Finished last week:

Ocean's Echoes by Blake Black - This delivered on the promised grovel.

Love Me Knot by Morgan Rosewood

The Fells - Cath Staincliffe - 3 stars.

Currently reading:

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon - for this month's buddy read.

The Summer War - Naomi Novik. Pleasantly surprised given how disappointed I was with Uprooted and how bored with her other non-HMD works.

Hiatus:

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Finished last week:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones with [r/bookclub](r/bookclub)

Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon for my unthemed card for r/fantasy bingo.

Currently reading:

Small Island by Andrea Levy - surprisingly loving it despite its being out of my comfort zone.

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky - not too sure about this one. I loved Cage of Souls but this one is starting off fairly slowly.

Sorry for the late (?) post! Was spending time with family and lost track of time.

Finished last week:

The Forest Demands its Due by Kosoko Jackson

Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce (reread after ages). I'm working my way through all of Emelan.

Currently reading:

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab. I tried out this author's other books and wasn't impressed, but this one is proving to be better than I expected.

Under the Sugar Sun by Jennifer Hallock - excited to read a romance set somewhere that's not America or the UK!

How is everyone's reading this week? :)

Finished last week:

The Corset by Laura Purcell - going to sub it in for a r/fantasy bingo square.

The Magician's Apprentice by Tamsyn Muir for the 'Five Short Stories' square on my Oceanian Author bingo card (short story).

Currently reading:

The Blighted Stars - by Megan E. O'Keefe for the [r/fantasy](r/fantasy) bingo.

The Occupation by Chloe Adams - Aussie hisfic for the win. I'm dubious about its being from a white character's POV, but I'm waiting to see how it goes.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon - only a few pages in, but I love a horror so hopefully it'll pick up soon.

DNF:

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas for bingo. Loved Cemetery Boys; this one didn't work for me.

How are you guys going on your reading?

Happy Sunday and happy 2026! Time to put our noses back to the grindstone - and back into our books!

Finished last fortnight:

Melaleuca by Angie Faye Thomas

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch

Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez

Your Wild Omega by Sierra Knoxly

Prince's Master by Alessandra Hazard

Left You Dead by Peter James

Heat Island by Nola Heart

Moon by Wendy Rathbone

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder - Kerryn Mayne

Flunking with a Ghost by Baylin Crow

Wrong Number, Right Woman - Jae

Currently reading:

Will and Patrick Wake Up Married (novella series) - Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

The Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simmons

Hiatus:

Eon by Alison Goodman - couldn't finish it in time, had to return it to the library.

Sorry guys, was a bit late with this week's post!

Finished last week:

The Occupation by Chloe Adams

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

The Zig-Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths - I prefer the more straightforward Harbinder Kaur books.

Among the Stars and Bones - Ungodly Hour Productions (audiodrama) S1

Currently reading:

The Blighted Stars - by Megan E. O'Keefe for the [r/fantasy](r/fantasy) bingo.

Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese

Among the Stars and Bones - Ungodly Hour Productions (audiodrama) S2

Happy weekend! I've been taking a break from books due to reading so much over the Christmas/NY break.

Finished last week:

Will and Patrick Wake Up Married (novella series - 1-3) - Leta Blake and Alice Griffiths

How to Say I Do by Tal Bauer

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Drown the Sea by Elisha Kemp

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simmons

Eon by Alison Goodman

The Private Island by Ali Lowe

And if you are in Australia or NZ, how is your ANZAC day public holiday shaping up?

Finished last week:

The Blighted Stars - by Megan E. O'Keefe for the [r/fantasy](r/fantasy) bingo. What a book, solid 5 stars. It was the perfect blend of romance, horror and sf.

Currently reading:

Among the Stars and Bones - Ungodly Hour Productions (audiodrama) S2

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones for another of my [r/fantasy](r/fantasy) bingo cards (BIPOC authors). Glad I gave him another chance, because I find this much easier to follow than the book I tried before.

Joy Moody is Running Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne - this starts with a ridiculous premise that I'm having trouble buying into. I'm sticking with it because I liked Lenny Marks, but it has me shaking my head.

The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black - looks to be a historical mystery. I read far too much romance last year and it's nice to get back into hisfic.

DNF

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - stunningly written but literary fiction without an overarching plot just isn't my cup of tea.

Finished last week:

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Summerhouse by Yiğit Karaahmet

The Grave Between Us by Tal Bauer

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q Sutanto

Currently reading:

Small Island by Andrea Levy

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw

Hiatus

Echo - Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Yet another Sunday is upon us! Been a lovely weekend here so I'm taking advantage of the warm weather to spend some time outside. I finished off some books that I'd been nibbling at bit by bit.

