Regretting You by Colleen Hoover

 

Title: Regretting You

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Release Date: December 10, 2019

Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, would like nothing more than to be nothing alike.

Morgan is determined to prevent her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. By getting pregnant and married way too young, Morgan put her own dreams on hold. Clara doesn’t want to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Her predictable mother doesn’t have a spontaneous bone in her body.

With warring personalities and conflicting goals, Morgan and Clara find it increasingly difficult to coexist. The only person who can bring peace to the household is Chris—Morgan’s husband, Clara’s father, and the family anchor. But that peace is shattered when Chris is involved in a tragic and questionable accident. The heartbreaking and long-lasting consequences will reach far beyond just Morgan and Clara.

While struggling to rebuild everything that crashed around them, Morgan finds comfort in the last person she expects to, and Clara turns to the one boy she’s been forbidden to see. With each passing day, new secrets, resentment, and misunderstandings make mother and daughter fall further apart. So far apart, it might be impossible for them to ever fall back together.

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Another book I had to read in order to see the movie!

Regretting You is a mixture of Young Adult and Contemporary Women's fiction.

Morgan Grant is a sister, a mother, and a wife. She is content with her life. Her daughter, Clara, is about to turn seventeen. Jonah, their high school friend, is back in their lives. He and Morgan’s sister, Jenny, used to date. In the last year, they reconnected, and now they have a son together.

Clara is on her way to her mom’s birthday when she sees one of her classmates, Miller, on the side of the road. He looks like he needs a ride. At first, she isn’t sure she wants to stop for him, but in the end, she does. She spends time with him and finds herself intrigued by him.

Then, just a day later, everything changes for Morgan and Clara. Their world turns upside down, and they seem unable to communicate with each other. There is fighting and unshared secrets that only divide them more.

How can they both move forward from all the pain?

Regretting You was classic Colleen Hoover. I enjoyed the book and its characters, although the plot was fairly straightforward.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Extra by Annie NeugebauerThe Outsiders Sequence #1

Title: The Extra

Series: The Outsiders Sequence #1

Author: Annie Neugebauer

Publisher: Shortwave Media

Release Date: September 9, 2025

10 people head out on a backpacking trip, but the first night 11 set up camp. Everyone remembers everyone else. Who's the extra?

THE EXTRA is the debut dark sci-fi novella by Annie Neugebauer.

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Who else thought we needed one more chapter or an epilogue?

The Extra begins with ten people heading out on a backpacking trip. At night, while setting up camp, the guy in charge, Matt, does a headcount—and instead of missing someone, he comes up with eleven!

Who is the extra with them?

How come he seems to remember everyone from orientation, and nobody seems to be new in the group?

Is he losing his mind, or did the Extra give him a false memory?

This short story was fascinating. The chapters were short. The ambience was well displayed, with a constant sense of foreboding and danger.

Cliffhanger: Yes

4/5 Fangs

My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

Title: My Husband's Wife

Author: Alice Feeney

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: January 27, 2026

The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists is back with a psychological masterpiece that will leave you questioning everything you know about love, identity, and revenge.

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

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Quite a few plot twists!

Eden Fox is an artist and something of a recluse. She has recently moved to Spyglass in Hope Falls, and tonight is the first time she’s opening her gallery in town. Before heading out, she goes on her regular run, taking only her key with her. When she finishes, she tries to open the front door, but the lock won’t work. She knocks—and is shocked to see a woman who looks exactly like her open the door. The woman claims she is Eden Fox. Eden is stunned. She doesn’t know what to do next before the door slams shut in her face.

Six months earlier, Birdy received terrible news: she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She also inherits Spyglass after her grandmother passes away. At Spyglass, she finds an invitation from a London company claiming they can predict the exact date of her death.

I’m so happy I went in blind with this book—no idea what I was getting into. I have to say, it has quite a convoluted plot with several genuine shocks. Truly entertaining, even though it’s confusing at the beginning.

