At the beginning of 2020, I decided to start an Instagram page dedicated to reading and reviewing books. I’ve had several people ask me “what made you want to start Books & Et cetera?” and honestly I don’t have a specific answer. I have been following many book accounts for years and I thought it would be fun to make one myself, that’s basically it!
I have always enjoyed reading, but the amount of books I have read in the past two years has dramatically increased. Before 2019, I read mostly nonfiction because I love learning new things. For my 2019 New Year’s resolution, I wanted to read one fiction book a month. I ended up reading 29 books in total and I absolutely loved it! Every book I finished made me all the more eager to pick up another, and another, and another…Since the start of Books & Et cetera, I have read 33 books in just over 5 months.
Since starting my account, I have been wanting to expand what I do (hence the “et cetera”). I would love to write posts on cooking tutorials, share some of my personal recipes, and give insight and advice about fitness and health using my background in sports and science. I am far from being a professional anything. I am simply a twenty-something year old science teacher who has a passion for sharing what I know (as my friends and family can attest).
What you can expect from this blog: lots of posts on books, some fun new recipes to try, and a lot of me rambling about things that I love. I hope that you follow along my journey and that you get something postive and beneficial out of this!
I personally love nonfiction books! I feel like nonfiction often gets a bad rap, but here are some of my favorites that you are sure to love!
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
5. CORK DORK by Bianca Bosker
This fun memoir is about Bianca’s wine-filled journey to becoming a certified sommelier in NYC. In this fun story, you will appreciate the science, dedication, and elegance that goes into a glass of wine.
This beautiful story gives us a lens of Austin’s personal experiences growing up in middle-class white America. One of Austin’s first memories of encountering racialized America occurred when she was 7 years old; she learned that her parents named her Austin to potentially deceive future employers into thinking that she was a white male. I highly recommend this read to anyone and everyone.
Wow wow wow. This memoir is straight-up crazy. Tara didn’t step into a school until she was 17 years old. She grew up in a survivalists cult in the mountains of Idaho. Despite her upbringing, she was able to get into college and continued to not only earn a masters but also a doctorate degree. Her story is incredible and you will not be able to put down this book!
I flippin’ love this book. This book is perfect for parents, teachers, business professionals…really anyone! The ideology behind this book is simple yet life-changing. The fixed-mindset versus growth-mindset is so important, especially for our youth: something as simple as saying “wow, you’re so smart” versus “wow, I can tell how hard you worked on that” can be pivotal. I urge everyone to pick this one up.
How has this book not been more popular on Bookstagram? I read this book over two years ago and I still think about it! Tiffany writes about her recovery from drug addiction and it is quite incredible (she was literally dating a cop during the height of her addiction). Her story is both absolutely inspiring but lends a picture to what it is like to struggle with addiction. Tiffany’s memoir builds empathy and is a beautiful story of recovery and reconciliation.
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
5. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE by Carola Lovering
Photo from @booksandetcetera
Genre: Mystery / Suspense
Why I loved this one? With so many unpredictable plot twists, this story is told with three alternating POVs with a nonlinear timeline. This a total binge-worthy book that I could not put down.
TW: Alcohol and drug addiction, rape and sexual assault, infidelity, obsessive compulsive disorder, loss of loved one.
4. DIAL A FOR AUNTIES by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Photo from @booksandetcetera
Genre: Mystery & Contemporary Romcom
Why I loved this one? This book literally made my LOL. It was fun and completely unputdownable. I loved the characters and relationships developed in this story and I was absorbed in the story until the very end!
Why I loved this one? The chemistry (pun intended) between the main characters was sublime! This romance has a truly unique plot and is perfect for any reader trying to get over a book hangover or reading rut!
Why I loved this one? This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story that begins with two half-sisters in Ghana in the 18th century. Every chapter portrays the next generation that follows and compares the families of both sisters. To this day I am still thinking about this story. I want to note that this is not a page-turner. Every page deserves to be read carefully and thoughtfully. Out of all of my reads from 2021, this is one of the few that I have actually thought about months and months after reading.
