Hello Friends, and welcome (or welcome back) to the blog.
Book Quote of the Day!
“We read to know we’re not alone.”― William Nicholson, Shadowlands: A Play
Friends, I hope you’re enjoying some creature comforts, staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, not constantly scrolling, and taking care of yourself in these extreme heat conditions.
Friends, we are in the last week of August, and so begins the glorious season of Fall. Are you so excited? Or is that just me. I love everything about the Fall season because no matter what’s happening, it’s just so perfect. It’s also such a great introduction because the weather has been damn near perfect after the sweltering Vegas heat.
Let’s get caught up on all things bookish. By the time I post this, I will have completed my 2025 Good Reads Challenge. 🏆 But finished is never finished to a book lover, and I’m still going and still requesting a few ARCs that I can finish by the end of the year.
The Bookish* Newsletter!
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Issue No. 7 | August 2025 | Blog Version
Check out my bookish updates on Goodreads, including progress, upcoming titles, lists, and reviews!
NEW ARC BOOK REVIEW ✨ 3.75 ✨
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Penn Press, for the advanced copy of this title.
Breathe In, Bleed Out, Brian McAuley [HORROR, THRILLER, FICTION]
An interesting read that’s short and starts, strangely enough, with the death, but not the slasher kind. Hannah’s fiancée (Ben) has died in an accident while they were on a planned hike, and she’s been haunted by this ever since.
Couple this with a careless mistake at work, and Hannah needs some peace, so she decided to join her friends at a wellness retreat in Joshua Tree.
Hannah’s college friends have diverse personalities, ranging from one extreme to the other, which is typical in most slasher stories. You get a glimpse at all the players, and you can instantly determine who’s biting it first.
The revealed killer has no placement within the realm of the story, and I wonder if this was rushed. However, our protagonist would gain closure on what happened to her, and Ben and he would haunt her no more.
This story didn’t fall into the trope of having the final girl, which I can enjoy. Since these are all adults, all those dots can be checked off the list of the slasher’s typical “final-girl” character. (Yes, they’ve lived a little) There are also some holes in the story because we don’t really learn what happens to Hannah’s career, and it’s left hanging, unresolved.
It’s not that I found this story confusing, but the killer is not believable. We know in slasher stories that killings are random and make no sense, but in a novel, you need some context.
The pacing of the story is good, and I read this a little faster than usual because it was interesting and I wanted to learn more. I was hoping for more substance, because even meaningless kills need to make sense.
This title wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t exactly my fav as slashers go. It IS graphic, violent, and just the right amount of gore, so you know exactly how each character met their fate. This was an OK read, 3.75 ✨
Latest Approved ARC Titles!There’s only been one addition to this list, as I’ve only requested two more titles. I always want more than I can read, so this time, I’m staggering my review dates. |
Great Book Sourcesִ ࣪𖤐 BookTrib ִ ࣪𖤐 |
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🚨NEW SciFi Spotlight 🚨
September Reading Challenge!📚🎧☕“Read a book that takes place in the Fall.” |
Good Reads Challenge Progress
ALMOST THERE. Just one book left and I’ve completed my challenge. 💥 Whoo-hoo!!
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What Books Did I Get in July?🎧 The Babysitter Lives |
I’m a bit behind, but I do have episodes on my ARC review podcast available for your listening pleasure.📚🎧☕
I’m also including the link to the PDF version of the “July” newsletter. Don’t forget to check my “Book Tracker” page for more updates. Thank you so much for stopping by today. Please consider subscribing or following along. — Duces.✌🏽 —