Book Review: "Lies He Told Me" by James Patterson and David Ellis

If I have whiplash, I blame James Patterson and David Ellis for packing so many twists into one book! Given the teaming of these two authors, my expectations were fairly high, and this book exceeded them all.

Marcie grew up in the small town of Hemingway Grove, Illinois. She was determined to be somewhere bigger, so she wound up getting a job as a lawyer at a big Chicago firm. But after that lost its appeal, she moved back, met and married David, and they’re raising two children. David also is the owner of a local pub in town.

They have the idyllic small-town life people envy. And then one day while on a hike, they see a car drive off a bridge and plunge into the river. Without thinking, David jumps in to save the driver, and after some tense moments, both are rescued. Video of David’s bravery goes viral, making him an object of attention in town.

But while David is hailed as a hero, both he and Marcie are thrown by a series of odd things that keep happening. While each is relatively innocuous on its own, taken all together, they start to fear for their safety and that of their children.

It seems as if the news of David’s bravery has made him the center of attention for people with a different interest in David. And Marcie can’t help but wonder what David is hiding—but is he the only one with secrets?

I used to be a faithful reader of Patterson’s but as his volume increased, I lost track. Ellis has been a favorite of mine for a while. I really loved this collaboration.

Book Review: "Graveyard Shift" by M.L. Rio

Every night, just around midnight, the five of them—Edie, Theo, Tuck, Hannah, and Tamar—gather in an old cemetery outside an abandoned and dilapidated church. It’s the only place on university property they can smoke.

They’re not friends but they’re not exactly strangers. They trade gossip, throw barbs at one another, but mostly they come, they smoke, they go.

But one night in October, they discover a freshly dug hole. The graveyard hasn’t been used in years, so who dug the hole? And what is it for?

When the man who dug the grave returns to fill it, several members of the group spy on him. What they find is creepy and confusing, but they can’t understand what it means, or why it’s there. So they follow the gravedigger to see if he’ll lead them to some answers.

The entire book takes place over the course of a few hours, and is seen from each of their perspectives. Is there a connection between the grave and other strange happenings?

I love dark academia so I decided to read this despite my usual fear of spooky stuff. This was creepy instead of spooky (and pretty gross in one or two places), and I never felt like the story took hold. I think there was a lot of potential here that wasn’t realized, so I’m not sure what the point was.

Book Review: "Don't Go Bakin' My Heart" by Shane K. Morton

Like I could resist a book with this title? This was as good as I hoped it would be.

Foggy Basin is a quintessential small town in California, not too far from San Francisco. Many of the businesses in town have existed for years, but recently a resort developer has been trying to convince the owners to sell, so a gigantic resort and golf course could be built. And they’re not above making offers that would allow the owners to live quite well.

Percy grew up in town, and his parents owned a bakery called Don’t Go Bakin’ My Heart. When they were ready to retire, Percy left his job as a pastry chef at a Michelin-starred hotel in Europe to buy the bakery from them. It’s hard keeping a business going, but the bakery is in his blood.

Percy and Ben grew up together, and became very close, until Ben became afraid of his feelings and proceeded to treat everyone, especially Percy, cruelly for four years of high school. Ben couldn’t wait to leave Foggy Basin and never look back. He’s on the verge of becoming partner at the development company where he works, but his promotion depends on him convincing the business owners of Foggy Basin to sell and make way for the resort.

Percy can’t believe Ben has returned after 10 years. Their feelings for one another still burn intensely, but Percy has to get over his resentment of how Ben treated him in high school. As they draw together again, there’s one little secret—the reason Ben has returned—that can tear them apart for good.

Did I guess how the book would go just from the description? Yes, but did it matter? Nope. This is a sweet, emotional, sexy love story with more than a touch of pastry, and the characters were just terrific. I’m looking forward to a return to Foggy Basin!

Book Review: "When We Were Friends" by Jane Green

“To think I may have found a best friend after a five-minute chat, an unlikely meeting in the bathroom of a bar.”

It’s funny how some friendships feel just like dating at the start. You meet someone, you like them, you hope they like you back. Quite often there’s that delicate dance at first, you don’t want to seem too eager.

Lucy is newly divorced, trying to reinvent herself, when she goes to a bar one night with a group of women with whom she has very little in common. She immediately feels out of place and wonders how soon she can go home.

A quick trip to the restroom brings her face to face with Elle. She’s younger and more vibrant, but Lucy recognizes a kindred spirit. After some conversation, they realize they have more in common than Lucy would have imagined, and they make plans for later in the week.

It’s not long before the two become inseparable. For Lucy, Elle fills a void that had existed for some time. She makes Lucy feel like she can conquer anything, and they’re even planning to work together. But after Lucy brings Elle to a party, things veer off-course, and Elle disappears. Lucy mourns the loss of this friend, until she runs into her again and realizes that as close as they were, she doesn’t know Elle at all.

I enjoy Jane Green’s writing, but this felt very incomplete for me. Having Elle’s perspective—although her motivations were quite clear—would have made this more interesting. But it definitely reinforced my belief that you can never truly know someone.

Book Review: "The Bell in the Fog" by Lev AC Rosen

“There are endless possibilities for murder if you’re queer. Most people don’t really think it’s a crime to kill a criminal—and all of us are criminals to the rest of the world.”

It’s 1952 in San Francisco. Andy was in the Navy and then became a police officer—until his homosexuality was discovered, and he was fired. Now he works as a private detective, living and working above The Ruby, a queer bar.

One day, a blast from the past arrives at his office. It’s James, with whom Andy shared a relationship (as well as other men) while they were in the Navy. But one day James disappeared, and Andy thought his sexuality had been discovered, and perhaps that meant Andy might get court-martialed.

