What I Read Last Week - December 22th to 28th

 


4 Stars

Dawn of the North delivers a cold, atmospheric fantasy filled with slow-burning tension, rich worldbuilding, and characters shaped by hardship. The setting is immersive and brutal in the best way, with a northern landscape that feels just as dangerous as the forces moving through it.

That said, the pacing occasionally dragged for me. Some sections felt drawn out, lingering a bit too long on travel or internal reflection, which dulled the momentum at times. While the payoff was solid, I found myself wishing certain scenes had been tightened to keep the story moving more sharply.

Still, the character development is strong, and the emotional stakes remain compelling throughout. The relationships feel layered and earned, and the overarching plot continues to build in an intriguing direction for the series.

Overall, this was a good installment that deepens the world and characters, even if it takes its time getting there. A solid four star read for fans of immersive, slow burn fantasy who don’t mind a more deliberate pace.

4 Stars


I’d heard a lot of buzz about Matt Dinniman, and I’m happy to report it wasn’t hype. This one was a full throttle sprint through sci-fi chaos and political intrigue, with twists that kept me flipping pages. Sharp, weird in the best way, and wildly entertaining. I’m officially on board the Dinniman train now.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.



4 Stars


A strong and satisfying conclusion to the Shades of Magic trilogy, with high stakes and solid emotional payoff. The characters’ arcs feel earned, and the ending brings the series together well.

That said, the pacing dragged at times, and the book felt longer than necessary. Some sections could have been tightened to maintain urgency.

Overall, a good finale despite being slow in spots. A four star read for fans who don’t mind an epic length ending.


4 Stars

Tatooine Ghost is a thoughtful, character driven Star Wars novel that leans more on emotional depth than galactic spectacle. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, this story gives Leia space to confront her past, her identity, and the weight of legacy in a way that feels meaningful and well earned.

Denning does an excellent job exploring Leia’s internal conflict, especially her complicated connection to Anakin Skywalker and what it means to carry that history. The quieter moments shine here, adding nuance to a character we often see only in battle or politics. Han and Leia’s relationship also feels authentic, with warmth and tension woven naturally into their interactions.

The plot itself is fairly contained and slower paced than some Star Wars entries, which kept this from reaching five stars for me. If you’re looking for nonstop action, this may feel restrained.

Still, as a reflective addition to the expanded universe, this book succeeds beautifully. A strong four star read for fans who enjoy character exploration, lore, and emotional storytelling within the Star Wars galaxy.

5 Stars

This book surprised me in the best way. I went in unsure if it would be my thing, and came out completely sold. The science is presented in a way that feels approachable without ever talking down to the reader, making it easy to follow while still feeling smart. Instead of getting bogged down in explanations, the story keeps moving, pulling you along at a relentless pace.

What really worked for me was how fun it was to dive into the multiverse. Each shift felt purposeful and emotionally grounded, not just a flashy concept exercise. At its core, this is a story about choice, identity, and the lives we almost live, wrapped in a sci-fi thriller that’s hard to put down.

Fast, thoughtful, and surprisingly heartfelt, this ended up being a five star read for me. A perfect blend of accessible science and mind bending storytelling.

3 Stars

I went into this one expecting a fun, tongue in cheek romp, and while the premise absolutely delivers on sound, the execution didn’t quite work for me. The humor and quirky tone that will charm some readers often felt a little too forced for my taste, pulling me out of the story instead of drawing me in.

The characters leaned heavily into exaggerated personalities, which made it hard for me to fully connect or invest emotionally. What should have been playful banter and chaos sometimes crossed into repetitive, and the plot didn’t feel as strong as the concept promised.

That said, I can see why this book has an audience. It’s light, fast, and clearly written to be entertaining rather than deep, and readers who enjoy whimsical villain romances and overt humor will likely have more fun with it than I did.

Overall, this just wasn’t the right fit for me. A three star read with a great idea that didn’t land personally, but could still work well for the right reader.

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Book Review: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

 

Title: Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

By:  Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 416

Release Date: July 5th, 2022

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

In this exhilarating novel, two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn't heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won't protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

 

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Review:

This was a thoughtful, quietly powerful read about creativity, friendship, and the strange alchemy of making something together. At its heart, this story is less about video games and more about the people behind the screens. The novel explores ambition, resentment, love, and loss with a steady hand, letting moments linger instead of forcing them to perform.

Sam and Sadie are deeply human characters. Brilliant, frustrating, wounded, and often terrible at communicating. Their friendship feels lived in, shaped by years of shared history and unspoken expectations. I appreciated how the book allowed them to be messy without always offering neat resolutions. Life rarely does.

The writing is sharp and emotionally observant, and the structure cleverly mirrors the nonlinear nature of both memory and games themselves. There were chapters that felt genuinely inventive and others that slowed the pacing for me, which is ultimately why this lands at four stars instead of five.

Still, this is a rich, reflective novel about art, collaboration, and the ways we keep pressing “continue” even after heartbreak. A rewarding read, especially for anyone who’s ever loved a creative partnership.


