Book Review: "The Very Long, Very Strange Life of Isaac Dahl" by Bart Yates

Isaac is 96 years old, a historian and journalist, who is writing his memoir. But how do you summarize a life? He decides to focus on 12 different days throughout his life, days which truly had an impact.

Isaac’s story begins in Utah in 1926, when eight-year-old Isaac and his twin sister Agnes are trapped in an avalanche. From that point on, the book focuses on a specific day every eight years. Sometimes the circumstances are dramatic, like when Isaac is aboard a warship during WWII, and sometimes they’re simpler and more joyous.

While some people appear in one vignette only to never be heard from again, the core characters are Isaac, Agnes, and Isaac’s best friend, Bo. Aggie is the fiery, opinionated one, who cares fiercely for her brother, and Bo is truly affable and loyal to both Dahl siblings.

“…few things on earth are more frightening than the possibility of love.”

I enjoyed how the story was told but at times it felt very Forrest Gump-like, with Isaac popping up at different points in history. And while I’ve always been a fan of Bart Yates’ writing, some of the events chronicled seemed very overdone, like the Dust Bowl and the Civil Rights Movement.

This was our book club pick for October. Some people were conflicted, some really found the book moving. I fell somewhere in the middle, although there were places that made me feel real emotion.

Book Review: "Who Loves You Best" by Marilyn Simon Rothstein

This book was so sweet and enjoyable on so many levels. It also made me miss my grandmothers, and the characteristics that made them so special.

Jodi is a podiatrist in Boca Raton, Florida. She’s thrilled that her daughter Lisa has asked her to come up to the Berkshires to babysit her granddaughter Macallan. (Yes, like the Scotch.) Jodi doesn’t spend nearly as much time with Macallan than Di, Lisa’s mother-in-law, does, so she jumps at the chance for one-on-on time.

Yet when Jodi arrives, she’s shocked to find that she’s going to have to share Macallan after all. Not only is Di going to be staying at Lisa’s as well, but she also has to contend with “Grannie Annie,” the girlfriend of Lisa’s father-in-law. (She’s only 27.)

After some tense moments, the women start to get along and care for Macallan together. At the same time, Jodi has to deal with Jake, her husband, who has been unceremoniously let go from his job, so he’s falling apart a bit.

When Lisa shares that her marriage is in trouble, Jodi has to decide how she should help her daughter. But that decision could upend everything in Jodi’s life, so she’ll need to truly think things through. What can she change and what must stay the same?

This was such a warm, funny, and heartfelt book. These characters—especially Jodi and Jake—definitely seemed familiar to me, and that just enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Book Review: "The Anonymous Hookup and The Unforgettable Hookup" by Jax Calder

Over the last month or two I’ve become a huge fan of Jax Calder. She writes rom-coms and romances with such humor and heart, not to mention steam, terrific characters, and great banter.

I recently read Calder’s Hookup Duology, which included The Anonymous Hookup and The Unforgettable Hookup. Both books were funny, romantic, super steamy, and just so endearing, and once again, all I want to do is read more of her books.

It’s been nearly six months since Lane and his boyfriend Preston broke up. While it appears that Preston has had no problem moving on, Lane isn’t ready to look for another relationship yet. And that’s why his best friend Jules has challenged him to find an anonymous hookup. Maybe having no strings attached sex with a stranger will do the trick.

They go to a bar and Lane clumsily makes a move on an exceptionally handsome man. Their intense chemistry is evident from their first greeting, and it’s not long before they’re headed to a hotel room. And after some utterly mind-blowing sex when no names were revealed, they’re ready to move on. But it seems like anytime Lane turns around, there’s Sam, and it’s starting to feel like more than a one-night stand.

The second book tells the same story, only it’s from Sam’s perspective. It’s so fascinating to see the story you just read, yet told through another character’s eyes. It deepens the story, as it doesn’t feel as one-sided. I read one book after the other but it didn’t feel like it was a complete duplicate.

Lane and Sam were such terrific characters and I loved rooting for them. And you can bet I’ll be picking up more of Calder’s books as well!!

Book Review: "How to Read a Book" by Monica Wood

I’ll admit this book was a bit different than I was expecting given the title but it was very special all the same.

“We are a continuum of human experience, neither the worst nor the best thing we have ever done. Or, more exactly, we are both the best thing and the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are all of it, all at once, all the time.”

Harriet is a retired teacher who volunteers to lead a book club for female inmates. It is there she meets Violet, a 22-year-old woman serving a nearly two-year term for killing a woman while driving drunk. The inmates all love Harriet (whom they call “Bookie”) and love the books she has them read, as well as the discussion that follows.

After Violet’s early release, she finds herself living in Portland, Maine. One day she goes to a bookstore to buy the book they were reading when she was released, and she not only encounters Harriet, but also Frank, the widower of the woman Violet killed. The encounter shakes all three of them in different ways.

This is a story about second chances. It’s about taking the next step in your life, whether it’s being released from prison, dealing with an empty nest, recovering from grief, even finding love. And of course, this is a story about how books affect us and change us, and help us find our own words.

I thought this was beautifully written and moving. There were a lot of moving parts, and some threads were introduced and never fully explored, but I really enjoyed the relationships at the book’s core. I’ve read one of Monica Wood’s previous books and loved it, so she’s definitely a storyteller I admire.

Book Review: "The Life and Death of Rose Doucette" by Harry Hunsicker

Dylan is an ex-cop turned private investigator in Dallas. He is surprised when his ex-wife Rose, a homicide detective, asks to meet him, since it’s been three years since they’ve seen one another.

