Category: About books

What’s Ashley Reading?: How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay

How To Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson

First line: I have spent a lifetime learning to operate a brain that vacillates between overthinking and total shutdown.

Summary: Jenny Lawson is a best-selling author who struggles with depression, anxiety and imposter syndrome. She fights with her inner demons as she uses her unique sense of humor to show that life can be hard yet beautiful. In her newest book, she shares tips and tricks to help readers find their way through the fog that we call life.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Jenny Lawson. I have read/listened to all her books, seen her at a Watermark event and follow her on social media. She is real and not scared to tell the world about her struggles. The way she is able to explain her mental health issues gives many people who deal with similar concerns hope and insight. It feels so refreshing.

I usually listen to her audiobooks because she reads them, which I feel enhances every chapter. It does not feel like listening to an audiobook but more a conversation with a friend. She goes off on tangents, emphasizes certain words or points a reader may not and her voice is one I can hear in my head whenever I read her blog posts. Like David Sedaris, her books are better consumed in audio format.

The new book she dives into tips and tricks she uses or has attempted in her journey with mental health. While not every tip speaks to me, some do and I loved hearing her advice. I laughed aloud at multiple points listening to her stories and anecdotes. I love her wit. If you are looking for a funny self-help book then Jenny is your person. She can talk about such serious problems but with a humor that makes it feel less oppressive. Give her a listen!

FYI: Lots of bad language.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Daughter of Egypt

Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict

First line: The saloon glows in the flicker of the candelabras and the low light of ornate wall sconces.

Summary: In the 1920’s the discovery of the century shook the world. The tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun was uncovered fully intact in the Valley of the Kings by archeologist Howard Carter and his patron, Lord Carnarvon. However, few know about the woman, who helped make this venture possible, Lady Evelyn Herbert, Lord Carnarvon’s daughter.

Having grown up surrounded by the artifacts and research of Egyptologists, she became fascinated with one person in particular, the first female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. As she travels with Carter and her father to Egypt, she hopes to find the lost tomb of this elusive pharaoh. During a time of turmoil between the British and Egyptian governments, they risked their lives to make this historical dig. When it comes down to a decision between her passion and her loyalties to her father, she must make a choice that will change her life and the world.

My Thoughts: Ancient Egypt is absolutely fascinating. Over the years, I have consumed as much as I can on the subject through documentaries and books. Last year I attended a talk given by former Director of Antiquities and world renowned Egyptologist, Dr. Zahi Hawass. It was so interesting to listen to him talk about the discoveries he has made or is on the verge of making. Reading Marie Benedict’s new book I can completely sympathize with Evelyn’s passion in all things Ancient Egypt.

The plot is told in dual timelines. One follows the rise of Queen Hatshepsut and the other is Lady Evelyn Herbert. Through Hatshepsut, we see her rise to pharaoh of Egypt and Eve shows us how the one time ruler was erased from history by her successors. I loved learning about Lady Evelyn and her part to play in the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. In many descriptions of this event, it is only the men who are mentioned but now readers can meet the woman involved too.

Interwoven into the narrative is the question of who these artifacts actually belong to once discovered. Are they the property of the home country or the discoverer/colonial power? This question still plagues museums and collectors today. Many items are being returned to their homelands but there are still some that draw international attention including the bust of Nefertiti held in Berlin, Germany.

If you want something to entertain as well as inform then this may be just the book for you! It will make the reader think and likely lead them to explore more about the real history behind the novel. For more on Queen Hatshepsut and other queens of Egypt I would recommend When Women Ruled the World by Kara Cooney.

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Case of the Missing Marquess

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

First line: The only light struggles from the few gas street-lamps that remain unbroken, and from pots of fire suspended above the cobblestones, tended by old men selling boiled sea snails outside the public houses.

Summary: Enola Holmes, the younger sister of famed detective Sherlock Holmes, has lived her life on the family estate with only her mother as a companion. However, on her 14th birthday her mother mysteriously disappears leaving Enola to wonder what has happened to her. Using the clues left by her mother, she eludes her brother’s plans and escapes to London in search of her.

Along the way, she becomes embroiled in the case of the missing marquess and the dastardly villains who have abducted him. As she tries to rescue the young noble, she must also evade her older brother while also continuing her search for her mother. All in a day’s work it seems for a youngest Holmes sibling.

