1. Darkness Unknown

by Selina A. Fenech

Back in her hometown after her mother’s death, Everly has a plan to get in and out fast. Watching a monster kill Rylan, the boy who broke her heart, wasn’t part of that plan. Now, his body is missing and her dreams are where his soul is trapped. Will Everly be able to figure things out and save Rylan?

This urban fantasy from author Selina A. Fenech features a slow-burn romance mixed with a mystery as Everly tries to save the only man she has ever loved. There are plenty of vampires and shifters in this book and trilogy, and readers are raving about it. As described in one Amazon review, the book is “a fantastic tale that immediately transports the reader from the normal and mundane into a reality that twists and melts like a Dali painting.” Don’t wait to add this to your virtual library!

2. Lucifer’s Daughter

by Kel Carpenter

Tattoo artist Ruby Morningstar is a half-succubus demon who lives in Portland with her best friend, Moira, who is a banshee, and their pet raccoon. They believed that was who she is for all 23 years of her life, but her world turns upside down after a handsome stranger bails her out of jail. Suddenly Ruby learns that she’s the bringer of the apocalypse—not the Four Horsemen.

Written by USA Today bestselling author Kel Carpenter, Lucifer’s Daughter features the Four Horsemen. One of the hundreds of highly rated Amazon reviews says, “I would recommend giving this a try if you like strong female characters with some magic and action, and I’m not just talking about bedroom action.” If demons are your cup of tea when it comes to paranormal romances, Lucifer’s Daughter is a must-read!

3. Savage Mates

by Allie Santos

Liana is a werewolf who doesn’t have the ability to shift. Often overlooked, her pack doesn’t care for her—she’s an omega. But when she shifted, she got her true mates. Refusing their pity as they didn’t want her, Liana leaves for human society. When her mates seek her out, she refuses to submit to her three savage mates. Afterall, she has claws and she’s not afraid to use them.

Fans of possessive werewolves and rejected mates are sure to love Savage Mates. Between the steamy scenes and some tear-jerking scenes, this standalone book offers a new take on omegas. One rave review says that there are “so many amazing things about this book!”

4. Dragon’s Kitty

by Eve Langlais

Israfil isn’t exactly a people person, much less a cat person. Yet somehow, he acquires a feline after he’s released from his prison. But the cat ends up being nothing compared to Serafina, a treasure hunter who won’t even let a horseman of the apocalypse—and his cat—get in her way. As they search dangerous catacombs for an artifact, Serafina will have to keep an eye out for traps and her attraction to Israfil…

Eve Langlais is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Dragon’s Kitty is the latest book in her Dragon Point series. This fun paranormal romance features a dragon shifter and magic, and it’s an overall fun read; there are even some moments from the cat’s perspective! It’s no wonder why many of the Amazon reviews mention that they “love the adventure, the humor and of course the steamy bits!”

5. Lover Arisen

by J.R. Ward

Balthazar is s a thief who never expected his heart to be stolen by a human. While on the hunt for the Book of Spells, he has to fight his undeniable attraction to homicide detective Erika Saunders. Something otherworldly is happening in Caldwell, New York and Erika’s nightmares involve being hunted by shadows and a mysterious man. Will the thing bringing Balthazar and Erika together destroy the Brotherhood?

Lover Arisen is part of J.R. Ward’s New York Times bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. As mentioned in a rave review from the Philadelphia Inquirer, “it is the reemergence of an old enemy and the heartbreaking sacrifice of a longtime fan favorite that leaves you stunned and facing a torturous wait for answers in the next book. It’s another thrilling entry in the long-running series.”

6. Her Alien Angel

by Michele Mills

Evie has no idea why a winged and satanic-looking male left his baby outside her door. She’s the only female human on Salo for miles and she does her best to care for the baby. When something possessive quietly comes into her home, she finally sees the baby’s father. Her breath is caught when his white wings wrap around her. Evie’s fingers map his body at night, but he flies off every morning. When he eventually leaves for good, will the baby go with him?

With nearly 700 five-star reviews on Amazon, Her Alien Angel is a must-read if you’re looking to add a paranormal romance with angels to your TBR list. As one reviewer puts it, “A Hyrokkin with wings? Yes, please! This whole story just flowed like a magical dream.” Don’t wait to download the book readers describe as hot and impossible to put down!

1. Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?

by Julie Smith, Ph.D.

In Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? The Tik-Tok famous clinical psychologist Julie Smith details how the mind, body, and emotions work together to influence every ounce of our lives. In short chapters, Smith unpacks her mental health toolbox and demonstrates how all the gadgets work.

