
Summer at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is a sun-drenched summer mystery set against the backdrop of a glamorous Southern resort, where secrets simmer just beneath the surface. At the heart of the story is Traci, the resilient co-owner of The St. Cecilia, a luxury resort in Georgia. Still navigating life after the loss of her husband, Traci is determined to keep the resort alive despite the meddling of her in-laws and the usual chaos that comes with running a seasonal hotspot.
As the new summer season begins, Traci brings in a colorful cast of employees to help her manage the place. Among them is her niece, who comes to stay in the brand-new staff dorms. But what starts as a promising season quickly spirals into a nightmare when her niece is found dead. Suddenly, the laughter and leisure of summer give way to grief and suspicion.
The novel unfolds with a delightful mix of drama and mystery as Traci, along with her eclectic staff, tries to untangle the shadowy events plaguing The Saint. The story doesn’t just follow Traci’s journey, but also dips into the lives of the young seasonal staff, who bring their own stories, secrets, and ambitions to the table.
With themes of revenge, redemption, and a touch of Southern charm, Summer at the Saint is both entertaining and atmospheric. While it might not be the most profound read, it’s undeniably fun, perfect for lounging poolside or escaping into on a beach towel. The audiobook adds an extra layer of immersion, making you feel like you’re right there on the resort grounds, caught up in the mystery and the Georgia heat. If you’re looking for a twisty, enjoyable kickoff to your summer reading list, this one might just hit the spot.
- Year 2025

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens is a powerful emotional whirlwind that begins like a charming small-town drama and quickly unravels into something far deeper, darker, and unforgettable.
At the heart of the story is Anna, a young woman scraping by on the edges of life, living with her mother Star in a tough part of town. When her mother falls ill and life takes a turn for the worse, Anna reaches out to the man who once meant everything to her, Jack asking not for love, but for help. He offers her a job. A lifeline. But it soon becomes clear that nothing is as simple as it seems.
The story doesn’t start with Anna’s struggles, though. It opens with a haunting scene: the brutal murder of nine women, years ago, a case that was never solved. As the narrative shifts between past and present, the chilling mystery of those deaths continues to cast a long shadow. Details slowly surface, making Anna question everything she thought she knew, about the murders, about herself, and about the people around her.
Just as she begins to find her footing, a striking, enigmatic woman named Foster barrels into her life. Wealthy, confident, and oddly familiar, Foster’s arrival adds another layer of intrigue. Who is she, really? And why does Anna feel such a strange connection to her?
With every chapter, the stakes rise and the emotional tension tightens. Narrated with soul by Marin Ireland, Tell Me Something Good delivers a blend of suspense, heartache, and hope that lingers long after the final page.
Look out for this unforgettable story when it releases on June 3, 2025, it’s a knockout that will absolutely leave you breathless.
- Year 2025

Set against the vibrant backdrop of 1960s Brooklyn, The Baker of Lost Memories by Shirley Russak Wachtel follows Lena, a young woman chasing her mother’s legacy by opening her own bakery. But behind every delicious creation lies a family history too painful to tell, one shaped by war, silence, and a sister Lena never knew. As her best friend Pearl mysteriously vanishes and life marches on through love, loss, and new beginnings, Lena discovers long-buried secrets that force her to confront the truth. In the warmth of her kitchen and the heartache of her past, Lena learns that healing begins when memories are finally allowed to rise.
This poignant historical fiction blends generational trauma with hope, perfect for fans of heartfelt family sagas, post-war secrets, and coming-of-age journeys layered with resilience.
🛒 Pre-order now on Amazon
🔗 Discover more titles by Shirley Russak Wachtel on Elite Books Bay.
- Year 2025

The Beautiful Maddening by Shea Ernshaw is a haunting and bittersweet tale centered on Lark Goode, whose life has long been shadowed by cursed tulips. This story explores love in all its complexity, eerie, tense, yet deeply emotional, pulling at your heartstrings with every page.
At its core, the book is about breaking free from the grip of a painful past and navigating the uncertain, sometimes maddening, nature of love and family legacy. Lark’s journey, alongside Oak, is filled with heartache and hope, wrapped in the quiet madness of the Goode family curse. Though Shea Ernshaw’s usual magical elements are more subtle here, the story still captivates through vivid imagery and emotional depth.
This is a coming-of-age story that lingers long after the last page, beautifully written in a way that lets readers see the world through Lark’s eyes. Even if you don’t usually gravitate toward love stories, this one is hard to put down thanks to Ernshaw’s elegant storytelling and the bittersweet magic of the narrative.
- Year 2025