James, who is still in the Navy, and is being considered for a major promotion, is being blackmailed with photos of him in compromising positions. If these photos get out, they will ruin him, so James hires Andy to find out who’s behind it. While Andy would like to send James packing, old feelings run deep, and he could use some money.

Tracking down the blackmailer forces Andy to confront his days in the Navy. He meets another old friend, and the forced reminiscences fill him with nostalgia, anger, and grief. How can he find out the truth when the police would all too happily let queer people kill each other?

This is the second book in a series that started with the fantastic Lavender House, but this can be read as a standalone. The characters are so compelling and the glimpses of what life was like for queer people back then are fascinating and at times, sad. Can’t wait for the third book, Rough Pages, to publish on 10/1!

Book Review: "The Tragedy of Dane Riley" by Kat Spears

This is another one of those books I’ve had on my TBR for several years now, and I’m so glad to have finally read it. It’s definitely an emotional read, but it’s also one full of hope.

The teenage years are an anxiety-filled time for many. But Dane’s life is utter torture. He’s mourning the death of his father, who used to make Dane believe in himself and what he could do. To add insult to injury, his mother is now dating Chuck, his father’s best friend. And Chuck’s son Eric enjoys getting high and tormenting Dane.

In his head, Dane is tremendously articulate, but that never seems to translate into conversation. He’s profoundly emotional but he cannot seem to express the things he wants to, which leads to conflict with his mother, Chuck, and Eric. He’s been to a number of therapists but no one seems to get him or how he feels.

The person Dane is most at ease in communicating with is Ophelia, his next door neighbor and fellow teen. Ophelia shows him that it’s okay not to be okay, but also, you have no idea what another person may be going through, so it’s important to have compassion. She also helps Dane see beneath the surface of a person rather than taking them at face value.

The Tragedy of Dane Riley takes a frank look at mental health, particularly in teenagers, and the struggles many of them deal with. At times I truly felt for him, although at times I had to remember he was just a teenager, and his behavior was frustrating. But to watch him finally start to deal with his problems and express his feelings was gratifying.

Kat Spears did a great job with this story. I’m sorry it took me so long to read it, but I think I could appreciate it more now. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy!

Book Review: "Eating & Praying" by Davis Summers

Tyler was a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment field. Before the age of 30, he had produced six movies (one that was nominated for Best Picture) and a television show. But the job came at a cost—his ego-driven, workaholic, hard-drinking ways led to the end of his relationship with his boyfriend, Leo.⁣

⁣ Suddenly he’s an emotional wreck and nothing seems to matter anymore. He prays for a sign, some guidance about what to do next, and he finds it: blog posts from a woman who has been living her own Eat Pray Love journey. So he quits his job and decides to go to Italy, India, and Bali, so he can find his purpose again.⁣

⁣ Italy fills him with life, great food, emotional connections, and, much to his surprise, even some romance. But through his time there, he also keeps feeling that something is missing, something that keeps waking him up in the middle of the night.⁣

⁣ By the time he reaches India to spend 30 days in an ashram, he’s worn down emotionally and his extravagance has burned through his savings. Finding himself literally kept out of the ashram, he must begin a long journey back to the airport. And on a hike he was ill-prepared for, he finally begins to confront the issues that have been plaguing him, realizing that the problems he was addressing were masking others.⁣

⁣ Wouldn’t it be amazing to have the chance to re-evaluate your life against historical backdrops, to confront what’s ailing you emotionally? This was a fun and thought-provoking concept, while at the same time, it addresses bigger issues such as unresolved grief, the need for love and acceptance, and realizing where your mistakes lie.⁣

⁣ There’s even a fun meta moment when Tyler is at a restaurant that Julia Roberts went to in Eat Pray Love, and he’s recreating that experience!⁣ ⁣

Book Review: "All I Want Is You" by Falon Ballard

I had vowed not to start reading holiday romances for a bit longer, but I’m such a huge fan of Falon Ballard’s books, so I figured, one wouldn’t hurt. And truth be told, while it takes place over Christmas, it’s more than a holiday romance.

Jess had always dreamed of being a romance writer, and now she’s living her dream. (Well, if the dream included still working as a barista and seeing her books sell fewer and fewer copies.) She’s worried that her publisher might not even take her latest book—if she can actually find something to write about.

To add insult to injury, Jess’ ex, Nick, is a best-selling romance writer. Sure, his books don’t have happy endings so they shouldn’t really be considered romances, but it doesn’t matter to his readers. Each book makes a bigger bang than the last, and he’s even sold some to be adapted into movies.

When Jess is asked to present Nick with an award at their publisher’s holiday ball, it’s the last thing she wants to do. But it wouldn’t be good for her career to say no. So she buys a dress that she looks fantastic in, grits her teeth, and plans to give the award to Nick. Of course, when they see each other for the first time in five years, there’s still an intense chemistry between them.

Their interactions are minimal until a snowstorm keeps Jess stranded at the inn where the ball was held. And wouldn’t you know it, her reservation got lost, and the only option is to share Nick’s room—which has only one bed. But their forced proximity not only intensifies their attraction, but leads Jess to wonder why Nick ended things five years ago. There’s a lot to discuss—and lots of sexual tension to avoid.

This was everything I hoped for. It’s not only romantic and steamy and funny and emotional, but it plays on so many romantic tropes. Ballard can do no wrong, and this was so worth starting my holiday reading early!!

Book Review: "The Hitchcock Hotel" by Stephanie Wrobel

In college, the six of them—Alfred, Zoe, TJ, Julius, Samira, and Grace—were members of a film club as well as close friends—until it all fell apart. They haven’t all been together since something happened 16 years ago.

Alfred was devastated by what happened, but he’s always wanted to prove himself to his old friends. And now he’s ready, as the owner of a hotel dedicated to his most favorite movie director—Alfred Hitchcock. The hotel is filled with authentic memorabilia, offers movie screenings around the clock, and even has an aviary with 50 crows.

