Domestic dramas, thrillers, tearjerkers, historical fiction, and Oprah’s latest book club pick filled my book stack this month. While none of these novels blew my mind, each one kept me entertained or moved me enough that I’d recommend them, depending on what kind of mood you’re in and which genre you’re after.

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Everything I Read This Month

First Lie Wins, Ashley Elston

Evie Porter (not her real name) has made a career of running elaborate schemes for her elusive and mysterious boss, Mr. Smith. Her latest target, smooth-talking businessman Ryan Sumner, is supposed to be just another job, until Evie’s feelings get in the way. As she starts to suspect Mr. Smith might be double-crossing her, the twists and turns come fast. I don’t typically read thrillers so I don’t have a lot to compare this to, but I found it entertaining despite some of her tricks seeming a little unbelievable. It was the perfect beach read while on vacation and it made me want to add more thrillers to my TBR.

Crux, Gabriel Tallent

Teenagers Tamma and Dan want nothing more than to escape their small town lives in a forgotten corner of the California desert and follow their dream of becoming dirtbag rock climbers. Their friendship forms the heart of this novel and it’s beautifully portrayed. Come back for my full review when Crux is published in January 2026. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Riverhead for the ARC.

Things Don’t Break on Their Own, Sarah Easter Collins

Twenty five years ago, Willa’s thirteen year old sister Laika disappeared on her way to school, never to be seen again. Willa looks for her everywhere she goes, and one night at a dinner party, becomes convinced she’s found her. I read this book quickly wanting to know what happened to Laika and if Willa really found her. The book is less of a thriller about her disappearance, and more of a domestic drama about what led to it and how it affects Willa and the people in her orbit. Much of the story is told in flashbacks by Laika, Willa, her first love and close friend Robyn, and others in their lives. There are themes of domestic violence, child abuse, alcoholism, queer love, friendship, and sisterhood. The relationships are beautifully written but I felt that the major turning points were too contrived. Still a compelling book that’s worth reading.

The Piano Tuner, Daniel Mason

I absolutely loved Daniel Mason’s novel North Woods and decided to read more of his books, starting with the excellent novel The Winter Soldier. The Piano Tuner was next on my list – it tells the story of Edgar Drake, a mild mannered piano tuner who the British War Office sends to the jungles of Burma in 1886 to tune the piano that an enigmatic doctor stationed there insisted on having sent to him. The book is a hero’s journey for Edgar as he finds himself transformed by all that he sees and experiences during his difficult journey. The writing is incredibly evocative and impressive for a young writer’s debut novel, but I found the pacing a bit slow. If you’re new to Daniel Mason’s writing I would recommend starting with North Woods, which I reviewed on Hardcovers and Highballs, my occasional blog with my friend Erin, where we pair our book club books with cocktails that they inspired. 

Culpability, Bruce Holsinger

Charlie, a seventeen year old lacrosse star about to start his collegiate career at UNC, is at the wheel of his family’s self-driving minivan while his parents and sisters, passengers in the van, are distracted by their devices. The van crashes head-on into another car, killing its passengers while the family survives intact. From there, the book explores who’s to blame, slowly revealing why everyone in the family feels at least partially at fault for the accident. This Oprah pick is a readable and thought-provoking family drama exploring parenthood, marriage, secrets, and the ethics of AI. Come back next week when I publish my full review. 

Babylonia, Costanza Casati

Babylonia is a fictional account of how the real life Semiramis rose from her unpromising beginnings as a baby abandoned by her mother and raised in a violent household to become ancient Assyria’s only female ruler. The setting is lush and richly imagined, with hanging gardens, luscious fruits, heady wines, and glittering jewels on every page. The ancient Assyrians’ legendary violence is on display in some very gory war scenes, while a love triangle softens some of the brutality. Read this if you’re interested in reading about a strong female protagonist and the politics and romance of the court in ancient Assyria, a fascinating culture that not enough authors write about. The hardcover book is gorgeous with its gilded edging and patterned endpapers.

The Bright Years, Sarah Damoff

Get your tissue box ready – The Bright Years is a tearjerker! This intergenerational saga about a marriage between a woman with a secret son and a man with a hidden alcohol problem has got a lot of drama: alcoholism, adoption, miscarriage, parents dying too young. I cried a lot while reading it. Recommended for readers who want a poignant family drama that will pull at your heartstrings.