My Thoughts: A month or two ago I watched the Enola Holmes movies on Netflix. I enjoyed the star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham-Carter. Then recently I was looking for something short and lighter to listen to when I stumbled upon this. It felt like a perfect fit for my interest level at the time.

Having watched and read many Sherlock Holmes iterations, so I knew the feel of the Holmes-esque character. I liked both versions, movie and book, of Enola Holmes. She is smart, determined and resourceful as she tries to solve the mysteries before her. I loved how it introduces younger readers to clues and symbols in the art of detecting. For instance, Enola and her mother use the language of flowers to communicate in code. I can see this easily being a gateway into the more involved stories of Sherlock Holmes and other detective fiction.

Overall, it was an enjoyable listen. I may one day listen to more books in the series and see how they compare to the other movies. I would recommend this for teens looking for an engaging mystery series without too much violence or bad language.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Dead Mountain

Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar

First line: It is nearly twenty below zero as I crunch through knee-deep snow in the direction of Dyatlov Pass.

Summary: In 1959 the Ural Mountains became the location of a mystery that has boggled minds for decades. Nine experienced hikers started an expedition meant to earn a hiking certificate but ended up claiming the lives of each member. In Dead Mountain a documentarian travels to the very location where the hikers died, studied their journals and photographs and spoke with some of the last people to see them alive. Told in a triple narrative interweaving the known moments of the hikers, the rescue teams efforts to find the students and the author’s visit to Dyatlov Pass over fifty years later. Through the reports at the time and advanced scientific knowledge, he tries to discover what happened on that fateful night.

My Thoughts: Years before I had watched an episode of Expedition Unknown where the host visited the site of Dyatlov group’s disappearance. Ever since seeing that it has been in the back of my mind as a wild mystery that I would love to learn more about. When I saw there was a book looking at the whole story I had to add it to my TBR list.

During our recent snowstorm in January, it felt like an appropriate time to pick this one up. From the very beginning, I was engrossed by the events in each narrative. I thought the way the author interwove all the different points and experiences together was the perfect way to consume the story. At first, I did not think I would care about the author’s trip but I came to find it essential because he was able to re-enact the trip and speak with people who were there in 1959. I cannot imagine how surreal it would be to retrace their steps.

Upon finishing it, I felt like I had more of an understanding of the mystery surrounding the hiker’s deaths. It is such a sad story but a fascinating mystery too. While it would be more interesting for aliens, Russian missiles or a yeti to be involved it is most likely something rather mundane. The conclusions reached by the author at the end seem more than plausible. If you love an unsolved mystery then you should try this. Maybe save it for a cold weekend in order to feel that atmosphere all around you as well.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Dollface

Dollface by Lindy Ryan

First line: My little sister collides with the open doorway of the master bedroom, skidding to a halt at the foot of the bed in a gust of chlorine and sunscreen and girl sweat.

Summary: Jill, horror novelist and mother, has recently moved across the country with her family to New Jersey. On her first day in the new house she meets her sweeter than sugar neighbor and PTA enthusiast, Darla. In one interaction is she is part of the PTA and meets the women who will become the victims of a serial killer stalking the town. As Jill tries to use her knowledge of horror to figure out who is terrorizing the PTA moms she starts to worry that she might be the final girl in a real-life horror story.

My Thoughts: When I finished reading this I struggled with how to rate it. I had fun reading it but there were a few things I found to be a little much. Starting with the good, I would say that this is definitely a good slasher book. There is gore and horror to the scenes with the serial killer. While these moments were a bit too much for me, others will definitely like them. I felt like the pacing went well and the story was not drawn out. I never thought it was boring and I wanted to pick it up each night.

Now for the negatives. There was a phrase that seemed overly used, “creaky-not-creepy house”, which just made me roll my eyes by the third or fourth time. The thing that made my rating a three rather than four stars was the fact that I was sure who was behind from early on! It seemed rather obvious and some of the big reveals at the end were not as shocking as they should be.

With all this said, I let myself enjoy the almost ridiculousness of the story and have fun with it. Fans of campy horror or slashers will like this very reason. Just enjoy and do not think too much about it.

FYI: Very gory!

