2026 Holiday Reading Challenge | The Running Bibliophile

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Who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it pushes you to read outside your comfort zone or discover a new author? I’ve always wanted to join a reading challenge or reading bingo, but so many of them feel repetitive. So, I decided to create something a little different. It doesn’t mean a challenge like this isn’t out there; I just haven’t come across one myself. Introducing The Running Bibliophile’s 2026 Holiday Reading Challenge, a fun and unique way to expand your reading list while celebrating the spirit of the year. This challenge features 14 books of your choice, with one key twist: each book’s plot must revolve around the specific holiday mentioned. The challenge runs for January 1 through January 31, 2026. To keep things exciting, you may not duplicate any books on the list. By the time you've completed the challenge, you will have read 14 new books to diversify your reading list. To kick things off, the first prompt is simple: choose any holiday-themed book as l...
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Book Review: Murder By The Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew

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NetGalley ARC of Murder By The Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew
Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew takes place in Oceanside, California.  It opens with Scarlett Gardner having a hard day at work because everything has gone wrong.  She partly blames Connor, her ex-boyfriend, because he dumped her and took off to greener pastures for a start up company when they were supposed to be running the bookstore she opened together.  Taking a walk on the nearby beach, Scarlett stumbles over a dead body, which turns out to be that of Lorelei Knight . . . the last customer who frequented her store the night before.  Now, Scarlett is the prime suspect and needs to clear her name.

First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew.  When I read the synopsis of this book, it sounded like it was right up my alley.  I received a copy of this cozy mystery for free in exchange for my honest review.

While the book starts at a slightly slower pace, it doesn’t take long for the story to gain momentum. Once the mystery unfolds, I found myself fully invested in both the characters and the unfolding investigation. Scarlett is an easy protagonist to root for, and I genuinely enjoyed getting to know the supporting cast. That said, there were a few characters I didn’t particularly care for ... Connor, Detective Maxwell, Autumn, and Martin. Martin did redeem himself somewhat as the story progressed, which added a nice layer of character development. You’ll have to read the book to see exactly how that plays out.

Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew takes place in Oceanside, California.
One of the strongest aspects of this cozy mystery is the number of twists and red herrings woven throughout the plot. I found myself constantly second guessing my theories. My first suspect was Evelyn Maxwell, who works for Scarlett and happens to be married to Detective Maxwell. Something about her behavior struck me as suspicious from the beginning. I also considered Connor, Autumn, and Lucia as possible culprits. In the end, I was satisfied that the person I ultimately landed on as the murderer turned out to be the culprit. However, I never fully pieced together the connection between Lorelei and Scarlett on my own.

Overall, Murder by the Seashore is a well-written and engaging start to the California Bookshop Mystery series. With its Oceanside, California setting, bookstore backdrop, and intriguing murder investigation, it’s a solid addition to the cozy mystery genre. The combination of small town drama, layered suspects, and satisfying twists kept me turning the pages. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next for Scarlett Gardner and her bookstore. I gave Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew four out of five stars.

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