Why I loved this one? This one easily takes the cake. All I can say is WOW. The brainpower that went into creating this story literally blows my mind. As a science person, I loved the methodical progress in the plot. But also the plot twist! This story kept me captivated from the first paragraph to the last. I loved the flashbacks which filled in the gaps of the story and the overall growth in the main character. Even if you aren’t a sci-fi person, this book has so much depth, I recommend it to anyone and everyone.
If you follow my Instagram page, you’ve probably noticed that I have been posting a lot of new products on my Etsy shop. Almost every other week I have a new item available.
Honestly, I love creating and designing new products and I am heavily considering making it a full time job.
Yep, I said it. I am strongly considering not teaching next year to focus on my growing Etsy shop. Honestly, I thought I would teach for 20+ years. And I might still do that. But if I am being honest, I am really burned out.
The thing is, this year I probably have the best group of students I’ve ever had while teaching. I LOVE my students. I have so many wonderful kiddos and have developed so many meaningful relationships with them as both a teacher and a coach. I genuinely look forward to talking with my students and attempting to convince them that science is the coolest thing ever.
And yet, this year has been a bear. Let me give you a small insight into the challenges of being a teacher.
First and foremost, my job is to create a safe space where students, aka teenagers, feel protected and cared for. In a high school setting, that in and of itself is a feat.
Second, I have a class that has a state test that they are required to pass. So I have to really teach the standards. Whether I agree with them or not.
Next, I teach at a Title I school. Roughly 85% of my school qualifies for free or reduced lunch. To put that into perspective, to qualify for free lunch, a family of four would have to make less than a combined total of $34,060 a year. I teach in a rural community where education is often taken for granted. The majority of my students do not have computers or Wi-Fi at home, so most of them basically didn’t learn or do any work during the months that schools were shut down.
All of that, in and of itself, is quite the challenge. A challenge that I usually enjoy, but enter in a pandemic.
Imagine a kid tests positive for COVID. Every student who sits near this student in all 6 periods will quarantined. Imagine an athlete tests positive, the entire team is quarantined. I have had students who have been quarantined three times. That’s 6 weeks of school missed. Most of these students don’t do a lick of work while they are gone, even though I prepare packets, message them on TEAMS, and plan for their work upon return.
On top of that, it feels like every week I am getting new students who are transferring from remote learning. Many of these students were “enrolled” remotely but didn’t actually attend class or do any of their work. I have one student, for example, who recently enrolled in traditional brick and mortar school, but only attended two days of class during the first 5 months of school. I have many examples of similar situations. Put simply, for the majority of students, learning virtually or remotely is less than ideal.
Through all of this, teachers are still expected to teach like “normal.” We still have a state test and students still need to pass.
This pandemic affects kids in poverty drastically more than the average kid. For some of my students, when they aren’t at school, they don’t get to eat. When they aren’t at school, they don’t learn. When they aren’t at school, who knows the conditions that they live in and how it affects their mental health.
So yes, this year has been hard.
Enter my blog and Etsy shop. I daydream about my shop and my products. I am constantly thinking of new product ideas, how to improve my shop, how to expand it.
I honestly don’t know if I can teach another year. Mostly because next year, I will be teaching in a new state, at a new school, with new state standards, a new boss, and new students.
On top of that, moving to a different state usually requires a new application and test to earn an in-state credential.
If I were staying put, I would push through this year and continue teaching because I am connected at my current school. But as a military spouse that moves every 2-3 years, it is so hard to put down roots.
In the 5 years I have been a teacher, I have had to take a test every year to maintain my credential. I am currently certified to teach 6-12 science in Texas, physics and chemistry in California, and biology and chemistry in Florida. I am qualified in one location, but as soon as I move to a new state, I am suddenly unqualified.
Being an Etsy shop owner, I don’t have to “restart.” I can continue working on the same projects, producing the same products, and growing my brand that I’ve already started. You have no idea how nice that sounds.
Will I teach next year? Probably. I think I would just miss it too much.
Do I daydream of the day where my Etsy shop is sufficient to be a full-time job? 100% yes.
The thing is, it takes a while to grow your business. My teaching job is currently paying for a lot of the initial investment in my Etsy shop. While I am proud of the progress my shop has made, I haven’t made a big profit. The saying “you have to spend money to make money” is very true. I am working on expanding my shop so that I can start to work with boutique shops in our new location or even farmer’s markets and other small venues.