He’s truly proud of his creation, and arranges for a reunion of the group over a weekend. Every single one of them has secrets as well as some unpleasant memories from college. Alfred is ready to pull out all the stops in the hopes that his work will lead to notoriety and more guests at The Hitchcock Hotel.

This really was a great concept I was excited about. The book is full of trivia and references from various Hitchcock movies, although you don’t need to have seen them to appreciate what Stephanie Wrobel was doing with the plot. And who among us hasn’t wanted to show former friends that you’ve made something big of yourself?

My biggest issue with the book is that none of the characters were likable or even sympathetic, so I stopped caring what actually happened to them. While some had serious secrets, some had more mundane things they were hiding. And sadly, I guessed the twist in advance, which for me, didn’t require much detective work.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for my advance reservation for The Hitchcock Hotel!

Book Review: "Up All Night" by Annabeth Albert

After more than 20 years and two children, Sean’s marriage to his best friend has ended amicably, and he decides to return to his hometown of Mount Hope, Oregon, to fill in for a firefighter on maternity leave. He moves in with one of his oldest friends, Eric, to help him deal with the death of husband and help care for his four children.

When Sean meets Denver, the overnight cook at the local diner, the handsome, rugged man awakens feelings he’d always kept inside. And when their encounter turns physical, Sean is hooked right away, but Denver isn’t the type to want a relationship—or even put down roots anywhere.

As their hookups intensify and feelings grow stronger, Sean wants Denver to be a bigger part of his life. But Denver is getting ready to leave again before he gets burned emotionally—although his heart wants to stay with Sean.

While Sean has a fairly good relationship with his parents and a solid group of friends, Denver hasn’t let himself get too close to anyone. Growing up in foster care, he learned to tamp down emotional expectations and quash relationships before they hurt him. But being with Sean makes him feel good, although he’s wary of getting in too deep.

I felt like there were a number of issues in the book that were really glossed over. For one, Sean literally had sex and decided to come out—no anguish, no nothing—and that seemed odd to me. And second, Eric was raising four teenage kids who had come from foster care. Eric’s husband died, and yet for the most part, the kids had no issues. (And don’t get me started on the eleventh-hour appearance of Sean’s adult son.)

There’s intense chemistry and steam between Sean and Denver, and I enjoyed Sean’s circle of friends. I just wish the book was less disjointed and inconsistent. However, I am a fan of Annabeth Albert's books, so I may give this series one more try.

Book Review: "The Third Gilmore Girl" by Kelly Bishop

“I’ve been blessed with a career that’s had its disappointments, but for the most part it’s been a series of dreams come true. The fact that I’ve done it on my terms, without compromising my privacy, my integrity, and my relative anonymity, makes it even more gratifying. I can’t imagine having done it any other way and still looking back on it with the joy and the satisfaction I do today.”

I was obsessed with the movie Dirty Dancing when it came out. While I loved everything about it, Kelly Bishop’s small role as Baby’s mother definitely made me laugh. But at that time, I had no idea that she was a Tony-winning actress, with a career in theater, dance, and movies.

Of course, she hit her stride as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. It was (and still is) one of my favorite shows, and she was utterly perfect as the appearance-obsessed matriarch, who fiercely loved her family and wished she could connect with Lorelai as well as Lorelai connected with Rory.

Ever since I found she had a memoir coming out, I was eager to read it. And it was so good, truly written in her voice (which I could hear the whole time). This is an account of her career, from her early days as a dancer to Gilmore Girls and beyond. It’s also a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of A Chorus Line, and the way she helped shape her role as Sheila.

At the same time, it’s also a chronicle of her relationship with her parents, particularly her mother. She also recounts her romantic life, the ups and the downs through the years. Bishop tells it like it is but she is never mean, and she refused to embarrass anyone by name.

Celebrity memoirs can be unpredictable, but I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, emotional, self-deprecating, and full of details about Bishop’s career. What I loved the most, however, is her warmth and her gratitude about the path her life has taken. (And she’s unabashedly Team Logan, IYKYK.)

Book Review: "Book of the Month" by Jennifer Probst

This was a fun summer read as the season ends, meteorologically, at least. My thanks to Jennifer Probst, Get Red PR Books, and Blue Box Press for the complimentary advance copy.

Aspen’s first novel was an overnight success. But after writing two more books, all readers can still talk about is her first. Is she washed up already? Destined to be a one-book wonder?

What made her first book so good and so meaningful was that it was based on her own heartbreak and anguish and rage. But since she has barely dated since the breakup that inspired her to write, her subsequent books haven’t connected emotionally with her readers. She needs to write another hit. Fast.

Hoping a change of scenery will help, she travels to the Outer Banks to stay with her sister for the summer. Aspen believes that if she can find a man to romance her and then break her heart, she’ll tap into her literary mojo once again. And she finds the perfect man: Brick Babel, a handsome local with a reputation for hot sex and then emotional destruction. (There’s even a support group for women dealing with the aftereffects of dating him.)

Despite the fact that everyone—including her sister—warns her about Brick, she’s determined. It doesn’t help that he rejects her every advance. But when she offers him money to save the tour business he inherited, in exchange for some love and heartbreak, he reluctantly agrees. Yet when the sparks start flying for real, it becomes more difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.

I love fake dating romances, so this hit the spot. I didn’t always love Aspen’s character, but Brick and the supporting characters were so good, even Dug the dog. Crazily enough, I’ve yet to read any other of Jennifer Probst’s books, so I’m ready for more.

The book publishes 10/22.

Book Review: "Lights Out" by Elise Hart Kipness

Elise Hart Kipness’ latest book, Dangerous Play, published this week and I’ve seen lots of rave reviews. But since that is the second book in a series, I decided to embrace my OCD and read the books in order. Lights Out is her debut.

