Hi friends!

I don’t know about you, but the warmer weather is starting to make a stronger appearance here where I live! And for me that’s great news, because now I’m taking a lot of nature walks and I’m spending a lot of time at the park… reading, of course!

I just feel like it’s difficult to top a relaxed afternoon with a cozy book on a park bench. Being outside gives me a lot of good energy, but doing that while reading also allows me to stay in tune with my introverted nature. It’s honestly such an amazing way of spending time for me, that I wish you would experience that feeling as well.

So today’s recommendation post is exactly that! Today I’m sharing with you some books that I think would be perfect to read outside, surrounded by nature on a sunny day. Here they are:

Have no fear, I have books for all of you readers according to genre! Let’s take a look at them individually:

1. On the Fence by Kasie West

For all of my YA lovers out there like myself, I have a great recommendation for you today. This is probably my favorite Kasie West book, and coincidentally, I think this would be perfect to read at the park! This is a very cute romance book featuring a tomboy lead who plays soccer, perfect if you love the “boy next door” and “brother’s best friend” tropes! I honestly love this so much, and I automatically thought of this book because they spend a lot of time outside doing outdoor activities. It’s fast paced and the romance will make you swoon! Definitely recommend this one if you love YA romance. You can find the synopsis below!

Synopsis

“For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn’t know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she’s spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can’t solve Charlie’s biggest problem: she’s falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.”

2. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

If you prefer adult romance, I would recommend “The Unhoneymooners” by the duo of writers Christina Lauren. I know a lot of people pick this up during the Summer because it’s a great beach read, but I can 100% say this has park read potential! You can check the synopsis below to see what the story is about, but I really like how fresh this story feels and the entire vacation atmosphere the book projects, so I thought I’d recommend this one to you. If you haven’t picked this up yet, I highly recommend you give this one a chance.

Synopsis

“Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.
Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.
Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.“

3. His & Hers by Alice Feeney

Don’t think I forget you, my fellow thriller fans! This is your park read, right here: “His & Hers” by Alice Feeney. I picked this thriller for today’s recommendation because it’s fast paced, intriguing and full of smart twists! But the main reason it’s because I also read this book outdoors and I remember how perfect and fitting it felt. The story is really good and the mystery is very well put together. You can read the synopsis below and see what it’s all about!

Synopsis

“There are two sides to every story: yours and mine, ours and theirs, His & Hers. Which means someone is always lying.
When a woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Detective Jack Harper is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation. Someone isn’t telling the truth, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.
His & Hers is a twisty, smart, psychological thriller. A gripping tale of suspense, told by expertly-drawn narrators that will keep readers guessing until the very end.”

4. Ikigai by Héctor García & Francesc Miralles

For my non-fiction fans, I have a great park bench recommendation as well! I’ve also read “Ikigai” outside, but the difference this time is that I listened to the audiobook version while walking in nature, not sitting on a bench. I don’t know exactly what it is, but there’s something about this book that emanates really good and inspiring energy. You feel grounded and at peace while reading this, and I truly think it pairs very well with a sunny and relaxed afternoon at the park! You can check the synopsis below for more details!

Synopsis

“Bring meaning and joy to all your days with this internationally bestselling guide to the Japanese concept of ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy)—the happiness of always being busy—as revealed by the daily habits of the world’s longest-living people.
What’s your ikigai?
“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb
According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy.
In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?”

5. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

If you are looking for a literary fiction novel, I think this may be the perfect fit for you! This was the first book I have read in 2023 and I loved it. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, in case you don’t know what it’s about, but I recommend you to read the synopsis below to see if it’s a good fit for you. But even if you’re skeptical, I would still recommend you to try this because the story was very wholesome, heartbreaking (in a good way) and completely worth it. It’s also a fairly short book, so why not?

Synopsis

“Sentaro has failed. He has a criminal record, drinks too much, and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste.
But everything is about to change.
Into his life comes Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted. She begins to teach him her craft, but as their friendship flourishes, social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue’s dark secret is revealed, with devastating consequences.
Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship. Translated into English for the first time, Durian Sukegawa’s beautiful prose is capturing hearts all over the world.”

