10.15.2026 - Children of the Wolf

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Abby Geni.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Liv and her brother, Finn, were raised by their Swedish-born father, Ulf, a direct descendant of the infamous Erik the Red.  He raised his children as Vikings, homeschooled and learning swordplay and archery.  But their world is shattered when they are teenagers and are separated from their father.  Decades later, the siblings are living in Michigan, raising bees, and living quietly, until mysterious happenings in the town force Liv to examine her past in a different light.

This is a bit difficult to review without spoilers, and you need to read it without spoilers for full impact.  This was a disturbing novel about a dysfunctional family, and you can't help but feel for the siblings and the childhood trauma they carry forward.  There's a lot of Viking mythology and stories intertwined, plus you'll learn about bees!  It's creepy, fascinating, mysterious and will keep you turning the pages!

10.15.2026 - The Tulip Poplars

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Silas House.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Set in the 1920s in rural Kentucky, two couples, bound by love, but forbidden to pursue - Amos and Tom and Maeve and Paschal.  Tom can't shake the religious code he was raised by and eventually marries his longtime friend, Maeve.  Maeve, meanwhile, pines for Pascal but strict Jim Crow laws prevent them being together.  The story follows them through decades of their lives.

Be sure and read the acknowledgments in the back of the book, where you will learn that this book is based on both the author's ancestors and his own life.  This book is very character driven and it kept my interest from the beginning.  It's appalling and heartbreaking to read about the injustices and cruelty experienced by so many during this time period, here focusing on Blacks and LGBTQ people.  The writing is beautiful, paying homage to the Appalachian region.  A powerful read.

10.14.2026 - Friends and Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new release by Natalie Baszile.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Babs and Nora have been friends since their children were small and they've spent the last decade sharing everything.  Nora, a white woman, is the adopted mother of Nathan, who is Black, and Babs has always been a big support for Nora on the best ways to raise her son in today's world.  But both of their worlds are turned upside down when the police are called on their teenagers while they're home alone, resulting in a traumatic police encounter for Nathan.  Afterwards, Babs and Nora find themselves divided, and Nathan turns to Babs and her family for more support for his race and culture.  

This would definitely make a good book club pick, because there's so much going on here with racism, classism, community, political issues, and more.  It was an intriguing read but where it shines is that it forces the reader to think about perspectives other than their own, just like the characters were forced to expand their own views.  It feels fraught with issues that are real and relevant, and it's definitely not a quick or easy read, which is precisely the point.

10.13.2026 - Preppy Kitchen Everyday Baking

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Simon Element for a gifted ARC of the latest cookbook by John Kanell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I like baking way more than cooking, and this has everything I look for in a cookbook about baking, from quick breads to desserts and everything in between.  There are gorgeous pictures, easy-to-follow recipes, tips while baking - it's perfect.  There is even a section on baking with your air fryer, which I've tried previously, and now have even more recipes to try.  I'm going to order a physical copy because this is a book that I know I'll refer to often.

10.12.2026 - Luna, Phoenix, Queen

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful novel by Julie Orringer.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Dava and Barr Pennington are both professors at a Midwestern university - his specialty is fiction writing and hers is English literature.  Dava is experiencing the ill effects of early-onset Alzheimer's disease and has to move to a memory care facility.  In the house alone, Barr discovers that Dava had been writing a novel, and he learns of her affair in the novel's pages.  Over the next two years, he rewrites the novel and publishes it as his own work.  

I loved this novel and the way it plays out.  Over decades, in eight parts, the story is gradually told in different voices, all in second person as though they were talking to the reader.  This way, we see how their marriage played out, the secrets and betrayals, the guilt, and yes, love in different forms. Dava's world was personally so impactful to me, as it will be to anyone who has dealt with memory issues in a loved one, and the author was so respectful of this world.  Get ready to be emotionally invested in this novel and especially with the dog, and all those who love and take care of her.  Plus, it will make you really think about the moral and ethical questions involved.  This is an absolute must read and is highly recommended!

10.12.2026 - Look What the Cat Dragged In

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest book by Jason Rekulak, narrated by the wonderful Stephanie Németh-Parker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Penny Padgett is a cartoonist who has written a series of books called Penny and Popcorn, based on her cat.  But one stormy night, Popcorn disappears.  Despite all her efforts, the cat can't be found, throwing Penny into a funk.  She agrees to go to a work party with her boyfriend, Dean, and he talks her into pet sitting for a cat named Godfrey.  But she soon realizes that Godfrey may not be an ordinary cat.

What a creepy story - by the last part, I was listening with a lump in my throat!  The wonderful narration made it even better, with the cat noises giving me chills along with the story.  The physical book is fully illustrated and I will have to get my hands on that when it comes out.  This is a creepy, eerie book that makes for perfect reading and listening during this spooky season.  

10.11.2026 - The Spirits

Many thanks to NetGalley, WW Norton & Co., and Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this contemporary Christmas Carol by Bonnie Jo Campbell, with the audiobook narrated by Christina Delaine.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

It is the night before Christmas, and a family has gathered at an isolated farmhouse in Michigan.  Sister is haunted by her father's death and has estranged herself from everyone, taking refuge in the plants and trees she tends.  A surprise guest appears for dinner, and the family begins to open up and talk about the event that changed all their lives.

This is a dark tale of a family haunted by the secrets and lies they each have kept.  It moves slowly as we learn what happened nine years ago, as well as all the trauma the family has endured.  It's very character driven and the atmosphere is dripping with foreboding, as each of the family members eventually shares their version of events.  While quite different from Dickens' version, it's still a tale of redemption and compassion for others, with a nod to the past, present and future.  The narration of this story added to the haunting feel of the narrative.