Book Review: "When Stars Align" by Melissa de la Cruz

Meh. I wanted to like this book but it was just sooo melodramatic!

Sicily, Germaine, and Miranda met as teenagers while performing on a hit television show, and quickly became best friends. Even after the show ended, each found fame, and together they were darlings of the paparazzi, turning every appearance into a party. But nothing lasts forever.

Miranda, who became a movie star, was tempted by the preponderance of alcohol and drugs. Each time she would mount a comeback, she would get derailed by addiction and impulsivity until it seemed like she had hit rock bottom. Germaine was the daughter of billionaire hotel moguls who never approved of anything their daughter did, leading her to question her ambitions. And Sicily, a successful pop singer, fell in love a little too quickly and found herself under the thumb of her greedy and controlling family.

The book follows each of the women over a 20-year period, as they try to deal with the struggles of their lives. Each of them tries to take control but finds themselves fighting an uphill battle. Yet they will learn they can’t do it alone, and it’s nice to know you have friends in your corner.

I love books that deal with the seedier side of fame and the crises that come from being in the public eye. But my problem with this book is that these characters never learned from their mistakes. The plot essentially watched each do the same things over and over again. I can experience that in real life.

This was an Amazon First Read for April and another book from Mindy Kaling’s imprint. It definitely didn’t work for me, but maybe it will for you?

The book releases 5/1/2025.

Book Review: "Rabbit Moon" by Jennifer Haigh

This was such a powerful and emotional book, one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Claire and Aaron’s 22-year-old daughter Lindsey is teaching English in China. When they get a call telling them that Lindsey was hit by a car in Shanghai, they’re both devastated and confused, because as far as they knew, she was working in Beijing.

Lindsey is comatose and her parents come to Shanghai to sit with her and pray that she wakes up. Both Claire and Aaron, who got divorced a few years earlier, want to understand what happened to their daughter. The hit-and-run happened in the early hours of the morning and there were no witnesses.

The book follows the couple in the days following the accident and also traces both the end of their marriage and the erosion of their relationships with Lindsey. We also see Lindsey’s life in China and the secrets she kept from her family, as well as the perspectives of her best friend Johnny and her younger sister Grace, adopted from China as an infant.

This is a book about family, the bond between sisters, and the desire to be loved. It’s also a book about cultural identity, found family, and the things we wished we had said before it was too late.

I’ve read a number of Jennifer Haigh’s books and I’m always dazzled by her talent. I loved the way the disparate elements of this story came together, and I loved how much Haigh’s storytelling drew me in.

Book Review: "Run Away with Me" by Brian Selznick

Thanks so much to Scholastic and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! This was a sweet and emotional read.

In the summer of 1986, Danny is 16 years old. He and his mother are spending the summer in Rome, as she has a job at a museum. Left to his own devices, he wanders the streets, visiting the sights, and waiting for something to happen to him.

And then he meets Angelo. Angelo seems to be following him through Rome—but once he steps out of the shadows, he has a powerful impact on Danny’s life. Angelo has stories about so many of the places and things they see, each of which focuses on love stories between men throughout history. Against this backdrop, the two boys’ attraction to one another quickly turns to love.

Of course, their relationship has an end date, since Danny will have to go back to the U.S. with his mother at the end of the summer. This only serves to intensify their feelings for one another and the emotions related to Danny’s impending departure.

As much as this is a love story between two young men, Brian Selznick has also written a gorgeous love letter to Rome. I’ve never been but Italy is very high on my bucket list. Selznick’s prose made me feel immersed in the sights and sounds of the city.

Having grown up in the 1980s, I love books set during that time. It’s always interesting to read a love story that takes place before the immediate connections that mobile phones and email could provide. The added bonus is the beautiful illustrations that Selznick drew. This book really packed a punch.

Book Review: "Heartwood" by Amity Gaige

“…hiking the Appalachian Trail isn’t a reasonable thing to do. Anyone who wants to walk two thousand miles in a row does it because they find beauty in the unreasonable.”

Valerie is nearing the end of her journey hiking the Appalachian Trail. But 200 miles from her final destination, she disappears in the woods of Maine. No clues can be found regarding her whereabouts or what might have happened.

Beverly is the Maine State Game Warden in charge of the search for Valerie. She feels confident that they’ll find her quickly, and hopes that she’s not been injured or harmed in any way. She knows that every day that passes lessens the chances that Valerie will be found, knowledge that takes its toll on Beverly and her team.

“I’ve heard it said that the sorrow of human life is that it ends. But I don’t think that’s the source of our sorrow. Everything ends, not just human lives. Days end. Species disappear. Planets die. No, the real sorrow of human life is that we feel. That’s our affliction. That’s why I wanted to walk for months on a trail through the woods.”

The narration shifts among Beverly, Valerie (including letters she wrote her mother while she was lost), and Lena, an elderly woman in a retirement community, who takes an interest in the search for Valerie. Along the way, we also get transcripts from interviews with the hiker who becomes close to Valerie and other people as well.

Amity Gaige’s writing is so evocative. I’ve never hiked anywhere, but reading this book, I felt as if I had. I could see the surroundings Valerie was in, feel the conditions. For a while, I felt that the portions of the story dealing with Lena robbed the narrative of its momentum, but everything ties together nicely.

Book Review: "The One That Got Away" by Mike Gayle

When Reuben met Beth, he knew he’d found someone special, someone he wanted to spend his life with. But while Reuben fell head over heels in love with Beth, she declared she didn’t believe in love. That’s not a good foundation for a relationship, is it?

Six months ago, they broke up. Needless to say, Reuben is shocked to learn that Beth is getting married this coming weekend. Yep, his ex-girlfriend who didn’t believe in love is going to get married, to someone other than Reuben.

“This was not the way we were meant to end up; we were supposed to get our hard-earned, written-in-the-stars, course-of-true-love-never-did-run-smooth-but-comes-good-eventually happy ever after. What on earth went wrong?”

Reuben’s friends spring into action to protect him from losing his mind on the day of Beth’s wedding. They plan a whole host of wild activities, even renting a bright red Ferrari for the day. But then Reuben gets a call that will throw not only all of their plans, but also Reuben’s heart, into disarray.

This was a cute story about how you figure out whether a person is truly right for you. It alternates back and forth between the past and the present, illustrating the rise and fall of Reuben and Beth’s relationship.

I would have loved if this story were narrated by both Reuben and Beth instead of just Reuben. It would’ve added a bit more depth to see how similar and how far apart they were from each other. But this was still sweet.

It will publish 5/1/2025.

Book Review: "Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez

I would give this book 10 stars if I could! Thanks so much to Abby Jimenez and Forever for the advance copy!

Xavier is a veterinarian with an enormous heart. Plus, he’s gorgeous, tall, and brooding. But he rarely smiles and maybe he’s a bit intense?

