3.06. Killer Plans, Killer Reads
Welcome back to My Sister’s TBR! We’re here with our mid-month catch-up, chatting about the May releases that have caught our eye, sharing the bookish news we’ve sleuthed out, and diving into what books we’re currently reading.Think of this as our virtual coffee date where we talk about all our favorite things…books, duh!So pour yourself a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let’s catch up!Release Radar: What We're Eyeing This Month* The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is a Mystery Thriller with a healthy dose of Humor and Life Insurance Policies.Release: May 6, 2025After their husbands' disastrous investment obliterates their retirement dreams, three long-time friends, Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa, find themselves trapped in dreary marriages until the sudden death of their friend Marlene's husband, coupled with a large life insurance payout and a fresh start in Florida, sparks a dangerous idea. Discovering their own husbands have similar hefty policies, the women contemplate hiring a hitman, unaware that their spouses are hatching their own secret retirement plan, leading to a tense and humorous game of cat and mouse with potentially deadly consequences, all while exploring the complexities of marriage, friendship, and navigating middle age.* The Tenant by Freida McFadden is a mystery thriller story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour.Release: May 6, 2025Desperate after losing his job and facing foreclosure on his new brownstone, Blake Porter rents a room to the seemingly perfect Whitney, only to find his life unraveling with strange occurrences, judgmental neighbors, a persistent stench, and unsettling noises. As Blake begins to suspect Whitney, he fears someone knows his deepest secrets, realizing too late that the danger lies within his own home and he's walked straight into a carefully laid trap.* Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry is her debut Romantasy, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.Release: May 6, 2025In a world where monstrous gods demand mortal subservience, a princess who has always lived under the thumb of divine will and her father's commands finds her carefully prescribed life upended the day a legendary monster hunter arrives and a prince disrupts her fate. Suddenly bound by an ancient treaty to a future she never envisioned and a husband she barely knows, she must traverse perilous lands with a warrior who loathes her. As everyone attempts to mold her into a queen, a spy, or a sacrifice, she begins to question her destined role, wondering if there is strength in being underestimated and daring to consider forging her own path.* The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is the first in a dark fantasy horror series. Release: May 6, 2025Summoned to the Sacred City expecting praise, Brother Diaz is instead tasked with a brutal mission, leading a congregation of murderers, magic users, and monsters who must employ bloody tactics to achieve holy goals against encroaching elves and selfish princes. Facing a perilous journey, Brother Diaz finds a grim advantage in having these unlikely allies, the devils, on his side.* Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood is number two in the Not in Love romance series.Release: May 27, 2025Twenty-three-year-old Maya Killgore finds herself intensely drawn to her brother's best friend, the successful thirty-eight-year-old Conor Harkness, despite the glaring age gap and power imbalance he constantly points out, insisting she move on after he made it clear he wants her out of his life. However, when Maya's brother's wedding lands them together in a romantic Sicilian villa, the forced proximity amidst beautiful scenery and delicious food leads Maya to suspect Conor is concealing something, and as the wedding chaos unfolds, she contemplates a problematic summer fling with him.* The Love Haters by Katherine Center is a contemporary romance novel.Release: May 20, 2025Facing imminent job loss, Katie Vaughn, who has a history of romantic disappointment and a secret inability to swim, reluctantly agrees to a career-defining job profiling Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson in Key West at the urging of his estranged brother and her coworker, Cole. Arriving in paradise, Katie's professional deception intertwines with a complicated attraction to the undeniably handsome but seemingly love-averse Hutch, as she navigates a web of lies involving swim lessons, daring flights, lively locals, unexpected events, and stolen moments, all while confronting her fears and the potential for genuine bravery.The Bookish GrapevineHere’s the bookish news we discussed in this episode:* Audible is introducing AI technology for narrating audiobooks. Their aim is to increase the number of audiobooks and languages offered, but at what cost? We speculate that audiobooks will be lower quality and will marginalize human talent.* We discuss Michael B Jordan producing the Fourth Wing adaptation and what he had previously produced.