currently reading: I’m still reading The Writing Retreat. It’s so amazing. A group of five female writers are invited to the (supposedly haunted) house of an exceptional horror writer. Roza Vallo is an icon and a hero to young up-and-coming female writers, and for the the first-time ever she has invited some to her house for a month-long retreat. However, things aren’t entirely what they seem, and Alex starts to think that they may be in actual danger. But she has to figure out exactly what that danger is if she’s going to save herself and the other women from whatever Roza (or is it the house?) is doing to them. There is a spooky supernatural element to this that reminds me a little of the made-for-tv miniseries Rose Red, by Stephen King. This book is fantastic, and I am having so much fun with it. [Rose Red has been on my mind lately, ever since I heard that Julian Sands disappeared while hiking in California. He’s in the miniseries, and he plays his character with such grace that I thought he really stood out among an amazing cast. My heart is heavy to think that he’s no longer with us, but I have heard no news for several weeks, A very sad thing.]
I’m also reading Nobody Puts Romcoms in the Corner, which is (not surprisingly) a romcom about a lover of romcom films. Sally is a romcom lover and coffee shop owner who has a room to rent out. Harry (yep, they are Harry and Sally) needs a place to live temporarily and no interest in love, romcoms, or getting too close to his new landlord. But when a video of them attempting “the lift” from Dirty Dancing makes them an internet sensation, Sally suggests they make more videos to earn a little extra money. But what people love about their videos is the chemistry that appears onscreen between them. Will they find a way to create their own romcom moment, or will their story end in tears? This one is so much fun, and I can’t wait to get back to reading it!
I’m also listening to The Angel Maker by Alex North. The author of The Whisper Man and The Shadows, he is no stranger to bringing all the creeps to his stories. And this is no exception. I’m about halfway through, and it’s bananas. I’m not even sure what to say about it yet because I’m not entirely sure what’s happening yet. But the audiobook is beautifully narrated, so if you’re interested in reading it, give the audio book a try.
up next: the book for my next blog tour, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. It’s by Jesse Q. Sutanto, who has exploded with stories in the last few years that people cannot stop talking about. She has been writing for adults, like Dial A for Aunties and Four Aunties and a Wedding and thrillers for YA, like The New Girl and The Obsession. I haven’t read the Aunties books yet, although I have been wanting to make time for it, but I did read The Obsession, and it was intense. I am really looking forward to reading Vera Wong, and I can’t wait to dive in!
