Sunday Confessions #340

 


Sunday book confessions time. This is the space where I admit my reading sins, the impulsive book grabs, the emotional damage I absolutely signed up for, and the moments when I swore I’d read something light and did the exact opposite. No judgments here, just honest thoughts from a reader who keeps chasing stories that wreck her heart, steal her sleep, and somehow still feel completely worth it.


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Weekly Menu #643 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: The Shinning by Stephen King
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What I Read Last Week - January 12th to 18th
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Sunday Confessions #341




★★★☆☆

This one just didn’t quite hit for me. The story itself is interesting, and there are moments where T. Kingfisher’s signature ideas shine through, but I never felt fully pulled into the world the way I usually am with her books.

I kept waiting for that immersive spark, the point where everything clicks and the story takes over, and it never fully arrived. It’s not a bad read by any means, just one that didn’t leave the same impression as her other work.

A solid but underwhelming read for me, earning three stars.








14/250 2026 Reading Challenge
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11/102 2025 Goodreads Nominees Reading Challenge


At the end of the day, my reading life is clearly powered by emotion. I’m drawn to stories that hurt, heal, surprise me, or quietly linger long after I’ve closed the book. Some reads completely wreck me, others miss the mark, and a few land somewhere in between, but every one of them adds to the bigger picture of why I love reading in the first place. These confessions aren’t about perfection or ratings, they’re about the experience, the feelings, and the reminder that even the books that don’t fully work still shape the reader I’m becoming.

What I Read Last Week - January 5th to January 11th

 


The Week of January 5th to January 11th.

★★★★★

I went into this one a little wary. Another Fae world, another set of courts and secrets. But Heir of Illusion quickly reminded me exactly why I keep coming back to this genre.

Ivy is the kind of FMC I love reading about. Strong, capable, and thoughtful without being frustrating. She makes smart choices, learns from her surroundings, and never exists just to push the plot forward. Watching her navigate this world felt satisfying rather than stressful.

And Throne? Absolutely swoon worthy. Mysterious, layered, and magnetic in a way that makes every scene he’s in feel charged. The tension, the intrigue, the slow reveals. It all hit perfectly.

The worldbuilding, the court politics, the emotional beats. Every piece worked together seamlessly. I was hooked from start to finish and loved every part of this story.

If you’re feeling burned out on Fae fantasy but still secretly craving that magic, this one might just pull you back in.

★★★★☆

This was exactly what I needed. I went in hoping for a fresh Cinderella retelling, and this absolutely delivered. At first, it gave me strong Ever After vibes, which instantly pulled me in, but it didn’t stay there. The story quickly morphed into something uniquely its own, and I loved that evolution.

The character development was especially well done. Watching motivations unfold and assumptions get challenged made the story feel layered and thoughtful rather than just a simple retelling. And that ending? Completely unexpected in the best way. I didn’t see it coming at all, and it tied everything together so satisfyingly.

If you enjoy fairytale retellings with depth, heart, and a few surprises tucked in, this one is well worth the read.

★★★★☆

I went into this one expecting full on creep factor, but Hazelthorn turned out to be more of a slow burn mystery than outright spooky. The first half leans heavily into atmosphere and unanswered questions, keeping things strange and intriguing rather than terrifying.

Once the second half hits, the story sharpens and the tension ramps up, pulling everything into clearer focus. Even though it wasn’t as creepy as I anticipated, it was still a really enjoyable read with a strong sense of mood and curiosity driving the pages.

If you like mysteries with a gothic edge and a gradual reveal, this one is worth picking up.

★★★★★

This book completely stole my heart. It’s a beautifully told WWII story that blends emotion and mystery so seamlessly it kept me fully invested from the first page to the last.

The story is rich with twists and turns, revealing its secrets slowly and thoughtfully. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going, the plot veered in a new direction. And that ending? Absolutely unexpected. The kind that makes you sit with the book closed in your lap, staring at the wall, replaying everything you just read.

Heartfelt, gripping, and impossible to predict, this is a standout historical fiction read that earns every one of its five stars.

★★★★★

This book absolutely wrecked me. It’s tragic, heavy, and deeply heart wrenching, the kind of story that settles into your chest and refuses to leave quietly.

There were moments when I genuinely didn’t know how I was going to make it through the pages. The pain is relentless at times, but what kept me going was the strength of the characters. Their resilience, even in the darkest moments, gives the story its quiet power and purpose.

This isn’t an easy read, but it’s a meaningful one. Emotionally devastating, yet profoundly human, The River Is Waiting is a story that lingers long after you turn the final page.

★★★★★

I seem to keep finding my way into these devastating stories filled with heartbreak and resilience, and honestly… I’m not mad about it. Broken Country is one of those books that breaks you open and somehow keeps you turning the pages through the tears.

This story made me cry, more than once, yet I couldn’t put it down. The emotional weight is heavy, but it’s balanced by a deep sense of strength and perseverance that makes the pain feel meaningful rather than overwhelming.

