Book Review: "Main Characters" by Bobby Palmer

This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s so unlike anything I’ve read in many ways, yet it took complete hold of my heart.

Clara and Seb meet one day in a park while she is on her lunch break from work. She sees Seb sitting with his dog and the image captures her, so she draws them. She gives him the picture and then figures she’ll never see him again.

They see each other a few times. It’s clear they’re drawn to each other. Yet just when they start to get close, Clara disappears. But they’re brought together again about a year later, when Seb auditions for a movie she’s working on.

As Seb’s acting career waxes and wanes, Clara’s filmmaking career starts to take off. The two have the kind of love that their friends, even strangers envy. Until it disintegrates under the weight of so many things said and unsaid.

What sets this book apart from a typical romance is that it’s told not from Seb or Clara’s point of view, but from that of casual observers. From a barista who observes their first awkward encounter to passengers who eavesdrop on their conversations on buses and other public transportation, from people who work with Clara on her films to a real estate agent showing them apartments, each has a vantage point at a specific time and place.

This is a fantastic love story, but it’s also the story of friendship, family, grief, fear, want, and ambition. The push-and-pull of their relationship through the years did make me want to smack them both, but I absolutely loved this book.

Book Review: "The Romance Revival" by Christina Lauren

It’s always interesting when an author that’s well-known in a particular genre decides to try something new. That’s kind of the case with Christina Lauren’s new book, which mashes up romance with a bit of sci-fi and mystery. ⁣

⁣ Emery and Luca have been inseparable since he swept her off her feet at a wedding in Las Vegas. They married just a few months later, and they’re about to celebrate their third anniversary. ⁣

⁣ The thing is, Emery, who is a scientist, is a complete workaholic. She’s busy day and night, misses dates and dinners, and often feels miles away from Luca. And her work is top-secret, so she can’t even tell Luca the truth about what she’s doing. Being secretive is taking its toll, but she knows it’s just for a little while longer.

⁣ And then the unthinkable happens: Luca is killed in an accident as Emery looks on, helpless. She cannot lose him. So she injects him with a drug she’s been working on, in order to bring him back to life. It’s a complete risk and a violation of so many laws and ethics, but it works.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ Luca wakes up and is healing nicely. The one drawback is he has no memory of Emery or their life together. But this time, she’s determined not to waste a second. She hopes Luca will fall in love with her again—and she can turn over a new leaf in the process.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ The romance aspect of the book is top-notch. Luca and Emery have intense chemistry and the second chance they’re given is so lovely. But when the book shifts into mystery mode, I felt like it lost its appeal. The action sequences seemed formulaic and implausible, and I just wanted to read their love story. ⁣⁣

Book Review: "The Spider Silk Scarf" by Ana Reyes

Nora is a thief. There’s just something about taking an object that doesn’t belong to her that gives her a thrill. The more expensive, the better. She has a closet full of her treasures in the apartment she shares with her fiancé, Ben.⁣

⁣ “She didn’t think of herself as a bad person. She had simply refused to accept that, because she was born poor (and was, statistically speaking, almost certain to die poor too), she didn’t deserve nice things. She stole only from the rich and never from anyone she knew.“⁣

⁣ One day, Ben, a plumber, is working in the house of Mrs. Martin, a reclusive old woman who was rumored to be a witch when Nora was growing up. He told Nora that he overheard Mrs. Martin talking about a precious item, a scarf woven from the silk of black widow spiders. Apparently it took 12 weavers years to make the scarf, and only 11 survived.⁣

Nora must get her hands on that scarf. It becomes an obsession for her. And even though she knows it isn’t wise to steal from a woman who might be a witch, she just can’t stop thinking about it. She needs to add it to her treasures. But she has no idea just what she’ll find when she breaks into the house late one night.⁣

⁣ Ana Reyes weaved (pun intended) a really fascinating story. It was a bit intense, a bit creepy, and I had no idea what would happen. This was one of Amazon’s First Reads for August, and I really liked it.

It will officially be released on 9/1.⁣

Book Review: "Be Still My Unbeating Heart" by Josh Winning

What fun this was! I mean, I was already sold on the description: “A cozy vampire vacation mystery set in a seaside Italian village, featuring a reformed vampire, his magical talking cat, and a handsome, brooding detective.” But Josh Winning did such a great job with this book.

Bastian is a vampire. But a vegetarian one. Five years ago he cleaned up his act and kicked the whole feeding off humans thing.

Everybody needs a little time away, even the undead. So Bastian and his best friend, Whitby (the aforementioned talking cat), head to Vernazza, a beautiful Italian village. Bastian is hoping to enjoy the sunshine (as long as he has sunscreen), take in the sights, dance a little, and maybe find a handsome man to enjoy it all with.

However, on their first beach walk, Bastian stumbles over the body of a young woman. It looks like she’s been killed by a…vampire? Of course, the police find him near the body and immediately suspect Bastian of murder and take him into custody.

Bastian is put on house arrest, guarded by Nicole, a handsome police inspector, who initially seems immune to his charms. But Nico starts to fall for Bastian, and realizes, as more bodies appear, that someone else is responsible, and is framing vampires. Yet the police commissioner has summoned the Vampire Council, and that could wind up causing more harm than good.

I really enjoyed this book. Bastian and Whitby are the oddest of pairs and their banter is quite fun. And while the mystery is definitely twisty, there’s a lot of dialogue about accepting who you are and embracing your differences—which works for everyone, not just vampires. I’d love to see another book in this series!

Book Review: "The Amateur" by Chris Bohjalian

“…when you kill someone, it breaks you. It changes you. You’ve shattered the water glass—your soul is something different and new—and the shards can never be glued back together.“

Mira is 18 years old in the summer of 1978, and she’s a talented golfer, heading to Yale in the fall. But in an instant, everything changes. While at the practice net, the ball she hit flies through the net and strikes Kenny, a 17-year-old caddy, in the head. He dies moments later.

Everyone is quick to point out the sheer unlikelihood of this tragedy happening, and they tell Mira that Kenny’s death is not her fault. But she is so rocked with guilt that she can never play golf again and decides she can’t even go to Yale because it will remind her of what she did.

But Kenny’s death is just the tip of the iceberg. Because Mira happens to be having an affair with a much older married man, and when Kenny’s father realizes he’s seen the two of them together, a new scandal erupts. Suddenly Mira isn’t just an unlucky young woman—the people in her town start to turn on her, and she gets embroiled in the lawsuits trying to identify who is at fault in Kenny’s death.

The book is ostensibly Mira’s memoir, written years later, after she’s enjoyed a successful writing career. The courtroom drama definitely added some new twists to the plot, and the epilogue was a bit of a sucker punch. Mira isn’t the most likable character, but this book is really excellent. I couldn’t put it down!

Book Review: "Love You More" by Emily Giffin

I had forgotten how much I love the way Emily Giffin writes! Not only was this book romantic and emotional, but it also really made me think about what I would do if faced with the situations the main characters found themselves in. And I’m honestly still not sure!