All in all, here is how I feel.
I love teaching. I love my students. I will finish this year and I will finish it strong, even if I decide not to teach next year.
I will continue to grow my shop. And we will see what happens. In the meantime, thank you for following along. Thank you for supporting my shop. And thank you for supporting me.
Let me start by saying that this is one of the most difficult posts I have ever had to write. How can I narrow down a whole year’s worth of reading to only 10 books?! Throughout this year, my world has been opened up to more genres, more authors, and more characters than I have ever been exposed to before. I read a total of 79 books in 2020, so to narrow down the top 10 is quite a difficult feat, but here is what I came up with:
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
10. In A Holidaze
Genre: Holiday Romance
What I loved: This book is just a lot of fun. This is the perfect holiday read with so many fun Christmas traditions. It has snowball fights, Christmas tree shopping, eggnog, you name it.
What I loved: This is a fast paced thriller that takes place in a remote island off the coast of Ireland. There are many plot twists, multiple POVs, and a nonlinear timeline; definitely my cup of tea.
What I loved: Stuart Turton is one of my favorite authors. His detailed writing style, mini-cliff hangers, and unpredictable plot twists are just some of the reasons why I loved this book so much!
What I loved: I have not met one person who did not love this book. Combine The Hunger Games trilogy with The Handmaid’s Tale, plus its own unique thriller/romance plot, and you’ve got yourself one amazing read!
What I loved: This fast-paced sci-fi reads very similar to a thriller novel. This book was impossible to put down and really leaves you with a heavy book hangover once you are finished!
What I loved: I think this is probably one of the most popular reads of 2020 and that’s for a very good reason. This story delicately and intentionally delves into some difficult topics that need to be addressed. This book is not only unputdownable, but it also gives a fresh perspective through each character in the story that is worth reading.
What I loved: This story hooks you right away and will keep you reading until the late hours of night. This book is dark and twisted and absolutely addicting from beginning to end.
What I loved: This was probably my favorite thriller of 2020. I did not predict the plot twist or the ending at all! This was only my second read of the year and I am STILL thinking about it!
What I loved: Kristin Harmel is one of my favorite authors and this is my favorite book by her. I hardly ever cry while reading and this book gave me ALL THE TEARS. I fell in love with the characters and with the purpose of the story. To anyone who enjoys historical fiction or is wanting to try reading historical fiction for the first time, you need to pick this one up!
What I loved: This story BLEW MY MIND. I literally felt like my brain was exploding because of how incredible the plot was. I felt like there was no way the author, Blake Crouch, could wrap up the story and yet he did, and he did it perfectly. I am not much of a sci-fi reader, but this story also includes romance, thriller, and action. It is the first book I recommend to anyone and everyone.
It has been one year since I started my Bookstagram account, @Booksandetcetera. This past year has been hectic, unpredictable, and frustrating. However, Bookstagram has been a fun creative outlet that truly brings me joy. I have loved connecting with some wonderful people, taking and sharing book recommendations, and even starting my own small business.
While I do not claim to be a professional, I have learned a lot about photography and Instagram this past year. I have received a lot of questions about my page, so I thought it would make a great blog post to share with y’all!
Today I am sharing some tips and tricks on how I created my aesthetics on my feed and built my page. I am certainly not the first person to discover these tips, but if you are new to Bookstagram, or are simply interested in some things that worked for me, I hope you enjoy this post! Just to clarify before I begin, know that what works for one person, might not work for someone else. Everyone has their own style preference and you should always do what you like best!
1. TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS.
This is a big one. In the beginning, I didn’t even consider the effects of using artificial lighting in my photos. This left a tinted color that I really didn’t like. The two pictures below have the exact same filter settings and were both taken at my house in the middle of the day. The image on the right is a photo taken with the light on. The image on the left is a photo with all of the lights off and only natural light is used. Big difference, right?!
I like natural light only in my photos because I think the difference is pretty dramatic. In the two pictures above, the wall is painted the exact same color, but looks very different because of the effect of artificial light. Once again, this is my specific preference.
2. BE CONSISTENT IN THE TIME OF DAY YOU TAKE PICTURES.
This greatly impacts the lighting. I usually take photos between 10AM – 1PM on bright clear days. If it isn’t sunny outside, I don’t take any photos. Once again, lighting is everything.