The narrators did a great job. I especially loved the sound effects during the running scenes. Great job!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Twelve Months by Jim ButcherThe Dresden Files #18

Title: Twelve Months

Series: The Dresden Files #18 

Author: Jim Butcher

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the Dresden Files, can he save himself?

One year. 365 days. Twelve months.

Harry Dresden has been through a lot, and so has his city. After Harry and his allies narrowly managed to save Chicago from being razed, everything is different—and it’s not just the current lack of electricity.

Harry lost people he cared about in the battle, and that’s the kind of loss that takes a toll. Harry being Harry, he’s doing his best to help the city and his friends recover and rebuild, but it’s a heavy load. He needs time.

Time is one thing Harry doesn’t have, however. Ghouls are prowling Chicago and killing innocent civilians. Harry’s brother is dying, and Harry doesn’t know how to help him. And last but certainly not least, the Winter Queen of the Fae has allied with the White Court of vampires—and Harry’s been betrothed to the seductive, deadly vampire Lara Raith to seal the deal.

It’s been a tough year. More than ever, the city needs Harry Dresden the wizard—but after loss and grief, is there enough left of him to rise to the challenge?

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Finally!

The wait is over after Battle Ground was published in 2020!

As a huge fan of this series, I was thrilled to get my hands on Twelve Months.

Twelve Months is all about Harry’s year after the battle, a time when he sustained devastating personal losses. At first, Harry has no motivation to do much beyond some exercise. People are still dying or getting into trouble, and little by little, he begins to emerge from his grief. Eventually, he also has to deal with Mab, the Winter Queen of the Fae, who has ordered him—as her Knight of Winter—to marry the White Court vampire Lara Raith.

Harry is forced to take Lara on a monthly public date, with plenty of Winter Court fae and White Court vampires present to witness it. Over time, I think Lara starts to see who Harry really is, and he begins to look beyond her facade. One of their shared goals is to bring Thomas back without him dying. Spells and deals are made to plan for it. It’s not easy, but Harry will never give up.

As always, listening to James Marsters narrate the audiobook is the best! He does so many voices, and every single one sounds perfect. No one else could do this job.

I’m already excited for Mirror, Mirror, which is coming out in 2027… hoping it’s true.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Save Us by Mona KastenMaxton Hall #3

Title: Save Us

Series: Maxton Hall #3

Author: Mona Kasten

Publisher: Berkley

The third and final book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series—now a Prime Video streaming series—in English for the first time.

Can they save themselves? Or will they destroy each other?

Ruby is in shock: Her worst nightmare has come true, and now Oxford and all her dreams that finally seemed within reach are at risk. Worst of all, everything points to James as the one responsible, even after everything they’ve been through together. Ruby thought that she had met the real James—the one who has his own dreams, the one who makes her laugh and makes her heart beat faster with a single glance.

However, after an explosive fight between the two, they discover a terrible truth. Together, Ruby fights to graduate, as James tries to clear her name at school. But that means once again James must challenge his father and his expectations for him. And despite everything, James still threatens to break under the obligations to his family. Ruby and James must ask themselves if the worlds they live in are perhaps too different after all, or if they can finally find a way back to each other.

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I'm happy with the ending!

At the beginning of Save Us, Ruby's future is uncertain, and James might be the one to blame.

Ruby and James are still fighting the outside forces that want to tear them apart. They’re fighting for their love. At the same time, James feels a heavy responsibility toward his family legacy. Although he would rather forge his own path, he can’t bear the thought of letting his mother down. Ruby, meanwhile, is still fighting to keep her dream of attending Oxford without losing James.

How can they both be happy in the end with their choices without losing each other?

I really enjoyed this final book. Ruby and James evolved so much and finally started trusting each other. They realized they were stronger together than apart.

I was also deeply invested in all the subplots. I was rooting hard for good outcomes for the three other couples.

