Book Review: "Head of Household" by Oliver Mundy

I saw the cover of this book before I had any idea what its title was or what it was about. (I’ll admit I thought this might be a coming-of-age or a YA novel, just from the socks.)

So many books are written about motherhood—the highs and the lows, the relationships mothers form with their children, etc. Head of Household is a collection of short stories about fatherhood and fathers in all phases of life and in all kinds of situations. I’m not a father, but I definitely found these stories moving and intriguing.

I didn’t feel like there was a weak story in the bunch. Considering that this is Oliver Munday’s debut, I’d say that bodes pretty well for his career!

Some of my favorite stories included “Vandal,” in which a father’s old graffiti habit starts tugging at him again; “Cabin Pressure,” where a grieving father is flying back home to his family after a tragedy (my favorite in the book); “New Motion,” about a new father who asks his estranged father to pick him, his wife, and their new baby from the hospital; and “Pizza Party,” in which a restaurateur feels the pressure of preparing a meal during which he’ll meet his daughter’s fiancée.

While one or two of the stories tilt a bit more on the outlandish side, the themes of the stories feel very universal. They touch on overprotectiveness, tension, feelings of inadequacy, difficult relationships, dating a woman who already has a child, and the relationships between a man and his own father.

Sometimes when I read short stories, they don’t feel complete. With this collection, while there were definitely stories I would have loved more of, they all felt complete. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Book Review: "Limelight" by Andrew Keenan-Bolger

OMG, I had such a smile on my face after reading this! The blurb described this as Fame meets Rent, so I jumped on it immediately. (It’s more the former than the latter for sure.) Thanks so much to Penguin Workshop and NetGalley for the advance copy!!

Danny has always tried to do the right thing, but sometimes it’s just not easy. But he knows he has to go after his dreams. Inspired by his late, musical-loving uncle, he cuts school in Staten Island and heads to NYC for the very first time in his 15 years. His destination: auditions for the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.

It’s 1996, and Danny’s father is an abusive cop. A performing arts school is no place for a boy like him. But somehow he’s able to convince his mother to let him attend. LaGuardia is everything he dreamed of and more, so much more. He’s utterly overwhelmed, but thanks to a group of new friends and an empathetic teacher, he starts to get his bearings.

There’s so much he doesn’t know—about musical theater, NYC, the club scene, performance art, drag, etc. But his friends, especially aspiring drag queen Christian, make sure he’s learning more than just what he is taught at school.

More and more, Danny starts struggling with belonging and figuring out who he is. And as he and Christian start to draw closer, Danny’s parents threaten to send him back to Catholic school, and Danny doesn’t know which way to turn.

This is such a warm, bighearted book. I was a theater kid and I watched the TV show Fame religiously, so it felt so familiar to me. It’s a YA book, and it definitely skews that way, but it really was like a big hug.

The book publishes 2/24.

Book Review: "To Kill A Cook" by W.M. Akers

What a fantastic, fun book this was! I just stumbled upon it and was completely hooked. And, of course, I’m hungry now, too!

“This is part of what I love about eating in restaurants. Every course is its own adventure, and even when the food is lousy there’s always the suspense of what’s coming next.”

New York City, 1972. Bernice “B.B.” Black is a restaurant critic. It’s a job she absolutely loves. She’s been obsessed with food and restaurants since she was 19 and had her first fancy meal at a famed French restaurant.

One morning she stops by Laurent’s, the French restaurant that birthed her love of food. The chef, Laurent Tirel, is a friend and mentor, and he’s agreed to cater her fiancée’s birthday party. But when B.B. arrives, she is horrified to find that Laurent has been murdered, and his severed head is the centerpiece of a mold of jellied aspic.

She is utterly devastated but at the same time, B.B. is determined to figure out who murdered Laurent. And there are lots of suspects, including Laurent’s son, several of his employees, a mob boss…and it doesn’t seem like the police have a clue. But can she solve the murder before she winds up cooked?

I can’t get enough of books about chefs, cooking, and restaurants, so this was right up my alley. B.B. is a feisty, complex character, juggling a lot of personal issues as she’s trying to find a killer. I loved how well W.M. Akers captured 1970s NYC, too. Hope this is the start of a series!!

Book Review: "Little One" by Olivia Muenter

“…knowing your decisions were influenced by things that were bigger than you doesn’t make them lighter or easier. In the end, we have to live with the choices we make.”

Catharine grew up on a farm in Florida, which grew into a sort-of commune. The children all went to school together, everyone had responsibilities, and the focus was on eating healthy and building a strong community away from outside influences. Her father was the leader, a magnetic man, who for years seemed to have total control.

But little by little, his grip seemed to be failing. He required stricter commitments and sacrifices, and became increasingly paranoid. After trauma and tragedy affected the shrinking community, Catharine felt it necessary to escape.

Ten years later, Catharine has built a brand-new life, far from the farm and the stifling control. She’s never confided in anyone about what happened during those years, or how she found the strength to escape. But when a journalist contacts her asking if she’s the Catharine who lived in a “cult” in Florida, she tries to take control of the situation. Until it appears that the journalist knows more than she thinks he does.

Catharine decides to speak to the journalist, who claims to have another source with information about what went on. She hopes that her being (somewhat) forthcoming might help her find her sister, who left the farm shortly before she did. She also hopes to keep her own secrets safe.

The book shifts between past and present. It’s so compelling, emotional and a bit creepy. I usually don’t like stories about cults but Olivia Muenter’s storytelling definitely drew me in and didn’t let go.

Book Review: "Chase Hooper Likes It Hot" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

Last fall, I found the first book in a new rom-com series set in a small Virginia town called Goose Run. I was completely hooked by the tight-knit group of friends, the banter, the steam, and the theme of chosen family. Now, having just read the third book, I’ve completely fallen in love with these characters.

“Dating you is like riding a roller coaster. Except there are no seat belts, and it’s also on fire.”

Chase and his twin brother Cash had a traumatic childhood. Years later, Cash still has nightmares and only Chase can comfort him. But with Chase having to work overnight shifts at Goose Run Gas, neither is sleeping well, and it’s taking its toll.

The one semi-bright spot in his overnight shifts is the regular appearance of Lee, a customer who complains about the horrible coffee and stale pastries. It annoys Chase to no end, but the customer is kind of hot. But when Chase asks to switch to day shifts and instead gets offered a job at a new bakery, he waits for the other shoe to drop. And the shoe is that Lee, a talented baker, will be his boss.

There’s no doubt that the chemistry between them is intense and it leads to some hot post-work encounters. But Chase has been hurt too many times to let his guard down, which makes it difficult for him and Lee to get closer. In the end, all Chase can do is worry about his brother, right?

This series utterly warms my heart. I found this the most emotionally complex book of the three so far, and that added another layer to everything else I love. I’m so excited Book 4 will be coming in June!

