Book Review: "The Bookstore Sisters" and "The Bookstore Wedding" by Alice Hoffman

I have been reading Alice Hoffman’s books for a long, long time, and so many of them have been real favorites of mine. These two stories are part of a three-story series called The Once Upon a Time Bookshop series. (The third one, "The Bookstore Keepers,” publishes 2/4/2025.)

So many of Hoffman’s books are about family and love, and many contain elements of magical realism. These two stories focused on Sophie and Isabel Gibson, sisters who grew up on Brinkley’s Island in Maine.

Growing up, the sisters were inseparable. They spent hours in their family’s bookstore, hiding in the marshes with their mother, and enjoying her amazing baking. But when their mother grew ill and died, Isabel couldn’t wait to get off the island and never come back, while Sophie took on the role of caring for her sister and grieving father.

In the first story, Isabel lives in New York City. She wanted to be an artist but never could succeed; now she’s a dog walker and a divorcee. One day she gets a letter from home that simply says, “Help.” Although it’s been years since she’s been home or talked to Sophie, she rushes home to find she was summoned by Sophie’s daughter Violet. Sophie broke her leg and needs someone to run the bookstore; Isabel stays and tries to mend things with Sophie, but everyone is waiting for her to run away again.

In the second story, Isabel is well-ensconced on the island again, and is engaged to marry Johnny, her friend since childhood. But every time they schedule their wedding, something happens to derail it. Isabel realizes that love is patient but at times life is not; she makes some sacrifices but her wishes do come true.

These were beautiful, poignant stories. Each made me tear up and made me smile, and once again I’m reminded of the way Hoffman’s writing makes me feel.

Book Review: "Liars" by Sarah Manguso

“Agreeing to be someone’s wife should be done only if you can’t help yourself, I thought, but of course no one can help herself.”

When Jane meets John, she is an aspiring writer and he is a filmmaker. Jane loves the fact that they’re both artists, that they’re both committed to their craft, and want to achieve success. She definitely is in love with John, but she isn’t entirely sure if she should marry him—there are signs that he is irresponsible with money, not good at following through on his commitments, and is fairly lazy.

But eventually they do marry, and Jane quickly sees that John prioritizes his career and his happiness over hers. There are wonderful moments, however, so she believes that successful marriage is about compromise and occasional sacrifice. She loves John and is tremendously attracted to him.

Eventually, Jane gets pregnant and gives birth to a son. For the most part, John abdicates almost all responsibility for taking care of the baby, and has very little sympathy that Jane is exhausted and unable to write. And at the same time, John’s constant trouble keeping jobs results in their moving back and forth across the country, leaving Jane to do all the work and find child care.

Little by little, John’s constant gaslighting, neglect, and refusal to help Jane leaves her continually angry and at times makes her physically sick. She’d like to leave but doesn’t want to jeopardize her relationship with her son. And then one day, John tells her he wants a divorce, and she learns the extent of his deceit and manipulation.

This was a heavy read, frank and graphic, and written in a stream-of-consciousness style. I wanted to shake Jane to make her see what a monster John was, and at times, this is an emotional journey for Jane. But it’s a very powerful look at a woman’s struggle to survive a bad marriage and motherhood.

Book Review: "Oh Buoy" by Ava Olsen

I watch very little television, but I will admit to occasionally binge-watching Below Deck. I don’t know why, but the whole chartered yacht vibe, rich people behaving badly, and drama between employees fascinates me. (Plus the crew is usually quite attractive.)

This book is the first in a 5-book series called Voyagers, and it definitely gave me Below Deck vibes. It’s romantic, super steamy, emotional, and there are lots of vivid descriptions of beautiful places, delicious food, and sexy people.

Andrew is about to start working as chief steward on the superyacht Now, Voyager. The last thing he’s expecting is how unbelievably handsome Rowan, the yacht’s owner, is. And while there’s definitely chemistry between them, Andrew has just been rebuilding his life after a workplace romance fell apart, so he needs to keep business and pleasure separate.

Rowan has been struggling, both professionally and personally. Ever since his relationship with a celebrity ended, he’s been the subject of paparazzi and gossip, which hasn’t been good for the family business. He cannot get Andrew out of his mind, but the last thing he needs is a scandal involving an inappropriate relationship with an employee.

The more they try to fight it, the more intense their feelings grow for each other. Can they wait until the charter season is done and then Andrew will no longer be an employee? Or is a chance at forever worth the risks?

“He wrecked my body and ruined my heart, and it was the most beautiful feeling imaginable.”

Book Review: "Things Don't Break On Their Own" by Sarah Easter Collins

“I think about all the small things that build and destroy us, all those little things we choose to hide and reveal, forget and forgive. How we all carry hidden histories that we continually circle back to, the things that make us soar, or slowly unwind.”

Twenty-five years ago, Willa’s sister Laika disappeared without a trace. Willa left for school without Laika, and Laika left shortly thereafter, but she never made it to school. There were never any clues as to what could have happened to her.

Willa’s life has been defined by Laika’s disappearance. For years she has thought she saw Laika everywhere—in school, on a street in Paris—but it never has been her. But she feels like if her sister died, she’d know it, feel it.

One night Willa attends a dinner party at the home of her best friend Robyn and Robyn’s wife Cat. Robyn’s brother attends with his girlfriend, Cat’s brother does the same. During dinner they talk about how memories can be real or derived from things we were told, pictures, or a series of occurrences. But the dinner party also lays bare a secret.

While this is being marketed as a thriller, it is not. There are elements of mystery here, but at the same time this is a character-driven story, told from several different perspectives, shifting between past and present. The pacing is a little slow at first, but that’s okay, because it gives you time to get drawn into the exquisite way Sarah Easter Collins writes.

This made me think, about memory, love, loss, the things we do out of love and fear, and the things we regret not doing. While it’s a different book than I expected, I thought it was fantastic.

Book Review: "Wish You Weren't Here" by Christy Schillig

Ava couldn’t be more of a type A person if she tried. Despite having an artist for a mother, Ava lives for schedules and plans. When her mother died, she decided to abandon her dreams of teaching and become a lawyer instead, like her father.

She’s already secured a job at a prestigious law firm, and the last thing she needs to do is go to Italy for her final law school credits. Before Ava was born, her mother spent time in Urbino, so that is where Ava is headed. Just before she heads to Italy, she believes her long-time boyfriend will propose, but she is shocked when he suggests they take a break instead.

James and Ava don’t quite have a meet-cute; it’s more like a meet-angry. James is an hour late to pick Ava up at the airport, and she figures that he’s just a hired driver. Imagine her surprise when she finds out he’s a talented photographer and art history professor—and she’s going to be the TA for his class.

They’re both immensely attracted to each other, but they always seem to make the other one angry just before something can happen. It doesn’t help matters that Ava is living in the guest house on his family’s property, and quickly becomes a part of the family.

