Book Review: "Comfort Read" by Dylan Morrison

“Isn’t that what a relationship is supposed to be? Someone who stands with you through the good and the bad? Someone who looks at the risks and says, ‘For you: Hell yeah, bring it on’?”

Kit has lived his whole life in Cedar Falls, a charming town in upstate New York. People in town remember an accident he had when he was young, and they empathized with him when his long-time boyfriend turned down his marriage proposal.

Kit is the owner of Sawyer’s Books, a beloved shop which once was the town’s firehouse. Yet despite its history, the store is literally falling apart, and the city wants to condemn it. He cannot imagine losing the store, but he definitely doesn’t have the funds to pay for all of the necessary repairs.

Enter Sage, who has been acting since he was a child, although recently he’s been in the tabloids more than the entertainment news. His dream is to adapt a beloved sci-fi book series into movies, but his major investor doesn’t believe he’s stable enough to fund the movies.

Sage asks Kit whether he’d consider pretending to be his boyfriend for a few months. All they need to do is convince his finder that he’s a worthwhile investment, and then Sage will foot the bill for the bookstore’s repairs. Of course, it’s not long before feelings blur between fake dating and reality, but both underestimate how their lives will be totally unsettled.

I love fake dating rom-coms so much. I wanted to hug Kit and Sage because both were dealing with so many issues. I loved the supporting characters, including Throgmorten, the hat-hating cat. Dylan Morrison’s books always have so much heart!

Book Review: "Takedown" by Allison Brennan

I’ve read 5 out of the 6 stories in Amazon’s Pursuit collection—a gripping collection of short stories that explore what it means to be predator and prey, and what it takes to gain the upper hand. Allison Brennan’s was the only one that blew me away and made me wish it could be turned into a full-length thriller.⁣

⁣ Skye Truman is a police detective investigating a series of sexual assaults. She is sure she knows who is responsible: Trent Calderon, a handsome, arrogant lawyer who works for the Governor’s office. The problem is, she can’t find enough proof to justify her suspicions, which frustrates her—and amuses Calderon to no end.⁣

⁣ When a park ranger is not only raped but also murdered, Skye worries that the perpetrator is escalating. Her obsession with Calderon grows, and so does his need to toy with her. She can’t afford to make a misstep because he will make sure they take her badge.⁣

When another victim is found and a scheme backfires dangerously, Skye is found on the outside looking in. Can she regain control of the situation, or will Calderon—or, heaven forbid, the real perpetrator—win?⁣

⁣ Given that Brennan is such a prolific thriller writer, I’m surprised not to have read her books before. But I’ll certainly be remedying that soon! While I sometimes struggle with short stories feeling incomplete, this one worked perfectly for me.⁣

Book Review: "Murmuration" by TJ Klune

It’s no secret that TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors of all-time. Every book of his that I read is unique and touches my heart, and several of his books topped my year-end best lists over the last few years. Thanks so much to Tor Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!

Mike Frazier owns a bookstore in an idyllic town called Amorea. There’s no crime. No hospital. No prison. No violence. And strangely, there are no parents or children. There’s just peace and routine.

Mike is in love with Sean, who is a waiter at the local diner. They’re both clearly smitten with each other—everyone in town knows it. To this point, he’s been afraid to admit his feelings, but he thinks he’s ready to take a leap.

But things are starting to unravel. Mike starts hearing arguments in his house, but there’s nobody there. Memories are starting to surface, tragic ones, but they don’t seem to be his. He’s even losing grip on his own identity: is his name Mike? And then there are the starlings…

It appears that Amorea isn’t quite the perfect town everyone believes it is. But Mike is determined to protect Sean from whatever bad things may come along.

This book is definitely a bit bleaker than many of Klune’s books. But the love story between Mike and Sean is absolutely beautiful and heartwarming. There’s so much to this book that needs to unfold for you, and it’s so worth it.

The book will publish 11/17.

Book Review: "Evie Walters Takes the Wheel" by Kathleen Fox

This was an utterly charming and heartwarming book about second chances and fighting for yourself. I found myself smiling so often while reading it.

“Women spend their whole lives taking care of others. It’s only when we’re older that we finally get to take care of ourselves.”

Evie’s husband Royce has just passed away. She’s spent so much of her life doing what was expected of her, but now she’s uncertain what to do. But she knows that she’s only 71 and she’s not ready to begin a slow descent into old age.

On the day of her husband’s funeral, she receives a very unusual flower—an egret orchid—but it was sent anonymously. However, Evie remembers receiving one of these flowers from a ranch hand back in Montana where she grew up. That young man, Novel Daniels, was her first love, and he believed she was one of the most courageous people he knew.

Years before, she and Novel dreamed of all the places they’d visit together. But the obligations and expectations of life got in the way. So on the spur of the moment, Evie buys a camper van and decides to head back to Montana to see if Novel might have sent her that orchid as a sign.

Evie’s journey from her comfortable life in North Carolina reminds her that she can do anything she wants. Of course, along the way she has to deal with the disapproval of her two oldest children, who wanted her to move into a retirement community. But she also befriends some tremendously unique and generous people. This really was such a sweet and enjoyable debut!

Book Review: "The Last to Drown" by Noelle W. Ihli

I’ve seen so much praise for Noelle W. Ihli’s books that I’ve been meaning to pick one up for a while. But when I saw a friend mention that The Last to Drown gave her The River Wild vibes, I knew I had to read it. And now I just need my heartbeat to slow down so I can go to bed!!

Kaia and her husband were supposed to go on a whitewater rafting trip to celebrate their 30th birthdays. But now she’s switched to an all-girls trip and she’s excited to get her adrenaline pumping.

Yet not long after the trip starts, some of her fellow travelers start talking about a tragedy that occurred 7 years earlier on the same stretch of river they’ll be riding. Apparently one of the guides killed a group of rafters and while his body was found, one survivor managed to get free. The murders have been the subject of a television movie and lots of conspiracy theories over the years.

Kaia’s nervous enough about the journey; she doesn’t want to think about murder. And when equipment goes missing or somehow gets lost, it’s just a coincidence, right? But when Kaia awakens to screaming in the middle of the night, she realizes that tragedy really is striking twice.

It’s the middle of the night, and they’re not sure how they’re going to get down all of the Class-3 and Class-4 rapids. Then they realize that the killer has every intention of leaving no survivors. And Kaia and a few of her fellow travelers aren’t going to let that happen without a fight.

This was just a fantastic thriller that left me breathless. The descriptions of the rapids and the struggles the women faced, the feelings of fear and despair felt so incredibly real. I really was wowed by this, and I’ll be diving into Ihli’s backlist, that’s for sure!

Book Review: "Dive Bar at the End of the Road" by Kelley Armstrong

“It’s pitch dark, pouring rain, and I have no idea where I’m going, which is also the perfect analogy for my life.”

It was a dark and stormy night…literally. Ellie is driving home to her parents in Michigan in the middle of a torrential rain storm. Her GPS had her take a detour a while back, but she hasn’t seen another car in quite some time. Suddenly in a flash of lightning, she sees a woman inexplicably standing in the middle of the road. As she swerves to avoid hitting the woman, she crashes into a fallen tree. But was there even a woman there?