And there you have it friends! I hope you found this recommendation post interesting and I hope you found yourself some new books to read. As usual, I’m always looking for book recommendations so let me know if you have any for me!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope you liked what I had to share with you today. I’ll see you in the next one! 🙂

Hello friends!

Today I have a recommendation post for you – and this one is focused only on short reads! 

Sometimes you’re not in the mood to read a complex story. Sometimes you just don’t have time to pick up a regular size book. Sometimes you just feel like reading a short book. Whatever your reason is: I got you covered!

And yes, I know I have a weird fear of big books… but I don’t just read short stories! Still, I decided to make this post to show you a few short books I really liked and that I would recommend to you! Maybe you’ll find some interesting news books in this list.

And by the way: these are shorter than 100 pages! You can find the number of pages of each book in front of their title. Let’s take a look at the books!

1. Galatea by Madeline Miller – 20 pages

This (super) short story is perfect for Greek mythology lovers! Madeline Miller is the author, and she is known for writing regular length books about Greek mythology like fiction. In her books the characters are brought to life as the famous historical figures, and this short story follows the same format. This one is about Galatea, a statue that is brought to life by its sculptor. You can check the synopsis below for a detailed description, but I can tell that I loved this one and that is completely worth it… and it’s only 20 pages long, so why not?

Synopsis

“An enchanting short story from Madeline Miller that boldly reimagines the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion.
In ancient Greece, a skilled marble sculptor has been blessed by a goddess who has given his masterpiece — the most beautiful woman the town has ever seen — the gift of life. Now his wife, he expects Galatea to please him, to be obedience and humility personified. But she has desires of her own and yearns for independence.
In a desperate bid by her obsessive husband to keep her under control, Galatea is locked away under the constant supervision of doctors and nurses. But with a daughter to rescue, she is determined to break free, whatever the cost…”

2. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman – 97 pages

This short story broke my heart… in only 97 pages! I didn’t even think that was possible, but here we are.This is such a beautiful, heartbreaking story that tells us about what it is like to suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, as well as being a family member/friend to someone who is suffering with it. It’s a great story to better understand how people suffer internally and how sometimes they feel ashamed and know exactly what’s happening to their brains. It gives an honest, cruel and truthful vision of the reality of so many people who struggle with the disease. You can find the synopsis below:

Synopsis

“Grandpa and Noah are sitting on a bench in a square that keeps getting smaller every day. The square is strange but also familiar, full of the odds and ends that have made up their lives: Grandpa’s work desk, the stuffed dragon that Grandpa once gave to Noah, the sweet-smelling hyacinths that Grandma loved to grow in her garden.
As they wait together on the bench, they tell jokes and discuss their shared love of mathematics. Grandpa recalls what it was like to fall in love with his wife, what it was like to lose her. She’s as real to him now as the first day he met her, but he dreads the day when he won’t remember her.
Sometimes Grandpa sits on the bench next to Ted, Noah’s father—Ted who never liked math, prefers writing and playing guitar, and has waited his entire life for his father to have time for him, to accept him. But in their love of Noah, they have found a common bond.
Grandpa, Grandma, Ted, and Noah all meet here, in this peculiar space that is growing dimmer and more confusing all the time. And here is where they will learn to say goodbye, the scent of hyacinths in the air, nothing to fear. This little book with a big message is certain to be treasured for generations to come.”

3. Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins-Reid – 88 pages

Next on the list we have “Evidence of the Affair” by Taylor Jenkins Reid. While I was reading I remember thinking to myself “How was I so interested in such a short (and yet complex) story?”. Even though it was not a full length book, I was very invested in the entire plot and characters! This fiction story is told entirely in letters,which was also very interesting! Honestly, I couldn’t even predict what would happen next because everything was so unexpected and I never knew where the story was going. This was a really fun and different read that I would recommend to anyone! Check the synopsis below for more info!

Synopsis

“The repercussions of an illicit affair unfold in this short story by bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Dear stranger…
A desperate young woman in Southern California sits down to write a letter to a man she’s never met—a choice that will forever change both their lives.
My heart goes out to you, David. Even though I do not know you…
The correspondence between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer reveals, piece by piece, the painful details of a devastating affair between their spouses. With each commiserating scratch of the pen, they confess their fears and bare their souls. They share the bewilderment over how things went so wrong and come to wonder where to go from here.
Told entirely through the letters of two comforting strangers and those of two illicit lovers, Evidence of the Affair explores the complex nature of the heart. And ultimately, for one woman, how liberating it can be when it’s broken.”

