…and a peek inside “The Library.”

I love reading so much that our house has a room dedicated solely to books. I call it the library, though it's technically a guest bedroom. Despite my efforts to regularly purge books I’ve read and don’t care to keep, I’m still running out of space (because I keep buying more, LOL).

Anyhoo... I've read 16 books so far this year, and here are the Top 5 I'll keep on my shelves, at least for a while.

5. Lock Every Door by Riley Sager - Jules Larsen takes a job as an apartment sitter in the luxurious Bartholomew building in New York City. She soon discovers the building's dark history and the sinister intentions of its residents. As she investigates further, she realizes she may never escape.

Riley Sager's books are renowned for their gripping psychological thrillers and suspenseful storytelling. Each novel features unexpected twists, compelling characters, and intricate plots. I devoured my first Sager book, Survive the Night, when we went to Universal for Halloween Horror Nights in 2022 and never looked back, adding his books to my shelves where they’ll live for eternity.

4. The Only One Left by Riley Sager - Set in 1983, Kit McDeere, a home health aide, is assigned to care for Lenora Hope, the last surviving member of the notorious Hope family. Lenora, unable to speak after a stroke, uses a typewriter to communicate and begins to reveal the dark history of her family.

Once I finished this one, I was pleased to learn that Sager was releasing another book. I’ve always said I don’t want to live in a world without a new Sager novel to read. Whew!

3. House of Flame & Shadow (Crescent City, #3) by Sarah J. Maas - The third installment in the Crescent City series, HOFAS continues the journey of Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar as they face immense challenges in a world on the brink of collapse. Bryce is stranded in an unfamiliar realm, trying to figure out who to trust and how to get back home, while the Asteri imprisons Hunt, who’s desperate to learn about Bryce's fate and plotting his escape. The story builds towards a rebellion against the Asteri, with Bryce and Hunt playing crucial roles in determining the future of Midgard.

I never thought I’d be a “romantasy” reader, but here we are. I admit I was a little bored with this one, but the aesthetic of Maas’s book covers is beautiful.

2. Here’s to Us by Elin Hilderbrand - Deacon Thorpe was a charismatic celebrity chef known for his larger-than-life personality and tumultuous personal life. He was married three times, each marriage leaving behind a trail of emotional complexities and unresolved issues. Upon his death, his last wish was for his family to gather at his beloved summer home on Nantucket for one final weekend to celebrate his life and scatter his ashes.

Hilderbrand is renowned for her engaging novels, which explore complex human emotions and relationships against the picturesque backdrop of Nantucket. Her books often delve into love, family, friendship, and personal growth themes. I think I appreciate more adult stories now that I’m older and have seen some sh*t. My goal is to read more of her books as soon as possible.

1. The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever by Rick Kaempfer - This book chronicles the station's iconic moments, colorful personalities, and cultural impact on Chicago and the broader radio industry. The Loop was famous for its anti-establishment ethos and groundbreaking programming, featuring on-air talents like Steve Dahl, Garry Meier, Jonathon Brandmeier, and Kevin Matthews. These personalities were known for their outrageous stunts, irreverent humor, and strong connection with listeners. One of the most infamous events covered in the book is Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in 1979, organized by Dahl. It resulted in chaos and cemented The Loop's reputation as a rebellious force in radio. The book also delves into the station's transition from a pure rock format to a personality-driven approach that mixed music with talk shows and comedy. This shift helped The Loop maintain its dominance in the competitive Chicago radio market for many years.

The only caveat I will give here is that if you weren’t a listener of The Loop back in the day or worked in Chicago radio, this book might not mean nearly as much to you as to someone who has done one or the other (or both, as in my case).

Before I go, I wanted to share the library with you, complete with its new shelving unit (the white one because they don’t carry the red anymore). Enjoy!