Heart wrenching, beautifully written, and impossible to walk away from, Broken Country is a powerful read that earns every one of its five stars.

★★★★☆

This was such a rich, immersive read. The world building is vivid and layered, and Ayana Gray does an incredible job of pulling you into the story from the very beginning. It’s the kind of world that feels alive, with history and danger woven into every page.

The story itself is engaging and well paced, and that twist at the end really sealed it for me. It added an extra spark that made the entire journey feel even more worthwhile.

A strong start to a series with a captivating world and a memorable ending. I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the next book.

★★★★★

I watched the TV series before picking up the book, and somehow the book still completely amazed me. From start to finish, The Search for WondLa is imaginative, heartfelt, and impossible not to love.

Tony DiTerlizzi builds a world that feels both entirely unique and comfortably familiar, striking that perfect balance between wonder and warmth. The setting invites exploration, while the characters make you want to stay. Each one feels thoughtful, distinct, and easy to root for.

Beautifully written and endlessly engaging, this is a story that captures a sense of adventure and belonging in the best way. A truly magical read and a well earned five stars. 

Book Review: The Cautious Traveler's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

 

Title: The Cautious Traveler's Guide to the Wastelands

By: Sarah Brooks

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 336

Release Date: June 18th, 2024

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

For fans of Piranesi and The Midnight Library, a stunning historical fantasy novel set on a grand express train, about a group of passengers on a dangerous journey across a magical landscape

It is said there is a price that every passenger must pay. A price beyond the cost of a ticket.

There is only one way to travel across the Wastelands: on the Trans-Siberian Express, a train as famous for its luxury as for its danger. The train is never short of passengers, eager to catch sight of Wastelands creatures more miraculous and terrifying than anything they could imagine. But on the train's last journey, something went horribly wrong, though no one seems to remember what exactly happened. Not even Zhang Weiwei, who has spent her life onboard and thought she knew all of the train’s secrets.

Now, the train is about to embark again, with a new set of passengers. Among them are Marya Petrovna, a grieving woman with a borrowed name; Henry Grey, a disgraced naturalist looking for redemption; and Elena, a beguiling stowaway with a powerful connection to the Wastelands itself. Weiwei knows she should report Elena, but she can’t help but be drawn to her. As the girls begin a forbidden friendship, there are warning signs that the rules of the Wastelands are changing and the train might once again be imperiled. Can the passengers trust each other, as the wildness outside threatens to consume them all?

 

Add on Goodreads

 

Review:

I loved this weird little read. The story unfolds almost entirely on a train, hurtling through a world that feels hostile, mysterious, and quietly terrifying. There’s an unsettling atmosphere to everything, like danger is always just beyond the window or lurking in the unspoken rules the passengers follow.

The pacing is thoughtful, letting the tension simmer rather than explode, and the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting. The train becomes its own strange ecosystem, full of secrets, fear, and small human moments that feel especially fragile against such a scary world.

This won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy eerie, offbeat stories with strong vibes and a sense of creeping dread, this one is well worth the ride.

Weekly Menu #642 And The Book Of The Week

 


WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Spicy Ginger Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Carrots

 

Tuesday

Creamy Tuscan White Bean Skillet

Kids - Cheese Quesadillas

 

Wednesday

Stuffed Bell Pepper Skillet

Kids - Beef Ramen

 

Thursday

Breakfast Sausage English Muffin Pizzas

Kids - English Muffin Pizzas

 

Friday

Garlic Butter Sirloin with Roasted Veg

Kids - Hotdogs Dogs and Fries

 

Saturday

Sausage & Spinach Baked Ziti

Kids - Butter Pasta and Cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night


Sunday Confessions #339

 


Sunday confessions feel a little like setting my coffee down and telling the truth before the week starts watching. This is the quiet corner of the internet where I admit what worked, what didn’t, what I overthought, and what I’m still carrying with me. No polish, no pretending, just honest thoughts from a tired, book loving brain trying to reset before Monday shows up uninvited.


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Weekly Menu #642 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: The Cautious Traveler's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
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What I Read Last Week - January 5th to January 11th
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Sunday Confessions #340




3 Stars

The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden starts off with a gripping premise that immediately hooked me, and I’ll admit the first half had me reading with real anxiety. But as the story unfolded, I couldn’t shake the deja vu. The twists, the setup, even some of the character dynamics felt eerily familiar, almost like I’d already read this exact plot from McFadden before. While the tension is solid and the pacing moves quickly, the originality just wasn’t there for me this time. Has anyone else noticed the similarities?









415/100 2025 Reading Challenge
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7/250 2026 Reading Challenge
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9/102 2025 Goodreads Nominees Reading Challenge



And that’s my Sunday, laid bare. Not tied up with a neat bow, not solved, just acknowledged. Confessions don’t have to fix anything to be useful. Sometimes they just make space to breathe before the next week begins. I’m closing this out with a little more clarity, a little less weight, and the quiet reminder that starting over can happen on any day, even a Sunday.