Book Review: "This Is Not About Us" by Allegra Goodman

I’ve said it lots of times before, but I love family dysfunction in books. And Jewish family dysfunction? Yes, please. (Not that my family was dysfunctional…)

Helen and Sylvia are devastated by the impending death of their youngest sister, Jeanne. Even though they’re in their late 70s and early 80s, this loss will hurt. But both women have very definite opinions on everything, particularly Jeanne’s final wishes regarding burial versus cremation.

When Jeanne finally dies, Helen and Sylvia argue and say horrible things to each other. But the crushing blow involves their mother’s apple cake. This causes a rift that neither sister wants to repair.

“Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way.”

This is more a collection of linked stories than a cohesive novel, although each story follows another member of the family—the children of the three sisters, an ex-wife, even a grandchild or two. The stories all happen within a set timeframe.

Honestly, much of this book struck a real chord for me. I’ve been a fan of Allegra Goodman’s since the mid- to late 1990s, and she’s so good at creating the quiet and the loud moments. I would’ve liked a little more about Helen and Sylvia, but they were a part of many of the stories in one way or another.

Book Review: "Still Into You" by Erin Connor

I. Loved. This. Book.

Erin Connor’s debut, Unromance, was one of my favorites last year. But if possible, I loved her newest book even more. It just made me smile and tear up and laugh.

“It’s the only relationship I’ve ever had that’s actually worth talking about, except for the fact that I absolutely do not want to talk about it.”

Sloane has dreamed of being a music journalist for as long as she can remember. She’s gone from helping her friends’ band with their social media to a freelance writing job, with hopes of landing an actual position with benefits.

She can’t believe she gets offered the chance of a lifetime—to interview Final Revelations, a famed punk band that has not done an interview in 8 years. This could be career-making.

The thing is, the band’s lead singer, Dax, is her ex. Hanging around with the band feels like old times, and she and Dax quickly fall back into passionate flirtation. But Sloane knows that her integrity will be called into question if she doesn’t resist her feelings for him.

Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes. Throw in musicians and journalists and banter and steam, and I’m totally sold. I can’t say enough about this book and can’t wait for Connor’s next!!

Book Review: "My Husband's Wife" by Alice Feeney

“Everybody lies and everybody dies. Those are two of the only things you can be certain of in an uncertain world.”

Given the whiplash I experienced while reading this book, I think Alice Feeney should be named in my medical report! This book has been all over Bookstagram and it honestly was one of the twistiest books I’ve read in ages.

Eden and her husband Harrison have recently moved into Spyglass, a cliffside house in the small town of Hope Falls. Eden is an artist, drawn to painting pictures of the sea, and she’s having her very first exhibition at a local gallery. She’s nervous but she’s looking forward to meeting the residents of Hope Falls.

The morning before her exhibition, she goes for her usual jog. When she gets back home, her key doesn’t fit in the lock. A woman who resembles Eden answers the door, and insists that SHE is Eden. And Harrison backs the stranger up. What is happening?

I don’t want to give anything away here. (If you’ve not read this yet, go into it without reading the blurb or reviews.) This was an utterly wild story about mortality, revenge, regret, and family. So much is packed into the ending I had to reread it a few times, and there was lots more explaining than I liked, but I couldn’t believe how compelling this was.

Book Review: "Peaches and Pucks" by M.A. Wardell

This book was really sweet and sexy, and it combined some of my favorite rom-com tropes. And while it’s called “A Cheeky Hockey Novella,” I’d say it’s more hockey-adjacent. But that doesn’t detract from its appeal.⁣

⁣ Harry is a fifth-grade language arts teacher. He enjoys his job and his colleagues—except for Darius, the school’s PE teacher. Darius has made Harry uncomfortable since Harry started teaching at the school. Nothing has ever been said or done, but it’s clear to Harry that Darius doesn’t like him.⁣

⁣ As a favor to a colleague, Harry agrees to help chaperone the fifth-grade boys’ hockey team to a tournament. Sure, he barely knows anything about hockey and would much rather stay home, but without a chaperone, the team can’t go. Of course, that means he’ll be stuck spending time with Darius. Sigh.⁣

Watching Darius coach, however, makes Harry see him in a different light. And when they have to share a hotel room—with only one bed—Harry starts to wonder, is Darius hot?⁣

⁣ Darius is excited that Harry agreed to chaperone the trip. He’s spent a lot of time pretending that Harry doesn’t affect him, but maybe it’s time to stop? But will the complete change in attitude be enough to capture Harry’s heart?⁣

⁣ I really enjoy M.A. Wardell’s writing and how well he balances emotion and steam. This was a sweet story, full of fun banter and lots of hot scenes. ⁣

Book Review: "Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson

What’s this? Two backlist books in a matter of a few days? What about all the shiny new ones, lol?

Robert Grainer is an ordinary man living in the American West in the early days of the 20th century. He’s not particularly smart or ambitious; he just wants to provide a good life for his young wife and infant daughter.

He has always been fascinated by trains. While he doesn’t know exactly what happened to his birth parents, he knows he was put on a train and sent to live with his aunt and uncle. But he has little recollection beyond that. Still, from time to time, he makes a living clearing trees and doing other manual labor so that railroad tracks can be built out west.

Grainer remembers being part of an attempt to kill a Chinese man accused (rightly or wrongly) of stealing. The Chinese man curses those who try to kill him. When tragedy strikes Grainer’s life, he wonders if it is the manifestation of the curse, or perhaps it’s punishment for not helping an injured man he found in the woods when he was a teenager.

This is a bleak story punctuated by moments of levity. I’ve never read Denis Johnson before, but his prose—particularly his imagery—is luminous. I don’t know if I enjoyed this per se, but it definitely made an impression on me.

Book Review: "The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives" by Elizabeth Arnott

So many thrillers and mysteries employ the amateur detective as a plot device. They stumble upon a crime and are motivated to investigate despite having no experience. That concept takes an interesting twist in this fascinating debut; thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy!

It’s the summer of 1966 and California is in the throes of an unending heatwave. Beverley, Elsie, and Margot are an unlikely group of friends. But they are bonded by a unique characteristic they share—each housewife was married to one of California’s most brutal serial killers.

Each woman has dealt with the morbid curiosity of those around her, not to mention the suspicion that they’re not as innocent as they claimed to be. They must have known what their husbands were doing, right? They couldn’t have been that clueless.

Beverley tries to maintain control of her life as she raises two children. Elsie wants to be a reporter, yet she can’t seem to escape that she’s a woman and seen as a secretary. And Margot, who lost wealth and status when her husband’s crimes were revealed, would like to concentrate on partying and socializing.

But when a group of young women start getting murdered, the trio of friends are horrified—and they’re hungry for details. They realize they have a unique perspective in that they lived with murderers, so maybe they can help solve these crimes. But to do so requires courage and subterfuge. Can they keep their investigations secret?

I thought this was such a great concept for a thriller. The women were well-drawn and I liked the bond between them. I would have loved some more backstory about them, though. And while this was a bit of a slow burn, the pacing really picks up in the last quarter.

