“Our culture has become hooked on the quick-fix, the life hack, efficiency. Everyone is on the hunt for that simple action algorithm that nets maximum profit with the least amount of effort. There’s no denying this attitude may get you some of the trappings of success, if you’re lucky, but it will not lead to a calloused mind or self-mastery. If you want to master the mind and remove your governor, you’ll have to become addicted to hard work. Because passion and obsession, even talent, are only useful tools if you have the work ethic to back them up.” – 4.25/5 stars!

For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare — poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him “The Fittest (Real) Man in America.”In Can’t Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential.

I absolutely loved this book! I first became curious about it because a close friend read it about a year ago and told me the author reminded her of me — so, of course, I immediately added it to my TBR.
While I kind of see what she meant, the truth is, we’re nothing alike! David Goggins is a truly inspiring and one-of-a-kind person, relentlessly committed to self-improvement and pushing past his own limits. I can honestly say this is one of the most fascinating memoirs I’ve ever read.
The book begins with David talking about his childhood and the abuse he endured, which deeply affected him from an early age. And it didn’t stop there — even after running away with his mother, he faced more trauma that left lasting scars. He went through a lot! But one day, he made the decision to change — to be better, to do better — and he hasn’t looked back since. He went on to become a Navy SEAL, an ultramarathoner, and a powerful example of what it means to constantly challenge and outgrow yourself.
I really connected with his mindset – well, not as strongly as him. obviously. While I admire him for sharing his story so openly, I do think only a very small number of people will push themselves as far as he has. With that said, the concepts he shares are incredibly valuable. I especially liked the ideas of the “cookie jar” and the 40% rule. There are also some fantastic quotes throughout the book — something I really appreciated.
The writing is solid and easy to follow. I listened to the audiobook, which included a bonus mini-podcast after each chapter where David and his co-writer dive deeper into the content. That extra layer made the experience even more insightful, and I’m really glad I got that version!
I’d definitely recommend this to other non-fiction lovers who enjoy inspiring memoirs — this one is absolutely worth checking out!

“The key to Ikigai is to do what you are meant to do. You have gifts that are begging to be put to good use. Understanding Ikigai is a way to put your gifts to work, so you can enjoy their benefits.” – 3/5 stars!

Discover the secret to lasting happiness and longevity in this transformative self-help book based on the ancient Japanese, time-tested wisdom of Ikigai.

Find joy in life’s journey with Ikigai. This ancient wisdom from Okinawa, Japan, can illuminate your path to self-improvement. Okinawa, Japan is a tiny island south of the Japanese mainland where people live their life’s purpose every day. How to Ikigai explores the lifestyle choices that have led to an island full of fulfilled, long-living people.

Embrace longevity through the Ikigai philosophy. Learn to age gracefully, armed with the secrets of one of the longest-living communities on earth. By integrating Ikigai into your life, you foster an attitude of gratitude, infuse your days with happiness, and inspire purposeful living.

How to Ikigai explains a simple four-directions map for living a meaningful life. Do what you love, do what you’re good at, do what the world needs, and do what you can be rewarded for.

In this groundbreaking self-help book, you’ll

An engaging exploration of the Ikigai philosophy, offering profound insights into finding your life purposePractical steps for implementing Ikigai in your everyday life, paving the way for happiness and self-improvementPowerful narratives showcasing Ikigai in action, like the inspiring story of David Michiels

If you liked books such as Awakening Your Ikigai, My Little Ikigai Journal, or  The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, you’ll love How to Ikigai. Also, be sure to listen to Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson’s podcast exploring Ikigai with Tim Tamashiro.

I have to admit, I’m not super impressed with this book. I picked this up randomly, and I didn’t have any expectations about it, so I wasn’t that disappointed about not getting a lot from this book.
I just think the book is a little repetitive and too generic. The author shares a lot of stories about other people finding their Ikigai… and that’s basically it. The topic is not developed with depth, so we keep reading the same thing over and over again.
But I do appreciate the tone of the book, which is hopeful and very positive! I think the goal the author intended was mostly to motivate you to find your own purpose and get inspired by other people’s stories. I just don’t think it’s a very informative book to read if you’re new to the concept.
Now, would I recommend this book? I personally think there are better books about the subject out there, so I wouldn’t tell you that this is a must-read if you want to learn more about Ikigai. I would probably recommend the book by Hector Garcia if you’re looking for a more informative book; I really liked that one.

