👀 First impressions:With a title like Margot’s Got Money Troubles, I was expecting a quirky romp. What I got instead was something far richer: a razor-sharp, emotionally raw, and surprisingly tender exploration of womanhood, ambition, and the chaos of financial desperation. Rufi Thorpe writes with guts and honesty, and Margot is a protagonist you won’t soon forget.…

👀 First impressions:I went into Demon Copperhead expecting something literary and layered, but I was not prepared for how immediately I would fall under the spell of its narrator. From the very first page, Demon’s voice crackles with life, humour, and pain. This is a bold reimagining of David Copperfield, but it stands entirely on its own as a…

👀 First impressions:Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow came highly recommended and with a gorgeous premise: two friends bound by creativity, nostalgia, and the video games they make together. As someone who enjoys character-driven literary fiction with unconventional storytelling, I was excited to see what all the buzz was about. ✅ What I Liked:Gabrielle Zevin’s prose is lovely.…

👀 First impressions:Liane Moriarty always piques my interest with her knack for domestic drama and slow-burning suspense. The premise of Here One Moment, a reunion gone wrong and the secrets it dredges up, sounded like classic Moriarty, and I was eager to dive in. ✅ What I Liked:The initial setup is strong: a tight-knit group of lifelong…

👀 First impressions:The premise caught my eye immediately, an elderly woman forming a bond with a highly intelligent octopus at a small-town aquarium? I was intrigued. I expected something charming and offbeat, but I wasn’t prepared for just how emotionally layered this story would be. ✅ What I Liked:Tova is the heart of this novel. Her…

👀 First impressions:From the moment I saw the cover of Mexican Gothic, I was intrigued. A woman in a vintage dress, clutching roses and secrets, it promised mystery and atmosphere, and it absolutely delivered. Set in 1950s Mexico, this book immediately stood out as something fresh in the gothic horror genre. ✅ What I Liked:The setting is…

👀 First impressions:With all the hype around this book, I went in expecting a twisty psychological thriller that would knock me sideways. The concept is undeniably intriguing, a famous painter shoots her husband and never speaks again, and a psychotherapist becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth. It’s the kind of premise that practically begs to be…

👀 First impressions:I went into Giovanni’s Room knowing it was a classic, but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply it would cut. The spare beauty of the cover and Baldwin’s reputation led me to expect something introspective and bold, but this short novel far exceeded those expectations. From the first page, the prose shimmered with emotional precision and…

👀 First impressions:The title alone, Cultish, had me hooked. As someone fascinated by language, psychology, and the thin line between self-help and manipulation, I was eager to dive into Amanda Montell’s exploration of how words can be used to recruit, convert, and control. I expected a sociolinguistic deep-dive with a pop-culture twist, and that’s exactly what…