reading Archives - Our Tiny Nest

2025 Winter Reading Challenge

This post contains affiliate links

The 2025 Winter Reading Challenge is here!!!!

I am not a fan of winter, but one thing I do enjoy during this time of year, is the opportunity to slow down, get cozy and read a good book.

Which is why I started these winter reading challenges a few years ago. I started it as a way to motivate myself to read more for pleasure and break up the long winter months and it has become something you all have loved and enjoyed as well.

Below I’m sharing how to join in on the 2025 Winter Reading Challenge and giving you some of my book recommendations.

What is the Winter Reading Challenge?

The 2025 Winter Reading Challenge is a seasonal event running from January through mid March. This challenge has various prompts to encourage you to read a variety of different genres.

Now just like with the previous reading challenges, we will be playing on Instagram.

How to participate in the winter reading challenge:

1.) Download the graphic below or save to your phone or camera roll.

2.) The idea is to read books in each category to try and get a BINGO or bonus points if you do a cover all and fill in all the boxes! Each time you read a book that checks off one of the boxes, share to your Instagram stories and tag me @ourtiny_nest.

3.) The challenge will end March 16th 2025. Be sure to share your finished template to your Instagram story with each box ticked off and tag me @ourtiny_nest to get credit! You must be following me @ourtiny_nest.

The challenge will be live from Wednesday January 1st 2025 – Sunday March 16th 2025.

Here are some book recommendations to get you started:

New Release for 2025

The Crash by Freida McFadden – If you love a good Freida book, this one comes out January 28th 2025.

Tegan is eight months pregnant and wanting to put her life behind her and start new with her new baby. She sets off to stay with her brother only to be heading into a blizzard. She becomes stranded when her car dies and is rescued by a seemingly nice couple who offer for her to stay at their cabin. However as time goes on, she realizes she is in danger.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros – coming January 21st, 2025. This is the third book in the Empyeran Series after Fourth Wing and Iron Flame.

Book set during winter

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey – this one sounds like a winter fairytale. It’s 1920’s in Alaska. Jack and Mabel are childless and struggling homesteading in brutal Alaska and slowly drifting apart. One day during a snowstorm they build a child out of snow. The next day, the snow child is gone but in it’s place is a blonde-haired girl of the woods who Jack and Mabel come to love as their own daughter.

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley –This one takes place during Christmas break when a group of friends get together in the Scottish Highlands to celebrate New Year’s together. On New Year’s Day, one of them winds up dead, and someone in their group is responsible.

Non-fiction read

Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten – I can’t think of a cozier non-fiction read than Ina’s memoir. I have heard that audible is the way to go with this one, as it is narrated by Ina herself. (Click here to get your free Audible Plus trial.)

Alive by Piers Paul Read – this one is the true story about a Rugby Team who survives the Andes Mountains after their plane crashes. Of the 45 passengers, only 16 are found alive.

Happy Reading!!!

And if you really want to get bookish, check out how to host a book exchange brunch with your friends.

Sign up below to never miss a post

Pin for later

January 1, 2025 By Nicolle

13 In Books/ Lifestyle

14 Books to read this fall 2024

This post contains affiliate links

Grab a cup of coffee, or chai and curl up with a good fall book. I’m sharing 14 books to read this fall 2024. Whether you’re looking for a suspenseful thriller, a murder mystery, witchcraft, or maybe a cozy love story with Hallmark vibes, I’m sharing some of my top picks that will have you turning the pages.

If you’re an avid reader, getting a Kindle or E-reader is the way to go! You can instantly get thousands of books right at your fingertips. I have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can click here to sign up and get your first month free.

But you can also get some books on the Libby app too if you have a library membership. But I prefer not to wait 🙂

Or if listening to audiobooks is more your thing, try Audible. Click here to see how to get an Audible Plus membership and get access to thousands of titles, series and podcasts.

Scroll on down to see my list of book recommendations for this fall.

14 Books to Read This Fall 2024

1.) The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden – This is the latest from Freida McFadden and the third installment in The Housemaid. Once a housemaid, the main character is now married and living in a charming cul-de-sac but can she trust her neighbors? This is a thriller that you won’t be able to put down from the Queen of the thrillers.

2.) The Last Witch in Edinburgh by Marielle Thompson – At a time when you can be hanged for being a witch, Nellie finds her power at the apothecary, honing her craft. But when a disaster strikes, Nellie is forced to flee and leave behind her life until two centuries later, she returns to fight the patriarchy.

3.) Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody – This one is set to be released October 29th, 2024. Teddy’s sister went missing 10 years ago. Now, that her father has killed himself, Teddy finds that her father was very active in online communities trying to find her sister and she begins to fall down the same rabbit hole.

4.) You Again by Kate Goldbeck – Doesn’t this cover just scream “When Harry Met Sally?” If you’re looking for a light hearted, romantic comedy, this is a cute one that follows Ari and Josh living in New York City.

5.) At The Coffee Shop Of Curiosities by Heather Webber – this one has been described as magical, and like a mug of hot chocolate giving you a hug. It’s got a cute charming town and a sweet story of female friendship. Maggie is the coffee shop owner in her small town and is trying to keep busy to keep her mind off of the loss of her mom. She befriends Ava and together the two women realize they may have been brought together for a reason.

6.) A Talent For Murder by Peter Swanson – Shortly after Martha gets married, she finds an odd streak of blood down the back of her husband’s shirts while he was away for work in Denver. Martha begins to do some research on the cities her husband has visited and finds five unsolved murder cases. Is she married to a serial killer?

7.) A Fire in The Sky by Sophie Jordan – Dragons, romance, and fantasy. Tamsyn is forced into an arranged marriage with a brute in order to save the princesses from danger. Meaning she has to leave behind her dear friend and someone she was developing feelings for. “Magic is not dead, it was only sleeping and it will take an ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.”

8.) The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop – Nothing is more fall than the Gilmore Girls. And Emily Gilmore herself, Kelly Bishop, tells her story in this personal memoir.

9.) The Last One At The Wedding by Jason Renulak – set to be released October 8th, 2024. I loved Hidden Pictures, and this is the latest one from the same author.

10.) The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young – June lives in a small mountain town on a flower farm in North Carolina where she knows that a curse has plagued her family and she is awaiting for it to affect her. She begins hearing and seeing things that were not there and sets out to try to end the curse once and for all.

11.) First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston – this one is a Reese’s Book Club pick. This has been described as a twisty, cat and mouse thriller full of surprises.

12.) The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore – This one is on my list for the second year in a row and I’m finally reading it. The title is obvious why it’s a great pick for fall and this book has been all the rave on Tik Tok!

13.) Fall I Want by Lyra Parish – A cute fall love story about Autumn and Zane, with a little bit of spice, and fall vibes.

14.) Weyward by Emilia Hart – Lovers of historical fiction will gobble this one that combines witchcraft and fantasy.

If you’re looking for more books, click here to see last year’s fall reading recommendations.

Sign up below for more of what I’m reading, watching, & eating right to your inbox

Pin for later

September 28, 2024 By Nicolle

13 In Books/ Lifestyle

The 10 best beach reads for Summer 2024

Reading a book on the beach - the best beach reads for summer 2024

This post contains affiliate links

Summer is here and even if you’re not going on vacation, it’s a great time to get lost in a book. Whether you crave a fun romance novel or a fast paced thriller, these 10 best beach reads for summer 2024 are the best way to beat the heat or lay out in the sun with your toes in the sand.

Click here if you’re not already a Kindle Unlimited Member!

10 Best Beach Reads for Summer 2024

Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan – Sam is 30 with an amazing job in the city and a cute doctor fiance. However when she ends up at her parent’s beach house, she runs into Wyatt, her childhood love. This one sounds a little predictable, but sweet if you’re looking for a quick, light read.

The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hildebrand – My book club is currently reading this one. Hollis is a food blogger who is newly widowed after her husband gets in a car accident one morning after an argument. Hollis decides to go away for a five star weekend on Nantucket. This is a story of friendships, relationships and self discovery set on a quaint coastal island.

Bad Summer People by Emma Rosenblum – A murder, on an island, and two couples who each have a grudge. If you love a little thriller mixed with your beach read, this one is it.

The Block Party by Jamie Day – Memorial Day weekend for one affluent neighborhood means that it’s time for their annual block party. However during the party, one of the neighbors winds up dead leaving everyone wondering who did it and why. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that each family has their own secrets they’d like to keep hidden. This one reminds me of something you’d see on Bravo or Lifetime and I’m here for it.

Swan Song by Elin Hildebrand – ok so Elin Hildebrand is like the queen of beach reads so she gets 2 on this list. And apparently this will be her last book based on Nantucket. This one is filled with lavish parties at beautiful Nantucket homes, swims in the ocean, and murder. As always, the character development is amazing in true Hildebrand fashion.

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez – A guy and a girl each have the same problem in that everyone they date, goes on to meet their soulmate. They decide to just have a quick summer fling and rent a house together in Lake Minnetonka. But then soon find themselves helping each other navigate difficult situations and realizing maybe fate brought them together.

The Summer Pact by Emily Griffin – this one comes out July 9th!!! 4 girls meet in college and soon become best friends. Right before graduation they are struck by tragedy and they make a pact to always be there for one another. Years later, they are each following their own destiny when one of the girls, Hannah calls on her friends to help her pick up the pieces.

Sandwich by Catherine Newman – Rocky is away at her family’s Cape house with her parents, her husband and her half grown children. She navigates the needs of her family while also navigating the mood swings and hot flashes of menopause and flashbacks to years prior. This story is all about the dynamic shifts within the family and personal growth.

The Next Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine – This is the sequel to The Last Mrs. Parrish (linking it here if you haven’t read it) which was a Reese’s Book Club Pick and I’ve been seeing it all over Tik Tok. Now you can also read this as a stand alone without reading the prequel. This book is twisty with characters that you will love to hate.

Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi – Taking place in a city in Nigeria about a party that goes off the rails, sex, and corruption. This one has been described as gritty and one of the most anticipated books of the year!

Happy Reading!!!

Patriotic outfit ideas for summer

How to live the coastal grandmother aesthetic

How to have a Tomato Girl summer

Sign up below to never miss a post!

June 21, 2024 By Nicolle

10 In Books/ Lifestyle

14 books to read in 2023

This post contains affiliate links

I am sharing some of my best book picks for this year. There’s some romance, thrillers, historical fiction, new releases and even a few non-fiction and memoirs. Scroll down to see the 14 books you need to read in 2023.

And for those of you who like listening to audiobooks, click here to try Audible Premium Plus and get up to 2 books free!

14 Books To Read In 2023

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

This book already has plans to be made into a movie. The main character is a transcriptionist for a sex therapist and becomes infatuated with one of the clients.

The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes

This thriller is a Reese’s Book Club pick. It’s a story about female friendship and a seven year journey to try to solve a “Who Done It?”.

Spare by Prince Harry

By now, I don’t think there is a single soul who hasn’t heard of Prince Harry’s memoir. I hear that the best way to enjoy this one is by listening to it on audiobook. If you don’t already have it, click here to try audible plus.

The Family Secret by Kiersten Modglin

A newly engaged couple head out to live at the family estate after his parent’s die. But once there, the woman realizes that not only is she being watched by the house staff but they are covering family secrets. It sounds a little to me like the beginnings of the Dollaganger’s for any of you who read “If There Be Thorns” or “Flowers in The Attic”.

You Just Need To Lose Weight And 19 Other Myths About Fat People by Aubrey Gordon

This New York Times Bestseller delves into the myths surrounding fat culture and offers fresh perspectives to bodies of all sizes.

Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon

The reviews say that if you loved “Mystic River” or “Little Fires Everywhere” then you will like this one. A young woman is found dead in an affluent New England town. The three suspects are kids who were seen partying with her that night and each of their parents get involved, only muddying the waters.

Happy Place by Emily Henry

This one debuts April 25th, 2023.

From the author who brought “Beach Read” and “The People We Meet On Vacation”. A couple who has been secretly broken up must fake it in front of their friends while away for a week in Maine.

This Is Going To Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay

This is a good read for anyone who is in the medical profession or if you’re interested in the healthcare system at all. It follows a Junior Doctor in the United Kingdom and shows the contrast of a government run healthcare system compared to that in the United States.

Someone Else’s Shoes by JoJoe Moyes

Nisha lives an affluent lifestyle until her wealthy husband files for divorce. At the same time, Sam is at the lowest point until she finds Nisha’s gym bag and puts on her Laboutins inspiring her to change her life around. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story, read this one!

The Woman With The Cure by Lynn Cullen

The story takes place in the 1940s and 50’s when Polio is wiping across America and causing many cities to go into lockdown. It’s based on the true story about a woman who races to find a cure. Set to be released on 2/21!

The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman

This story is based on the real institution Willowbrook known for it’s shocking abuse to it’s residents. Sage is a twin and she has always known that her sister was a little bit different. After their mother dies, Sage sets out to find her sister at Willowbrook but she is mistaken for her sister once she arrives.

The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

This one sounds like a twisty page turning. A young woman is employed as a housekeeper for a stunning penthouse. She has yet to meet the lady of the house and was told not to step foot into the guest bedroom until one day she decides to knock on the door.

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell

To be released March 7th 2023. A group of bakers set out to a Vermont estate for a baking competition but then a body is discovered. The reviews say that it combines the likes of The Great British Bakeoff with Clue.

Girls And Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier

This one doesn’t come out until June 6th, 2023 and I can’t wait! All about horse girl cliques, barn moms drinking wine, gossip, backstabbing and a suspicious death. You can pre-order it now!