James doesn’t have to work too hard to get Ava excited about the art and beauty of Urbino, and she is energized by what she finds out about her mother’s time there. But James also wants to get Ava to abandon her rigid adherence to schedules and enjoy life—and love, even if she’s going to be heading back to the U.S. to start her job.

This is a gorgeously romantic story. Yes, you can predict what will happen, but the incredible setting, the banter and chemistry between James and Ava, the memorable supporting characters, the emotions, and the steam all make it an incredible book to get lost in. I can’t believe this is a debut; it’s clear Christy Schillig has quite a career ahead of her!

Book Review: "The Fiction Writer" by Jillian Cantor

Have you ever read a book that you didn’t really like but you needed to read it in its entirety to see how everything was tied up in the end? Asking for a friend.

“That’s what writing fiction was, wasn’t it? Processing your own life, answering all those questions in any way you wanted to, since fictional worlds operated with their own language and their own rules and their own timelines. They offered their own answers.”

Olivia’s first novel was published to some acclaim, but her second novel, which was a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, was panned by critics. When editors pass on her third novel, she’s in need of money and, perhaps, a new career choice.

Then her agent calls with a sweet deal. Apparently megabillionaire Henry “Ash” Asherwood wants Olivia to write about his grandmother, and is willing to pay quite well. Intrigued by the opportunity and the client (named People magazine’s sexiest man alive twice), Olivia flies to Malibu to learn more.

Ash tells Olivia that his long-dead grandmother originally wrote the story which became Rebecca, but du Maurier stole it. But the more Olivia asks for proof, the more Ash seems to stall her and try to distract her in all sorts of ways. At the same time, Olivia is curious about Ash’s young wife, who died in a mysterious car accident.

The plot of this book was definitely an example of if it seems too good to be true, it is. Olivia stupidly gets led on by Ash for far too long, and then the story takes so many tangents I didn’t quite know what to expect. There was lots of stuff left unresolved and I was hoping for so much more out of this book. And since I never read Rebecca, I don't know if that knowledge would have made a difference to my enjoyment.

Book Review: "A Novel Summer" by Jamie Brenner

I have a number of authors I can count on to deliver feel-good books. Jamie Brenner is definitely one of those; her books are always full of smiles and tears, romance and fun. And her newest book is no exception.

Shelby, Hunter, and Colleen became best friends one summer, and during college, Shelby spent every summer with them in Provincetown, working at Colleen’s family’s bookstore. When they graduated, they went their separate ways. Shelby went to New York to become a writer, Hunter to Boston to work for a publisher, and Colleen stayed put to manage the bookstore.

Three years later, Shelby’s first novel, celebrating her love of Provincetown, is released and quickly becomes a bestseller. But when she returns to the island to celebrate, there are some people, including Hunter, who feel like Shelby used their lives and secrets to sell a book. Shelby can’t escape quickly enough.

But a few months later, Colleen calls Shelby and asks for a favor: can she run the bookstore for the summer? She ultimately agrees and tries to do all she can to keep the store afloat. At the same time, she tries rebuilding her relationship with Hunter, as well as her ex-boyfriend and his family, who weren’t happy with the way Shelby left so easily years before.

The road to success—and forgiveness—never runs smoothly. There are lots of obstacles to conquer on the store’s behalf, and Shelby must make a crucial decision about her second book. Can she write a book she loves and have the relationships she so cherishes?

There’s lots of drama and emotion in this book, but there’s also humor and heart. And much like Nantucket, Provincetown has become another literary setting I can’t get enough of.

Book Review: "Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts" by Adam Sass

This book was so sweet and emotional. It definitely hit close to home for me and felt like a gigantic hug.

Vero Roseto Garden Inn & Vineyard has been in Grant’s family for decades. He and his siblings spent summers there when they were growing up. When he was 13, Grant made a wish on the family’s famous Wishing Rose, and since then, all of his relationships have fallen apart quickly. Grant believes he’s been cursed by the Wishing Rose.

"But I don't count. I'm a beast, not a bunny. A beast with baggage and a curse on my head where no relationship lasts longer than a month."

Five years later, after what he thought was the perfect relationship imploded, he returns to Vero Roseto, which his aunt and uncle have been struggling to keep afloat. This will be their last summer to try, otherwise they’ll have to sell.

Given the state of disrepair of the inn, Aunt Ro has hired a gardener to help. Much to Grant’s surprise, it’s Ben, his first real love and childhood best friend, whom he hasn’t seen since the curse afflicted him five years ago. There’s still animosity between them, but there’s also a strong connection that hasn’t faded.

Grant vows to stay for the summer to help restore the inn and prepare for the famous Rose Festival. If it succeeds, they may save the inn. But it’ll require Grant and Ben to work together and put the past behind them. Can Grant break the curse and finally find happiness?

This was such a beautiful book. It’s a story of family, friendship, and love, and the many ways queer people—particularly teenagers—can be made to feel small and unworthy of love. It’s a look at how depression can rob you of joy and passion. But it’s also a love story. I really love the way Adam Sass writes.

Book Review: "Antidote" by Shae Ruby

My friend Phil has been promoting and praising this book on Bookstagram since the cover was revealed, so I’ve been eager to read it. This is my first book by Shae Ruby, but it will definitely not be my last!

“Why do you want me to hang out?” “Because I miss you when you’re gone.”

Oliver and Hunter met when they were 10 years old, and Oliver’s dad was going to marry Hunter’s mom. They clicked instantly, commenting on Hunter’s bright green eyes and Oliver’s vivid blue ones, so they called each other “Green” and “Blue.”

The two grew closer and closer, practically inseparable, as they went from middle school to high school. Their connection was intense, closer than most brothers ever would be. Ollie knew that he was gay, and was in love with Hunter, while Hunter tried to be “normal,” despite his feelings for and attraction to Ollie.

Just before graduation, Ollie became addicted to oxycodone, and Hunter made him choose between him and the drugs. Two years later, tragedy struck, and Hunter vowed that he would never let Ollie back into his life, no matter how either of them felt.

Ruby did a fantastic job creating an intense codependent relationship between the stepbrothers, as they constantly came together and pushed each other apart. This is a very emotional book (yet it’s incredibly steamy) and there are definitely lots of trigger warnings, so be sure to check. But Hunter and Ollie will be in my heart for a long while.

Book Review: "Bad Tourists" by Caro Carver

I was in the mood for a twisty thriller, and Caro Carver delivered! An exotic setting, multiple perspectives, and more than a few red herrings hooked me completely and kept me guessing.

Darcy, Camilla, and Kate are close friends who were brought together by a shared tragedy. But the three are headed to a posh resort in the Maldives to celebrate Darcy’s divorce, and there will be lots of pampering, relaxing, drinking, and having fun. Camilla hopes to generate lots of content for followers of her exercise Instagram account, while Kate, a ghostwriter, is hoping to get some good work in on her own book.

Despite the beauty and luxury of the resort, all is not perfect. The women befriend a young honeymooner they believe is being abused by her husband, and then a guest is found murdered.

It turns out that there are lots of secrets that the women have kept hidden from each other. But should they take matters into their own hands or alert the police? And in the end, what do they want to happen?

“I’m saying that sometimes a lesson can be learned by having your mettle tested. It’s not easy to confront the shadowy parts of your character, or to learn that your moral fiber is full of holes.”

I really enjoyed the way Carver spun her story. I had one or two unanswered questions, but in the end, I couldn’t get enough. (This is the second book I’ve read this year which was set at a resort with overwater villas. I need a vacation!)

Book Review: "If You Can't Take the Heat" by Michael Ruhlman

A book primarily set in a restaurant? Written by an award-winning food writer and cookbook author? How quickly do you think I picked this up?

Cleveland, Ohio, 1980. Theo is a star athlete at his high school, and he’s looking forward to spending the summer practicing with his teammates. It’s the one bright spot for him, since his girlfriend broke up with him a few weeks ago.

And then tragedy strikes: while playing a casual game of football, he breaks his leg severely. He’s bedridden for weeks and he might never be able to play football again. With not much else to do, he starts watching Julia Child and Graham Kerr’s cooking shows, and he becomes more and more interested in replicating what he sees on television.

His friend Julia (with whom he’d like to be more than friends) gets him a chance to help out at Margaux, the fancy restaurant she works at. At first, Theo takes care of lots of prep work for Chef (while he’s on crutches), and he immediately realizes how at home he feels, even while he makes mistakes due to clumsiness or nervousness.

As Theo proves his worth and his skill, Chef gives him more and more responsibility. At the same time, he is dealing with wanting more from his relationship with Julia, and having to convince his parents he can balance high school and working at the restaurant. But when an incident occurs and Theo does what he thinks is right, it complicates things on all fronts.

I really enjoyed this and learned some new cooking things, too. At times I forgot Theo was only 16, and at other times it was obvious based on his decisions. I honestly could’ve done without the romance, but I was definitely hooked on this story.

Book Review: "It Had To Be You" by Eliza Jane Brazier

Eliza Jane Brazier’s newest thriller published this week. This book was great—funny, suspenseful, steamy, and romantic—and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a film/TV adaptation pop up sometime soon.

Eva (not her real name) and Jonathan (not his real name) meet cute on a sleeper train from Florence to Paris. There’s definitely chemistry between the two of them, despite the fact that Jonathan seems a bit loopy. (He got shot but doesn’t want anyone to know.) The two wind up having hot sex on a luggage rack on the train, and when Eva goes to back to their compartment, Jonathan never returns.

The truth is, both are contract killers, but neither knows that yet. They can’t get the memory of their encounter out of their minds, but it’s a shock to both when six months later, they run into each other again, at the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. It’s no coincidence this time, though—Eva has been assigned to kill Jonathan.

Eva is proud of her skill as a cold-blooded killer, but while she thinks she can easily murder Jonathan, her heart isn’t quite in it. As they start falling in love with each other, it appears that their failure to kill one another has made them both a threat. Can true love survive trained assassins? Can they ever walk away from their past?

This has aspects of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but the chemistry between the two and the existential challenges they face make the plot richer. As they ping-pong their way through Europe, they don’t know whom to trust—not even each other.

Such a fun read!! Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Book Review: "Anyone's Ghost" by August Thompson

I really love coming-of-age novels, particularly when the main character is profoundly changed by someone or something. August Thompson’s debut novel is utterly fantastic—it’s thought-provoking, poignant, funny, and it felt so incredibly real.

Following Theron’s parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother in Los Angeles during the school year and with his father in New Hampshire during the summer. When he was almost 16, he planned to spend the summer watching TV and getting high, but his angry father had other ideas, and got Theron a job at a hardware store.

The only other employee in the store was Jake. Jake was 17, and everything that Theron was not—tall, confident, handsome, and he did what he wanted. The two quickly bonded over their shared love of music, jokes, and being critical of their parents, not to mention smoking pot and drinking.

They spend nearly every day at work, and usually hang out together at night. Their friendship is one where they can say anything to each other, express their true feelings or fears. Theron has never had a friend like Jake—he feels admiration, envy, even some infatuation for him.

“I wanted Jake as much as much as I wanted to be Jake as much as I wanted to be his friend as much as I wanted to be his brother.”

I was really moved by this story, which tells of Theron and Jake’s relationship that summer, the fits and starts through subsequent years, and moves to the present, where Theron is 30 and grieving. I can’t wait to see what Thompson does next!

Book Review: "I Was A Teenage Slasher" by Stephen Graham Jones

I’ve read two horror books in two months. Go me! TBH, I wasn’t thinking of reading this until I saw how much a Bookstagram friend raved about it. (I am powerless in the face of FOMO.)

“If I could unkill six people, not make the whole town of Lamesa, Texas gnash their teeth and tear their clothes and have to go to funeral after funeral that searing-hot July?”

It’s the summer of 1989 in a small Texas town. Tolly and Amber are best friends, getting ready for senior year of high school. Neither quite fits in, but they have each other to hang with.

On what seems like a normal night in Lamesa, Tolly and Amber go to a party where most of their classmates and former classmates will be. While Amber tries to fit in, Tolly makes a fool of himself, leading some of his classmates to teach him a near-fatal lesson. But it’s the events that follow which rock the town, and set Tolly on a revenge-killing path.

I love morally grey characters, where you can’t help but root for someone who does horrible things. The book is narrated by Tolly, as sort of a memoir or autobiography that he earmarks for Amber to explain it all. You can feel his regret as well as his unrequited feelings for her.

There’s definitely lots of gore and violence in this book, but lots of heart and humor as well. Jones has totally captured the spirit of 1989, and he is an amazing storyteller.

Book Review: "The Last Love Note" by Emma Grey

I held onto this book for a while because so many friends talked about how sad this was. I knew I needed to be in a place where a book like this wouldn’t leave me utterly bereft. And while this is certainly an emotional read, it’s full of beauty and hope all the same.

“How long is it reasonable to drag out your recovery from grief until you’re expected to get your act together again? Or maybe that’s where I’m going wrong. You don’t recover from it. There is no ‘healed’ moment. You just absorb it into your new life, somehow, and go from there.”

Cam was Kate’s first and only love. They’ve been together for years, sharing adventures and memories, and are the parents of a young son, Charlie. But shockingly, Cam became ill and died, leaving Kate to raise Charlie, and alone, navigate the future they were supposed to share.

Two years later, Kate is still dealing with her grief, which surfaces in the strangest of ways and situations. She’s working again and doing a stellar job, at least when she can fully pull herself together. She’s only 40; is this the life she has to look forward to?

When her first work trip is diverted by a storm, she’s left spending a few days in an Australian beach town. It’s there she realizes that her life doesn’t have to be defined by her grief, and if a second chance at happiness comes her way, it’s okay to pursue it.

There certainly are a good number of sad moments in this book, but also funny, sweet, and romantic ones, too. I really couldn’t get enough of this beautiful, moving story.

Book Review: "The World After Alice" by Lauren Aliza Green

“‘Funny, isn’t it,’ she said, nudging him. ‘How the past can sneak up to tap you on the shoulder when you least expect it.’”

Twelve years ago, Alice, a high school student, killed herself. Her family never really understood why she did it, and her loss has affected each of them in different ways. Now, her younger brother Benji and her best friend Morgan are getting married—a surprise to both families, since they never told anyone they were dating.

The wedding is at a cottage in Maine, and although 12 years have passed since Alice’s suicide, the gathering of family and friends feel her loss palpably. And as with any family gathering, old hurts and arguments are rehashed, secrets are revealed, and love will be celebrated.

Benji’s parents, Nick and Linnie, divorced not long after Alice’s death. Nick, now married to his former mistress, has been hiding the fact that he lost his finance job six months ago. Linnie brings Ezra, a man she has recently begun dating, to the wedding, and Ezra has secrets of his own. And Morgan’s father Peter is hoping to dissuade his daughter from getting married—but for different reasons than you’d imagine.

As Benji and Morgan try to focus on their love for one another and hope to keep the peace, it’s difficult for both of them not to get drawn into the drama. Can the wedding set everyone on the right path?

A slow-burn, character-driven story, the book shifts back and forth in time to various events before and after Alice’s death, and is narrated by several characters. This is beautifully written but the pacing felt very slow at times, and the plot went on tangents that seemed extraneous. But I can’t get enough of family dysfunction!!

Book Review: "The Hookup Mix-up" by Riley Hart

My second book by Riley Hart this week! Looks like I’ve found a new favorite romance writer!

Theo is a student at Franklin University and he’ll be the first in his family to graduate from college. But school doesn’t come easy for him, which causes him a lot of pressure, because he doesn’t want to disappoint his parents.

One night at a party he and his housemates are throwing, Theo gets quite drunk. He’s about to fall off a table when Perry catches him, which causes Theo to call him his knight in shining armor. They spend the rest of the party together, and Perry flirts with Theo, who is utterly oblivious to that fact.

When he invites Perry out to lunch to thank him, Perry thinks they’re going to hook up. Theo didn’t realize Perry is bi, which he is not, but they fall into an easy friendship and quickly become inseparable. The more time they spend together, the more Theo finds himself attracted to Perry, which is a shock to him. But he finds the courage to ask if they can be best friends with benefits, which Perry quickly agrees to.

Perry doesn’t do relationships, but he can’t stop thinking of Theo when they’re not together. And while the sex gets hotter and hotter, their feelings for another grow more intense, too, and they help each other deal with other issues that arise as well.

This book was the perfect combination of sweet, funny, and intoxicatingly steamy. I loved the chemistry between Theo and Perry and the banter with Perry’s brother and his partner. This is the start of a series written by different authors, and I’m all in!

Book Review: "The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer

Sometimes books make me tear up or cause me to get emotional. Sometimes they make me sob, and at times it’s happy sobbing. Meg Shaffer’s newest book had me happy sobbing really hard. I am in love with this book.

Jeremy and Rafe were best friends. They were pretty much inseparable. One day while on a class trip to Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia, the two boys go missing. Search parties comb every inch of the forest but the boys were never found. And then six months later, hikers find the boys, who have no memory of where they were.

Fifteen years later, Jeremy makes a living finding and rescuing missing girls and women. Rafe is more of a recluse, a talented artist, who bears physical and emotional scars from his time in the Forest. They haven’t seen each other since the days following their rescue.

One day, a young woman named Emilie finds Jeremy and asks for his help to find her older sister, who went missing from the same forest years before. Jeremy believes that Emilie’s sister is still alive, but they’ll need to return to the forest—and they’ll need Rafe to join them.

Jeremy knows where Emilie’s sister is because when he and Rafe were lost 15 years ago, they actually found themselves in a magical kingdom, where Rafe was a prince and Jeremy was a knight. But only Jeremy remembers those days, while Rafe thinks those memories are just dreams. It’s time for the truth to be revealed, for the once-lost boys to come to terms with memories and feelings they’ve kept secret.

I honestly cannot say enough about how much I loved this story. It’s a bit of a fantasy, but it’s also a beautiful story about love, friendship, blood and chosen family, and coming to terms with things we’ve kept hidden. I will read anything that Meg Shaffer writes!!

Book Review: "Of Sunlight and Stardust" by Riley Hart and Christina Lee

Tanner’s wife used to dream of them moving into an old house on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They would restore the dilapidated barn; she would paint and he would make his own beer. But she died before he could buy the house, so he bought it anyway and planned to make the renovations they discussed. One year later, he’s still too consumed by grief to do anything.

Cole spent some time in prison for looking the other way while things went wrong at the garage where he worked. When he got out of jail, he was homeless and as a felon, had little chance of finding a job, so he traveled to the town of Red Bluff to try for a fresh start.

When Tanner meets Cole, he can see his pain and his need for someone to give him a chance. Tanner offers Cole a job to fix up the barn in exchange for a place to sleep. The barn was rumored to have been damaged years before in a fire allegedly set by the son of the previous owners before he apparently ran off with his best friend.

Under the barn floor, Cole finds an old journal which apparently belonged to Tom, the young man accused of setting the fire back in 1948. As Cole and Tanner read the journal, what they find is the story of a young man in love with his best friend Charlie, at a time when those feelings were enough to get you hurt or killed.

At first, Cole and Tanner bond over their shared loneliness and grief, but over time, they develop a strong friendship. And the more they read about Tom and Charlie’s story, the more they’re drawn to one another, until friendship turns to passion. When they discover the truth of what happened to the barn and the young men, they know they must seize their chance at happiness.

I thought this was such a beautiful story, full of emotion, romance, and steam. These characters—as well as Tom and Charlie’s story—really found a place in my heart and my mind.

Book Review: "We Used To Live Here" by Marcus Kliewer

Oh, Bookstagram FOMO, you are too powerful sometimes!! I don’t read horror very often because I’m a complete and utter coward, but somehow I felt compelled to read this book that everyone has been raving about. And now, if there’s a knock at the door, I freak out!

Charlie and Eve flip houses. But the newest house they’ve bought is all the way in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s not quite the steal that Charlie told Eve it was.

One night, while Eve is in the house by herself, there is a knock at the door. A man is standing there with his wife and three kids, and he tells Eve he grew up in this house. He asks if he could show his family around. It shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes, tops. Eve isn’t really comfortable with this, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint these people. What could go wrong?

This book is utterly CRAZY! I had an eerie feeling from the start and it got more and more intense as I kept reading…and I couldn’t stop reading it. While I don’t like feeling so uncomfortable, this kind of psychological terror is so effective and unsettling.

This was such a fast and compelling read—or maybe I just wanted to finish it quickly! The ending left me with so many questions that I re-read it a few times just to be sure I got it. I know I’ll be thinking of this one for a long while!

Book Review: "Breaking the Dark" by Lisa Jewell

I’ll admit I was a bit dubious when I heard that a book series featuring the grittier side of Marvel superheroes was being launched. But being a Marvel fan, I couldn’t resist the idea of a thriller featuring Jessica Jones written by Lisa Jewell. And I thought it was great!