When Samantha first sees Xavier, he looks like a god in a lab coat. And then he opens his mouth and tells her the complete opposite of what she wanted to hear. In short, he’s a total jerk to her. She can’t wait to prove him wrong.

Prove him wrong she does. But he’s more than willing to fall on his sword—and then he asks her on a date. It’s the longest date ever and, quite possibly, the best either has been on. They both feel an intense connection to one another. Then Samantha drops a bombshell—in a few hours she’s moving to California to help her family care for her mother, who has early-onset dementia.

Samantha tells Xavier he should forget about her, but of course, that’s utterly impossible. They spend a few days together here and there, and fall deeper for each other every time. But since neither is in the position to move to where the other is, is this relationship doomed to fail? Wouldn’t it be better just to throw in the towel now?

Abby Jimenez knows how to work my emotions better than almost any author. This is a funny, steamy, and gorgeous book, and as always, it’s full of moments that make me laugh and tear up, as well as sentences I marvel at over and over. There could be triggers for some, so definitely read the author’s note. And then pick this one up!

Book Review: "Pomona Afton Can SO Solve a Murder" by Bellamy Rose

Imagine a cozy mystery with Paris Hilton as the main character, and you’ll get this fun, bighearted book.

Pomona Afton is an heiress to the Afton Hotels fortune, currently ruled with an iron claw by her grandmother. As cruel as her grandmother is, the last thing Pomona would’ve expected was to find her murdered body. But there it was.

When her family discovers that her grandmother put a clause in her will that freezes all assets in the event of a mysterious death, Pomona finds herself out on the street. She has no apartment, no money (except for what she makes as an influencer), and everyone else in her family seems to be making do.

She quickly realizes that her friends have abandoned her since she has no money. She moves in with Gabe, the (handsome) son of her former nanny, but it’s not a doorman building—it doesn’t even have an elevator! And even worse than that, she has to get a job at the coffee shop Gabe manages. This is a big shock for her, as she never paid attention to how her coffees were made or who served her.

When Pomona learns that her family’s fortune will never be released unless her grandmother’s murder is resolved, her only choice is to try and solve the crime. With Gabe as her sidekick/partner (because his mother was owed money as well for working for Pomona’s family), she embarks on an unlikely investigation. But if she gets her fortune back, will she lose any chance she might have with Gabe?

This was a quick and fun read. It’s always fascinating when “ordinary” people turn into detectives in books, but there’s nothing ordinary about Pomona. She and Gabe are both such fun, and bring a sweetness to the story.

Book Review: "Retreat" by Krysten Ritter

“No one’s life is ever as simple as it seems on the surface.”

Liz is a con artist. She’s pretty good at it, although she’s prone to occasional slip-ups, which necessitate her having to abandon a scheme. But she usually walks away with some benefit.

Isabelle, a wealthy socialite, hires Liz to oversee the installation of a major artwork at her villa in an exclusive part of Puerto Vallarta. She and her husband will be at a retreat in Bali, so Liz is free to stay at the villa, which should give her some time to plan her next move.

When Liz is mistaken for Isabelle, she decides to pretend to be the woman for the few days she’s in Puerto Vallarta. It’s not a bad situation at all, even though she’s constantly worried she’ll be found out.

But the more Liz slips into Isabelle’s life, the more questions she has about why the woman would not take advantage of all the privileges she has. Little by little, she realizes that Isabelle’s life might not have been the idyllic situation it appears from Liz’s vantage point. Liz might find herself in the middle of some precarious circumstances she is not expecting.

I love a good con artist story, and my attention was hooked fully on this book from start to finish. I enjoyed Krysten Ritter’s first book, Bonfire, and it was good to see that wasn’t a fluke. The twists kept coming and I devoured this in one sitting.

Book Review: "The Forager Chefs Club" by Rita Mace Walston

My social media feeds may be full of ads for all kinds of things, but I’m grateful for a Facebook ad promoting this book! This was really a fascinating book that was definitely right up my alley.

The Forager Chefs Club is a bit of a secret society. No one knows about it unless they’re involved, and the members of the Founders Circle are a mystery. But the club is committed to the practice of foraging, of celebrating the elements and foods that are local to a particular area.

The Club is hired to run a cooking competition in which the contestants must only use ingredients from Michigan—apart from three “exceptions.” Five individuals from different backgrounds are invited to participate in the competition, and winning could change the trajectory of their lives.

Eden spends most of her time cooking for her father’s mission in Detroit, and winning the competition could expand her ability to help those in need. Blaise is a culinary school graduate with immense talent and the attitude to match. Cooking is a way of connecting with his twin brother, who is on the autism spectrum.

Christian was attending culinary school until his mother got sick, and he moved back to his hometown of Flint to care for her. Celeste lives on Mackinac Island and is the youngest competitor, but she can’t find anyone to give her a chance. Daniel is a private chef raising his young son after the tragic death of his wife and is fighting his in-laws, who want custody of the boy.

If you’re a foodie, this book is for you. I loved the comprehensive discussions about foraging as well as the meals each competitor approved. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story, and while there is a little suspense, it’s just a satisfying and hunger-inducing read!

Book Review: "Count My Lies" by Sophie Stava

Holy twists, Batman! This was a very addicting read, one that I’ve seen a lot all over Bookstagram, and for good reason!

People tell lies for all kinds of reasons. Sloane can’t stop herself from lying—but most of her lies are small ones, things she wishes were true, stuff she hopes will make people like her and think she’s interesting. Sometimes the lies come so fast and furious that she can’t even keep track.

One afternoon during her lunch break, Sloane is relaxing in a park. She sees Jay, a handsome man whose young daughter is sobbing because she got stung by a bee. She tells the man she is a nurse (she is not) and helps take care of the girl. Of course, she’s tremendously attracted to the father, so when he promises to have his wife look for her in the parking lot the following week, she agrees.

Sloane and Violet, the wife, hit it off from the minute they meet. Sloane is wowed by Violet’s effortless style, and before too long they become close friends, and Sloane takes a job working as a nanny to care for Violet and Jay’s daughter. For the first time in a long time, Sloane feels wanted.

Of course, Sloane hasn’t completely told Violet and Jay the truth about who she is and what her background is. It turns out that Sloane isn’t the only one who has issues with the truth. But what will that mean for her job, or her friendship with Jay and Violet?

I was hooked on this book pretty quickly, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. Not every twist was surprising to me, but I couldn’t stop flipping the pages to see just how the plot would get tied up. Sure, the characters aren’t very likable, but would anyone get what was coming to them?

Book Review: "Summer in the City" by Alex Aster

“There are moments in life, I think, that make you grateful you didn’t just stay in your room.”

Elle is a successful screenwriter, but no one knows it, because she writes under an alias. She’s just gotten the chance for her big break, to write a big-budget rom-com set in NYC, so she moves to the city for inspiration.