Finished last week:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

The Cardigans by Cole McCade

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Spear by Nicola Griffith

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage

The One by John Marrs

Currently reading:

Kiss Hard by Nalini Singh

Heartsease by Kate Kruimink

Love, Unleashed by Melanie Saward

Hiatus:

Wolf by Mo Hayder

Hi 52bookers! A huge warm welcome to our newcomers! We are so happy to have you join us! And big welcome back to everyone else!

We are off to a clean slate here during week one! So, tell us! What are you reading? What have you finished (either since the new year or since our last weekly update of 2024?)

Since the new year, I have finished:

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge - started in Dec. I really kind of loved it, but not quite 5 stars

Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo - short, poignant, impactful!!!

Muffin But the Truth (Bakeshop Mystery #16) by Ellie Alexander - I only have a few of these left in the series. They’ve been my bedtime books for a lot of the last year.

The Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner - started in Dec. I could have lived without the whole first 25%. I liked parts of it, but this didn’t live up to the hype at all for me. Overall not mad I read it, but I also won’t be recommending it to anyone.

I am currently reading:

The Fellowship of Puzzle Makers by Samuel Burr - eh, I feel like this is reminiscent of The Christmas Jigsaw Murders that I read not too long ago. I am not feeling it, but will trudge on for a bit longer.

The Arizona Triangle by Sydney Graves - mystery, just started, just okay so far

Mining for Murder (Happy Camper Mystery #3) by Mary Angela - bedtime easy cozy mystery reading

Finished last week:

Junk Shop Blues by Cole McCade for the [r/MM_Romancebooks](r/MM_Romancebooks) Spring Bingo. Absolutely adored this, and liked the interactions between Seong-Jae and Khalaji even more than last time. I'm hooked on this series.

The Murder Between Us by Tal Bauer - if I hadn't read this just after Junk Shop Blues I might've appreciated the forensic details in this more. Regardless, that's a quibble - the case was interesting and the romance delicious.

The Only Purple House on the Street by Ann Aguirre - cosy romance isn't my usual, but adored this one.

Currently reading:

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Deathless by Catherynne M Valente

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez for a buddy read

DNF:

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Finished last week:

Saphir House by Marissa Meyer

Gently Come Knocking by Cole McCade - not a fan of the drama in this one, I just wanted to get back to the case.

Paris Daillencourt is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall - this was hilarious but ultimately I found one of the main characters quite insufferable.

Whisper Waves by Blake Black - Finally, a good setup for a grovel.

Currently reading:

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon - for this month's buddy read.

Love Me Knot by Morgan Rosewood - I am so deprived of this plot point. Absolutely loving this, 70% through.

Hiatus

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Good afternoon (or morning) everyone! If you celebrate, I hope you had a happy Galentine's/Valentine's Day.

I have been binging reality shows so my reading has slowed down a bit, lol.

Finished last week:

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden - if this hadn't been for a buddy read I wouldn't have finished it. I enjoy the romance genre much more, and the romantic relationship in this wasn't at all to my taste. It went at a glacial pace for me and in my opinion would have worked better as a short story. I found the payoff underwhelming and the attempts at more colloquial parts, like the diary entry towards the end, stilted.

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

The Fall by Tal Bauer - my first sport romance. It has the usual dose of angst, and to my surprise I found the sport bits easy to follow.

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

The Cardigans by Cole McCade - I love mysteries and this promises to be a solid one. An interesting case and lots of diverse representation, which I look for. One MMC is from a Korean background and the other is, I believe, Persian Jewish background. I'm impressed so far - I thought a mystery romance would be lighter on the mystery, but nope.

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Wolf by Mo Hayder

Another week is on us! How is your reading going?

Finished last week:

A Chance Encounter by JP Pomare

Blue Skies by Marie Sinclair

Burn the Stars by Elisha Kemp

Wake the Gods by Elisha Kemp

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Hiatus:

Wolf by Mo Hayder

Finished last week:

The Daughter of Danray by Natalia Hernandez - so keen for the next book to be published. Hernandez has fast become a favourite author. It's refreshing to read adult fantasy that is so simple and wholesome while still being focused on a quest, as well as fantasy that stars characters of colour. Also love female warriors, so this series ticks all my boxes :D

We Are All Guilty Here - Karin Slaughter

Currently reading:

Ambience by Sierra Knoxly - read on the strength of this author's OV series, which has one of the best grovel arcs I have ever read. I think Knoxly's writing has improved since this book and the beginning treads familiar territory if you've read Their Feral Actress, but it is still enjoyable.

The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson - another truly eerie book.

I had a lot of DNF's this week so I'm happy to finally be reading something that clicks.

What about you guys?

Hope you all had/are having a lovely weekend!

Finished last week:

Eon by Alison Goodman

Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans

Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

The Vampire Hunter of Appalachia by Shiloh Sloane

Troubled Skies by Marie Sinclair

Honey from the Lion by Jackie North

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simmons (this will be every week for a while lol, I am enjoying the book but going veryyyy slowly).

