What I’m reading (or have already read!) and recommend this month.
A Thief in the Night
KJ Charles
I got this book on audio first and it was so delightful I ended up getting the ebook as well. The premise is that, on the road, Toby robs and leaves someone high and dry. A few days later, when he shows up impersonating a London valet, his new charge is none other than the young Earl of Avon, the man he just robbed.
I think what I like about this book is that Charles manages in such a short piece to make us deeply care about both characters and also gives them both real trauma and backstories that make their decisions make sense. An absolute delight.
You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight
Kalynn Bayron
I recommended Bayron’s first book, Cinderella is Dead, a while ago and it wasn’t until I was doing this rec that I realized it was the same author. I found this to be a taut book about a horror camp that becomes real horror.
Charity plays the “final girl” every night at a horror themed sleep away camp, when suddenly things start going badly for her and her girlfriend Bezi. They have to figure out what’s going on and why someone suddenly is turning their themed experience into a real one.
Bryony and Roses
T. Kingfisher
This was my introduction to T. Kingfisher and, boy, what a good one it was. I grew up reading Beauty and the Beast retellings (there are some that still live on with their ‘90s covers on my shelf) and this book is a great addition to the canon. It makes some elements of the story so much more interesting and some just… less dumb, if that makes sense.
Overall, it’s a great story about two very likable people falling in love. I highly recommend it.