Jessica Jones is still reeling from some serious psychological trauma, which she’s nursing with alcohol. By day, she’s a private investigator; by night, she’s drinking herself into a stupor.

She is visited by a distraught mother, who claims that her 16-year-old twins returned visiting their father in England and are now acting strangely. Their skin is flawless, they’re strangely serene and don’t look at their phones at all, and they claim that everything is “perfect.” When Jessica spies on Fox and Lark, she does observe that something isn’t right.

Jessica travels to the UK to try and figure out what might have happened to the twins while they were visiting. She can’t shake a strange feeling she’s having, and when she visits an old farmhouse to find the girl Fox was smitten with, she realizes that this girl, Belle, is being kept captive. Can she get Belle out of her captor’s clutches?

What Jessica finds is far more disturbing than she imagined. And she must solve the mystery at the core of what is happening before it’s too late. But Jessica is battling her own demons as well as the feelings that this mystery has evoked in her.

I thought this was a bit creepy but I was hooked completely. Jewell is in great form once again, and she really fleshed out Jessica’s character well. I’ll be looking forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby.

Book Review: "The Love of My Afterlife" by Kirsty Greenwood

All the stars for this incredible book. It had that perfect combination of romance, emotion, banter, steam, and magical realism, and it made me both laugh and cry.

Even when she realized she was choking on a microwaved hamburger, Delphie never thought she’d actually DIE. But even worse, she can’t believe she’s in the afterlife wearing a nightshirt. And wouldn’t it figure that she meets the handsomest man at that moment…and he seems smitten with her?

Apparently the man, Jonah, isn’t supposed to be dead yet and is sent back to life, leaving Delphie bereft. Could she have already lost her soulmate? But the romance-loving afterlife counselor wants to see Delphie get her happily ever after, so she makes her a deal. Delphie will get sent back, but she has 10 days to find Jonah (whose memory will be wiped) and get him to kiss her. If she can, she can have her life back.

Ten days isn’t a lot of time when you don’t know someone’s last name or how to find him. But as she starts asking for help, suddenly she realizes how empty her life has been, and how being kind to people leads to possibilities she never would have imagined.

Along the way, Delphie must deal with some unresolved issues from her childhood and keep caring for her elderly neighbor. At the same time, she makes friends in unexpected places and realizes all she was missing before she died. Can she find her soulmate before her time runs out again?

This was such an amazing story, with a really terrific cast of supporting characters. I’ll definitely be thinking of this for a while! Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the free copy!

Book Review: "The Emperor and the Endless Palace" by Justinian Huang

“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

Justinian Huang’s debut novel was my pick for our book club this month. A romantasy—which isn’t a genre I’ve read much of—that dealt with the idea of soulmates through time, it definitely provoked some interesting conversation.

The book alternates among three different narratives.

Dong Xian is a court clerk in the Endless Palace in the year 4 BCE. He wants to make something of himself, so when he is offered the chance to befriend and seduce the young emperor, he agrees. He does not count on the intrigue that surrounds him, or the one who wants to stop him.

In 1740, He Shican is an innkeeper who welcomes a handsome guest and his grandmother, who is very ill. Summoning his friend and former lover, a doctor, to help the guests, He doesn’t know what forces he is awakening.

In current-day Los Angeles, River, recently out of the closet, goes to a circuit party with a friend of his. There he meets Joey, a handsome man, whom he is immediately drawn to. Yet both have a feeling they know each other from somewhere, and River’s determination to find Joey again brings him up against a corrupt businessman.

This is a beautifully written book, although the few sex scenes were very odd for me, distracting me from the rest of the story. The ending was a bit abrupt and I don’t know if I made every connection between the three stories, but I was drawn in to the story.

Book Review: "Evenings & Weekends" by Oisín McKenna

London, June 2019. The city is in the midst of a record heatwave. But beyond the joys of summer, London is experiencing chaos, as a large whale has gotten stuck near the shore of the Thames. The world watches as marine biologists try to figure out how to save it.

Maggie can’t believe she’s 12 weeks pregnant, but she and her boyfriend Ed are getting ready to move back to their suburban hometown to start a new chapter. Both are overwhelmed by the stress, and Ed is also dealing with the possibility that some secrets from his past might be revealed.

Meanwhile, Maggie’s best friend Phil is in love with one of his housemates, Keith, but Keith also has a boyfriend. Phil is struggling whether to tell Maggie what he knows about Ed, and he also has to figure out what he truly wants in life.

Phil’s mother Rosaleen is proud of her marriage and her two sons, but at times longs for the illicit friendship she had back in Dublin when she was younger. She’s now dying of cancer, but she can’t seem to get in touch with Phil to tell him.

All of their lives intersect over the course of several days. There will be happiness and tears, life-changing decisions, secrets and betrayals, and plenty of introspection.

This is one of those character-driven, slice-of-life books, in which not a lot happens but there are ramifications for all. I enjoyed this debut novel but at times Oisín McKenna packs so many details into a paragraph that they seem to go on and on endlessly. However, this book definitely highlights his talent!

Book Review: "The Haters" by Robyn Harding

After many years, Camryn has finally achieved her dream: her first novel has been published. She can’t believe her book will be sold online and in stores.

But Camryn’s joy is short-lived, because the night of her book launch party, she receives an email from a person she’s never heard of, insulting her and accusing her of horrible things related to the book. She can’t understand what would possess this person to do such a thing, but she tries to put it out of her mind and revel in her accomplishment.

When Camryn checks reviews for her book online, she is upset to see a one-star review, one which levels some of the same accusations she received in the email. More and more similar reviews and ones that react to the negative ones show up, and Camryn can’t understand who would want to ruin her career in this way. And when her publisher tries to intervene by getting some of the negative reviews removed, it sets off a larger firestorm.

Things continue to spiral out of control, wreaking havoc in her relationships with her boyfriend Theo, her daughter Liza, and her best friend Martha, not to mention her job as a school counselor. The attacks become more personal and more unhinged, causing Camryn to begin mistrusting everyone.

But in an effort to understand who might be behind all of this, Camryn makes misstep after misstep. She risks her relationships, her job, her publishing career—maybe even her life. How will she regain control, if at all?

I am a big Robyn Harding fan, but this book wasn’t my favorite. Everyone was a little bit crazy and weird, and Camryn didn’t strike me as particularly smart. And while I was glad the perpetrator wasn’t whom I thought it was when I started the book, I wasn’t satisfied with the resolution. But I’ll still read everything Harding writes!!

Book Review: "Failing a Bluff Check" by CD Rachels

I was looking for a fun romance and when I saw CD Rachels’ author blurb, I knew I’d found it: “In 2020 during quarantine, he read more romances than he ever had in the previous 29 years combined. But, he noticed a distinct lack of BIPOC voices, and now he’s on a mission to change that.”