Rose tells Dylan about a murder case she’s handling, but the powers-that-be want her to call it a suicide. She doesn’t believe the victim killed himself, and apparently Rose has been taken off the case. After a short disagreement, Rose leaves, but when Dylan sees a car starting to follow her, he gives chase. The next thing he knows, Rose has been shot, he gets hit in the head, and the assailant gets away.

Dylan is the leading suspect in Rose’s death. But the last thing he remembers is Rose asking him to keep looking into the murder case, so even though he’s warned not to investigate, he is determined to keep his promise to her.

Teaming up with Rose’s current husband, Tito, they begin looking into who might have killed Rose and why. The men learn that there were many things in Rose’s life she kept a secret from both of them. And the more they dig into these secrets, the more danger they put themselves—and others—in.⁣⁣⁣

Trying to find answers only leads them to more questions, and puts them in the middle of a dangerous web of corruption, violence, and blackmail. As Tito and Dylan both deal with their grief over Rose’s death, they need everything to fall into place before it’s too late.⁣⁣⁣

I thought this was an excellent read. I really enjoyed these characters and the emotions that transpired among them, and the plot definitely kept me guessing. I’d love it if this was the start of a series!

Book Review: "Perfect Fit" by Clare Gilmore

Josie has always wanted to work in fashion; even as a young girl she was drawing costumes for her friend's stories. Now she is the CEO of Revenant, a fashion brand based in Austin, Texas. She works incredibly hard and has put countless hours into making her company a success, and has so many ambitious plans to move it forward. But for the most part, she is all work and no play.

When she wants to ensure that Revenant is a certified sustainable brand, her major investor orders her to hire a consultant. She's more than ready to do so, and then a last-minute candidate enters into consideration: Will Grant, the twin brother of her ex-best friend. They haven't seen each other in nine years, since a drunken makeout session during their senior spring break. That kiss led to a fight between her and Will's sister which ended their friendship.

Sure, Will is immensely good-looking now and he seems to know his stuff. Josie can't quite forget overhearing him call her shallow when they were younger, but she's determined to put their past behind them in order for Revenant to succeed. But being a CEO is exhausting, and spending all of her time working is starting to burn her out. Will tries to show Josie that there's more to life than work, and of course, in the process, they draw closer.

Josie's heart is longing for Will but her head is trying to keep her from making the same mistake twice. Besides, they live so far away from one another, and where would she find the time for a relationship anyway? And what about Will's sister? Ultimately, Josie must decide if she can have both success and happiness, or which one is more important.

This was a cute story. Will and Josie were characters I rooted for, and I enjoyed their banter. I just felt the pacing of the story was much slower than I would've liked, and that hampered my full love of the book.

Book Review: "Into the Fire" by Rick Mofina

Sometimes a crime novel is all that will hit the spot for me. I read an article about crime writers and found Rick Mofina, author of a trilogy of books featuring investigative reporter Ray Wyatt.

Ray Wyatt is a reporter in his early 40s who is trying to rebuild his life after the tragic loss of his wife and young son. He finds purpose in the stories he writes, because he’s making a difference rather than wallowing in his own misery.

A young boy is found by hikers in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. He is traumatized, unable to speak. When the hikers retrace his steps to a cabin, they make a gruesome discovery of what’s inside.

FBI Special Agent Jill McDade is put in charge of the investigation. The young boy is still unable to speak, but after a while the FBI is able to begin making inroads into the case, and Ray is doing his own detective work. It’s not long before they realize the case is far more complex than meets the eye.

As they try to find out what happened, they’re up against a ticking clock. Who will find the information first, and will they find it before it’s too late? At the same time, both Ray and Jill have their own personal issues to deal with, too.

While there weren’t any surprises in the story, I was definitely hooked. I really liked both characters and the vulnerability each showed. It’s always fascinating when you don’t know whom to trust. I’ll definitely be picking up the next two books in this series!!

Book Review: "Marshmallow Mountain" by A.J. Truman and M.A. Wardell

An M/M romance that’s part of a series called “Big Boys, Small Spaces,” and the characters are both Jewish? I couldn’t have loved this any more than I did.

Marshall and Marshall (aka “Data”) were together for eight years, when Marshall unceremoniously ended their relationship, saying he needed time and space. Marshall is an aspiring comedian and Data is an accountant.

The two haven’t spoken in six months, so Data is shocked to get a phone call from Marshall. He suggests the two of them travel up to Maine to pack up the cabin they co-own, so they can sell it. Data is still angry and hurt, so he’s determined to pack everything up over the weekend, and then he won’t have to see Marshall again. But of course, neither of them are counting on a snowstorm which strands them together at the cabin.

“I’m not good. I’m stuck in a cabin with my ex who broke my heart six months ago and is now attempting to pick his way inside to do more damage by having amazing sex with me multiple times before we pack up and sell the damn place. I should write a country song.”

Between multiple rounds of breakup sex, the two talk about where things went wrong; each of their anxieties about life, work, and family; and keep getting distracted from finishing the packing. But how could you not root for two guys with the same first name?

Both Truman and Wardell are great authors in their own right, but this first collaboration hit the spot. It’s super steamy, emotional, romantic, and funny, and you can bet I’m ready for Book 2 in the series!

Book Review: "Wish I Were Here" by Melissa Wiesner

Growing up with a father who was happiest when juggling or making people laugh, Catherine was the serious, focused one. She made sure the rent got paid on time (or packed up their things when they got evicted) and she always took care of her dad. But it gets exhausting being the one who always keeps it together.

She’s about to start work as a tenure-track mathematics professor. But all of her careful preparations go awry when the university says they have no record of Catherine existing. Even though she has all of her documentation, no one seems to think it’s real. Her job, her future, her identity are all in jeopardy.

With the assistance of Luca, the handsome doorman of her apartment building, she digs deeper into the whole situation. She discovers she never had her original birth certificate, which apparently her mother has. But she never met her mother, and her father refuses to tell Catherine anything about her.

