Book Review: "Sounds Like Love" by Ashley Poston

“We were all made of up memories, anyway. Of ourselves, of other people. We were built on the songs sung to us and the songs we sang to ourselves, the songs we listened to with broken hearts and the ones we danced to at weddings.”

There’s just something about the way Ashley Poston writes. I’ve enjoyed all three of her books—the first two were among the best books I read those particular years. I cannot get enough of the way she sprinkles her romances with magical realism as well as humor and such gorgeous emotion.

Joni has finally made her dreams come true, being a sought-after songwriter in LA. A few of her songs are tremendously popular, and everyone is waiting for what she writes next. But she cannot find anything that inspires her, that makes her feel compelled to create.

With the pain from her mother’s recent dementia diagnosis still fresh, Joni returns to her hometown on the Outer Banks. She grew up spending most of her time at The Revelry, the music venue that’s been in her family for more than 70 years. But when Joni gets home, she’s floored by her parents’ plan to close The Revelry, her mother’s fading memories, and the way she feels life has gone on without her.

The other thing that happens shortly after her arrival at home is she starts hearing snippets of a melody in her head, one she can’t place. She starts hearing the voice of a man, whose thoughts she can hear in her head (and vice versa). They start to rely on each other, but when he comes to her hometown, she’s surprised by how different he is in person—until he lets down his guard. He believes that if they write the song they’re hearing, they may be able to sever the psychic connection.

As always with Poston’s books, I find myself highlighting so many quotes and definitely getting choked up. I know this book will be on my year-end best list!!

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: "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: "Shell Games" by Bonnie Kistler

Whoa. This book had me hooked from the very first page, and I barely moved from the couch in the few hours it took me to read it!

Kate Sawyer was a force to be reckoned with. She was a multimillionaire, a shrewd real estate developer, and well connected in both Florida society and state politics. She always did things her way—and that didn’t make life easy for her daughter, Julie, who felt like she was always living in her mother’s shadow.

When Kate marries her high school sweetheart Charlie, 50+ years after they first dated, it appears that she’s finally getting the happy ending she deserves. But on their wedding night, Charlie admits that he was behind one of the most notorious crimes from several decades ago. Horrified, Kate calls the police.

When Charlie’s alibi from back then checks out, no one is sure what has occurred. Charlie says he never admitted anything to Kate; Kate thinks Charlie is gaslighting her and trying to prove her mentally incompetent; and Julie’s husband Eric thinks Kate is in the early stages of dementia.

Julie worries about her mother, whose behavior becomes much more erratic since her wedding night. She isn’t sure what to think. Is her mother starting to lose her mind? Is Charlie trying to get Kate’s money by questioning her mental state? And why is Eric involved? Julie starts to wonder about her own marriage as well.

I love books when you can’t figure out whom you should trust, or how things are ultimately going to unfold. I kept waiting to see what the truth was and which characters I should be rooting for, and while Julie was an annoying character for a part of the storyline, I could find justification for her actions. This one kept me guessing!

Book Review: "The Night Before" by Harper Robson

So not only do I enjoy hockey romances, but I also enjoy what I’ll call “hockey-adjacent” romances! This book is the start of a new series and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where this goes.

Ben is a doctor and researcher studying traumatic brain injury, particularly CTE, which happens when a person gets multiple concussions. He’s been focused on sports, particularly hockey, because his stepfather is a former hockey star now dealing with dementia related to the concussions he sustained.

At a bar one night, he meets Aleks, a handsome younger man. The chemistry between them is intense, but beyond that, they really enjoy each other’s company. They go back to Aleks’ place and have an incredibly steamy night, but also one where they feel tremendously connected to one another emotionally. The next morning, when Ben sees a picture of Aleks’ family, he realizes that Aleks’ father was the hockey player who made the final hit on his stepfather, which ended his career. Ben leaves before Aleks wakes up.

Aleks is sad and angry when he realizes Ben left without a word. All he knows is his first name, so the likelihood of meeting him again is slim. Aleks thought their night was so much more than sex, and it certainly felt like Ben felt the same way, so he’s a bit confused.

Aleks’ disappointment leads to excitement when he is offered the opportunity to work with a researcher on some new helmets that might better protect players from concussions. It’s an amazing opportunity—and of course, the researcher is Ben. They’re going to have to work together, and through doing that they find their connection again, but the old family history crops up. Can they overcome this challenge and find happiness?