Kate was an Olympic soccer player and now works as a sports reporter. But after a personal crisis, an athlete insults her and she retaliates verbally; of course, only her outburst was caught on camera so she looks like the villain. Now she’s on a forced leave of absence and there’s a possibility she still might lose her job.

Amidst her professional crisis comes tragedy. NBA star Kurt Robbins is found dead in his Greenwich, CT mansion, and all signs point to his wife, Yvette, as the perpetrator. Yvette just so happens to be Kate’s best friend, so Kate offers to do some digging into the case. But she's fiercely protective of Yvette.

The more Kate tries to follow the facts, the more convoluted the truth becomes. As much as Kate doesn’t want to believe Yvette could be a murderer, she can definitely sense that Yvette is hiding something. And she’s not the only one—Kate has found several people with reasons to want Kurt dead.

As if trying to keep Yvette from being arrested isn’t enough work for Kate, her estranged father, an NYPD detective, has come to help the local police. He’d like a second chance with his daughter, but he also blows hot and cold until Kate decides how to deal with him.

This is a fairly fast-paced read, and Kate is a terrific, appealing character. I enjoy the way the book balances all of the issues, from Kate’s job situation, to her gaining confidence with her kids and ex-husband. Oh, and the murder, too!

You can bet I’ll be picking up Dangerous Play very soon!

Book Review: "Forbidden Puckboy" by Eden Finley and Saxon James

If you’ve been following me at all, you know how much I love hockey romances, and this series is one of two that was responsible for stoking that fire. So glad this one is continuing!!

Knox dreamed of being a professional hockey player since he was young, and entering the league with his best friend Connor. But he never felt he was good enough, so he decided to become a ref instead, while Connor has become a popular NHL star.

Easton, Connor’s younger brother, is following in his footsteps and has been drafted on the same team. He’s had a crush on Knox since he was 16, but Knox would never get involved with him out of loyalty to Connor (although he definitely wanted to). And even now that they’re both adults, and there’s clearly attraction between the two of them, Knox keeps his distance.

But when Easton participates in a hockey game for queer players and allies—one that Knox will referee—Connor is worried that Easton will hook up with another player and cause a scandal. So he enlists Knox to keep Easton out of trouble, which is fine for Knox, so he doesn’t have to be jealous of Easton being with someone else.

After a little too much alcohol (actually, a lot), Knox and Easton get tangled up. While both don’t want Connor to know (for different reasons), their long-pent-up feelings are obvious to everyone. And when Connor finds out about his brother and his best friend, he causes some trouble, but realizes he can’t lose them both. So Knox and Easton decide to give being together a try.

“…there’s only one thing worse than your dream man being nothing like you thought he would be. And that’s your dream man being everything you imagined.”

This book, as well as the entire series, is full of banter, emotion, and steam. Knox is a bit of a whiner, which grows annoying kind of quickly, but it’s still an enjoyable story. Can’t wait for Book 8 in March!!

Book Review: "Once Upon a Boyband" by Jenny Proctor

“The only thing better than tall, dark, and handsome is tall, dark, and handsome…with puppies.” (I’d agree!)

Laney is a small-town vet working with her father. Her personal life is quite boring, but she does have a bit of a crush on one of her clients, Adam, who runs a dog rescue in town. (Luckily there are a lot of dogs that come in and out of the rescue, so he’s at the vet a lot.) He’s always been rather shy, but on one visit, they start talking and apart from their shared love of music, the chemistry between them is pretty intense.

Adam has been interested in Laney for some time, but he finally gets the courage to strike up a conversation. And then he discovers that her favorite band is Midnight Rush, a boy band that was huge about 8-10 years ago.

Adam knows Midnight Rush too—because he was a member. As Deke, he was a teenage heartthrob, but he walked away eight years ago and never made another appearance. Now bearded and muscly, no one knows his secret. But Janine was obsessed with the band—and still might be.

When the band’s old label wants to do a reunion concert, there’s nothing Adam wants to do less. But when he finds out they’ll be donating the proceeds to a charity he cares about, he capitulates. Of course, his secret won’t be secret anymore, and what would Laney think knowing that the guy she’s dating used to be her ultimate crush? (Spoiler: she cannot believe it. But it’s amazing!)

Yet the more Adam reunites with his old friends and bandmates, the more he remembers why he walked away. And as demands start to increase so does the pressure. Can he deal with his issues before he destroys his friends again, and can he avoid ruining any chance at a potential relationship with Laney?

This was so much fun, full of drama, humor, and romance. I wished Adam was more communicative and didn’t keep pushing everyone away, but I understood his issues. I really enjoyed this!!

Book Review: "Rejection" by Tony Tulathimutte

Rejection is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and truly visceral story collection. It’s definitely not a book that inspires positivity for the most part, but it’s so well-written, you might not care.

The seven interconnected stories in Tony Tulathimutte’s collection all focus on a central theme: rejection. The characters have to face fears of loneliness, issues with their self-esteem, and, quite often, anger toward those they perceive to be responsible for rejecting them, as well as society.

The opening story, “The Feminist,” follows a man who so heartily supports the empowerment of women and their control of relationships, but it’s mostly so women will have sex with him. And that doesn’t happen. For a long, long time. (Lots and lots of friend zones.)

In “Pics,” a woman hooks up with a close friend of hers, and quickly discovers she feels like it was much more significant an event than he did. Her growing obsessiveness doesn’t help, and her continued spiraling makes her feel worse, which she takes out on everyone.

And in “Ahegao; or, The Ballad of Sexual Repression,” a young man comes out of the closet but can’t seem to find someone who wants a relationship. He soon discovers his fascination with a troubling sub-genre of porn.

These stories are very modern, with conversations conducted through various forms of social media at times, and they’re very much in step with the different sociological movements in our society. They’re dark and satirical, yet at times they pack a powerful punch.