The Covenant of Water by Dr. Abraham Verghese is a sweeping, multi-generational saga set in Kerala, India, spanning from 1900 to the 1970s. At the heart of the story is young Mariamma, married at twelve to a much older widower—an arrangement that unknowingly ties her to a family haunted by a mysterious and tragic condition: generations of men have drowned under eerie circumstances.
As the story unfolds, Mariamma—later known as Big Ammachi—witnesses decades of love, loss, resilience, and sacrifice. Verghese masterfully intertwines her family’s journey with those of Digby Kilgour, a Scottish doctor navigating colonial India, and Dr. Rune Orquist, a leprosy specialist, painting an emotionally rich portrait of lives connected by fate, medicine, and memory.
With lyrical prose and deeply human storytelling, Verghese explores themes of family legacy, grief, addiction, colonialism, and the evolution of medical science. His narration in the audiobook edition adds a deeply personal touch—calm, heartfelt, and powerful. Whether read or listened to, The Covenant of Water is an unforgettable, immersive experience.
Perfect for fans of historical fiction, epic family sagas, and emotionally resonant storytelling. Recommended to pair the novel with the author-narrated audiobook for a complete experience.
4.5

The Dry Season: A Memoir of Pleasure in a Year Without Sex by Melissa Febos is a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of celibacy, desire, and self-discovery. In this memoir, Febos recounts her choice to spend an entire year without sex, a decision she made to break free from cycles of constant infatuation and instant gratification. What begins as an experiment in abstinence quickly transforms into an unexpectedly rich and sensual journey.
Through a blend of intimate storytelling and sharp cultural reflection, Febos examines not only her own relationship with sex and romance but also how these themes connect to broader ideas of identity, addiction, and empowerment. She reflects on how sexuality intersects with creativity, spirituality, and history, weaving in stories of women from Western European traditions such as Hildegard von Bingen, the beguines, and Virginia Woolf.
Rather than simply advocating abstinence, Febos’s goal is to reclaim control over her sexuality, a tool that has played a significant role in feminist thought. The memoir moves between personal anecdotes, philosophical musings, and conversations with friends and lovers, offering a candid look at the complexity of pleasure and self-understanding.
Some readers have found the book’s vignette style and thematic repetition challenging, wishing for a more structured narrative. Yet, Febos’s distinctive voice and insightful observations continue to draw interest, encouraging exploration of her other works to fully appreciate her style and perspective.
If you’re curious about themes of desire, control, and the intricate dance between body and mind, The Dry Season invites you to join Melissa Febos on a year that redefined pleasure in unexpected ways.
- Year 2025

The Expat Affair by Kimberly Belle is a gripping thriller that plunges you into a whirlwind of mystery and danger from the very first page. This fast-paced story follows Rayna, who makes the classic mistake of falling for a charming diamond dealer while living abroad. Things take a dark turn when she discovers his dead body and suddenly, she’s caught in a dangerous game involving the powerful Prin Diamond House family.
What makes this book so addictive is how it combines a thrilling murder mystery with the glittering, high-stakes world of diamonds. Rayna’s unexpected involvement with the chaotic and ruthless diamond dynasty keeps the tension tight and the pages turning. The story moves at such a pace that you’ll find it hard to put down, especially with the shocking twists and the many characters you’ll love to hate.
If you enjoy a well-crafted who-dun-it with a glamorous yet deadly backdrop, this is the perfect read. I finished it in one sitting and couldn’t get enough of the suspense and drama.
And just out June 3, 2025, this one is definitely worth adding to your thriller collection.
By the way, do you own any diamonds? Or is there another gem that catches your eye more?
- Year 2025

The Friendship Fling by Georgia Stone is a heartwarming, summer-soaked romcom that brings together fake friendship, real feelings, and the magic of London. When Ava’s flatmate dares her to make a new friend, she never expects to meet Finn, a stranger with a bucket list and a fast-approaching goodbye. In a deal that starts lighthearted and simple, Finn offers his friendship in exchange for Ava’s help ticking off the adventures he wants to complete before leaving the city.
But what begins as a casual summer arrangement quickly blossoms into something deeper. As Ava and Finn navigate rooftop drinks, stolen glances, and golden-hour strolls through London, their connection becomes undeniable. Yet the looming end of summer raises the question such as, can something that started off fleeting turn into something lasting?
With its perfect blend of humor and heart, The Friendship Fling shines with the kind of chemistry romcom fans dream of. Ava and Finn are a delight to follow, and Georgia Stone captures the pulse of London with such vividness that the city feels like a character in its own right.
This is the kind of book that makes you believe in timing, second chances, and the slow burn of a relationship built on true companionship. Readers who loved The Flatshare or One Day will find a new favorite here. It’s warm, witty, and absolutely ready to be a movie.
- Year 2025