I really enjoyed the depth of this book. The CTE stuff was fascinating and well-researched, and enhanced the story a great deal. Of course, there’s intense steam, emotions, family drama, and miscommunication, but this was definitely one I got into.

Book Review: "Marshmallow Mountain" by A.J. Truman and M.A. Wardell

An M/M romance that’s part of a series called “Big Boys, Small Spaces,” and the characters are both Jewish? I couldn’t have loved this any more than I did.

Marshall and Marshall (aka “Data”) were together for eight years, when Marshall unceremoniously ended their relationship, saying he needed time and space. Marshall is an aspiring comedian and Data is an accountant.

The two haven’t spoken in six months, so Data is shocked to get a phone call from Marshall. He suggests the two of them travel up to Maine to pack up the cabin they co-own, so they can sell it. Data is still angry and hurt, so he’s determined to pack everything up over the weekend, and then he won’t have to see Marshall again. But of course, neither of them are counting on a snowstorm which strands them together at the cabin.

“I’m not good. I’m stuck in a cabin with my ex who broke my heart six months ago and is now attempting to pick his way inside to do more damage by having amazing sex with me multiple times before we pack up and sell the damn place. I should write a country song.”

Between multiple rounds of breakup sex, the two talk about where things went wrong; each of their anxieties about life, work, and family; and keep getting distracted from finishing the packing. But how could you not root for two guys with the same first name?

Both Truman and Wardell are great authors in their own right, but this first collaboration hit the spot. It’s super steamy, emotional, romantic, and funny, and you can bet I’m ready for Book 2 in the series!

Book Review: "Village in the Dark" by Iris Yamashita

I’ve never been to Alaska but it’s high on my travel bucket list. Luckily, lots of books are set there, so I can visit by reading.

A year ago, Cara’s husband and young son disappeared while on a hike, as the family vacationed. Their remains were found, but Cara’s grief and anger have remained, and led to her suspension from the Anchorage Police Department.

When she finds a picture of her family on the cellphone of a dead gang member, she starts to wonder what really happened to her husband and son. And while every lead she follows winds up in a dead end, she’s determined to find the truth.

As she tries to investigate what happened to the other people whose photos appeared on the gang member’s phone, she steps into a very complicated web of deception and danger. Connecting with a young Native woman, they wind up traveling to a remote village called Unity, created to protect women and children from their abusers. It is there that Cara learns the truth.

As she puts herself and others at risk in order to find answers, she must also resolve her feelings for JB, a police detective she met while on assignment. He’d do anything for Cara, but will his sacrifices lead to happily ever after or grief and danger?

This is the second book in a series which in part takes place in Point Mettier, Alaska, an isolated town that can only be accessed by an underground tunnel, and where all the residents live in one large condo building. The first book, City Under One Roof, is really good, too, but you don’t have to have read that first.

I love the way Iris Yamashita writes. These books are so atmospheric I can feel the cold and see the images she creates. The fact that these books read like a movie is no surprise, considering Yamashita is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter. I hope there’s a third book!!

Book Review: "Find Me in California" by Kerry Lonsdale

“Time doesn’t heal relationships, but conversation does.”

Matt is a photographer in Santa Fe. He lives a lonely life, with his business partner, Dave, as his only friend. But when he arrives home one night to find boxes stacked outside his garage, he is confused and figures someone else's boxes were mistakenly delivered. And then he sees that they were sent on behalf of his grandmother, who raised him for eight years, and never gave him one ounce of affection.

Julia volunteers at the nursing home where her grandmother, Ruby Rose, has been a resident since her dementia diagnosis, in order to afford her staying there. It’s becoming harder and harder to deal with the imminent loss of the woman who raised her, and handle not being recognized, even being feared at times.

Matt’s grandmother is a resident at the same facility; in fact, Julia is the one who shipped the boxes to him. When he learns his grandmother has run out of money and needs him to find a new facility for her, he reluctantly agrees to drive to California. But he’s not sure he can face the woman who made him close his heart to love.

When Julia finds her grandmother’s diary, she is shocked to find out what her life was like back in the 1970s. But more than that, she discovers that there were connections between her grandmother and Matt’s, and that Matt’s grandmother might have come to the facility because of Ruby Rose.