My biggest struggle with the book is that none of the characters are particularly likable. It’s hard at times to read stories in which characters are complaining and ranting a lot. But Tulathimutte’s storytelling talent elevates the book.

Book Review: "Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout

What does anyone’s life mean?

Elizabeth Strout’s latest book is another masterpiece of storytelling, and it’s tremendously thought-provoking at the same time. We return to Crosby, Maine, and some of her favorite characters from other novels: Bob Burgess, Lucy Barton, and the irascible Olive Kitteridge.

“People did not care, except for maybe one minute. It was not their fault, most just could not really care past their own experiences.”

Lucy and Bob have become close friends; they go on long walks almost every day, and talk about everything from the superficial to the super-serious. Their feelings for each other intensify the more time they spend together, and each acts as a sounding board, a shoulder to lean on. But Bob is married and Lucy lives with her ex-husband, William. Are either of them the type to blow everything up?

Meanwhile, when a crime occurs in town, Bob swiftly moves to help the accused. The case is far more complicated than meets the eye, full of emotional issues and past trauma. But Bob believes it’s his responsibility to protect his client, which impacts him profoundly.

Olive, now 91, has stories to tell, so she tells them to Lucy. And after a while Lucy shares her own stories with Olive. A friendship blossoms, built around shared untold stories ripe with lessons to be learned.

These characters are flawed, big-hearted, and so memorable. Strout can make you love the prickliest people and be fully invested in their stories. I’ve been a fan of most of her books which explore Amgash and Crosby, and hope we’ll get another chance to visit!

Book Review: "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by TJ Klune

I never thought there would be a sequel to one of my most favorite books, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Having the opportunity to read the first few chapters thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley, I couldn’t wait for the whole book. And now, with happy tears running down my cheeks, I’m sad that the book is done.

When Arthur Parnassus was growing up, he was punished for being different. Yet instead of wallowing in his pain and sadness, he returned to Marsyas Island to create a new orphanage for magical children, where he once suffered. The six children he and his partner Linus are raising are each unique and have beautiful souls, and he hopes to officially adopt them.

One day, he is summoned by the government to tell the story of his trauma. Yet they aren’t interested in making amends; they want to keep all magical people separate and following “regular” rules, hiding what makes them special. And the government will stop at nothing to take one—or all—of the children away.

As much as Arthur and Linus should be afraid, they also know that they are raising their children to be brave, kind, loving, and more than a bit mischievous. And when a new young man comes to live with them, he teaches them a thing or two as well.

“This was hope; the children, love letters to a future that had yet to be decided. Yes, Arthur thought as Sal grinned shyly, hope was the thing with feathers, but it was also in the hearts and minds of those who believed all was not lost, no matter the odds.”

I felt like this book was particularly relevant at a time when some seek to divide us and tell the LGBTQIA+ community they need to be different than they are. Yet the answer isn’t necessarily violence; it’s meeting obstacles with conviction, courage, and love.

TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors and this book is another powerful example why. It’s a book about love, courage, overcoming trauma, the power of family and friends, and it is populated with some of the most incredible characters. This was a home run all the way.

Book Review: "The Night We Lost Him" by Laura Dave

“And when you are grieving, guilt lives inside your sadness, doesn’t it? The guilt lives there like an unfortunate side effect of what you haven’t done. You haven’t saved who matters most.”

Liam Noone was the force behind some of the world’s most iconic hotels and resorts. But this success came at a high price—three ex-wives, three children from two of the women, and a sense that as much as people liked him, they never really knew him.

His retreat was Windbreak, a cliffside cottage off the California coast. And one night, it’s where his life ended, as he fell to his death.

Nora was Liam’s daughter from his first marriage. He always made time for her through the years, and in adulthood, brainstormed with her about different architectural projects she was working on. In the last few months of her father’s life she felt like he had changed, but she had put some distance between them.

When her half-brother Sam, whom she rarely saw, came to Nora insisting that Liam was pushed and did not fall, at first she just wants to walk away. But the more they start to look into the circumstances around his death and talk to those who knew him best, they become more convinced his death wasn’t accidental.

As they try to dig deeper, both Nora and Sam have their own set of issues to deal with. The narrative shifts between the present and the story of a relationship Liam had for nearly his entire life.

This was one of my highly anticipated books of the year, since I’m a big fan of Laura Dave. Although it’s marketed as a thriller, it’s definitely more of a slow-burn family drama with a bit of mystery mixed in. If you go in knowing that, you may love this as much as I did.

Book Review: "So Thirsty" by Rachel Harrison

While I (mostly) tend to steer clear of scary books, I do love a vampire novel every once in a while. And Rachel Harrison’s new book is more than just a vampire novel—it’s a story of friendship, taking chances, bravery, and the occasional existential crisis.

“If there is a happy medium between being a resigned, mildly depressed thirty-six-year-old woman with a thankless job and cheating husband, and being an immortal vampire indulging her lust for blood and sex and her desire for love and excitement, it sure would be nice to find it.”

Sloane is going through the motions in her life. She has her routines, her job, her vaguely unsatisfying marriage, but she doesn’t love stepping out of her comfort zone. But when her husband Josh surprises her with a birthday vacation—for her and her best friend Naomi—she’s excited and dreading it simultaneously.

Naomi has always been the risk taker, the unapologetic flirt. She’s been traveling the world with her boyfriend and his band, and she’s starting to hate it. But what she hates even more is seeing Sloane settle for a boring life, avoiding conflict and any inkling of happiness.

Determined to show Sloane a great time on her birthday, she arranges for them to attend a party thrown by a man she met the night before. But this party is everything Sloane hates, and then things go so spectacularly off the rails that the friends are changed forever. Now, however, they have immortality—but their new thirst overrides logical thought.

This is definitely a bit graphic but it’s also thought-provoking and sexy. How far would you go for your best friend?