“If we’re going to fake it, is it so bad if we enjoy it while we do?” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: fake dating, legacies, parties, deals, internships, wallflowers, new contracts, and… only one bed!

Surely this can’t be the only solution to overhaul my tarnished rep – faking a romance with the good girl intern?

But that’s what my agent says. Just a few months of taming my ways—of shedding Formula 1’s party boy image—will land me a lifetime branding deal. One I desperately need.

The key condition?

Pretend I’m madly in love with my new girlfriend. The quiet wallflower who I figured wouldn’t put me in my place. Yeah. This girl is anything but that.

Maddix Hart is defiant and intelligent. Loyal and real. Determined and sexy. And damn it to hell, before I know it, she’s in my head, in our bed . . . and if I’m not careful, she’ll see there’s more to me than the man I show the public. She’ll discover the man I hide from the world. The one who struggles to live up to the unrealistic expectations that should never have been mine.

All I have to do is make sure no one sees the truth behind our farce.

But instead, I let my heart get involved. I begin to believe the lie. And now with everything on the line—the deal, a championship, us—am I willing to risk it all to make her see what the rest of the world believes? That we belong together.

A spicy, only-one-bed Formula 1 romance.

I loved this! I wasn’t very excited to continue this series after reading the first book, but I was surprised by how much fun I had reading this.
The main characters made this book shine because they were very likable – if you compare them to the first couple in the previous book, you’ll see a big difference, in my opinion. Cruz was a great male lead – and I’m pretty sure the inspiration for this character was Carlos Sainz (but I could be wrong) -, and I also really liked Maddix as the female lead because even though she was a bit of a wallflower, she still had a backbone! I really liked them together and their banter. As far as tropes go, I would describe this as a fake dating trope and a forced proximity trope – also, there’s a sharing-one-bed trope, which is always a treat for a romance reader!
I also enjoyed reading about the relationship between the lead and his father. They had a very difficult dynamic, so it was an interesting addition to the mix.
The writing was great, and compared the the previous book, this had a better pace and plot structure. I really liked how the author explored their connection and made it into a beautiful story.
This was way better than the first book in my opinion – the plot was better, the characters were better, the romance was top-notch… Can’t wait for the next book.

“We’re a fucked-up pair, but my broken makes you whole. Your broken has made me whole. Now it’s time to let those breaks heal. For the scars to fade like nothing ever was.” – 3/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: car crashes, picking up girls in bars, house parties, marketing ideas, terrible diseases, baggy clothes, sexual assault, and big legacies.

Spencer Riggs is sexy, intense and driven in his pursuit of all things racing.
That pursuit now includes me.

The cocky bad boy of racing struts onto my father’s team like he owns it. One look from him and I can tell he thinks he owns the boss’s daughter too.

I’m determined to resist that panty-melting smile he keeps flashing my way. I have no time for distractions. Fulfilling a last promise to my father is my only goal.

Race after race, city after city, I do my best to keep it professional. I swear I do.But one night after a hard-fought win, we’re celebrating, and Riggs claims his own sweet victory. Me.

His sizzling touch owns my body, but it’s the broken man beneath the public façade who slowly wins my heart.

Before I realize it, Riggs is the one I’m willing to risk everything for. Even if it means breaking a promise. But with our hearts on the line, will he risk everything for me?

A steamy, forbidden sports romance from New York Times bestselling author K. Bromberg!