The book will publish 3/3.

Book Review: "The Safekeep" by Yael Van der Wouden

“She belonged to the house in the sense that she had nothing else, no other life than the house, but the house, by itself, did not belong to her.”

I’ve wanted to read this book since it was published in 2024. I could’ve sworn I bought it but never could seem to find it. Until I discovered the book on the floor of my car’s backseat—I guess it must’ve fallen out of a bookstore bag!

In the summer of 1961, in the sleepy Dutch province of Overijssel, people have finally moved beyond WWII. Isabel lives alone in her late mother’s country house, and serves as its caretaker, but it will eventually go to her older brother Louis when he decides he wants it.

Isabel is a woman who strictly adheres to routine and discipline. Appearances matter to her, and although she rarely sees anyone other than her timid young maid, she believes she is doing exactly what she is supposed to. But when Louis introduces his new girlfriend, Eva, to the family, Isabel takes an immediate and visceral dislike to the woman.

These feelings are exacerbated when Louis has to travel for business and he asks if Eva can stay with Isabel for a month. Eva tries to befriend Isabel, strikes up conversations, tries to help, but Isabel cannot spend an extra moment in her presence. Until one night, when Eva cuts through Isabel’s icy reserve and they begin a passionate relationship.

This is a gorgeously written book. None of the characters—especially Isabel—is particularly appealing but I couldn’t help but be drawn into this story. It’s beautiful, frustrating, emotional, and memorable, and you need to let it unfold for you. One of the most remarkable debut novels I’ve read in some time.

Book Review: "So Old, So Young" by Grant Ginder

This book was so good. It’s exactly what I hoped it would be, and it hit me in the feels just as I expected.

They became friends at college or right afterwards. In the early days, Sasha, Mia, Adam, Richie, Theo, and Marco lived, worked, partied, and struggled in NYC. Each was hoping to make an impact on the world and find love (or at least happiness). But achieving those goals wasn’t always easy.

So Old, So Young follows the friends over 20 years. Once practically inseparable, as the years progress, it takes parties, weddings, and other celebrations to bring them together. Some of them wind up together, some of them try and fail, and for some, happiness and love remain elusive.

Yet as the friends find new loves, get married, move to different cities, have children, and struggle with life, the constancy of their friendships are affected. Some end with a whimper, some with a bang.

“He would blame himself for not being able to stop something he saw coming from its beginning, for not being able to defuse a ticking bomb. More than anything, he would wonder how they had gotten here. He would wonder how five people could have loved each other so completely, only then to decide they were repulsed by the monsters they had become.”

I’ve enjoyed Grant Ginder’s previous books, but in my mind, this is the best he’s written. No one is entirely likable, but I still felt for them. Many will recognize the issues and emotions these characters deal with. And you might want to tell your friends how you feel about them.

This book will publish 2/17.

Book Review: "George Falls Through Time" by Ryan Collett

“Did I want to go home? And which one was that?”

George has it bad. He’s lost his job, the rent and other bills are due, and his boyfriend broke up with him and moved out of their London flat. Desperate to make money, he works as a dog walker, but he cuts corners in order to walk more dogs at a time than he’s supposed to.

On a walk with six dogs owned by immensely high strung people, George looks up to discover two of the dogs are missing. How is he going to explain this to their owners? In the midst of trying to rescue one of the dogs, he trips and falls.

When he comes to, he’s in the middle of Greenwich Park, as he was when he fell. But the park is much quieter and emptier, and nothing looks familiar. As he discovers, somehow he’s wound up in the year 1300. Uh-oh.

Life in 14th-century London isn’t much better for George. He finds himself imprisoned, starved, and tortured. But his luck turns when one of his captors, Simon, helps him escape and they run off together and fall in love. But then there’s this thing with the King and a dragon…

This book was certainly wacky and really creative. But George isn’t the most appealing character, and at least at the start of the book, his dialogue is written as a stream of conscious marathon, full of run-on sentences. I liked the themes of rediscovery and anxiety about wanting to be loved, but it just took a long while to get there.

Book Review: "It's Not Her" by Mary Kubica

When I’ve seen lots of people post about a book and how much they loved it, I always get a little nervous reading it. Will I be the outlier, disappointed by the hype? It does happen at times, but in the case of Mary Kubica’s latest, the hype is real!

Courtney and her family take a vacation at a lakeside resort with her brother Nolan (who is married to her best friend, Emily) and his family. They’re ready to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

But the peace is short-lived. Early one morning Courtney hears a scream and sees her young niece, Mae, come running out of Nolan and Emily’s cottage. She has blood on her and she’s unable to do much more than cry.

Courtney rushes over to the cottage and finds that both Emily and Nolan were brutally murdered. Their son Wyatt appears to have slept through the attack and is unharmed. But their teenage daughter Reese is missing. Was she kidnapped or was she the murderer?

As the police investigation unfolds, Courtney isn’t sure who is innocent and who is guilty. She becomes convinced her husband is keeping secrets from her and she’s starting to feel afraid of Wyatt. But she’s determined to find out what happened to Reese, as well as who murdered her family.

This was really good. Kubica kept ratcheting up the tension and creating so many questions that I trusted no one. And how it all wrapped up? Chef’s kiss.

Book Review: "The Epicenter of Forever" by Mara Williams

“Maybe joy and suffering are the same subjects brushed in different hues—not either or, but both and. Coexistent. They are lovers with clasped hands and entwined bodies. Maybe in order to have one, you must embrace, accept the other. The beauty is not in the ever after but in trusting the now.”

When Eden was growing up, she spent summers in the idyllic California mountain town of Grand Trees. It was a town that embraced nature and she loved the people who lived there.

But Grand Trees was also the place where her dreams ended and she dealt with a betrayal that shattered her family. Eden fled, vowing never to return. And apart from a brief appearance at a funeral, she’s kept that promise—until now. When she gets news that her estranged mother is suffering from Parkinson’s, she heads back there.

When she arrives, Eden finds her mother’s condition is worse than she thought. She also meets Caleb, her mother’s step-nephew and caregiver, who immediately blames Eden for all that transpired with her mother through the years. But despite her mother’s found family, she’s determined to try and rebuild their relationship, even if it means reopening old wounds.

While she is staying with her mother, Eden finds her relationship with Caleb changing from an adversarial one to a romantic one. Both have more in common than they realize. But the demands of her mother’s condition force Eden to make a choice: her family or her heart?

I thought this was so good. It’s a love story, sure, but it’s also about parental love and the fierce love of found family. I found Mara Williams’ use of imagery to be so powerful as well. ⁣

Book Review: "Leave It Up to Love" by Kristy Woodson Harvey

There’s something about the books that Kristy Woodson Harvey writes. Maybe it’s because they’re always set in sunny, idyllic locations, but they always seem to brighten up the day. I’m thankful to Amazon FirstReads for early access to this sweet and fun story.

All Lila has dreamed of is being a bestselling author. While sales of her first novel didn’t quite make a huge impact, she’s determined that one of her two new ideas may be her ticket to quitting her barista job and writing full-time.

She can’t believe that her book is published by the same company as her favorite author of all time, Elizabeth Lancaster. The “Queen of Regency Romance” is her idol, and even though she orders a coffee from Lila nearly every day, Lila has never let on that she knows who she is.

Ever since her husband died a few years ago, Elizabeth has had writer’s block. She cannot write a word. But her publisher’s patience is running out, so they’ve suggested she use a ghostwriter: Lila, whose style is very similar to hers. Elizabeth doesn’t want to depend on her barista, but it doesn’t seem she has a choice. (She doesn’t.)

This is a story about recovery, finding your confidence again, and taking a different path. At the same time, it’s a sweet love story and a story about finding every way possible to achieve your dreams. This was a nice appetizer to hold me over until Kristy’s next book comes out in May!!

The story will officially publish 3/1.

Book Review: "Blade" by Wendy Walker

Maybe it’s because the Winter Olympics are about to start, but when I saw this mystery/thriller involving figure skating, I was ready to do a triple salchow. Luckily for all of us, I took the simpler route and just read Wendy Walker’s newest book.

As a teenage figure skater with Olympic dreams, Ana was accepted to train at The Palace, a famous skating facility in Colorado. Training was physically rigorous and emotionally draining, because the head coach believed that breaking down a skater’s fears could help them reach their goals.

By the time Ana turned 16, she left The Palace and her skating career behind. She found a new passion in law and now is a successful (and well-known) defense attorney specializing in working with minors. But the last thing she is expecting is to return to The Palace nearly 15 years later.

Grace, the talented daughter of one of Ana’s best friends from her skating days, is accused of brutally murdering The Palace’s assistant coach. This same man coached Ana and her friends back in the day, playing good cop to the head coach’s bad cop. Grace maintains her innocence even though the evidence certainly suggests her guilt.

But in order for Ana to defend Grace, she must confront her own traumatic memories of The Palace. What happened all those years ago? Could Ana have played a part in the coach’s murder? With a blizzard on the horizon, time is running out to find answers and unearth secrets long-hidden.

I love athletic drama, and there was no shortage of that here. The book shifts back and forth between past and present, contrasting Ana’s time at the Palace with her efforts to clear Grace’s name. I enjoyed the story although at times the back and forth confused me a little. But no characters were quite what they seemed!

Book Review: "The Fourth Daughter" by Lyn Liao Butler

Liv is an up and coming chef in NYC. But when she is involved in a traumatic incident, she can no longer leave her apartment without a full-blown panic attack. She misses cooking but can’t imagine setting foot in a noisy kitchen ever again.

After hearing from her beloved Ah-Ma, her grandmother who lives in Taiwan, Liv is motivated to end her self-imposed imprisonment. Apparently Ah-Ma saw a woman on the street that she was convinced is her fourth daughter, who was taken from her as an infant. This is a shock to Liv, who never knew that Ah-Ma had a missing daughter out there all these years. She agrees to fly to Taiwan to help find the woman.

When Liv arrives in Taiwan, she is amazed to hear Ah-Ma’s story about her fourth daughter. She tells of a country under martial law, where women had no rights and had to obey their husbands, and independent action was swiftly punished. Her husband (Liv’s grandmother) was a cruel man affiliated with the powerful military, and he arranged for their daughter to be taken.

As Liv and her grandmother try to track down this woman, they spend a lot of time eating and cooking traditional Taiwanese food. This awakens memories for both of them, and helps Liv recover some of her love of cooking.

The book shifts back and forth between 1960s Taiwan and present day, and is mostly narrated by Liv and Ah-Ma. (Other characters provide some narration from time to time.)

I found this book to be tremendously moving and thought-provoking. This is a story of love and loss, recovery and possibility. And it sure did make me hungry!!

Book Review: "In Bloom" by Liz Allan

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We are trouble. We have always been trouble. Our mothers have been telling us this for years.“

At first glance, this book appears to be fairly simple and straightforward. But it’s only as you come to the end that you realize what quiet power Liz Allan’s debut novel really possesses.

It’s 1994 in Vincent, a small coastal town in Australia. Four high school girls, longtime friends, have a band called The Bastards, because none of them has a father present. They’re obsessed with Nirvana, with loud, angry music, and believe the band is their ticket out of their horrible little hole of a town.

These girls live by a self-fulfilling prophecy. They’re almost a group of ruffians—poor, rowdy, disdainful, and not particularly smart—so no one expects much from them. But they don’t care—they’re just biding their time. And an upcoming Battle of the Bands competition is the key to freedom.

Trouble strikes when their lead singer, Lily, drops out of the band. Shortly thereafter, she accuses the girls’ beloved music teacher (and perhaps their only champion), Mr. P, of sexual assault. The other three girls know he’s innocent and don’t understand why Lily would accuse him of such a horrible act. They’re determined to discover the truth, and nothing—or no one—will get in their way.

Most of the book is narrated by the three remaining Bastards in a collective voice. This was an interesting and very effective choice. You really feel for these girls, who just want to be viewed in a positive light by their peers and their families. The book really made an impression on me!

Book Review: "Dear Debbie" by Freida McFadden

Oh, Debbie, Debbie, Debbie. You are such a fantastically memorable character in one hell of a book!

Debbie is an advice columnist for her local newspaper. For years she’s been helping women deal with difficulties they’re having with their husbands, children, families, etc. But taking her own advice isn’t the easiest thing.

Lately, though, Debbie has been struggling. Her older daughter snaps at everything she does or says, her younger daughter is sullen and clearly hiding a problem. And her husband is definitely up to something. She notices that he stops sharing his location on his phone from time to time. Plus, other people just make her angry.

Debbie has always kept her mouth shut as best as she can. But keeping her cool is getting more and more difficult. So it might be time to right some wrongs and protect her family. No matter what it takes.

This is funny and twisty and even a little bit menacing. I don’t know if I’ve ever devoured a book so quickly in my life. What a great job Freida McFadden did with this!

Book Review: "Two Women Living Together" by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo

True confession: I seemed to have missed the words “The Bestselling Korean Memoir” in this book’s subtitle. I totally thought this was a novel until I realized this was an actual account of two women’s lives.

That being said, while the book definitely landed more on the practical side for me, I found it to be an interesting read. Each chapter felt like it centered on a valuable lesson or piece of advice.

Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo were two women living in Korea. Each had a career and friends they enjoyed. They also both lived alone, and loved it that way: the solitude, the independence, having their own space to do what they wanted.

Hana and Sunwoo became friends and realized they shared not only common interests and passions, but also philosophies about life and living. Plus, each had two cats. Yet as they approached their 40s, both women realized that there was something to be said for human companionship. Neither was in a romantic relationship and didn’t see that as a real possibility, so they made the decision to buy a house together.

This wasn’t a romantic or sexual partnership, nor was it two acquaintances living together until something better came along. This was creating a chosen family, integrating each other into their lives but maintaining their own identities as well.

The book recounts their decision, how they put it into action, and the things they learned. What it’s like to suddenly depend on someone else yet retain your own independence and individuality. How to reconcile chores and other household responsibilities. And perhaps most importantly, how to acclimate four cats into one household. This was funny, insightful, a bit moving at times, and really unique.

Book Review: "Photograph" by Brian Freeman

“When someone you love does something you can’t explain, you begin to realize that you don’t actually know them at all.”

Y’all, I may be late to the party, but this book was EXCELLENT! I had wanted to read it before the end of last year, but didn’t get around to it. Already three of my 5-star reads in January are thrillers!

Shannon is a private investigator in Daytona Beach. Having survived an assault but not getting justice, she only helps women in need. One day, a woman named Kate comes to see her. She found a check that her mother had written to Shannon for $5000 and she wanted to know why she hired Shannon.

A year ago, Faith came to Shannon and said she wanted to know who she really was. Shannon discovered that Faith had taken on a new identity at some point but wasn’t able to trace who she was before. That answer satisfied Faith. But apparently, Faith was violently murdered. And the only clue was an old photograph of a young girl standing outside a motel.

In order to figure out who killed Faith, Shannon has to trace where the photograph was taken and, hopefully, find the identity of the young girl. The search for answers takes her to a small town in Michigan that was rocked by violence a number of years ago, but no one ever found conclusive answers about what happened. In the course of her investigation, Shannon will need to confront some of her own secrets, too.

For a thriller, this book made me surprisingly emotional at times. That being said though, Brian Freeman didn’t let up with the action, tension, or twists. I raced through the book and can’t believe how great it was!

Book Review: "Woman Down" by Colleen Hoover

Petra Rose is a bestselling author with legions of fans, some of whom have even tattooed her words on their bodies. But when one of her books is significantly changed when it is adapted for film—and she appears to have endorsed the change—the internet turns on her. She is savagely criticized by fans and even those who can’t resist kicking a person when they’re down.

All the stress has given Petra a horrible case of writer’s block. She hates everything she tries to write and is so afraid of making another blunder, that she’s fallen way behind with her next novel. But she’s running out of money, so she has to pull herself together.

She rents a lakeside cabin as she usually does when writing. But the peace she hopes will lead to a burst of creativity doesn’t materialize. Then early one morning she wakes to see police cars outside her cabin and there’s a policeman at her door.

This policeman, Detective Nathaniel Saint, has a magnetism Petra is drawn to. He’s exactly the inspiration she needs for one of her main characters. When he leaves, the words seem to pour out of her, and she feels inspired and hopeful for the first time in a while. Under the guise of research for her novel, Petra invites Saint back to her cabin the next day.

But as their “research” gets more and more intense, the lines between reality and fiction start to blur. Is Saint the inspiration for Petra’s character, or is the character somehow shaping the way she sees and feels about Saint? She needs to set her boundaries before it might be too late.

I’m a huge CoHo fan. I was really excited to see her back for the first time in several years. This book is definitely spicy and twisty, but I thought it moved at a very slow pace for like 60 percent of the book. I hope this book signals a permanent return for Hoover, perhaps back to some of the romances I’ve loved the most.

Book Review: "Two Left Feet" by Kallie Emblidge

As many of you know, I’m a sucker for a sports romance. I’ve totally broadened my horizons, though—this is my first soccer (football) romance in a long while. And my heart grew a bit bigger from this one, that’s for sure!

Oliver Harris is a star in the Premier League for the Camden Roses. He’s a local boy, born and raised in Camden, so the fans treat him like royalty, despite the team’s mediocrity. But with the arrival of a new head coach from the Netherlands and rumors the team’s owner is getting frustrated, things have been a bit tense.

After an injury sidelines Oliver for a few months, the coach gives him a new assignment. The team is calling up a young recruit to sub for Oliver and hopefully play alongside him once he’s back on the pitch. Would Oliver mentor the player and ensure he fits in?

At first, he is angry and worried about this request. Why should he train someone to replace him? But when he is assured that isn’t the case, he reluctantly agrees to help the young player, Leonardo Davies-Villanueva, who has dreamed of playing for Camden since he played for their youth academy.

Oliver is jealous of Leo’s talent and confidence, and at first he can barely stand him. But he begins to realize that the coach’s idea of working with Leo isn’t a bad thing, as their playing styles complement each other. And the easy camaraderie they build leads to attraction—and a direction they’re not sure they want to move in. Will they have to choose between their sport and their happiness?

There were so many moments that left me emotional—not only the romantic ones between Oliver and Leo, but also confronting their fears about not being able to achieve their dreams. And there are some family issues that touched me too. I found the other teammates to be a hoot and also enjoyed the actual soccer games. I hope to see more sports romances coming from Kallie Emblidge!

Book Review: "The First Time I Saw Him" by Laura Dave

This is exactly what a sequel should be! I loved The Last Time I Saw Him and while I never expected a sequel, I was definitely excited to get my hands on this. Laura Dave did not disappoint!

Five years ago, Hannah’s husband Owen disappeared. She and her teenage daughter Bailey were forced to uproot their lives and move to Southern California. While they didn’t necessarily have to look over their shoulder constantly, they always had a plan in place should things go wrong.

When Owen shows up at a design exhibition Hannah is attending, she’s happy to see him but cannot react. And then the next morning she gets a text telling her to get out of her house. It’s time for she and Bailey to go on the run.

They have to keep at least a few steps ahead of those who want to harm them. Hannah is most focused on ensuring Bailey’s safety. She knows the sacrifices that might need to be made but hopes that they can gain the upper hand.

The narrative shifts from present to various points in the past. But nothing is quite what it seems. Dave definitely keeps the twists coming and the tension constantly simmering.

I thought the pacing of the book was spot on. I also love the way the story was told, combining suspense with emotion and making me more and more curious about how things would come together in the end. I’ll be waiting for Dave’s next book for sure!

Book Review: "Discipline" by Larissa Pham

“When I was a student, I had thought I could manipulate that gaze to a certain extent, that I had agency. That being desired gave me power. But what I learned then, and what I understood now, was that though one might thrust an oar into the river and think herself steering her own way, the current pushes on, uncaring.“

Christine has recently written her first novel and has embarked on a cross-country book tour. Her novel is a fictionalized account of a relationship she had with an art professor in graduate school. The end of the relationship affected her mental wellbeing so much that she dropped out of grad school and has never painted again.

As she travels from city to city, she reflects on the 10 years that have passed since leaving school. She reconnects with ex-boyfriends and former friends. She engages in conversations about what inspires her to create, and avoids questions about whether the novel is her story.

And then she starts getting emails from her former professor. At first he tells her that the book sharply differs from reality; in some cases, that is true. But as they communicate back and forth, the initial trepidations she had fade away. He invites her to go visit him at his home on a remote island in Maine.