Luca tries to help Catherine focus on the lighter side of life. As he helps her track her mother down, he also introduces her to a motley crew of the building’s residents, mostly elderly people. And it’s no secret their feelings for one another are much more than tenant-doorman.

This is a sweet love story, with a surprising touch of magical realism thrown in. I really enjoyed many of the characters, and the way the book handled both the lighter and more emotional moments.

I’ve read one of Melissa Wiesner’s previous books, and she’s the type of writer whose stories find their way into your heart and your mind. Definitely a feel-good book!

Book Review: "Mothers and Sons" by Adam Haslett

Adam Haslett burst on the literary scene in 2002 with his debut story collection, You Are Not a Stranger Here. Amazingly, he’s only published three (soon to be four) books, and yet he’s been a finalist for two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction and two National Book Awards.

Mothers and Sons, Haslett’s fourth book, which will publish in January, is another well-told and deeply felt novel. It’s a story about family, love, grief, overcoming your past, and how trauma can change us completely. It’s also a story of empathy, and how challenging it can be to care for broken people when we are broken ourselves.

Peter is a Legal Aid immigration lawyer. He spends his days defending those seeking asylum from their home countries, and he often deals not only with his clients, but the families they would leave behind if they were sent back home. While he fights to keep families together, the irony is that he has been estranged from his mother, Ann, for many years.

Ann, who was a successful pastor, now runs a retreat center in Vermont with her partner, Clare. She wishes she could reconnect with Peter, but knows the fracture between them runs deep.

Peter’s most recent case is defending Vasel, a young Albanian man seeking asylum because he is gay. This case triggers many memories for Peter, who is also gay, as he remembers his first same-sex relationship and the tragedies that occurred. Peter’s story is intertwined with Vasel’s and Ann’s, and the book culminates in a very powerful and affecting climax.

I have always been dazzled by Haslett’s storytelling ability, and this book is no exception. I’ll definitely be thinking about this for a while.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the advance copy! The book will publish 1/7/2025.

Book Review: "My Best Friend's Secret" by Romeo Alexander

Adam couldn’t wait to leave his hometown of Fairlake, Colorado and get his life going. Even though his parents and his best friend Bennett still lived there, Adam didn’t come back to visit that often, so no one had any idea how badly his life was falling apart.

And now he’s back, in the midst of a bitter divorce, his business sold, and he feels like having to come home with his tail between his legs means he’s hit rock bottom. It’s not too long before he’s the topic of conversation in his small town.

Bennett and Adam were inseparable friends through high school. But when Adam moved away and got married, their friendship became more of an acquaintanceship than anything, which hurt Bennett a lot. He’s never told Adam—or anyone, for that matter—that he’s been in love with him all these years.

It’s not long before Bennett finds Adam contracting work so he can feel productive again. The more time they spend together, the more they fall into their old routines. But for the first time, Adam finds himself seeing Bennett in a different light, and it confuses him. Why is he having sex dreams about his best friend?

As they acknowledge their feelings for one another, Adam realizes how much he wants to stay in Fairlake and make a life with Bennett. And then Adam’s ex-wife comes to town with a secret that could topple everything.

I buddy read this with my friend Matthew, and neither of us realized this was the 8th book in a series. There were lots of characters who made cameo appearances and I guess if we had read the earlier books we might have known who they were. And there also were some plot lines that were introduced and never picked back up again.

I liked Adam and Bennett a lot, and the steam was very steamy. But the third-act melodrama really irritated me, even though I read romances all the time and should be used to it. I wanted more from this book and these characters.

Book Review: "Shred Sisters" by Betsy Lerner

“No one will love you more or hurt you more than a sister.”

Amy’s older sister Ollie was everything she wanted to be. Ollie was confident, athletic, beautiful, popular, and she tortured Amy mercilessly. Yet she charmed their parents so effectively that they blamed Amy for provoking her sister, which caused her a great deal of stress.

But when Ollie’s recklessness and bravado leads to destructive behavior, she agrees to go to a psychiatric hospital rather than face jail time for her transgressions. And at that moment, everything changes: Ollie’s mental health deteriorates, their parents get divorced, and Amy is left to fend for herself.

Ollie spends several years in the hospital, but when she is released, she falls into a cyclical pattern of stability, moving in with one of their parents, then starting to fall apart again, she disappears, usually leaving with money or other valuables. Meanwhile, Amy is so desperate not to be like her sister that she throws herself into studying science and keeping everyone at arm’s length.

For anyone who has had a loved one deal with mental illness, the patterns that Ollie, Amy, and their parents fall into may seem familiar. What transpires is illustrative of how the ripples of mental illness can affect an entire family, either in response to crises or defense from them.

This is a powerful story of sisterhood and trying to find yourself when you’ve always been in the shadow of another. I don’t know that I necessarily liked the characters much, but this was a tremendously thought-provoking and emotional read. It’s one of those books you’ll want to discuss.

Book Review: "Village in the Dark" by Iris Yamashita

I’ve never been to Alaska but it’s high on my travel bucket list. Luckily, lots of books are set there, so I can visit by reading.

A year ago, Cara’s husband and young son disappeared while on a hike, as the family vacationed. Their remains were found, but Cara’s grief and anger have remained, and led to her suspension from the Anchorage Police Department.

When she finds a picture of her family on the cellphone of a dead gang member, she starts to wonder what really happened to her husband and son. And while every lead she follows winds up in a dead end, she’s determined to find the truth.

As she tries to investigate what happened to the other people whose photos appeared on the gang member’s phone, she steps into a very complicated web of deception and danger. Connecting with a young Native woman, they wind up traveling to a remote village called Unity, created to protect women and children from their abusers. It is there that Cara learns the truth.