Shortly thereafter, a pickup truck crashes into Ellie’s car. The truck is driven by Henry, a paramedic who was traveling to a cabin for a fishing weekend with his friends. Henry helps treat Ellie’s wounds and with no cell service, they go looking for shelter. They soon discover a dilapidated-looking bar, which is surprisingly nice on the inside.

Not long after their arrival at the bar, a young couple crashes into Henry’s truck. This same thing happens a few more times. But the crashes aren’t even the worst of it—strange things seem to be happening to each of the victims. One thinks they see zombies, one is being chased by wild animals, and no one is sure whether these things are really happening or if they’re hallucinating.

The tension definitely keeps rising as the paranormal occurrences keep happening. It seems like they’re each caught up in their own nightmare. But can they break out of these horrors, or are they doomed to repeat them forever?

This was a quick, eerie read. There was too much going on at once, however, with too many characters’ perspectives to keep track of. At one point things felt repetitive, but the story picks up speed as it barrels toward the conclusion. This is my first Kelley Armstrong book, but it won’t be my last!

Book Review: "If Not You" by Ellen O'Clover

Now THIS is how you do a former coworkers/rivals romance. I was hooked from the very start and enjoyed these characters—both the mains and the supporting ones—so much. With her second book, Ellen O’Clover is fully ensconced on my auto-buy authors list.

Mattie and Campbell are summer interns vying for one copywriter job. They’re both tremendously talented but Campbell, with his Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt, always seems to come out just ahead of Mattie. And when he wins the job at the end of the summer, Mattie is back to square one again.

Now, 5 years later, Mattie is on the verge of becoming a senior copywriter at her new agency. While she and Campbell seem to see each other at every industry event—and he still seems to come out ahead—Mattie always seems to see red whenever he’s around.

When both of their agencies are finalists for a luxury resort account, they’re going to be in close proximity for a month. Mattie tries her hardest not to let Campbell agitate her, but he knows what buttons of hers to push. Every. Single. Time.

Yet as their teams spend four weeks together at two resorts, both start to see the other in a new light. Mattie discovers that all of her assumptions about Campbell aren’t correct, and he’s far more vulnerable than she would have ever thought. And he starts to understand what’s behind her constant need for oneupmanship.

The book alternates between the present and five years ago when their rivalry first began. It definitely helps explain Mattie’s animosity and her desire to beat Campbell at his own game. The romance is slow burn but really lovely, and their banter is hilarious and sometimes very sweet.

Book Review: "Loved and Missed" by Susie Boyt

“There is so much in life that doesn’t matter, so many things that hold you back, hem you in and throw you off the scent of what’s important.”

This was an incredibly poignant read. Susie Boyt has written seven novels, but this was the first one published in the U.S. It’s an emotional story of mothers and daughters, the delicate push and pull between wanting your child to know that they are loved and yet wanting them to stand on their own.

Ruth’s own childhood was a difficult one. Her father deserted her mother, who never got over that loss. When Ruth had her own daughter, Eleanor, she tried to give her everything she could. But of course, that’s not what Eleanor wants.

When Eleanor reaches adulthood, she becomes a drug addict. It’s certainly not what Ruth wanted for her daughter, but she is tremendously careful not to appear judgmental or critical. And when Eleanor gets pregnant and gives birth to her own daughter, Lily, it’s clear—to Ruth and to Eleanor—that Lily would be better off if she’s raised by her grandmother.

The relationship between Lily and Ruth is a beautiful one, but Ruth must walk a fine line so she doesn’t ever appear critical of her daughter. Of course, in situations like this, you wonder how this type of upbringing affects the child, but as Lily grows you see the kind of woman she will become.

I knew nothing about this book before I stumbled onto it. It really moved me and made me think about the nature vs. nurture concept, and how we never know the impact adults have on the children in their lives. This is such a beautiful read.

Book Review: "Bob & Shirley's Guide to Murder" by Suzy K. Quinn

What a fun read! I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries but now that I’ve stumbled upon this series, I’ll definitely need to read the next 3 books!

Bob and Shirley have been married for over 40 years. They own Goose and Gander, a popular pub in the charming English town of Great Oakley. The two are as opposite as they can be. Bob is athletic, smart (if not more than a bit pedantic), and tries to avoid confrontation as much as possible—although he usually blunders into one. On the other hand, Shirley has never met an animal print outfit she couldn’t squeeze herself into, and she always is free with her opinions—and her grudges.

One morning, Bob wakes up early (as always) to discover a body lying in their pub garden. It was Bevvy Tuck, the leader of the local Waist Watchers group, although she never practiced what she preached. Bevvy and her group were at the pub the night before for the weekly pub quiz, but apparently at some point she went into the garden and died.

The local police believe Bevvy died of heart failure. But Bob and Shirley both believe she was murdered, and when the young police trainee expresses the same suspicion, it propels Bob into investigative mode and starts the town’s gossip engines working overtime.

As they try to figure out just who might have killed Bevvy, the local church ladies’ group casts suspicion on the pub. Bob and Shirley see their customer base dwindling and their chef, John Boy, has been kept out of the annual bake-off. But neither Bob nor Shirley will just sit idly by as they’re gossiped about—they just approach the situation in very different ways.

The book’s narration alternates between Bob and Shirley. The two of them are quite a hoot, and it’s funny to read their digs at each other as well as their interpretations of the goings-on in town. I really enjoyed their antics and all of the supporting characters. Can’t wait to read Book 2!

Book Review: "The Tulip Poplars" by Silas House

All the stars for this beautiful, emotional book. Silas House is such an incredibly talented writer, I would read his grocery list if he let me. But his talent isn’t surprising, considering he is a former poet laureate of Kentucky.

The book begins in rural Kentucky, a small town known as Bright Star, in 1918. Two young men, Tom and Amos, fall in love while working side by side on Tom’s family’s farm. They know that they have to keep their feelings for one another secret, although Amos dreams of being in a place where he can be himself and be with Tom.

Tom’s childhood friend Maeve is raised by the town’s Episcopal preacher, and he also runs an orphanage tied to the church. It is there that Maeve meets and falls for Paschal, but given their different races, they know their love cannot be, especially not in Kentucky.

When tragedy strikes Tom’s family, he feels like he must stay in Bright Star to care for his sister and protect the farm from the machinations of an evil preacher. But Amos no longer wants to stay where he has to hide who he is, so he moves to NYC. He realizes that with freedom comes very real danger.

The book spans from 1918-1976 and traces the lives of Tom, Amos, Maeve, and Paschal. It’s particularly bleak in places where the story deals with the treatment of gay people during these years. But it also emphasizes that love can last even when circumstances seem insurmountable or when you can’t be with the person you love. There are moments of beauty and hope as well.

House’s prose is so lyrical and evocative. I could see the tulip poplars in my mind’s eye and watch as love tears the characters apart and lifts them up. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Book Review: "Bad Words" by Ríoghnach Robinson

Y’all, I’m totally conflicted on this one. I definitely liked elements of the book, but I’m not as wild about it as others have been.

When Parker Navarro’s first novel was on the verge of being released, it was hailed as one of the up and coming books of the year. Then literary critic Selina Chan eviscerated the book in a review, and suddenly the predicted hit becomes a huge flop. Colossal.

Four years later, Parker has finally written his second novel, and he’s ready for it to be released. And then Selina drops another less-than-complimentary review, but rather than slink off in disgust, this time, Parker challenges Selina and what he sees as her superiority complex. Their argument gets recorded and goes viral, causing them both to double down on their opinions about one another.

As their feud becomes more and more public, they find themselves learning more about each other. They have a surprising number of things in common, and while there’s still anger between them, mutual respect—and even stronger feelings start to develop.

I really liked what the book had to say about critics and criticism. It’s one of the issues I’m frustrated about. But in the end, I realized that while I often don’t like enemies to lovers stories because I don’t feel like there’s enough actual animosity between the love interests, in this book, they’re downright mean for a long while. I didn’t see how they could like each other when they were so insulting. Maybe it was just me, but this was the slowest of slow burns.

Book Review: "Old Ham" by Seraphina Nova Glass

This was absolutely unhinged!! It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Seraphina Nova Glass’ books and I had forgotten how talented she is at creating memorable characters. And Junie is definitely memorable!

At first glance, Junie Oldham appears to be an eccentric middle-aged woman. She doesn’t pay much attention to her appearance, she knits hats and sweaters for cats and mice, her childhood home has turned into an hoarder’s nest, and she doesn’t quite pick up on social cues.

But Junie is far more complex than she appears. At an AA meeting (she doesn’t drink; she’s heard the meetings are great for making new friends), she sees Blake, her high school crush, who used to torment her along with his buddies, calling her “Old Ham” and “Hammy.”

Blake was part of a scheme that changed Junie’s life forever. While she’s excited to see him at the meeting, she’s crestfallen that he doesn’t remember her. But she’s willing to give him a second chance. She finagles her way into getting hired as his daughter’s math tutor, and Blake’s wife Dessa befriends her. But Junie starts making Blake uncomfortable and he demands that Dessa fire her. And that’s before he realizes who she is.

When Dessa finds out what her husband and his friends did to Junie back in high school, she’s horrified. Dessa has barely been holding it together since dealing with her own family tragedy, so she wants to make Junie her pet project. But no one has any idea how far Junie will go to get her revenge and what wreckage she’ll leave behind.

Junie is a fascinating and twisted character. You don’t know whether to pity her or fear her. Glass created so much tension and suspense, I found myself racing through the book to see how the story would get tied up. Wow!

Book Review: "Do You See What I See?" by Peter Swanson

Despite the title and the Christmasy cover, this isn’t really a Christmas story, although it does take place during the holiday. I’ve been a big fan of Peter Swanson since his first book, so I couldn’t resist this.

Nicholas Child is a writer. His first mystery didn’t make a huge splash in the publishing world, and his second book, a sequel, was lackluster at best. His publisher dropped him but he keeps hoping inspiration will strike and he’ll be able to create a real hit.

While he is worried his agent will drop him at any time, he’s surprised when she approaches him with a proposal instead. Another of her clients, Marco Tavares, is having trouble writing the follow-up to his huge bestseller. She asks Nicholas to help Marco determine whether anything he has written can be salvaged, and perhaps help him find his focus.

The plan is for Nicholas to spend the Christmas holidays at Marco’s Cape Cod mansion. Marco and his artist wife, Maeve, live there, along with Marco’s sister and grandmother. And then the house fills with other guests—Marco’s ex and her jealous husband, Marco’s childhood best friend Billy, and James Beers, who at one point accused Marco of stealing his story idea, which he then turned into his massive bestseller.

Marco isn’t a particularly likable person, and while he agreed to have Nicholas help him, he’s not all that eager to listen to him. Nicholas feels like the gathering is the setup to a murder mystery—everyone in the house, including Maeve, has a reason to want to kill Marco. The next morning, two bodies are found, but what happened the previous evening? And who is to blame?

This was pretty twisty and I had no idea what was fact and what was fiction. Little by little, Swanson reveals interesting details that aren’t mentioned earlier, and it ratchets up the suspense. I thought the story worked really well as a novella.

Book Review: "Fit for a King" by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank

Oh, my heart!! I just love a happy ending that leaves me smiling and teary-eyed. This was a swoony romance I just loved!

Prince Nicholas of Valoria has spent his whole life preparing to become king. But he was hoping his father would stick around another 20 years or so before he had to assume the throne. Yet here he is, stepping into his destiny and dreading it.

The royal machine keeps moving, however, not leaving him a second to grieve for his father. The one thing that seems to brighten his days is his handsome new footman, Noah. Noah sees him for the man he is, not the crown he wears.

Noah knows the opportunity to serve as the king’s footman is an honor and it enables him to fully support his parents. He can’t stop noticing just how handsome King Nicholas is—and the fiery chemistry between them. But even if something were to happen, a king and a footman do not belong together.

Nicholas becomes engaged to a prince from a neighboring kingdom. It’s a strategic match that will benefit Valoria. But how can he marry someone who isn’t Noah? Is he supposed to sacrifice his own happiness for his kingdom?

I loved these characters, as well as Nicholas’ twin brother and one of the maids whom Noah befriends. There’s some great banter, some hot steam, and lots to swoon over. This was a great find, and I’m ready to dive into the next book!

Book Review: "Salty, Not Sweet: A Life in the Food World" by Florence Fabricant

“Over those many decades of my career I have witnessed a revolution. And I have also participated in it, often not from the front lines but rather from a privileged perch overlooking the barricades, armed with pen and notebook. Governments haven’t fallen during this ongoing upheaval, but restaurant empires have, and just about every aspect of food, dining, and drinking across the globe has undergone enormous changes in my lifetime, much of which I am documenting in these pages.”

You know I can’t resist a book like this!

Florence Fabricant may not be a familiar name to you. But as a food writer for the New York Times for more than 50 years, she’s well known by chefs, restaurateurs, food purveyors, and foodies all over the world. While she’s written 13 cookbooks, she’s never been motivated to be the focus of her writing. But this is an extraordinarily fascinating look at a career spent studying and understanding food trends, chefs, restaurants, and how we eat.

Fabricant was raised by parents who liked to go out to eat (and a mother who loved to cook and entertain), so her palate was shaped at an early age. She and her husband Richard had two children, and she started looking for a job to occupy her time after the children started school. She became a writer for a local paper in the Hamptons, where she chronicled farms and other purveyors of food, along with recipes. This gig led to her getting hired by the New York Times.

When she started writing in the 1970s, the culinary world, particularly in New York, was vastly different. She traces the trends, the chefs, the travels, and the memorable meals she has experienced through the years. It’s a fascinating look at the food world and one I couldn’t get enough of.

Even though she’s lived a life that I honestly dream of, Fabricant’s writing is so accessible, informative, and even funny at times. She also shares a few recipes, a number of which I’ll be making! I really enjoyed this look at her incredible career.

Book Review: "Three Reasons for Revenge" by Dervla McTiernan

Wow, my heart is still racing a bit! This was a really twisty, compelling thriller that kept me guessing. I’ve been a fan of Dervla McTiernan for a few years now, and she definitely hit another home run with her newest book!

A young woman comes into a police station and requests to speak with Detective Sergeant Judith Lee. She tells the detective that she was sexually assaulted and wants the man to be held responsible. But when Judith reaches out to the young woman again, it appears she vanished into thin air—or at least wasn’t who she said she was.

At the same time, three people—a popular television host, a single father devoted to his young son, and a fashion designer—receive a package on their doorstep. Each box is beautifully wrapped and addressed to them, but the contents of each box serves a distinct purpose: to destroy the lives of the recipients.

While all signs point to a particular suspect, Judith quickly realizes there’s a much larger and more complicated plot afoot. She has to not only convince her boss to look in a different direction, but she also discovers she’s also a target. She needs to outsmart a person who will stop at nothing to hurt those she feels are deserving.

There’s so much more to this book but it’s always tough to summarize a plot when reviewing thrillers. I was on the edge of my seat through most of the book, and as it headed toward its conclusion, I was so tense!! I thought this was great, and look forward to McTiernan’s next book!

Book Review: "The Twin Clause" by C.G. Macington

Earlier this year, I discovered C.G. Macington’s St. Jude’s Medical series. I fell in love with these books about two brothers and doctors who were raised in privilege (and tremendous dysfunction) and the men they fell in love with. The characters were flawed but beautiful people who dealt with crises both medical and emotional.

When I finished Book 3 in July, I thought the series was ending, so I was thrilled when I saw Book 4 was coming. Now that I read it on the day it was released, I was excited to see there will be a fifth book coming out at some point.

Dr. Preston York and his husband, Dr. Luke Silva, are both well-versed in their fields and exceptional in a crisis. But when it comes to planning their future, Preston pushes too hard and Luke goes silent. And in their tiny New York apartment, a little silence goes a long way.

When both of their mothers start pressuring them for grandchildren (each in different but complementary ways), they try to deflect the subject. Luke’s father left the family when he was young, while Preston was raised by warring factions who threw money at everything. Not the best role models, but the idea of fatherhood is both enticing and terrifying.

When Preston’s mother offers to pay a surrogate $1 million, Luke’s sister offers to carry the baby. And when they find more than they were bargaining for, the York and Silva families rally around Preston and Luke to support them. Fatherhood looks great on them.

While Macington brought some of his signature humor and steam to this book, it’s definitely a little more serious than the previous books. After the craziness of their love story and their wedding as well as all the York family madness, this book explored what it’s like to build a life together, and how you try not to let your past scare you from your future. Can’t wait for Book 5!

Book Review: "The Chain House" by J.H. Markert

Well, damn, this book was crazy good! All of the praise I’ve seen from Bookstagram friends was tremendously accurate. This was my first book by J.H. Markert, but I assure you, it won’t be my last!

Sal Batise, known as the Breaker of Chains, was an enigmatic cult leader who modeled himself after Charles Manson. After three of his followers went on a brutal murder spree, Sal was arrested and sentenced to death. But each time his execution neared, he was able to get a stay.

Now, it appears all of his last-ditch efforts have failed, and he’s scheduled to be executed in just a few days. He orchestrates a contest for him to grant a final interview; all of the major news networks and outlets enter. But Sal selects Sam Harper, a young filmmaker who has been working on a documentary about Sal.

Sam knows this interview will make or break his career. Right away, however, it appears Sal is in control. He announces that he has written a series of bestselling thrillers under the name Mallard Malone. He has allegedly hidden the last book with another murder victim’s body. He figures he’ll be able to wrangle another stay out of this information.

It’s up to the popular governor of Kentucky. When his wife is kidnapped, his first instinct is to grant the stay. Yet the ransom note he gets tells him the execution must go as planned or his wife will die. And nothing is quite what it seems.

This was such a tense thriller. It was a bit creepy and gory, but there were so many surprises that I couldn’t catch my breath at one point. There was a lot going on, and the book is narrated by several different characters, but I loved the way it all came together.

Book Review: "Canine Custody" by Gary Goldstein

Have you ever wondered what a pet was thinking when you spoke to it, or what they thought when something in your life changed or shifted? Gary Goldstein’s new book explores that idea and it’s definitely heartwarming. Thanks so much to Gary for the complimentary copy!

Layla and Franklin have been married for a while when Layla unexpectedly brings home a dog. Franklin never considered himself a dog person; in fact, he had a run-in with a dog when he was young. Needless to say, he’s surprised and a bit angry to find that Layla adopted a dog without discussing it with him, no matter how adorable Betty, a springer spaniel, is.

But while it’s not long before Franklin has become completely enamored with Betty, his and Layla’s marriage is definitely on the rocks. And when an incident with Layla’s water bottle leads to a fender bender with Betty in the car, it prompts her to ask for a divorce.

Once they move toward divorce, their relationship completely deteriorates. And while they would really like to keep lawyers out of the mix and try to work with a mediator, the one sticking point is Betty. They both want full custody of the dog, and neither is willing to compromise.

The story is narrated by Franklin, Layla, and Betty, so you see the same events through each of their eyes. Of course, Betty is mostly confused about why her parents don’t live together anymore and why she can’t spend time with both of them. But you also see how the friction manifests itself for all of them.

This is a fun book, but it’s also a weighty one emotionally. I’ll admit that Franklin and Layla aren’t very likable at times (Layla in particular), but Betty more than makes up for it!!

Book Review: "Three Days Grace" by Jeremy Bradley-Silverio Donato

I’ve had the good fortune over the last month or so to stumble upon some books I hadn’t heard of. Three Days Grace was another of those. This was a powerful, emotional read, sad but hopeful, and it will be a book that sticks in my mind for a long time.

“‘I think,’ he said, ‘that sometimes we learn how to love by recognizing what love isn’t. By seeing the darkness and choosing to live in the light instead.’”

The night before they’re supposed to fly to South Africa on vacation, Lynne and her wife Susan are expecting three guests to meet them at their hotel room in Paris. There’s Nick, Lynne’s son, who has had a strained relationship with his mother since he was a teenager; Laslo, an artist and friend of Susan’s; and Marc, Lynne’s closest friend and confidante.

The whole day, Lynne has seemed out of sorts. She picked several fights with Susan over trivial things and when the five of them go to dinner, her behavior is almost erratic. And then she discloses a piece of news that affects all of them, Nick most particularly. They suddenly must confront the truth about events of the past that they all knew about in their own way, but no one ever did anything about them.

This is a story of loss, grief, guilt, shame, pain, and how we can hide painful truths from ourselves. The book deals with sexual and physical abuse of children (although it’s only referred to without details), which might prove triggering. But this book is gorgeously written even through the sadness, anger, and pain.

“I told him that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stop pretending. That loving yourself doesn’t mean you love other people less.”

Book Review: "The Social Circle" by Sophie Wan

“After all, if friendship is a plant that needs to be watered regularly, theirs should have withered to nothingness long ago. But maybe real friendship is not a plant. Maybe it’s a mountain. Sometimes difficult to ascend. But there, always, through the storms and the seasons.”