She has the summer to write the script, but she has writer’s block. Bad. To make matters worse, she discovers that her neighbor in the apartment next door is Parker, the tech billionaire she met two years ago. They hooked up at a nightclub and he offended her, so Elle has hated him ever since.

Parker doesn’t seem to remember Elle, but their constant interactions fuel her anger, which in turn spikes her creativity. What happens when you realize your nemesis is actually your twisted muse, helping you do some of your best work?

When Parker needs a girlfriend to attend events while his company is in the midst of a crucial negotiation, he asks Elle. In exchange, he offers to accompany her to the different locations featured in her script. It’s just for the summer—and no feelings will be involved. (Sure…)

I’m a complete sap and this book hit all the right notes for me. It’s full of great banter, hot steam, and real emotion. Elle’s stubbornness was irritating at times but I still rooted for the two of them.

Book Review: "Black Woods Blue Sky" by Eowyn Ivey

I love it when an author can make you experience the setting of a book with all of your senses. In her third book, Eowyn Ivey takes us back to Alaska and immerses us fully in its beauty and its danger.

Birdie is a single mother to her young daughter, Emaleen. She’s far from perfect—she drinks a bit too much, and doesn’t always watch Emaleen as closely as she should, but she brings Emaleen to work with her as a waitress at an Alaskan roadside lodge.

One of the men who comes to the lodge every now and again is Arthur. He’s quiet, keeps to himself, and he is the type of person that people talk about without knowing what his whole story is. He lives in a cabin in the woods, far from town, and he knows the woods quite well, so when Emaleen gets lost one day, it is Arthur who finds her and brings her back safely.

Birdie is tremendously grateful to Arthur for saving her daughter. The more she gets to know him, she is drawn to his quiet ways and his secrets, not to mention his love of Alaska’s natural beauty. Despite the warnings of many, she and Emaleen move into Arthur’s cabin with him.

“It was impossible, what Birdie wanted. To go alone, to experience the world on her own terms. But also, to share it all with Emaleen.”

This book is a very loose take on Beauty and the Beast, but it is also a story all its own. It’s powerful and emotional, with touches of magical realism and a little suspense. While it doesn’t surpass Ivey’s first book, The Snow Child, in my opinion, it’s still such a beautiful and satisfying read.

Book Review: "Blob: A Love Story" by Maggie Su

This book was definitely a #Bookstagrammademedoit for me. I was surprised just how much I liked it, though!

Vi lacks motivation and direction. She’s dropped out of college, lies to her parents about applying to the Peace Corps, and her boyfriend Luke recently broke up with her. Vi works at the front desk of a hotel, but she’s not the most conscientious employee, and she constantly rebuffs the efforts of her perky colleague, Rachel, to become friends.

It’s not that Vi doesn’t care about anything; in fact, she cares too much. But she’s all too willing to be passive in her relationships, with Rachel, her family, even her boss. One night she finally agrees to meet Rachel at a bar, and while waiting for Rachel to arrive, Vi sees a strange blob on the ground. The blob has eyes and appears to be alive (and sad), so she brings the blob home with her.

The next morning Vi discovers that the blob listen to her and responds to her suggestions. So she decides to transform the blob into her perfect boyfriend. The blob grows into a handsome white man, and the more television he watches, the more his vocabulary—and context—is shaped. And once he starts interacting with others and the world around him, the blob wants to be happy, too.

This reminded me a little of the movie Lars and the Real Girl, in that while people thought that Bob the Blob was a little strange, they ignored their concerns. But think about how awesome it would be to mold your perfect boyfriend and have the ability to deal with the negatives.

Vi is definitely a hard character to root for because she’s selfish and lazy. But her story is really compelling, and I couldn’t stop reading the book.

Book Review: "Killer Potential" by Hannah Deitch

What a crazy, fun debut this was! This book definitely read like a movie at times, and I mean that as a compliment.

Evie was one of those kids with bucketloads of promise. She was super smart and dreamed of making her mark on the world. But despite graduating from a prestigious college, she now spends her days as an SAT tutor for privileged kids in Los Angeles.

One day when she arrives at the home of the Victor family for her appointment with their daughter Serena, she walks into a nightmare. She finds both parents dead, obviously murdered, and as she’s trying to make sense of it all, she finds a young woman tied up in a closet. Evie frees the woman and they escape before the police arrive.

Of course, it’s not long before law enforcement and the media are determined to find Evie and her “accomplice.” Suddenly she’s being called a brutal murderer, a smart girl gone bad, even Manson-like. But Evie doesn’t want to spend the rest of her life hiding or on the run. She hopes to find the real killer so she can have her life back.

What ensues is a race against time, as Evie and her new companion —who refuses to speak—try to keep ahead of the authorities. Their escape plan takes them across the country and makes them wonder where things will end for them.

I definitely had high hopes for this book. It was a quick read and it hooked me completely. Of course, parts of the plot require you to suspend your disbelief, and I thought the ending didn’t quite match the promise of the rest of the book, but this is still really enjoyable!

Book Review: "Open, Heaven" by Seán Hewitt

When a poet writes a novel, the language used is often mesmerizing. That’s definitely the case here; thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance copy of this!

“I had thought it would be painful to be reminded, but what I felt instead was a sort of collapse in time, or a possibility: a curious but strong sense that my old life might still exist there, that if I went back I might find those people, that summer, all going on there still, unharmed and unchanged.“

In 2002, James is 16. He’s gay, which makes him an object of curiosity in his small English town. His parents don’t quite know how to treat him, but it saddens them that James is a loner. What they don’t understand is just how much he wants to belong and how much he wants to find someone just like him.

And then Luke arrives, the nephew of James’ parents’ friends. Luke has come to stay at his aunt and uncle’s farm just outside James’ village because he has no one else to care for him—his mother has moved to Paris to be with another man, and his father is in jail. Luke has a reputation for being a bit of trouble, a bit out of control, and James is immediately smitten.

The story is told 20 years later. James is an adult and is looking at property that is for sale—the farm where Luke lived that year. James looks back on this not-quite-relationship that had such an impact on his life. It’s amazing how much our interactions with a person—particularly for a short time—can change us.

This was a beautifully told coming-of-age novel. James isn’t entirely sympathetic but his struggles, his longing felt very familiar to me. I’m amazed that this is a debut novel and can’t wait to see what comes next for Seán Hewitt.

The book will publish 4/15/2025.

Book Review: "The Perfect Couple" by Elin Hilderbrand

So last week I discovered that the Netflix show The Perfect Couple (which was so melodramatic and fun) was based on a book with the same name, by one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand. I’ve had the book on my shelf for a long while, so I decided to give it a read.

Most of the time, I read the book before I watch the adaptation, so doing the opposite gave me a different perspective. While I certainly saw the characters in my head as the actors who played them, fortunately there are some significant differences between the book and the show.

