Tag: If We Were Villains

February 2026–Part One:

February 14, 2026

Book #10:

A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall (294 pages).  I hesitate to read thrillers sometimes because often you have to suspend your disbelief A LOT and that’s the case here, but it’s still a worthwhile read if you’re in the mood for escapist fiction. This novel is set in a snowy estate high on a mountain. Theo joins her new fiance Connor at his billionaire family’s compound for Christmas. She starts to recognize a few things about this place, and as pieces of the puzzle slowly start to come together for Theo, the tension ratches up. The author’s writing is solid here as she deftly increases the reader’s sense of dread by constructing a cold, isolated and dark environment that doesn’t relieve Theo’s increasing suspicions that things will not end well for her. Again, you will have to suspend your disbelief over one HUGE coincidence but if you are able to do that, it’s a fun ride overall. 4 stars from me.

Book #11:

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots (Length: 447 pages). I listened to this and it’s the PERFECT novel to listen to as it’s so much fun. Anna is a data science wonk whose spreadsheets are a dream, and she works for a temp agency where she supports villains. Villains need office workers too. Anna’s talents are recognized by one villain in particular, and she starts to expand her talents in clever and gory ways. There are laugh out loud lines here, and the details (such as the bodyguards being called the “Meat”) make this such a fun time. This is such a unique premise that’s executed masterfully. Anna’s voice is so well-crafted here, and I was excited to keep listening each time I had the opportunity to. The sequel is out this year and I will absolutely be grabbing this one. 5 stars. Obviously.

Book #12:

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang (Length: 422 pages).  I was in the mood for fantasy/sci fi and picked up this dark academia novel set in a domed city of Tiran. Outside the dome, the Blight is slowly destroying all of the plants, animals and remaining tribes of people. Inside, the city is fueled by magic, with magicians generating spells to extract power from the OtherRealm to spark electricity to run all of the city’s functions. Sciona Freyman is the first female high mage (magician) and is tasked with finding a spell to expand the dome. There is fantastic world-building here (but it’s not too complicated), the character development is beautifully drawn, and the plot is well-constructed. The premise is unique as well, which will make this one stand out in my memory of this novel. 5 solid stars from me!

Book #13:

I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon (Length: 344 pages). This is a historical fiction novel about Anna Anderson, a young woman in 1920s Europe who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov, who was believed to be executed along with her entire royal family in 1918 Russia. This is well-written and is a fascinating story about true events. The author does an excellent job of weaving in historical facts while still making the plot propulsive, resulting in a strong historical fiction novel. There are clues sprinkled throughout as to the what the truth is but these are only there if you are looking for them; if the reader prefers to be surprised by the ending, that can happen here as well. I am deducting a half star for its organization. The author mentions in the Author’s Note that she styled the diminishing present to past narrative style a la the movie Memento. This was a bit confusing and frustrating at times. 4.5 stars from me.

Book #14:

Heart the Lover by Lily King (188 pages).  I adore this author and I really enjoyed Writers & Lovers (which I reviewed in November of last year). This slim novel is not considered to be a sequel but there is a tie of sorts to her previous work. In this novel, Jordan is in college with two male best friends: Sam and Yash. She dates one and is good friends with the other, and then the novel flashes forward to Jordan married with two young kids. The majority of this novel is about Jordan’s relationship with one of the two best friends. This is SO well-written, is mostly character driven given not much happens. I truly love the narrator’s voice here as it’s so authentic and real. 5 stars!

January 2026–Part Two:

February 1, 2026

Book #5:

One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford (352 pages).  I learned about this science fiction novel from the Currently Reading podcast. (If you’re not already listening this amazing podcast, you need to start!) This is a horror/sci-fi novel about a zombie apocalypse that is geographically limited to London. Kesta is a scientist/histologist whose husband was one of the infected earlier in the apocalypse, so Kesta has a vested interest in finding a cure. This is very well-written, the plot is obviously propulsive (ie, will Kesta find a cure in time to save her husband?) and is a very stressful read. This novel was a bit slow to start for me, but I’m glad I hung in there as the rest of the ride was a lot of fun. 4 stars from me.

Book #6:

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (Length: 370 pages). My daughter, who is a big fan of Shakespeare, loves this novel and urged me to pick it up. This is a coming-of-age mystery novel set in a small liberal arts private college and features seven Shakespearean actors in their senior year. Something dramatic happens to one of them and the majority of the novel deals with the aftermath of one violent act. This is told partially in flashbacks, is really beautifully written with a LOT of Shakespeare references. It’s been over 30 years since I studied Shakespeare in college so some of these went over my head, but I did appreciate this literary fiction angle, as it stands out from the run of the mill mysteries I typically read. This darkly atmospheric novel is memorable, and while none of the characters are likeable, their interactions with one another and their journeys through this traumatic act are fascinating and I’m glad I read it. 4.5 stars from me.

Book #7:

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (Length: 385pages).  I really enjoyed this women’s fiction/mystery novel! I do wish I had read it in the summer as it’s a quintessential summer read. Featuring the uber-wealthy and very dysfunctional Storm family, this is like the TV series Succession with an Elin Hilderbrand atmospheric island romance mixed in. The protagonist is Alice Storm, the black sheep returning home to Storm Island after her father dies. Post-death, there’s one last family game to “win” their inheritance, which is how the family patriarch liked to run the family. This had entirely more depth than I expected, with a sidebar romance that is well-drawn with believable chemistry. I enjoyed every minute of this fun book and couldn’t wait to pick it up each time. 5 stars from me.

Book #8:

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (Length: 359 pages). I really enjoyed this author’s previous mystery (The Last Flight–reviewed here) so I was excited to pick up this suspense thriller. The protagonist, Olivia Dumont, is hired to ghostwrite her estranged father’s memoir as he’s dying of dementia. He tells her he will finally reveal what really happened when his brother and sister were murdered in the 1970s. This plot is so well-constructed and very propulsive, the writing quality is strong and there are a few twists that really make this one stand out from the pack. The author’s ability to put the reader into another era is pretty masterful here and makes for an unforgettable read, which is difficult to achieve in this packed genre space. 5 solid stars from me.

Book #9:

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The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (306 pages).  I have had this backlist title on my shelves for YEARS, and in the spirit of clearing out my bookshelves this year (one of my New Year’s resolutions), I finally picked it up. This is magical realism, so if you’re not willing to suspend your disbelief and go along with the ride, you will NOT enjoy this book. I knew this going in and I was able to appreciate this novel for what the author was going for. This is about a young girl, Rose Edelstein, who realizes at a young age that she can taste the emotions of the people who grow, harvest and cook the food she eats. Her brother Joseph also has an odd gift (revealed much later in the book) that causes him a similar stress. This novel features strange characters, many family secrets and strong and lyrical writing. I ultimately enjoyed reading this and it’s absolutely memorable. I see it referenced here and there and I’m glad I can finally be a part of this novel’s audience. 4 stars from me.