Book Review: "Smile and Look Pretty" by Amanda Pellegrino

Honestly, I’m almost embarrassed how long I’ve had this book hanging around my stack. I’m so easily distracted by shiny new things (and books), lol. But I was in the mood for a little workplace drama (since I don’t have any in my new job), so I finally picked this up.

Cate, Olivia, Lauren, and Max are best friends with big dreams. But in order to achieve them, they’re all working as assistants to some movers and shakers in the entertainment world. Their bosses are all awful—a cross between Miranda Priestley and the bosses from the Horrible Bosses movies. All four women are constantly stressed, working way too much and not getting paid well for all the work they do.

They get together every Friday to commiserate. And the more they talk about their respective situations and share their frustrations about being overlooked and mistreated, the angrier they get. So they decide to air their grievances on an anonymous blog.

It doesn’t take long for the blog to catch fire. More and more women anonymously step forward to share that they’ve had the same—or worse—experiences. And as the blog continues going viral, they learn that someone is trying to figure out who is behind it. Is the validation of their treatment worth the risk to their futures? Can they actually take down their sleazy bosses?

I enjoyed this book a lot. The camaraderie between the women was great, and even if they seemed a little naïve at times, the characters were generally appealing. The tone of the book shifted to more female empowerment and courage, and that was great.

Thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. If you’re looking for a great backlist read, pick this up!

Book Review: "Please Come to Boston" by Gary Goldstein

In 1975, Nicky (who decides to start calling himself Nick) has left his home on Long Island for the first time, to attend college at Boston University. He’s a bit shy and self-effacing, but he’s a tremendously friendly person, and he starts making friends rather easily.

On his first day of college, he meets two people: Lori, a fellow freshman who lives on the same floor of their dorm (BU’s first coed dorm floor), and Joe, a handsome jock and dorm orientation leader. Nick and Lori teeter on the line between friends and lovers for a bit before deciding on being friends, and then Joe asks Lori out. And while Nick is a bit jealous, he’s not sure who he’s more envious of—Joe or Lori.

For the first time, Nick realizes that what he feels for Joe makes sense of similar feelings in high school. But in 1975, no one really expressed those feelings, especially not if you were raised Catholic in an Italian family. Yet Nick, Lori, and Joe fall into a love triangle of sorts, and it seems to work for all three, at least for a little while.

As Nick tries to figure out what (and whom) he really wants, and the implications that might occur, he and Joe draw closer. Yet while Nick isn’t quite dissuaded by his feelings, Joe knows that this isn’t a path he can take with his life.

Fifty years later, Nick and Joe reunite in Boston. They’re a little shell-shocked by all of the changes to the places they knew so well in college, and they’re unsure who they are to one another after all this time. But the connection between the two of them is just as palpable as it was in 1975.

This was an absolutely fantastic book. It so perfectly captures the emotions of figuring yourself out for the first time, and what it’s like to meet friends who get you completely. It’s a romantic, funny, and emotional book that really grabbed hold of my heart, and now I’ve got to dive into Gary Goldstein’s backlist!!

Book Review: "The Accomplice" by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Aaron Philip Clark

I’ll admit that of all the celebrity authors out there, I never would’ve expected a crime novel from Curtis Johnson, aka rapper 50 Cent. And while I’m often dubious about celebrities writing books, when I saw a blurb from S.A. Cosby, how could I resist?

From a young age, Nia Adams was fascinated by law enforcement and crime scenes. Her dream was to become a Texas Ranger, and now, she’s the first Black female Ranger. It’s not always easy under that kind of scrutiny but she’s really good at what she does.

It’s 2004. Nia and others are called in to stop a bank robbery in progress. While the other law enforcement officers present try to keep Nia from intervening, she steps in just in time to prevent total disaster.

When she is sent to a remote Texas town to investigate another bank robbery, she can’t understand why a Ranger needs to be involved. There are things about this robbery that perplex her, and despite the fact that the local sheriff has no concerns, she decides to do some more digging. But she has no idea of the web she’s stepping into.

Desmond Bell is a veteran of the Vietnam war, still haunted by what he saw back then. He’s more than a bank robber; his preferred currency is secrets that his employer can use as leverage for blackmail. But when Desmond targets a powerful family, which includes a potential presidential candidate, he’s taken on enemies that will stop at nothing to protect their interests.

Nia finds herself caught in the middle of two powerful nemeses. Every step forward puts her life and career in danger, and puts others in the crossfire. Who will blink first?

While I’m always a bit dubious when a book by a celebrity is co-authored so you don’t know how much of a part they actually played, I enjoyed this. Although the pacing was uneven and the ending felt a bit rushed, I’d definitely read another of Jackson’s crime novels.

Book Review: "The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World, Second Edition" by Alan Downs, PhD

I don’t read much nonfiction beyond an occasional memoir, but this was our book club pick for August. We read the second edition, which was revised in 2011; the original was written in 2005.

The book is organized in three stages that the author believes describes the journey of most gay men. The stages are arranged by the primary manner in which gay men handle shame, from being “in the closet” and fearful of their own sexuality, to overcompensating by being more “successful, outrageous, fabulous, beautiful, or masculine,” to building a life based on their own values instead of feeling like they have to prove themselves.

“While we are different, we are at the same time very similar to all others. We want to be loved and to love. We want to find some joy in life. We hope to fall asleep at night fulfilled from our day’s endeavors. In these aspirations and appetites we are like all men and women. The problem is, our path to fulfilling these basic human needs has proven to be fundamentally different from the well-worn paths of straight humanity.”

While I recognized moments from my own coming out journey in the book, I also felt at many times the author was making generalizations that didn’t necessarily apply to me. I do understand that some may have a poor relationship with their fathers because of their sexuality, but that wasn’t the case for me.