4. The Sisters by J.S. Ellis – 26 pages

If you feel like reading something on the darker side, I definitely recommend this one! This short story is about Evie, who has a perfect older sister. She has it all! She is blonde, tall, smart, has a great career… and she’s everything Evie is not. She has been living in her sister’s shadow since the day she was born. One day her sister brings home her perfect boyfriend for her family to meet. I wish I could say more but you’ll have to read it to know what it’s about! Let’s just say that these sisters may have more in common than what you first think! It was very entertaining for a quick read, and I think it’s worth it! And by the way… I’m still processing that ending! That was crazy.

Synopsis

“Evie always watched her older sister Jenny from afar. Jenny can’t do wrong; she’s the apple of their mother’s eye. She’s tall, blonde and a model. Evie is the total opposite of Jenny: she has dark hair, is short and sells jewellery. It’s a regular Sunday afternoon, only it isn’t so regular…not when Jenny is about to bring her new boyfriend home. Evie is curious. This is what happens… “

5. Truth or Dare by Camilla Läckberg – 96 pages

The last book I have for you is “Truth or Dare” by Camilla Lackberg. I would say that this book is the most developed and complex of the ones from the list. This short fiction book follows the New Year’s Eve party of four (very rich) teenagers: Liv, Martina, Anton and Max. They decided to have their own small party at Max’s place while their parents are celebrating next door at Anton’s. Even though they’ve been best friends since primary school, all of them have some personal issues that they feel like they can’t tell each other – so, as you can imagine they have some dark secrets they’re hiding! As the evening progresses, they keep drinking and the games they play also keep getting darker… and that’s where I’ll leave it! I had fun reading this and I liked it for what it was: a quick and entertaining short story! Definitely worth checking out if it sounds appealing to you!

Synopsis

“Four friends
Liv, Martina, Max and Anton have been best friends for years. So on New Year’s Eve, they’re more than happy to spend it together – drinking, flirting, and playing games.
Four terrifying secrets
But each of them is keeping a terrible secret. And when a game of truth or dare takes a dark turn, it’s not long before the shocking truth emerges.
A night that will end in murder
Now the secrets are out there, nothing will ever be the same again. And not everyone will live to see the chime of midnight…”

And there you have it! These are some of my favorite short stories. I hope you found this recommendation post interesting and I hope you found yourself some new books to read! As usual, I’m always looking for book recommendations so let me know if you have any for me!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope you liked what I had to share with you today. I’ll see you in the next one! 🙂

Hi friends!

Here I am with another recommendation post! Today’s recommendation post is all about creepy thrillers I loved. I really enjoy reading thrillers, but I noticed I usually don’t talk about them here on the blog – so I decided to change that!

This list was very easy to make because I’ve read some really amazing thrillers that creeped me out! But after some thought, I have put together a list of my top 5 books I would recommend to my reader friends who love a good, unsettling thriller.  So here is my crème de la crème:

Cool list, huh? Let’s see each one of the picks a little closer!

1. The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

First on the list we have “The Broken Girls” by Simone St. James. This was a great book – very close to being a perfect thriller/horror book, to be honest. This story is told in two parallel timelines, one in 1950 and another one in 2014. In 1950, we are given the daily life of four friends that lived in a boarding school for “troubled girls” named Idlewild. There were rumors that the school was haunted by a ghost named Mary Hand, who knows all about the girls’ worst fears. The four girls share a room and they become close friends after sharing their fears with each other… until one of them disappears. Nobody knows what happened to the girl and the mystery was never solved… until a journalist finds out in 2014.
I loved the story, I was entertained the entire time, and I couldn’t put the book down because I was so invested in everything that was happening. Not only that, but the book was so creepy that after I put the book down I kept looking at the corners of my house afraid I might see something scary! It was an amazing experience that both intrigued me and made me anxious. I definitely loved and recommend this one!

