Book Review: "Head of Household" by Oliver Mundy

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: "Limelight" by Andrew Keenan-Bolger

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

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

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

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

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

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

The book publishes 2/24.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: "Little One" by Olivia Muenter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: "Still Into You" by Erin Connor

I. Loved. This. Book.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: "Train Dreams" by Denis Johnson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The book will publish 3/3.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This book will publish 2/17.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The story will officially publish 3/1.

Book Review: "Blade" by Wendy Walker

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

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

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

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

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

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