Hello friends – I’m so sorry for the extended absence. It’s been a year with ups and downs but this time, I’ve just had to retreat a bit more than usual. Before I tell you what’s been going on, let’s talk about the books that made up my reading year.

Favorites in Fiction: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawson, How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz, and Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes.

Favorites in Mystery: The Mountain King by Anders de la Motte, The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

The Numbers:
Total books read in 2025: 33
Books by women: 27
Books by men: 6
Fiction: 12
Mystery: 14
Nonfiction: 1
Romance: 4
Poetry Collections: 2
Books in translation: 2 (Swedish and German)
Audiobooks: 18

My reading took a big hit this year due sheer exhaustion. Unfortunately my mom fell twice this year and while we were super lucky she didn’t break anything, now that she’s in her late 80s it is much harder for her to recuperate after a fall so I’ve taken on even more caregiving duties. Thankfully she does live with us but as we don’t have any family in the country all caregiving falls on me. Luckily my wonderful husband takes care of a lot of the household details. Another major event was that my father-in-law passed away this fall and while it wasn’t something unexpected given some health issues he’d been dealing with, it is still hard to process such a huge loss.

So while books have always been a great source of comfort, unfortunately I just haven’t had as much time to read or when I do have time some time, sleep wins over and I end up only reading a page or two. Needless to say, thank goodness for audiobooks which I can use during my work commute and/or when I’m running errands.

I am so grateful though for the wonderful times I did have this year, like friends who came to visit, my dear cousin who stayed with my mom while my husband and I made a quick getaway to Salt Lake City and my enjoyment in creative pursuits.

I wish I could say I’ll be back to blogland regularly as somehow a new year always fills me with hope, but we’ll see. I do miss spending time with you and just want to thank you so very much for your patience and kind words throughout the year. I’m taking a couple of days off from work so here’s to a bit more extra time for reading and relaxing!

Wishing you a wonderful 2026, and may it be filled with all the best things in life! Happy New Year!

Smiles,
Iliana

It has been a long time since I talked about new books to look forward to but I’m glad to be back to report on some recent ARCs I’ve received. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for these advance review copies:

Isola by Allegra Goodman. Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes an unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island. A story of survival. On sale 2/4/25.

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass. When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it. Fifteen months later, with the help of her best friend she finally feels safe again in the snowy Minnesota town she calls home. But when an anonymous note appears on her windshield bearing the same threats her attacker made, Shelby realizes that her nightmare has only just begun. On sale 2/11/25.

Rio Muerto by Ricardo Silva Romero; translated by Victor Meadowcroft. On the outskirts of Belen del Chami, a town that has yet to appear on any map of Colombia, the mute Salomón Palacios is murdered a few steps away from his home. His widow, the courageous and foul-mouthed Hipolita Arenas, completely loses her sanity and confronts the paramilitaries and local politicians, challenging them to also kill her and her two fatherless sons. On sale 2/18/25.

Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi. A novel about a tight-knit Pakistani family. The Ibrahim family is facing a crucial moment after having lost their fortune. At the family’s core is Asma—successful doctor and the long-suffering middle daughter. Despite what the prying aunties think, Asma is living the life she has always wanted, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a doctor . . . or so she thinks. On sale 2/18/25.

The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay. Two unlikely friends hatch an extraordinary scheme to expose the theater world. Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright dreams of making it big in London’s theater world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem. On sale 2/25/25.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her. Treating Alice Webber a young girl who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. On sale 2/25/25.

What do you think, which one sounds good to you?