Readers will walk away better at caring for their mental health and with techniques to manage anxiety, depression, and self-doubt. Plus, they’ll learn to cultivate resilience, motivation and inspiration, self-confidence, and forgiveness.

2. Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

by Amelia Nagoski, Ph.D., and Emily Nagoski

If you’re a working American, it’s very likely you’ve experienced burnout at some point. According to Deloitte, 77% of workers in the US have experienced burnout in their jobs, and those who are burned out say unmanageable stress negatively affects their work and their personal lives.

Burnout is specifically targeted at helping women minimize burnout and its effects, but everyone will get something from this book. Readers will learn how to “complete” the stress cycle, appreciate and love your body, and monitor your emotions to better use them for your benefit.

3. The Body Keeps the Score

by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a psychiatrist and clinical researcher with decades of experience working with patients who have experienced severe forms of trauma. The Body Keeps the Score is a powerful account of the far-reaching effect of trauma, both mental and physical, and how his patients have learned to heal.

This wonderfully readable and powerful mental health book comprises both narrative patient stories and histories of medical research and treatment.

4. The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help You Deserve

by Rheeda Walker, Ph.D.

Clinical psychologist Rheeda Walker pulls back the curtain to shine a light on the Black mental health crisis created by a system that is not designed to provide equal healthcare to all. Readers will learn how to identify the symptoms of mental illness, find psychological healing, foster community, and find the help they need. Walker also offers tools and strategies to mitigate stress and enrich emotional wellness.

The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health is a must-read for every person of color and the allies that stand with them.

5. Healing: Our Path from Mental Illness to Mental Health

by Thomas Insel, M.D.

As a neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Thomas Insel has seen the inner machinery of the mental health system and knows first-hand why it’s failing so many people who desperately need care.

In Healing, Insel shifts the focus from the biological and chemical influences on mental health to how we can prevent and heal from the effects of mental illness. The book explores why the quality of mental healthcare varies so widely, why many practitioners lack accountability, and why we’ve become so resigned to treating symptoms rather than problems.

Insel lays out the brokenness of the mental health system and how it can be made right, with what he calls the three Ps: people, place, and purpose.

6. How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free

by Alexandra Elle

Everyone has a need to heal in some way. Whether it’s healing from an acute traumatic experience, the loss of a loved one, the dissolution of a relationship, or simply damaging beliefs about oneself. In How We Heal, Alexandra Elle presents a four-part framework for healing and offers practical advice readers can apply in their own lives, like journaling, meditation, and boundary-setting.

1. Daphne Jones Mysteries

by Phillipa Nefri Clark

The outback town of Little Bridges is the perfect location for the wedding Daphne Jones is set to officiate, but someone is determined to stop the union. When a member of the bridal party is found dead in a swimming pool, Daphne’s gut knows this was not an accident. A celebrant sleuth with a love of puzzles, Daphne has a number of suspects after learning of family feuds and missing money. She refuses to give up… unless the killer gets to her first.

This fun cozy mystery series features a traveling wedding officiant with a heart of gold in Australia. One five star review for Till Daph Do Us Part, the first book in the series, says, “there is much to love about this book. The author has an excellent writing style. The plot moves nicely. The characters are interesting and well-developed.” If you’re looking for a series filled with quirky characters, don’t wait to add this series to your virtual library!

2. A Bookish Cafe Mystery

by Harper Lin

Bookseller Maggie Bell works in a charming Connecticut bookstore. When her boss passes away, his son, Joshua Whitfield, has plans to turn part of the bookstore into a vampire and silly romance book themed cafe. In the middle of the renovation, an electrician is killed. Joshua becomes the prime suspect and Maggie has to put aside their differences to help clear his name. But as her attraction to Joshua grows, will she be able to fall for this man who doesn’t even enjoy reading?

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a series that has it all: a bookstore setting, a cute black cat, and a dash of romance. A highly rated Amazon review says, “Harper Lin does a masterful job of weaving a story with plenty of murder suspects for the armchair sleuth consider… I definitely plan to enjoy more of this author’s books.” Start this series today!

3. A Raina Sun Mystery

by Anne R. Tan

Raina Sun is a graduate student doing her best as bills roll in and her college adviser cons her, but her luck is running out. She ends up finding her advisor’s dead body, becomes the prime suspect, and then her ex reappears as the case’s lead detective. On top of that, Raina’s grandmother shows up at her tiny apartment with her own trouble in store. As she hones her sleuthing skills, Raina learns that when it comes to murder, there isn’t room for amateurs.