As she puts herself and others at risk in order to find answers, she must also resolve her feelings for JB, a police detective she met while on assignment. He’d do anything for Cara, but will his sacrifices lead to happily ever after or grief and danger?

This is the second book in a series which in part takes place in Point Mettier, Alaska, an isolated town that can only be accessed by an underground tunnel, and where all the residents live in one large condo building. The first book, City Under One Roof, is really good, too, but you don’t have to have read that first.

I love the way Iris Yamashita writes. These books are so atmospheric I can feel the cold and see the images she creates. The fact that these books read like a movie is no surprise, considering Yamashita is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter. I hope there’s a third book!!

Book Review: "Hired by the Enemy" by Jax Calder

Three of my favorite tropes—fake dating, second chance, and enemies to lovers—came together in this fun and steamy novella. How could I pass this up?

Liam is a personal trainer who dreams of opening a gym for people recovering from injury or illness. In order to make the money he needs, he has started working for an elite agency that provides dating and personal services for wealthy people.

When he gets a last-minute job to fly to Hawaii and pretend to be a CEO’s boyfriend for a week, he jumps at the chance. But when he arrives at the airport he gets an unpleasant shock: the CEO is Matthew, his childhood nemesis.

Matthew is proud to be the CEO of his own tech company. But when he is goaded into turning their corporate retreat into a trip for his employees’ significant others as well, he is thrown for a loop. Hiring someone to pretend to be his boyfriend is bad enough; discovering that Liam will be his fake boyfriend is even worse.

“In all my panicking and thinking through the worst-case scenarios for hiring a fake date, I never imagined a catastrophe on this scale.”

During middle school and high school, Liam and Matthew spent most of their time insulting and pranking each other, and generally making each other (and their families) miserable. Can they put their past behind them for one week? When their animosity turns to passion, is there a chance that can turn to love?

Jax Calder is an author I’ve recently discovered and I’m loving her books. The chemistry between Liam and Matthew was great, as was their banter, and I was glad that there was actual reason behind their hatred of one another. This was so great!

Book Review: "Catch and Keep" by Erin Hahn

I love it when my favorite authors release books on a regular cycle, so I know that each year I’ll have at least one to read. That’s definitely the case with Erin Hahn: I’ve read six of her seven books and I’ve really loved them all.

“Does the journey negate the destination? Or does the journey prepare you for it?”

In one fell swoop, Maren rejected her boyfriend’s marriage proposal (her reaction is one he definitely wasn’t expecting), walked away from her job as a park ranger, and took off with her dog to Northern Wisconsin. It was the site of some of her happiest memories growing up, and it’s where the old bait shop that she inherited is located.

While her decision to uproot her life is met with some criticism from her family—especially her older brother, Liam—Maren is determined to find her own footing and restore the bait shop and apartment so she can put it up for sale. She’s not counting on the support of Joe, Liam’s best friend, who runs his family’s resort while raising his two young children.

Little by little, she finds herself becoming a part of Joe’s life. His son Anders admires Maren’s fishing skills, while his daughter Lucy, who is on the autism spectrum, feels safe with her. Even though Liam has warned Maren from getting involved with Joe, the chemistry between them intensifies until they can’t resist surrendering to their feelings.

I loved so many things about this book. It’s romantic, super steamy, emotional, and funny. It features appearances from Hahn’s last two books, but this can definitely be read as a standalone. And the characters are incredible—I fell in love with Anders and Lucy so completely as I did with Maren and Joe. Hahn has given me another example of how much I enjoy her books.

Book Review: "Drop Dead Sisters" by Amelia Diane Coombs

“If you have an older sister, there’s a good chance that she’s almost killed you at least once since childhood.”

Remi doesn’t see her family often, and that’s not really a problem for her. Her parents are hippies and ever since she was young, she’s had the sense that her two older sisters, Eliana and Maeve, don’t like her very much. So she’s kept her distance, physically and emotionally.

But her parents have planned a camping trip for family and friends, to mark their anniversary and serve as a family reunion of sorts. Remi is definitely not looking forward to any of it, including the camping part, but she doesn’t want more grief for skipping it.

Remi begins arguing with, and feeling slighted by, her sisters not long after the trip starts, and she wishes that she could just head for home. But when a dead body is found at their campsite—and then disappears—the sisters start to bond as they try to figure out what happened and who was responsible. (There’s nothing like a dead body to mend fences.)

As Remi tries to reconcile her desire to become closer to her sisters with the lingering hurt and resentment she’s felt through the years, she’s also dealing with some other big issues. She’s considering quitting her job to work with a college friend at her start-up, and there’s a handsome park ranger who keeps showing up to chat with her.

The premise of this was cute, but the book tried to be a version of Knives Out, and that didn’t work. Instead of quirky, the whole missing body thing just felt silly. Oh well…

The book will publish 11/1.

Book Review: "The Fake Wedding Project" by Pippa Grant

This was utterly adorable.

The Andersons and the Silvers have been feuding for generations and their small town of Tinsel (where it’s Christmas all year long) is tremendously affected by the animosity. And no one knows why they’re fighting in the first place.

Dane Silver hates coming home to visit his family; so does Amanda Anderson. But when Amanda finds out that her grandmother is retiring and expecting her to take over The Gingerbread House, the family business, she panics. She tells her family that she and Dane are engaged, in the hope that her family will disown her.

When Dane learns of Amanda’s lie, he’s more than happy to help perpetuate it, especially if it can lead to the end of the feud. He’s really the perfect fake fiancé—but of course, the more time they spend together, the more real their feelings for each other become.

“Being family doesn’t give anyone a free pass to dismiss your goals or to treat you like you’re not capable of deciding how to live your own life, or like they own you. Being family means respecting each other and the choices you each make.”