Summertime is glorious on Nantucket. It’s also wedding season, and the wedding of Celeste Otis and Benji Winbury promises to be the event everyone will be talking about. Famed mystery novelist Greer Winbury, Benji’s mother, has checked and rechecked every detail to ensure the wedding is perfect.

But as the day of the wedding dawns, tragedy strikes. Merritt, who is Celeste’s best friend and her maid of honor, is found floating in Nantucket Harbor. It doesn’t appear to have been an accidental drowning, which means someone involved in the wedding is responsible for Merritt’s death.

As the police chief investigates, he interviews the bride and the groom, as well as members of the family. He starts to discover that many people had secrets they wanted to keep hidden. But who was willing to kill to protect their secret?

I’m a big fan of Hilderbrand’s books, and this one was such a fun and addicting read. I love family drama and dysfunction, and I really like that she brought back characters from previous Nantucket books. I may be the last person to have read this, but if you haven't yet, it will definitely make a great beach book!

Book Review: "The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits" by Jennifer Weiner

This is definitely the type of story I love! Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance copy of this.

Growing up, Zoe always craved the spotlight while her younger sister Cassie was painfully shy. But Cassie was a musical genius, and when she does Zoe a favor and performs with her at a Battle of the Bands concert, the duo catches the attention of a talent scout.

It’s the early 2000s, and the sisters quickly get signed to a recording contract. Their ascent is nearly meteoric, and once they start releasing original songs, their fame grows, especially with those who feel seen by their songs.

And just as everything is going well, a tragedy occurs and the band breaks up. Cassie disappears from the public eye—not to mention her family—while Zoe gets married and raises her children, living a comfortable suburban life. But when Zoe’s daughter Cherry wants to pursue a musical career, Zoe discourages her, but doesn’t really explain why.

As Cherry pursues her dreams, she decides to find her Aunt Cassie. In the process, she unearths secrets and misunderstandings that have festered for 20 years. What caused the band to break up? Why did Cassie disappear?

The narrative shifts between the early 2000s and the present, and among Zoe, Cassie, and Cherry. I love the way Jennifer Weiner writes, and I was completely drawn into this story.

The book will publish 4/8/2025.

Book Review: "Wild Dark Shore" by Charlotte McConaghy

I’ve read all three of Charlotte McConaghy’s books now, and each one has been a 5-star read for me. They’re intense, tremendously thought-provoking, and emotional, and they really make me think about climate change’s effect on our world.

“…I can understand why he might not, in fact, be alright. Why maybe none of us will be, because we have, all of us humans, decided what to save, and that is ourselves.”

Dominic is the caretaker of Shearwater, an island not far from Antarctica. It is home to seals, penguins, and other animals and birds, as well as a vault containing samples of countless seeds. Dominic and his three children are the only inhabitants left on Shearwater, which used to be a research hub, until the rising tides began destroying the island.

One day, the body of a woman washes up on shore. Dominic and his children rescue her and care for her until she recovers. This woman, Rowan, has come to Shearwater to find her husband, who was once the head researcher there. But he is nowhere to be found, and while Dominic tells Rowan that her husband left with other researchers, she thinks he is hiding something.

As they spend their last few months on the island before they are to be picked up, they must decide which seeds they can take back with them. At the same time, Rowan tries to make sense of the secrets that Dominic and his children are keeping—from her and from one another—and they each need to imagine their futures.

This is a slow-paced book but there is an underlying tension, as you wonder what secrets there really are, and what will happen to all of the characters. At the same time, McConaghy has created a setting so evocative yet so dangerous, that I wanted to visit and also stay as far away as possible. This was just fantastic.

Book Review: "Tender Tackles" by B.T. Wolfe

Bryan was overwhelmed with grief after his brother’s death. He decided he needed a fresh start, so he took a job as a head football coach at a small town high school.

When one of his star players gets hurt during practice, Bryan meets his father and gets quite a surprise. It turns out that they’ve met before: Emerson, who is the town doctor, was the man with whom Bryan had an intense one-night-stand in NYC two years ago.

While the chemistry between the two men is still intense, Emerson doesn’t want to give into temptation again. He wants to focus on his relationship with his two sons and his busy practice, and he doesn’t want to complicate things. But every time he and Bryan are together, they can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves.

The two decide to pursue a relationship but keep it secret for a while given Bryan’s coaching job. For the first time since his brother’s death, Bryan feels freer and happier, and he looks forward to building a future with Emerson.

But when news of their secret relationship leaks out, it threatens Bryan’s job and Emerson’s relationship with his sons. Can their love withstand the stress of possible scandal?

I haven’t read many M/M age-gap romances, but I enjoyed this. I wanted a bit more intensity in their relationship but I liked the way the author kept things from getting too melodramatic.

Book Review: "Go Luck Yourself" by Sara Raasch

Sara Raasch’s Royals and Romance series is incredibly creative, full of humor, emotion, and some steamy steam. I really enjoyed The Nightmare Before Kissmas and I loved her newest book, Go Luck Yourself, which was released just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

Kris’ family is in charge of Christmas, and his brother Coal has taken over as Santa. When Kris discovers that someone has been siphoning off Christmas’ joy, since he is the “spare prince,” he agrees to investigate the theft of joy. Since he found a shamrock, he’s headed to the kingdom of St. Patrick’s Day.

Kris is thrown when he discovers that the crown prince of the holiday, Lochlann, is the hot guy who drove him crazy at college. Lochlann isn’t happy that Kris has shown up in his family’s kingdom, even though Kris has been trying to help rescue Lochlann's reputation with the holiday press.

The more times they are thrown together, the more complicated Kris realizes that Loch’s situation is. And at the same time, Kris sees in Loch a kindred spirit—a creative soul unsure of what he wants, who doesn’t believe he’s entitled to his own happiness.

The theft of joy is also far more complicated than Kris suspected. Is Loch responsible? Is Kris’ growing attraction to Loch blinding him? The truth has the potential to hurt both of them, but can it also free them?

I love Raasch’s storytelling and the amazing universe she has created. This book is so much more than a simple romance, as both of its main characters really have to deal with some tough emotional baggage. But the banter and the supporting characters make this even more special.

Book Review: "The Writer" by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

I’ve been on a real James Patterson kick lately and I’ve not been disappointed by anything of his I’ve read! His newest book, a collaboration with JD Barker, wowed me completely.

Declan Shaw, an NYPD detective, is summoned to an exclusive apartment building one night. A woman says she found her husband dead, their apartment broken into. She is in shock, covered in blood, but apparently unharmed.

The woman is Denise Morrow, a bestselling true crime writer. She’s explored some notorious cases, uncovering details and secrets long kept hidden. And she’s nearly done with her latest book, in which she accuses Declan of planting evidence in another case.

