I’ve decided to streamline my book ratings moving forward. Choosing between 1-5 with no half ratings is how I will rate each book moving forward. Hopefully this makes things easier when deciding which of my recommendations you want to read!

Everything I Read in October 2026 – Part 2

All the Sinners Bleed

I devoured this book all the way up until the end where I felt the story just completely fizzled out. Regardless of the somewhat disappointing ending, the first 85% of the book is really great! Titus is the first black sheriff in a rural town in Virginia. Historically this town has been divided along racial lines but with the election of a black sheriff, residents have hope that things could change. It’s not until a school shooting reveals a much more sinister crime involving highly regarded members of the community and things begin to unravel again. Tensions rise and Titus must race against the clock to put a serial killer in jail. This definitely kept me on the edge of my seat but the ending was a huge bummer…..though still worth reading! Rating: 4

The Missing Half

The author of this book is the cohost of the popular true crime podcast, Crime Junkies. And her knowledge of true crime definitely comes through in this book! I really thought I had it all figured out and was disappointed that the story was so predictable….until I was completely proved wrong. Ha! There is a major twist that I never saw coming. Nic has never been able to recover after the disappearance of her sister, Kasey, 10 years ago. The authorities suspected foul play but never found Kasey’s body so the family never had closure. When another woman approaches Nic after work one night claiming that her own sister went missing right around the same time as Kasey and she feels the two cases are connected. Trust me when I tell you that you will think you know where the story is going but you will be shocked with the truth! Rating: 4

Everyone Is Lying to You

There are very similar themes in this book to Yesteryear – some almost feeling too similar but thankfully it managed to change course halfway through. This is a mystery though not in the traditional “edge of your seat” sort of way. Lots of unanswered questions that aren’t revealed until the very end. Bex and Lizzie were best friends all through college until an interaction fractured their friendship for good. Lizzie went on to become a journalist, get married and have two small children. Bex went on to become a uber successful trad wife influencer with millions and millions of followers. Lizzie has followed Bex’s career from a far but their paths don’t cross until Bex reaches back out with a possible story for Lizzie. Bex wants them to reconnect and for Lizzie to break Bex’s next huge career news. Lizzie is hesitant because this seems like it has materialized out of the blue but goes along with it in hopes that she can have her best friend back. But plans get derailed when Bex’s husband is brutally murdered and she disappears into thin air. Rumors swirl surrounding the idea that maybe Bex did this but Lizzie doesn’t believe that to be true. Lizzie vows to clear her friends name before it’s too late. Rating: 3

Fruit Fly

I don’t really know how to feel about this book. It’s different from anything I’ve read before yet I felt confused at times throughout the story. The plot felt like it was going one way and then would change course leaving me feeling unsure about what the author was trying to convey. Maybe that’s the point? Who knows. I will say that the VERY last few sentences of the book gave a huge twist and redeemed my interest a bit. Mallory is an accomplished author with a major best seller under her belt. The only problem with that is she has not felt inspired since and thus not written a second book. She feels lost and devoid of inspiration until she stumbles into the world of Grindr. Fascinated by some of the interactions she witnesses and the dark side to this lifestyle, she meets Leo, a twenty something guy who is homeless and survives through trading sex for money, food and anything he needs. Mallory decides this is the kind of story that she could tell in a new book and becomes obsessed with learning more about Leo’s life to possibly use it as material for her next book. Things devolve quickly however and her plan for this brilliant new book puts her life in danger in a way she never saw coming. Rating: 3

Some Choose Darkness

This is the second book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea because all of his books have rave reviews and I felt I was missing out. LOL But sadly, I don’t think his books are for me. While I finished this one, it was somewhat…..stale (this is the only word I can think of that really sums it up). The book is part of a series that features Rory Moore, a well known forensic reconstructionist known for her stellar work in piecing together crime scenes to help the authorities solve a case. Her focus and dedication is what she is known for but when she receives a call stating that her father has passed away suddenly, Rory must immediately go to back home to help finalize the details of his estate. While cleaning out his office, Rory stumbles upon a decades old case her father was working on that he never shared with her. His client, a man convicted of killing his wife decades earlier, is up for parole and will be getting out of prison. Rory is tasked with representing him and trying to figure out why her father even took this case to begin with. What Rory discovers will make her question everything she knew about her life and especially about her mother and father. The plot for the book is great but sadly the execution was too slow and meandering. Rating: 3

The Road To Tender Hearts

This book has been on my TBR (to be read) list for months and I finally decided to give it a go. The reviews are all fantastic so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, this ended up being one of the few books I didn’t even get halfway through before abandoning all together. The story seemed sweet but too slow and boring to get through. Sadly, this was not for me. Rating: Did not finish

I’ve been sharing my monthly favorites nearly every month for the past 10+ years but only on video (IG, Tiktok, YouTube). I’ve never shared my favorites in a blog post but thought I would begin doing so in case you ever miss my monthly favorites video. These are all my favorite, most worn and most enjoyed products from the month. I love putting these lists together and sharing the best of the best with all of you! Here are my favorites from the month of October 2026.

