Five Star Friday is my version of the monthly wrap-up. On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.
This month, I was able to read 23 books, and I had 4 five-star reads.
Published by Flatiron Books on March 10, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads
Benny Abbott and Joy Moore host one of the most beloved podcasts in the world. Each week, they delight listeners with a different “against all odds” survival story, gleefully finding the weird, life-affirming humor in near-death experiences. Since their first episode on Joy’s experience with severe narcolepsy, they’ve been the best friends everyone wants to befriend—and thanks to the meticulous management of Joy’s husband, Xander, they’ve built a lucrative empire.
The problem is, their next survival story may be their own. When Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s one morning to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house. The one clue shedding light on the couple’s disappearance is the incomplete, previously unseen first draft of Joy’s memoir. Benny will stop at nothing to find them, even as the police zero in on him as their prime suspect.
Millions of devoted listeners think they know the “real” Benny and Joy. But as the hours tick by, and the odds seem increasingly stacked against Joy and Xander being found alive, not even the most devoted fans could guess the terrible secrets their favorite famous BFFs have hidden from the world—and from each other.
I had seen this book around, but it was a review I read that put it on my radar. I am glad I checked this one out from the library because I LOVED it. I am not usually one for mystery/thrillers as they tend to be a bit too dark for me, but there was something about the friendship at the center of this story that grabbed hold of me. The podcast was very cool too. Loved the concept.
Published by Gallery Books on September 15, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
A woman wakes up with amnesia to a totally different life and teams up with her charming new neighbor to piece together her missing memories in this tender and funny romantic comedy from the author of How Freaking Romantic.
Growing up, Marnie Stephens believed in magic. That destiny was real, the universe had a plan, and every problem could be fixed by one of her grandmother’s many crystals or mantras. But now, at thirty, Marnie’s dreams have fallen by the wayside as real life proves to be more difficult than divine. That’s all about to change, though, thanks to her upcoming move from LA to Boston with her boyfriend Matt. Sure, she still has some nagging worries about the future, but those things will work themselves out. She just needs a fresh start.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Marnie gets when she wakes up at a hospital in Boston with no knowledge of how she got there. Her doctor tells her she suffered a head injury, Matt insists they broke up months ago, and, most distressing of all, her hair is somehow eight inches shorter. Nothing makes sense, but one thing is clear: Marnie has no memory of the past year. Soon, she’s discharged and finds herself in an apartment she doesn’t remember with a new neighbor, Ben Morgan, a man she’s sure she won’t forget.
Now, with the clues she finds scattered around her home, and Ben, who knows Boston like the back of his hand, Marnie sets out to retrace the past year to figure out where things went wrong and set them right. But despite what her grandmother always told her, there’s no magic to make her recovery easier. Between doctor’s visits and treks across the city in search of her lost memories, the last thing Marnie needs is to start falling for the grumpy—and incredibly attractive—man helping her. But the universe has other plans, and it’s not long before Marnie begins to wonder if fighting for the past is as important as the one person who could be her future.
This was a fantastic amnesia romance that had me captivated from beginning to end. I am a solid fan of Harding at this point. Her humor and wit is top notch, and I simply had a wonderful time reading this book.
[review]
Published by Hill and Wang on January 16, 2006
Age/Genres: Biography
Rating:
Goodreads
Born in the town of Sighet, Transylvania, Elie Wiesel was a teenager when he and his family were taken from their home in 1944 to Auschwitz concentration camp, and then to Buchenwald. Night is the terrifying record of Elie Wiesel's memories of the death of his family, the death of his own innocence, and his despair as a deeply observant Jew confronting the absolute evil of man. This new translation by his wife and most frequent translator, Marion Wiesel, corrects important details and presents the most accurate rendering in English of Elie Wiesel's testimony to what happened in the camps and of his unforgettable message that this horror must simply never be allowed to happen again.
This was a book I read for a reading challenge. It was tough as Holocaust books are, but the fact that such a young person went through so much, and you are reading their person account makes it hit so much harder.
Published by Avon on September 15, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
From #1 New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison comes a new whimsical, haunting romance. When a runaway grim reaper tries to save a life, she clashes with a skeptical Guardian, forcing them to form an unlikely partnership beyond the grave.
Darcy Moore is tired of death. Which would be fine and good ... if she wasn’t a Grim Reaper. Determined to outrun her designation as the villain, Darcy decides she won’t be dragging her next assignment to the underworld. She’ll be saving him instead.
Unfortunately for Darcy, there’s a complication in her plan. Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos doesn’t tolerate threats to his little corner of the world, and a Grim Reaper showing up at his bar is as deadly as it gets. But when he realizes Darcy is not as she seems, Gabriel must decide if he can trust his growing feelings or hold on to his long-standing grudge.
But magic doesn’t come without consequences. And the Department of Hauntings & Spirits will eventually come calling for their missing Reaper.
A spooky yet simmering enemies-to-lovers tale to keep you warm this fall.
Tropes:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Angel x Reaper
• Grumpy x grumpy
• Guy who likes everyone except her
• Death but make it corporate
• Star-crossed lovers
• Changing your fate
I LOVED IT! I am a big fan of Borison and adored the previous book in this series. The bar was set high, and Borison leaped over it. With both the hero and heroine being immortal, I felt I gained a deeper knowledge of this world and the lives that the "employees" live. The attraction between Gabriel and Darcy was undeniable, but there was something so much deeper. And how could I not get behind these two trying to take control of their own fate. There were some great surprises, and many supporting characters who added so much to this tale.
Honorable Mention
September was packed with great reading. Here are my honorable mention books. All earned 4.5 stars.
- Fall into Place by Kristyn J. Miller
- One For the Road by Elliot Fletcher
- House Mate by Leah Brunner
- In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto
- If Not You by Ellen O'Clover
- The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins
- Well Versed by Jen DeLuca
- The Good Parts by Evann Normandin
Let us know in the comments!
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