What we found from our book club discussion is—unsurprisingly—every person’s experience is different, so the book resonated in different ways with each person. Some felt this was a powerful and valuable resource; others didn’t feel as connected to the book.

I probably wouldn’t have read this if it weren’t for the book club, but it definitely made me think. And sometimes that’s what reading does for us.

Book Review: "Madwoman" by Chelsea Bieker

Wow, this was so powerful!! I was really blown away by Chelsea Bieker’s new book. It reminded me a little of The Push by Ashley Audrain, but unique all the same.

“I’ll carry the burden of you and my father and everything that happened on the island for the rest of my life. But I vowed to carry it in silence. So many lies I’ve told to ensure it would be my secret forever. Mine to death. I really had things figured out.”

After her tumultuous childhood, Clove was determined she’d do everything differently. She found the right man—a safe husband who gave her the life she wanted. She loves her two young children, Nova and Lark, and if spending every moment with the kids may stress her out, she has places—and strategies—to help calm things down.

Clove (which may or may not be her real name) has some secrets about her life that she has kept hidden from nearly everyone. But when she receives a letter from a woman’s prison in California, her carefully built façade starts to crack. What will she do if her secrets are revealed? What will that mean for her marriage, her children, and their future?

Madwoman shifts between the present, as Clove’s anxiety about discovery mounts, and the moments from her childhood that lead to one crucial moment. She desperately wants to control the narrative but she’s having a hard enough time controlling her emotions.

Domestic violence is such an epidemic in our world and breaking the cycle of violence requires far more strength and support than many have. The book may be triggering for some, but Bieker does a fantastic job depicting the struggles and choices that those affected must make. Yes, I figured out the twists, but that didn’t really affect my love of the book.

Book Review: "Colored Television" by Danzy Senna

Jane is a writer who has been teaching college while she tries to finish writing her second novel. While it started out modestly, the book has exploded into more than 400 pages of the history of mulatto people in America. She’s taking a one-year sabbatical to finish the book so she can finally get tenure.

Her husband Lenny is an artist and teacher as well, so between the two of them, they’re barely making enough to support raising their two young children. They live a nomadic lifestyle, moving from shared housing to dumpy apartments and sublets from acquaintances. But for the next year they’ll be living in her friend Brett’s mansion while he’s filming in Australia.

“Jane had discovered somewhere along the way that if you did not have money there were benefits to hanging around with people who did.”

When things don’t quite work out with her novel, in a desperate moment, she tries to get a job as a television writer. She winds up working with Hampton Ford, a producer on the rise at a streaming network. He’s determined that they make “the Jackie Robinson of biracial comedies.” And while Lenny feels that she is selling out, she’s happy to finally be working on a project that can gain her the notoriety she longs for. But when an opportunity seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Danzy Senna has created a darkly funny social commentary on racial identity, cultural appropriation, the cult of celebrity, and the fragility of fame. At times I felt this had glimpses of Erasure by Percival Everett, which was adapted into the movie American Fiction. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Senna and Everett are married!

I was really impressed by this book and its messages. While some of it was predictable, I was hooked pretty quickly, and couldn’t put the book down.

Book Review: "Small Rain" by Garth Greenwell

“As a teenager I had assumed life would be short, too short to prepare for anything, in those years when I failed my classes and made my mother despair, when life was only long enough for appetite; it seemed to me that any life worth living could only be short.”

In Garth Greenwell’s beautifully written new book, a writer finds himself in excruciating pain one day. He’s rendered nearly immobile at times, hoping the pain will pass. While his partner begs him to go to the hospital, because the story takes place during the pandemic, he is hesitant to go and face the possibility of getting even sicker.

After nearly five days, he finally goes to the emergency room. It appears he has a tear in his aorta, and no one can figure out what might have caused it. Stuck in the ICU, he experiences the highs and lows of the healthcare system, and confronts fears about his own mortality.

At the same time, he ruminates on his relationship with his partner, his mother, and other family members. He also reflects on everything from his childhood to his career path, as well as the impact poetry, music, nature, and academia have had on his life.

This is Greenwell’s third novel, after What Belongs to You and Cleanliness. Each book is loosely based on Greenwell’s real life experiences, and build on each other (although each can be read as a standalone), which imbue them with an emotional gravity.

I’ve been an enormous fan of Greenwell’s work for a while now, but nothing could prepare me for the immense power of this book. It captures love, fear, hope, taking chances, and ambition so incredibly well.

Book Review: "The Divide" by Morgan Richter

When she was 18, Sheila moved from Iowa to Los Angeles, changed her name to Jenny St. John, and landed the lead role in an independent movie called The Divide. She had a very brief relationship with Serge, the film’s director, and her performance was quite good. But the film never saw the light of day for some time, and while Serge’s career soared, Jenny’s went nowhere.

Over the next 20 years, Jenny drifted from opportunity to opportunity but never really succeeded. She wound up working as an “intuitive counselor” (aka psychic), trying to convince her customers that she could see their future. It hasn’t been too lucrative; in fact, she’s been illegally squatting in her “clinic” for a number of years.

Jenny learns that Serge was murdered and his ex-wife Gena, an actress turned artist, is missing. Apparently Jenny and Gena look almost identical; in fact, Gena has been telling people for years that she starred in The Divide, essentially appropriating Jenny’s life. And the strangest thing is, people that knew Jenny back then actually believed that she and Gena were the same person.

Boots, an Oscar-winning actress turned skin care guru, hires Jenny to figure out what happened to Gena and who killed Serge. She doesn’t need a detective; she just wants Jenny to use her psychic skills to formulate a guess as to whom the guilty party is.

The more Jenny mingles with Gena and Serge’s friends and significant others (past and present), the more confused she gets about Gena’s pretending to be her. And the closer she gets to figuring out the truth, the more danger she finds herself in.