This was my first time reading a Formula 1 romance book, so I had high hopes when I picked this book up. Overall, the story was a little… weird. There was something slightly off about this story that I can’t put my finger on yet. So let’s talk about it!
After some thought, my conclusion is that I struggled with caring about the characters and the plot, if I’m being honest. Even though I think the characters were okay-ish – besides the guy being a douche, them being bland and not having chemistry as a couple -, they weren’t the biggest issue here. I think what makes this book so awkward is the number of weird events that move the story forward. For example, that bar scene where he hits on her in a bar felt unnatural and weird – plus the way he talks about her and how wearing baggy clothes makes her “ugly”. The book has so many weird and awkward moments like that.
To add to the mix, the pacing felt off, the romance was meh, there were missing true connection moments, the banter was… not that interesting.
If you’re into the workplace romance type of trope, you might enjoy this in some capacity. I’ve now read more books in this series, so I definitely say to continue reading because the next stories are way more interesting.

“Garment makers are rarely in the business of making clothes that will work for actual people. Instead, they cater to a fantasy of who the customer hopes to be.” – 2.75/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: big butts, small butts… and all butts in between!

Whether we love them or hate them, think they’re sexy, think they’re strange, consider them too big, too small, or anywhere in between, humans have a complicated relationship with butts. It is a body part unique to humans, critical to our evolution and survival, and yet it has come to signify so much more: sex, desire, comedy, shame. A woman’s butt, in particular, is forever being assessed, criticized, and objectified, from anxious self-examinations trying on jeans in department store dressing rooms to enduring crass remarks while walking down a street or high school hallways. But why? In Butts: A Backstory, reporter, essayist, and RadioLab contributing editor Heather Radke is determined to find out.

Spanning nearly two centuries, this “whip-smart” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) cultural history takes us from the performance halls of 19th-century London to the aerobics studios of the 1980s, the music video set of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” and the mountains of Arizona, where every year humans and horses race in a feat of gluteal endurance. Along the way, she meets evolutionary biologists who study how butts first developed; models whose measurements have defined jean sizing for millions of women; and the fitness gurus who created fads like “Buns of Steel.” She also examines the central importance of race through figures like Sarah Bartmann, once known as the “Venus Hottentot,” Josephine Baker, Jennifer Lopez, and other women of color whose butts have been idolized, envied, and despised.

Part deep dive reportage, part personal journey, part cabinet of curiosities, Butts is an entertaining, illuminating, and thoughtful examination of why certain silhouettes come in and out of fashion—and how larger ideas about race, control, liberation, and power affect our most private feelings about ourselves and others.

I saw this book somewhere, and I thought the title was hilarious, so of course, I had to add it to my TBR! I like to read books about random topics, so I didn’t think too much about it when I decided to pick it up.
We are warned in the beginning. The author especifically says this book is not an extensive science book about butts – which I was totally fine with, and I adapted my expectations while continuing reading the book.
Now, with that said… this was a little disappointing. I was enjoying it at first, but as the book progressed, the author started inserting herself (and her opinions) more and more into the book. But to me that wasn’t the biggest issue I had with this book – what I disliked most is how this is not really a book about butts. The chapters start with it as a topic (and kind of a justification of why the topic is being mentioned), but I noticed that the focus kept going to other things. I would describe this book more as a book about the female body throughout the years – and there’s also a lot about race too.
I found some chapters fascinating and informative, for example, Sara Baartman’s chapter – but other chapters like Miley Cyrus’s felt a little too biased and less relevant.
Even though I wasn’t expecting a full-on science book, I still wished the author focused more on informing the reader, and kept the butt topic as a main focus. I personally wouldn’t recommend this book – I’m sure there are better books on the subject.

“In the most health-obsessed society ever, all is not well.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: trauma, childhood memories, disease, oppressive beliefs, pregnancies, cancer, addiction… and hope.

By the acclaimed author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, a groundbreaking investigation into the causes of illness, a bracing critique of how our society breeds disease, and a pathway to health and healing.

In this revolutionary book, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how in Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems, chronic illness and general ill health are on the rise. Nearly 70 percent of Americans are on at least one prescription drug; more than half take two. In Canada, every fifth person has high blood pressure. In Europe, hypertension is diagnosed in more than 30 percent of the population. And everywhere, adolescent mental illness is on the rise. So what is really “normal” when it comes to health?