Synopsis

“Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants–the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming–until one of them mysteriously disappears…
Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.
When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past–and a voice that won’t be silenced…”

2. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Next we have “The Turn of the Key” by Ruth Ware! I have to be honest with you: this is not a perfect book and I have mixed feelings about it for a very specific reason.

When I first read this I was simultaneously immersed in the story; scared most of the time and intrigued to know how it was all going to end. There’s definitely something nerve racking about the house history, and the poison garden and the previous family. Even the Happy application got creepy sometimes!

The reason why I have mixed feelings is because of the ending. I personally thought it was a little weak and rushed, and for that reason I didn’t love this book from beginning to end. With that said, I still think this was a very entertaining book and is still a really good thriller/mystery that provides a great reading experience. And for that reason, I would still recommend it!

Synopsis

“When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.
What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.
Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.
It was everything.
She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.
Full of spellbinding menace and told in Ruth Ware’s signature suspenseful style, The Turn of the Key is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time.”

3. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

A great book that I would also like to recommend to you is the amazing “Imaginary Friend” by Stephen Chbosky. To be fair, I would identify this book as horror, but I still think it should be part of the thriller genre. I got chills reading it and I felt uncomfortable most of the time, but it’s not an in-your-face kind of horror. It’s more of a disturbing kind, like Stephen King’s horror books.
I was creeped out most of the time because of the way the story kept building up. There is almost nothing comforting about this story other than the relationship between Christopher and his mother. You just feel uncomfortable most of the time – but in a good way! What makes this book so great to me is the combination of writing, characters and overall plot.
I don’t think I ever read something like this, but I liked it a lot. It was a very interesting book, to say the least. I truly can’t recommend this one enough!

Synopsis

“Christopher is seven years old.
Christopher is the new kid in town.
Christopher has an imaginary friend.
We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us.
Single mother Kate Reese is on the run. Determined to improve life for her and her son, Christopher, she flees an abusive relationship in the middle of the night with her child. Together, they find themselves drawn to the tight-knit community of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. It’s as far off the beaten track as they can get. Just one highway in, one highway out.
At first, it seems like the perfect place to finally settle down. Then Christopher vanishes. For six long days, no one can find him. Until Christopher emerges from the woods at the edge of town, unharmed but not unchanged. He returns with a voice in his head only he can hear, with a mission only he can complete: Build a treehouse in the woods by Christmas, or his mother and everyone in the town will never be the same again.”

4. Mexican Gothic by Sílvia Moreno-Garcia

“Mexican Gothic” was an amazing read. Just like with “Imaginary Friend”, this is mostly a horror book, but could still be part of the thriller genre.
It starts out nice and slow, and it escalates to a creepy story! This book has a very interesting and different approach to the typical “haunted house” story because of the unique main character and unique setting: Mexico. It was a very atmospheric and rich reading experience!
Still, I have to warn you that there are some disturbing scenes that happen. Not only there are some creepy gore scenes, but there is also a few sexual assault scenes that gave me goosebumps. So here’s your warning if you’re triggered by these topics.
Overall I was very happy with the book! I thought it was very creative and different.

Synopsis

“After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemí’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness.
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.”

5. The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

This book wins first place being the creepiest book I have ever read.
How to describe this masterpiece? I don’t think I can describe this book other than: this was a crazy, insane roller coaster. After I finished the book I had to put it down and process for a few days what happened before I sat down and wrote a review on it.
This book provides a very immersive experience, so I guarantee you’ll feel the unsettling and creepy setting in your bones! There’s a lot of confusion from the point of view of the reader, and I can’t say a lot about what this book is about… but I promise you it’s a very cool experience.
The ratings are so polarized with this book, and I completely understand why. The truth is: you either love it or hate it. And I absolutely loved it. It was unsettling, mysterious and confusing in a really good way. Give it a go! Maybe you’ll find a new favorite.

Synopsis

“This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.
All these things are true. And yet they are all lies…
You think you know what’s inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you’ve read this story before. That’s where you’re wrong.
In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it’s not what you think…”

And there you have it! These are some of my favorite creepy books. I hope you found this recommendation post interesting and I hope you found yourself some new books to read! As usual, I’m always looking for book recommendations so let me know if you have any for me!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post! I hope you liked what I had to share with you today. I’ll see you in the next one! 🙂