The ending, even though everything was tied up a bit too perfectly, still worked for me!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Title: This Story Might Save Your Life

Author: Tiffany Crum

Narrators: Julia Whelan, Sean Patrick Hopkins

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: March 10, 2026

Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .

Benny Abbott and Joy Moore host one of the most beloved podcasts in the world. Each week, they delight listeners with a different “against all odds” survival story, gleefully finding the weird, life-affirming humor in near-death experiences. Since their first episode on Joy’s experience with severe narcolepsy, they’ve been the best friends everyone wants to befriend—and thanks to the meticulous management of Joy’s husband, Xander, they’ve built a lucrative empire.

The problem is, their next survival story may be their own. When Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s one morning to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house. The one clue shedding light on the couple’s disappearance is the incomplete, previously unseen first draft of Joy’s memoir. Benny is desperate to find them, even when the police soon zero in on him as their prime suspect.

Millions of devoted listeners think they know the “real” Benny and Joy. But as the hours tick by, and the odds seem increasingly stacked against Joy and Xander being found alive, not even the most devoted fans could guess the terrible secrets their favorite famous BFFs have hidden from the world—and from each other.

A Macmillan Audio production from Pine & Cedar Books

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I want all my friends to read this one, and I hope they love it as much as I did.

Joy Moore and Benny Abbott have been friends for several years. When they met, they decided to be friends—and they’ve been best friends ever since. For the last few years, they’ve run one of the most famous podcasts in the world together. Joy’s husband handles all the behind-the-scenes work and keeps everything running smoothly.

One morning, Benny shows up to tape the next episode, but no one is home. To Benny, this is very strange—Joy would never disappear right before taping. He becomes even more worried when Joy’s dog is found outside the house. Benny knows something bad has happened.

Benny is desperate; he wants his best friend back.

So what happened to Joy and Xander?

And this is where I stopped. I don’t recommend reading any further spoilers. Better to go in blind.

This Story Might Save Your Life was refreshing in its delivery. It’s definitely a debut worth reading—and recommending wholeheartedly.

Just so you know, I devoured the audiobook. It helped that both narrators—Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins—are outstanding.

In case you missed it at the beginning of this review: Read this book!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Save You by Mona KastenMaxton Hall #2

Title: Save you

Series: Maxton Hall #2

Author: Mona Kasten

Publisher: Berkley

The second book in the international bestselling Maxton Hall series—now a Prime Video streaming series—in English for the first time.

After all the hurt between them, will they be able to find their way back to each other?

Ruby Bell thought that she and James Beaufort had something special. She’s never had such strong feelings for someone. And after his betrayal, she’s also never felt this much hurt. Ruby just wants her old life back before she knew anyone at Maxton Hall, before she knew James. She used to be able to rely on her studies to keep her focused, but school is no longer a refuge—not when she sees James everywhere. But she has to stay on track, especially with university looming over them and the uncertainty of what the future holds.

Despite everything, Ruby wants to support James as he struggles with his father’s expectations of him taking over the family business. But she makes one thing very clear: she is not willing to forgive him or give him a second chance. As love and hate compete for Ruby's heart, James will try everything he can to win her back.

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Second in the Maxton Hall series.

The book picks up exactly where the previous one left off. Both Ruby and James are heartbroken, but for completely different reasons.

James deals with his pain in all the unhealthy ways possible. He pushes Ruby away and even pushes his twin sister, Lydia, away—though she deserves so much better, in my opinion. At first, James’s friends encourage his bad behavior, but later, they’re just there to support him.

Ruby copes by throwing herself into her schoolwork and her job on the events committee. She refuses to let James ruin her time at Maxton Hall. She tries to ignore him, but when he finally wakes up from his horrible behavior, he realizes he needs Ruby. He’s ready to fight to win her back. Just when things start looking better for them, the other shoe drops.

I’m deeply invested in the trio of girls—Ruby, Lydia, and Ember—and their happily-ever-afters.

Save You ends with another cliffhanger. Diving straight into Save Us right away.

Cliffhanger: Yes

4/5 Fangs