My Monthly Favorites: October 2026

Reformation Olina Cropped Pants

I kept seeing this pants all over my social media and finally decided to order a pair to try. I am desperate for pants that aren’t denim to wear on a regular basis. I bought the rich purple color because they were a bit out of my comfort zone. Thank goodness I did because I am OBSESSED! The fit is true to size though it does run slim through the hips. There is a slight sheen to the pants which makes them a great option for evening but the cropped length also makes it suitable for daytime. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from that I might even order a second color.

Ilia Beauty Eye Stylus Shadow Stick in Venetian

I already love the Ilia Beauty eye shadow stick in Adorn and wear it often. I received the shade Venetian in a gift set which I loved just as much as Adorn. It’s a soft shimmery pink that is perfect for everyday. Here is a video of me trying it on so you can see how beautiful it looks on the eyes!

Summer Fridays Body Fragrance Mist in Pistachio Milk

After trying a few fragrances this past year with pistachio in them, I realized that I LOVE the scent. It’s creamy yet still a bit nutty so if a body mist or perfume contains pistachio, there is a big chance I am going to love it. This new body mist from Summer Fridays was an instant hit because of the pistachio note. Additional notes of creamy woods and raspberry sugar make this scent feel milky and light on the skin with just a hint of sweetness.

Emi Jay Big Effing Clip

I rarely ever wear claw clips in my hair because they are either too harsh and uncomfortable or fall out because my hair is so thin and fine. I’ve heard amazing things about these hair clips from Emi Jay but didn’t think they would work for me. I was SO wrong! I mainly use it to hold my hair up when I’m curling it or wearing it around the house but it is perfection. It holds my hair, doesn’t feel uncomfortable or pull at my hair damaging it in any way.

Currentbody LED Red Light Therapy Mask Series 3 (discount code: ALITTLEBITCB)

I am a loyal user of my Currentbody LED mask for the past 3 years. I’ve tried every version they have put out and the technology keeps getting better and better. This is the one skincare device that I use consistently and have seen the most results from. The newest version of their LED mask is the Series 3 which lets you customize the lights in the mask to target different parts of the face with different treatments. In addition, there are 4 preset modes that you can choose from which target various concerns. It’s their best version yet – I have been using it every single night since it arrived!

Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick in Coco

Absolutely flawless. This contour stick is smooth, creamy and easy to blend. While it is designed to be a contour product and sculpt the face, I use it in the same way I do a traditional bronzer. It’s sheer but can be built up for more intensity. My favorite shade is Biscuit which is a cooler-toned contour that looks soft and natural on the skin. For a traditional bronzer, Westman Atelier has two options: the Beauty Butter Powder Bronzer (I would probably wear shade Coup de Soleil) and the Sun Tone Bronzing Drops (I plan to order these in Shade 1).

Orebella Vanilla’s Touch Body & Hair Perfume Mist

I love a gourmand scent for the fall/winter so I knew this body mist would be something I would wear all season long. With notes of sheer vanilla, marshmallow and skin musk, it’s a gorgeous sweet skin-like scent.

Sequin Jewelry Brielle Choker Necklace (discount code: MAREE20)

This is the perfect color palette for fall that isn’t all browns and neutrals. I own tons of colorful beaded necklaces because I love how much interest they add to an outfit. This particular necklace is a choker style that clasps at the back but stays stiff rather than being movable and flimsy. I love how it stays rigid at the neck which allows it to work well with a crewneck neckline. You can see how I styled it here in this video.

Splits 59 Andie Oversized Fleece Sweatpants

Sweatpants are sweatpants until you find a pair that make you feel the need to tell everyone about them! LOL That is how I feel about this pair of sweatpants I just got in the mail. They are super thin yet still incredibly cozy. Slim fitting without being tight. 10/10 all around.

Westman Atelier HydroBalm Tinted Lipstick in Ballerine

If you don’t love a full coverage lipstick and prefer something with just a hint of color, these Westman Atelier HydroBalm lipsticks are definitely worth trying. They give a sheer wash of color (but still enough to show up) and feel incredibly nourishing on the lips. The shade English Rose manages to be the perfect shade of cool toned rose without being too pink.

Freja NYC Caroline Bag Espresso

I already wear my Freja NYC Chrystie bag non-stop so I knew I would wear this one just as much. It’s a smaller size which I wanted because so many of my bags are huge so having something smaller was perfect. The color is a gorgeous rich chocolate brown that goes with everything.

Lawless Beauty Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Satin Cream Lipstick in Femme

As a lip gloss lover primarily, I often overlook satin lipsticks because I find the texture too thick or heavy. That is not the case with these line smoothing lipsticks from Lawless. While they do provide medium to full coverage, the formula feels weightless and hydrating on the lips. The shade I wear is called Femme which is soft blushing rose. Here is a video of me wearing it – it’s the perfect neutral rose for everyday.