This is an emotional read, with a lot of loss as well as Ruby Rose’s dementia. It’s also a hopeful book, about letting yourself love and be loved, and about the secrets we hide to protect ourselves, but they may hurt others. There is also a strange thread of magical realism which I didn’t enjoy and found very unsettling (strange, since I love magical realism), so I focused on the rest of the story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Review: "All Good People Here" by Ashley Flowers

This is my first backlist read (a book published more than a year ago) of 2024, so please clap!

Margot is now a big-city journalist, but she grew up in the small town of Wakarusa, Indiana, where keeping up appearances was vital. When Margot was six years old, her next-door neighbor and playmate, January Jacobs, went missing from her home and was found dead shortly after. It’s always been a memory that has weighed on Margot’s mind, because she has wondered what made January's killer choose her and not Margot.

Twenty years later, Margot returns to town to help her uncle, who was recently diagnosed with early-onset dementia. She finds not much has changed in Wakarusa—everyone still knows everyone’s business. But when a five-year-old girl disappears from the neighboring town and the circumstances seem eerily similar to January’s disappearance, Margot is determined to uncover the connections between the two. But with no one in town willing to talk, and everyone—including her uncle—keeping secrets, is it worth stirring up the past? Is the connection real or imagined?

I enjoyed much of this book, but then so many things started happening at once and it became hard to follow. And then the ending was far too abrupt. It was disappointing because I really was hoping things would tie up differently. I will say that Ashley Flowers (and, apparently, her ghostwriters) definitely captured the small-town feel of the setting.

Book Review: "Off the Map" by Trish Doller

What happens when a woman who’s always off finding adventure connects with a man who’s never had one?

Ever since Carla’s mother left when she was young, her father taught her that when the going gets tough, you should travel somewhere exciting. And when he gets dementia, he tells Carla to travel for as long as she can, so she won’t be there for his deterioration. She lives a nomadic life, traveling wherever her mood takes her, and leaving if she feels too settled.

When she flies to Ireland for her best friend’s wedding, she’s looking forward to being around people she cares about. The last thing she expects is to connect with Eamon, the best man, who is tasked with bringing her to the wedding in Tralee. They recognize each other as kindred spirits, and their chemistry is intense. Carla is the inspiration Eamon needs to stop dreaming of seeing the world and actually do it.

They take advantage of a few days’ break before the wedding and travel some scenic routes, much to the chagrin of Eamon’s family. And the closer they get to one another, the more conflicted Carla feels. She’s always run away before things get too serious—should she do so again?

This is the third book I’ve read by Trish Doller and I’ve loved every one of them, and her mix of humor, banter, emotion, and steam. You could definitely read this as a stand-alone but it would help to read the first book, Float Plan. (You should read all three of them, really.)

One trigger: if you’ve had a loved one deal with dementia, this may be a tough read. But it’s just so freaking good!!

Book Review: "Signal Fires" by Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro's first work of fiction in 15 years is a beautifully written, poignant story about two families and how their lives are connected.

I didn’t know much about this book when I picked it as an add-on with my BOTM order this month. But how could I resist the story of two families over more than 30 years, full of drama and emotion? I mean, if ever there was a recipe for a perfect “Larry book,” this was it. And it was utterly fantastic!

The book opens in 1985. One summer night, three teenagers are hanging out and drinking when they decide to go for a drive. In a split second, everything changes, and for the Wilf family, the decisions made in the subsequent moments will change all of them.

On New Year’s Eve, as 1999 is about to turn to 2000, Dr. Wilf is pressed into service to deliver a baby for the Shenkmans, a new family in the neighborhood. And years later, as Dr. Wilf prepares to move out of the neighborhood and into assisted living, the two families will be connected again, in myriad ways.

So much more happens in this beautiful story, but it’s best to let it unfold. There are emotional moments, moments of regret and renewal, and an exploration of the ways we are inexorably connected. This is a quietly powerful novel, which reminds me of one of my favorite writers, Ethan Joella, and his ability to create emotion and drama from life’s simple moments.

Book Review: "The Lost Ticket" by Freya Sampson

You never know how your life can be changed by a random encounter.

Libby’s life is falling apart. Her longtime boyfriend broke up with her, and she’s out of a job and a place to live. When she boards the number 88 bus one day, she meets Frank, a kind, elderly man.

Frank tells her that in 1962, on this same bus route, he met a beautiful red-headed girl whom Libby reminds him of. The two made a plan to visit an art museum the next week, and she wrote her name and phone number on a bus ticket. Which he promptly lost.