It looks like Denise might be guilty of murdering her husband and making it look like a home invasion. But she and her lawyer poke holes in the evidence the police have collected.

Every time the police think they have an ironclad case, something else arises. What really happened that night? And is Declan a corrupt cop who planted evidence, or is he being framed?

The twists came fast and furious in this book, and I could not put it down. I loved the way this unfolded and I wasn’t sure which characters to root for. This was a great collaboration!

Book Review: "What is Wrong with You?" by Paul Rudnick

Trone Meston is a tech billionaire (think of a hybrid of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon) who is about to get married on his private island off the coast of Maine. He’s engaged to marry Linda, a former flight attendant and the ex-wife of Sean, a fitness mogul and former TV superhero.

A motley crew of invited guests and hangers-on have gathered not only for the wedding, but for Trone’s promised unveiling of a major technological breakthrough. Sean is hoping to convince Linda not to get married and instead reconcile with him. But can he compete with a billionaire for Linda’s hand?

Sean has invited one of his personal training clients, Rob, to be his plus one at the wedding. Rob has been mourning the death of his longtime partner, Jake, and is dealing with the end of his career as a book editor at the hands of Isabelle, the publisher’s “sensitivity associate.”

Tremble, the writer that Rob was working with, is an outspoken yet talented genius whose perspectives on the world are shockingly blunt. When she learns Rob has been fired, she too heads for Maine to try and get his job back.

I enjoy the way Paul Rudnick skewers social conventions and looks at love, grief, and relationships. This book tried to shoehorn so many characters and issues together and it was almost thisclose to going off the rails completely. I liked the character development, but I just found the plot got too silly after a while.

Book Review: "Stop Me If You've Heard This One" by Kristen Arnett

Cherry is a clown. Seriously. She spends a lot of time at children’s parties and other events all over Orlando, playing the part of Bunko, a rodeo clown who’s terrified of horses. She loves making people laugh, and would love to take her act to the next level.

When she’s not performing, she works at an aquarium supply store. (More accurately, she does as little work as possible and she and her coworker antagonize their boss.) But she hopes that she’ll make the connection that will allow her to concentrate full-time on clowning.

When she goes on a date with Margot the Magnificent, a talented magician, Cherry’s first thoughts center around her attraction to the older woman. But then she realizes that Margot might be the one to help further her ambitions.

When Margot suggests that they team up, Cherry is excited about what the opportunity could hold. But what will Cherry have to sacrifice in order to get what she wants? And what does she want—from her career and from her life?

It’s not just her career ambitions that Cherry has to make sense of, though. She needs to figure out her relationship with her mother, who never approved of her clowning, and she lives in the shadow of her late older brother, Dwight, who everyone remembers as hysterically funny. It’s a lot to live up to.

I liked the concept of this book a lot, but it never really grabbed me. I like the way Kristen Arnett writes, so I’m definitely interested in checking out her backlist, but I never felt completely connected to the story.

Book Review: "The Serendipity" by Emma St. Clair

This book made my heart grow a few sizes larger. I mean, a sweet romance plus magical realism? Yes, please!

Archer is a billionaire businessman embroiled in a scandal caused by his father’s corruption. He can’t go anywhere in NYC without being followed, either by the press or the public, and he’s finding that difficult to deal with.

So what does a billionaire do when he wants to escape scandal? In Archer’s case, he buys an apartment building, The Serendipity, in a charming city called Serendipity Springs. He doesn’t buy into the stories about how the building and the town are both magical. But he does know he can make a lot of money with some changes to the building.

And on his first night in the building, Archer gets a surprise. He finds Willa, one of the building’s residents and a talented baker, in his closet. All Willa remembers is going into her closet, and the next thing she knew, she was in Archer’s apartment. He doesn’t believe her story, though, although he can’t deny his attraction to her.

When Archer announces big changes to the building, including a rent increase and a prohibition on pets, the tenants are very unhappy. Another change could negatively impact Willa’s baking business. But despite all the havoc he’s causing, why can’t she stop thinking about him?

This really was all kinds of adorable. I loved the banter, the supporting characters, and the absolute sweetness of this book. And I’m thrilled that it’s the first of an 8-book series called Only Magic in the Building, so I have lots more time to spend in Serendipity Springs!

Book Review: "What If I Never Get Over You" by Paige Toon

Thanks so much to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy of Paige Toon’s newest! I’ve become an enormous fan of hers the last year or two.

Ellie has been interrailing through Europe, something she had been looking forward to for years. But traveling by herself was starting to get her down, so she made the decision to cut her trip short. So of course, just before she was ready to leave Lisbon, she meets Ash.

Ash is from Wales, has a fantastic accent and a carefree spirit that appeals to Ellie, who’s always done the right things. (It doesn’t hurt that he’s sexy as hell, too.) They so enjoy each other’s company and feel such an intense connection that they spend Ellie’s last few days in Europe together. And while she is expected to fly home with her parents, Ellie and Ash decide to meet in Spain one week later.

When Ellie’s arrival in Madrid is delayed a bit, she worries Ash might think she changed her mind. When she finally arrives at their designated meeting place, he’s nowhere to be found. She can’t figure out why he didn’t show—maybe the intense feelings she had weren’t reciprocated? Crushed, she decides to move on with her life.

Six years later, Ellie gets a job as a gardener at a 500-year-old estate in Wales. Working with gardens had always been her dream, and doing so on such a vast property is amazing. When Ash re-enters her life, she is completely thrown, and she realizes how little she actually knew about him. But their feelings for one another are just as intense.

This book really captured my heart. I loved the beginning section, where Ellie and Ash meet, and while the story slows a bit in the middle, I really rooted for them to find happiness. Toon definitely knows how to create an emotional story!

The book will publish 4/15.

Book Review: "Jane and Dan at the End of the World" by Colleen Oakley

“Wanting to believe something is the basis of most successful relationships, she thinks. Wanting to believe that the person you are with is good or decent or that they would never do anything too terribly immoral or heinous like double-dipping a chip at a party or murdering someone. But the truth is, wouldn’t most humans do the terrible thing, given the right circumstances?”

It’s Jane and Dan’s 19th anniversary. While they usually celebrate at Macaroni Grill, this year they’re headed to one of the most exclusive (and expensive) restaurants in California, La Fin du Monde. But Jane isn’t happy. Not with her career as an unsuccessful novelist, not with her teenage children, and not with her marriage. Plus, Dan is cheating on her.

When Jane and Dan sit down for dinner, she tells him she wants a divorce. Before Dan can process this shocking disclosure, the restaurant is stormed by gun-toting activists. Jane can’t believe this is happening, especially when she realizes that everything that unfolds she wrote about in her one failed novel. Could this hostage drama be inspired by her book?

As Jane, Dan, and their fellow hostages deal with the fumbles of their captors, they wonder if they’ll get out of the restaurant alive. What do they really want from taking over the restaurant? How much do the hostages have to worry? And why does everything that Jane and Dan do or say irritate the other?

Given the fact that Jane’s book appears to have been the model for what is unfolding, Jane and Dan try and figure a way out. At the same time, they have to come to terms with how they feel about each other and what they want out of their future. (That is, if they get out alive.)

I thought this was good but I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped I would. The pacing was very uneven—at times it was sedate and at times it was frantic. I wanted more backstory about Jane and Dan, and I wanted to like them more.

Book Review: "Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall

I. Loved. This. Book. When I think about what makes a 5-star read for me, it’s a book that utterly captivates me and impacts me emotionally. This is definitely one of those.

Beth and her husband Frank live on his family’s farm. Their love is solid, steady, and has weathered the tragedy of losing their young son in an accident. Life on the farm is hard, satisfying work, and Frank’s younger brother Jimmy helps them.

One day, a dog comes charging onto the farm and goes after some newborn baby lambs. To keep the dog from hurting more of them, Jimmy shoots it. They find shortly thereafter that the dog belonged to a young boy named Leo, who is the son of Beth’s first love, Gabriel, who is now a famous writer.

Seeing Gabriel again awakens feelings that Beth had locked away years ago. When Gabriel asks if Beth will pick Leo up from school each day so he can work on his next book, Beth agrees, although her regular proximity to Gabriel concerns Frank. But Leo reminds Beth of the son they lost, and it’s not long before she feels torn between Frank and Gabriel.

But Gabriel’s fame, coupled with the history he and Beth had, leads to gossip and insinuations. Tensions rise between Beth and Frank, until a tragedy occurs that changes everything.

This was so beautifully written and so compelling. I had seen a number of positive reviews so I hoped I’d enjoy this too, and I absolutely loved it. It’s amazing how one action can instigate ripples that touch so many people.

Book Review: "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Allison Ashley

I can always count on Allison Ashley to deliver a heartwarming love story with a medical slant, but this may be my favorite of hers. I love books that make you think while they make you feel, and this one sure did that!

“On the evening before her untimely demise, Elliott Holland went on someone else’s date. Okay, possible demise.”

Cancer has been a part of Elliott’s life for as long as she can remember. She’s dealt with leukemia twice and is about to undergo a stem cell transplant in the hopes this will be the key to beating the disease permanently.

The night before her procedure, she goes to a bar. There she starts talking with a handsome stranger, Jamie, who has apparently been stood up by his date. Jamie and Elliott enjoy each other’s company so much that she agrees to accompany him on the date he had planned. At the end of the night they share a romantic kiss, but since she doesn’t know the outcome of the transplant, they don’t trade contact information.

A year later, her cancer is in remission and she goes to meet Carly, her stem cell donor. Much to Elliott’s surprise, Carly’s boyfriend is Jamie, whom Elliott hasn’t stopped thinking about. It’s clear their feelings for one another haven’t dulled, but how can Elliott betray the woman who essentially saved her life?

I thought this was such a great story. The characters were so much fun and I loved their banter, and I was completely drawn into their lives. Plus, all the baked goods sounded amazing!

The book will publish 4/1/2025.

Book Review: "Kate & Frida" by Kim Fay

“…books aren’t anchored in one place like a building which means you can read a book that holds your memories anywhere. And food. If you can get your hands on the right ingredients, you can eat a dish that holds your memories anywhere too. If memories are inherent to our sense of identity, does that mean it’s possible to reassemble parts of your identity no matter where you are in the world?”

This was such a heartwarming and thought-provoking epistolary novel. I found myself smiling and tearing up while reading it.

In 1991, Frida is an aspiring war correspondent living in Paris. She is ready to take on the conflicts of the world and share the stories people don’t see. One day she writes to a bookstore in Seattle to request a book. Her letter is received by Kate, one of the store’s booksellers, who is also an aspiring writer.

Kate is immediately drawn to Frida’s letter, and loves having the opportunity to help a customer. Her reply to Frida sets off a correspondence that builds into one of the most important relationships either young woman has ever had. They recount their days, share their dreams and fears, and talk about books, food, family, and their romantic relationships.

Frida goes to Bosnia to cover the war there and is shaken by all she sees. She searches within herself to find her story. Kate is a highly emotional person who loves her job as a bookseller and loves her family, but so desperately wants to leave her mark on the world.

Epistolary novels are such a terrific change of pace, and I felt the difference between both characters. Kim Fay said in her Author’s Note that this book was inspired by the advice she wanted to give her younger self. This really was a beautiful and memorable book.

Book Review: "The Loves of My Life" by Edmund White

Edmund White was the first gay fiction author whose work I read back in the 1980s. He’s definitely one of the legends of the genre, and at 85 years old, he’s still writing. This memoir was my book club’s pick for the month and it certainly provoked a lot of discussion!

“Did I always endure unreciprocated love because I could only love (and write about it) when I was rejected? Did my low self-esteem seek out rejection, as in I wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would accept me? Or does everyone hope to trade up to a newer, better lover? Not social climbers but amorous climbers?”

This memoir isn’t your typical chronicling of White’s literary career or anything like that. In this book, White looks back on more than 60 years of sexual encounters. He touches on everything from his childish escapades while growing up and taking his curiosity a few steps further as a teenager, to sex he paid for (and, in some cases, was paid for), as well as the risks he and many other men took, given the illegality of homosexual activity both in the U.S. and abroad.

White doesn’t mince words when describing some encounters and the men he was with. Some of his memories may be shocking, some were tame, and some were tremendously poignant, given how AIDS decimated the gay community in the 1980s and 1990s. And while the sheer number of encounters may seem unbelievable, for many men during that time, having the opportunity to be free from hiding their true selves often led to unbridled activity.

True to the title of the book, White touches on his romantic relationships as well. He shares both good memories and bad, and there are clearly some men he was fonder of than others.

I’m definitely not a prude, but after a while I felt like some of White’s recollections became excessive. However, I love how he captured the changes in society and sexual freedom through the decades, and how he views sex now that he’s in his 80s.

Book Review: "You Killed Me First" by John Marrs

John Marrs has been on my list of authors I’ve been wanting to read for a while now. Intrigued by the description of his newest book, I thought it was time to give him a try. This was an utterly wild, twisty book that kept me shaking my head, so I know I’ll be diving into Marrs’ backlist!

This is the story of three women: Margot, Anna, and Liv. Margot and Anna are neighbors and friends. The arrival of Liv and her family shake things up for the two women. Liv is gorgeous and wealthy, and becomes the envy—and irritation—of her neighbors.

While three women appear to become close friends, each is preying on the other’s weaknesses. Each woman has secrets they’ve kept hidden; what the others know and what they’re willing to do with that knowledge makes everything a bit more interesting.

