One of my goals this year is to help you spend less time wondering what to read next and more time actually reading.

This week's releases couldn't have been more different. I traveled through space with a sentient patch of moss, spent time with professional hockey players, uncovered small-town serial killer secrets, wandered the halls of a gothic mansion, and stayed up far too late unraveling one incredibly dysfunctional family's secrets.

As always, these are simply my personal reactions. A book that didn't work for me may become your next five-star read, and one I couldn't stop recommending might not be the right fit for someone else.

Let's get into it.

🛸 Moss'd in Space

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 4.75 stars

I knew this premise was unusual going in, but I was completely unprepared for how attached I'd become to a sentient spaceship made of moss.

At its core, Moss'd in Space is a cozy science fiction adventure about hope, healing, and finding where you belong. While Torian is searching for a way to save her chronically ill sister, Moss is simply looking for someone willing to believe it's worth another chance. Together, they form one of my favorite duos I've read all year.

The real magic of this book is its balance. It's funny without becoming silly, heartfelt without becoming overly sentimental, and cozy without sacrificing meaningful stakes. Every member of the crew adds something memorable, creating the kind of found family that makes you wish the adventure would never end.

Final thought: If you've been looking for a cozy sci-fi that delivers just as much heart as humor, this is an easy recommendation. Needless to say, I'll be first in line for book two.

🔪 Keep Them Close

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 5 stars

David Ellis has done it again.

He's one of the only thriller authors who consistently convinces me I've solved the mystery...right before revealing I haven't figured out anything at all.

What starts as a murder investigation quickly spirals into a story about family loyalty, betrayal, old secrets, and just how complicated sibling relationships can become. Every time I crossed someone off my suspect list, Ellis gave me another reason to put them right back on it.

Despite all of its twists, the novel never sacrifices character development. The family drama feels just as compelling as the mystery itself, making the reveals land even harder.

Final thought: I stayed up until two in the morning because I couldn't stop reading. If you're looking for a thriller to binge in one sitting, make it this one.

🌲 Thornbird

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 4.5 stars

Whenever an author jumps into a completely different genre, I'm always curious to see how it turns out. Thankfully, Elle Kennedy's first YA thriller absolutely delivers.

The mystery unfolds in a small town obsessed with the legacy of a notorious serial killer, and while the investigation takes a little time to fully get moving, Kennedy's character work easily carries the slower opening.

Once the suspense ramps up, though, the story becomes incredibly difficult to put down. The final act delivers exactly the kind of unsettling payoff I was hoping for, leaving behind that lingering sense of unease every good thriller should have.

Final thought: Whether you normally read YA or not, this is worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with creepy small-town atmosphere.

🏒 Big Stick Energy

Read or Skip: READ

Rating: 4 stars

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one easily became my favorite.

Between fake dating, workplace tension, a family wedding, and two genuinely lovable main characters, this romance simply worked from beginning to end.

What impressed me most was how emotionally mature the relationship felt. Darcy and Eric continually show up for one another without trying to rescue or change each other, creating a romance that feels both supportive and believable.

Final thought: If hockey romances are your comfort reads, this is an easy recommendation. It's funny, sweet, steamy, and full of heart.

🕯️ Songbird in the Gallows

Read or Skip: SKIP (for me)

Rating: 3 stars

This was one of my most anticipated releases because the premise sounded tailor-made for me: a Bluebeard retelling, a gothic mansion, morally gray characters, forbidden romance, and a murder-sober serial killer.

There were definitely things I enjoyed. Blue was easily my favorite character, Grimlock was wonderfully atmospheric, and the quirky supporting cast gave the town a lot of personality.

Ultimately, though, I struggled with the romance. It developed much faster than I personally prefer, and I never fully connected with Saylor, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested.

Final thought: This is much more a matter of personal taste than quality. Readers who love spicy dark romance with gothic aesthetics, taboo elements, and immediate chemistry may have a very different experience than I did.

Also Hitting Shelves This Week

Didn't see your next read above? Here are a few other releases arriving this week that caught my attention.

🎭 Main Characters

A literary romance told entirely through the perspectives of everyone except the couple at its center. Spanning two decades, it explores how one relationship shapes the people living it AND everyone watching from the sidelines.

Pick this up if you enjoy: Sally Rooney, David Nicholls, literary romance, relationship-driven stories, and unconventional narrative structures.

🎰 The Kings of Vegas

Imagine Succession set inside a Las Vegas casino empire. After her father's death, one woman returns home to battle her siblings, the FBI, organized crime, and rival casino owners for control of the family business.

Pick this up if you enjoy: family dynasties, crime thrillers, corporate power struggles, glamorous settings, and messy family drama.

🏡 The Housewife

A psychological suspense novel about a newlywed who slowly realizes her seemingly perfect husband may know far more about his first wife's death than anyone suspects.

Pick this up if you enjoy: domestic thrillers, controlling husbands, unreliable appearances, dark family secrets, and books by Freida McFadden or B.A. Paris.