I can never get enough fake dating romances, and even though I thought the whole feud thing was silly, these characters were so appealing. And Tinsel seems like a special place to be!!

Book Review: "Rehearsed to Death" by Frank Anthony Polito

I’ve been meaning to get back to this fun cozy mystery series for a while, and I’m glad I finally did! The marketing blurb called this book “Hart to Hart via HGTV,” and of course, it made me think about how I used to love that show! (You youngsters reading this review, the 80s were fun years of TV.)

Peter (PJ) and JP return, but their home renovation show, Domestic Partners, is on hiatus. Instead, they’re focused on the theater. Peter’s first play, Blue Tuesday, is going to be produced, and JP will be the star.

There are hopes that the play might even make it to Broadway, so a big-deal director is brought in to up the ante. And Xander Sherwood Deva is the biggest of big deals—especially in his own mind. It’s not long before this overly affected, egotistical, spiteful, scarf-wearing tyrant drives everyone to anger. Given all of the enemies he’s made in his career, it’s not entirely surprising when he’s found dead, but who sent Xander for his final curtain call?

JP and Peter are determined that Blue Tuesday will go on as planned, regardless of Xander’s murder. But before the curtain can rise, they’ll need to slip into their detective roles and figure out who killed their director.

Will they unmask the killer before it’s too late? Will the show go on? Will anyone else wind up in danger? And will the play be a success? So much is riding on the couple, including the realization of their own dreams.

I think this series really is a delight. The characters make me laugh and the whole plot had a fun, farcical tone to it. I loved seeing them solving crimes together. I’ll definitely pick up the third book in the series a bit quicker!

Book Review: "What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts)" by Stanley Tucci

“Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.”

If you had told me a few years ago that I would absolutely love a book in which someone essentially listed what they ate over the course of a year, I would’ve thought you were crazy. But then again, if it wasn’t Stanley Tucci telling me about his meals, it might not have been the experience this book was.

I fell in love with Tucci’s earlier book, Taste, and also really enjoyed his show, Searching for Italy. There’s just something so appealing about his love of good food, sharing it with family and friends, and mastering the preparation of it, not to mention recognizing the errors he or others made.

A diary of sorts, Tucci recorded what he ate in 2023, sometimes sharing specifics—location, his dining companions, what he thought of the food—and sometimes just being general. At times he’ll talk about why he liked or didn’t like a particular dish; other times he’ll share a memorable anecdote. (Even some recipes!) He and his wife Felicity both love to cook and entertain, and they do a great deal of it in the book.

You won’t want to read this on an empty stomach, especially if you’re a fan of Italian food. Tucci’s literary voice is so clear and direct—he doesn’t beat around the bush when he has something negative to say. Boy, I’d love to grab a meal with him or just talk food!!

“Part of the beauty of a certain dish or a meal is that it is ephemeral. It can be repeated but it will never be the same. Like the performance of a play. The lines and staging will be the same, but the result will always be a little different.”

Book Review: "The Boyfriend" by Freida McFadden

Ohh…so now I get all the hype. So many of my thriller-loving friends have said great things about Freida McFadden’s books, so it was time to give one a try. My head is totally spinning!

Sydney wants to find Mr. Right. She can’t endure her friends’ social media posts of their baby bumps and happy families. And if she has to hear her mother tell her that someone else older than her had babies, she might scream.

The dating apps haven’t yielded anything worthwhile. Too many guys who don’t look like their pictures, want her to pay the whole check, or expect her to sleep with them. It’s crazy that she finally meets her dream guy when he rescues her from a dangerous encounter—but he walks away.

When they see each other for a second time, they both know it’s right. Tom is a handsome doctor, he’s generous and kind, and he’s amazing in bed. Sydney definitely could see herself spending the rest of her life with him. But of course, there are some strange things she can’t wrap her mind around.

Apparently there’s a guy who has been dating a number of women from one app, and they’ve wound up dead. But the police can’t seem to track him down. Sydney starts to have her own suspicions, but could she be right? Is she in danger of becoming the next victim?

There’s a lot more to this story that needs to unfold, and lots of twists. I’ll admit I didn’t quite figure things out and McFadden definitely kept me guessing. This is the kind of thriller I enjoy the most—it didn’t slow down for a second!

Book Review: "Given Our History" by Kristyn J. Miller

Clara has wanted to teach history for as long as she can remember. She’s finally achieved her goal, teaching at a private college in Maryland, and her department chair wants to submit her name for tenure.

When her boss asks if she’d be willing to share her office with a visiting scholar, she agrees without considering the consequences. And then she learns that the visitor is Theodore Harrison—Teddy—with whom she fell in love when they were teenagers. She’s not seen him apart from a very brief run-in since she broke his heart 10 years ago.

Teddy tries to stay out of Clara’s way, but both feel the pull of attraction and their mutual history. As they work together on a project and reminisce about their days attending a camp for homeschooled children, and think about the relationship that grew out of periodic phone calls and sharing CDs and history books, they can’t help but wonder whether they’re being given a second chance.

However, knowing how things turned out the first time has them both guarding their hearts this time. They’ve both gotten older, and Clara wonders if their past history will keep Teddy from fully trusting her, not to mention the fact that he’s only here for a semester.

The narrative shifts back and forth, between the present and the start of their relationship at camp, to when it fell apart. Along the way we get a glimpse of the challenges that each faced with their families, which also had an impact.

I enjoyed these characters as well as some of the supporting ones. I think the story would have benefited from getting Teddy’s perspective instead of seeing everything just through Clara’s eyes. And of course, far too much of their issues stemmed from miscommunication, which is my least favorite trope. But it was a fun and charming story.

Book Review: "Three Days in June" by Anne Tyler

I will admit that I screamed a little bit when I got the notification from NetGalley that my ARC request for this book was approved. I’ve been reading Anne Tyler’s books for a very long time, and I’m always dazzled by the quiet power of her words. No one can write about irritating or irascible people—and make them endearing—than she can.

Gail’s daughter Debbie is getting married this weekend. But before Gail can get focused on this milestone, she has to contend with some issues at work, with being told she lacks people skills. So she might have quit. Or gotten fired.

Then, Gail’s ex-husband Max arrives, along with a cat that he’s fostering. He was supposed to stay with Debbie, but given that her soon-to-be husband Kenneth is “deathly allergic,” that won’t work. Gail and Max get along fine, so he and the cat stay at her house.

Just before the rehearsal dinner, Debbie confides in her parents a secret about Kenneth. It throws Debbie for a bit of a loop, while at the same time, it causes friction between Gail and Max, stirring up issues long resolved. But they will support their daughter no matter what.

Like many Tyler characters, Gail is easily irked by other people’s foibles. In her case, she feels as if Kenneth’s mother is taking too much of a role in the wedding, her own mother is irritating, and Debbie’s revealing the secret makes her think of things she’d rather not. What does she want from the future? She couldn’t tell you if she tried.

While in general, Tyler’s storytelling is light and unobtrusive, this book packs a bit more of a punch than I expected. I’d love to know what happened to the characters after the book ended.

Thanks so much to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance copy; the book will publish 2/11/2025.

Book Review: "A Home for the Holidays" by Taylor Hahn

“I understood how life could be both beautiful and devastating at the same time. Maybe healing was just learning how to live with both.“

⁣ ⁣ Mel has always loved Christmas, ever since her free-spirited mother Connie used to create elaborate schemes to keep the holiday magic alive as long as possible. As an adult, her memories buoy her, especially when she remembers that her mother was, more often than not, an alcoholic mess otherwise.⁣

⁣ Two weeks before Christmas, she gets a phone call from the hospital telling her that her mother has died. While this news isn’t entirely surprising, Mel is full of sadness that Connie didn’t share her health problems, as well as grief that she didn’t pay closer attention.⁣

⁣ Shortly after Connie’s death, a woman shows up at Mel’s doorstep and introduces herself as Connie’s estranged best friend, Barbara. Of course, Mel has never heard of Barbara, but Barbara can explain why, with stories of Connie’s failed music career and their fight over a man, which ended their friendship.⁣

⁣ Through Barbara, Mel gets to see a side of her mother she didn’t know, which made her decline even sadder. But as Mel gets drawn into Barbara’s family, including her son Henry, a soon-to-be-divorced doctor, she realizes that she’s not quite getting the full story, and until she does, she won’t understand her mother or, by extension, herself.⁣

⁣ I definitely loved this book. It’s funny and emotional and hopeful and sad. And while “holidays” is in the title, this isn’t really a holiday book. It’s a beautiful exploration of grief, love, addiction, and understanding how to forgive both whom you lost as well as yourself.⁣

Book Review: "The Book of George" by Kate Greathead

Oh, George…

We all know someone like George. The kind of person who has been able to coast through life on their looks, someone for whom life can be perpetually easy, but they don’t see it. Perhaps you even are a George.

As you might have surmised, this book tells the story of George. It follows him for 20 years, starting at his teenage years. George is an ambitious if unimpressive student; a caring yet generally self-centered son and brother; an adequate if directionless employee; and an affectionate—if not always focused—boyfriend.

The book is told in vignettes, moving forward through his life. His story is interesting but I found it was like reading about someone who vaguely annoys you. I rolled my eyes a lot and wondered why anyone wanted to tell—or read—his story.

This book never really clicked for me. I considered DNFing but kept wondering if George would suddenly become a more interesting—or less likable—character. But that didn’t happen for me. Maybe it will for you?

Book Review: "The President's Lawyer" by Lawrence Robbins

Wow, this was so good! I don’t read a lot of legal thrillers because I feel that they are often too slow or too melodramatic. But this—amazingly, a debut novel—kept me hooked every step of the way.

There is tremendous shock when former president Jack Cutler is accused of murdering his mistress, Amanda, who had worked in his administration’s office of legal counsel. Jack reaches out to his childhood best friend Robbie, a successful lawyer, to defend him.

Initially, Robbie is reluctant to take the case. He knows that Jack has always been a philanderer. But the bigger issue is that Robbie also had an affair with Amanda, and he was in love with her, even after she ended their relationship to be with Jack.

There are lots of salacious details that come out before the trial, one being that Jack had a penchant for rough sex—even light bondage and restraint. Robbie maintains his friend’s innocence but wonders if there are secrets Jack is hiding that might provide motive rather than reasonable doubt.

Like with most thrillers and mysteries, I suspected nearly everyone who popped up in the book. There even were a few times when I offered not-so-silent pleas that certain characters weren’t the killer. (I get attached.)

What a read this was!! It definitely kept me guessing and rapidly turning the pages. This could be adapted into a television movie and be as riveting as the book itself. I hope Lawrence Robbins had another book in him!!

Book Review: "What Does It Feel Like?" by Sophie Kinsella

Eve is at the top of her game. She’s a bestselling author with a handsome husband she met in college, and five children. Her last book was such a huge success that it was adapted into a film, and she and her family got to walk the red carpet during the premiere.

One day, Eve awakens in a hospital bed. Her head hurts and she has no idea how she got there; in fact, her memory is quite fuzzy and she has trouble finding words.

“She keeps searching her head for clues, but comes across great gaps instead. What’s happened to her brain? It feels patchy and incompetent and not like herself at all.”

