Book Review: "Battle of the Bookstores" by Ali Brady

“For better or worse, my library has always grown faster than my social circle.” (Do you not feel that quote in your soul?)

Josie is the manager of a Boston bookstore that specializes in “serious” literature. She loves a good chunky book and loves recommending books to her customers.

Ryan manages a romance bookstore just down the street from Josie. He hates it when people denigrate romance as a genre or dismiss the books as frivolous.

Both bookstores are owned by the same person. Josie and Ryan are thrown when their boss tells them he wants to combine both of their stores into one—and only one of them will run the new store. He’ll decide after a three-month period in which the two stores will compete against each other for the highest sales.

The idea of competing with one another turns Ryan and Josie into enemies, and it seems as if neither can say anything to the other without sparking animosity. Of course, the chemistry between the two is so intense—but they’re too busy fighting one another to notice.

The more they get to know each other, they realize how good they are at running their stores and each has secret wounds they’re keeping from one another. Who will win the competition? Will enemies turn to lovers? Ali Brady knows how to weave a story with romance, steam, emotion, and humor. I absolutely loved this!!

Book Review: "Aftertaste" by Daria Lavelle

The minute I heard about the concept of this book, I knew I needed to read it. It’s a mashup of food writing, magical realism, and a dash of the paranormal, resulting in an emotionally satisfying (and hunger-inducing) read. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy!

When Kostya was 10 years old, his father died. His mother took to her bed for an extended period of time, leaving Kostya to deal with his grief on his own. One day, he gets a strange taste in his mouth, one he can’t quite define until he realizes it was the taste of his father’s favorite dish.

That moment sparked the discovery a special talent in Kostya. He has the ability to taste the favorite dish of a ghost. It isn’t until one night while working behind a bar that he decides to actually make what he’s tasting—in this case, it was a bespoke cocktail—and he is shocked by what happens then.

While he never had any desire to cook, the discovery of his unique ability inspires him. He decides to try and use cooking to reunite a grieving person with someone they’ve lost, by making a dish that was important to the deceased. It doesn’t always work, but Kostya hopes he’ll be able to summon his father’s ghost, as he has never stopped missing him.

Kostya winds up working in the world of NYC restaurants, but of course, he can’t reveal the true reason for pursuing this career track. Yet in his zeal to help others, he doesn’t realize he’s opening the door to trouble in the Afterlife.

This book is emotional, fun, and thought-provoking. It’s also incredibly timely for me, as last week marked the 11th anniversary of my dad’s passing. At times the pace dragged a bit, but I really enjoyed it. And boy, was I hungry afterward!

Book Review: "He's To Die For" by Erin Dunn

I kept seeing ads for this book, so I knew I had to read it. It was so good! Thanks so much to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

At age 29, Rav is the youngest detective of NYPD’s Homicide Squad. He’s definitely not your typical New York cop, though; he’s the son of a British lord, a fan of sharply tailored and expensive suits, and he’s gay. He’s also a bit of a narcissist, although he has the skills to back up his ego.

When he gets assigned to be the lead detective on a murder case, he’s ready to shine. But while the murder of a record executive seems straightforward, it turns out to be anything but.

The record exec had a feud with a popular band over ownership of their master recordings, so it makes sense that the band members are prime suspects. But the last thing that Rav is expecting is to feel a connection with Jack, the band’s lead singer.

As Rav tries to make sense of newly discovered evidence and multiple suspects, he’s hoping to clear Jack’s name, since Jack is anything but the egotistical diva Rav was expecting. He’s not counting on becoming an object of fascination on social media—or putting his job and his reputation at risk. Is he falling for a killer?

I enjoyed this so much. Rav is a fantastic protagonist and the supporting characters were great, too. In addition to a twisty mystery, there’s some steam and some exploration of mental health issues. I’d love to see this become a series!

Book Review: "Tilt" by Emma Pattee

Wow. This was such a powerfully written book, one which filled me with anxious tension.

It’s the first day of Annie’s maternity leave, as she’s nine months pregnant and ready to give birth. She decides to go to IKEA to buy a crib for the baby, as she and her husband haven’t gotten around to that task yet. In the middle of shopping, a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon, throwing the city—and Annie—into utter chaos.