When they were in high school, Firass had a huge crush on his best friend Nate’s older brother. Johnny Shiba was sexy, confident, and the object of everyone’s desire. But after he graduated, he left their Connecticut town for college and rarely returned.

Fifteen years later, Firass and Nate live together, and Firass is more a part of the Shiba family than Johnny. But when Johnny returns, the old feelings for Johnny return for Firass. He can’t help but stammer and flush anytime he’s in Johnny’s proximity, and he’s even moved into their house!

When Firass needs a date for his cousin Omar’s wedding, he wants someone that he can pass off as his boyfriend, which rules out his close friends. Johnny volunteers, and although Firass can’t believe he’d be willing, he takes him up on his offer. Right away, the chemistry between them is intense. No one has cared about Johnny the way Firass does. But although Nate has made it clear that the two must remain platonic friends since he and Firass are close like brothers, what happens on the road doesn’t count, right?

As Firass gets a chance at his dream job, he wishes he could be open about his feelings for Johnny. But Johnny has said before how much he hates their small town, so should Firass risk his heart?

This is the start to a series and I’m absolutely going to keep reading. The characters are much more complex than I first thought, the steam is quite hot, and the relationships made my heart melt.

Book Review: "Just Another Stupid Love Story" by Katelyn Doyle

I’ve always been a sap, so rom-coms and romances have always been a go-to genre for me. And while many of them are predictable—and I love their predictability—I’ve been really captivated lately by romances with a combination of banter, steam, and an exploration of more complex emotions.

Molly is dreading her 15-year high school reunion, but she’s capitulated to the wishes of her two best friends. Being back in Florida where she grew up isn’t that much fun for her, and she’s dreading she’s going to run into Seth, her high school boyfriend, whom she dumped unceremoniously right before graduation.

Seth is shocked to see Molly, who skipped both their earlier reunions. He knows Molly is a successful screenwriter of rom-coms, which is ironic, given how badly she broke his heart. But he’s happy to see her too, and with the liquor flowing, they’re back to flirting and even a few rounds of post-reunion sex.

The two are immensely different, though. Molly, despite writing rom-com scripts, doesn’t believe in love or soulmates; in fact, the minute she gets too close to someone, she sabotages things and flees. Seth, on the other hand, is all about love. He falls too quickly and too hard, and things never work out as he hopes.

They make a friendly wager about the future of five couples and vow to reconvene at their 20-year reunion. But of course, neither can get the other out of their mind, and every time they connect with each other they find themselves either wanting to be together or one pushes the other away.

I really loved this book, even though I kept picturing Seth Rogen, lol, despite the description of the character not fitting him. There are a lot of emotions explored here, fears and habits and how we handle happiness. The banter was top-notch, as was the steam, and I honestly couldn’t get enough.

Book Review: "Assassins Anonymous" by Rob Hart

I loved this concept and this book so much!

Mark was a hired assassin, one whose accomplishments were spoken about in terms of reverence. Known as the Pale Horse, his reputation invoked fear and admiration in other assassins as well as those his victims left behind.

But after he loses control of a situation, Mark realizes how exhausting it is to be a monster-for-hire. He knows he doesn’t really deserve a “normal” life given all he’s done, but he’d like to give that a try. So he walks away from his life as the Pale Horse, and joins a 12-step support group for former assassins, where they vow to channel their energies in different directions to keep them from killing.

Following the 12 steps is therapeutic for Mark, although it’s certainly strange not to use violence anymore. But a few days short of his 1-year anniversary, he is attacked at the end of a meeting. He doesn’t know his assailant but fighting him does reawaken the dormant feelings he has squelched during his recovery.

The attack sets off a chain of events which signal to Mark that his identity has been compromised. But who wants him dead? He goes on the run from New York to Singapore to London to try and find answers and those responsible, but he can’t kill anyone, no matter how much he wants to. But whom can he trust?

This was a fast-moving, whip-smart, intense thriller that I absolutely devoured. I’d love if this was the start of a series, because Mark is a great character, as were many of the supporting characters, including P. Kitty. (IYKYK)

Book Review: "The Rom-Commers" by Katherine Center

I love when one of your auto-buy authors knocks it out of the park with their latest book. This was just so good, and it couldn’t have been more up my alley.

“I had a theory that we gravitate toward the stories we need in life. Whatever we’re longing for—adventure, excitement, emotion, connection—we turn to stories to help us find it.”

Emma has dreamed of being a screenwriter for as long as she can remember. But with her father needing constant medical care and supervision, she put her dreams aside and she constantly makes sure he's safe. She's sacrificed her dreams so her younger sister can pursue hers.

When she gets the chance of a lifetime—to rewrite a rom-com script with her idol, screenwriting legend Charlie Yates—she’s reluctant to leave her dad, but her family convinces her it’s her turn now. But when she arrives in LA, she discovers that Charlie not only wasn’t aware she was hired, but he adamantly refuses a rewrite, especially with an unknown like Emma.

With some shrewd negotiation, she stays in LA and Charlie hires her. But not only does she need to convince him to rewrite his horrible rom-com, she needs to convince him that love exists. And how better to illustrate that than by growing closer and closer?

I love Katherine Center’s books so much, and this is definitely a new favorite. It’s fun, funny, emotional, and romantic.

Book Review: "Skater Boy" by Anthony Nerada

With all apologies to Avril Lavigne:

“Wes was a boy
And Tris was a boy
Can I make it any more obvious?
Wes was a punk
And Tris did ballet
What more can I say?”

This was a moving coming-of-age story. It illustrates how different it is growing up with social media, but accepting yourself can be just as hard as it was in the Dark Ages when I grew up.

Wes, aka “Big Mac,” would rather be on his skateboard than in school. His grades are tanking, he skips class a lot, and his teachers don’t expect anything from him—and they tell him that. He’s also a bit of a bully, and he and his best friends often cause trouble.

But Wes’ attitude and actions are a mask to cover up his fears and anxieties. He knows that he is gay but he also worries what being open about his sexuality could mean to his relationships with his mother, her fiancé, and his friends. It’s hard to be told he needs to find a girl or listen to homophobic jokes, but he’s trapped.

At a performance of “The Nutcracker” he gets dragged to by his mother, he sees Tristan, the dancer playing the title character. Wes is immediately drawn to him, but can’t admit that to anyone. As they start to hang out together, Wes is living a double life of sorts. His need to hide his true self will hurt the chance of a relationship with Tristan, but how will being honest affect his friendships and relationship with his mother.

This was a sweet book and it definitely resonated with me. I hope it gets into the hands of those who need to hear its messages.

Book Review: "Bury Your Gays" by Chuck Tingle

Please clap. I have read two books outside my comfort zone this week.

I am a gigantic coward, which is why I generally steer clear of horror as a genre. (I’m still scarred from a prank my college roommates played on me related to the book “IT.”) But when I saw a few friends raving about this book, I figured I’d give it a chance. The fact is, this was more creepy and disturbing than all-out frightening, so I may be ok.

