What I've Been Reading Lately #3

Current Reads by Cup of Tea

Cup of Tea With That Book

Mar 01, 2025

Welcome to What I've Been Reading Lately, a feature where I'll be giving short reviews of what I'm currently reading:

All links lead to the StoryGraph listing.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.

Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being linked to her soul. The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life before they find her first, figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse, and try not to fall in love . . . again. (Credit: Wednesday Books)

I’m a couple of chapters in and I am already hooked! Laura Steven always writes captivating and engaging fiction but this one will be a bit different than her previous books. However, it still has the same wit and engrossing nature, this time with a hint of mystery and magic mixed in.

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

Ex-celebrity chef Sirena Caraway has had the wackiest October ever. Her cooking powers are on the fritz, she failed to land a career-saving job, and she embarrassed herself at the town’s Halloween party. Just before midnight, she makes a desperate wish for a second chance to fix her life. The next morning Sirena wakes up and realizes that she’s repeating the entire pumpkin spice-flavored month. Even sweeter, she runs into Gus Dearworth, whose magic leaves her spellbound.

A former reality star, Gus moved to Freya Grove to rebuild his reputation and heal his broken heart, but his restless magic is tempting him to return to the spotlight. And his secret crush on Sirena is making him want to try something dangerous like fall in love again. When Sirena realizes he can help her fix her powers, Gus makes her a deal. If she’ll help decipher a mysterious cookbook in his collection, he'll help get her magical groove back.

Every encounter offers a new adventure—from tasting menus, harvest mazes, and a growing attraction that’s taking on an irresistible enchantment of its own. But as the month winds down and the wish grows stronger, Sirena and Gus have a decision to make. Will their second chance be their happy-ever-after ending or a bittersweet memory? (Credit: Forever)

Not a romantasy but a cozy romance with magic that is heartwarming and a celebration of black love. Celestine Martin creates an enjoyable romance that leaves you entertained and loved when you reach the end of the page.

Miss Aldridge Regrets by
Louise Hare

London, 1936

Lena Aldridge is wondering if life has passed her by. The dazzling theatre career she hoped for hasn’t worked out. Instead, she’s stuck singing in a sticky-floored basement club in Soho and her married lover has just left her. She has nothing to look forward to until a stranger offers her the chance of a lifetime: a starring role on Broadway and a first-class ticket on the Queen Mary bound for New York.

After a murder at the club, the timing couldn’t be better and Lena jumps at the chance to escape England. Until death follows her onto the ship and she realises that her greatest performance has already begun.

Because someone is making manoeuvres behind the scenes, and there’s only one thing on their mind…

MURDER (Credit: Berkley Books)

So far, this is an enjoyable historical mystery, perfect for readers who enjoy Agatha Christie and cozy mysteries. It reads like a cozy mystery but dives more in the atmospheric setting, particularly with the pre-WWII politics and society standards. But you are still in for a treat of good mystery when reading the adventures of Lena Aldridge.

Revolutionary Algorithms: A Tiktok Manifesto by Torey Akers

In Revolutionary Algorithms, Torey Akers approaches TikTok with a deep understanding of the app, as both a prolific creator and consumer of its content. In these essays, she interrogates how the TikTok ban and the multiple genocides happening around the world are deeply intertwined; how the app can empower creators, amplify social movements, and document abuses of power. She addresses the good, bad, and sometimes uncanny parts of maneuvering and communicating in a digital space.

As a new era of social media looms, Akers makes the case for techno-progressivism, looking toward a future where TikTok continues to connect, inspire, and create space for more intersectionality, equity, and joy. (Credit: Grand Central Publishing)

I am still not a fan of TikTok, but reading someone’s take on the platform's positive impact was fascinating. With this manifesto, Torey Akers highlights the popular platform's positives and negatives, although mostly the positives. But it did show me how influential and impactful a social media platform can be on a society and when we are in a digital space, I feel we tend to forget those feelings.

She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai, Tsubasa Yamaguchi

She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai and art by Tsubasa Yamaguchi

"It was the start of spring. It was raining. That was the day that she brought me home."

This is the story of Miyu, a woman who lives alone with her cat, Chobi. As Miyu navigates the world of adulthood, she discovers both the freedom and loneliness that come with living independently, and Chobi learns of the outside world through her actions. Time drifts slowly for Miyu and her cat, but the harsh realities of the world soon catch up... (Credit: Kodansha Comics)

I am sucker for a book about cats or a book revolving around cats. The plot for this story was based on a short film created by the director of the popular anime films Your Name and Suzume. The popularity of the movie, She and Her Cat, inspired the story to be turned into a manga and also the creation of a book of short stories. Like Shinkai’s films and stories, I feel this will be another tremendous emotional story.