11.16.2025 - Haven't Killed in Years

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Amy K. Green.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Gwen Tanner is trying to live a quiet life, mostly trying to hide the fact that she is the daughter of a serial killer.  But someone knows the truth because body parts are arriving on her front door with ominous messages.  Gwen must figure out who the killer is without giving up all her secrets.

I loved this book - Gwen is a fabulous main character, full of dark, snarky wit.  She's never been able to have a close relationship with anyone because of her past, but now she fears that the few acquaintances she does have are in danger.  Those other characters are fabulous too, and you'll find yourself rooting for them.  The book is a perfect combination of light and dark, suspense and levity, and touches on our society's obsession with true crime.  Plus, I never, ever saw that ending coming!  Grab this one when it comes out this week!

11.16.2025 - The Lie She Wears

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Elle Marr, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Emily Woo Zeller.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Museum curator Pearl Davis always had a strained relationship with her mother, Sally.  But when Sally dies unexpectedly, she leaves Pearl a letter from the grave…confessing to murder.  With the help of a friend, Pearl begins searching for the truth of her mother’s actions—and as she does, more cryptic notes emerge. But these letters aren’t just clues behind a confession. They’re a warning. Sally was terrified of something.  

This book was told from two different timelines and POV, and I was just waiting anxiously for them to intersect.  And they certainly did!  As I would expect from this author, this was a twisty read which also focused on mother/daughter relationships.  There were plenty of suspects that I didn't trust along the way.  Plus, Pearl's job researching creepy antique masks certainly added another level of suspense to the story.  Audiobook narration was great as well!

11.14.2025 - Strangers in the Car

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this thriller by C.M. Ewan.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Abi and Ben are driving home on a secluded road on a very foggy night.  Abi takes her eyes off the road for a second and almost hits a man trying to wave them down.  Ben thinks they should stop, but Abi doesn't want to.  However, farther down the road, they come across a woman and her child by a car pulled off the road.  They decide to stop and help.  But now strangers are in their car and this could be a very bad mistake.

Such a suspenseful read with very relatable characters in terrible positions.  The writing was great - very short cliffhanging chapters, alternating from events earlier in the day to the present, which just escalated the tension.  There were twists and turns throughout, and you can't help but put yourself in the position of Abi and Ben, trying to do the right things.  I don't want to give too much away, because this is definitely a book to pick up!

11.13.2025 - The Merge

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Grace Walker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In the future, the Earth's climate crisis has escalated and the population is out of control, prompting new regulations for people impacting their daily lives.  The Merge is touted as a way to solve those issues - two people's consciousness is merged into one body.  No longer will diseases destroy lives.  There are rewards for those participating, and penalties for those not.  Laurie is dealing with early onset Alzheimer's and her daughter, Amelia, can't bear to see her mom's mind fade.  They are joined by a group of other Merge participants as they prepare to move to The Village, a luxurious rehab center for those who have merged.  

This book combines so many genres perfectly - sci-fi, dystopian and speculative fiction, psychological thriller, suspense, and horror- I can't believe it's a debut novel.  It was a wonderful combination of themes:  what would we do to save those we love, as well as being under the control of those making ethical decisions for us..  It never veers into a preachy book on politics, instead immersing the reader into all the emotional aspects.  It was brilliantly written - the POV begin with first-person narration from both Amelia and Laurie; then changes into first-person plural as they merge.   I couldn't stop thinking about this book when I had to put it down.  This is a must read debut!

11.11.2025 - Like Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Erin O. White.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Let's meet the three couples in an idyllic Upstate NY town - Ruth and her wife, Wyn, are living the dream with their four children on a small farm.  Ruth's best friend, Caroline, and her husband, Mike, made the decision that he would donate his sperm to his cousin, Tobi and her wife, so they could have kids of their own.  Now those children have questions, as does Ruth's daughter from her first relationship.  All three couples are faced to confront their issues and secrets.

I love messy family dramas - one of my favorite genres.  This one had that in spades, but I did feel that it relied a bit too much on the LGBTQ+ storyline.  It was also a bit confusing for me to keep the characters straight for some reason.  It is a character-driven novel and I felt the writing was wonderful.  A bit slow, but I still loved the premise and the quiet tension running throughout these non-traditional families.  A good reminder to keep communication open so secrets don't fester.  Will look for more from this author!

11.11.2025 - Evensong

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Stewart O'Nan.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

The Humpty Dumpty Club is a group of older women who work together to help each other and their circle of friends in Pittsburgh.  While dealing with their own relationships, grief, aging bodies, and life in general, they do what they can to help each other.

I adored this book and the Humpty Dumpty Club.  How wonderful our world would be if we all had a chosen family like this that looked out for each other, picking up the slack when needed, and just being there.  It's a quiet, still, yet profound book with relatable humor and circumstances, especially if you find yourself being an older woman.  Emily is a recurring character and while I've read many of O'Nan's books, I haven't read these others.  Obviously it's not necessary to love this book, but I'm now very anxious to go back and read all about Emily's story.  Don't miss this story - it's wonderful!

11.9.2025 - The Weekend Crashers

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Jamie Brenner.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Maggie feels like there's been some distance between her and her daughter, Piper, so she schedules them for a relaxing knitting retreat in a cozy inn located in New Hope, Pennsylvania.  But when they get there, they find the inn has double booked, so it's also the venue for a bushcraft bachelor party.  Maggie ends up engaging in a competition with one of the dads - who could do their craft better?  The women do bushcraft or the men knit?  But Maggie and Piper's relationship is becoming the biggest challenge.

This was such a cute, cozy book that makes me want to go on a knitting retreat (minus the bachelor party) and just see all that yarn (even though I haven't knitted in decades).  Brenner is always stellar at creating strong women characters, and they shine in this book as well, tackling such topics as communication and following your dreams, and especially mother-daughter relationships.  Pick this one up for a completely charming read.