Eve learns that she had a brain tumor, which required surgery to remove it. She later learns that the tumor was malignant, but she’ll do everything she can to keep it from returning. She has to relearn how to walk, talk, think, even write. But she doesn’t wallow in her diagnosis; she’s determined to fight back.

The story touches on the highlights and lowlights of regaining her health and rebuilding her life. From telling her beloved children about her diagnosis to recognizing all that her husband has gone through since her surgery, Eve realizes how fortunate she is. And she embraces the simple things that bring her joy—a walk with her husband, a good marmalade, buying the dress when you want to.

This is so powerful but it’s shockingly more matter-of-fact than maudlin. The book is told in vignettes marking steps in Eve’s journey. But what makes the book more profound is that this novel is fairly autobiographical: Sophie Kinsella dealt with the same diagnosis and had the same support system. This is a departure from Kinsella’s usually lighthearted books, but her storytelling is impeccable.

Book Review: "Remember Me Tomorrow" by Farah Heron

Give me a time loop and some romance, and I’m happy. This book gave me both plus a little mystery, so needless to say, I absolutely loved it.

Aleeza has finally had enough. She’s tired of her best friend and roommate throwing her over for guys or people she thinks are “cooler” or more popular. So a month into the second semester, she’s able to find the last vacant dorm room on campus. It may be small, it may be a single, but it’ll be hers.

She’s surprised to find a dresser full of men’s clothes in her room, since it’s supposed to be empty. But right away people in her new dorm start treating her strangely, and she quickly discovers that she’s been assigned to a room where another student, Jay Hoque, lived before he disappeared several months before.

No one is sure what happened to Jay, but most of the gossip says he slept around with a lot of women and didn’t treat them well, and there are also rumors that he was part of a big cheating scandal. As an aspiring investigative journalist, Aleeza can’t help but be drawn to figuring out what happened to him.

Imagine her surprise when she starts getting text messages through the dorm system—and they’re from Jay. Strangely, he says that he is in his room. It turns out that somehow Jay is messaging her from a few months in the past. As they build a relationship of sorts, can Aleeza figure out what happened to him so he can prevent it from happening in the past?

I thought this was a really good story. The interplay between Aleeza and Jay was really sweet. While the mystery part got a little confusing with lots of characters thrown in, I was definitely hooked and needed to know how the story would resolve itself.

Book Review: "The Summer Between" by Robert Raasch

A few days before they graduate from high school in 1978, Andy tells his best friend (and ex-girlfriend) Elena that he’s bi. Or maybe gay. While at first Elena worries that it was something about her that made Andy gay, she quickly realizes that his disclosure isn’t as surprising as she initially thought it was.

With just the summer remaining before Andy heads to NYU to study art, and Elena remains in New Jersey for college, Andy begins to take a few tentative steps out of the closet. While New York City has a reputation as a dangerous place, it’s also one of the epicenters of queer life, so he ventures into Greenwich Village.

Andy’s first foray into a gay bar leads to an unfortunate encounter that affects him more than he’s willing to admit. But it’s not long after that he meets Ben, an NYU graduate, and they begin dating. Ben also takes a protective interest in Andy, trying to help him become less sheltered and more open-minded, so hopefully he’ll stay safe.

For Andy, the summer is full of spending time with Elena and other friends, having evenings and weekends with Ben in NYC, and eagerly anticipating the start of college. But it’s also a time of crises, of wanting friendships to last forever even while growing apart, and of coming out to those you care about most.

As Andy tries to find his way, he’ll experience the highs and lows of first love, loneliness, envy, and random encounters. He’ll also realize those who are in his corner and those he can leave behind.

I love coming-of-age stories, and I really enjoyed this book. Andy’s voice was so authentic—I remember being on the cusp of adulthood yet still not there yet. I also remember what it felt like when your emotions are so close to the surface that you become attached to someone that’s not in the same mindset as you. It’s hard to believe that this is Robert Raasch’s debut, and it’s a book I’ll definitely think about for a while.

Book Review: "The Last One at the Wedding" by Jason Rekulak

First things first: if you go into this book expecting another Hidden Pictures, you’ll be disappointed. There’s nothing really scary about this book, unless you hate daddy longlegs. It’s also much more of a family drama mixed with a slow-burn mystery of sorts, rather than a high-octane thriller.

The relative peace of Frank’s breakfast is disturbed when his phone rings. He is shocked to hear the voice of his daughter Maggie, with whom he’s not spoken in three years. He tries to apologize for what happened between them, but she’s not interested in rehashing that issue.

It turns out Maggie is calling to tell him she’s getting married in three months, and she wants him to be there. She’s marrying a man named Aidan, whom she’s known for only six months. Something about it doesn’t quite feel right, but Frank keeps his reservations to himself. When he receives a strange letter in the mail, his trepidations begin to grow.

The wedding will be a colossal three-day event held at Aidan’s family camp, a lakefront estate in the woods of New Hampshire. Frank is excited to spend time with Maggie, and get to know Aidan and his family better. But Maggie mostly avoids him, Aidan is nowhere to be found, and his father, a wealthy business tycoon, seems a bit shady.

The more time Frank spends at the camp, the more questions he has about the relationship between his daughter and Aidan, accusations that Aidan was involved in a tragic event, and Aidan’s family. Everywhere he goes, he encounters another strange thing, but he has no idea what the truth really is.

I think that Jason Rekulak is a really talented storyteller, and throughout so much of this book, I had this creepy feeling as I waited for the next shoe to drop. I’ll admit that some things really caught me by surprise, and I couldn’t put the book down.

Book Review: "Karaoke Queen" by Dominic Lim

This book was so sweet and fun. I could totally see an adaptation of this into a movie or television show—it’s part Kinky Boots,” part RuPaul’s Drag Race, and even a bit of Pose. But that’s not to say the book was derivative or a copycat in any way.