3. MAKE SURE TO STRAIGHTEN IMAGES AND USE ANGLES TO CREATE A MODERN AESTHEIC.
This one is hard to describe, so I am going to include a couple before and after photos. In the photos below, I used the same preset (more to come on that), but the image on the right is slightly crooked. If you look closely, the bookshelves aren’t parallel to the top and bottom of the photo, and it appears that my bookshelf is leaning slightly to the right. Even though this isn’t a huge tilt, the fact that this photo isn’t straight lowers the quality of the photo in my opinion.
The two right photos below vary slightly in how they are angled. Notice how the bottom right image shows the book’s corners align with the photo. This is intentional because it contrasts to with the angle of the table that it’s sitting on. The book in the top right image is slightly off, which ruins the contrasting effect. This is the opposite of the left picture, where the bookshelf’s corners align with the corners of the photo and the book is angled about 30 degrees to pop in contrast. This is a strategic tilt because is contrasts with the bookshelf.
4. USE LIGHTROOM OR A DIFFERENT EDDITING APP TO CREATE A CONSISTENT THEME AND FILTER FOR YOUR PHOTOS.
This is perhaps the biggest tip if you aren’t already using this feature. Use THE SAME preset for every photo. When I started, I did not have consistency in how I edited my photos, which created a feed that didn’t really have a homogenous feel. I believe my page greatly improved when I began to use the same preset for every photo. See the comparison below. The image on the left is what my feed looked like in the very beginning, whereas the feed on the right is what it looks like now.
I use the Bright and Airy presets on Lightroom and I absolutely love it. It creates an aesthetic that I love and is very congruent with my style and personality. Other presets that I love are created by my friend, Jess. Here is a link for you to check it out, I highly recommend all of the them!
5. PLANTS AND COFFEE MUGS MAKE GREAT PROPS.
I firmly believe that plants make the best background props and overall home decoration. If you look at my current feed, almost every post includes a plant. Additionally, coffee mugs are great props that add a cozy feel to your photos. I also use a lot of candles (partially as advertisement for my Etsy shop) to increase the cozy aesthetic on my page.
6. IT’S OKAY IF YOU HAVE SIMILAR PHOTOS IN YOUR FEED.
I used to think that every photo needed to be completely unique. This is nearly impossible. Since almost every photo is take in my office (it gets the best lighting) it’s not really possible to make every photo completely different. When I started using similar setups (bookshelf in background, bookstacks on the rug, books stacked backwards next to a plant), I felt like my feed had more consistency and I wasn’t spending hours and hours on a single photo. Win, win (win–Office reference!)
7. TAKE MULTIPLE PHOTOS AT ONCE AND PLAN YOUR PHOTOS IN ADVANCE USING THE PREVIEW APP.
I use the app PREVIEW to plan out my photos in advance. I will take anywhere from 2-10 photos on the weekend and I will plan which days I post which picture. This is a game changer! For example, I don’t want to post two photos that feature my bookshelves back to back, or in a way where the two photos will be in the same column of my feed. This app helps me also preview how a future post will look on my feed, so I can make sure that each post is consistent in appeal before I actually commit to posting it. Like I said, GAME CHANGER!
8. DON’T GET HUNG UP ON HOW MANY LIKES YOU GET.
Do not be discouraged if your posts don’t get a ton of likes. Your posts and your page should be driven by what you love! I will be the first to admit that I have been discouraged at times by not getting enough “likes,” but when my time and effort shifted from caring about likes to posting what I care about with photos that I like, I started enjoying Bookstagram a lot more. I love how my page looks and I am proud of the photos I take! That’s all that matters. I don’t need to be validated by getting a certain amount of likes. If I get 1,000 likes great. If I get 50 likes, also great. As long as I am personally happy with each post.
9. INCLUDE ACTUAL CAPTIONS THAT GIVE YOUR PHOTO A PERSONALITY.
I love when others include interesting questions or information about themselves in the caption. The photo is only half of the story! This is definitely my personal preference, however.
10. IF YOU ARE GETTING FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOUR PHOTOS AREN’T TURNING OUT THE WAY YOU WANT, TAKE A BREAK.
