On the Shelf: November 2025

Was I an overachiever in November, or just particularly committed to not being present in my actual life? Because I hit 205 books for the year to date—pushing it past the milestone number with 21 titles this past month. Approximately half were by Kelley Armstrong. (I kid. It was really just five.) There's a reason she's one of my favorite authors and I follow her from genre to genre like a total creeper. I can't wait for the next Rip Through Time mystery and it's excruciatingly slow-burn romance arc between Mallory and Duncan. (And lest you think I'm complaining, I actually really enjoy a mystery series that drags out the love story. See also: Veronica and Stoker in Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell books.)

You know what didn't snail-pace all the feels? The three fantastic romantasy books I devoured! I've been wary of this new, trend-driven, iteration of what we used to call fantasy romance but these bangers (pun intended, of course) from Akwaeke Emezi, Bridgid Kemmerer, and Eva Leigh rank among some of the best romances I've read this year! Gali, Lucifer, and Leviathan from Son of the Morning are still living rent-free in my head weeks later. Given how awesome You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty was, this does not come as a surprise. Asher, Kemmerer's titular assassin, is a broken, messy, murderpuppy and I love him so. And The Sea Witch, Alys, could totally go kick ass in lady pirate adventures with Amina al-Sirafi were they living in the same time period. It tickled me how Ben sat out most of the action sequences, like a female character in a swashbuckler often does.

Suffice it to say, it wasn't exactly a hardship to get to 205. When you're devouring good works by talented people, the pages and the time both fly!

The Reading Rundown
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong (folk horror, suspense)
A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
The Poisoner's Ring by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong (historical mystery)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (historical fantasy)
The Curse of White Oak Grove by Heather Crews (dark romance, gothic)
Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi (queer polyam romantasy, southern gothic)
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer (queer polyam romantasy)
The Sea Witch by Eva Leigh (romantasy, paranormal historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: My first foray into the past was with Almost Heaven, a new-to-me Judith McNaught title. Then it was a return to Darkest London for Winterblaze and Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan. You know what I did after that? I read Evernight again, even though I reread it last December. Like I had to complete an arc before I could step away. I revisited Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk & Steele series via Within the Flames—and managed to not burn through more in that series. (Yay for restraint!) Despite giving hockey romance a wide berth for years now, I borrowed Heated Rivalry and The Long Game by Rachel Reid on Hoopla and caught up ahead of the show's premiere on Crave/HBOMax. The Captain's Midwinter Bride by Liana De la Rosa was a nice historical palate cleanser afterward. I wrapped my November reread slate with Sweet Filthy Boy, Dirty Rowdy Thing, and Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren—and SFB still holds up as an excellent erotic romance in single first-person POV.

Currently reading: Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher, Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren, a book for review, and Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (again). 

On the wish list/TBR
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: October 2025

With just two months to go until the end of the year, I'm inching ever closer to 200 books read. I actually think I'll be hitting that goal by the time my November wrap-up post rolls around. But,  for right now, let's commence with this past month's bounty!

One of the best books I read in October doesn't even come out until April of 2026. People should definitely keep an eye out for Anna Cowan's The Duke, a beautifully drawn romance set in a version of England where women can be titled peers. Kate and Celine are angsty and sexy and romantic—and well worth the wait! Fortunately, other books I devoured this past month are very much available right now. Like Charish Reid's Read Me Slow! This smoking-hot story of indie romance author Maya recording her steamy audiobook with a horror podcaster—who happens to be her little brother's best friend—was just what I needed to lift my spirits during a rough month. And Aydra Richards's latest historical romance continues her streak of excellence. The lengths to which Ian goes to make up for his past mistakes with Felicity...? It got me right in the feels.

The Reading Rundown
Breakout Year by KD Casey (contemporary romance, m/m romance)
The Duke by Anna Cowan (out 4/28/26, historical romance, f/f romance)
[Redacted] by TK (out 2/3/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
The Night and the Butcherbird by Alix E. Harrow (short story, SFF, speculative fiction)
The Villa, Once Beloved by Victor Manibo (out 11/25, gothic horror)
Read Me Slow by Charish Reid (contemporary romance)
Felicity Cabot Sells Her Soul by Aydra Richards (historical romance)

Backlist titles & rereads: I returned to several favorites in October, like Any Old Diamonds and Gilded Cage by KJ Charles and Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong. I wrapped up a trip back to Illona Andrews's Hidden Legacy with Diamond Fire, Sapphire Flames, Emerald Blaze and Ruby Fever. Then I picked up Beast by Judith Ivory, which I really enjoyed. Especially after reading its spiritual successor, Sherry Thomas's Beguiling the Beauty in September. Edge of Nowhere by Felicia Davin was a fun, queer, sci-fi romance—a treat amidst my steady diet of historical rereads. And then I went back to Sherry Thomas for another pass through Ravishing the Heiress and my first time with Tempting the Bride. (Now that I've read all three Fitzhugh books, I can say with certainty that Fitz and Millie are still my favorite.)

Currently reading: Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught.

On the wish list/TBR
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

On the Shelf: September 2025

When last we checked on my reading habits, I'd hit the milestone of 150 books. Now, as September falls behind us, I'm up to 166. Two hundred by the end of the year is looking pretty realistic. And I'm not trying to hit a particular number on purpose. It's just that, as our real world grows all the more nightmarish, books—especially good books—provide all the more solace and escape.    

It's not a genre romance, but Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is probably one of my favorite romances that I've read in recent years. Honestly, if you give me something with southern gothic vibes and a strong love story you're already halfway to winning. Harrow engaged me from start to finish and I may have shed a few tears at the end. Have you ever sniffled reading the acknowledgments and a "post-credits" scene? Sure, I could blame PMS. But I think it's the author's talent that did it. And speaking of talent, V.E. Schwab's Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil is a gorgeously dark and gothic vampire story spanning centuries—emphatically not a romance. It left me haunted and a little bit in awe, and will no doubt land on many a "Best of" list for 2025.   

The Reading Rundown
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (contemporary fantasy, gothic)
Not Here to Make Friends by Jodi McAlister (contemporary romance)
Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (horror, gothic)
Such Separate Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel (out 1/20/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)
Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh (out 1/27/26, suspense, thriller, for professional review purposes)

Backlist titles & rereads: I kicked off by finishing Sabaa Tahir's A Sky Beyond the Storm and giggling at Rear Admiral by Nathan Burgoine—which is probably the most wholesome novella involving sex toys I've ever encountered. Then I checked out The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt, since I liked The Raven Prince so much. I had my expected dose of Lorraine Heath new reads and revisits with She Tempts the Duke, The Duke and the Lady in Red, The Viscount and the Vixen, and Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman. Though Ravishing the Heiress has been a favorite for years, this was my first time through Sherry Thomas's Beguiling the Beauty. At the end of the month, I holed up with some comfort reads—the first three books in Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy series. Because sometimes you need a ferret heist, Sgt. Teddy, Grandma Frida, and Connor Rogan to get through your week.

Currently reading: Any Old Diamonds by KJ Charles.

On the TBR/wish list
The Haunting of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong
Three Chances to Cherish by Grace Callaway
In a Second by Kate Canterbary
All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Lines We Cross by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Felicity Cabot Sells Her Soul by Aydra Richards
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James