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends suspense, secrets, and the tangled dynamics of family loyalty. At its core, the story follows a ghostwriter working alongside her father on a tell-all memoir that digs into the chilling murder of his own siblings. What begins as a professional collaboration slowly unfurls into a high-stakes journey filled with betrayal, buried truths, and mind-bending twists.
Told through multiple points of view and timelines, the book’s pacing is tight, with short, punchy chapters that make it hard to stop turning the pages. Julie Clark cleverly crafts a “book within a book” format that adds layers to the mystery, making it as much about the act of storytelling as the story itself.
Fans of thrillers will find plenty to love here, complex characters, emotional depth, and reveals that will leave you stunned. Even with a large cast and shifting timelines, Clark’s writing keeps things clear and compelling, never losing momentum. Her ability to weave emotional resonance into the suspense elevates this beyond your average thriller.
If you’re new to Julie Clark, this is a brilliant place to start. And if you’ve already read The Lies I Tell or The Last Flight, The Ghostwriter will only deepen your admiration for her skill at delivering unputdownable stories with heart and edge.
- Year 2025

The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim is a swoony, genre-blending sequel that wraps a fated love story inside a thrilling, magical mystery. Following the events of The God and the Gumiho, this second book in the Fate’s Thread duology invites readers into a world where ancient legends, cheeky banter, and heartfelt romance collide.
At the heart of the story is Kim Hani, once feared as the Scarlet Fox, a powerful gumiho now living quietly and working in a café. Her goal is simple: keep her head down and avoid the annoyingly persistent customer who just happens to be Seokga, a trickster god exiled from the heavens after a failed coup. He now spends his time chasing down dark creatures and, unintentionally or not, getting under Hani’s skin.
When a dangerous demon escapes from the underworld, Seokga is given one chance at redemption. All he has to do is eliminate the threat and bring the Scarlet Fox to justice. But Hani is not ready to be anyone’s target. She inserts herself into Seokga’s investigation with every intention of steering it off course. She is ready for anything, except falling in love.
This book leans into themes of heartbreak, soulmates, and redemption while keeping things light with quick wit and hilarious dialogue. While the first book focused more on a murder mystery and trickster gods, The God and the Gwisin deepens the emotional core, adding tenderness and vulnerability to the chaos. And yes, Seokga is still the world’s worst detective, but somehow that only makes him more endearing.
Perfect for fans of Korean dramas, urban fantasy, and romantic comedy with a mythical twist, this story is a heartfelt continuation full of magic, mischief, and second chances. If you believe in reincarnation, destined love, or simply enjoy stories with a lot of heart, this one belongs on your shelf.
- Year 2025

The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, a BookTok sensation and New York Times bestselling author, launches a mesmerizing new romantasy series set in a mist-shrouded, gothic world.
Sybil Delling has spent nine long years in the cathedral of Traum, serving as a Diviner, a prophetess who dreams of warnings from divine beings known as the Omens. Lords and peasants alike seek her visions, hoping to glimpse their fates through her dreams. But Sybil has always longed for quiet, dreamless sleep and freedom from prophecy.
That hope shatters when a knight arrives. Rodrick is blunt, faithless, and impossible to ignore. He doesn’t believe in dreams or destiny, and certainly not in Sybil’s visions. But when her fellow Diviners begin to disappear, Sybil must team up with the one man whose future she cannot see.
To uncover the truth and face the gods themselves, Sybil must step beyond the safety of her cloister. Her only ally is a heretic. Her only path forward lies through danger, doubt, and a love she never dreamed of.

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater is a quietly powerful and deeply enchanting novel that marks the bestselling author’s adult fiction debut. Set in the heart of West Virginia during World War II, the story follows June, the General Manager of the secluded Avallon hotel, a place as mysterious and layered as the people who find refuge within its walls.
As the war intensifies beyond the hotel’s forested edges, the Avallon becomes a sanctuary for individuals linked to the conflict in unexpected ways. The narrative unfolds with emotional depth, blending historical fiction with a delicate layer of magical realism. If you gravitate toward character-driven stories that feel both intimate and otherworldly, this novel will resonate with you.
Maggie’s prose in The Listeners is lyrical and meditative. Every sentence feels intentional, like it’s meant to be savored. She focuses on small, quiet details, gestures, memories, spaces within the hotel, and brings them vividly to life. It’s this attention to the seemingly mundane that builds the story’s emotional richness.
June is a standout character. She’s intelligent, resilient, and rooted in the complexities of her time. Despite her strength, she remains achingly human, navigating the weight of her responsibilities and her past. The fact that she also cares for three dachshunds adds a touch of softness and charm to her character. There is also a beautifully written romantic subplot, gentle and emotionally authentic, where each interaction feels thoughtfully layered.
This novel explores themes like childhood trauma, longing, and the many forms of love with deep sensitivity. It offers a quiet, emotional journey that feels like a warm, lingering hug. The inclusion of neurodiverse characters is another strength, handled with care and clarity without ever needing to be spotlighted.
The Listeners is strange, lovely, and emotionally resonant. It’s a story that invites you to slow down and truly feel, and in doing so, it becomes one of the most memorable reads you’ll come across this year.
- Year 2025