I definitely need to take my own advice on this. Some days the creative juices are flowing from me. Other days I can’t get a single shot. The purpose to Bookstagram is to share your love of books and reading with others! If it is causing you stress, take a break. Pick up a book. Come back to it another day!
Like I said earlier, I am not the most knowledgeable on Instagram or photography. These tips were all discovered in the one year that I’ve had my account. What worked for me may or may not work for you and your personal aesthetic preference! But if you do take some of these tips, I hope it helps you in your Bookstagram journey!
Happy Holiday season! I am so excited to share these book recommendations with you all. If you want to buy a book for a friend, coworker, or family member, but aren’t sure what to get them, look no further! Here is a list of books they should like based on movies/tv shows they love!
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
If they like the movie…
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants then they should love: East Coast Girls
Okay, I know it’s still November but I have been craaaaving peppermint and Christmas themed drinks! I love peppermint mocha lattes even more than the PSL *gasp!* I made this recipe last weekend and I have been obsessed! I hope you love it as much as I do!
Enjoy!
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these items, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
A slightly extra, not fully necessary step is to preheat your water to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. You will need 10 ounces of water.
Measure 30 grams of beans. If you are grinding your own beans, make sure you are grinding on the “fine” setting. If you are using the espresso maker from above, simply fill the filter funnel all the way full.
Pour the heated water to the bottom chamber of your espresso maker (this will be to the max line if you are using the same espresso maker as above).
Attach the Moka Pot pieces together after pouring the water into the bottom chamber and the beans into the filter funnel. Place on a stovetop at the medium setting.
Put the milk, sugar, and cocoa powder in the milk frother. Use 2 or 3 TBSP of cocoa powder/sugar based on how sweet you enjoy your coffee beverages!
Froth the milk on the hot chocolate setting. I HIGHLY recommend using the milk frother that I’ve linked above. It’s the same one I use and I absolutely love it!
Pour 1/4 tsp of peppermint oil in each mug.
Pour the espresso evenly between your two mugs once it stops hissing.
Slowly pour/spoon the chocolate milk into our mug until it’s full!
Top with peppermint and whipped cream if using! Enjoy!
Have you ever been in a reading slump? You feel like you have a major book hangover or are struggling to get into a book?
We’ve all been there! Me especially! Usually when I am overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, I really struggle to sit still and focus on what I’m reading. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of people post about being in a reading slump, so I thought I would compile a lists of great reads to help you! These are some of my favorite books that I hope you love as much as I do!
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
Reason: This is such a fun young adult read! Imagine: what if President George Washington was actually the first monarch of the United States? I mean, how can you resist that? This book has romance and drama and royalty, oh my!
Reason: Oh my heart! I am so hoping that this book becomes a movie! If you read this and don’t fall in love with the main characters (ahem, Jonah, ahem) then I’m not sure what will do it for you!
Reason: Okay, so I know when people hear “nonfiction,” they tend to avoid it like the plague, but this book is OH SO GOOD. Tara writes a memoir about her life growing up in a cult that is preparing for end times. Her life is absolutely absurd you almost can’t believe it’s true. Her story is absolutely captivating!
Reason: What better way to get out of a reading slump than to read a young adult dystopian story? I lent this to my sister and she read it in one sitting! It’s both dark and delightful.
Reason: This is a fun rom com that will make you feel like you are on an island with a cocktail! Doesn’t that sound lovely? It’s light and fluffy and will make you laugh multiple times.
Reason: This romantic book has just the right amount of steam to get you out of a reading rut! If you are trying to squeeze a few more drops of summer, you need to pick this one up!
Reason: If I had to pick one physiological thriller for everyone to read, this will be it! This book is a page turner and the plot twist is completely unpredictable.
Reason: What better way to get you sucked into a story than an absolutely dark dystopia? If you can’t get sucked into this one, I don’t know what to tell ya! I started the TV series, but *not to be basic,* the book is so much better.
Reason: This thriller is dark and twisted and absolutely addicting. If you want a book that is unputdownable, this one is it! It’s also the perfect Fall read!
