I’m not scared to say it. Is anyone else thinking about fall?

Yes, I realize it’s still the heart of summer, but I find myself craving fall candles, cooler weather, and scary movies. I fully expect to cave and pull out my fall decor once August rolls around.

In the meantime, I’ll do my best to enjoy the rest of the summer, which includes diving into some good books. My latest reads are a bit all over the place (like usual):

• The Fractured Dark by Megan E. O’Keefe
• Escape! by Stephen Fishbach
• Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa Roehrich
• Storm of Secrets and Sorrow by Melissa Roehrich
• Play by Stuart Brown
• True Crime: A Memoir by Patricia Cornwell
• Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada
• The Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe Friel
• Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe
• She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva
• You Are an Ironman by Jacques Steinberg
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Let’s get into the reviews!

The Fractured Dark by Megan E. O’Keefe

This is the second book in The Devoured Worlds trilogy, so spoilers for the first book, The Blighted Stars (check out my review here) may be ahead. Read with caution!

After the shocking revelations at the end of the first book, Naira Sharp is seemingly thrust back into the past as her memories from her time on Sixth Cradle weren’t backed up. She must learn the truth about the fungus that’s seemingly destroying planets, as well as rebuild her trust in Tarquin Mercator. And she needs to do it quickly, as most of the Mercator family has disappeared with what could be the key to saving them all.

I enjoy this series, but this book did feel much slower than the first. That said, I will continue to read this series as I love Tarquin’s character!

Rating: 7/10

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach

“You know people are plotting when you see the boom get close.”

It’s statements like this that make me wonder how much of this book is fiction and how much of this book is pulled from the author’s real life experiences on Survivor. Regardless, if you’re a reality TV show fan, I think you’ll enjoy this book!

It follows a group of contestants who have been cast on a new reality show set in a jungle. Everyone has their own agenda out there, including the producers. A fight for the storyline – and for survival – gets underway.

Rating: 7/10

Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa Roehrich

I’m not sure if I can adequately express how angry this book made me! But it also sucked me in. And made me cry. (Be prepared to feel every emotion if you choose to read this book.)

Tessalyn Asura is a Fae who has been selected to serve as a “source” of power for a Legacy, specifically the secretive Arius heir, Theon. While many in her situation would see this as an honor, to Tessa, it feels like a punishment. She has to give up everything she has ever known and leave her friends behind. A combative and abusive relationship begins and soon both Tessa and Theon realize something isn’t right with their magical bond.

Rating: 8/10

Storm of Secrets and Sorrow by Melissa Roehrich

This is the second book in The Legacy Series, so spoilers for the first book (above) may be ahead. Read with caution!

So, I know I said the first book made me angry…but I needed to know what happened next. (Spoiler: It was largely more events that made me angry.)

Tessa and Theon continue their combative arrangement as both try to dig into the truth of who, or rather what, she is. Tessa has more power than she should as a Fae and their bond continues to act erratically. But uncovering these secrets could upend the realm as they know it.

Will I read the next one? Probably, even though Theon continues to be the absolute worst. I need answers too.

Rating: 7/10

Play by Stuart Brown

“The opposite of play is not work – the opposite of play is depression.”

In this book, Stuart Brown covers why fun is so important for our brain and how to identify what even counts as fun if you’ve lost touch with that side of yourself. It’s an interesting read if you’re someone that looks at each day as a to-do list.

I loved the overall idea of this book even though it could feel repetitive at times. We need to incorporate more fun into our lives and do things just because we enjoy them, not because it’s a potential side hustle or something interesting to add to a resume.

Rating: 7/10

True Crime: A Memoir by Patricia Cornwell

After hearing Patricia Cornwell interviewed on a podcast and after watching the recent Scarpetta series on Prime, I was excited to check out this memoir. As the author of dozens and dozens of books, I wanted to learn more about how she got started and the adventures it led to along the way.

I’ll admit, this memoir wasn’t quite what I expected. Much of the book focused on her childhood years. As someone that likes to dabble with creative writing, I would have loved more attention on her writing process and where she gets her ideas.

Rating: 6/10

Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada

If you enjoy an Agatha Christie-style mystery, this is an interesting read.

Kozaburo Hamamoto and his daughter have invited guests to stay at their quirky and isolated mansion over the Christmas break. But the festive gathering soon turns into a life-or-death situation as guests keep dying. Making it even more strange is all the murders occur behind locked doors. Can they figure out who’s responsible before another death occurs?

I’ll confess this wasn’t my favorite as there were repeated descriptions of the house and the various rooms, but I did stick around as I needed to know the big reveal.

Rating: 6/10

The Triathlete’s Training Bible by Joe Friel

As a chronically injured runner that needs to incorporate more cross-training into my routine, I decided to check out this book on triathlons. I’ll be honest, this is probably isn’t the best starting place if you’re completely new to triathlons, but it was still helpful!

The author explains different athletic terms and then dives deep into how to build your own training plan. I think this would be a good read if you’re someone that’s already done a few triathlons and are hoping to try out a new training plan or someone that has a big goal race on the calendar already. As a more casual reader, the level of detail could be a bit overwhelming at times.

Rating: 8/10

Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe

There’s enemies to lovers and then there’s this. Enemies to it’s complicated?

Shadera Kael works as a mercenary in the outer ring of New Found Haven when she get’s the job of a lifetime: Go after Greyson Serel. Greyson is the son of the ruler of Heart and is one of the most evil people alive. At least that’s what Shadera believes. But when she sneaks into Heart, she discovers the truth isn’t so simple. Can she work together with one of her worst enemies? Should she?

This was different than most fantasy books I’ve read lately as it had a very futuristic, gritty feel to it.

Rating: 7/10

She Made Herself a Monster by Anna Kovatcheva

A young orphan, Anka, is desperate to leave her village as she stands poised to marry her “uncle.” They aren’t actually related, but he was in love with her mother and has seemingly transferred those feelings to her. (Ew.) When a young vampire hunter arrives in the village one day, Anka sees an opportunity to escape. This hunter and Anka devise a scheme to sneak her out, but it may just cost her everything. And sometimes you learn the monsters aren’t always what you think they are.

If you’re looking for creepy, witchy vibes, this is an interesting short read.

Rating: 7/10

You Are an Ironman by Jacques Steinberg

This was an inspiring look at how six “ordinary” people trained for and competed in what seems like an almost impossible race: a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2 mile run. But even though becoming an Ironman sounds impossible, these individuals prove it’s not. I left this book wanting to tackle something big!

I did listen to this as an audiobook, but as the author jumps around between stories, I would recommend actually reading it in book version instead. Also, this is definitely not a training book but rather a big picture glance at how people worked toward this major goal. So, if you want specifics, I would pick something else.

Rating: 7/10

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

I feel like everyone is reading this book, so I had to read it too!

Natalie is an influencer known for her content featuring a beautiful farm, homemade and homegrown food, and the perfect family. But in reality, her life isn’t as rustic or idyllic as she makes it seems. It’s really a whole team of staff that make the farm run and hold her family together. That’s until Natalie suddenly wakes up in another life – one where she and her “family” have to keep the farm and household running for survival. How did she get here and how can she get back home?

I’m really not sure how I feel about this one yet. The ending wasn’t quite what I expected, but I can’t say too much more without spoilers…

Rating: 7/10

Want more reviews? Check out what I read in April & May 2026!

As always, I want to know what YOU are reading. Please leave a comment below.