Dracula by Bram Stoker
488 Pages, Published In 1897
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dracula (1897) is a gothic classic that masterfully balances bone-chilling horror with a deep sense of intimacy. The atmospheric castle and looming vampires are so vivid that I avoided reading at night for fear of nightmares. Told through journals and letters, it feels as though the characters are whispering their secrets directly into your ear. Nearly 500 pages, never a dull moment. It is a powerful journey of conquering evil through the strength of friendship, love, trust, and sacrifice.
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose
128 Pages, Published In 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nita Prose’s The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, 2.5) is a cozy Christmas novella. At under 200 pages, this short, holiday read is exactly what we need in the heart of a brutally cold winter. Returning to the familiar Regency Grand Hotel and endearing character Molly Gray’s orderly world brings so much comfort to the page. This heartwarming story explores love, trust, and vulnerability in a way that feels both tender and necessary in today’s world.
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
98 Pages, Published In 1998
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese? (1998) remains a timeless business classic that offers profound lessons on navigating uncertainty. Its core message—to stay adaptable and proactive—is more relevant today than ever in our rapidly changing world. At fewer than 100 pages, this short, concise fable resonates with both professional and personal life. A gift from my boss 20 years ago is now being passed on to the next generation, as its insights into managing change are truly ageless.
We'll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida
304 Pages, Published In 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat is the 2nd book in this quietly magical series, centered on a mysterious clinic that prescribes cats instead of medicine. Warm, comforting, simple, yet philosophical, the novel captures the essence of contemporary Japanese literature, with a gentle touch of magical realism. At its heart, it celebrates the profound bond between humans and animals, suggesting that cats—and perhaps all creatures—hold a unique healing power by bringing comfort and connection.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
368 Pages, Published In 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Remarkably Bright Creatures, a debut by Shelby Van Pelt, is a warm and uplifting novel that explores friendship, grief, and human connection through the alternating perspectives of a giant Pacific octopus and a 70-year-old widow who is a cleaner at the aquarium. The story is surprisingly action-packed, with lovely characters and a mysterious plot that keeps readers cliff-hanging until the very end. And as the title gently suggests, the “remarkably bright creature” isn’t only the octopus.
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
293 Pages, Published In 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose is a delightful second book in the Maid series, just as captivating as the first, The Maid. Told from the perspective of Molly, the neurodivergent head maid, the novel features beautiful, precise writing and an intriguing plot that keeps the mystery unsolved until the very end. When a famous writer is murdered at the hotel, Molly’s keen eye and ear for detail helps unravel the crime. Molly’s unique perspective make her an endearing and memorable protagonist.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
385 Pages, Published In 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson tells the story of two siblings uncovering their mother’s past and their Caribbean roots after her death, guided by a recording and a black cake left as inheritance. The novel weaves an intriguing plot with rich history and a compelling family saga, though the second half drags slightly.
The Joy of Connections by Dr. Ruth Westheimer
176 Pages, Published In 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Joy of Connections by Dr. Ruth, the renowned sex therapist, offers 100 practical tips for creating and deepening meaningful connections, addressing the epidemic of loneliness in our era. Organized into five sections—self, family, friends and lovers, community, and technology—the book reminds us that ‘Connection is not a luxury—it is essential to our well-being.’
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
253 Pages, Published In 1890
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Set in late 19th-century Victorian London, Oscar Wilde’s classic presents an intriguing premise—an aristocrat who retains his youth by transferring aging to a portrait—and unfolds through dramatic turns that are deeply philosophical in their examination of life, beauty, and morality. The novel probes consciousness as the inescapable awareness of one’s wrongdoing, revealing how corruption permanently marks the soul even when it remains hidden. The stark, dramatic ending leaves much unsaid.
Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong by Katie Gee Salisbury
480 Pages, Published In 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A compelling biography of Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American actress to rise to Hollywood stardom. Born in 1905 in LA to Chinese immigrants, Wong battled racism and anti-miscegenation while navigating Hollywood, working across film, radio, and TV, and achieving international fame in Europe and Asia. Embracing her Chinese heritage as a modern American woman, talented, resilient, and far ahead of her time, at great personal cost, she paved the way for future Asian American performers.
A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber
272 Pages, Published In 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber is a cozy, warm 272-page holiday read about a group of strangers stranded on a ferry to Seattle for hours on Christmas Day. What begins as ruined plans and shared frustration slowly turns into unexpected connections and small Christmas miracles. Comforting and easy to read, the story delivers exactly the seasonal warmth you’d expect—though its feel-good turns are largely predictable.
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
320 Pages, Published In 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A chilling memoir set in the age of social media that exposes the hidden trauma of a family of six raised under constant mental and emotional abuse by a controlling mother and her trusted relationship coach. Behind the viral 8 Passengers family YouTube vlog—which reached 2.5 million subscribers by 2020—the eldest daughter recounts a childhood shaped by fear, manipulation, and silence. The narrative culminates in the 2023 arrests of the two women and the shutdown of the viral channel.