Books and Hustle

 If you know me, you know I can’t resist a good post-apocalyptic story. Give me a deadly virus, a shattered society, and a conspiracy, and I'm hooked. When I read the premise for Aurora (written by Amanda Bridgeman , who often writes about complex conspiracies), I was immediately ready to dive in. The core idea is chilling: what if the medical marvels we rely on were weaponized? "The bubonic plague, typhoid fever, smallpox, the bird flu—would you like me to continue? They’re created in labs, then given to people to see who is strong enough to survive them. They’re trying to limit the amount of people in the world.” The author establishes this terrifying notion right away: the government is intentionally unleashing viruses for population control. This conspiracy is what sixteen-year-old Henly Sawyer is forced to confront when her normal world completely shatters. Into the Quarantine Zone Henly wakes up in "Aurora," a quarantined zone miles from her home, and is thro...

 If you love stories that mix heartbreaking teen drama with high-stakes ghost romance, stop what you’re doing and pay attention. I recently dove into The Deepest Cut by Julia Templeton , and it's everything you want in a fast-paced, spooky read. The Scottish Gothic Setting The story centers on sixteen-year-old Riley Williams , whose life has been totally shattered. After a tragic car crash that killed her mother, Riley is drowning in guilt, convinced she’s responsible. The trauma left her with a heavy burden: she can now see ghosts. To try and hit the reset button, her dad moves the family to Scotland—because nothing screams starting over like swapping one gloomy location for a beautiful, but equally gloomy, historical setting! Riley is desperate to see her mother’s spirit for one last chance at forgiveness, but instead, she finds something (or someone) else entirely. The Unexpected Highland Haunting Riley’s dark world shifts when she meets Ian MacKinnon , the ghost of a charming ...

 You know that feeling when you start a new book and immediately realize you won't be putting it down until 3 a.m.? That was me with Josh Malerman’s Bird Box . Before I even picked it up, the core concept was intriguing: the world has been invaded by new, terrifying entities. The catch? One glance at them, and you go permanently mad. Total sensory deprivation is the only way to survive. I liked the idea, but I had no idea just how addictive this book would be. From the very first chapter until the final page, I was impatiently waiting for quiet moments just to pick up this incredible, creepy story. Malerman's writing style was exactly my cup of tea. It’s fast-paced without being rushed, and it’s not overly descriptive. This is crucial for a horror novel; it doesn't prevent you from using your own imagination. In fact, the writing is so immediately gripping that if you’re looking for a book to take on a long-haul flight or a road trip, this is it. It’s the kind of book tha...

You know that feeling? The one where you’re super excited about a new book, the cover looks incredible, and you're ready to dive in... only to realize, three pages in, that you might have skipped the first book? Well, that was my experience with Bound by Prophecy by Melissa Wright . The Gorgeous Cover Lie I'm going to start with a confession: I absolutely, 100% judge a book by its cover. And on that front, Bound by Prophecy is a winner. It’s got that beautiful, serious, epic fantasy look—all lovely colors, intriguing models, and a hint of dark magic. It promised a grand, sweeping paranormal adventure. My hopes were sky-high! But as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. The second I cracked the book open, I felt like I had walked into a room where everyone was already deep in conversation. The story kicks off with such an immediate sense of urgency that it completely threw me off balance. The main characters seemed to know each other intimately, despite having, apparently, j...