Welcome to The Simzy World, where I read so you don’t waste your time.

I decided to sort my reads in the simplest way possible: Yes, No, or Maybe.
I want this series to feel honest, direct, and helpful. No long essays, no complicated breakdowns, just my real reactions to the books I pick up.

If you want to see the quick video version first, here is the YouTube Short:

1. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Rating: YES

Personally, this was an easy YES for me. I love mysteries, and this one gave me exactly what I wanted. The story follows a woman accused of murder who ends up becoming the focus of a true crime podcast. What makes it interesting is that even she is unsure of what truly happened.

If you enjoy audiobooks, please listen to it in that format. The podcast style makes the experience feel so real and immersive.

You should pick this book if:

• You enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing
• You like unreliable narrators
• You enjoy stories that feel like podcasts

1. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Rating: YES

Personally, this was an easy YES for me. I love mysteries, and this one gave me exactly what I wanted. The story follows a woman accused of murder who ends up becoming the focus of a true crime podcast. What makes it interesting is that even she is unsure of what truly happened.

If you enjoy audiobooks, please listen to it in that format. The podcast style makes

2. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Rating: MAYBE to YES

I picked this up with so much hope because it is such a widely loved classic. My reading experience was a bit mixed. The beginning felt slow for me, and I wondered whether it would live up to its reputation.

But as I kept reading, the emotional weight grew. The ending genuinely moved me, and it was worth the patience. It is not an instant-impact book, but it becomes meaningful if you sit with it.

You should pick this book if:

• You want something gentle and reflective
• You enjoy books that build slowly
• You like thoughtful, life-lesson-driven narratives

3. Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: YES

This is a very short read, and I still felt so much through it. The entire story is told through letters exchanged between two people who discover their spouses are having an affair with each other. It is intimate, vulnerable, and surprisingly powerful for something so short.

I finished it in two hours while getting my hair done, and it was exactly what I needed that day.

You should pick this book if:

• You want a brief but emotional story
• You enjoy letter-style narratives
• You love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing

4. Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi

Rating: MAYBE to YES

This book is unlike anything I have read lately. A woman who is exhausted by her toxic office environment fakes a pregnancy just to finally receive basic respect. The lie changes her life in ways she did not expect, and the boundary between what is real and what she wishes for begins to blur.

It is strange, clever, and haunting in a very quiet way

It is not a book for everyone, but if it finds the right reader, it hits in a very specific and memorable way.

You should pick this book if:

• You enjoy Japanese fiction
• You like stories that blur the line between reality and emotion
• You are drawn to books that feel unsettling in a gentle way

5. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Rating: A VERY BIG YES

This book completely lived up to the hype for me. It follows a chemist in the 1960s who ends up hosting a cooking show, and from the very beginning, I felt every emotion the author wanted me to feel. It is funny, fierce, heartbreaking, and empowering all at once.

Twenty pages in, I had to pause and reread because the incident was so unexpected.

You should pick this book if:

• You want something emotional but also fun
• You enjoy strong, unconventional female characters
• You want a story that will stay with you for a long time

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

So here is how the start of my reading year looks:
Three very strong YES books, and two books that started as a MAYBE but eventually earned their YES.

Honestly, that is a solid lineup. A little variety, a little emotional chaos, and a lot of good storytelling.

If you have read any of these, tell me how you felt. If not, feel free to try one that matches your mood right now.

And as always,
I read so you do not waste your time.