The 10 years have aged the professor significantly. And while there are definitely moments where Christine’s anger resurfaces, they have some brief discussions about what happened between them, the consequences, etc. Can she forgive him and move on with her life?

This is Larissa Pham’s first novel and it is beautifully written and insightful. I wasn’t quite sure how the story would unfold and I was surprised by the powerful emotions I felt. This is definitely a character-driven novel so it may not be for everyone. I look forward to what’s next in Pham’s career!

Book Review: "The Poppy Fields" by Nikki Erlick

Nikki Erlick’s last book, The Measure, was one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve read in some time. So needless to say, when my book club picked this to read, I was pretty excited.

How do we truly heal from pain? That’s the question at the core of the book. Everyone’s grief looks different, and all too often, we seek a quick fix. But it’s not always that easy.

In a remote stretch of the California desert, a controversial center called The Poppy Fields promises a place to sleep through your sorrow and wake up healed. The center, however, is extremely selective about who they accept.

Four strangers find themselves on a journey to this mysterious facility: Sasha, an occupational therapist; Ray, a firefighter; Ava, a book illustrator traveling with her dog; and Skye, a free spirit. Each has their own reason for wanting to meet the center’s brilliant founder, Ellis—but as secrets from their pasts emerge, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways.

I enjoyed the camaraderie of the four strangers and I found Ellis to be an intriguing character. However, the pacing of the book was sooo slow, and none of the travelers’ secrets were particularly surprising. This was definitely a case in which the concept was great but the execution wasn’t. Onto the next!

Book Review: "The Hitch" by Sara Levine

This was one of the wildest, most creative books I’ve read in some time. I'll never look at corgis the same way again!

Rose is an anti-racist, secular Jewish feminist eco-warrior, a believer in eating healthy foods, and the owner of an artisanal yogurt business. She’s unmarried and doesn’t have children of her own, but she dotes on her six-year-old nephew Nathan and her beloved Newfoundland, Walter.

Rose is one of those people who knows everything about everything. She has an article, a study, a program to back up all of her opinions. And one of her opinions is that she should get to spend more time with Nathan, but her brother and sister-in-law don’t necessarily think she’s the best influence on him.

However, when her brother and sister-in-law take a vacation to Mexico, they agree to leave Nathan in Rose’s care. Rose is so excited; she has her spare bedroom redone for him, and has outlined a vegan meal plan for the week. But only one day into her caregiving stint, disaster strikes. When Rose, Nathan, and Walter are in the park, Walter attacks and kills a corgi.

Walter has never acted aggressively before. And when Nathan starts acting strangely, Rose figures it’s his reaction to the incident. But then Nathan tells Rose that the corgi’s soul is living inside him. And this dog is a troublemaker. If Rose can’t fix this, she’ll never be trusted to care for Nathan again.

Although the concept of the book sounds silly, it’s actually quite moving and thought-provoking. Rose is not the most likable character but she does grow a bit by the end, and she really does love Nathan. I’ll be thinking about this for a long while!!

Book Review: "Half His Age" by Jennette McCurdy

“How does one know their worth? What constitutes worth? I’m seventeen with bad grades. I live in a nine-hundred-square-foot apartment with a single mom. Most of the things I ingest are sold in a 7-Eleven. And I know people say worth is a thing you’re born with, a thing you just intrinsically have by nature of being a human being, but I’m not so sure. People are too precious about what it means to be human. We’re just people.”

Waldo is a high school senior who is in many ways wise beyond her years, but in other ways she is a needy 17-year-old desperate for love and to be noticed. She practically raised her own mother, whose emotional ups and downs correlated with whether or not she was in a relationship. But Waldo never lets anything stand in the way of getting what she wants.

And what she wants is Mr. Korgy, her writing teacher. He’s 40, married with a young son, has a bit of a paunch, and definitely is showing signs of aging, but none of that matters to Waldo. Mr. Korgy makes her feel seen, and that intensifies her desire for him.

Waldo sets about her plan to seduce her teacher. But it’s not just about sexual conquest—she feels that she can learn so much from him, and he can help her feel better about herself. And while he tries to resist her flirtatious advances, he starts to see her as an oasis from his exhausting life.

Will they get caught in the throes of passion? Will he abandon his wife and son for Waldo? And is this really what she wants from her life?

Obviously the main concept of this book is a bit troubling, since Mr. Korgy is an adult and should know better. But this is a powerful look at how it feels to get what you want at someone else’s expense. Is the grass always greener?

Book Review: "In His Wake" by Chad Zunker

This compulsively readable political thriller was one of the Amazon First Reads selections for this month. Thanks so much to Thomas & Mercer for the complimentary advance copy; this would make a great movie!

“Power makes you do foolish things. It clouds your head like a dangerous drug and warps your mind. Like a cancer, it changes you from the inside out. And it can quickly bring you to your knees.”

When a presidential candidate is assassinated in Austin, Texas two weeks before the election, it throws the country into turmoil. Dean Dawson is an investigative reporter covering the incident, although his older brother Eric, who is the FBI special agent in charge, keeps him in line.

Amidst all of the chaos, Dean gets contacted by his ex-girlfriend April. She saw a text thread on her boss’ phone that not only mentions the assassination, but also raises the possibility that Dean’s father—a former partner at April’s firm—might not have drowned a few months ago. Could his father still be alive? And could he have been involved in the candidate’s assassination?

The more that Dean and April try to uncover, the more leads that Eric and the FBI chase, the more people start ending up dead. They have no idea how tangled this web of lies and corruption is, and how much they might all be in danger.

From the minute I started reading, I was hooked. The sad thing is, thrillers like these seem much less far-fetched given what’s happening in the country. Chad Zunker kept the pacing going and the tension rising.

The book publishes 2/1.

Book Review: "How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder" by Nina McConigley

“To have freedom, there is always a fight. Sometimes you lose part of yourself. Sometimes you gain something altogether different from what you thought. And sometimes which side is right and which side is wrong gets all muddled together.”

You know me and books with cool titles! This is one of those books that deals with a very serious subject but tries to put a humorous spin on it. It’s an interesting approach but I think it lessened the overall power of the story.

Agatha and Georgie are sisters growing up in rural Wyoming in 1986. Their American father is often absent, working for an oil company. When their relatives—their uncle, aunt, and young cousin—arrive from India, they are very excited to see family and learn more about their Indian culture.

But shortly after their family arrives, both sisters are repeatedly molested by their uncle. He warns them that if they tell anyone, no one will believe them and he and his family will have to go back to India, which will devastate their lonely mother. So at that point Agatha and Georgie decide their uncle has to die.

Their plan to kill their uncle is juxtaposed with a look at how this changes the relationship between the sisters. The plot also meanders through anecdotes of their family’s history, India’s independence, the history of Wyoming, the oil industry, and other topics, and is intercut with magazine quizzes about love and other emotions.

When the book focuses on the actual story, it’s very powerful and emotional. But all of the detours quickly frustrated me. One or two might have been interesting, but after a while, I just wanted the book to stop being clever and coy.

Book Review: "Detour" by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

John Ward is a billionaire who is running as a third-party candidate for president. He’s funding a mission to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. The mission will lay the foundation for future settlements as the effects of climate change destroy Earth.

The crew of the mission is composed of three astronauts and three civilians. The astronauts are legendary and the hope is they will train the three civilians: Padma, the scientist whose research convinced Ward to form the mission; Stitch, a graffiti artist who won his seat in a lottery; and Ryan, a Washington, DC cop who helped foil an assassination attempt on Ward.

The mission will last two years. Ryan doesn’t want to leave his wife and kids for that long, but Ward promises him a $15 million paycheck which could change their lives. And although all six of the crew members are nervous about the mission, they move forward with it.

But when the ship starts circling Titan, things go wrong. The ship is rocked by multiple explosions which threaten their return home. Yet working together, they’re able to make it back to Earth and are hailed as heroes.

Upon their return, each person notices that their life isn’t quite what it was before the mission. They returned home to find things—and their loved ones—are strangely different, like they’re in the wrong multiverse. Ward has ordered that the crew members can’t talk to each other or the press. What happened on their mission? They’re not quite prepared for what comes next.

Science fiction isn’t my usual genre, but this sci-fi thriller was excellent. It’s the start of a series and I hope I don’t have to wait long for the next book!

Book Review: "The Odds of You" by Kate Dramis

Sage had always dreamed of being a writer. Her first book made it on the New York Times bestseller list, which is a rarity for a debut author. Of course, now the pressure is on for her to deliver her second book, pressure she’s not handling very well.

On a cross-country flight to Comic Con she strikes up a conversation with a man whom the flight attendant is quite enamored of. When they arrive at the airport, the paparazzi circle because the passenger is Theo Sharpe, an actor who’s just about to become a huge star. And the paparazzi think Sage is his mystery girlfriend, which quickly turns into a PR nightmare for her, as Theo’s fans accuse her of being opportunistic.

No matter how hard Sage’s camp denies there’s any connection between her and Theo, the press keeps fueling the fire. And while there is certainly chemistry between the two, they can’t act on it. All of this is taking its toll on Sage’s confidence and it’s manifesting itself in continued writer’s block.

To escape the pressure and the constant judgment of her parents, who want her to pursue a more stable career path, Sage goes to Scotland to clear her head. The last thing she’s expecting is to see Theo at a pub, but his family has a home there. Slowly, they start to let each other in and both leave themselves tremendously vulnerable. But they understand each other’s struggles, which makes it even harder when secrets are revealed and the world re-enters.

“What do you do when your greatest might never live up, not because it can’t, but because people’s imaginations are boundless, and so the comparison is impossible?”

Third-act breakup notwithstanding, I found this book to be very moving and I was fully immersed in their struggles. While Kate Dramis has written romantasy before, this is her first contemporary romance, and she did a great job. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

Book Review: "I Could Be Famous" by Sydney Rende

“Money. Fame. The high you get when a group of strangers screams your name with tears in their eyes. The ability to strut around L.A. like you really belong there (most people don’t), like you landed in the exact right spot.”

The quote above describes the characters that some of the stories in this enjoyable debut collection center around. In some cases they’re famous; in others, they’re infamous; and in others they’re either fame-adjacent or wanting to be famous. (The irony is not lost on me that I’m discussing this book on social media for my followers.)

There are 11 stories in this collection. The characters always made me a little bit nervous, wondering what disaster they might cause. But I really enjoyed nearly all of them.

Some of my favorite stories include: “Nothing Special,” about a young woman who becomes friends with a popular influencer yet realizes the life she covets isn’t all that great; “High School Junkie Girlfriend,” in which an aspiring young actress aims for authenticity before her audition for the role of said girlfriend; “The Actor Naked,” which deals with the ways the relationship between an actor and his assistant changes when she sees him naked; and “Monsters,” about a reality TV star who just wants to be loved, but can’t seem to pull it together when she’s not on camera.

I really was impressed with Sydney Rende’s storytelling abilities. All of the stories felt complete and I felt totally immersed in the mini-universes she created. Not all of the characters are sympathetic but they were all fascinating.

Book Review: "Is This A Cry for Help?" by Emily Austin

This was a very moving and thought-provoking book. It felt tremendously current given the issues being dealt with across the country.

Darcy is a librarian at a local library. She loves her job, even if not every patron is kind or appreciative. She and her wife Lou have a relatively idyllic life, complete with two loving cats. Darcy has just returned to work following a medical leave, the result of a mental breakdown after she heard that her ex-boyfriend Ben has died.

She hasn’t seen or spoken to Ben for years, since their breakup. But Darcy feels tremendous guilt and sadness about Ben’s death, the way their relationship ended, and the fact that she was never completely honest with him about her sexuality.

Now that she has returned to work, she and her colleagues start dealing with protestors who believe the library is harmful to children. The leader is a particularly vociferous critic who believes the library shouldn’t carry any materials dealing with sex or race or any of the issues these conservatives believe to be “dangerous.” While Darcy is still a bit mentally unstable, she’s also outraged about this attack on the library.

“I find it grating when attention is focused on seedy, unconstructive things, while so little focus is put on all that’s good.”

Emily Austin skillfully combined grief, love, guilt, and the periodic insecurity we feel in relationships. I definitely cared about Darcy and hoped her life wouldn’t go off the rails as she returned to work. I really loved the way her wife and her colleagues made her feel protected.

Book Review: "Anatomy of An Alibi" by Ashley Elston

“It’s not just the anatomy of an alibi—having someone vouch that you were somewhere else when the crime was committed—but it’s the psychology of it: that that someone is believable.”

I love when a book I’ve been eagerly anticipating by an author whose work I love knocks it completely out of the park. This book has been everywhere on Bookstagram but I finally sat down and read it, and it proved that Ashley Elston’s success writing adult novels was not a one-time thing!

Camille is the daughter of a powerful Louisiana family. Her husband Ben is a handsome lawyer whose representation is sought after by the most powerful people. Not too bad for someone just barely 30!

But Camille is not happy in her marriage. Ben has been spying on her every move, and she’s fairly certain he’s corrupt. Once she has proof, she can divorce him. When she meets Aubrey, who believes Ben is tied to a tragedy in her life, Camille might have found the way to put her plan in motion. She and Aubrey will trade identities for 12 hours, so Ben will think he’s tracking Camille, but she’ll actually be spying on him.

Both women believe they have a foolproof alibi, but that isn’t the case. And they have no idea what they’ve stepped in the middle of.

Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, Elston flipped the script. There are a lot of narrators and lots of time shifts (pay attention to the chapter headers) but it all contributes to a crazy puzzle of a book! Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Book Review: "Cursed Daughters" by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Oyinkan Braithwaite’s debut novel, My Sister, the Serial Killer, caught me by complete surprise when I read it in 2018. I couldn’t wait to see what she wrote next—although she made me wait until the end of 2025! This book is very different from her first but it is more evidence that she is a writer to be reckoned with.