This was so good! I had been eyeing this book for a few months and I finally picked it up over the weekend. I love stories about friendships and how they go off course.

Ten years ago, Maggie met Adam, Charles, and Hari, shortly after she arrived as a transfer student at the University of California at Berkeley. Together, they create Circle, initially as an effort to help their fellow students navigate the school’s clubs, but it eventually becomes the first major social media platform.

As Circle grows in popularity, the friends have to balance the challenges of college and managing user demands and expectations. At the same time, the line between friendship and love gets blurry, which causes friction on the business side. And when it all falls apart, Maggie finds herself on the outside looking in.

Ten years later, as Circle gets ready to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Maggie receives a personal invitation to join the other three on a remote Norwegian island. She’s not sure if she can handle rehashing the history among them, but her new company could use the publicity. Will they be able to move past the issues that derailed their friendships, or will the hurt and anger win again?

I loved the fact that the book dwelled more on the relationships between the friends and how they handled the growing business than the platform itself. It made me a little nostalgic for a time in my life where things were simpler and you could just enjoy your friends without life getting in the way. This was really, really good!

Book Review: "Proof of Progress" by Elizabeth Castellano

Maria Astorini should look familiar to you. She’s been in the public eye for decades, first as the daughter of a famous mother, then as an actress, frequent talk show guest, author, and occasional object of scandal.

She recently landed a new role that has put attention on her again. But when a throwaway comment about a book she was contracted to write 37 years ago somehow gets back to her publisher, they finally start asking about it. They’d be more than happy for her to pay the advance back (but compound interest after 37 years is pretty staggering), or she can write the book.

She really doesn’t think the world needs another celebrity memoir, but she’s not paying the publisher back. So in order to provide proof of progress, she sends the publisher anecdotes of different times in her life.

Maria touches on her father’s sudden death when she was young, which was accompanied by a freak injury to her tongue (44 stitches needed). She talks about her on-again, off-again relationship with a college friend, who is both her closest confidante and her biggest nemesis. She discusses her marriages, her children, her relationship with her mother (who became a famous motivational speaker and author), her financial ruin, and her career.

I found this to be an amusing story but because it’s told in anecdotes, nothing felt complete. Maria is a mess, but she’s surprisingly loyal to her friends (to a point), and her life is never free of drama and challenging people. It was a fun, lightweight read.

Book Review: "The Bluff" by Wade Rouse

Ahh, nothing like a dysfunctional family Christmas!! This book is described as a blend of Succession and The Family Stone, and while there are elements of both, it’s definitely not that sad. I’d like to thank Wade Rouse and Thunder Road Books for the advance copy!

The Chapman family believes in traditions, especially around Christmas. The holiday is always spent at the family’s lakefront mansion on Mackinac Island, with the same food and celebrations year after year. And it’s just the Chapmans and their spouses—the family doesn’t “share” the holiday.

But this year, Kat, the wife of oldest son Chris, has organized Christmas—and she’s shaking everything up, much to the dismay and anger of her mother-in-law, Charli. Not only is the Christmas tree in a different place, but Kat has invited her parents to join them, and they’re not at the same level as the Chapmans.

So while Charli rages at everything Kat does, there’s plenty of other drama. Her two sons, Chris and Cormac, are trading barbs about Chris’ handling of the family business. Cormac’s wife, Brie, isn’t above a little scheming to get her and her husband a leg up. Kat’s son Chip is ultra-conservative and motivated solely by money, and her daughter, Leah, is all too willing to question the status quo. And Kat’s mother has some secrets of her own.

As if there wasn’t already enough tension, a big snowstorm is headed for Mackinac Island, and it will trap them together. Resentments, secrets, lies, and manipulations will fill the home as much as the smell of Christmas cookies does. Will the family be speaking by the time they thaw out?

Wade Rouse’s books always have so much heart. I was completely hooked on this family’s story, even though many of them weren’t particularly likable! There’s lots of emotional depth, bad behavior, and even some name-calling…we’ve probably all experienced a bit of this drama! It definitely put me in a holiday mood.

The book will publish 10/13.

Book Review: "Murder at the Movies" by Alicia Malone

“She said people think movies take you away from real life, but actually…they can help make sense of it.”

This was great fun! I’m a huge fan of old movies, so a murder mystery taking place in an old movie theater was right up my alley. And the author is a host on Turner Classic Movies, so she knows her stuff.

After blowing up her career as a Hollywood publicist, Audrey moves to Pine Island, off the coast of Maine. Her grandmother left her the owner of the Starlight Movie Palace, which has been in her family for decades. Pine Island is a tight-knit community that doesn’t love newcomers, so Audrey’s welcome is not enthusiastic.

She finds a note on her door telling her not to go through with it. She’s a little weirded out by that, but nothing is going to stop her from re-opening the theater. On the first night, she shows the Hitchcock classic Suspicion. And after the movie ends, she finds a dead body in the projection booth.

It turns out the victim was Liam Ross, a real estate developer who made more than his share of enemies. But while the police investigate his murder, the theater has to remain closed, so Audrey decides to do some freelance investigation to see what she can find out. Of course, getting her new neighbors to open up to her is easier said than done.

I loved all the movie trivia Audrey mentions in the book and the way she mentions a film actor or actress as she describes different people. The mystery itself was pretty compelling, and I liked how the plot tied itself up in the end. This is the start of a new series, and the second book comes out in June!

Book Review: "The River Runs Black" by Tessa Wegert

Tessa Wegert has done it again!! This is her eighth book and I just love the characters and the community she’s created. She always delivers a twisty thriller with some emotional depth, and her books are always so satisfying!

New York State’s North Country, not far from the Canadian border, has been left reeling by the recent death of a high school senior due to a cocaine overdose. His parents say he had never taken drugs before; his friends will not divulge any information they might have about who supplied the cocaine.

When an enormous drug bust is made on a speedboat traveling from Canada to the North Country, the local investigators are excited by the record haul they recovered. But when they discover that the cocaine they seized doesn’t match the cocaine that killed the young man, they realize there must be a larger drug ring than they ever fathomed.

When an obviously high young woman is found wandering around downtown with barely any clothes on, the police try to help her. But she runs away from them, leaving them to wonder what she was running from and who was keeping her high. And when the teenage daughter of a local investigator goes missing, the stakes grow even more dangerous.

I love the dogged police work of Tim Wellington and Shana Merchant, and it was great to see their return as well as that of other characters, like Mac and Val. I’ve so enjoyed watching these characters develop and transform into something deeper. I felt as if there were hints about a 3rd book in this series—I sure do hope so!

Book Review: "Something Wicked" by Falon Ballard

Thanks so much to Falon Ballard for sending me an absolutely beautiful copy of her book! I saw a blurb that described this as a blend between Macbeth and Moulin Rouge!, so you know I had to dive in!

The Uprising led to the monarchs of all four of Avon’s provinces to step down. To find the united Avon’s first president, it has been decreed that the person who kills each of their province’s rulers will be a candidate in the election.

Callum, the son of King James of Scota, was raised to succeed his father on the throne. But even though he is level-headed and would make an excellent leader, he absolutely does not want to kill his father. However, this is what his father and other family members expect of him.

To help Callum deal with the guilt he will feel upon murdering his father, his sister enlists the help of Lady Caterine, a Gifted courtesan at Avon’s most exclusive sex club. Caterine has the ability to manipulate the emotions of anyone who has an orgasm in her presence, so Callum’s sister hopes Caterine can help him.

The last thing anyone is counting on is for Callum and Caterine to fall in love. Callum has never trusted the Gifted, yet he trusts her completely. But when other forces want to take control of the country, they must team up before both are betrayed. Can they be honest with one another and save the country? Do they both want to?

I’ve been a huge fan of Ballard’s rom-coms, so I was intrigued by her first foray into romantasy. This book has all the steam, plus intrigue, family drama, and even a little espionage. It was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in Ballard’s Idle Reputations series!

Book Review: "Fail Sons" by Adam Wilson

Scott and his younger brother Nick have to fly to Arizona to pick up their father’s body, which has been cryonically frozen since his death in the 1990s. The plan is to take him back to the cryo company’s headquarters and they will attempt to reanimate him in a few years.

So they’re driving across the country with their father’s body on dry ice in a trailer. They’re both obsessed with the app that tracks the body’s temperature, since if it thaws it will no longer be viable. Scott and Nick don’t get along well, and they couldn’t be more different. Scott is a lazy stoner whose wife is about to have their first baby; Nick is uptight but in excellent physical shape.

“I’m here because I’m going through what may, in fact, be a midlife crisis on the cusp of fatherhood, and though the nominal purpose of our journey is to transport our father’s frozen corpse across this fair nation under the delusion that he might rise again—like the South, like Christ on Easter, like Rocky after twelve rounds with the Russian—what I really want is a drunken send-off before my firstborn arrives, and I’m disappointed that you’re not the right companion for the job.”

Nick insists on wearing a KN95 mask, as it’s 2022 and he never contracted COVID during the pandemic. But of course, as they drive through red states, his mask immediately gets peoples’ hackles up.

Their road trip sees them interacting with hippies, visiting Nick’s old girlfriend, taking various drugs, and mostly avoiding talking about their father. Meanwhile, Scott is worried about his wife and dealing with back and prostate problems, but he views the trip as a bit of a last hurrah.

This was darkly funny and very thought-provoking. It certainly was an adventure I never imagined reading about! I found both of the brothers to be amusing, quirky characters in their own way, and I was really curious about what would happen to their father’s body.

Book Review: "A Marvelous Murder" by David S. Pederson

It’s 1939. Orland Orcott is a well-known director in Hollywood. (Well-known, but not well-liked.) He has a reputation as quite a womanizer, and he treats his actors with a tremendous amount of disrespect.

He throws a big party for his wife’s birthday at their Bel Air mansion. But tensions rise when his wife discovers that his latest mistress has been invited to the party. Shortly after a big blowout argument, Orland gets a phone call and retreats to his study. Not long after, he is found dead in his locked study.

The police are convinced that Orland’s death was a suicide. But Victor Marvel, one of the stars of Orland’s last film, is convinced it was murder. (He played an investigator in three films, so he knows his stuff.) He’s determined to figure out the truth behind Orland’s mysterious death.

There are a lot of people who might be suspects. There’s the director’s son, Tab, who was recently disowned because he is gay; Sheila, his former mistress, cast aside when he found a younger model; and notorious gossip columnist Agatha Mudd, who holds several grudges against him. Then there’s William Taylor, an aging actor who Orland bullied constantly, and William’s daughter, whose reputation the director has been happy to sully.

Aided by his boyfriend, up and coming actor Griffin Fenwick, and his costar and frequent date, Eve Spellman, Victor is one step ahead of the killer. And he’s determined to keep his and Griff’s relationship from the Hollywood rumor mills.

I loved the classic Hollywood setting and the way this book dealt with the issues of the day, like keeping queer actors in the closet and directors abusing their power. I just wished the actual mystery was a little more exciting. The pacing really dragged, and I wanted to start skimming pages.

Book Review: "The French Illusion" by John Grisham

It’s crazy to think that I’ve been reading John Grisham’s books since the early 1990s! I like the way he has been dabbling in other genres beyond legal thrillers; it’s been fun watching him spread his wings even when a book doesn’t completely work for me. His new book proves twisty thrillers are in his wheelhouse as well!

Paul and Chelsea Tanner have a beautiful wedding and look forward to building a life together. They head to Paris for their honeymoon, a place Chelsea has been before but Paul never has.

They do lots of touristy things, and then one day they take a trip to Normandy to see the site of D-Day. For Paul, a veteran, this stop has real meaning. After lunch at a charming café, they plan to visit the D-Day Museum. They’re surprised that a different driver picks them up from lunch; he tells them their driver had a family emergency.

The next thing they know, they wake up and find they’ve been kidnapped. They’re being kept separately; Chelsea is being treated better than Paul. It turns out that this isn’t the first time a honeymooning couple in Paris has gotten kidnapped, and there are things linking the men in all of the couples. But who has them? And why?

As the stakes get higher, the U.S. government—along with the FBI, CIA, and French intelligence—seek answers. The CIA recruits a young lawyer to help with the rescue efforts, but it’s not without its risks. Will his decision to get involved be one he can see to fruition?

I enjoyed this story and liked the way Grisham unfurled the twists and hidden details. I thought the pacing was really slow for the majority of the book, though, until the last 20 percent or so, when the plot moved at absolute breakneck speed. I wish the pace was a bit more consistent, but I still was hooked.

Book Review: "Driven" by Mason Coile

This was a very different book than I expected, and it sure did pack a punch! I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since I finished it.

“Hurt can’t be buried. It can be locked away for a time, or hidden, but eventually it rises to cause more pain.”

Jamie is being haunted. Seriously. Ever since his wife and daughter left him, every place he has lived has been occupied by creepy ghosts and disturbing noises. The ghosts infiltrate his dreams, follow him into the shower, take over his television, and keep forcing him to move to a smaller and smaller place in the hopes there won’t be room for them.

His ultimate solution is to find someone who will sell him their Lion—the world’s first completely safe, self-driving vehicle. He figures that he can eventually sleep in the car and it will keep the ghosts out. When he is able to buy one, he hopes this will free him of being haunted.

But he wakes up in the car to discover the hood is dented, the windshield is shattered, and—wait, that’s blood. It looks like the car ran over someone. But who? And when the car refuses to unlock its doors, Jamie isn’t sure what the car is planning next, or how much more complicit he’ll be in whatever it does.

While there are certainly elements of horror and gore present, what sets this book apart is its exploration of grief and despair. I wondered how far the car would go and how the book would resolve itself. And on a sad note, Mason Coile was the pen name for Andrew Pyper, a Canadian science fiction and horror writer who died in 2025.

Book Review: "This Book Made Me Think of You" by Libby Page

“The right book in the hands of the right person at exactly the right moment can change their life forever.”