With eleven books in the series, you won’t be short on hilarious cozies that feature a Chinese-American protagonist and characters that feel very real. As one rave review puts it, “The twists and turns delivered repeatedly so that I didn’t have a moment to grow bored with this mystery. I will read it again and again, and I can’t wait to read more in this series.” The 11 books in this cozy series are perfect for any bookworm!

4. The Murder, Curlers Series

by Arlene McFarlane

Valentine Beaumont is a beautician who is struggling to revive her business after a perm gone wrong. After a socialite is strangled while waiting for her facial, Valentine knows she needs to start figuring out the clues. Despite warnings from a detective who is hard-headed and sexy, Valentine commits to clearing her name before another one of her clients is murdered.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries that have laugh-out-loud banter and a little bit of romance thrown in the mix, you won’t want to miss this series from USA Today bestselling author Arlene McFarlane! Highly rated reviews on Amazon describe Murder, Curlers, and Cream as delightful and humorous, and one review states, “If you’re looking for an entertaining escape – this book is for you.” Add this cozy mystery series to your TBR list today!

5. Moonstone Bay

by Amanda M. Lee

Hadley Hunter lived a normal life up until a grandmother she never knew passes away and leaves her with a lighthouse on Moonstone Bay Island. Ready for adventure, she goes to check out the lighthouse and is intrigued by what she sees. But when she notices magical things happening and sees a body on the beach, it looks like the island has a killer and they’re stalking Hadley, Moonstone Bay’s newest witch.

Witchin’ USA is the first of ten books in the Moonstone Bay series. One rave review puts it perfectly: “This was so much fun to read, expertly written with a whole house full of drama, snark, sass, determination and a background setting that is drool worthy.” What more could you want in a fun and paranormal cozy mystery? Don’t wait to grab this series and add some magic to your virtual library!

6. Hamish Macbeth Mysteries

by M. C. Beaton

Lady Jane Winters is a widow with a gossip column. After joining a fishing class, Lady Jane wastes no time in using her sharp tongue to ruffle the feathers of the others in the class, including Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth. Hamish believed nobody would silence the widow—that is until her strangled body is found. Hamish may be in over his head as he works through a list of suspects. After all, knowledge is power and killers usually strike more than once…

Visit the Scotland Highlands in this cozy mystery series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and Queen of Crime, M. C. Beaton! Well-written and full of quirky characters in a beautiful setting, it’s no wonder why readers are hooked. With over 30 books in the series, you’ll never be short on intriguing mysteries. Download Death of a Gossip and get captivated by this cozy series.

7. Lady Hardcastle

by T. E. Kinsey

It’s 1908 and widow Lady Emily Hardcastle has moved from London to the country in the hopes of living a quiet life with her maid, Florence Armstrong. Once a body is discovered in the woods, Lady Hardcastle and Flo discover a web of intrigue, learning about resentment and rivalries. Surrounded by suspicion and uncertainty, only one thing is for sure: there is no quiet life in the country.

A Quiet Life in the Country is the first book in the Lady Hardcastle series. One highly rated review mentions that the “excellent use of humor combined with a well-written plot and erudite vocabulary” are what make the first book such an enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a witty cozy mystery that’s both relaxing and entertaining, you don’t want to miss this beloved series by T. E. Kinsey!

8. Florida Keys Bed & Breakfast Cozy Mystery

by Danielle Collins

Located in the Florida Keys is the bed and breakfast that Eva Stewart runs with her parrot. While Eva loves reading murder mystery books and hosting her book club, she unexpectedly ends up with an actual murder mystery on her hands when a body is found near the B&B. Using what she knows from her favorite books, will she be able to help crack the case?

Your next murder mystery is waiting for you in this series written by bestselling author Danielle Collins! There are six books and the most recent one was published in March 2022. With over 1000 five star ratings on Amazon for the first book, this fast-paced cozy mystery is sure to hook you with its unexpected twists. Described as “engaging” and “realistic” by reviewers, you won’t want to skip this series.

1. My Killer Vacation

by Tessa Bailey

A relaxing vacation on Cape Cod turns into a murder mystery when Taylor finds a body in the rental house she is supposed to share with her brother. When a handsome and dangerous bounty hunter shows up, Taylor, a true crime fanatic, insists on helping him track down the killer.

Romantic and suspenseful, My Killer Vacation is the perfect excuse to plant yourself on the beach all day. According to one Goodreads reviewer, “This was the light and funny read I needed… but make it spicy & murder mystery. I wanted a quick and captivating book and this hit the perfect spot.”