“Last I checked, your father and I have $836 in a checking account at Wells Fargo, a Subaru with 160,000 miles on it, and a two-bedroom apartment we can only afford because the landlord feels too guilty to raise our rent or kick us out. And here I am, thirty-seven weeks pregnant at IKEA. On a Monday. With a credit card I’ll probably die before I pay off.”

With no way to reach her husband because phone lines are down, and with the streets either wrecked or clogged with traffic, Annie decides to walk to the cafe where her husband works.

As she walks through the streets and witnesses the destruction first-hand, Annie reflects on her life, her marriage, and her anxieties over the impending birth of her baby. Her emotions spiral through fear, anxiety, grief, and anger, and she grows more uncomfortable physically.

Along the way she encounters examples of human kindness as well as the chaos that occurs during natural disasters like this. She’s not fully sure that she and her husband are ready to be parents (or adults, for that matter), especially as she witnesses the anxieties of parents.

Emma Pattee is a climate journalist, and that expertise is truly evident in the imagery she uses. I felt like I was walking beside Annie, seeing the same destruction and feeling aftershocks along the way. This book really made me think how I’d handle being in this situation.

Book Review: "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman

This book has been all over Bookstagram, and deservedly so. I’m a huge fan of Fredrik Backman’s, but I tend to love those of his books that are more serious and emotional. And he sure knows how to make me cry!

“Adults always think they can protect children by stopping them from going to dangerous places, but every teenager knows that’s pointless, because the most dangerous place on earth is inside us. Fragile hearts break in palaces and in dark alleys alike.”

You can obviously tell from the title that this is a book about friendship, but it is so much more than that. This is a story about loss, loneliness, the love we feel in our souls and the joy when that love is reciprocated. It’s also a story about rescuing those in need, even when you’re in need of rescue yourself.

In this book, as in his Beartown trilogy, some of Backman’s characters have known great pain, sadness, even hopelessness. Yet quite often, they still find the strength to endure, to experience joy, to love, even as their hearts are broken. That is one aspect that makes his books so meaningful and moving to me.

“He would often try to think that perhaps that has to be the case: that our teenage years have to simultaneously be the brightest light and the darkest depths, because that’s how we learn to figure out our horizons.” (I felt this quote in my soul.)

From the very first words in this book, I was reminded of a line from one of my favorite movies, Stand By Me. It goes, “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” (Substitute 14 for 12, and that summed up so much of what made this book special.) I have no doubt this will be one of my favorite books of the year.

Book Review: "The Ghostwriter" by Julie Clark

It’s another winner from Julie Clark! I’ve loved her two previous books, and this one was so good, too. Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Olivia was a tremendously successful ghostwriter until her (valid) outspokenness puts her career and her finances in jeopardy. She gets offered a job she desperately wishes she could refuse, but she can’t: ghostwrite the latest book for famed horror writer Vincent Taylor.

No one knows that Vincent is Olivia’s father. She left home in high school and hasn’t seen her father in years. But when she returns to her childhood home in Ojai, California, she learns he doesn’t want her to write a novel for him. He wants her help with a memoir about a family tragedy that occurred 50 years ago.

In 1975, Vincent’s older brother and younger sister were murdered in their home. As the only surviving child, many believed he was the killer—suspicion that he’s never quite been able to shake. But now he’s ready to talk about what happened.

Vincent’s memories don’t quite jibe with written recollections and other memorabilia Olivia finds from 1975. Is he purposely trying to evade the truth, or is he telling what he believes happened back then? There’s a lot of pressure for Olivia to complete the book quickly, but she’s determined to find the real truth.

This is a slow-paced yet tremendously twisty mystery, shifting between 1975 and the present, and narrated by Olivia, Vincent, and his sister, Poppy. It’s one of those books where you don’t know what or whom to believe, but I couldn’t put this down. So good!

The book will publish 6/3/2025.

Book Review: "The Love Haters" by Katherine Center

Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! I always love the arrival of a new Katherine Center book each year!

Katie enjoys her work as a video producer, helping companies raise their profile with promotional videos. On the side, she has a YouTube channel for which she films interviews with ordinary people who do heroic things.

When word gets a large number of employees will be fired to cut costs, Katie is a bit panicked. But then her coworker, Cole, taps her to film a recruiting video for the Coast Guard, by profiling Hutch, a rescue swimmer down in Key West. (He also happens to be Cole’s estranged brother.) Hutch had gotten some notoriety after a rescue, but he turned down any opportunities to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame.

Rather than stay and get fired, Katie agrees to the assignment. Of course, she can’t swim, but is that a big deal? She is quickly embraced by Hutch’s aunt Rue and her gaggle of friends, and is dazzled by Hutch in every way. But while Cole keeps pressuring her to get Hutch to film one of her hero videos, she understands why he is reluctant for publicity.

But then Cole arrives in Key West—with his and Katie’s boss in tow. Apparently Cole isn’t good with the truth, and to save his job—and hurt Hutch—he lies about his relationship with Katie. Lots of drama ensues.

I really love Center’s books, but sadly, this wasn’t a favorite of mine. I enjoyed the focus on self-esteem and body positivity, and loved Hutch (and George Bailey, his Great Dane), but miscommunication is one of my least favorite tropes.

The book publishes 5/20.

Book Review: "Disco Witches of Fire Island" by Blair Fell

How could I resist a book with a title like this? My thanks to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the advance copy!

In 1989, Joe and his best friend Ronnie plan to spend the summer working and playing at the gay mecca of Fire Island Pines. Ronnie is looking for a sugar daddy, while Joe realizes it’s time to move on from grieving his late boyfriend Elliot, who died of AIDS.

When Ronnie’s promised job and accommodations both fail to materialize, Joe meets Lenny and Howie, two older gay men who are housecleaners on the side. They take Joe under their wing, and although they’re tremendously kind and generous to him, they seem to have a lot of secrets and quirky habits. What are they hiding?

Howie and Lenny are part of a coven of disco witches. They use dance to conjure up protection for the younger gay men who might become overwhelmed by the availability of sex and drugs on Fire Island. Both of these have destroyed too many men already, and they’re committed to protecting Joe. But the coven has been depleted by the loss of many of its members to AIDS, so they’re not as powerful as they once were.

While Joe works as a bartender, he finds himself attracted to a bisexual ferryman, and tantalized by a muscular man that keeps disappearing. Lenny and Howie try to warn Joe away from the mysterious hunk, saying that he represents impending danger. Will the disco witches be able to keep everyone safe?

This was such a fun, poignant, nostalgic, and steamy book. I can’t pass up anything set in the 1980s, and when you throw in a little magical realism—plus disco—I’m hooked. I really enjoyed this, and it made me think back to those we’ve lost.

Book Review: "Bitter Texas Honey" by Ashley Whitaker

It’s 2011. Joan dreams of being a writer. By day, she’s an intern for an ultra-conservative Republican state legislator in Texas. And while her friends and roommate are all fairly liberal, Joan’s beliefs skew conservative.

As Joan struggles with finding inspiration to write about, she decides to pursue a romantic relationship, which hopefully will give her material. And the man she dates, Vince, does just that—he’s an egotistical musician who believes he’s more talented and more intelligent than everyone else. At the same time, she’s drawn to Roberto, a barista at her favorite establishment, who is also a writer.

Growing up wealthy, Joan is fairly rudderless. She drinks a lot, is addicted to Adderall, smokes a lot of weed, and doesn’t want for money. She’s also part owner of her father’s chain of recording schools, but she doesn’t take much responsibility there.

The brightest spot in her life is her cousin Wyatt. He’s tremendously creative and her partner in crime, but he’s also really troubled and struggling to find direction. His family’s solution to Wyatt’s problems is to send him to a Christian treatment facility—which doesn’t prove successful.

Joan’s own family exhausts her. Her father is an entrepreneur with a penchant for getting married to unsuitable women, while her mother is a former addict who disapproves of the way Joan lives her life. She’s caught between her parents, who don’t help her deal with her own issues; instead, they exacerbate them.

You know I love a good dysfunctional family, and this book certainly had that. Joan’s character’s beliefs don’t jibe with mine, and sometimes her flakiness is irritating, but you can’t look away from her. However, this book was billed as Fleabag meets The Royal Tenenbaums, and I didn’t see that at all. But it’s still a well-written debut.

Book Review: "The Float Test" by Lynn Steger Strong

“What is the feeling that tells any of us, even after we’re grown-up and know better—know it’s likely that they’ll hurt us, maim us, leave us flayed open—to check in with the people with whom we share DNA?”

I’ve said this before, but I cannot get enough books about family dynamics and dysfunction. Relationships that fray and knit themselves together—often multiple times—are fascinating to read about. (Much less fascinating to live through, of course.)

When the Kenner family matriarch dies unexpectedly, all four of their adult children convene at their parents’ home in Florida. Jenn, the oldest, is a wife and mother who is always there to take care of everyone—even if she resents it. Fred is adrift; she’s a writer who has lost the ability to write and is at odds with many of the people in her life.

The youngest, George, is sad about the end of his marriage but has other issues to deal with. And Jude, the narrator, has flown in from NYC, and must deal with the fact that she hasn’t spoken to Fred—once her favorite sister—in several years.

As with any family gathering, there are plenty of secrets everyone has kept hidden, hurts and resentments they’ve tried to forget, and at least a handful of fond memories to lean on. But there are also big questions to be answered, particularly what went wrong between Fred and Jude, and why did their mother keep a gun in her underwear drawer?

This book was really well-written; there were many quotes I noted. My issue was that I didn’t find the characters particularly sympathetic, particularly Fred, and she’s the character most of the book focuses on.

Book Review: "Audition" by Katie Kitamura

So, here’s the thing: I’m a lazy reader. While I read to be entertained, to be moved, to see things from a different perspective, even to learn something new, I don’t want to have to work too hard. Books that are vague, when everything is left to interpretation, rarely resonate with me. I tend to enjoy books that are told in a more traditional fashion.

That being said, if you’re a fan of unorthodox storytelling, of finishing a book with your mind exploding with the possibilities a book raised, you might love this. There’s certainly no doubt that Katie Kitamura is a talented writer.

“What was a family if not a shared delusion, a mutual construction?”

Audition is a novel in two parts. The book opens in a New York City restaurant. Our narrator, a well-known actress, is eating with a much younger man. She is self-conscious because she perceives (or imagines) that people think she paid the man to dine with her. But the truth is, this young man, Xavier, mistakenly believed that he was the actress’ son that she gave up for adoption years ago. (He isn’t. I think.)

The narrator is struggling with a transformative scene in a play she is rehearsing. She cannot seem to grasp it and it causes a tremendous amount of anxiety. And then, suddenly, she gets it. But then in the second part of the novel, everything changes, and you don’t know which part is supposed to be true.

As you can tell, I’m even struggling to describe this book. The lines blur between performance and reality, what is and what could have been. And then, in the last 50 pages, everything is flipped on its head. I haven’t a clue what this really was about, and I hate feeling clueless when I read.

Book Review: "Bitterfrost" by Bryan Gruley

I love it when the setting of a book plays a role in the plot. It’s especially great when the author gives such an effective sense of place that you feel as if you’re there. In his newest book, Bryan Gruley does just that. I felt the frigid winds, cold temperatures, and pelting snow as the story unfolded.

Jimmy was once an ice hockey player, but when he nearly killed an opponent, he quit playing. Now, 13 years later, he lives in his hometown of Bitterfrost, Michigan, where he operates the Zamboni for the local arena.

One night after closing up the arena, he goes to the local bar for a drink. Before he heads home, two out-of-towners create a stir, and Jimmy exchanged words with them. Once he knew the bartender had it under control, he left.

And then the next morning, Jimmy wakes up with his head pounding, a black eye, and his hands are bruised. He also smells blood—and discovers it in his car, all over his jacket, everywhere. But he has no memory of what could have happened. Did he get into an accident? Was there an argument he has forgotten?