Misha has been a horror screenwriter for years, always hoping he’ll hit it big. And he finally does, in the form of an Oscar nomination, even though he jokes that it’s in a category they don’t televise. But despite this success, the studio bosses want him to kill the gay characters in his long-time streaming series—or don’t make them fall in love. This should get them even bigger ratings.

The demand is clear: kill them or be in breach of his contract. Misha cares more about the characters, so he’s willing to sacrifice his career. But suddenly he realizes he and his friends are being stalked—by monsters he created onscreen. Can he survive this onslaught? He’s going to need to face up to some secrets first.

This was really compelling, both as a story and a commentary on queer representation in the media. It’s a great way to convey this message.

Many thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley for the advance copy! The book publishes 7/9.

Book Review: "Humor Me" by Cat Shook

This was a fun and charming read I devoured fairly quickly.

Presley is an assistant at a late-night talk show. She enjoys her job although she doesn’t make much money; getting the opportunity to work with her friend (and crush) Adam is more than worth it. Plus, she’s recently been given the responsibility of scouting out comics for a slot on the show. She’s always loved stand-up, and now she gets to go to comedy shows as part of her job.

Presley is still dealing with unresolved grief over her mother’s death. While her mother was a serious alcoholic, Presley still remembers some of the fun they had. But anytime someone talks about her mother, it’s like a punch to the gut.

One day she runs into Susan, a childhood friend of her mother’s. Susan’s husband helped get Presley an internship at the network, which led to her job. But now, he’s been accused of sexual harassment, which leaves Susan vulnerable, and she latches on to Presley. The last thing Presley would have imagined was striking up a friendship with someone like Susan, but surprisingly they seem to click.

This is a story about friendship, love, dating, and life in New York City, as well as how difficult it is to recover from loss. It also so accurately captures how first jobs can be fun even though you get paid next to nothing, and how they give you the chance to build your community.

Cat Shook has a real talent for character development and creating compelling personal dynamics. This book is funny, steamy, and a little emotional.

Many thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy! The book publishes 7/9.

Book Review: "A Happier Life" by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Whenever I read a book by Kristy Woodson Harvey, I know two things to be certain. First, I’ll feel warm and fuzzy and a little emotional because her books provoke all of those feelings. And second, I’ll want to go wherever the book is set. (The cover looks pretty enticing, doesn’t it?)

Keaton’s life and career have just imploded, and she’s gone to stay with her parents. But her mother and uncle have a job for her: travel to Beaufort, NC and get their childhood home ready for sale. Keaton didn’t even know that such a house existed, much less that her mother and uncle haven’t set foot in the house since their parents were killed in 1976.

When Keaton arrives in Beaufort, she’s amazed that the house is in a state of suspension: not a thing has changed since 1976. It’s an overwhelming task to go through all of her grandparents’ things, especially when she knows so little about them, but with the help of a group of women who knew the couple, she starts making progress. She also finds journals written by both her grandparents, which gives her some insight into their lives and love.

It seems like the biggest question Keaton and others have is what happened to Townsend and Rebecca Saint James that night in 1976? As she tries uncovering the mystery, she finds herself drawn to her next-door neighbor and his young son.

The story alternates between Keaton’s narration in the present and excerpts from Rebecca and Townsend’s lives. The more Keaton digs in, the more she realizes that as strong-willed as Rebecca was, she might have faced a challenge even she couldn’t conquer.

I loved everything about this book. The main characters and the supporting ones were all so wonderful, and I fell in love with Beaufort just like Keaton did. Harvey has such a way of drawing you into her books and filling you full of drama, friendship, love, and smiles.

Book Review: "A Curse of Scales and Flame" by Max Walker

It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy (and even longer since I’ve read an M/M one), but when a guy I thirst follow on Instagram (whatever) raved about this, I thought I’d give it a try. I was totally hooked!

There is a curse all over the world that seems to be killing dragons or, more specifically, humans who turn into dragons. No one understands who is responsible or how it can be reversed.

Damien is the oldest son in a family of dragons. He’s had to watch, powerless, as his mother died, and now his youngest brother is sick. Will the curse get each of them, one by one?

At his best friend’s magic store, Damien meets Robby, a friendly and somewhat klutzy guy. Damien rescues Robby from vampires twice, and then they find out that Robby is being hunted. Damien and his family want to protect Robby, and when they discover that somehow he has a link to those involved in the curse, they all want to find answers.

Of course, it’s not long before Damien and Robby’s intense attraction to one another brings them together in some very steamy ways. Can Damien protect Robby and find out how to reverse the curse before it’s too late for his brother? Can the two ever have a chance at happiness together?

I really enjoyed this and was so impressed with Max Walters’ creativity, his world-building, and the fascinating characters he created. This was an emotional, sexy, and completely entertaining, and I’ll be reading the second book in the series for sure!!

Book Review: "The Lookback Window" by Kyle Dillon Hertz

“The longer time passes, the less evidence exists. The more my memories warp. I knew all this was true. I knew the effects of what happened to me grew with time, but my recollection faded.”

Dylan was 15 years old when he met Vincent on the internet. Vincent wasn’t significantly older than Dylan but he seemed more worldly, and Dylan felt so wonderful being wanted by someone. But for three years, Vincent held Dylan captive as a victim of sex trafficking, keeping him drugged, taking pictures of him that he distributed, and letting others have sex with him.

Now, he is an adult, still dealing with all that happened to him, but he’s trying to move on. He’s engaged, and he hopes to have a good life with his fiancé, Moans, although he isn’t sure he’s capable of truly being happy.

And then a new law is passed. The Child Victims Act extends the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual assault, which used to be only five years after the child turned 18. The Act provided Dylan with a “lookback window,” a one-year period in which Dylan can decide whether to bring a civil suit against his abusers. But what does he want? Money won’t help erase what happened, and can there even be an adequate figure?

Considering what to do reawakens a great deal of anxiety and trauma in Dylan, which he tries to assuage with drugs and sex. But again, he endures, only to realize he owes it to himself and others like him to face his accusers.

This was tremendously powerful and moving. As a victim of sexual assault, I was hesitant to read this, but I’m so glad I did. It is a difficult but important book which brings male sexual assault victims to light. While at times this is bleak, it also is a beacon of hope.

Book Review: "Business Casual" by B.K. Borison

I’ve not really been wild about the last few books I’ve read, but luckily the slump didn’t last too long. All I needed was a return trip to Inglewild, and some time with the folks at Lovelight Farms.

Nova has always been fiercely independent and is used to getting things her way. But as she plans to open her own tattoo studio in Inglewild, she’s feeling the pressure to have everything perfect.

Charlie, whose half-sister Stella runs Lovelight Farms, is a hard-working businessman in NYC dealing with his pompous, power-hungry father, but he’s a frequent visitor in Inglewild. He loves joking around and flirting with Nova, although she mostly doesn’t take him seriously. He likes his job and likes living in NYC, but he's also really lonely.

