the misstery diaries #14 ✿ of small cafés, lovely lies, and being safe and sound

Welcome to the misstery diaries. Here, you'll discover a selection of my latest reads (both old and new), along with the films and shows I've recently watched. I hope these recommendations prove useful and that you find something that catches your eye!

Hi, readers! 💌 This will be my final post of 2024. I hope you have a joyful holiday season, and here’s to a fantastic 2025 filled with amazing books, films, and TV shows. It’s been a pleasure sharing this year with all of you, and I look forward to continuing the journey in the year ahead.

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What I read 📖

Really liked ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh.

• The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts.

Just okay ⭐⭐

• A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks.

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• Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh.

I was instantly hooked by this mix of thriller and family drama, told through a dual timeline. In the present, we follow sisters Amelia and Kylee, who, six years after their cousin Grace disappeared, decide to take things into their own hands and start investigating. At the same time, we get Grace’s perspective in a timeline that spans from her childhood to her final moments before she vanished.

While Amelia and Kylee’s storyline was fast-paced and interesting, Grace’s chapters were the ones that really pulled me in. This is a dark and emotional book that dives into some heavy topics, so be ready for some tough moments. What Grace went through was heartbreaking, and I just wanted her to have a happy ending.

The book does a great job of creating an atmospheric setting. I could really picture the world Amelia and Kylee lived in, and I was rooting for them to break free from their small town and have better lives than their mom. Speaking of their mom, she wasn’t the best parent, but her story had some layers, and I liked seeing a bit of redemption for her.

The ending let me down a little—it felt rushed and didn’t have much of a twist—but I still really enjoyed the book, so I can forgive the way it wrapped up.

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• A Lovely Lie by Jaime Lynn Hendricks.

A Lovely Lie is a blend of drama and psychological thriller that tells the story of Scarlett and Pepper, two best friends who were involved in a suspicious car accident as teenagers, resulting in two deaths. The friends swore to keep it a secret, and it seemed no one knew they were even there. Years later, Pepper’s daughter, Zoey, appears, searching for her father. She suspects her mother’s high school boyfriend, Vince—who is now married to Scarlett—and seeks answers about her mother’s mysterious past. If it sounds soapy, that’s because it is.

The novel shifts perspectives between Scarlett, Zoey, Pepper, Vince, and Chris, a family friend. It also incorporates police transcripts from the day after the accident, adding layers to the narrative. This structure makes the book dynamic and fast-paced, which is its strongest point.

Unfortunately, the book is filled with deeply unlikable characters, with the possible exception of Luke. I found it difficult to care about any of them, which ultimately led me to lose interest in the story before reaching the halfway point. By the end, the plot felt predictable, and the adult characters' behavior resembled that of teenagers—a trope I always find frustrating. It seems like I’m in the minority, but I didn’t care for this one.

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• The Honk and Holler Opening Soon by Billie Letts.

In an effort to read more backlist novels, I picked up The Honk and Holler Opening Soon after fondly remembering one of my favorites, Where the Heart Is, from years ago.

This heartwarming, cozy story is perfect for the holiday season. It follows a Vietnam War veteran, Caney, who owns a small café in the town of Sequoyah, Oklahoma. Reclusive and confined to a wheelchair, Caney hasn’t left his house in years. His world shifts when a secretive Native American woman arrives at his café looking for work, changing their lives forever. The café also employs a kind-hearted Vietnamese man who speaks little English but delivers some wonderfully humorous moments that had me laughing out loud.

The novel vividly captures a strong sense of place and community, brought to life through beautifully developed characters whose relationships lie at the heart of the story. Though it includes poignant moments, especially those surrounding Brenda, the estranged daughter of the lively MollyO, a constant thread of hope runs through the story.

If you’re looking for a book that feels like a warm, cozy hug on a winter’s day, this is it.

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What I watched 📺

• Sweethearts (2024). I really liked this one. Without giving away what made it so special, I’ll just say it’s about time more movies like this were made. The two lead actors were great, and I loooved the ending referencing When Harry Met Sally.

• Carry-On (2024). A perfect pick for a weekend night: suspenseful, fast-paced, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable. It reminded me of Phone Booth and Nick of Time.

• F Marry Kill (2024). This was unexpectedly fun? The plot centers on a woman convinced she’s dating a serial killer but unsure which of her three suitors is the culprit. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be refreshing. Sure, it’s a bit silly—but that’s the point, isn’t it?

• Thelma (2024). One of my favorites this year. It tells the story of a 93-year-old woman who embarks on a mission to recover money stolen in a scam. Delightful and occasionally insightful.

• Black Doves (s01). I thoroughly enjoyed this spy-crime series with touches of dark humor. As a big fan of both Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, it was a must-watch for me. I loved how the story unfolded, and everything tied together beautifully by the end.

• What We Do in the Shadows (s06). It was bittersweet to say goodbye to my favorite TV vampires. While I noticed some mixed reactions, I personally loved this season—especially Gizmo’s job storyline. The finale was perfect: absurd, meta, and even sprinkled with emotional moments.

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What about you? What are you reading and watching? Any recent loves?