It’s not long before Jimmy gets arrested for a double murder. As the evidence stacks up against him, he desperately tries to remember what happened that night. While his friend Devyn, who becomes his defense attorney, tries to protect Jimmy and hopefully uncover the truth, Jimmy struggles with memories of the incident 13 years before. Could he have taken two lives?

I have really enjoyed Gruley’s previous books, and I’m really excited that this is the start of a new series. This is the kind of mystery I like, full of characters I became attached to and a case that kept me thinking. I can’t wait to return to Bitterfrost when book #2 is released!

Book Review: "Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride" by Will Leitch

I’ll tell you, between this book and watching the last two episodes of Adolescence, I was a giant puddle of emotions! Thanks to Will Leitch for the complimentary advance copy of the book!

Lloyd, an Atlanta policeman, and the son of a policeman, gets the news no one wants: he is dying, and only has a few months to live. As he starts tying up loose ends in his life, he learns that even with 20 years in the police department, his benefits won’t be enough to support Bishop, his teenage son. Unless he dies in the line of duty…

With not much to lose but everything to gain for Bishop, Lloyd tries to find a way to get himself killed. But every time he throws himself into a dangerous situation, sure this will be the one to end his life, he fails. (Or does he?) To top it off, he’s getting a reputation for his heroics, through no fault (or effort) of his own.

“I bet old Major McNeil never kicked in a door and dared a guy to shoot him. (Did he?) I bet old Major McNeil never straight-up ramped his car over an embankment, falling seventy-five feet and crashing in the parking lot next to the Falcons bus, all in pursuit of a suspect.”

As Lloyd keeps trying to find ways to provide for his son once he’s gone, he also wants to be sure his son is prepared for adulthood. So Lloyd shares “The Ten Gentle Edicts of Lloyd McNeil,” offering advice, guidance, and love.

I love the way Leitch writes, balancing humor and emotion with rich storytelling. It’s such a wonderful book, about the love of a father for his son and the desire to leave the right legacy. I enjoyed this so much!

The book will publish 5/20/2025.

Book Review: "Every Sweet Thing is Bitter" by Samantha Crewson

Add this to the rapidly growing list of fantastic debuts in 2025! While bleak at times, this book was tremendously thought-provoking and powerful.

“No matter how many years separate me from that day, there is no new beginning. Nothing changes. Absolution is a myth. Some sins you must pay for again and again and again, as long as you live.”

Providence hasn’t been back to her hometown in 13 years, when she put her car in reverse and inadvertently ran over her mother. Her mother survived, but Providence was sent to jail, guilty of a felony. She was told never to come back to town, but now her mother has disappeared mysteriously, ostensibly on the way home from a Bible study class.

While the last thing Providence wants is to constantly be reminded of her transgressions, she hopes that her return might help bridge the gap between her and her sisters. But of course, it also means confronting Tom, her abusive father, who bullied everyone into turning a blind eye to his faults.

As the search for her mother continues, Providence discovers that in many ways, things have gotten worse since she left town. Her sisters resent her for what she did to their mother, but at the same time, they want her to make their father pay for his abuse. Should she sacrifice herself for the chance to save her sisters?

I love books when there are secrets and resentments uncovered at every turn. This was an emotional exploration of guilt, forgiveness, love, loyalty, and the cycle of violence that preys on us. I couldn’t put this down!

Book Review: "Possessive Puckboy" by Eden Finley and Saxon James

Eight books in, I’m still loving this series. These books are sexy, fun, romantic, and really hot, and make me wish the world of professional sports was more open for athletes to be themselves.

Parker’s father was a hockey player for Colorado. When an injury ended his career, he never lost his loyalty to the team—and Parker became a big fan, too. And when the team goes up for sale not long after his father passes away, Parker—a young tech billionaire—buys it.

While Parker bought the team primarily to honor his late father, there is another reason that brings him more joy. One of the team’s stars, Connor Kikishkin, bullied Parker in high school, and now, Parker can’t wait to make Connor’s life utterly miserable. This should be fun!