Over four decades of clinical experience, Maté has come to recognize the prevailing understanding of “normal” as false, neglecting the roles that trauma and stress, and the pressures of modern-day living, exert on our bodies and our minds at the expense of good health. For all our expertise and technological sophistication, Western medicine often fails to treat the whole person, ignoring how today’s culture stresses the body, burdens the immune system, and undermines emotional balance. Now Maté brings his perspective to the great untangling of common myths about what makes us sick, connects the dots between the maladies of individuals and the declining soundness of society—and offers a compassionate guide for health and healing. Co-written with his son Daniel, The Myth of Normal is Maté’s most ambitious and urgent book yet.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I loved this book. It was an eye-opening and thought-provoking read! Dr. Gabor Maté, along with his son Daniel Maté, does a great job of breaking down how trauma and illness develop in a toxic culture, and how society is failing us in this regard. The book is packed with research, real-life stories (including his own personal experiences with traumatic events), and so many eye-opening insights that made me reflect on my own upbringing.
Some of my absolute favorite parts were the chapters on addiction, pregnancy (everything from delivery to postpartum), and cancer near the end—those completely blew my mind! I also really loved the exercise section at the end of the book. It gives you practical, simple steps to help you feel whole again, which makes the reader feel hopeful and empowered. The book does such a great job of normalizing trauma and showing that it’s something we all experience in different ways. It’s definitely one of those books you’ll want to read slowly and take notes on because there’s a lot to absorb!
I know some reviewers have said there’s a lot of parent blaming in the book, but honestly, I don’t think that’s fair. Yes, it acknowledges that our upbringing shapes us in different ways (some good, some bad), but the author makes it clear that our parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had. It’s not about pointing fingers—it’s about understanding the bigger picture. Personally, I really appreciate that approach since I prefer looking at it realistically!
All in all, this book was fascinating, and I saw so much of myself in its pages. It’s, hands down, one of the best books I’ve read in 2024! If you’re even slightly curious about trauma, healing, or just understanding yourself better, this is 100% worth the read!

“Every house has a story. Ours is a ghost story. It’s also a lie. And now that yet another person has died within these walls, it’s finally time to tell the truth.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: best-sellers, haunted houses, family history, poisonous berries, snakes, and creepy paintings.

What was it like? Living in that house.
Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.
Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.
In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

This was one of the thrillers I picked up randomly this month, and it turned out to be an amazing, wild ride! I can confidently say it has become one of my favorite Riley Sager books. I absolutely loved the haunted gothic mansion vibe (possibly paranormal) and the mysteries waiting to be uncovered.
The story was incredibly creepy and suspenseful, and I kept wondering what really happened in Baneberry Hall—I just regret reading it at night because of how scary it was! The main character, Maggie Holt, has just inherited an old mansion where she lived when she was five. Her father wrote a best-selling book about their time in the house, but Maggie has no memory of it and doesn’t know why they left in the first place. Her parents purposely kept the reason from her. Before he passed away, her father warned her never to return to the house—which, of course, she does. Determined to renovate and sell it, she ends up on a journey to uncover the truth about what really happened there and whether her father’s book was fact or fiction.
As for the characters, they were well-developed but not particularly likable (though not terrible either). Maggie could be a bit annoying at times, and I didn’t care much for Dane. However, I was very intrigued by her parents and the secrets they were hiding from her!
The writing was excellent—fast-paced, full of surprises, and packed with plot twists that kept the story engaging. While it starts off a bit slow, it quickly becomes impossible to put down. One of my favorite aspects was the way the author incorporated chapters from Maggie’s father’s book within the main story—essentially a book within a book. These chapters were inserted at just the right moments, adding an extra layer of depth without being confusing!
The ending was fantastic—I was constantly trying to piece the story together, but it kept taking unexpected turns! I never would have guessed the truth until I read it.
For a random pick, this turned out to be an incredible and unexpected read. Definitely one of my favorite Riley Sager books—I highly recommend it!