On the day that they bury her cousin Monife, Ebun gives birth to a baby girl. This baby, named Eniiyi, resembles Monife so much, the family is convinced she is the reincarnation of her late aunt. They believe Eniiyi will follow the same path Monife did in life, right down to her tragic end.

In addition to the belief that Eniiyi is fated to meet the same end as Monife, there’s also the family curse: “No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace...” This curse has left several generations of Falodun women brokenhearted.

When Eniiyi reaches womanhood, she saves a man from drowning and promptly falls in love with him. She then realizes the curse is hanging over her head. Her only recourse is to search for answers in the older parts of Lagos, to find a way out of her fated predicament. Can she break the curse and have the chance at happiness? Can she free the other women in her family?

There is such a vibrancy to the way Braithwaite writes. The city of Lagos is as much a character as Eniiyi and her family. The book follows each generation’s confrontation with the curse and the tragedy that befell Monife. It gets a little repetitive at times, but it was just so moving.

Book Review: "Chasing Stardust" by Erica Lucke Dean

This sweet, funny, and moving book really warmed my heart. Many of us have imagined what our parents were like when they were younger, but how many of us get a first-hand look?

Zoey is devastated when her beloved mother dies of cancer. She has spent the last few years caring for her, putting her own future on hold while her older sister stayed in college. She knows it’s time to focus on moving forward, but she has one last task to complete for her mom.

Her mother has asked Zoey to spread her ashes following a path between Tennessee and California. Apparently it’s the path her grandmother followed in 1972: David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust tour. Her grandmother G-Lo was more than a groupie—she and the singer slept together, and that’s how Zoey’s mother came to be.

With her mother’s ashes and her diary in hand, driving her grandmother’s old Cutlass, she’s ready to hit the road. But from the very start she gets into trouble and the car breaks down outside Nashville. At an all-night diner she meets Dash, a handsome young man who’s apparently fleeing his domineering father’s expectations. Dash is more than willing to be a partner on this journey.

“How do I explain that I’m having a hard time reconciling Mom’s memories with my own…that with every word I read, my perception of her changes, dredging up emotions I can’t begin to understand. That I’m caught between this unquenchable desire to know everything about her past, and the fear of what I’ll discover if I spend too much time looking.”

As the trip continues, Zoey learns about her mother, grandmother, and herself. I love road-trip books and thought this was an utterly enjoyable read.

Book Review: "The Frequency of Living Things" by Nick Fuller Googins

“I decided right there to play it safe: one full week to detox from my sisters. Because family and opioids really aren’t so different. Both can make you feel great until suddenly they don’t.”

Even though she’s the youngest, Josie has almost always taken care of her older twin sisters, Ara and Emma. Josie is a scientist, organized and levelheaded (at least when it comes to other people’s lives). Her sisters are musicians, so Josie often pays their rent, schedules their doctors’ appointments, and helps with issues related to their band.

The band, Jojo and the Twins, were once a huge, Grammy-nominated success. But their second album remains elusive, and it’s been years since they opened for famous bands. Their lack of progress in recent years is definitely related to Ara’s problems with addiction and dealing with trauma from an assault. Emma feels as if she’s to blame for the assault, so she’s essentially been enabling Ara’s addiction.

But when Ara winds up in jail, it throws Josie and Emma in a tailspin. Emma decides that the band will record a jailhouse album and hopes that preorders will help pay Ara’s bail. But for the first time, Ara decides she wants to kick her drug habit and her reliance on her sisters, both of which are easier said than done.

Their mother Bertie is a famous lawyer and fighter of injustice. She was too busy building a better world for her daughters than actually mothering them. When she is asked to help Ara, she has to decide whether to come back into her daughters’ lives or let them fight their own battles.

I love books about family dynamics and drama, and this one had a lot of it! It’s a powerful read that evoked a lot of different emotions in me. I felt like the book meandered a bit as it provided background into the characters, particularly Bertie, but the story really moved me.

Book Review: "The Storm" by Rachel Hawkins

Batten down the hatches and hold on tight, because this book will blow you away! I’ve been patiently waiting for its release date and everyone’s been loving this, so I’m quite glad it met my expectations.

Geneva is the current owner of the Rosalie Inn in St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama. The inn is actually the only structure to withstand the three hurricanes that struck the town over the decades. It’s been a part of her family for generations, but the costs of keeping it running are starting to wear on her.

When an investigative journalist reserves a room for an undetermined amount of time so he can write a book, Gen is excited about how much this stay will help the inn’s finances. It turns out he’s writing a book about a scandalous murder that happened in town in 1984, when Hurricane Marie washed ashore. The son of Alabama’s governor was found dead and the accused was Gloria “Lo” Bailey, his teenaged mistress.

The biggest surprise for Gen is that Lo comes to the inn with the author, as they’re collaborating on telling her story. Lo says she’s returned to St. Medard’s Bay so she can finally prove her innocence, but is that the truth? As long-hidden secrets start to reveal themselves, Lo’s motivations are definitely questionable.

But there’s another hurricane headed for town, and this one could be the biggest one of all. Can Gen figure out what happened all those years ago—and who was responsible—before she winds up in harm’s way, one way or another?

Rachel Hawkins’ books don’t disappoint, and this one definitely got my pulse racing! The narrative shifts between the present and the past, when each of the other hurricanes hit town. There are secrets nested within secrets, and I couldn’t wait to see how it all ended up.

Book Review: "Alice Rue Evades the Truth" by Emily Zipps

I bought this at Thunder Road Books last week. I mean, when a book is described as a sapphic homage to While You Were Sleeping, it needs to be picked up immediately.

Alice works nights as a lobby receptionist for an office building. One night, Nolan, the handsome man on whom she has had a crush, collapses in front of her. She frantically calls 911 and gives Nolan CPR, which she doesn’t think she’s doing right anyway.

The good news is that Alice saved his life. The bad news is that Nolan’s family is mistakenly told that she’s his girlfriend. (Somehow the EMT told the hospital and…) Nolan is in a coma, but his family wants to know everything about Alice—how long they’ve been dating, etc. Seeing how happy his family is keeps Alice from telling the truth.

There’s one other complication: Alice feels immediately drawn to Van, Nolan’s gorgeous butch sister. But giving into her feelings for Van would be essentially cheating on a comatose man. And what happens when the truth comes out? It all seems like too much of a risk.

“What exactly is the protocol for when your fake-boyfriend’s hot sister and her dog walk you to your door after you leave his hospital room?”

If you’ve seen While You Were Sleeping, you pretty much know the path the story will take. There are some serious emotions afoot here, as well as dealing with unresolved trauma and fear. But the banter, the steam, the crazy family, and Frank the dog make the book so worthwhile.