Growing up, Connor was always told he needed to protect his two younger brothers. But even as they’ve both grown into hockey players in their own right, Connor has never stopped being protective. Or more like overbearing. And while having to grovel to Parker to protect his career isn’t an ideal situation, Connor starts to realize that maybe his issues with Parker are caused by his confusion over his own sexuality.

“…how do you wrap your head around having sex with someone you’ve built up into a dream?”

I don’t always love enemies to lovers stories, but this was a good one. The way Eden Finley and Saxon James balanced banter, steam, and real emotional issues had me hooked. You know I’m eagerly awaiting book #9!

Book Review: "Passion Project" by London Sperry

“Everyone has something they’re passionate about.” “Not me. I think it’s what they call apathy.”

Bennet has been adrift since her boyfriend Sam died. Sam dreamed that they’d have the perfect life together in NYC, but alone, she realizes the city isn’t for her. She doesn’t want to do anything—spend time with friends, work, or even have any fun at all.

When her roommate sets her up on a blind date, the very idea sends Bennet spiraling into a drunken, panicky mess. Luckily, Henry, the guy she ghosted, turns out to be tremendously sympathetic to what Bennet is going through. He offers to help her rediscover her passion for life.

Henry proposes that once a week, they get together—as friends—and explore a different activity. The hope is that they’ll find something that sparks enthusiasm, and happiness, in Bennet. They try tattooing, volunteering at an animal shelter, photography—even rappelling off a tall building.

The time she spends with Henry each week becomes a highlight for Bennet. But the truth is, if she’s ever going to be able to enjoy life, she needs to come to terms with her feelings surrounding Sam’s death, not to mention how she’s isolated herself from everyone.

This was a fun concept and the story was sweet and emotional. Henry was a definite catch as a book boyfriend. But I felt like during parts of the book, Bennet didn’t treat him well, which made me like her a little less. However, I still enjoyed the banter and chemistry between them.

Book Review: "The Bright Years" by Sarah Damoff

I cannot believe this was a debut! This will definitely be one of my absolute favorite books of the year, I know that much.

“Maybe what children do is straighten time out. Like clock hands, they keep us ticking forward even as we try to apprehend the lines and circles of it.”

When Ryan and Lillian meet one weekend day in the library, they both feel a pull toward the other. Their love buoys them, and they build a life together, one that expands with the birth of a daughter, Georgette, whom they call Jet.

But there are secrets they’ve not shared with each other. Lillian had a son 12 years ago and gave him up for adoption. Ryan’s father, whom his mother left when Ryan was young, was an abusive alcoholic. And Ryan feels himself following in his father’s footsteps, so he leaves before he can hurt Lillian or Jet. Of course, abuse is only one way to hurt someone.

As the years pass, Ryan makes attempts to sober up and be present for his daughter, but often fails. And then he realizes what he is missing, and hopes for a second chance.

This book was so beautifully written, so powerful and emotional. It’s narrated by Lillian, Ryan, and Jet, and it’s an exploration of the myriad ways people we love impact our lives. This book really struck a chord with me.

Book Review: "Spellbound: My Life as a Dyslexic Wordsmith" by Phil Hanley

Thanks so much to Henry Holt for the complimentary advance copy of this book. It’s available now.

“I always prayed I’d wake up smart.”

Growing up, Phil Hanley had a horrible time in school. His teachers thought he was lazy and not trying, and some thought he was stupid. (He thought so, too.) But actually, he was dyslexic, something that wasn’t diagnosed until well into his adolescence.

Although he was able to get help once educators figured out his challenges, he was scarred by the way his teachers treated him. It definitely caused him to have issues with self-esteem and confidence.

Despite knowing that there was justification for his issues with school, Phil took a different path after graduation: he did some modeling before eventually deciding on a comedy career.

This was a moving and humorous memoir. I didn’t know much about Phil but his determination, and the support of his mother, was really impressive. This book would be inspirational for anyone dealing with obstacles.

Book Review: "No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding" by Catherine Mack

Thanks so much to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book! While you don’t have to read Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies before you read this, it would help put some things into context for you.