**Release date is February 24, 2026. Place it on hold today!

What’s Ashley Reading?: A Box Full of Darkness

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

First line: When I wake in the middle of the night, I don’t always see darkness.

Summary: Fell, New York is known for its strange occurrences. For the Esmie family the disappearance of the youngest child, Ben, it is what finally drives them out of town and to lose contact with each other. Each of the older siblings have been haunted by mysterious visions and a fear of returning to their family home. That is until one day their brother Ben appears at the house, still a child, and summons them home. Why is he all of a sudden back and where has he been all these years? Fighting their fears they return to see if they can finally figure out what happened during that fated game of hide and seek many years before.

My Thoughts: Simone St. James is a master of her craft. Her books are a perfect mix of mystery and horror. It is always enough to give you the creeps but still keeping you invested in the plot. With this book I loved her inclusion of Easter eggs from her previous books. Tying them all together was genius and so much fun for her devoted readers.

There was so much to love about this book. It was truly spooky. The abandoned family home that is basically been left as a tomb for their missing sibling. Each of the siblings had some sort of paranormal encounters from seeing ghosts, visions of drowning and bright lights that no one else can see. Then there is a ghost child leaving wet footprints on the floor. A town with a dark past that no one can explain. What more could you ask for?

I really, really enjoyed this book but I still had a few things that bothered me. The strong attachment to Ben seemed so strange to me. Maybe I just don’t understand it. My sister is close in age to myself and I never had to take care or raise her which could be the reason behind the sibling’s feelings. And then the ending seemed to be rather quick. I guess I just wasn’t ready for it to end. I will still recommend this to any and all readers who like a good ghost story but these things were what seemed odd to me during my reading of it.

FYI: Missing children, ghosts, death

What’s Ashley Reading?: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale

First line: On Sunday, 15 July 1860, Detective-Inspector Jonathan Whicher of Scotland Yard paid two shillings for a hansom cab to take him from Millbank, just west of Westminster, to Paddington station, the London terminus of the Great Western Railway.

Summary: It was in June of 1860 that the body of a small boy, Saville Kent, was found at the bottom of an outdoor privy (outhouse). He had his throat cut and dumped in the hole sometime during the night. The crime shocked the local community but it became national news upon the arrival of Detective Jonathan Whicher.

Detectives were a new invention and only a few existed in England. Upon his arrival at the Kent home, he began to suspect that someone inside the house was the perpetrator. Nevertheless, without clear evidence or a confession he was unable to prove anything. With the crime unsolved, he returned to London with his reputation in tatters. It was years later before justice was finally served and his theories proved correct.

My Thoughts: Last year I read Summerscale’s newest true crime book, The Peepshow, and found her work very intriguing. She goes to great lengths to research the people, the period and the workings of the criminal justice system.

Again, in this one she does the same. She lays out the events of the night in question, gives us information about the family and servants and explains how murders were investigate and solved in Victorian England. The most interesting part to me was the family dynamic. From the outset, you can tell that there is some strife going on in the household and it has made for a toxic environment. I think from early on you know who the killer is but with the lack of evidence and new art of detecting it is hard for Whicher to prove.

It is hard to imagine a world without a police force patrolling and investigating crimes but before 1829, there was no organized police to handle crime. So even by 1860 everything was still rather new. Quite a bit of the middle is spent on how the job of a detective was new and making its way into popular fiction as well. Summerscale gives examples of some of the first fictional detectives from books by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins. While this is true crime, it also seems to be a history of detecting too.

This was a fascinating look into the world of a Victorian middle class family. By the end, we learn the fate of each of the main players in the story. I enjoyed this for the true crime but also the social history it presents.

FYI: Murder of a child.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Santa Cruise

Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark & Carol Higgins Clark

First line: Randolph Weed, self-styled commodore, stood on the deck of his pride and joy, the Royal Mermaid, an old ship he had bought and paid a fortune to refurbish and on which he intended to spend the rest of his life playing host to both friends and paying guests.

Summary: The maiden voyage of the Royal Mermaid is turning out to be more eventful than the Commodore had hoped for. The Santa Cruise was set to launch with people of all sorts who had done good in their communities and donated to worthy causes. Among these are Alvirah, a lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, Regan Reilly, a private investigator, and two stowaways who are paying a fortune to escape from the law. As weird occurrences continue to happen Alvirah and Regan start putting the pieces together to find out who is sabotaging this holiday cruise.