Billie had always wanted to be a doctor. Now she and two of her friends run a reproductive clinic in New York City. She’s also fallen in love with Dean, a trauma surgeon. This relationship makes her happy and feels so stable.

The night after Dean’s surprise marriage proposal, she gets a phone call from Mick, her first love. They fell in love in high school and dated through college, but when she left Wisconsin for medical school, their relationship couldn’t survive. The pain and loss devastated Billie for some time.

It’s been years since she’s spoken to Mick. But he’s calling with news that upends Billie’s happiness. Before she knows it she’s back in Wisconsin, reconnecting with her old friends and seeing Mick for the first time in a different light. It’s painful but cathartic, and yet it leaves her both secure in the choices she’s made and wondering if the path she took is the right one.

There were so many beautiful moments in this book. While the plot wasn’t surprising, I loved seeing it all unfold the way it did. The characters weren’t completely likable (but who is?) but most of their actions were understandable. I was actually sad to see this end!

Book Review: "Killer Vibes" by Jack Friday

Peter is a lazy stoner who makes money as a weed dealer, mostly selling to local athletes. He’s smarter than he appears but he definitely has bad judgment, which leaves him broke and homeless. But salvation arrives when he learns that his uncle—whom he last saw 10 years ago—has left him a house in Austin.

He never really knew his uncle but he’s not one to look a gift house in the mouth. Yet he quickly discovers that his uncle not only owed $40K in property taxes, but shortly before he died, he took out a $500,000 line of credit. The money is nowhere to be found and the bank is ready to foreclose.

Everyone is pressuring him to sell the house, which is in a very popular neighborhood in Austin. But Peter doesn’t like being told what to do. And when he finds the hidden money, he realizes that his uncle was in far more trouble than it appeared, and it probably led to his death.

Peter’s refusal to sell the house angers lots of people, and things start to get more precarious for him. He connects with a private eye who was hired to protect him, and in addition to investigating his uncle’s death, the man teaches Peter about being a private investigator—something it appears he’s quite good at.

What Peter doesn’t realize is that he’s gotten himself tangled in a very sticky web, and there are lots of secrets he never knew. But can this lazy stoner outsmart money- and violence-hungry killers without hurting his buzz?

I loved this book. It was funny, action-packed, sexy, and surprisingly emotional at times. Peter is such a terrific character and I hope this is the first in a series of books featuring him. I shouldn’t be surprised how much I enjoyed this, given that Jack Friday is a pen name for John Fram, whose books are crazy good!

Book Review: "When She Was Ours" by Anna Nordberg

This was my Amazon First Reads selection for July. What a powerful and emotional book this was! I really hope lots of people read this.

Thea was an excellent surgeon—tough, compassionate, always willing to go the extra mile for her patients. But for the last several years, she’s been fighting a losing battle with cancer, and she knows she’s coming to the end of her life.

As family and friends gather for her older daughter Phoebe’s wedding, she’s so grateful she’s alive to see it happen. At the same time, she’s full of sadness that she won’t live to see her younger daughter Astra graduate from college or forge her own path. But the last thing anyone is prepared for is an incident during the wedding that will change many lives.

Despite being a woman of science, Thea keeps feeling premonitions of imminent harm to her family. So before she dies, she meets with a family friend and makes one request, not knowing if it will ever be needed.

Years later, Phoebe and Astra have moved on with their lives but their grief is still hard to process. When they are contacted by a man who offers them a glimpse of their mother’s early life and her innermost thoughts, they jump at it. But the decision sets in motion a chain of events that will impact a number of lives.

This was just excellent. It’s so thought-provoking and moving in its exploration of grief and how it impacts each of us differently. Another fantastic debut novel in 2026!

Book Review: "25 Days in Athens" by Jack Strange

Will and Ollie broke up more than three years ago, after Will rejected Ollie’s second marriage proposal. But even though they clearly wanted different things, Will still pines for Ollie and believes they are soulmates, despite the fact that Ollie has moved on.

Ollie’s announcement on social media that he and his boyfriend Alec have gotten engaged throws Will into a spiral. And then Will gets invited to their wedding in Athens. Why would Ollie invite him?

Even though he’s not sure it’s the right idea, Will decides to attend the wedding. But he plans to arrive in Athens earlier than others, so perhaps he can tell Ollie how he feels and maybe they can be reunited. No one thinks this is a good idea.

When he arrives in Athens, Will runs into Sam, his childhood best friend, who moved away years ago. They were once totally inseparable, and Will is pleasantly surprised to see that Sam grew up to be absolutely gorgeous. Reconnecting feels amazing, and there’s definitely some serious chemistry between them. But Will is in Greece to get Ollie back.

Sam agrees to be Will’s plus-one at the wedding, and they pretend to be a couple. But the closer the two of them get, the more Will considers telling Ollie how he still feels. Will he throw away a chance at happiness for a glimpse of what might have been?

The book was a mashup of some of my favorite romance tropes: friends to lovers, fake dating, and second chance. I loved the pairing of Will and Sam, and thought that the supporting characters were a lot of fun. And don’t get me started on the setting of the book!

Book Review: "Unsayable: A Life in Writing" by Michael Cunningham

“When you set out to be a writer you may or may not understand all that you’re agreeing to. You’re saying, by implication, that you’re qualified to write about the passions and sorrows and underlying motives of others. You live, with various degrees of comfort and discomfort, with the fact that even if your work is read by only a handful of people, you’ve claimed the right to set down the definitive version of relations that, in fact, have no definitive versions.”

Michael Cunningham is one of my all-time favorite writers. The Hours and The Home at the End of the World, in particular, are books that, more than 30 years after they were published, still profoundly affect me. So I couldn’t resist reading his new memoir, which talks about how he found his way to writing and how his love of language and storytelling shaped him.

Even as a young child, he was obsessed with language, and the specifics of it. There wasn’t just a tree in his yard, it was an oak tree, while there was a maple tree in his neighbor’s yard.

He started writing stories when he was young but he never had much confidence in them. So he turned to painting and drawing as a creative way of expressing himself. But he never stopped searching for the words to convey emotions or share accounts of his experiences—true or false.

Cunningham touches on specific moments in his life—being with his best friend in high school, who was his first love; spending time in Provincetown with an elderly gay couple who loved his stories about his adventures; working briefly as a hustler; and the first time he met the man who would become his husband.

This was a fascinating, at times emotional, book. I definitely thought it provided some insight into a writer’s mindset and it made me appreciate Cunningham’s writing even more.

Book Review: "The Gulf of Lions" by Caitlin Shetterly

Alice is a recent breast cancer survivor. It’s only been a year, and she’s still very scared of her long-term prognosis. Just before she was diagnosed, she learned of her husband Pete’s infidelity. So while he did everything during her surgery and recovery and chemotherapy, she still isn’t sure how she feels about him and their marriage.

She once was a writer, and during her recovery she found passion for it again. She’s landed a fantastic freelance assignment: she and her two daughters will travel to France, where they will camp across the country. Her daughters, Sophie and Iris, are 13 and 8-1/2. None of them have ever camped before. But this trip is both mother-daughters’ reconnection and a trip of triumph.

The places they go, the scenery they see, the people they meet, the food they enjoy, all of this imbues the trip with beauty and joy. But at the same time, Alice isn’t fully prepared for a trip with two girls who need more of her than she’s prepared to give, nor is she fully ready to be alone with her own thoughts about her mortality and the state of her marriage.

“There are versions of me I don’t recognize anymore.”

While this book is billed as a standalone, Caitlin Shetterly’s previous book, Pete and Alice in Maine, is, inherently a prequel. I wish I had known that because that book would probably have set the foundation for these characters and their actions, and perhaps make me feel more sympathetic towards them.

There are many beautiful and thought-provoking moments in the story, and the imagery is absolutely vivid. However, I didn’t really love the characters—especially Sophie and Iris. And the last 15 percent of the book came out of nowhere, creating melodrama where there had not previously been any.

Book Review: "The Good Parts" by Evann Normandin

This book was a sad one. There are bright spots, certainly, and a dash of hopefulness, but I found this to be an emotionally heavy book. That being said, however, it’s so beautifully written.

Rose and Landon meet the first night they’re both in college. Both feel awkward at times, which is what draws them together, but with Landon, Rose feels like she can step out of her shell every once in a while. Landon falls quickly for Rose, and can think of nowhere else he’d rather be than with her.

They get married and build a life together. For a while things are wonderful. But when tragedy strikes, it destroys them both, and Rose leaves. Landon has faith that she’ll return, but then one day he gets a letter in which he learns she has taken a memory-erasing pill and will no longer remember him or their life together.

Devastated, Landon travels to Edinburgh, where Rose is living her new life. He believes that if she fell in love with him once, she can do it again. But Landon’s reappearance triggers memories that Rose should have forgotten, and these memories prove physically harmful to her. Can he let her go in order to save her life?

There are a lot of sad moments in the story. Rose isn’t the most sympathetic character all the time, although her grief is justified. And while Landon certainly has his quirks, his devotion to Rose is never in question.

The book has an interesting narrative structure: Rose’s story starts at the beginning while Landon’s starts in the present. There are lots of messages to take from this book and I’ll be thinking about this for a long while. This really was a spectacular debut!

Book Review: "Yes, Chef" by Grace Reilly

A grumpy/sunshine romance with a handsome, brooding, tattooed chef with abandonment issues? Plus lots of delicious-sounding food and ultra-steamy steam, too? I’m in!

Poppy’s family owns a major restaurant company, but her own job as a brand influencer is criticized for not being serious enough. She tries hard to please her family and make them respect her, but every effort seems to turn disastrous or, worse, publicly humiliating.

One night, at one of her family’s most renowned restaurants, she has a very public meltdown when her boyfriend breaks up with and denigrates her. At the same time, one of the restaurant’s chefs, Jack Hartman, causes an angry scene before quitting. Both Poppy and Jack commiserate in a bar and lick their wounds. They both need to run away.

Jack heads back to Diamond Bay, Florida, where he grew up. His recently deceased mentor left Jack his restaurant, where he worked as a teenager. He figures he can resurrect the restaurant, show off his prowess running his own place, and hopefully parlay that into a new job back in New York City. With nowhere else to go, Poppy follows Jack, hoping he can use her influencer skills to build a brand and buzz for this new restaurant.

Of course, despite their attraction to one another, they get along like oil and water until both realize they’re working toward the same goal. Plus, Jack has unresolved issues with his mentor’s memory as well as fearing failure, while Poppy just wants to prove herself to her parents once and for all.

Give me a book that takes place in a restaurant and you know I’ll be happy. The chemistry and banter between Poppy and Jack is top-notch, as are all of the supporting characters. I loved that the book dwelled on emotional issues and featured two love interests with ADHD. Such a great book!

Book Review: "The MASH Up" by Laura Marie Meyers

This was all kinds of adorable. Definitely put a smile on my face!

Ruby lives her life according to plans and rules. She doesn’t deviate from the path she’s set for herself, and luckily, her boyfriend is the exact same way. But her carefully choreographed plans go awry at her 35th birthday party, when her boyfriend tells her he’s moving to New York for a job opportunity. It’s the biggest risk he’s ever taken—and she can’t take it with him.

When she wakes up the next morning, she discovers that she’s living inside a game of M.A.S.H. that she played in 7th grade. She wears brightly colored clothes, drives a tie-dye jeep, and owns a roller-disco diner. It’s all exactly as she dreamed back then, before her life became regimented. The only part of her dream that hasn’t manifested itself is her “other half,” which is supposed to be Penn, her twin brother’s best friend.

In this version of her life (as in real life), Penn knows how to get on her every nerve. It’s been that way since they were kids. But has he always been this sexy? Or this annoying?

Having to live such a spontaneous life is very unsettling for Ruby. But she figures that the only way she’ll get back to the “real world” is to make Penn fall in love with her. What if, once that happens, she doesn’t want to leave? What if she realizes she likes this side of her—and Penn?

This was a really fun debut novel. Penn is definitely a crushworthy book boyfriend, and the banter between him and Ruby was top notch. I loved that this had a bit more emotional depth than a typical rom-com, and I think I want a tie-dye jeep!

Book Review: "Seek Immediate Shelter" by Vincent Yu

It’s just an average morning in the town of Beckitt, Massachusetts. Some people are going about their daily rituals, some are still sleeping.⁣

⁣ And then, out of the blue, an alert shows up on every cellphone: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”⁣

⁣ As you might imagine, panic ensues. People react in a multitude of ways. David decides his wife is taking too long to get to the car, so he tries to leave. Nina sends an angry text to her daughter, from whom she’s estranged. Rachel, a high school student, longs for her parents despite the fact they embarrass her. Russ shepherds his family into the bathtub, but he can’t fit with all of them.⁣

But within minutes, a second alert appears: “FALSE ALARM. PLEASE DISREGARD. ALL CLEAR.” While recriminations will begin and fingers will be pointed at those responsible for the error, the citizens of Beckitt have to live with the consequences of their impulsive actions.

⁣ ⁣ I loved the concept of this book, but I felt like the execution didn’t work as well. For the first few stories, you saw the message come out of the blue, you felt the peace shatter and the panic set in. But at some point the alert just gets referred to in passing, so then essentially the book becomes just a collection of very tangentially connected stories. On to the next!⁣

Book Review: "The Bright Afters" by Sadie McCarney

I have a Bookstagram friend to thank for putting this powerfully emotional book on my radar. I don’t think I would have found this otherwise.

The Bright Afters is a book of verse monologues set in Nova Scotia. When the book opens, it’s just before another school year begins, which sparks excitement and anxiety among the students.

“First-day hair matters. But something else gets tucked in with Aqua Net and bobby pins: you hide your secrets in your hair. And if you listen, you can hear the chorus of follicles whisper: this will be, this will be, this will be our year.”

On the first day of school, Colton, a gay student, is brutally attacked in the bathroom by another student. The reactions of everyone—from Colton, his sister Christine, and his best friend Annie, to his attacker, teachers, even the school janitor—compose a Greek chorus of sorts. There are secrets and confessions, rants and laments.

Obviously, the attack is disturbing and many of the reactions are unsurprising. But their being told in this type of narrative adds impact and power. I don’t read a lot of poetry—and the book doesn’t quite read like poetry—but this will remain in my mind for some time to come.

Book Review: "One Good Eye" by Kevin Wade

Kevin Wade is a screenwriter and was showrunner for Blue Bloods. Given how much I loved that show, his first book, Johnny Careless, was a favorite of mine last year. Now, thanks to Celadon Books, I received an advance copy of his newest book, and it was just as great!

Jeep Mullane is the chief of police for four towns on Long Island’s Gold Coast. Following a hurricane, he gets called to the estate of his old friend Jenny, who was assaulted during a home invasion. But she’s not interested in filing a police report or finding out who hit her, despite Jeep’s encouragement to do so.

Jenny and Jeep have known each other since high school. Their relationship has always been complicated—part romantic, part platonic, part protective. Even when they’ve stopped speaking to one another, Jenny remains an enormous part of Jeep’s life. So of course he’s going to investigate who is behind Jenny’s assault.

What Jeep doesn’t count on is an immensely tangled web. There are definitely people he suspects but so much action and crime is swirling around him. From Jenny’s ex-husband to two local motorcycle gangs, federal agents and a police captain living under an assumed name, Jeep can’t quite figure out who was responsible and why. And of course, how much does he trust Jenny?

I thought this was excellent. Even though this is the second book featuring Jeep, you really could read it as a standalone. But Jeep is such a great character that you’ll want to read both!

Book Review: "Yesteryear" by Caro Claire Burke

Wow. I have seen so many mixed reviews of this book that I wasn’t sure if I was going to read it, but my curiosity got the best of me. This was utterly fascinating and really mind-bending!!

“And who was I? A flawless Christian woman. The manic pixie American dream girl of this nation’s deepest, darkest fantasies. The mother every woman wanted to be, and the wife every man wanted to come home to….My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.”

Natalie is one of those influencers you either love or hate. She and her husband Caleb live on a 500-acre farm in Idaho. Her husband is a cowboy, and their five children (with one more on the way) are photogenic and thriving in the traditional lifestyle they’re raising them in.

Of course, nothing is quite what it seems. Their rustic farmhouse cost millions to look that way; they have nannies to watch and educate the children; and the farm definitely doesn’t run itself. But her millions of followers eat it up—or they criticize her every move.

But there are cracks in this perfect façade. And then one morning, Natalie wakes up to find she’s in 1855. She’s living in the original version of her farmhouse, with a family that resembles her real one—but is also vastly different. Is this a dream? A hoax? A reality show?

I really had no idea how Caro Claire Burke would tie everything up. This book was very timely given the trad wife craze, and it was both insightful and emotional. What an incredible debut!

Book Review: "The Au Pair" by Teddy Wayne

I’m never quite sure which I like more: a popcorn thriller I can read quickly, or a thriller with lots of twists, that makes you say or think, “Wow!” This book definitely fell into the first category, although I kept hoping for at least a bit of the second.

Steven’s first novel was a huge success. He hoped his second book would be received even better, but it took a critical drubbing and barely anyone read it. He’s hoping his third book will help rebound his career.

When he married Lucy, he was the breadwinner. But she co-founded a company and they live an extremely comfortable life, thanks to her money. Steven is a stay-at-home dad, and Lucy pays him a stipend each month, while he tries to find a way out of his writer’s block.

In order for Steven to truly concentrate on his writing, they decide to hire an au pair. Astrid is from Norway. The children become enamored of her quite quickly—and Steven can’t take his eyes off her. When he learns she loved one of his books, he’s utterly flattered, and he falls head over heels for her. He tries fighting his attraction as long as he can, but his resistance is futile.

When the family takes a vacation to a house in the Catskills, Lucy is on edge most of the time. Astrid is there to care for the children, but Lucy feels left out. And when scandal results into a high-profile trial, no one’s lives will ever be the same.

This book definitely kept my attention the whole time—I read the whole thing very quickly. I felt that I had seen the whole story before, and while I hoped for surprises, the book was fairly predictable.

Book Review: "Almost Life" by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I will admit that this book started slowly for me, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep reading. But I persevered a little longer and was richly rewarded by this beautiful, emotional love story.

Erica and Laure met in 1978, on the steps of the Sacré-Coeur in Paris. Laure is French, a graduate student at the Sorbonne. She’s very cerebral and lives her life the way she wants, no matter what. Erica is enjoying the summer before returning to England to start university.

Both women feel a spark the moment they met. While Laure has had relationships with women before, the awakening of this desire surprises Erica. They fall quickly, knowing they only have the summer. Yet once they part, the longing, the emotions, the hurt all continue.

“It is the condition of the heartbroken to believe no one has felt as they have, ever in the history of the world.”

The book spans more than 30 years. It sees Laure and Erica together and apart, trying to wring everything from each encounter. It traces the strength of their love despite other lovers, marriages, and changes both personal and political. In addition to being a love story, this is a reflection on the changing culture and politics toward equality.

This book was a very emotional one for me. I was surprised at just how much it took hold of my heart. I love books that take place in Paris, as I could see the city in my mind’s eye. Don’t be put off by the slow start, as the story is so worth it.

Book Review: "Under the Falls" by Richard Russo

I read Richard Russo’s first novel, Mohawk, in 1987, about a year after it published. (No, I’m not interested in knowing that you weren’t born yet.) I’ve been reading his books ever since, so I’m thankful to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance copy of his upcoming book!

Growing up in Stone Mountain, New York was tough for Tyler. His father was an abusive drunk and all Tyler wanted to do was escape. He found solace and support from his best friend Curt and Curt’s girlfriend Freddi. But when he turned 18, Tyler left Stone Mountain without saying goodbye to anyone, and never planned to return home.

Eighteen years later, Tyler is the lead singer of a popular band called (of all things) Stone Mountain. He’s reluctantly agreed to perform in his hometown, headlining a benefit for his childhood friend Doc, who became a paraplegic in an accident when they were younger. Just heading up the mountain, Tyler is confronted by old memories and his guilt about leaving without saying goodbye.

It turns out that not everyone in town is a fan of Tyler’s. Some feel that he used the town and people’s lives as inspiration for his songs, and people wonder when the town is going to benefit. The concert ends in a bit of a riot, and Tyler is more than ready to flee again.

Curt is now the town’s police chief, and he’s so thrilled his best friend came back. But Curt’s wife, Freddi, is very angry at being left behind, and that anger manifests itself in a tragic way. Her anger increases until she knows she must make Tyler pay.

Russo traditionally writes books about elderly men, their friendships and relationships, often in small New York towns. This book is a new genre—mystery—for him, and I didn’t think it worked. He’s still a beautiful writer, but I really never understood what caused Freddi to become so unhinged and do the things she did. And honestly, after a while, I just didn’t care. Oh, well.

The book will publish on 8/11.

Book Review: "Slasher Summer" by E.L. Chen

If you’re a fan of slasher films, particularly those from the 1980s, you’ll enjoy this action-packed, slightly campy tribute. But you might be surprised that this book deals with more than just fear and murder, but also trying to move past the mistakes and hurts of our youth.

Seven of them—Patrick, Jason, Tiffany, Freddy, Jen, Carrie, and Michael—were high school friends and members of the school’s Jumpscare Society. They were all particularly obsessed with the horror film Slasher, which became a cult classic.

Slasher was filmed in Cedar Lake, a nearby sleepy town. The cabin, where much of the film’s action takes place, is a tourist attraction, and each summer the town is overrun by fans. But Patrick has arranged for all of them to get together and stay at the cabin for a weekend. It’ll be the first time all of them have gotten together since friction tore apart their friendships before the end of senior year.

While there are definitely some grudges still being held, they’ve (mostly) vowed to have a good weekend. Of course, not long after their arrival, a shadowy figure is spotted in the woods. Freddy is sure he saw The Slasher (but he is perpetually stoned) and Tiffany thinks someone tried to drown her in Clear Lake.

Then a rainstorm hits and the power goes out. Cell coverage is very spotty, so they can’t call for help. And then an unwelcome guest arrives at the cabin. Is this just someone trying to enhance their weekend, or is The Slasher going to enact his revenge?

This book was definitely fun and a little frightening. There are a lot of POVs, and lots of secrets, but it all comes together around halfway through the book. E.L. Chen really did a great job with all of the slasher Easter eggs, including all of the characters’ names. It may skew a bit YA, but there definitely were some fun twists.

Book Review: "The Shampoo Effect" by Jenny Jackson

“Back in high school, when they all started drinking and going out, they became obsessed with ‘the shampoo effect.’ When they had a big night of partying and followed it with a beer the next morning, they could get drunk again in an instant, the way a second squirt of shampoo in the shower produced outsized suds….Fran thought about the shampoo effect at moments like this, and the way it applied to so many interpersonal dynamics—the way that in these old relationships nobody was ever really working from a clean slate, new feelings were built on old feelings.”

Caroline leaves her publishing job and her life in New York City to move to the beach town of Greenhead, Massachusetts. She’s won a prestigious fellowship and plans to work on her first novel.

Not long after arriving in Greenhead, she falls for Van, an environmentalist who has definite border collie energy. Van grew up in Greenhead and still socializes with all of his childhood friends. Caroline is brought into the circle, but feels like an outcast, given everyone’s shared memories.

Shortly after they start dating seriously, Van tells Caroline that Bailey, a friend he has slept with on and off since high school, is pregnant. The baby is his, but neither has romantic feelings for one another. This becomes another hoop Caroline must jump through with Van’s friends, who would rather see him be with Bailey and raise their child together.

Despite all his assurances to the contrary, Van can’t get enough of fatherhood and wants to be a huge part of his son’s life. So he breaks up with Caroline and soon moves in with Bailey. Caroline is so hurt by this that she writes a short story about this group of friends, changing names but revealing secrets and quirks they all don’t know about each other. This rocks the group to their core.

I enjoyed this story but the pacing felt a bit slow. I could predict how the book would conclude but it felt like it took a long time to get there. I do like the way Jenny Jackson writes, though!

Book Review: "Wedding Manner" by C.G. Macington

I stumbled onto this amazing little series a few months ago and now, with the third book it has (probably) come to an end. These characters that C.G. Macington created have climbed into my heart, and I hope it’s not the last time we see them.

Dr. Maxwell York, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at St. Jude’s Hospital, was raised to be the heir to the York family legacy. He’s known as the “Ice King,” but the coldness people perceive is his need for order, for routine, for meticulousness. He’s always known he was different, but he’s amazed to discover just how different—and the lengths to which his mother went to hide this fact.

Max is engaged to be married to Dr. Jax O’Connell, the hospital’s Chief of Trauma. Jax is an adrenaline junkie; he’s never met chaos he hasn’t thrived in. He and Max are opposites, but he knows how to ensure Max isn’t overwhelmed or overstimulated.

Their impending wedding has brought out the ultimate worst in Max’s mother. She is determined that the wedding will put the York family in the best light possible, even if it is as far from the grooms’ desires as possible. Yet with the help of Max’s brother Preston and his boyfriend Luke, they’re determined to get their way, no matter what they must do to their mother.

The wedding is causing everything to fall apart, even the marriage of Max and Preston’s parents. But for the first time, the ulterior motive isn’t money or appearances. It’s love and happiness. For everyone.

This book was so wonderful and it made me sad that the series is ending. There are parts of the book that made me laugh and other parts that made me sad, made me think of how I would handle these issues if it were my family. Just a spectacular trilogy.

Book Review: "The Revelation of Dionne Daphne" by Mara Brock Akil

Speaking of revelations, this book was truly fantastic. Mara Brock Akil is the creator of television programs like Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane, but unbelievably, this is her debut novel. I’m so grateful to Storehouse Voices for the advance copy of this!

“It’s like this idea that if you heal yourself, you heal a bunch of generations behind you and in front of you. We’re all just glints in the dirt, waiting for someone to reveal us.”

It’s 1991. Dionne Daphne seems to have it all. She’s the associate beauty director at Essence magazine and she’s in the running to succeed her boss and mentor as director. She’s stunning and smart, and men want to be with her.

But her whole life changes with a late-night visitor. Her ex-boyfriend Darren shows up at her door around 5:00 am, desperate to talk to her. What he tells her threatens to upend everything she’s worked for and, perhaps more importantly, her life as she knows it.

The more she tries to reconcile this disclosure from Darren, the more she starts thinking about childhood trauma that she’s kept hidden all these years. But now, in the wake of all that might change for her, she needs to speak up. She decides to go visit her mother and stepfather in Kansas City and share the secrets she’s kept hidden. Will the release of this trauma help her find peace?

The book is told over a two-week period. It’s a heavy story that might be triggering for some, but it’s also powerful and insightful. Dionne is a character I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Book Review: "Fabulous Bodies" by Chuck Tingle

For someone who almost never reads horror novels, Chuck Tingle’s books have been a fun yet gruesome gateway into the genre. There’s always a lot of blood and gore, but he infuses his books with queerness and humor.

Poppy is a fashion influencer. She has more than 215,000 followers on social media, people who want inspiration from her posts, not to mention the occasional thirst trap. She has a five-year-old daughter, Marlo, and she’s determined to give her a better childhood than she had. The influencer gig certainly helps, but her second job makes the difference.

Poppy works nights as a grave robber. Well, it’s not quite what it sounds like—she actually gets paid to transport recently dead bodies to her customers. She doesn’t necessarily know what they do with the bodies, and she’s fine with that.

One night, she is contacted by a mysterious customer offering 5 million dollars if she delivers a body to them. And not just any body: Eddie Michaels, America’s version of Elton John. Eddie is Poppy’s musical hero. He has a fantastic voice, he’s flamboyant and openly gay, and his music has been a huge part of her life.

The job sounds much easier than her usual body retrieval gigs go. Although that seems too good to be true, $5 million would allow her to spend more time with Marlo. Things are going exactly according to plan. And then Eddie wakes up.

This was a fun romp. Eddie is unhinged and utterly hysterical, and Poppy can’t believe what she’s gotten herself into. Plus she’s with her undead musical idol. There are definitely gory parts of the book but they don’t linger too long. Can’t wait to see what Tingle comes up with next!

Book Review: "Wasp's Nest" by Kat Stoddard

Tess is getting ready for her second marriage. She’s marrying Warren, an old friend of her family’s. He’s running for the state senate and he’s a dependable, serious, steady man who loves her.

Warren is quite different from Peter, Tess’ first husband. They met while Peter was a talented art student and Tess had just graduated from college. She had family money, he worked as a cater waiter to make ends meet. But Tess was intrigued by his talent and soon after, they fell into a tempestuous relationship which led to an impulsive marriage.

The marriage ended when Peter got out of rehab for alcoholism. Both have tried to put their past behind them. But Peter is shocked to receive an invitation to Tess’ wedding, and an opportunity to bring a plus one.

There’s really no reason Peter should go to the wedding, but if Tess has seemingly moved on, shouldn’t he show that he has too? He decides to bring Mitch, a handsome young man and aspiring writer, and they’ll pretend they’ve been dating for a while. Mitch is excited to find inspiration in the wedding and the reunion of exes. He’s also hoping that Peter will be interested in him romantically.

No one is counting on all of the drama that will ensue. Peter’s appearance dredges up a lot of past hurts and recriminations, and forces both him and Tess to re-examine their relationship and their feelings for each other. Mitch starts to fall for both Peter and Tess. And as other secrets emerge, no one is quite sure what the actual wedding will bring.

I thought this was a really well-told story and an exploration of a fascinating set of relationships. Tess wasn’t particularly likable but as she starts to spiral out of control, she becomes (slightly) more sympathetic. I’m a big fan of family dynamics and dysfunction, and this book gave me lots of both!!

Book Review: "Destination Funeral" by Paige Harbison

I don’t know if I’d ever want to get stuck in a time loop. That being said, though, I sure do love reading about them!! Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. Paige Harbison has done it again!

“Does it really matter if you make a mistake, I wonder, as long as you know it’s a mistake?”

Babe Bennett was larger than life. Everyone on Mercy Island had a story about her. When she died, the reading of her will and her memorial service summoned her two daughters, Didion and Sammie, and their two closest friends, Matt and Austin, to the island.

Estranged from her mother for the last several years, Didion has to see her sister and her friends for the first time in a while. There are a lot of hurts and resentments that have cropped up, not just for Didion, but the others as well. How could they go from being inseparable every summer to not speaking at all?

When they learn that Babe has left her summer house, Birdsong, to all four of them, they have to decide what to do with it. Her will stipulates that they have to spend a weekend all together, with no phones or internet access. And then they discover that they keep waking up to find it’s Saturday, so the weekend will never end. It’s up to them to find their way out of the time loop—and maybe confront all the things left unsaid for so long.

This was a funny and emotional story. There were so many issues they all dealt with. I will say that Didion is a hard character to warm up to, but once she got out of all of her spirals, I felt for her.

The book publishes 7/21.

Book Review: "Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt" by Ben Reeves

“I always thought life was a bit like a house. People buy a house and they spend their whole lives trying to make it perfect. They decorate the rooms the way they want them. Make it a happy place to be. Make it somewhere they could die in.”

What a profoundly moving book this was! I honestly didn’t know what to expect, and it absolutely blew me away.

Travis seems like an ordinary man. He lives with his cat and mostly keeps to himself. But Travis has a very specific role in the world: he is Death.

Travis visits people in the last hours of their lives. He tries bringing them comfort, calm, a friendly face in their final moments. These are people he has kept track of throughout their lives; many of them are ready for his visit.

One day he meets Dalia, his neighbor from across the hall, and her young daughter, Layla. For the first time, he understands what it feels like to have someone want your company, to belong. But in the end, he has a purpose, and he must keep his responsibilities in mind.

I loved this concept and found the way the story was told to be so beautiful. Travis is an incredibly compassionate character and you can see how conflicted he feels at times. This really touched me.

The book publishes 7/7.

Book Review: "The Someday Garden" by Ashley Poston

I love magical realism in books, particularly romances. Ashley Poston is one of the authors who has helped develop my fondness for magical realism. I love the way each of her books have challenged my mind and touched my heart.

While in college at Duke University, Sophie saw a documentary about Lilymoor House & Gardens up in Maine. The beauty of the gardens, the mazes, even the legendary stories about the magic to be found intrigued her completely. She and her best friend Harriett visited during their senior year and were utterly obsessed. They made a promise to return 10 years later.

Ten years later, Sophie is a horticulturist for the New York Botanical Garden. She gets a summer job at Lilymoor, helping prepare the estate’s gardens for its bicentennial celebration. Working at Lilymoor is everything she dreamed it would be, and she quickly falls in love with its grounds, its staff, and Eula Beck, the spry and crafty old woman who owns the place.

There are definitely mysteries she can’t quite figure out, including the origin of vines that threaten to kill the hedges. But one evening she finds a door that she’s never seen before. It leads to an unfinished garden no one seems to know about. And there’s a handsome man who seems to be stuck there. But the door is never in the same place twice.

As the celebration draws closer, the estate’s quirks prove endearing and frustrating. Eula plans to retire but is quiet about what she plans to do with Lilymoor. And Sophie wants to help free the man from the garden, but not her heart.

There are a lot of separate storylines that take a while to gel and pick up momentum. I felt like the book really hit its stride in the last third or so, and there’s lots of emotion to be had. The supporting characters, including Damnit, the ornery goose, are endearing as well.

Book Review: "Keep Them Close" by David Ellis

I’ve been patiently waiting until this book was released earlier in the week. Battling severe FOMO watching so many Bookstagram friends reading advance copies has been tough! But I’ve got to tell you, this was worth the wait. David Ellis is a freaking master of the twisty thriller!

Allison knew her husband Finley was cheating on her. His infidelity both saddened and enraged her, as she has loved him since they were young. But as tempted as she is to get revenge, she bides her time.

Allison’s brother Luke was destined to be a baseball star until an accident derailed his potential career. Now he’s a renowned coach with a talent for taking miserable teams and turning them into champions. And while Luke and Allison have always been close, their relationship has frayed quite a bit lately.

When Finley is murdered, of course Allison is immediately considered the prime suspect. She knew what he was up to and with whom, but she had her own plans. Can she count on her brother to help her, despite the distrust between them?

Ellis’ thrillers are always full of twists, which makes it hard to review one of his books. But once you pick this up, you won’t want to put it down until you’ve devoured every last word.

Book Review: "Long Island Girls" by Gabrielle Korn

I love picking up a book you don’t know that much about and being wowed by it. It’s full of music and friendship and finding yourself and realizing your dreams, but that’s description simplifies what makes it special.

“And I started thinking about how when we’re young and don’t know any better, we love these things that are bad, and eventually we grow up and we realize how bad they are, but we don’t start liking newer, better things. We continue to love that same awful old music, not because of what the music is but because it reminds us of how we used to feel when we listened to it.”

The book begins in 2005. Susan and her best friend Katie are just about to start their senior year of high school. They’re music snobs but beyond that, they’re fairly typical teenagers, filled with angst and insecurity. One night Susan meets Eliza on the way to an indie concert, and she feels a connection that makes pieces of her mind fall into place. Yet as quickly as the spark ignites, it is extinguished.

As the years move forward, Susan graduates college and moves to Brooklyn, where she handles social media for an indie record label. She feels at home in a world she has always loved, but Eliza is never far from her mind. Yet as each encounter grows more intense, they can never outrun the old secrets and hurts.

The book follows Susan at five-year intervals, from 2005 to 2025. It takes her a long time to truly recognize her worth and her own identity, and come to terms with her romantic history. It’s a wonder what kind of clarity comes from truly knowing yourself for the first time.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the relationships they had. I kept waiting for things to get melodramatic and was so glad they didn’t. This is a coming-of-age novel that demonstrates coming of age doesn’t only happen as a teenager.

Book Review: "With Friends Like You" by Amy Chozick

Wow, this book was wild! I honestly didn’t know what to expect but I couldn’t put it down. Thanks so much to Dutton and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Emily loves her infant son and can’t get enough of him. But she’s struggling with physical pain since his birth and the lack of sleep is taking its toll on her. She loves her husband, Roman, but he’s always working, so she’s mostly on her own.

As she takes the baby to playgroups and classes, she thinks about Daisy. Daisy was her college roommate—she gave Emily confidence and companionship, and Emily felt like they were soulmates. But when Daisy’s family stopped paying for college, she started dancing at a strip club and taking drugs, and soon dropped out. Not long after, Daisy disappeared from her life completely.

Emily has spent years trying to find what happened to Daisy. She obsessively scans pornographic magazines, travels to strip clubs, and even hires a private investigator, but to no avail. And then one day, Daisy reappears.

Daisy quickly reclaims her place in Emily’s life. She’s good with the baby and willing to watch him when Emily goes back to work. The two of them build a luxury refuge for mothers of young infants, with childcare specialists to watch the children and teach them language skills and music, while they relax, exercise, and take advantage of designer drugs, vibrators, and alcohol. But Daisy still maintains her air of mystery—she doesn’t talk about her past and doesn’t really share about what she does to make money. Will she disappear again?

There’s a lot more to this book than I can describe without giving anything away. I was completely hooked on the story and wondered how it would end.

This will publish 7/21.

Book Review: "Bromantasy" by Máire Roche

This book was so much fun. It definitely had me smiling throughout and even laughing out loud a time or two. What a great read as Pride Month was winding down!

Juniper is a bit of a dolt. He’s not the smartest tool in the shed but he is a lot of fun to be around—until he drinks too much mead and starts itching for a fight. He works on a farm; when he’s not working, he loves relaxing, perfecting his skin care routine, and eating lots of cheese.

He lives with his best friend, Mo. Mo is stronger and (mostly) braver than Juniper, and he is fiercely loyal. Of course they’re madly in love with one another but neither is smart enough to realize or acknowledge it.

On what should be a typical night at their local tavern, Juniper starts a brawl with someone he thinks is his nemesis, Bill. It turns out, however, that he fights with a band of mercenaries, and he and Mo (always by his side) are put in jail. To repay his debt, Juniper must go on a quest to catch a dragon that has been terrorizing nearby villages. So he and Mo set out reluctantly.

The quest takes them through forests and their bravery and strength are tested. Along the way, while each admires the fit of the other’s questing pants, they come to realize what everyone else knew all along: they love each other fiercely.

I do love books which feature characters going on a quest, and Juniper and Mo’s was no exception. I loved the discoveries they made about the dragon and how they handled things, and I loved their banter. It was a silly but sweet book with lots of heart.

Book Review: "Play It Again" by Georgia Clark

As teenagers they were inseparable. Four friends—Annie, Lola, Vicky, and Dylan—took their hometown by storm when they starred in a gender-swapped adaptation of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. It was an incredible summer, but the night the show closed the four were torn apart, and went their separate ways.

Twenty years later, they all have very different lives from what they dreamed of. But when their hometown of Rhodes, NY, gets a less-than-impressive write up in a tourism magazine, the town gets closer to dying out completely. Given that Annie owns a pet grooming place in town, she’s definitely concerned.

All four of them get summoned back to the now-closed playhouse where their fondest memories reside. Jazz, their director, wants to revive their production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to hopefully bring some life (and money) back into the town and the theater. Of course, it will only work if all four agree.

The pleasantries of their reunion quickly fade as the memories of the show’s end 20 years ago are revisited. There’s no doubt that the feelings both couples had for one another still linger, but so do secrets, misunderstandings, and emotional wounds. Can they put the past aside to not only save Rhodes and put on a show, but also to see if a second chance is possible?

This was a mostly fun and lighthearted story, full of nostalgia and emotion. I was a theater kid so I definitely enjoyed those aspects of the book. I felt like the pacing got very slow in the middle and I also thought at times the characters’ actions were a little more petty and childish than they should have been.

Book Review: "Happier Here with You" by Amy Gail Hansen

This book was an unexpected surprise! I selected this as one of my Amazon First Reads for June. I really loved it and hope more people find it!

Maggie is a food historian and director of a museum. She loves her job but it’s been hard recently, juggling work responsibilities with caring for her 5-year-old daughter Hannah. She doesn’t have time to spend cooking or relaxing, and as a widowed mother, she feels horrible about it.

One day, she gets a letter from her great-aunt Alice, inviting her and Hannah to visit her farm in Wisconsin. Maggie barely remembers Alice—for some reason she never visited through the years. But little by little she starts to remember the time she spent with Alice when she was very young, and how much she enjoyed the farm.

When she and Hannah arrive at the farm, it’s as if no time had passed for Maggie and Alice. Having the time to slow down and bake together and catch up relaxes Maggie and helps her recapture her love of cooking. And then she meets Brady, a handsome local chef, who reawakens her heart.

When Maggie offers to organize Alice’s box of family recipes, she makes a startling discovery. Apparently before Alice inherited the farm, it played an important role in history—and finding the details could open the door to a whole new chapter of their lives.

