even picked this up.  I started that book, but this book was calling to me.  I resisted for almost a full 24 hours.  Then a friend sent a couple of paragraphs of this book.  I broke.  I ditched the other book and picked this one up.  I read and read and read until it was finished.  That took about 48 hours.  I don't regret it, but I am worried I have become a little too obsessed with these books.  If you haven't started reading them, you should start with book one.  You have plenty of time to get through all of them before book eight comes out even if you pace yourself better than I did.  

If you have been reading the series, I don't know how you haven't already started this one.  We are at the dreaded ninth floor, Faction Wars!  There will be blood.  But hey, they have permission to actually kill those horrible people who think this is all fun and games so there's that.  This book is intense. I laughed a lot and cheered, but I also cried a few times.  While I read it in a marathon session, I don't recommend that.  Take breaks.  Stay hydrated.  Eat something.  This is war.

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Review: Red Flags: Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror

Red Flags: Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror by J.E. Rowney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Red Flags by J.E. Rowney from Books Go Social via NetGalley.  This book is already available.  

Red Flags by J.E. Rowney hooked me with the tagline, Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror.  Yes, please!  However, if you are looking for a humorous rom-com, this is probably more Black Mirror than Bridget Jones.  If you have ever had to navigate the horrors of dating in the digital age, you will find this book relatable.  Those of us who have used dating apps know it can be soul-crushing.  I am not going to spoil anything in this story, but I think it is very possible that some apps already are on board with the premise of this book.  It almost makes too much sense.  It also makes me feel vindicated for unmatching with any guy who wants to endlessly text instead of meeting in person.  Red flag!  I could very much related to maintaining friendships at a distance as all of my friends are somewhere else in the world.  I appreciate their presence in my life even if we can't meet up in person.

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Review: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride is the sixth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  There is a recap at the beginning of the book in case it has been awhile, and you need a refresher.  I still don't recommend picking up the series from here.  This is a series best read from start to finish in order.  

We have reached the eighth floor!  We've lost friends and made new ones.  As we are reminded, it will get worse before it gets better.  In that spirit, we now battle using card decks!  If you know what that even means, you have reached peak gaming nerd.  It is fine for fun, but you have to use a lot of strategy to be really good at it.  It is a matter of building a good deck, playing your cards right, and a little bit of luck.  Things are getting very intense.  Sacrifices are made.  I felt compelled to start the seventh book not long after finishing this one, and yet, I am afraid of what is to come.

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