My Thoughts: As part of my holiday TBR I picked up another Mary Higgins Clark book. This one brings together characters from her books, Alvirah Meehan and Regan Reilly from her daughter, Carol Higgins Clark’s, book series. I have not read either series yet but I met the characters in another holiday mystery last Christmas, Deck the Halls. Even without knowing the backstories I felt that it was easy to enjoy and follow the story.

This book had a cozier vibe to it than others I have read and it had a very complicated and sometimes ridiculous plot but I did have fun reading it, which is all that matters. There was a lot of coincidences that would never happen anywhere else than in fiction but this made it rather funny. There are two criminals hiding on the ship dressed as Santa Claus, a cabin mix-up leading to further complications and several sightings of a “ghost” which are the perfect recipe for a complicated but cozy mystery.

If you want something quick before Christmas than give this or Deck the Halls a chance. Each are short and sweet and will help get you in the holiday mood.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Vagabond

Vagabond by Tim Curry

First line: “Honey, you’re the third Tim Curry to call today,” she said, and hung up the phone.

Summary: Tim Curry has had a career that has spanned decades with some of the most memorable characters on stage and screen. In his memoir he explores his childhood as the son of a military chaplain, the start of his love for performing, the iconic roles throughout his career and overcoming the challenges following his stroke.

My Thoughts: I absolutely love Tim Curry. I always look forward to watching Rocky Horror Picture Show at Halloween (at times going to the midnight shows at the Orpheum). He stars alongside the Muppets in Muppet Treasure Island which is one of my favorite movies. Then I see him every Christmas as the creepy hotel worker in Home Alone 2. He can do so much and has been a part of my viewing life since I was a kid. When I saw that he was releasing an autobiography this year, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Rocky Horror and 40th anniversary of Clue, I immediately added it to my TBR.

Rather than reading it I decided to listen to the audiobook, especially since he reads it himself. It was a fascinating stroll through the ups and downs of his life and career. He makes a point at the start that he will not discuss personal relationships but focus on his work. For an actor who has spent so long in the public eye he has stayed very private about his personal life and he kept it that way here too. But as a reader I never even noticed the exclusion. He had so many stories about his work that he didn’t even need it.

After finishing the book I was just blown away by how much he has done, seen and lived. Listening to him reminisce was fascinating and to hear the behind the scenes stories made me love him and his work even more. If you love Rocky Horror or Clue or any of his other movies then this should be a must read. It will give you a new appreciation for the man who made these characters what they are.

What’s Ashley Reading?: Good Spirits

Good Spirits by B. K. Borison

First line: On the first day of December, the universe gave to me –

Summary: Harriet York is being haunted. She has no idea why because she tries to be a good person. However, when the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives she begins to wonder what may have happened in her past to warrant this visit.

Nolan Callahan has spent nearly a century as the Ghost of Christmas Past. He has hoped that one day he will be able to move on but that day has not arrived. Each passing year becomes lonelier and then this year he is met with his most challenging assignment ever.

As Harriet and Nolan try to discover what is in Harriet’s past that brought them together, they find that their connection may go beyond what either of them ever imagined.

My Thoughts: I was very excited to get an early copy of this book! It has a pretty cover and such a cute summary. I had only started reading B.K. Borison this year with her book, First-Time Caller, and now I am hooked. The writing is fun and the romance a bit spicy.

From the beginning I loved the banter between the characters. Each one of them is sure that they know what is going on but soon discover that there is more at play here. Harriet is a people pleaser so she allows Nolan to try and fix the issue even though she is sure this is all a mistake. Nolan just wants to finish the job and move her along to the next ghost.

As the story progressed we learn more about each character. I loved to see the romance blossom but with it came parts where I felt so bad for each of them. They had parts of their lives that they had trouble acknowledging. It shows a lot when an author can make the reader feel for the fictional characters and I felt Borison did a fantastic job with this. By the end it all comes together with the warm holiday goodness you want.

If you are wanting a spicy holiday romance then I would highly recommend this! It hits all the Christmas-y vibes with candy canes, holiday pajamas and A Christmas Carol retelling.

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