10.18.2026 - Redemption

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of the latest book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

A Catholic deacon who visited a women's prison in TX was moved by the 7 women on death row.  He called on the Sisters of Mary Morning Star, a group of contemplative nuns, to visit the women with him.  The author takes the reader into the death row unit with these two groups on women as they forge a connection.

What a fabulous book, exploring so much about the human and spiritual experience, as the conversation of crime, punishment, and redemption is explored.  At first glance, these two groups of women are polar opposites, yet each spend their days strictly regimented, mostly in silence, and even sleep in cells.  The stories of the women on death row are of course horrible, but we also learn about the unethical police and justice systems that put some of them there.  I liked the discussion of redemption and change and the thought that the person who eventually is killed by the state isn't the same person who committed the crime.  The sisters were so open and forgiving, full of grace and compassion - lessons we all need to learn.  This is an important book and one I can't stop thinking or talking about.  Highly recommended.

10.16.2026 - Please Enjoy Your Stay

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books | Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut book by Tara Goedjen.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

When they were teenagers, Mia's cousin was murdered during their stay at a castle in the Austrian Alps.  Being the only witness, Mia had to testify in court and the killer was put behind bars.  A decade later, the murderer is appealing his conviction and a popular true crime podcast is covering the case, determined to exonerate him.  Determined to prove his guilt, Mia returns to Austria where the castle is being revamped as a luxury hotel, getting a job as a nanny to the owner's young daughter.  But sinister happenings make Mia wonder about her memories of the crime and if she put her own life in danger.

A great debut that left me anxious for more from this author.  I liked the short chapters, which kept the suspense high and kept me flipping the pages.  We also read parts of Mia's aunt's journals from a decade before, going back to the time of the murder.  It was atmospheric, a creepy castle even though parts had undergone transformation, with mysterious happenings leading me to question and suspect everyone.  I was surprised at the ending, always a good thing for a thriller.

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!