This was an interesting and entertaining read. I guessed correctly as to the identity of the killer (I guess it made sense), but there are parts of the story that I wasn’t completely sure were either memories, imaginings, or hallucinations. Still, I liked the complexity of Jenny’s character and was hooked on the story.

Book Review: "The Life Impossible" by Matt Haig

I’m a huge Matt Haig fan. The Midnight Library, The Comfort Book, and How to Stop Time are some of my favorite books. Given that fact, his newest book was one of my most eagerly anticipated this year. Unfortunately, this one didn’t live up to my expectations.

Grace has spent much of her life grieving: first, her son was killed before he became a teenager, and then her husband recently died. But then she gets a surprise out of the blue when she learns that a woman she knew briefly when she was teaching has left her a house on Ibiza.

Why would Christina leave her a house? They hadn’t been in touch for so long. Grace wants to make sense of it all, so she heads to Ibiza to see what answers she can find. She has no plan, she barely speaks Spanish, and she doesn’t know what to expect.

Ibiza awakens a lot of feelings for Grace, and forces her to come to terms with her own past, present, and future. And as she searches for answers about how Christina died and why she picked Grace to bequeath her house to, things get stranger and stranger. For a woman who has always turned to mathematics to help her cope with chaos, keeping an open mind is a challenge.

The book is told as a letter Grace is writing to a former student. While Haig paints an evocative picture, the narrative drags in a number of places and feels a bit schizophrenic in others. And although magical realism is one of my favorite plot devices, in this book it was all a bit too bizarre for me.

I’m definitely sad when a book I’ve been looking forward to is disappointing. But that won’t keep me from eagerly awaiting Haig’s next book.

Book Review: "Prime Time Romance" by Kate Robb

As Brynn’s 30th birthday nears, her life isn’t going in the direction she expected. She’s licking her wounds after a divorce, living with Josh, a handsome bartender, as a roommate in order to afford her mortgage, and her attempts to start dating haven’t been successful.

If there’s anything that brings her comfort, it’s binge-watching her favorite show from her teenage years, Carson’s Cove. Even though the show didn’t end the way anyone expected it to, Brynn is still obsessed with it.

When a birthday cake is delivered to Brynn, she wishes for the only thing she wants: to live happily ever after. But when she wakes up in the morning, she’s not in her bed, or even in her apartment. Instead, she’s woken up in Carson’s Cove, and it turns out Josh is also there.⁣

The thing is, everyone in Carson’s Cove thinks they’re Sloan, the lovelorn center of the series, and Fletcher, the town’s bad boy. In order to get back into their real lives, they need to ensure that Sloan finally finds her happy ever after with Spencer, the object of her affection for the run of the show.⁣

The more they try to play their parts as expected, the more Brynn (aka Sloan) discovers her true feelings are for Fletch (aka Josh). And it turns out that Carson’s Cove isn’t quite the idyllic place Brynn always thought it was…

I always enjoy books that combine romance and magical realism. This was a fun story and I really loved the characters. It would be so cool to wake up in my favorite show!

Book Review: "Bad Reputation" by Emma Barry

Maggie loved her job as a teacher and drama coach. But when she is fired for putting on a controversial play, she sues the school district and becomes an outspoken advocate against censorship. That brings her to the attention of the showrunner for Waverley (think Bridgerton), and she lands a job as an intimacy coordinator for the show.

When Cole starred in a hit teen drama, he was known more for his abs and his himbo attitude than his talent. In the years since then, he’s worked to rehabilitate his career and separate himself from the character that made him. But he’s hoping that Waverley will take him to the next level.

Both Maggie and Cole are immediately attracted to one another, but they know that acting on their feelings would be crossing a line. And the more she works with the cast on their love scenes, the more she identifies some long-hidden trauma among them.

Filming in England and Scotland goes well, and the attraction between Cole and Maggie intensifies. Early buzz about the series and Cole’s performance is strong, so better opportunities come his way. Maggie isn’t sure what she wants to do after the show is done, and as much as she’d like to be with Cole, she’s not sure that’s the right decision.

Yet as they embark on a relationship, scandal emerges that threatens to undo them both, and perhaps the show as well. They both realize that if their love is to survive—and if their careers are to thrive—they’ll have to fight with everything they have.

This was so enjoyable, full of all of the things I love about rom-coms: chemistry, banter, steam, likable characters, and a Hollywood setting. I couldn’t get enough of this, and I can’t wait for Emma Barry’s next book!

The book will publish 10/1.

Book Review: "The Unlikely Heir" by Jax Calder

Callum can’t seem to figure out what he wants out of life. He changed majors in college five times, abandoned a master’s degree, and now works in an insurance company call center.

He is utterly unprepared when a date is interrupted by a man claiming to be from Scotland Yard, who says Callum is now the heir to the British throne. Apparently a number of his relatives got embroiled in a scandal and are being removed from succession, so Callum—the son of a deceased prince and an American actress—needs to go to England right away.

“When you find yourself on a private royal jet in midair over the Atlantic, it’s a good sign your life has taken a slightly surreal twist.”

News of Callum’s ascension to the Prince of Wales isn’t met with a great deal of enthusiasm in England. The last thing they want is an American to be the future king. And when Callum’s lack of coordination and penchant for putting his foot in his mouth is on full display, a movement to abolish the monarchy starts picking up steam.

One person who is charmed by the new prince is Oliver, England’s prime minister. While he feels empathy for the way Callum is being treated by the press and political leaders, it quickly becomes apparent that he feels a lot more than empathy for the prince. And Callum definitely reciprocates those feelings. But a relationship between the future king and the prime minister could never work.

I thought this was so sweet, romantic, and enjoyable. The chemistry between Callum and Oliver was intense, and their characters, as well as the banter and the situations Callum kept finding himself in, were funny and endearing. I’m excited that there’s a sequel, too!