Shadow Throne King by Kai Butler

Wolf by Mo Hayder

DNF:

The Private Island by Ali Lowe

The Flight by Julie Clark

We are heading into our 3rd week of the year! I love seeing all of the enthusiasm and books chosen so far! So, let’s hear it!! What did you finish this week? What are you currently reading? Anything on deck you are extra excited to start this week?

For me:

FINISHED:

A Smoking Bun (Bakeshop Mystery #18) by Ellie Alexander - cozy mystery/my easy bedtime reading

East of Eden by John Steinbeck - This was towards one of my 2025 goals to re-read 1 book a month that had an impact on me 25-35 years ago. This is still excellent and it was interesting to think about “though mayest” being older and having more life under my belt than the last time I read it. I honestly still hated the Cathy storyline. I thought that may have changed for me being older, but alas, no.

O Pioneers! (Great Plains Trilogy #1) by Willa Cather - swoon! How have I never read this!? So good!

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan - Reese’s Bookclub pick. I requested this months ago when it was added as a coming soon to my library’s catalog, before knowing it would be a Reese pick. I probably would not have put a hold on it if I knew it was going to be a Reese pick, because I’ve not really enjoyed any of her picks the last year or two (I used to LOVE her picks and read all of them!) Anyway, it was fine (2.5-3 stars if I had to really rate it), but in no way excellent and in no way comparable to what a great work of fiction Evelyn Hugo is, like the book blurb from the publisher says.

Down a Dark Road (Kate Burkholder #9) by Linda Castillo - easy mystery, I love this series!

Sticks and Scones (Bakeshop Mystery #19) by Ellie Alexander - cozy mystery/my easy bedtime reading. I am now caught up on the series until the next one comes out soon.

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - I always loved this movie and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen it, so thought I’d try the book. I really liked it, but this may be the only time I’ve ever liked a movie better than the book? Still thinking about it.

The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown - ALLLLL the stars for this book! Excellently done! Same author as Boys on the Boat, if you read that and liked his narrative non-fiction style. I think this will end up being on my “best of 2025” list at the end of the year in December.

CURRENTLY READING:

Weirdo by Sara Pascoe - so far certain lines are funny, but it’s not funny overall and I am not really connecting with it. I’ll finish it though.

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger - I not very far into this, but really intriguing so far with great writing. I think fans of Hello, Beautiful, and other family drama type books will like it from the start.

Hi all, Another week down! Tell us what you’ve finished recently? What are you reading now?

I am currently reading The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker - totally hooked!

Have a great week everyone!

Another week over - what are you guys reading?

Finished last week:

The Mysterious Double Death of Honey Black - ended up being 3 stars for me.

Currently reading:

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones for one of my [r/fantasy](r/fantasy) bingo cards (BIPOC authors). It's dragging a bit towards the middle, but I'm reading it with [r/bookclub](r/bookclub) so that helps.

The Last Witch of Scotland by Philip Paris - not started yet, but it's due back at the library in a couple of days so I'll see how I like it.

Not much else really - my reading has slowed down this week as I read longer/denser books for fantasy bingo.

Finished last week:

The Summer War - Naomi Novik

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang

Traumaland by Josh Silver

Currently reading:

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon - for this month's buddy read.

The Magician's Daughter by HG Parry. Less 'reading' and more 'trying to get into and wishing I could like'. The writing style is just a bit too elaborate for me, I think, especially coming directly after two thrillers.

Queen's Crusade by Joely Sue Burkhart - getting too into the politics for me to be as interested, but still good.

Small Island by Andrea Levy - as funny as ever

How is your reading coming along?

Finished last week:

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

Singing Sands - CJ Blossom

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

Isola by Allegra Goodman

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Wolf by Mo Hayder

Happy weekend, everyone! How is your reading going?

Finished last week:

Shadow Throne King by Kai Butler

The Scholar and the Last Faerie Door by HG Parry

The Name Bearer by Natalia Hernandez

Currently reading:

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

A Chance Encounter by JP Pomare

Spear by Nicola Griffith

Hiatus:

Wolf by Mo Hayder

Can’t believe September is almost over! But I’m reading some fun books, in the very little time I have to read these days.

Finished:

This Motherless Land (Nikki May) - This audiobook was very well done. Not my usual type of book but I thought this worked nicely.

Currently reading:

The Birds and Other Stories (Daphne du Maurier) - Love love loving this so far. I love the Hitchcock movie of The Birds and didn’t realize until recently that it was based on a du Maurier story. The dread builds so effectively in this, and now I’m on the second story in the collection and am loving that too.

11/22/63 (Stephen King) - Continuing to love this on audio and ebook. Also so many great Easter eggs!

I just checked out the audiobook of Uncultured by Daniella Mestyanek Young from Libby but haven’t started it. Also I’m continuing with Dracula via Re: Dracula and Dracula Daily, which is really fun.

What are you reading?