Hi, friends! Welcome back to the blog. I hope May has been treating you well so far. I don’t know about you, but there’s something about the shift into spring that makes me want to curl up with a good book even more than usual. Maybe it’s the rainy afternoons or just that subtle feeling of renewal in the air—but lately, I’ve been flying through my TBR.
If you’re new around here—hi! I’m Flor, and I talk a lot about content creation, working for yourself, productivity, motivation, and books. So if you’re into any of that, you’re definitely in the right place. 😊
Today, I’m back with another roundup of five books I’ve read in the past few weeks that I really wanted to share with you. Whether you’re in the mood for a chilling mystery, something a little dark and twisty, or a soul-searching emotional read, there’s something on this list that might be just what you’re looking for.
And if you’re a fellow bookworm (which I’m guessing you are if you landed on this post), don’t forget—I’ve already posted six other videos like this on my YouTube channel with five recommendations in each one. That’s 30 books waiting for you over there, not including these five! So after this post, feel free to go binge those too.
🎥 You can also watch the full video here, if you’re more of a visual/listening kind of person:
Okay, now let’s get into the books…
1. The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Gothic vibes
Read if you like: Remote settings, eerie hotels, slow-burning mysteries with a touch of horror
Let’s start off with a chilling one (literally and emotionally). The Sanatorium is set in the Swiss Alps, in a creepy hotel that used to be—you guessed it—a sanatorium. When the main character, Elin, visits with her brother and his fiancée, things immediately start to feel off. And then? People start disappearing.
This one gave me serious chills. I don’t usually do well with horror or anything too scary (I’m a huge baby when it comes to horror movies), so this book had me reading with all the lights on in the middle of the day. But if you like suspense with a slightly dark, spooky twist, I think you’ll love it. The ending really tied everything together in a satisfying way, which is a big plus for me when it comes to thrillers.
2. The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
Genre: Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Read if you like: Beach town secrets, dual timelines, female friendship drama
This one takes place in a small coastal town in Maine, and the story flips between present day and one year ago, when Sadie—a seasonal visitor—was found dead. Her best friend Avery doesn’t believe it was a suicide, even though that’s what the police ruled, and she starts digging into the truth.
It’s suspenseful, a little bit heartbreaking, and perfect for fans of twisty mysteries. I did figure out the reveal early (as someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I kind of saw it coming), but I still really enjoyed the journey. Sometimes the atmosphere and character relationships matter more than the twist itself, and this one had plenty of both.
3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Genre: Fiction, Magical Realism, Mental Health
Read if you like: Deep, emotional reads that explore life choices and regrets
Okay. Deep breath. This was my favorite read of 2021 (so far!) and I honestly cannot recommend it enough.
The premise is magical: between life and death, there’s a library. And in that library, every book represents a different version of your life—what would have happened if you had made a different choice at some point. For the main character, Nora, we get to explore all of her “what ifs”—what if she became a rock star? An Olympian? A glaciologist?
This book is about regrets, second chances, and learning to value your own life for what it is. It wrecked me emotionally (in a good way). I cried through the last third of the book, not because it was sad necessarily, but because it made me reflect so deeply on my own life. Highly, highly recommend—but just a heads up that it does touch on topics like depression and suicide, so read it with care if those themes are difficult for you.
4. The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Read if you like: Devious women, power plays, rich-people drama with twists
This one is juicy. Think: Revenge, Big Little Lies, with a darker twist.
It follows Amber, a woman who envies the seemingly perfect life of Daphne—her husband, her kids, her wealth. Amber decides she wants that life for herself… and will do whatever it takes to get it.
There are a couple of twists, and while I saw the first one coming, the second absolutely shocked me. I think I literally gasped. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re watching a suspenseful, high-budget miniseries. So good for a binge read or even a weekend getaway.
5. Still Lives by Maria Hummel
Genre: Mystery, Feminist Art World Fiction
Read if you like: Contemporary stories, art, commentary on media and violence against women
This one has a fascinating premise: artist Kim Lord is about to debut an exhibition in LA called Still Lives, centered around famous murdered women and how their deaths became public spectacle. But on the night of the opening… she disappears.
Maggie, who works at the museum, starts looking into Kim’s disappearance—and into her own ex, who’s now Kim’s boyfriend. There’s a slow-building mystery here that kept me hooked, even if the ending didn’t fully wow me. But I appreciated the story’s themes around art, media, and gender.
It’s not my favorite of the five, but it’s still a solid read and a unique one at that.
Let’s Keep the Book Talk Going 📖💬
Have you read any of these books? Are there any that you’re adding to your list? Let me know in the comments—I love hearing what you’re reading right now and swapping recs with this little book-loving community we’re building. 💛
Also, I’ve been updating my Goodreads regularly with what I’m currently reading, what I want to read, and what I’ve already finished—so if you want real-time updates, definitely follow me there.
And of course, I share mini reviews and reading updates over on Instagram too @flopereira, so feel free to come hang out over there as well.
Thanks for stopping by, and if you made it all the way to the end of this post—you’re the real MVP. 🫶
Until next time,
Flor
Find me on: Instagram
