Books I Think About Daily
Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! Having read so many books in the last 2-3 years specifically, there are four books that stand out that I think about daily. Books that have altered my brain chemistry. Books that stand out among hundreds. So, let’s get into it!
Let’s start with the book that started this list, The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager. In 2023 it was my personal mission to read every Riley Sager book. I love this writing and the twists at the end of all his books. There was just something about this book that stood out among the rest of his. One, it’s a thriller taking place at a summer camp which is one of my favorite tropes. Two, it’s arguably the one book of Sager’s with the least amount of paranormal activity. I’m not a huge fan of mixing thrillers with ghosts. Third, the twist in this book was out of this world good. I was pulled in from the very first page. This is the perfect summer read or late august, early September when the weather is just about to change.
Next, we switch gears and head to the sports romance genre. Early this year, Ali Hazelwood released Deep End, a college swimming/diving romance. I’m a sucker for a sports romance, and I’ll read anything Ali Hazelwood writes. I’ve never read a sports romance about swimming but there’s a first time for everything. I loved this book so much because Hazelwood knows how to write men. Lukas was so swoon-worthy; he is my favorite male main character ever written. This is hands down my favorite Ali Hazelwood book. The tension, the yearning, the banter between Scarlett and Lukas is crazy. Lukas says all the right things. The way he fell first and fell so hard for Scarlett. These two make me so happy. The best character chemistry I’ve ever read.
Switching gears again, I have a horror book that spooked me to my core. I’m not a big horror reader. Movies? Yes, sign me up, but horror books have never really done it for me. Except this one. We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer was so well done and so well written. This book gives off “Get Out” movie vibes. It’s a similar-ish concept. It follows a couple who has just bought this big, beautiful house when the family that lived there before shows up out of the blue. The father wants to show his kids the house where he grew up. Wanting to please the family, the couple allows them to look around. But there’s something off about the family, and they can’t seem to take a hint to leave. Then weird things start to happen, and the couple no longer feels safe in their house.
When I say this book actually spooked me, I really mean it. I read some of this while I was home alone, and I think that kicked my fear up a notch, but it was so creepy. I’m not usually a fan of the whole haunted house trope, but again, this was so well done. I can’t wait for Marcus Kliewer to release another book.
Lastly, we have the most recently added book to this list, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’ve been slowly diving into the TJR universe. I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo years ago and loved it. Atmosphere is TJR’s latest release. We follow Joan Goodwin as is on a journey to become an astronaut. We’re set in the 1980s NASA space training program. For the first time women are being accepted into the program. We follow Joan’s journey through her training but also through her life outside of all the space training.
This book was so beautifully written. I loved Joan’s character. I thought she was so fierce and determined. I loved her and Vanessa’s relationship. It’s a perfect balance of finding who you want to become and who you need to become. I cannot recommend this book enough. Having just finished it, I don’t think it’s too early at all to put this book on the list. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it.
Alright folks, that is all I have for this week! Come back next Wednesday for another blog post. As always, thank you for reading :)