Everything I Never Told You

 
“Everything I Never Told You” by Celeste Ng
Published by Penguin Books
 
This is a very heavy and depressing book, yet I really enjoyed it.  It’s a family drama with lots of dysfunction.  When the oldest daughter goes missing and then is found dead in the nearby lake, the family falls apart.  But truly, they had fallen apart years before.  Not one character is happy, although you will become attached to them all.  There are no feel-good moments, but you’ll keep turning the pages, hoping to find one.  It may be sad, but I still recommend it as long as you are in the right headspace for it.
 
Finished 6/5/25 - 4/5 stars
 
#everythinginevertoldyou #celesteng #penguinbooks #2025reads #genxreads

The Night Swim

 
“The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin
Published by St. Martin’s Press
 
I really enjoyed this one – it’s 2 mysteries in one.  The main story is that of a podcaster who travels to a small beach town to cover a rape trial.  On her way there, she stops at a rest stop where someone has left a note on her car, asking her to look into the death of her sister that happened in that same beach town 25 years prior.  So, while covering the rape trial for her podcast, she is also digging into the town’s past.  There are some aspects/concepts of the book that I had a hard time believing but overall, I thought it was really good. 
 
Fair warning – there aren’t any trigger warnings listed in the book, but I can’t imagine a rape or assault victim reading it because there are some intense scenes.
 
Finished 6/3/25 – 3.5/5 stars
 
#thenightswim #megangoldin #stmartinspress #botm #2025reads #genxreads

My Next Breath

 
“My Next Breath” by Jeremy Renner
Published by Flatiron Books
 
I tend to not review the audio books I listen to but when it’s a 5-star read, I make an exception.  Listening to Jeremy tell you his story and hearing the 911 call with his moaning in the background is intense.  The first half of the book is about the accident and its immediate aftermath, and I can’t tell you how many times I cried.  His will to live was nothing less than extraordinary.  The second half is about his recovery.  His determination is so inspiring.  Hawkeye may not have any superpowers, but Jeremy Renner sure does.
 
Finished 6/1/25 – 5/5 stars
 
#mynextbreath #jeremyrenner #flatironbooks #hawkeye #5starreads #2025reads #genxreads #booktok