For the last 60 years, Frank has been riding this bus, hoping to catch a glimpse of his mystery girl. Libby is enchanted by this story, and with the help of a new friend she meets on the bus, decides to search for the girl, so Frank can finally be reunited with her after all this time. But as his dementia worsens, she wonders if their search will succeed before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, Libby finds the strength to start a new life, to chase her own dreams instead of following the path she’s been expected to. Will she take a chance on happiness this time or will it slip away again?

A friend told me how much she loved this book, and I can certainly see why. It’s sweet, heartwarming, and life-affirming, and it left me with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes!

Book Review: "The Swimmers" by Julie Otsuka

Julie Otsuka's first novel since 2012, The Swimmers is a uniquely told book about our obsessions, but it’s also a poignant story about aging, memory, and loss.

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while but wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s so beautifully written, although the way it’s structured, it feels like two separate stories with one narrative link.

In the first part of the book we hear from a collective group of people who swim at a community pool. Some have been swimming for years, some are newer, but all share an obsession with their lives at the pool, preferring to be there than anywhere else. The chapter is told in a collective “we” voice, almost a Greek chorus, reciting the litany of rules and routines, providing vignette-like descriptions of the swimmers.

When a crack appears at the bottom of the pool, the swimmers are dismayed. Some see it as a sign that they should find another pool or stop swimming altogether. And when the pool closes, they are sent back into their “real lives,” their pleasures and routines ended.

One such swimmer is Alice, a woman in the early days of dementia. Swimming gave her comfort, a circle of friends, a structured routine when everything else in her life is starting to fade away. The remainder of the book follows her as the dementia worsens, as she remembers some things and not others, and tells of her relationships with her husband and daughter, and their feelings of loss.

There is an enormous amount of emotion in this book, so if you’ve had a loved one encounter dementia, this may be triggering. It definitely feels a bit semi-autobiographical, as the daughter is a writer trying to better connect with her mother as she slips away. Just an intriguing and beautiful read.

Book Review: "The Younger Wife" by Sally Hepworth

Sally Hepworth's upcoming book, The Younger Wife, is a slow-burn domestic suspense novel that had me totally hooked as it unfolded!⁣

⁣ It’s a familiar story: older man meets a woman young enough to be his daughter and embarks on a relationship with her as his adult daughters look on. And while that’s the case when Stephen, a successful heart surgeon, meets Heather, an interior designer, it’s not the full story.⁣

⁣ You see, Stephen is still married to Pamela. But with her suffering from dementia, it’s not wrong for him to move on, right? And while his daughters, Tully and Rachel, are unhappy with the turn of events, they realize that Heather might not be as bad as they originally thought.⁣

⁣ This is a story where everyone has secrets. And it’s the secrets that might lead to someone’s undoing. But what is the truth?⁣

⁣ Hepworth knows how to create tension and drama, and The Younger Wife proves why she’s an auto-buy author for me. And did you know that Heather won a Bookstagram contest Hepworth had so one of the characters in the book is named for her? That was crazy seeing a friend’s name as a character.

⁣ ⁣ This is more suspense than thriller but it’s quite addictive. Thanks to my friend Phil for sharing his ARC with me!!

The book will be released 4/5/22.⁣

Book Review: "The Survivors" by Jane Harper

The Survivors is a slow-burn mystery filled with unresolved guilt and old secrets and lies.

Twelve years ago, Kieran’s error in judgment led to a tragedy which rocked his small Australian coastal town. He still lives with the guilt of what occurred that fateful day, which had ramifications for several families, including his own.

When Kieran returns for a rare visit to his parents, along with his girlfriend and their young daughter, he is struck by how bad his father’s dementia has gotten and how much his mother is overcompensating. And when a crime occurs, it sets off a cascade of events, revealing secrets long hidden and uncovering questions that had been ignored for years, while forcing people to relive the events of 12 years before.

I’m a big fan of Jane Harper. I love her use of imagery, which definitely makes you feel you’re right there in the middle of the story along with the characters. Her books are real slow-burns but I love the way the tension builds as the story reaches its conclusion.

This was a Book of the Month selection back in January 2021, and I’ve been trying to read all of those BOTM picks I never got to. I enjoyed this once it got going, and while I figured some of the plot out, there was still a surprise or two to be found.