* Murderbot Series Adaptation: Martha Wells’ popular science fiction series, “The Murderbot Diaries” is being adapted into an Apple TV+ show, starring Alexander Skarsgard as Muderbot, it is set to premiere on May 16th, 2025* Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You has wrapped filming. Starring Allison Williams, McKenna Grace, Dave Franco, and Scott Eastwood. It is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 24, 2025* Alex Aster's Summer in the City is being made into a movie by New Line Cinema! The same studio behind The Notebook, LOTR movies, Sex and the City, etc etc. Alex will also be an executive producer.* Sarah J. Maas leaving hints for what ACOTAR 6 will be. Will May 21st be the special day that we get some actual news?What’s On Our NightstandsHere’s what we’re currently reading:* Dead Med by Freida McFadden (Reb)Medical school wasn't the pink stethoscope dream Heather McKinley envisioned, filled instead with relentless work and the grim nickname "Dead Med" due to a history of student overdoses, something Heather never imagined herself considering until a breakup and failing grades push her to her breaking point. The night before a crucial anatomy final, the tragic reality of Dead Med intensifies when gunshots echo through the halls, claiming the lives of Heather's classmates in quick succession, plunging her into a terrifying and unfolding crisis.* Bloody, Slutty, and Pathetic by WhatMurdah (Stace)As part of a controversial Reconciliation Act, war heroine Hermione Granger is forced to marry the Azkaban-tattooed war criminal Draco Malfoy, resulting in public animosity that masks Draco's secret longing for a genuine marriage with the equally traumatized Hermione, whose cursed scar from Bellatrix's attack flares up due to the Black family magic surrounding her, hindering any possibility of trust or forgiveness. However, when Hermione discovers Draco's blood can soothe her scar, a dangerous proposition arises where Draco is willing to trade his blood for her body amidst a backdrop of post-war blood purity politics, illicit potion dealings, Pansy Parkinson's career guidance, Malfoy family manipulations, Neville Longbottom's Death Eater hunts, a slutty Theo Nott serving as Draco’s right-hand man, and Crookshanks loose in Malfoy Manor.* The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas (Reb)Desperate to maintain her fabricated story of an American boyfriend for her sister's upcoming wedding in Spain, Catalina Martín faces the daunting task of finding someone willing to travel across the Atlantic and deceive her entire family, including her ex and his fiancée, within a mere four weeks. Her unlikely savior appears in the form of her tall, handsome, yet condescending colleague, Aaron Blackford, whom she initially finds utterly irritating but reluctantly accepts as her best option, slowly discovering that his real-world persona might be far more appealing than his insufferable office demeanor.* Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas (Stace) A book in the Throne of Glass Series* Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Stace)Samantha's initial infatuation with the seemingly perfect veterinarian Xavier Rush, whose god-like looks are only momentarily tarnished by his occasional foot-in-mouth disease, blossoms into an unforgettable date, only to be abruptly curtailed by Samantha's family crisis, forcing her to ask Xavier to let her go and cherish their night as a singular, perfect memory. However, the undeniable connection they forged proves too powerful to forget, suggesting that perhaps building a life and love together could surpass even their perfect, fleeting moment.* The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager (Stace)Seeking refuge from bad press, recently widowed actress Casey Fletcher retreats to her family's Vermont lake house and becomes engrossed in observing the seemingly perfect lives of her wealthy and glamorous neighbors across the lake, Tom and Katherine Royce. After saving Katherine from drowning, Casey befriends her, only to discover cracks beneath the surface of their marriage. When Katherine suddenly disappears, Casey's voyeuristic pastime transforms into an obsessive quest to uncover the truth, revealing unsettling secrets and a shocking reality far removed from the idyllic facade she initially witnessed, in a tale of guilt, obsession, and deceptive appearances.* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Both)Ever since Harry Potter had come home for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor and a spirit who haunts the girls’ bathroom. But then the real trouble begins – someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself!Our featured read for this month is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Our end-of-month episode will be split into two. The first episode will be our recap of books read, and we’ll release the second episode the same day, which will be our deep dive on Chamber of Secrets. We’ll be talking about the characters, the differences between the book and the movies, what we loved, and what we didn’t love.Don’t forget to rate and subscribe to our podcast on whatever platform you’re using, and pop over to our Instagram @mysisterstbr.Thanks for tuning in! Get full access to My Sister's TBR at www.mysisterstbr.com/subscribe
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