The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell

I was really expecting more with a subtitle like "Notes on Modern Irrationality." Really, most of this boiled down to concepts that have been around for... quite awhile. Like "Sunk Cost Fallacy" or the "Recency Illusion." Neither are new in the scope of humankind. 

Montell is a good writer but I wish there had been either a warning that this was more memoir than I was expecting or a deeper dive into some of these concepts. Montell generally defines them but doesn't give the same rigor to these as she had in previous books. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 9, 2024

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Murderous RIde; A Taste of Murder by Helena Marchmont, Nathaniel Parker (Narrator)

 A Murderous Ride

In book one of this series, Alfie went to Bunburry to see the cottage his aunt had left him. He had spent time in the village as a child and being here as an adult was bringing back memories, both good and bad. He decided to stick around not least because he solved a murder with his aunt's friends Liz and Marge. 

We learn that Alfie is not much of a driver; there appears to have been an accident in his past. But he lives in the country and the bus system is... not the best. And his aunt has left him a vintage Jaguar. It is that Jaguar, that ends up on top of a mechanic and lands Alfie straight in the crosshairs of the local sergeant who decides, basically on sight, that Alfie must be the man who murdered him. 

It's up to Alfie and the crew to determine who the real killer was and clear his name.

Three stars
Bunburry #2

This book came out November 1, 2018

Follows Murder at the Mousetrap

Followed by A Taste of Murder

Audiobook from Audible

A Taste of Murder

Vivian has been mentioned in previous books. Her absence from Alfie's life has been a bit murky. In this book, we get more information not only on why she is no longer with Alfie, but also how the two met. But that is wrapped around a murder in the present day. 

A local farmer is murdered. Alfie's friend Betty is suspected of the crime as she had had an arguement with the man about how he treated his animals. 

Three stars

Bunburry #3

This book came out November 1, 2018

Follows 

Followed by Death of a Ladies' Man

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

A Wedding in the Lowcountry by Preslaysa Williams

Trevor and Avila were childhood friends and could have been something more... but weren't. No they're both back in Myrtle Beach. Trevor as a professor at a nearby university, and Avila is there to get her recently deceased mother's house on the market. 

Also with Avila is her daughter, the one with whom she got pregnant after a one night stand and the reason her mother kicked her out of the house. 

I liked that Avila had room to grow but wish had started earlier in the book as she was somewhat annoying before she started to open up. 

Three stars

This book came out February 18, 2025

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

 This is a really interesting book that I hope to have the chance to read again. I highly recommend getting a copy of your own to be able to really dive into Le Cunff's suggestions.

Too much of our life is centered on "productivity" or "career" where we could be working toward happiness. There are a LOT of examples which dilutes the message a little but I overall enjoyed this book. 

Four stars

This book came out March 24, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Find Your Why: A practical leadership book to bring purpose to your team by Simon Sinek, David Mead, Peter Docker

This is a companion book to Sinek's "Start with Why." This book helps you to define and refine your why. It's a long process (estimated needing at least 3 hours for individuals, 4 for teams.) It starts with stories and discovering what themes are in the stories you remember the most, what gives you pride or regret. This is best done with a facilitator and there are notes throughout the book to help them. 

One thing that stuck with me is that people's whys may sound the same on the surface and that's okay. Hows and whats will provide variety to everyone. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 5, 2017

Connect to Start with Why

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Shining #1 The Shining Stephen King , Campbell Scott (Narrator)

I read this most years around Halloween.  Absolutely spooks me every time.

The story of a recovering alcoholic who takes his family up to a secluded mountain hotel where he'll stay as the winter caretaker. However, his five-year-old son, Danny, is special. He has "The Shining," a mystical second-sight that allows him to sense the thoughts of those around him. And it's waking up the hotel....

Four and a half stars

This book came out January 28, 1977

The Shining #1

Followed by Doctor Sleep

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

What a fun book. 

Asil has been set up on a series of dates. A group of "concerned friends" think he needs companionship so they have put his information on a series of dating apps. He will need to go through all of the dates for his friends to leave him alone. Sounds innocuous enough but somehow, Asil has to deal with any number of baddies on each of the dates. For some of the dates, we get to see the whole thing, others are told to us from the perspective of the date already being over.

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 21, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own