“For me, drag is heightened reality. It’s not about lying, it’s about revealing the truth in a different way. My truth. I see that now.”

Rex used to be a popular drag performer and karaoke host, until he locked that part of him away. But when he discovers his old college boyfriend Aaron is now managing a gay club and karaoke bar, it awakens the desire to perform again—not to mention his desire for Aaron.

The Pink Unicorn is a part of Oakland’s gay culture, but it’s never gotten back on its feet post-COVID. When Rex learns that the bar is struggling, he offers to host karaoke in his drag persona, Regina Moon Dee. But while Aaron is no longer the closeted guy Rex dated in college, drag makes him uncomfortable—so Rex can’t let Aaron know that he and Regina are one and the same.

Paolo, the bar’s karaoke jockey, immediately takes a shine to Rex, and recognizes his alter ego right away. He can’t understand why Rex would want to date Aaron if he won’t accept Rex for who he is. But Paolo is all too willing to help continue the ride that Rex and Regina are two separate people. As you might imagine, hijinks and drama ensue.

I really enjoyed Dominic Lim’s debut, All the Right Notes, and this book had the same amount of heart. Sure, there is lots of bending the truth and hiding things, but it’s all for the right reasons. Rex and Paolo are such winning characters, and their friends and family are so appealing too. You’ll definitely want to break into song after reading this!

Book Review: "Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour" by Nora Nguyen

My travel bucket list is really quite long, and I hope to actually get to some of the places I’ve read about. Interestingly enough, I hadn’t ever thought about visiting Vietnam. Until I read this book.

As if losing her beloved Aunt Hao wasn’t bad enough, Evie’s life is completely falling apart. She’s been secretly dating the chair of the English department—and her boss—at the college where she teaches. And then she discovers his secret plan to fire her. Needless to say, that relationship is toast.

Now she’s at loose ends. But her aunt has left Evie her fantastic San Francisco row house, where Evie spent a great deal of time as she was growing up. Of course, there’s a catch: Evie must travel to Vietnam and participate in a matchmaking tour. She doesn’t have to fall in love, she just has to try.

Adam is in charge of marketing his sister’s matchmaking tour business. There’s a great deal of competition among companies like this in Vietnam, so Adam puts everything into his work. But given that he can’t land a successful relationship of his own, his sister dares him to join the company’s maiden tour, and he agrees.

From their very first encounter, Adam and Evie dislike each other. Adam is too stiff for Evie; Evie is too flaky for Adam. Yet every time they turn around, they run into each other again and their irritation—not to mention their chemistry—grows. Have they fallen into an enemies to lovers situation of their own?

This book was fun and romantic, and the storytelling really made me feel as if I were seeing the sights myself. That isn’t a surprise, considering Nora Nguyen is the pen name for Thao Thai, who wrote Banyan Moon. Was this predictable? Sure. But it definitely gave me the feels!!

Book Review: "Grave Talk" by Nick Spalding

Since her husband Joe died suddenly six months ago, Alice isn’t having an easy time coping. She still reaches for him in bed every morning, and talks to him quite a bit. She wonders if the loss will ever get easier to bear.

On Joe’s birthday, she decides to visit his grave by herself for the first time, but it’s far too much for her emotionally, and she briefly falls apart. When she pulls herself together, she’s stunned to see a man dressed like Kermit the Frog standing by the grave next to Joe’s.

Ben is mourning the death of his older brother Harry. Harry was quite the prankster, and in his will he stipulated that once a year Ben must visit his grave and stand there for three minutes. And Ben must wear an embarrassing costume that Harry picked out for each year.

The intensity of grief that both feel creates the spark of a friendship. The time they spend talking to one another feels cathartic, because both know what this grief feels like. They make a promise to meet at the gravesites the following year on the same date.

Each year, they both arrive at the cemetery. Alice usually laughs when she sees what costume Ben is wearing. And as they talk and share the emotional crises and challenges each has faced through the year, both begin challenging one another to make a change here or there, in the hopes the changes will help. Does grief get easier over time? Can you move on to a new phase without forgetting the person you’ve lost?

I loved the concept here, but felt it fell short in execution. Both Alice and Ben are understandably miserable, but it often seemed as if they were willing to remain in this state forever rather than confront the issues and people that were holding them back. While there certainly are emotional moments, I found myself more frustrated than sad.

The book will publish 11/1.

Book Review: "Be Ready When the Luck Happens" by Ina Garten

The Barefoot Contessa’s memoir is finally here. How great is that?

Years ago I went to culinary school and worked as a personal chef and caterer for a while. One of the people whose recipes I loved and often adapted was Ina Garten. It’s amazing how an incredibly wealthy woman with an amazing house in the Hamptons who hobnobs with celebrities seems as down to earth as she does.

Amazingly, this culinary icon got her professional start writing nuclear energy papers for the Ford and Carter administrations. But she was bored and didn’t feel like her work had an impact, so heeding her husband’s advice to do what you love, they bought a small gourmet shop, The Barefoot Contessa, in the Hamptons. Never mind the fact that she had no experience in the food business!

It was so easy for me to get caught up in this memoir, as if Ina was telling me her life story over dinner. She touches on her unhappy childhood and her desire to do things that weren’t traditionally appropriate for young women. She found her independent streak early and it’s never abandoned her.

As much as I loved her stories about her finding her footing in the food business and her stepping into the spotlight, the most entertaining parts of the book are when she recounts meeting her husband Jeffrey while she was still in high school. Their love story is often satirized but theirs is a sweet relationship.

I enjoyed this book so much. To me, it came across exactly as she does on television—full of joy and gratitude at the good fortune she has found. Such a delight.