snapshot 4.28

just finished: A Vicious Circle by Katherine St. John. Wow, what a ride! A woman has an uncle who wrote a self-help book and started a cult in the Mexican jungle. He’s died, and he’s left everything to her. But she’s going to have to survive the woman who has taken over the cult in order to get her inheritance, or even get back home. It’s crazy bananas and beautifully written, so if you love a good cult thriller, you should keep this one in mind.

currently reading: Out last week, I’m reading Judi Dench’s Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent. It’s fascinating. It’s basically just discussions she had with a friend about all the Shakespeare characters she’s appeared in. They go play by play, talking through the story of the play and everything she learned by diving so deeply into the character. It’s such a down-to-earth explanation of these plays. I wish I’d had this book back when I was in high school and college, trying to understand everything that was going on. Ms. Dench and her friend have a way of cutting through all the difficult language and getting to the heart of each play in a way I would have given anything for back then. Now, for me, all the classes are done and papers are written, so I can just enjoy these stories as a fan and marvel at Dench and her memory.

I’m also listening to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies. Fans of Finlay Donovan (and you know I’m right there with you), this one is for you. A thriller writer wants to end her best-selling thriller series by killing off her main character. But someone else may beat her to the punch by killing the man her main character is based on. I’m almost halfway done, and I am loving this one! You will not want to miss it.

Also out Tuesday is Love You, Mean It, a rom com in the vein of While You Were Sleeping (love that!). I’ve barely gotten to dip my toe in yet, but the main character of Ellie Greco is completely charming. She gave up her dream career in clothing design to move back and run the family deli when her father died. Now there is another deli moving in to town, and she wants to take out the competition before they lose their deli. But there is a problem. And it’s a handsome deli guy she ends up fake engaged to. This one is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to dedicate some time to this story.

up next: Out May 14 is the new Jenn McKinlay rom com, Love at First Book. They go to Ireland, there are books, people fall in love. That’s all I need to know. I can’t wait!