This book has been sitting on my stack for a few months now and I’m so glad I finally read it! It’s a beautifully poignant and hopeful book, but it’s also a loving tribute to the power of books and bookstores. And I think so many of us can speak to that love, too!

The last thing Tilly is expecting is a phone call from a bookstore, telling her that her husband ordered her a book. Her husband, Joe, wasn’t much of a reader but he loved that Tilly was. But the thing is, Joe died six months ago.

When Tilly arrives at the bookstore, she learns that Joe arranged for her to receive a year of books—a new one every month. Tilly hasn’t read much since Joe got sick, and his loss is still too raw to really appreciate the gift at first. But judging from the books he picked out and the notes he wrote her, he knew her so well and knew the books would help.

Each book serves a different purpose—they teach, entertain, challenge, and help her to move on. She also begins to see the bookshop as an important piece of her life, not to mention Alfie, the kind owner of the bookshop. She’s also encouraged to help others move forward with their lives and deal with the challenges they face.

I thought this would be a difficult read emotionally, but while it’s sad at times, it’s really quite lovely. Tilly and Alfie are really wonderful characters, and I found the book so charming and heartwarming. This is definitely one I’ll keep thinking about!!

Book Review: "The Rally" by Carla Vass

I had so much fun reading this! I definitely wouldn’t mind being obscenely wealthy for a few weeks and getting to live a life like the characters in this book did! (I could do without the copious amounts of alcohol, but sign me up for the other stuff.)

Charlotte and her best friend Shane designed a dating app while in college. This app, called Flutter, became an overnight success, and suddenly Charlotte became one of the new stars of the tech world. But when the inevitable backlash toward a successful young woman became too much, she got sacrificed.

Much to her surprise, she gets ousted from the company and is being forced into signing an NDA and a non-compete agreement. While she will make a healthy amount of money, she won’t ever be able to design anything in the tech space ever again.

Feeling sabotaged, and with nothing to fill her time, Charlotte decides to join her best friend on the Rally. It’s an annual European road trip where the participants drive fancy classic cars. There’s plenty of exclusive parties, fancy food, gorgeous accommodations, and beautiful destinations. They’ll travel from Slovenia to Italy, Monaco, and France.

Charlotte tries to lose herself in the excitement of the Rally. It’s not long before the alcohol flows abundantly and a flirtation with one of the participants ignites. But try as she might, she can’t shake her grief and anger about being pushed out of her company. She wonders whether walking away is best for her future, or if she should try and fight.

I love rich people behaving badly, but rich people driving fancy cars to storybook locations? This was a really enjoyable book but it wasn’t all fun and games. There was definitely some social commentary about the double standards that exist in the business world. Definitely a terrific debut!

Book Review: "Dodge City" by Patrick deWitt

It’s 1967 and the U.S. is in the thick of the Vietnam War. Lee was a college student at UCLA until he was expelled for getting into a fistfight with another student. Unfortunately, being kicked out of school means he’s no longer on the draft deferment list, so while he plans to enroll in community college, he gets his draft notice before he can do that.

Lee isn’t a conscientious objector or anything, but he doesn’t believe the U.S. should be fighting in Vietnam. And he certainly doesn’t want to go to war. But he can’t imagine convincing the draft board that he’s crazy or gay or otherwise unsuitable to serve. So he decides he’s going to flee to Canada.

Leaving Los Angeles means leaving his girlfriend Cal behind. Their relationship is an odd one, and Lee has always been reluctant to let Cal know the full extent of his feelings for her. But he decides to leave anyway, and lands a gig delivering a fancy new Jaguar across the country. He’s ultimately supposed to wind up in New Jersey with the car, even though that’s not what he intends to do.

Before he heads to Canada, Lee decides to stop in four places to see the members of his family. He returns to his hometown in Washington to see his father, who is rapidly heading down the road to self-destruction. Then he heads to Billings, Montana, where his mother moved when she divorced his father. She currently lives with her brother in their childhood home, and isn’t shy about sharing her opinions or her versions of memories.

He reluctantly stops in Duluth to see his older brother Harry, whom he hasn’t spoken with in several years. But Harry, too, is in a bad way—dealing with a broken engagement that is his fault and serious financial problems. Lee’s final stop is in NYC, where his twin sister is a nurse-in-training at a psychiatric hospital, and she’s sabotaging her career with her misguided romantic pursuits.

Patrick deWitt is a writer who skillfully blends introspection with humor. This is a thought-provoking story. I expected this would be a little more plot-driven, but I found myself caring what happened to Lee.

Book Review: "ER: The Oral History" by Lynette Rice

I definitely don’t watch television as much as I used to. But back in the day, there were so many programs I watched religiously, on many nights of the week. I even had two VCRs for a while so I could record multiple programs.

One program I watched from the very start was ER. Even though I really can’t stand the sight of blood (real or fake) and I’m definitely a bit of a hypochondriac, I was hooked on this show. It’s crazy to think what a huge phenomenon it became, and that before the show, George Clooney was just a particularly handsome actor who showed up briefly on a bunch of other television shows.

Lynette Rice has written a comprehensive oral history of the show. She interviewed more than 60 people, including the showrunner, John Wells, many of the producers and directors, and the actors who played both major and recurring characters through the show’s 15-year run.

This book was a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of the show. There were so many interesting facts I learned and reading this gave me a deeper appreciation of the passion that drove this show to success. It would, in its heyday, average 35 million viewers per season (in an era before streaming and DVRs), and was either the number one or number two most watched show on television for six years.

I think this would be a good read for both casual and serious fans of the show. As Rice says in the book, as popular as Grey’s Anatomy is now, there would be no Grey Sloan Memorial without County General.

Book Review: "Nowhere to Go But Anywhere" by Jessica Rao

I really enjoyed this! Jessica Rao’s debut novel is a thought-provoking and emotional story about a young woman trying to find her way.

Helena has just started her freshman year at SUNY Albany. She’s not sure if college is for her, and Albany is a far cry from her home in Brooklyn. She spends a lot of time on the campus bus, which drives through downtown Albany and back again.

She meets Henry on a bus ride one day. He seems to be a bit of a drifter like her, and talks a lot about following in Jack Kerouac’s footsteps and heading to California. Henry invites her to move in with him and another friend, and she finds a job waiting tables to make enough money to go out west with Henry.

Waiting tables introduces her to Sonya, a fellow waitress who encourages Helena to flirt with the customers to get better tips. And when Charlie, a wealthy older man, takes an interest in Helena, she convinces her to go out with him so she can benefit financially.

While Charlie would be her ticket to getting enough money to leave with Henry, Helena is torn. She has an on-again, off-again fling with Tommy, her other roommate, but she never seems to know where she stands with him. How can she find the courage to forge her own path without having to rely on someone who wants to take more from her than she’s willing to give?

I found this to be a surprisingly emotional read at times. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Helena was as young as she was, but she had just finished her freshman year of college. She was a really dynamic character despite her immaturity at times and her indecisiveness.

