Reading Roundup #38: All in the Family

We’re taking a few dark turns, this week – some humorous and some horrific – and it’s a roaring, adventurous good time. But the true thread running through it all is actually family: the ones who stick by you, the ones who hurt you, and, most important, the family you choose for yourself. Sometimes that means finding a new one, and sometimes it means recommitting to the family you have, even when they wreak havoc on your peace of mind… because honestly, you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dial A for Aunties (Aunties #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: Anyone who grew up in a large family, full of strong personalities, will recognize the awkward struggle to assert yourself and the way moms and aunties love fiercely, even as they bicker and serve up guilt like it’s a main dish. You’ll also recognize the absurd (and often dark) comedy that happens when that family has to work together under pressure. Dial A for Aunties is pee-your-pants funny, and the ever-escalating stakes kept me shrieking in horrified amusement. I’m not sure if it would hold up on a reread, but when I was tired and wanted something silly and fast-paced? This was just the thing.

Murder at Morrington Hall (Stella and Lyndy #1) by Clara McKenna: Saying I’m disappointed, after my initial excitement for this book, feels harsher than it deserves, as Murder at Morrington Hall is just so… okay. It’s a competent (if slightly obvious) mystery with characters who aren’t quite boring but aren’t quite interesting, either. Still, the audiobook was well done, and the story was engaging enough to have it playing during work without distracting me too much, so I’ll likely continue with the series and hope for more spark to come through in the sequels.

Nine Tailors (Lord Peter Wimsey #9) by Dorothy L. Sayers: THIS one, though. After a middling mystery, it felt so good to immerse myself in the real deal! Nine Tailors is a slow build, and there was one plot point I kept screaming for the characters to figure out, but ultimately, it all came together for a satisfying (if devastating) resolution. The best Wimsey mysteries are always the ones where the gentleman detective gets too close for comfort, and I was right there with him, this time. I was sorry to say goodbye to this set of characters! (No, really – after finishing, I was teary-eyed all morning.)

The Raven Boys (Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater: This series has been on my TBR for years, thanks to a friend’s evangelizing, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up! On paper, the plot isn’t one that would typically interest me (dangerous prep school boys, a special girl, and the supernatural? pass!), but Stiefvater’s moody, lyrical writing elevates it to something fun, endearing, and at times, enchanting. I’m already on book 2 and more and more willing to fight for Blue and her boys against all threats! I love them so much. 😭

The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day: Much as I enjoy good steam, I do like to have a little more happening outside the bedroom so I can get invested in the romance. For me, personally, the emotions are the fuel for the crackling sexual tension and the scorching blaze, not the other way around. But The Stranger I Married is more erotica than romance, and as such it’s good. Just not what I was in the mood for this time!

Overall, I’m willing to call this a very good reading week. Two middle-of-the-road books and three standouts? Not bad at all! I can only hope you’ve been faring as well as I. What’s the last “standout” book you read? Any new favorites?

–b