Eleven months later, a woman awakens to find herself in the middle of a bonfire—and she’s trapped. Will she be able to escape, or will someone save her before she dies in the fire?

Shifting back and forth between the months prior to the bonfire and then the months after, this is one crazy ride. A definite suspension of disbelief is required, that’s for sure!!

It’s hard to write a review without giving too much away. But I couldn’t stop reading this. I didn’t want to put the book down at all, and devoured it pretty quickly. All I can say is, wow!

Book Review: "Don't Tell Me How to Die" by Marshall Karp

Believe the hype, y’all! This book was totally not what I was expecting but it was utterly fantastic. Now…to write a review that doesn’t give anything away!

Maggie loves her husband tremendously, has two great kids, a sister who’s her best friend, and an incredibly fulfilling career. Not bad for a 43-year-old!

She’s spent her adult life waiting for a bombshell to drop. Then she finds out she’s dying, and has only a few months to live. It’s not really a surprise, as her mother died when Maggie was 17, and she and her sister knew it was possible that they could inherit the disease she had.

Before Maggie’s mother died, she asked her daughters to look out for their father. She knew the women in town would descend upon him, wanting to claim him, and he would be too grief-stricken to resist. That nearly happened, but Maggie got wise in the nick of time.

Now, facing her own impending death, Maggie would like to find the woman to take her place, to care for her husband and kids. She wants to be sure to protect her husband from anyone with ulterior motives. She knows if she tips her hand, she could leave her husband and kids open to manipulation. But time is running out.

You may think this book is primarily a family drama, and while there are some elements of that, be ready to be thrown some curves. I’ve never read any of Marshall Karl’s books, but given how quickly I devoured this, I certainly will be jumping into his backlist! This really was that good.

Book Review: "Hot Air" by Marcy Dermansky

Sometimes books show us that our lives aren’t as bad as they could be. Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for giving me that perspective along with an advance copy of this book!

Joannie hasn’t been on a date in years; particularly since her divorce, she’s focused all her attention on being a good mother to her young daughter, Lucy. But she agrees to a date with Johnny, the wealthy father of one of Lucy’s classmates. He turns it into a family affair: he invites Lucy to come with Joannie, so she can watch movies with his son.

Johnny is very charming. He has a wonderful home, seems like a great father, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s wealthy. The challenge is, after their first kiss, she realizes that she’s not attracted to him. Sigh.

But then things get a bit out of control. A hot-air balloon carrying a well-dressed couple crashes into Johnny’s pool. Joannie dives in to rescue them, only to realize they look familiar. The man is Jonathan, a very wealthy public figure—and Joanie’s first kiss back at summer camp.

Jonathan reserved the hot air balloon in an effort to woo back his wife, Julia, who has had enough of Jonathan’s public philandering. Their crash landing sets Johnny, Joannie, Julia, and Jonathan on a wild ride, where they’ll each have to figure out what—and whom—they want.

I absolutely loved Marcy Dermansky’s last book, Hurricane Girl. She has a knack for stream-of-consciousness storytelling that worked for this book. This is definitely a cross between satire and social commentary. It won’t be for everyone, but it was a fun read!

Book Review: "Woodworking" by Emily St. James

What an utterly fantastic, thought-provoking, and important book this is! At a time when trans people are treated as less than, this book needs to be read.

In 2016, Erica is a 35-year-old teacher in South Dakota. Her marriage has recently ended, and she’s come to the realization that she is transgender, despite living as a man. This realization answers many questions for her, but how can she live as her authentic self without losing everything in her life?

Abigail is a student at the high school where Erica teaches. She’s the only trans girl in the school, she’s estranged from her parents and a few of her siblings, and the last thing she’s expecting is for her English teacher to out herself as trans. Abigail isn’t much interested in being Erica’s trans mom and confidante, but she knows what it’s like to have no one.

As Erica tries to decide whom to confide in and whether or not she wants to fully transition, Abigail has to decide how to support Erica while taking care of her own journey. Their stories are told against the backdrop of a local election that features an anti-trans candidate as well as the impending presidential election.

“Erica had often imagined what she might say if she ever talked to another trans woman. She always assumed she would be personable, smooth. She would find a way to be, like, “Hey, we’re all trans here, right?!” then laugh blithely.”

There are parts of this book that need to unfold for you, so you can feel their power. I love how Emily St. James uses shaded gibberish in place of Erica and Abigail’s dead names, because they say they hear them through a fog. All in all, this is an unforgettable book. What a debut.

Book Review: "The Imagined Life" by Andrew Porter

Thanks so much to Knopf and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! What a powerful and emotional read this was.

In 2008, I stumbled on a story collection called The Theory of Light and Matter by Andrew Porter and I was totally blown away. Porter is such a fantastic writer, and I’ve read everything that he’s written.

In 1984, Steven’s father disappeared. He was a college professor—smart, popular, handsome, and enigmatic. But that summer, his father was awaiting a decision on tenure while he was slowly sabotaging his life. Steven watched the events of that summer through the eyes of a child, and he was insulated by his mother’s need to protect him.

“I’d never held him on a pedestal, never believed him to be a great man. I knew that he was flawed, knew that he had made a lot of mistakes in his life, and besides, I had grown up amidst the collapse of his career, the spurious allegations that ensued, the rumors and hearsay.”

Steven’s life has been defined by feelings of anger, betrayal, and abandonment. In an effort to find some closure, he embarks on a trip all over California, meeting with family members, as well as friends and former colleagues of his father. While he never gets all of the answers he seeks, he gets a fuller picture of the passionate, troubled man his father was.

I really thought this was poignant and thought-provoking. Do we ever really know our parents and understand what made them tick? How different are childhood memories from what we understand as an adult? In Porter’s hands, this is a beautifully told story.

The book will publish 4/15/2025.

Book Review: "The Z Word" by Lindsay King-Miller

The first Pride was a riot. The last Pride is a bloodbath.

This was so wild and crazy and I was totally there for it! If you watched The Walking Dead and thought, “What if there were more LGBTQ+ characters?”, this one is for you.

Getting over your ex is often difficult, but when your ex is hooking up with your friends, that can be torture. That’s the issue for Wendy. She’s trying to find her way in a new place, but jealousy isn’t a good look on her.

And then the people around them start turning into zombies. Blood-thirsty zombies. Luckily, Wendy isn’t the only one who notices. Her new friends—a mixed bag of queer people, including her ex, Leah—have to band together to figure out what’s causing the outbreak. But perhaps more importantly, they have to save themselves and save Pride.

Horror is definitely not a genre I read very often, but this book definitely was more than I expected. Sure, there’s gore and violence, but there’s also humor, emotion, and lots of steam. I enjoyed how Lindsay King-Miller turned some typical stereotypes on their head and gave queer characters the power to kick some ass.

