A witty, bittersweet short story centering on regret, forgiveness, and redemption.

This is a classic that I have been wanting to read for years, but for some reason (as usual), I kept putting it off. I wouldn't say that I was intimidated by it, but I did feel like there was no way it could live up to my expectations. While not quite what I imagined it would be, it captivated me in a way I couldn't have predicted.

Jane Eyre spends her early childhood being raised by her unloving, sometimes cruel aunt. She eventually sends Jane away to a charity school. Fortunately, Jane thrives at Lowood, surrounded by friends and people who care for her for the first time in her life.

Once she reaches adulthood, Jane is ready to venture into the world. She advertises to become a governess and is accepted by a woman named Mrs. Fairfax of Thornfield Hall. Jane is put in charge of young Adele, the ward of Thornfield's owner, Mr. Rochester. Jane enjoys her life at Thornfield Hall, and though she tries to resist him, she begins to fall for Mr. Rochester, though she doesn't always know what to make of him. Her feelings are made more complicated when Mr. Rochester's past becomes known to her.

Strong plot, but also extremely character driven, I like how the book follows Jane from childhood into adulthood and getting to watch her interior self grow. I loved how she was independent and even defiant at times, especially for the era, but also had a strong moral compass. I was surprised to see how grounded in Christianity the book is, as well.

Mr. Rochester was such a fascinating character and complemented Jane's disposition. Normally, classics end up being spoiled having been around for so long, but this book left me shocked at times, always involving him. Watching his development was one of the most enjoyable parts of the story.

Of course, this being a book from the 1800s, many things are dated, particularly some attitudes and terminologies. Unfortunate as it is, it's there, so bear that in mind going into it.

I've heard that Daphne Du Maurier was inspired by Charlotte Brontë's work, and I can see it. Undoubtedly, that's part of the reason I was so engrossed in the story. I'm so excited to read more from her!

Full disclosure: I only skimmed this one because it directly correlated with the events in Lovelight Farms. I've determined that this series is way too spicy for me. I may or may not continue with it. If I do, it's mainly because I already own a copy of Business Casual.

I really liked Beckett's character in the first book, so I was excited to read a bit more of him in this sequel. I'm not sure how I feel about his relationship with Evelyn, though. So much unnecessary miscommunication, which has lately become my least favorite trope.

It was interesting experiencing Abby Jimenez's earlier work after reading her more recent books. Even though a lot didn't sit well with me in this story, it's nice to see that there's a quality in her writing that has remained the same even as she's grown as an author.

Kristen meets Josh, a man who happily shares that he wants a big family just as she's coming to terms with the fact that having children won't be in the cards for her due to medical reasons. That, and the fact she's still involved with her long-distance boyfriend makes Josh off limits despite a strong, mutual attraction. Josh is best friends with Kristen's best friend's fiancé, so as wedding plans are made, they fall into a friendship of sorts.

Without treading too deeply into spoiler territory, I struggled with several elements of the book. First, the character's horrible communication (which I've also struggled with in other books by this author), which was a conscious decision made by Kristen. Second, although I can appreciate her personal struggles, I hate how she treated both Josh and Tyler and hid behind her condition. I could not warm up to her at all. Third, an emotionally heavy portion of the story felt like way too much for the situation. Granted, I got far more invested around this time. Lastly, the ending felt wildly unrealistic.

I do plan on continuing with the series as I'm planning on reading through Abby Jimenez's backlist.

Growing up with a mother who works in the field of psychology, I inherited her interest in the subject. This title instantly caught my attention. I've never read deeply into the medical side of things, so I was excited to branch out.

This book is mainly a biography of Dr. Solomon Snyder and his studies to find a pill that not only helps schizophrenic patients, but one replicates the experience of a psychotic episode. It's also a general history of the pharmaceutical approaches to various mental illnesses. At the beginning and the end, the author inserts his personal experiences with schizophrenia through his father, adding a personal touch.

I found the book interesting, but by the end, I wasn't entirely sure if the author was for or against Dr. Snyder's research. I suppose it can be thought of as presenting the pros and cons, but I would have liked that to be clearer. I liked that there was discussion beyond schizophrenia included as well, so much connecting when you see it written down, and the research felt solid.

Extra content warning: There are graphic depictions of animal experimentation.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC of the book!

Hunting down this entire series was a challenge, but so worth it. These familiar Bible stories are paired with beautiful illustrations and accessible language without softening the themes. This volume starts with Creation and goes through to Passover. I'm so excited to continue!

For years, I’ve been fascinated by both Alcatraz as an institution as well as the famous escape. Although this book focuses far more on the escape, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of history about the jail and some of the better-known inmates included as well.

Brothers John and Clarence Anglin, along with a man named Frank Morris, attempted the impossible: escaping from Alcatraz Island, a maximum security prison. It’s long been believed that the three drowned in the surrounding waters, but the Anglin brothers’ nephew, Ken Widner, suggests evidence that his uncles survived.

I find the author’s argument compelling, although the persuasion gets lost in the somewhat fictionalized presentation. Still, I enjoyed the speculation, and I could be convinced this scenario is likely. I enjoyed the audiobook narration, which kept me engaged. I’m curious to look up the documentary related to this.

This is hands down the most gorgeous audiobook I have ever listened to. This is outside of my usual genre, but I couldn't resist giving it a listen once I heard how immersive it is. That said, I was a little too invested in the ambience that I missed a lot of the story's nuance, but still, it was an enjoyable read. I only wish I'd saved it for the warmer weather and could have listened to it while walking.