2. World Travel: An Irreverent Guide

by Anthony Bourdain with Laurie Woolever

Maybe the nearest beach, or even the local pool, is as far as your summer travels will take you. The good news is, World Travel, a collection of writings and thoughts by the late chef and writer Anthony Bourdain, will take you just about anywhere in the world you want to go.

Part travel guide, part cultural reflection, this book is a good choice for the reader who likes short, snackable bits. The collection also features essays from Bourdain’s friends, family, and colleagues on food, travel, and personal exploration.

3. French Exit

by Patrick DeWitt

Patrick DeWitt’s short and delightful novel French Exit is for lovers of wit, sarcasm, and dark humor. When an aristocratic Upper East Side widow finds herself at the end of her rope socially and financially, she takes her childish adult son to Paris, the City of Light, in the hopes of starting over. But it turns out things aren’t so easy, and our main characters get caught up in the wry friction of Parisian high society.

4. Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family

by Robert Kolker

The history of the Galvin family is a page turner if there ever was one. Hidden Valley Road is the story of an American family rocked by a string of diagnoses—over a decade, six of the twelve Galvin children are diagnosed with schizophrenia.

This is the tragic yet completely enrapturing story of the family whose contributions to the science of mental health are unmatched, yet in many ways unauthorized.

5. The Summer I Turned Pretty

by Jenny Han

Summers at Cousins Beach are always magical for Isabel “Belly” Conklin. Her world revolves around the small beach town and the friends there who have become like family, including Conrad and Jeremiah, two brothers Belly has known since childhood. But as they’ve grown, the relationships have changed. Could one of them be more than a friend? This YA romance novel is full of the genre’s favorite tropes and golden settings—and it just begs to be read.

You may know Jenny Han from her best-selling book and Netflix movie of the same name: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. And if you can’t get enough, you’re in luck! The Summer I Turned Pretty is the first book in Han’s summer trilogy, which includes It’s Not Summer Without You and We’ll Always Have Summer.

6. The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm

by Hilarie Burton Morgan

When the actress Hilarie Burton Morgan became pregnant with her first child, she and her partner, the actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, decided it was time to opt out of the glamorous life they had been leading between New York City and Los Angeles, and instead move to a working farm in rural Hudson Valley, New York. On Mischief Farm, the Morgans have raised a family, a bunch of animals, and plenty of hell.

Readers needn’t be familiar with the Morgans or their work to love this charming, tender, and often hilarious memoir that reflects on love, parenting, ambition, and what it means to fall in love with a community.

7. Reason and Romance

by Terrance Layhew

George Austen believes romance novels are beneath him. Ever concerned with being a “serious” author, a rival goads him into writing his own romance book. So George must begin at the beginning, by asking, is romance more than a genre?

A contemporary romance novel for readers who resist, or even frown upon, the contemporary romance novel, Reason and Romance will delight and charm.

8. Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders

by Kathryn Miles

In 1996, two women were murdered while backpacking in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Forest. Both were skilled and experienced outdoorswomen. Twenty years later, journalist Kathryn Miles tries to crack open the case that went cold long ago.

In her book, Miles eliminates previous suspects and identifies new ones, discovers potential cover-ups, and gains access to key witnesses and documents. The story is consuming and endlessly readable. True crime fans will love Miles’s earnest and thoughtful investigation of the crime and her reflection on the dangers that women face in the wilderness and in U.S. national parks, and why crime investigations fail so many women.

9. Painting Time

by Maylis de Kerangal

Painting Time is the story of Paula Karst, a blossoming artist on the verge of a great artistic breakthrough and mastery of craft. Yet in many ways Paula is lost—young, still living with her parents, and unsure of where her work will take her. This coming-of-age novel is a rich and atmospheric journey into the world of art and painting, and across Europe.

10. On Rotation

by Shirlene Obuobi

Angela “Angie” Appiah has everything she’s supposed to: medical school, a promising career, a successful boyfriend, and successful friends. When her world starts falling apart, Angie realizes these aren’t the things she wants, but the things she has been told she should want.

When she finds herself wanting Ricky Gutierrez, the kind of partner she never envisioned for herself, Angie has to recast herself in the story of her life—in a role that she chooses. Obuobi’s debut novel is funny, romantic, and deliciously readable from start to finish.

11. Diner of Lost Souls

by Graham Diamond and Hedy Campeas

Cora Drakos is the owner of the Athena Diner—and a part-time sleuth. Her work takes her around the world, from New York to Athens and every dangerous corner in between. The latest mystery, though, has come dangerously close to home. Cora is on a mission to track down the person who brutally beat a homeless man near the diner, a would-be murderer who wanted the anonymous man dead.

This short indie title is a must-read for those who love an international mystery thriller.