Welp! It’s that time of year (or maybe it’s slightly early, but don’t judge!) I decided to make my own recipe for a pumpkin spice latte (let’s stick with PSL from now on) to save money and maybe even a few calories!
I am absolutely obsessed with this recipe, I have made it every. single. day. for the past week and I still can’t get enough!
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these items, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
A slightly extra, not fully necessary step is to preheat your water to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. You will need 10 ounces of water.
Measure 30 grams of beans. If you are grinding your own beans, make sure you are grinding on the “fine” setting. If you are using the espresso maker from above, simply fill the filter funnel all the way full.
Pour the heated water to the bottom chamber of your espresso maker (this will be to the max line if you are using the same espresso maker as above).
Attach the Moka Pot pieces together after pouring the water into the bottom chamber and the beans into the filter funnel. Place on a stovetop at the medium setting.
Froth the milk. I highly recommend using the milk frother that I’ve attached. It’s the same one I use and I absolutely love it! Ensure it is on the “froth” setting.
Grab your mugs and add 2-3 pumps of syrup per cup depending on how sweet you like it.
Pour the espresso once it stops hissing.
Slowly pour/spoon the milk/froth into your mug until it’s full!
Already on Bookstagram I have noticed a switch from summer vibes to fall feels. While it still reaches 90 degrees here in sunny Florida, I have made a PSL every day this past week (recipe to come soon!) and shifted my book reading to match the upcoming season. Even so, I am enjoying a Samuel Adams Octoberfest whilst I type this post in my cozy front office.
I have been preparing and planning this post for the past couple of months. I wanted to pick 10 books that I felt perfectly embodied the upcoming season. I hope you can pick up and enjoy some of these reads as the temperature *hopefully* shifts to sweater weather and drinking a latte outside finally becomes comfortable.
*This post includes Amazon Affiliate links. If you do choose to buy any of these books, please consider using my specific links, as they allow me to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep up my blog! Thank you for your support!
If you are wanting to read a good classic that will give you all of the fall vibes…
1. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Why this is the perfect read: Agatha Christie is the queen of mystery for a reason. This classic mystery book is perhaps my all-time favorite read and is the perfect “whodunit” novel.
Why this is the perfect read: The main character, Jane Eyre, travels to Thornfield Hall, a gothic mansion, to become the governess of Adele. But this beautiful house is as mysterious as it is stunning. Insert hidden secrets, random fires, and the ever handsomely mystifying man, Edward Rochester.
Why this is the perfect read: Well, what says Halloween season better than a book about a nameless monster? Frankenstein becomes obsessed with creating life, only to find that he tragically created something much more horrifying and dark than he could have ever anticipated.
If you want to read something with a creepy or spooky vibe…
4. The Whisper Man by Alex North
Why this is the perfect read: The Whisper Man includes a murderer who lured children from their home by whispering to them through the window (creepy, right?!). This is a dark read that will make you want to double check that you’ve locked your doors and windows at night.
Why this is the perfect read: A book about ghosts and haunted houses?! Yes, please! On top of being a spooky read with multiple POVs and two timelines, it also has a cover that literally glows in the dark!
Why this is the perfect read: The story follows a girl, Carrie, who grew up in an oppressively “religious” home that made her mercilessly mocked by her peers. But Carrie has a secret, she can move things with her mind! As a Stephen King novice, this was a great read to introduce me to the horror genre!
If you want to read a dark and twisted thriller that will keep you turning the pages…
7. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Why this is the perfect read: Alicia is famous for viciously murdering her husband, then refusing to speak again. Criminal psychotherapist, Theo, attempts to unravel the mystery of what happened to Alicia and her husband, and oh my! You will not guess the ending!
Why this is the perfect read: This book is written with such exquisitely creepy style. The main character, Verity, is honestly one crazy chick. A page-turner I challenge you to put down, it is certain toj spark debate as to what actually happened.
Why this is the perfect read: This is one of my favorite thriller reads. Dark and twisted and has the perfect Halloween feels! Lisa Jewell writes in a dual timeline, multiple POV style to describe what happened to Ellie, the golden girl who suddenly vanished.
Why this is the perfect read: This book includes a polygamist marriage, hidden secrets, and plenty of plot twists. I honestly wouldn’t read much more about it before diving into this one, it’s better that way.