Thanks so much to Quirk Books for the complimentary copy; sorry it took me so long to read the book!

Book Review: "And There He Kept Her" by Joshua Moehling

I’ve had this book on my list for a while and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it! This was an excellent start to the series, and I will definitely be diving back into books 2 and 3 soon.

After a personal tragedy, Ben takes a job as a sheriff’s deputy in Sandy Lake, Minnesota, where his family once had a summer cabin. Working and living in a small town is a little unsettling for Ben, as everyone has an opinion about his life, but he’s determined to do right by the town.

When two teenagers disappear late one night, Ben is determined to find them, especially given his connection to one of them. What is puzzling and disturbing is that both teens have left their phones behind, which either means they weren’t expecting to go missing or they didn’t want to be tracked. He’s not entirely surprised to learn that one of the teens was dealing drugs in his high school, but the more he investigates, the more tangled the web becomes.

Meanwhile, Emmett is an old man in failing health, but it doesn’t keep him from viciously defending his property. His house may be falling apart, but his basement has seen many horrors through the years, and he’s not sure if his latest captive is worth the trouble.

As Ben and his colleagues dig further into the disappearance of the teenagers, he’s reminded of an unsolved mystery in his own life. He also realizes that no matter how small the town is, there are lots of secrets hidden within it. Can they solve the mystery before more tragedy strikes?

I thought this was a terrific book. I was hooked on the story and loved the emotional depth that came along with it. Ben is such a fascinating, complex character, and I really hope the next two books in the series continue the exploration into his own issues and emotions.

Book Review: "A Forty Year Kiss" by Nickolas Butler

Poignant and emotional, Nickolas Butler’s newest book is about second chances. It’s also about the ways we never stop learning about ourselves and seeking to find our place in the world.

Charlie and Vivian were married for four years. They were young and definitely infatuated with each other, but they faced an uphill battle. Charlie left and Vivian eventually built a new life for herself.

Now, 40 years later, Charlie has returned to their small Wisconsin town and is excited to find that Vivian is still there. He reaches out and they feel both nostalgia and the remnants of a love that ended too soon. They tentatively take steps toward one another again, unsure of where things might go.

After 40 years apart, there are a lot of things that have gone unsaid, hurts that haven’t quite healed, and fears that arise again. But if they are to have any chance at starting over, they have to accept each other for whom they are—and are not—and address some of the issues that caused problems all those years ago. It also means that there are secrets which will need to be brought out into the open.

The characters are definitely flawed, but I found myself rooting for them all the same. It’s natural to think about the one that got away or the one you lost, but the range of emotions both Charlie and Vivian felt were raw and powerful.

I’ve been a huge fan of Butler’s since I read his debut, Shotgun Lovesongs, a number of years ago. His storytelling is so self-assured; there were a few places where the plot could have veered into melodrama in the hands of a less-talented writer. His books leave me thinking about them long after I’ve finished, and this will be no exception.

Book Review: "Two Women Walk Into a Bar" by Cheryl Strayed

Sounds like the setup to a joke, doesn’t it? But this story by Cheryl Strayed definitely packs an emotional punch.

Cheryl and her husband Brian get the news that Brian’s mother Joan is dying. It’s not unexpected news but obviously it’s still a blow, and it causes major upheaval in their lives. As they work on moving Joan into the assisted living facility in her community, Cheryl reflects on their relationship, nearly 20 years to the day that Cheryl first met Joan.

“Over the previous two decades, we’d come to love each other, but it was a particular, conditional sort of love, one based on circumstance and courtesy rather than connection and compatibility.”

Like many relationships between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, there was always a note of competition between the two, fighting for superiority in Brian’s life. Joan praised Cheryl, but always with qualifiers or slight condescension. (She once said, “You’re big, but you’re firm. Like sculpted butter.”) Joan was always a small reminder of Cheryl’s mother, who died of cancer when Cheryl was much younger.

This was beautifully told, full of humorous and poignant moments. Cheryl not only has to process her own emotions in the wake of Joan’s impending death, but also be sensitive to Brian’s grief, and help their two young children comprehend the loss of the only grandparent they’d ever known.

If you’ve recently experienced loss, this may be a bit triggering for you. But as always, I’m struck by Strayed’s storytelling ability, making you care about people you don’t know.

Book Review: "The Quiet Librarian" by Allen Eskens

“But Hana had learned long ago that living was like walking atop an old fence rail. Get too comfortable, too trusting, and you invite the fall.”

I’ve become an enormous fan of Allen Eskens’ books over the last several years. He delivers thrillers that not only keep you guessing, but they are also so well-written.

His newest book is just as good and it packs an emotional punch as well. Hana is a librarian in Minnesota who, outside of her job, really keeps to herself. She is thrown for a loop when she learns that her best friend Amina has been murdered. Hana knows this isn’t just a random killing; she knows that Amina’s death means she too is in danger.

Hana grew up in Bosnia in the war-torn 1990s. Back then her name was Nura, and she lived with her family in the mountains. But one day, Serbian soldiers murdered her entire family in front of her, and she was able to avoid being killed thanks to some quick thinking.

The horrors of that day ignited her thirst to fight back. She became a fierce warrior bent on destruction and defeat, known through stories as Night Mora. But when she finds herself in even more danger, she flees to the U.S., knowing she’ll eventually be hunted down. And Amina’s murder means her hunters are close—can she become Night Mora again in order to vanquish her enemies once and for all?

This was one of my favorite books of February. It’s full of grief, bravery, sacrifice, and the need for a fresh start. I was hooked from start to finish, and I loved Hana’s bad-assery.

Book Review: "Cold Kitchen: A Year of Culinary Travels" by Caroline Eden

I love how evocative a particular food or meal can be. There are certain dishes or foods that can take you back to a particular point in your life, or remind you of a specific person, place, or time.

That concept is at the core of Cold Kitchen. Caroline Eden is a food, travel, and arts writer in the UK, who has written two food books chronicling her travel and culinary adventures. In this book, she recalls past trips and meals from the vantage point of her basement kitchen in Edinburgh.

“Sometimes what we choose to cook mirrors what our soul misses, and sometimes the food we eat is a reflection of past routes taken.”

Each chapter of the book represents a particular dish and a particular trip. In a chapter about Russian hand pies, she recalls a seven-day, 5,772-mile railway journey she took with her husband to Vladivostok, on the Pacific edge of Asia. At the end of each chapter is a recipe of the dish she discussed.

This is a very interesting book, in that less-familiar ingredients from Europe, Asia, and Africa are explored. There’s a springtime soup from Georgia (the country), an apple strudel from the Ukraine, and a watermelon and feta salad which takes inspiration from the winter melons of Uzbekistan.

If you’re well-traveled or have a travel bucket list that includes some of these countries, this book is for you. And if you’re an adventurous chef, this book is for you. It’s truly a fascinating read.