This book combines found family, food history and recipes, romance, and historical fiction. I loved the town where the book was set and found the characters really enjoyable.

Book Review: "Consequences of Normal" by Elle Baade

What a powerful read this was. This book was eye-opening and thought-provoking, and it hit me square in the feels. I definitely could see this being a great book to discuss with a book club or others.

Matt and Jane are leaving Texas to move back to Matt’s hometown of Atwood, Wisconsin. He has taken a job as headmaster of a prep school, and they’ve moved into an infamous old mansion in town. Jane hopes the move will be good for all of them.

Their six-year-old son Charles insists he’s a girl. He likes wearing his older sister’s hand-me-downs and watching Julia Child videos. Jane and Matt have indulged Charles’ desires and let him dress as he wants. But once Matt has settled into his new job, he wants his family to fit in.

Jane starts to realize that Charles isn’t going through a phase; he might be transgender or intersex. But Matt insists that Charles dress like a boy and cut his hair, which only makes him sad and withdrawn. When tragedy strikes, Jane knows her priority is to fight for her child to live the life she wants—before it is too late.

Many people in their lives—family, friends, teachers, doctors—weigh in with their opinions. And the more Jane stands up for her child, the angrier Matt becomes, until he realizes Jane will choose their children over their marriage.

I liked the realism in the book, that everyone didn’t suddenly do a 180 about Charles being transgender. Matt is very hard to like and it was good when Jane stopped being a doormat for everyone. But this is one of those books that definitely makes you think while it makes you feel.

Book Review: "Someone Else's Husband" by Kimberly McCreight

“When your heart has been blown to pieces, who cares about the precise trajectory of the blast?”

Kimberly McCreight has done it again! She has delivered a twisty suspense novel that really made me think. I’ve been wanting to read this and it definitely lived up to the hype.

Gretchen and Richard Falk are a wealthy NYC couple. Gretchen came from a life of privilege, while Richard pulled himself out of a life of poverty to one of great power in the financial world. But late one night, the police arrive at the Falks’ door with a search warrant. They want to bring Richard to the police precinct for questioning.

Richard has recently returned from a trip with his old friends to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The group is joined by a woman, Frankie, an artist who just landed her first solo show, and wants to celebrate by climbing Kilimanjaro. Richard and Frankie are drawn to one another during the harrowing journey, which is cut short by a tragic event. But the two remain in contact upon their return to NYC, even though they both know it’s wrong.

When Frankie’s apartment is found full of blood, the police believe Richard murdered her. As Gretchen tries to hold her life together and stand by her husband, she also starts to figure out if Richard played her for a fool. She does some digging on her own to see what Frankie is all about.

The book shifts back and forth from the time before the Kilimanjaro climb, the short time after their return, and after Richard’s arrest. It really kept me hooked from start to finish. Really a great read!!

Book Review: "Operation Boyfriend" by Zarah Detand

First things first: if someone wants to pretend they’re dating me because they need a date to some fancy occasion, count me in. It’s probably the only way I’ll get a fancy vacation!

Dean is a cardiothoracic surgeon. He’s known to be a little intense, and he’s definitely a workaholic. His sister is getting married at a fancy resort in Cambodia, and both she and their mother are pressuring him to bring a date. He folds under the pressure and tells his mother he’ll bring the guy he recently started dating.

The challenge is, Dean is not dating anyone. He barely has any time to breathe, let alone date, and his emotional walls are a difficult barrier to breach. But now he’s expected to bring his alleged boyfriend. Which means he has to find one.

Taylan is a surgery resident who has been intimidated by Dean in the past. He’s also in desperate need of a vacation but doesn’t have any money. So when he’s approached about the possibility of being Dean’s fake boyfriend in exchange for an all-expenses-paid luxury vacation, he doesn’t need to think twice.

As they get to know each other better in preparation for all of the prying that will come during the wedding festivities, they realize that each has emotional baggage to deal with. Dean is afraid of being hurt, so he never lets anyone close enough, while Tay is dealing with impostor syndrome. But as the beautiful sunsets and romantic setting sink in, both have to be reminded this is temporary. And it isn’t real. Right?

I can never get enough fake dating. Zarah Detand has become a go-to author for me, and once again she delivers a sexy, sweet, and emotional book. Her characters are always so memorable and endearing.

Book Review: "All's Fair in Love and Pizza" by Lane Hayes

Y’all, this book had me at PIZZA BAGELS. I enjoyed a lot about the story—the chemistry between the characters, the competition, the banter—but it was all about the pizza bagels for me.

Mateo has been working at his family’s pizzeria for as long as he can remember. Since his father and his uncle died, Mateo and his cousin run Boardwalk Pizza. It’s an institution in the college town of Haverton.

When Mateo and his crew learn that the empty space next door is going to be taken over by a bagel shop, they’re somewhat excited. The shop will be run by Rob Vilmer, Mateo’s football teammate in college who had a great pro career.

Rob remembers having a huge crush on Mateo back in college, but since Rob was closeted nothing ever happened. He’s excited to see Mateo again—until the two of them butt heads when Rob reveals his plan to make pizza bagels. How can this guy just come into town and start selling pizza bagels next to a pizzeria?

Mateo gets angrier and Rob loves egging him on. Rob’s business partner suggests the two stores have a bake-off that will last through football season. And when the heat of competition bubbles over to the bedroom, both have to decide whether to trust their heart to their rival.

This was fun, steamy, romantic, and hunger-inducing. It’s been a while since I read a rom-com by Lane Hayes, and I’ll be back for more!!

Book Review: "Big Fan" by Alexandra Romanoff

This book was the first from 831 Stories, a modern romantic fiction company that prioritizes pleasure reading and the genre’s enthusiastic fans. I really enjoyed it and boy, it was steamy…

Maya is a political strategist whose career was on the rise. She was on the verge of guiding her candidate to victory when a personal scandal erupted: her husband cheated on her with a campaign intern. Her candidate won despite the fodder that her life gave the media.

Even though Maya was the victim, she’s the one still followed by gossipers and catty DC acquaintances. When she gets an opportunity to help a gubernatorial candidate, she hopes this will be her ticket back to the work she loves.

At the same time she is contacted by Charlie, who was the lead singer of Mischief, the boy band she was obsessed with as a teenager. In fact, she and her best friend launched a nationwide fan club for the band. Charlie read about her interest in his old band, and he asks for her help in guiding his comeback as a solo artist.

While she can’t take the job to help him, the two strike up a friendship. They both want more than that, but Maya has to be sure she doesn’t get caught in another scandal, or her career will be destroyed. But is a chance at love—especially with your teenage obsession—worth taking, or is it safer to just keep your head down and focus on work?

I really liked this storyline and the complexities of Maya’s world. The chemistry between Maya and Charlie is intense, and the steamy scenes seriously sizzle. I’m looking forward to the next book published by 831 Stories!!