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Weekly Menu #640 And The Book Of The Week

 


I just did the math, and apparently I’ve been making weekly menus for over 12 years. That’s twelve years of planning dinners, dodging decision fatigue, and quietly keeping everyone fed. I don’t know whether to frame this realization or stare at it in disbelief for a minute, but either way… mind officially blown.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Shepherd’s pie and Veggies

Kids - Pizza

 

Tuesday

Roast chicken and Stuffing

Kids - Chicken Tenders and Fries

 

Wednesday

Tourtière with simple green salad

Kids - Mini Pizzas

 

Thursday

Dorito Salad

Kids - Nachos

 

Friday

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Kids - Grilled Cheese

 

Saturday

Sheet Pan Sausage, Potatoes & Veg

Kids - Tate tots and cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

 

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Sunday Confessions #337

 


Sundays always feel like a soft landing, the day where I finally have space to be honest about my reading life. The unfinished books, the unexpected favorites, the moods that shape what I reach for next, it all comes out here. Consider this week’s book confessions a judgment free zone, where reading slumps, five star surprises, and everything in between get their moment on the page.


Sunday Confessions #336
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Weekly Menu #639 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
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What I Read Last Week - December 15th to 21st


Weekly Menu #640 And The Book Of The Week
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Book Review: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
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What I Read Last Week - December 22th to 28th
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Sunday Confessions #338











409/100 2025 Reading Challenge
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6/102 2025 Goodreads Nominees Reading Challenge


At the end of the week, my reading reflected exactly where I’m at right now. I’m craving stories with heart, strong emotions, and something that lingers after the last page, and when a book delivers that, it really shines. Not every read hit the mark, but even the slower ones had something to offer. That’s the joy of reading widely. You never know when a quiet story will surprise you or when a five star read will remind you why you keep coming back to books in the first place.

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What I Read Last Week - December 15th to 21st

 


Last week’s reading felt like a quiet reset, the kind where stories slip in gently and remind me why I keep coming back to the page. I found myself pulled into worlds driven by emotion, tension, and heart, with one book finally earning a rare five stars after a bit of a dry spell. From solid, satisfying reads to one standout that lingered long after I closed the cover, here’s a look at what kept me turning pages last week.

A Forrest Apart

by Troy Denning

★★★☆☆

A Forest Apart was a quick read, but unfortunately not a particularly engaging one for me. The story felt too short to fully develop its ideas, and as a result it never really found its momentum. While there were moments of interest, much of the book felt flat and a bit boring, making it hard to stay invested. It wasn’t a bad read, just one that left me wanting more depth and excitement. A solid three stars.

Doctor Sleep

by Stephen King

★★★★☆

I loved this continuation of The Shining. Revisiting Danny Torrance as an adult felt thoughtful and earned, with King giving him depth, scars, and a real shot at redemption. The blend of addiction recovery, lingering trauma, and the supernatural worked beautifully, grounding the horror in something deeply human.

While it didn’t quite reach the raw, claustrophobic terror of The Shining, it stood strong on its own and expanded the story in a way that felt respectful rather than nostalgic. A solid four star read and a continuation done right

These Summer Storms

by Sarah MacLean

★★★★★

I absolutely loved this one. It was emotional, atmospheric, and completely absorbing, the kind of story that pulls you under and doesn’t let go until the final page. The romance simmered with tension, the characters felt messy and real, and every choice carried weight.

Sarah MacLean delivered a love story that felt both tender and powerful, full of longing, vulnerability, and moments that linger long after you close the book. An easy five stars and a reminder of how good it feels to be swept away by a story.

Death of the Author

by Nnedi Okorafor

★★★★☆

This was a fascinating and thought-provoking read, even if it lagged at times. Okorafor’s ideas are bold and layered, playing with storytelling, identity, and the power dynamics between creator and creation in a way that kept my brain happily buzzing.

While the pacing occasionally slowed and pulled me out of the narrative, the originality and ambition more than made up for it. This is the kind of book you think about after you finish, turning it over in your mind and noticing new angles. A solid four stars for its creativity and depth.

Tailored Realities

by Brandon Sanderson

★★★★☆

This was a really enjoyable read, especially the story about the dragon, which completely stole the show for me. Sanderson’s imagination shines here, taking familiar ideas and twisting them into something fresh, clever, and quietly emotional.

Not every piece landed with the same impact, but the creativity and craft were undeniable. The dragon story alone was worth the read, lingering in my thoughts long after I finished. A solid four stars for inventive storytelling and that unforgettable moment of magic.

Don't Let Him In

by Lisa Jewell

★★★☆☆

This one just didn’t quite work for me. The story moved slowly, and instead of building tension, it often felt like it was dragging its feet. I kept waiting for that familiar Lisa Jewell hook to pull me in, but it never fully arrived.

There were moments of intrigue and a solid premise underneath it all, which is why it still earns three stars, but overall it felt more boring than suspenseful. An okay read, just not one that kept me turning pages the way I’d hoped.

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Book Review: A Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass

 

Title: A Thousand Heartbeats

By: Kiera Cass

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 576

Release Date: November 29th, 2022

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Summary from Goodreads:

“Love has a sound. It sounds like a thousand heartbeats happening at the same time.”

Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain.

Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.

But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart.

Kiera Cass brings her signature sparkling romance to this beautiful story of star-crossed lovers and long-held secrets.

 

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Review:

This was a genuinely wonderful love story. Soft, romantic, and quietly powerful, the kind that sneaks up on you and then refuses to let go. The relationship builds with patience and heart, focusing on trust, sacrifice, and hope rather than spice. It felt refreshing in the best way.

If you love a clean romance with strong emotional payoff, gentle fantasy elements, and characters you want to root for, this one delivers beautifully. A full five stars and a reminder that love stories do not need heat to burn bright.


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