True crime has been dominating the entertainment industry lately, from wildly popular podcasts to multi-part documentaries that have had real-world effects on the cases they follow. (The Jinx, anyone?) Consumption of the genre isn’t without its (very valid) critiques, though, so if you’re in search of some fiction that echoes the true crime doc or podcast experience, there are plenty of mysteries and thrillers on shelves that you should add to your reading list ASAP. Ahead, in no particular order, are some of my recent favorites — a mysterious death while studying abroad, kidnappings, serial ..read more

In an effort to avoid the stab of disappointment that comes with investing hours reading a twisty thriller or mystery novel that ends with a whimper rather than a shocking and/or murderous and/or satisfying and/or [insert whatever adjective you prefer here] bang, I’ve put my lifelong love of the genre to good use, just for you. Below, in no particular order, is a master list of some of my recent favorites, from true crime-infused serial killer sagas and mysterious deaths at tropical resorts, to murders on campus and beyond. 21 Thrillers With Truly Wild Plot Twists 〰️ 21 Thrillers With Truly W ..read more

Image Credits: Summit Entertainment, Touchstone Pictures, Sony Pictures, Focus Features It feels like we’re all desperate for more rom-coms on the big screen these days, and the powers that be finally deigned to throw us a bone with the recent Anyone But You, starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. However, like most things we find at the movies lately, the story isn’t wholly original — it’s a contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing. And you know what? I’ll take it! Hollywood has a long, celebrated tradition of putting modern-day spins on pieces of clas ..read more

Image Credit: Quinn Keaney Each year I try to read 100 books or more. I don’t always make my goal — minor life events like pushing a whole human being out of my own body last October derailed my 2023 progress, for instance — but for the most part, I’m able to crush a large volume of books between January and December, year after year. So, how am I able to avoid the pitfalls of endless Twitter doomscrolls or getting sucked into a TikTok binge? It’s not always easy, I’ll tell you that right now. But if one of your resolutions in 2024 is to read more books, I’ve found that there are a few (relat ..read more

As much as I’d love to lock myself in a cozy library and read all day, I simply don’t have the time — have I ever mentioned that being an adult is a scam? — which usually means I don’t get through the pile of unread books on my nightstand as fast as I’d like. So, to mix my reading tempo up, it’s always nice when I stumble upon an unexpectedly short novel. Especially when that novel happens to be 1.) in the horror genre (a personal fave), and 2.) excellent. Just in case you’re also on the hunt for a quick read that will leave you terrified, flooded with nightmares, and/or scarred for life all ..read more

Every year, much like I do for Kindle Unlimited, I find myself wondering one question: is my Book of the Month subscription worth it? Especially at a time when inflation (*cough* price gouging *cough*) has made just about everything we consume roughly 900 million dollars (on average). And honestly, my answer probably differs from month-to-month depending on my most recent read. But on the whole, though there have been some definite flops (ahem), for the most part BOTM Club has introduced me to more good books than bad and isn’t priced high enough for me to cancel it. (At least not yet — I’ve ..read more

Not sure if you were aware, but fall/October/spooky szn wasn’t allowed to officially start until Mike Flanagan released his latest installment of the Haunting of Hill House series, The Fall of the House of Usher. But rejoice, horror fans — it’s out now on Netflix! And it’s a bloody, gory, literary-reference-and-revenge-filled eight episodes of fun. (And nightmares — many, many nightmares.) Just like in seasons one and two — which were loosely based on Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, respectfully — Flanagan has approached this adaptation of ..read more

Image Credit: Quinn Keaney What makes an A24 film immediately distinctive? The movie studio’s titles are wide and varied, from critically-acclaimed Oscar winners like Everything, Everywhere, All at Once and Moonlight, to coming-of-age dramas like Lady Bird and Eighth Grade, but there’s just . . . something about them, something that makes it immediately clear which studio is involved. Obviously the directors of those films are the arbiters of how they look, feel, and play out, but when it comes to the studio’s horror movies in particular — which have played a big role in the trend of “elevate ..read more

Got a few book obsessives on your shopping list this year, for the holidays or otherwise? Never fear, I’ve got you (and your shopping cart) covered. From personalized book stamps that make unique stocking stuffers, to unique tees and sweatshirts repping independent bookstores that will give any literary lover street cred, check out my favorite book-themed gifts. 20 Things Every Bookworm Should Have in Their Closet 〰️ 20 Things Every Bookworm Should Have in Their Closet〰️ 20 Things Every Bookworm Should Have in Their Closet 〰️ Bookish Stocking Stuffers — Gifts on the small side, and all unde ..read more

Graphic design is NOT my passion, please try to just ignore this art. A friend recently posed a very serious, life-or-death question of the utmost importance to me: is subscribing to Kindle Unlimited (KU) worth it? Especially now that its monthly fee has increased from $9.99 to $11.99(+ taxes), as of May 11? And my answer is that, mainly, is that it depends on how many books you truly, genuinely read a month. (Size of your TBR pile notwithstanding.) First, the nitty-gritty: how does Kindle Unlimited even work? On the surface, signing up for a Kindle Unlimited subscription makes sense if you’r ..read more