Charlie is shocked when Nova flirts back with him, and she proposes they sleep together just once, to get it out of their systems. (Does that ever work?) With Charlie spending a month running the farm, it’s much harder for both of them to ignore the chemistry and the growing feelings between them. In the end, though, Charlie will head back to NYC, and everything can go back to normal.

I really love this series and the community B.K. Borison has created here. This is a fantastic story, romantic and seriously steamy, but full of complex emotions and the ways we make ourselves small because we don’t think we’re worthy of happiness. While this is the fourth (and apparently final) book in the series, each can be read as a standalone, but hopefully you'll fall in love with these characters, too. (B.K., please do a book with Dane and Matty at some point!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy! The book will publish 7/16.

Book Review: "Some Strange Music Draws Me In" by Griffin Hansbury

“For some of us, there comes a moment when we realize that the object of our desire lies outside our known world, beyond our towns and families. Out there, we understand, there is another way to want, to have, to be. Sometimes, even when we do not venture out to find it, when we try to want only what we are given, the object comes to us. And the world, without our consent, breaks open and expands.”

It’s the summer of 1984 in the small town of Swaffham, Massachusetts. Thirteen-year-old Mel (short for Melanie) will start high school in the fall, so she plans to spend the summer with her best friend Jules, riding their bikes around town, avoiding their parents, and getting into mischief.

One day she sees Sylvia, a strong woman with bravado, who reminds her of Joan Jett. She is utterly transfixed by Sylvia, strange feelings for Mel. Then she learns that Sylvia is a trans woman—a choice not particularly popular in Swaffham. But Mel is drawn to Sylvia, who takes her under her wing, which causes trouble with her mother and Jules, among others.

In 2019, Mel is now Max, a trans man whose teaching career is in jeopardy because he still thinks of things with more traditional labels. He returns to Swaffham to deal with his depression and clean out his late mother’s house, but being home triggers many memories and traumas.

This is a powerful and moving book that definitely may trigger some people. It shifts back and forth between the 1980s and 2019, and looks at the personal dynamics of a teenager struggling with their sexual and gender identity and dealing with how different they are from their friends. It also looks at how, in the present, there are some who struggle with a person who is confident in their own gender if it doesn’t fit their own views of the world, family or no, and it provides perspective on how societal thinking shifts and changes.

Book Review: "A Good Life" by Virginie Grimaldi (translated by Hildegard Serle)

Emma and Agathe are sisters who haven’t seen each other in five years. Growing up, Emma, as the older sister, was always Agathe’s protector and defender. Five years younger, Agathe was prone to tantrums and panic attacks, and yet always looked to her sister for comfort and security.

Their childhood was tumultuous and marked by tragedy, but they spent every summer with their grandparents in the Basque Country. Following the death of their beloved grandmother, the sisters agree to spend a week together at her home, the site of so many memories. While their estrangement and the pent-up hurts and resentments make the reunion challenging, they still are full of love for one another.

The book alternates narration between the sisters, and shifts through time, from their earliest memories to the present, with many stops in between. This is how we understand the sisters’ relationship and what led to their estrangement, as well as if there’s any chance to find their way back to each other.

This is a very slow-burn, character-driven novel. There are some lovely and poignant moments, but I struggled with the book’s pacing. At times there were so many different things happening it was difficult to keep track, but I don’t know if that's because it was translated or just the way it was written.

Book Review: "First Dates and Birthday Cakes" by Isabel Murray

This was super sweet, fun, and a bit steamy. Just what I needed after a few heavier books!

It’s Ben’s 40th birthday. He’s in the midst of a midlife crisis, because his life at 40 isn’t quite what he expected. He’s told everyone he doesn’t want any fuss for his birthday, and amazingly, everyone listened to him. But now he’s all alone.

In an effort to get out of the house and shake himself out of his melancholy, Ben decides to go ice skating. He used to be a pretty great skater—when he was 10–so it should be just like riding a bike, right? Wrong.

As soon as he steps on the ice, he’s on his back. After a while, he’s fallen so much, his bruises have bruises. But then he’s rescued by a handsome, tall man who is an excellent skater. Jakub, who teaches at the rink, helps Ben recapture the joy he had when he used to skate—when he isn’t tripping on the ice.

It turns out Jake isn’t just being kind. He’s attracted to Ben (the feeling is mutual), and when he finds out it’s his birthday, they plan to have dinner together, and Jake promises a birthday kiss. Will this meet-cute lead somewhere real?

I enjoyed the banter between Ben and Jake, as well as some of the other characters. It was a quick but sweet read.

Book Review: "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman

In case you’re wondering, this book is not about sandwiches (although the characters do eat a bunch of them). Am I craving a sandwich now? Yes. Yes I am.

There’s something about a family vacation. Rocky’s family has been going to Cape Cod every summer for two decades, and now that her kids are grown, she’s looking forward to spending time with them. They stay in the same rental cottage every year, and they all have so many memories—laughs, triumphs, tears, tragedies—through the years.

Rocky and her husband, Neil, are part of the sandwich generation, halfway between their adult children and their aging parents. They truly love each other, but lately their relationship has been experiencing some friction, in part because of Rocky’s menopause-related mood swings, and partly because of Neil’s ability to wall himself off from emotional or stressful situations.

When a secret is revealed to Rocky, it triggers memories of a particularly sad time in her life, memories which she has borne alone. That is part of the tension she feels toward Neil, but if she didn’t share, how could he have known?

This is a quiet, character-driven book that is so full of funny and emotional moments. It draws so much of its power from not only the beach trips, the conversations, the random meals, but also the glimpses of how the passage of time affects each of us. I really thought this was beautifully written.

“This is how it is to love somebody. You tell them the truth. You lie a little. And sometimes you don’t say anything at all.”

Book Review: "Four Squares" by Bobby Finger

What an absolutely fantastic, moving, hopeful book this was. Easily one of my favorites of the year.

“One of the toughest things about any friendship is remembering that the mere act of listening is often not only enough but also the totality of what the other person wants. Sometimes there is no follow-up question, no complementary personal anecdote, no soothing cliché that will do more than a silent nod or caress on the hand or pat on the knee.”

Bobby Finger’s new book begins in 1992 in NYC. It’s Artie’s 30th birthday and he and his two best friends, Adam and Kim, are going to celebrate. They’re still in the midst of losing friends to AIDS, which makes them cling tighter to one another. That night, at their favorite bar, Julius’, Artie meets Abe, a closeted bisexual lawyer who will be the love of his life.

Thirty years later, Artie has a successful writing career (mostly as a ghostwriter), and a relationship with Halle, Abe’s daughter. It’s a quiet life, and once Halle moves across the country, it’s a lonely one, but Artie is determined to thrive. And when a freak accident leads to his becoming a member of GALS, a center for queer seniors, he opens his life to a new circle of friends, realizing that the length of a friendship isn’t what matters.

The book shifts back and forth between the 1990s and 2022-23. It’s sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and just absolutely beautiful. It’s the story of friendship, love, chosen family, fear, and hope, as well as the power of connection. I’ll be thinking about this for a long time.