Friday Reads 5.29.25

Cardinals, Lip Butter, and Being Rocked By A Great Thriller

Bonjour, happy Friday, and welcome back to another week of random thoughts on life and books.

To whit: I’m beginning to think I am running a backyard garden for the island of misfit toys.

I thought I’d start with an update on Mommy Cardinal and her new beau. We haven’t talked about them in a while, and I wanted to share because they’re bringing such joy. (For those new to the blog—welcome!—last year, a very bedraggled lone female cardinal showed up in my backyard. She was simply exhausted, and alone, never with the in-crowd of the flock that lives here. But as summer progressed, a similarly bedraggled male started hanging around the edges as she ate. Soon enough, they paired up.)

The wonderful update: They are not as struggling as they used to be. They come every evening between five and six to have dinner. He comes first, makes sure that the coast is clear and there’s plenty of black oil sunflower seeds. And then he calls for his lady and she flies over. They have dinner together, and then they fly off. And it is so charming and makes me so happy that they have found each other. No one should be lonely like that. We all deserve a friend, and love.

My misfit cardinals have now also been joined by a solitary bunny rabbit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single rabbit before, always multiples—either making them themselves or looking for safe ways to do that. This one started showing up in the yard as a tiny, tiny little baby. I think the rest of the nest must have been pillaged and the family eaten. This little one somehow survived and is growing fat and sassy on our clover. We have more hummingbirds this year than we’ve ever had before, too, which is making Jordan happy because she loves the sound that they make as they buzz by the porch. Or is that me? Hmm…

There is also a very dominant bluejay, but he, too, is still looking for his forever. I am sure she’ll be along soon; he’s been calling. Loudly. Shocked the heck out of me the first time I heard it.

I’m having the exact opposite experience with reading this week that I had last. I finished THE PIRATE QUEEN, which was exceptionally wonderful, and I can’t wait for September for you guys to be able to read it too. A major shout-out of congratulations to Ariel Lawhon for both writing another stunner and also being shortlisted for the CWA Dagger Award for THE FROZEN RIVER. Way to go, buddy!

And then I picked up Alice Feeney‘s MY HUSBAND’S WIFE.

Y’all, this book is bonkers in all the best ways. It’s incredibly well written. The characters sing. The setting, a classic small British seaside town in Cornwall, is deliciously rich and gothic. I have absolutely no idea where this is headed. And I don’t care about that. I am along for the ride, and to be honest, I don’t want to know where the story is going. I am enjoying being surprised at every turn. This book is fantastic. And it just makes me so happy to see a really great female suspense author level up in the way that she has. When I’m finished, I’m going to seek out some PR about this one, because I wanted to hear her thought process.

I picked up a few more this week, because I am back on a thriller kick.

KILL FOR ME, KILL FOR YOU by Steve Cavanaugh looks like an interesting revenge thriller, which I need right now.

Freida McFadden’s THE DIVORCE came out Tuesday, and the reviews are saying it’s different from her other books, more psychological. Why not?

I snagged a galley of MURDER ON THE UPPER EASTSIDE by Gigi Waldorf, which looked like a perfect afternoon at the book read. Holly Jackson meets Gossip Girl is a damn good pitch.

And finally, I grabbed THE HOUSE OF SILK by Anthony Horowitz because I’ve yet to read him, and an estate-sanctioned Sherlock story might just be the ticket. And I’ll be honest, the cover is incredible.

Substack was full of great stuff this week, too. I was fascinated by this look at the rise and fall — and rise and fall — of romance—and, honestly, what she says about booktok’s virality is spot on.

Déjà vu happening in Romance Publishing

And for fun, take a peek into publicist Abigail Monti’s work bag. I admit to caving for that lip butter she mentions…

What's In My Work Bag, Publishing Edition

OK, enough from me. How was your week? What wonderful books are you reading this weekend?