Eleanor, the author of the Vacation Murders series, is tremendously excited that When in Rome, the first book in the series, is finally being adapted for the movies. Her childhood best friend Emma is starring as the character modeled after Eleanor herself, and the handsome Fred Winters, an Oscar-winning actor, is playing the male lead, based on Eleanor’s ex (and frequent nemesis), Connor.

In an example of life imitating art, Emma and Fred fell in love while filming and plan to get married once the movie wraps. Everyone is invited to Catalina Island for the wedding. Eleanor will be Emma’s maid of honor.

But before the wedding festivities begin, Emma tells Eleanor that she’s received a threatening note which promises that someone will die at the wedding. She asks Eleanor to try and figure out who’s behind the threats. Of course, Eleanor isn’t expecting Connor to be at the wedding as well, nor is she surprised that he wants to help investigate.

As people start dying and close calls keep occurring, Eleanor starts to uncover a confusing web of secrets and lies. Every time she thinks she’s figured things out, something shifts. At the same time, a hurricane is heading for Catalina. (Naturally.)

This is a fun cozy series that definitely keeps you guessing. There are a lot of characters, and some are actors portraying the characters, so at times it’s hard to keep track of everyone. Eleanor is an appealing, yet sarcastic and insecure character that I really enjoy, and I’m excited there’s a third book on the horizon!

This book publishes 5/13/2025.

Book Review: "Great Big Beautiful Life" by Emily Henry

Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy!

First things first: if you’re expecting that Emily Henry’s newest book will be another fun and emotional rom-com, similar to her previous books, stop. While there are some similarities, in some ways, this book is very different than her others. (You’ll have to judge whether that’s good or bad.)

Alice is a writer, and she’s very happy with the career she’s been carving out for herself. Sure, it would be nice to land a “serious” gig that might finally impress her family, but she tries not to let them bother her. And when she scores a meeting with Margaret Ives, an octogenarian who was part of one of the most famous (and scandalous) families, she’s thrilled she might get the chance to write her biography.

When Alice travels to the island where Margaret has been living since disappearing from the public eye, she can’t wait to meet her. There’s a catch: Hayden, a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, is also meeting with Margaret. How will Alice compete with him?

Margaret makes them a deal. Both will spend a month on the island working with her, and will give her a draft of their version of the biography. She’ll then pick who gets the job. Of course, Alice and Hayden couldn’t be more different—she’s a smiley optimist and he’s an intense grouch, not to mention he’s a household name and she’s not. And the more times they run into one another, the more their competitiveness turns to passion.

I loved the chemistry and banter between the two. But the book switches focus to Margaret’s life, which crowds out the love story. There’s even a bit of a mystery involved. It was just too many disparate pieces shoehorned together. I’m sure I’ll be an outlier here, but I definitely didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to.

Book Review: "Food Person" by Adam D. Roberts

You won’t want to read this one on an empty stomach, that’s for sure! Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the complimentary advance copy.

Isabella loves food. She loves cooking it, talking about it, eating it, even writing about it. Cookbooks are her favorite thing to read, and she dreams of writing her own someday.

When she gets fired from her job at an online food magazine after a livestream demonstration goes horribly off track (she’s not good in front of a camera), she doesn’t know what her next step should be. But when she is offered the chance to ghostwrite a cookbook for Molly Babcock, a television actress with a robust online presence, she eventually realizes this could help raise her profile.

Of course, it’s not long before Isabella realizes that Molly barely eats anything, let alone cooks. She seems completely disinterested in any of Isabella’s attempts to set a vision for the cookbook, but she is very vocal about what she doesn’t want. Isabella’s publishers want her just to write a cookbook in Molly’s voice, but how can she do that if she doesn’t know what Molly’s voice is?

She begins to see glimpses of Molly’s personality when she’s not “on,” trying to recapture her once-promising career. But will that be enough? Can Isabella loosen up and be open to embracing Molly’s vision, whatever it is?

It really felt as if this book would be right up my alley given how much I love food/cooking-related books. And while the food descriptions and industry gossip was on point, the plot itself wasn’t as strong as I had hoped, and neither main character was particularly likable. But it still was fun.

The book will publish 5/20/2025.

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.