I was able to read two e-books and three audiobooks despite February being a short month! What did you read this month? What was your favorite? Least favorite?

The Office Ladies BFF’s by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

Audiobook narrated by authors

☕️☕️☕️☕️/5

I loved listening to the authors narrate their parts of the book. It felt very much like listening to an episode of their podcast, The Office Ladies.

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey share their road to landing The Office, how they became BFFs, and many other stories from their time together. They will make you laugh as they share tales of coworkers and days on the set. They talk about navigating Hollywood and how there was no handbook.

I really enjoyed this book. I gave it four coffees instead of five because a few of the stories were repeats from the podcast. I loved following the ladies from their start in Hollywood to getting on the office to how they decided to do a book and podcast. It’s interesting to hear how all of this came to be. I enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at things. 

I missed not having the photos you’d get in a physical book but I loved the added audio clips from other cast members. It was a fun listen! And having Rainn Wilson read his forward was perfect!

I would recommend this book if you are a fan of The Office. And if you listen to The Office Ladies podcast. You may have heard a few of these stories before but the book offers slightly different insight.

The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

☕️☕️☕️☕️/5

7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle on hotel balcony overlooking ocean

Each night Evelyn Hardcastle dies. In order to break the cycle, Aiden Bishop must solve the murder by day 8. But Aiden wakes up as a new party guest each morning. Will he solve the murder before it’s too late?

Although a bit slow to start, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is an intriguing locked-room mystery. As a reader, you find out new information as Bishop does. Your mind will be trying to solve and unravel all the mysteries. You may figure out some but it seems like Turton throws a curveball every time you think you’ve solved it.

It was a bit long and a few parts were tedious but once you got into the middle it picks up and you will want to keep reading to figure it all out.

It lost a ☕️ from me because some of the backstory/explanation seemed glossed over. I felt this could have been given a few more pages. It felt like an afterthought. 

I would recommend this for people that like mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Audiobook narrated by the author

☕️☕️☕️☕️.5/5

I really appreciate it when authors read their own books. It really adds to the story and helps to hold my attention. And for Jenette McCurdy, I could feel her emotion and wanted to give her a hug so many times!

I would recommend this book to anyone, even if you don’t know who Jennette McCurdy is. I had heard of iCarly and Cat and Sam but never watched either show. I don’t believe I have watched McCurdy in anything but I still thought this was a great book.

It gives insight into what goes on behind closed doors and how parents can think they are doing their best for their children. But they aren’t. And the hold that parents can have over their children until something traumatic happens. 

Some of it also spoke to broader society and how we treat celebrity children. It seems we often forget they are 1. People and 2. Children. Literal children. And society is over here judging them on their body and the person we think they are (aka their character).  

How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis

Audiobook narrated by the author

☕️☕️☕️☕️/5

We have all been there. The house seems like a tornado went through. We have work deadlines. Family obligations but THE HOUSE! It NEEDS to get cleaned! Perfectly at that! Not a piece of lint out of place. 

Ugh, who has time for that? Who has the energy?

How to Keep House While Drowning shows you, it’s not necessary to have everything perfect all the time. You have time to clean the kitchen? Do it. Don’t worry about the bathroom yet. Do clean clothes pile up somewhere not the laundry room or bedroom? Put a laundry basket there.

Davis gives you permission to clean and organize in ways that work for you. I know, I know, a radical concept! You are the one living there, you need it to work for you. It doesn’t need to be magazine perfect. You don’t need to be perfect.

I would recommend this book to anyone that feels like they can’t keep up with everything, especially housework. Davis gives background info and personal stories, plus she offers solutions that feel like I could actually implement them, solutions that feel helpful and sustainable. 

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

☕☕☕☕☕/5

How to Sell a Haunted House book in a home office

After the sudden death, Louise has to return to her childhood home and sort through their belongings with her loser brother Mark. But the house isn’t quite right and her brother won’t stop playing tricks on her. Or is there something else at play here?

At first, I wasn’t sure I would get through this book. 

Not because it was bad but because it was too good and started to actually creep me out. Then once I got past my issues, I could not put the book down! I wanted to keep reading after my lunch break ended. I wanted to find out how everything was resolved. And when you think it’s resolved, Hendrix does a twist that I did not see coming (but maybe should have??). 

Hendrix is a great writer. The book is long-ish (over 400 pages) but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s a quick, easy read yet he really puts you in the scenes. Hendrix also makes you care about the characters. What will happen to Louise? Will she reconnect with her brother? Is Mark really a loser or is there more to his story? 

I liked the ending but I almost would have liked an epilogue. Where are Louise and Mark in five years? It’s probably overkill. But I like a little hint at the future.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes horror or haunting stories and good character development.

Categories: Books

Jenna

Jenna Volden has a degree in business and has spent the last 10 plus years working for others. She believes it is time to start her own photography and writing business. She enjoys running, coffee and helping others achieve their goals. Gluten-free foods are a lifestyle, not a choice, for her due to celiac disease. She is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona.