The Weekend Post #162: Weekly Highlights & More!

Welcome to The Weekend Post #162! The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted at Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme. I will also be joining Deb at Readerbuzz for the Sunday Salon and Marlene of Reading Reality in her meme Stacking The Shelves.

My Week:

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day weekend to everyone celebrating! While much of the country has been sweltering through a heat wave, things have been much cooler here on the West Coast. We’ve had mostly overcast skies with the occasional shower, and the forecast is calling for warm—but thankfully not hot—days ahead in the next week. Honestly, who doesn’t love a perfect 25°C (77°F) day?

I’ve been enjoying some fantastic audiobooks lately. Many of my favourite authors release new titles in May and June, and I’m happily making my way through their latest summer reads. I’ve also noticed a growing number of Christmas-themed books popping up on NetGalley, which has me looking forward to cozy Fall reading days.

For the past few years, I’ve hosted a 20 Books of Christmas challenge, and I’d love to know—would you be interested in me bringing it back this year? I’m considering starting it a bit later, on October 1 instead of September 1, if there’s enough interest. Let me know what you think!

Books I’ve Added to My Shelves This Week:

From Publishers, Netgalley, & Libro.fm:

In The Locked Ward, adopted socialite Georgia Cartwright is accused of murdering the biological daughter of her powerful Southern family, landing her in a high-security psychiatric hospital while the media explodes with theories—jealousy, rivalry, madness. When her estranged twin sister Amanda visits, Georgia pleads for help, insisting she’s innocent. Though Amanda doesn’t trust her, she can’t leave her in the eerie institution where reality feels warped and danger lurks behind every door. As Amanda digs deeper, she must unravel whether Georgia is a victim of a twisted family cover-up—or a manipulative killer leading her into darkness. Nothing is as it seems in this chilling psychological thriller about sisterhood pushed to its limits.

Lorna has spent her life burdened by guilt over her sister Kristen’s lifelong addiction, which overshadowed her childhood and left her mistrustful and emotionally isolated. Now an adult, she lives a quiet, guarded life with only her dog for company—until an unexpected friendship with Bean, a wise and winsome eight-year-old neighbor, begins to crack her tough exterior. When an opportunity arises to buy her beloved grandmother’s house, Lorna must confront the painful memories and betrayals of her past as part of a trust agreement. Guided by Bean’s innocent insight, she begins to re-examine her past, discovering that not everything happened the way she remembered. In accepting that she couldn’t have saved Kristen, Lorna finds the strength to forgive herself and start rewriting her own future—on her own terms.

From The Library:

Isadora Bentley is a rule-following, introverted university researcher who’s convinced happiness isn’t in the cards for her. She keeps to herself, avoids social interaction, and is determined to live a quiet, romance-free life. But on her thirtieth birthday, a spontaneous purchase of a magazine titled Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy sparks a secret research project: proving the article wrong. As she reluctantly tests each happiness “tip”—from smiling at strangers to indulging in chocolate—Isadora finds her well-ordered world slowly unraveling in the best possible way. Along the journey, she unexpectedly opens up to new friendships, surprising experiences, and maybe even love, realizing that happiness might not be so far-fetched after all.

From Audible: None

What I’m Watching:

We stumbled upon the first episode of the sports comedy Stick on Amazon Prime, and right away, we knew it was a show we’d enjoy. The series actually streams on Apple TV+, which we weren’t subscribed to—until we remembered that my husband bought a new phone this spring that came with three months of Apple TV+ for free. Perfect timing!

The show stars Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill, a former professional golfer struggling to rebuild his life after a tragic loss and a divorce. His world begins to shift when he crosses paths with Santi, a 17-year-old golf prodigy who pulls him out of his deep funk.

On The Blog This Week:

Must-Read General Fiction Publishing in Summer 2025!

Finding Love and Yourself: A Review of The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown

Can’t Wait Wednesday #144: The Village Cafe in the Loire by Gillian Harvey

Review: Whistle by Linwood Barclay – Creepy Trains, Chilling Storyline 🇨🇦

Review of Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey: A Heartfelt Story of Friendship and Resilience

This Post: The Weekend Post #162

Next Week On That Happy Reader:

Book Review: One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune 🇨🇦

Books By Canadian Authors Publishing in Summer 2025!

Can’t Wait Wednesday #145

June 2025 Wrap Up

Celebrity Book Club Picks for July 2025

The Weekend Post #163

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That’s a wrap on The Weekend Post #162. How was your week? 

I wish you a wonderful week ahead!