Book Review: "Receipts from the Bookshop: A Bookseller’s Year in an English Seaside Town" by Katie Clapham

This book was an absolute delight. As someone who managed a bookstore in college and then worked at a Barnes & Noble for a short while, I have lots of anecdotes about customers, book shipments, and everything in between. But Katie Clapham has me beat hands down!

“A bookshop is a mausoleum to a product that refuses to die. Media consumption has evolved beyond recognition in such a short time, but physical books persist against the odds and so the bookshop comes to represent so much more than just another retail unit on the high street. Every day is another triumph against the vision of the town without us; a gap in the shelf of our high street. After all, a town without a bookshop is a tragedy.”

Katie and her mother have been running Storytellers, Inc., an independent bookshop in Lytham St. Annes, an English seaside town, for more than 14 years. The business requires a lot of attention and it’s not always profitable, but there’s a magic in owning a bookshop, particularly when you love to read.

“…if you stumble in on a Friday, you might find me behind the till, drinking a never-ending cup of coffee, ordering books that are mostly for myself and writing down the goings-on that make up the book you’re about to read.”

The book is comprised of Katie’s reflections on a year of bookselling. She touches on her amazingly loyal customers, who often help keep the shop afloat during tough times, as well as those who stumble into the shop and are compelled to make a purchase. She also shares comments from the many who pass by the bookshop on the way to something else. And she relays the enthusiasm of young children (and dogs) who come into the shop.

Katie’s voice is so humorous and warm. I almost felt as if she was sitting near me sharing her anecdotes. If you’ve worked in a bookstore for any appreciable amount of time, you’ll recognize some of her stories. This was really a wonderful read!

Book Review: "Thank You for Remembering" by Emily Harding

“Destiny is real—we just build it ourselves. And in that way, my grandmother was right after all. The magic isn’t what happens to us. It’s that we keep going anyway.”

When Marnie wakes up in the hospital, she has no idea why she’s there. But even worse, she quickly discovers that she has no memories of the last year of her life. She vaguely remembers moving to Boston with her boyfriend Matt, but that’s it.

It turns out Marnie had a traumatic brain injury, which is causing the memory loss. She’s surprised to learn that not only did she and her boyfriend break up and she has her own apartment, but apparently before her injury she got a horrible haircut. And now she has bangs…

She has no idea where she works (or if she even has a job), she can’t unlock her phone or access her ATM card, and apparently, there’s a mouse in her apartment. Luckily, her very handsome neighbor, Ben, helps her get readjusted. He shows her how to get to various places, and tolerates the emotional rollercoaster she finds herself on.

Marnie has apparently kept receipts and movie tickets from her time in Boston, so she tries to figure out what these keepsakes mean. And while her best friend insists it will all lead her back to Matt, she starts to realize that he might not be her happy ending after all. (Any guesses on who might be? 😉)

This was a really sweet and emotional book, and Emily Harding really did her research on how people can be affected by a brain injury. While the dreaded miscommunication trope popped up a few times, I loved the banter between her and Ben. I also found her journey to find her way to be really meaningful and moving.

Book Review: "When They Find Me" by Carter Wilson

When more than one Bookstagram friend tells you that this book is “a banger,” you know I had to request an ARC! And they were not wrong—this was fantastic! Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Expanse, Colorado is a tiny town of 313 people. It’s the perfect place for people who are hiding from someone or just want to live off the grid. This is where Annie and her daughter Coral have settled, and Annie has done everything she can to ensure that no one knows where they are.

A few years ago, Annie had to kill someone. She’s been looking over her shoulder ever since. She expects that someone will come looking for her one day and try to get revenge, so she’s determined to keep her and Coral safe.

One day, trouble comes calling in the form of an angry old man who calls himself Coyote, and his two adult children, Boone and Riven. They’ve come to Expanse to find the man Coyote insists destroyed his life and tried to break up his family. Riven is ready to kill this man and finally prove her worth to her father.

Annie isn’t expecting Coyote, Boone, and Riven to show up at her door, and she’s definitely not the person they’re expecting to find. But they get locked in a battle of wills, and both Annie and Coyote will do all they can to protect their children. When truths are uncovered, no one will be left the same.

Carter Wilson is an exceptionally talented thriller writer. This was definitely a book which kept me guessing. There was so much tension, so much simmering anger and violence just under the surface. I wanted to applaud when it was done.

The book will publish 11/10.

Book Review: "Paper Ghosts" by Sarah Addison Allen

“Once upon a time, there was a family of witches. But witches, it turns out, are sometimes only women who have been hurt, and are determined not to be again.”

More and more, I realize how much I love magical realism in my books. Sarah Addison Allen is definitely a standout in creating worlds with just a dash or two of magic, but real issues as well.

In the 1970s, Willamena Wester lives in the North Carolina town her family founded. She’s raised by her grandmother and she’s never wanted for anything—except the freedom to be a little rebellious. But her grandmother, rumored to be a witch, knows everything Wills is thinking. All she wants Wills to do is follow the path she’s set for her.

But when a handsome young musician comes to town, his presence shakes everyone up, especially Wills. She falls for him but plans to keep her promise to her grandmother, until one fateful night changes everything.

Years later, following a tragedy, Wills’ son returns home with his young daughter Bailey in tow. Wills is determined to act completely different toward Bailey than her own grandmother did, but at times it’s hard to outrun the pain and regret of your past. And as Bailey grows, she learns many of the same painful lessons, but she’s determined to end the cycle.

I find Allen’s books so captivating, and the Southern settings are always magical in and of themselves. This is a book about fierce love, sacrifice, sorrow, and the choices we make when our backs are against the wall. At the same time, there was a bit of sweetness here too, which I also loved.

Book Review: "The Tide Between Us" by Cem Say

It’s fun to read the books that get lots of hype and publicity, the ones you see everyone else talking about. At the same time, I love stumbling upon a book I’ve never heard of and being taken by complete surprise.

The Tide Between Us definitely falls in the latter category. I’m not even sure how I found it. But this portrait of love, longing, and being truly seen honestly took my breath away. There were so many sentences, paragraphs even, that I highlighted while reading.

“Because you don’t know what missing someone feels like. You’ve never once let yourself do it. Everyone you ever lost, you skipped the missing and went straight to the wall. You built a whole personality out of not needing anyone, and you did it so well you forgot that need is just, a thing people feel. Ordinary people. Every day.”

Emre left Istanbul for an unnamed coastal town. He vowed that he would no longer wait to be seen, to be loved, and he would stop living his life in the margins of others’. At a cafe, he meets Julian, a charismatic older man. There is an immediate attraction but neither knows what their first move should be—if there should be one at all.

Julian has the ability to make people feel like they are the most important to him. But he can only sustain that for so long before he hurts them. His seven-year marriage to Marco is filled with moments of joy and pain, yet neither wants to ask questions they don’t want answers to. As Julian and Emre turn toward each other, both know the gravity of their choices and the inevitability of the end. But how do you distinguish love from feeling seen?

This was an exceptionally beautiful debut novel. The feelings these characters lay bare, the waves of joy, jealousy, pain, and love they experience were so poignant and yet so real. I cannot wait for Cem Say’s next book. I’m so glad I found this.