9.17.2026 - Queenie is Working on It

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for gifting me the sequel to Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Queenie is now 33, the editorial director for a media network promoting the voices of Black women.  A research appointment goes wrong and shows that her fertility may be compromised, even while she's not sure she even wants kids.  Everyone around her seems to have found their person and can start a family with ease, and Queenie feels out of sorts and that time is running out on all parts of her life.

It was fun reconnecting with Queenie, although in some ways she hasn't changed too much - like the title says, she's working on it.  I loved the family connection here because even when they can drive us crazy, they will want the best for us.  And sometimes, we just need to get out of the way.  

9.17.2026 - Hollow Bones

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my all-time favorites, Jodi Picoult.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I anxiously await a new book from Jodi Picoult and this one is amazing.  As always, she completely researches her topics and gives the reader multiple viewpoints to make you think about both sides of an issue.  This one is best gone into blind, without any risk of spoilers, but know that it is ripped from the headlines in more ways than one.  I loved seeing Jesse from My Sister's Keeper all grown up (and there are spoilers embedded in this book in case you haven't read that one).  Be sure and read the author's note at the end for more insight into how this book was born.  This is an emotional, important read and I highly recommend it!

9.16.2026 - Never Say Die

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this moving memoir by Ke Huy Quan.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Ke Huy Quan was a Vietnamese refugee who found himself a child actor in iconic 1980s movies - The Temple of Doom and The Goonies.  This is his story and it's so well-written and honest that it was hard to put down.  You would think that life would be smooth sailing, but roles dried up and it was decades later before he stepped back on camera to star in a film that would win him multiple awards, including an Oscar.  It's a story of believing in your dreams and doing whatever it takes, of resilience, and having people around you that will always be on your side.

9.15.2026 - Our Noble Selves

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Kate Atkinson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

It's post-war 1951 in Britain, and the government decides to put on The Festival of Britain to celebrate the country.  War reporter Harry Flynn needs a job and he joins a team of misfits getting the festival ready.  When one of Flynn's dates goes missing and he is determined to be the lat person to have seen her alive, he wonders if he could have somehow been responsible, since he can't quite remember the night.  In the midst of all the chaos, his ex-wife drops off Veronica, his 13-year-old stepdaughter and her dog, Mrs. Betty.  Let the fun begin.

I loved the humor amidst everything going on in this book, and it was a twisty tale filled with such intriguing characters.  It's a fascinating look at a piece of history I certainly knew nothing about, as well as the characters' recollections of their war experiences.  It's also a nod to class differences, and "boy" is a prime example of that theme.  Veronica was such a good character - strong, feisty, determined.  A great read!

9.15.2026 - I Am the Monster Under the Bed

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut thriller by Emily Zinnikas with the audio narration by Jenn Lee.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Willa always had a monster under the bed, one that taught her to read and was there for her.  Until the one night that a group of teens went into the woods behind her house, and Willa was the only survivor.  Years later, Willa comes back to town to attend the funeral of her mentor and teacher.  Staying in her old home, she hears noises from the basement and feels called back into the woods.  

What a strong debut - I loved the creepy feel to it with monsters under the bed and noises from the basement.  Willa is a strong character whose life has been changed by the tragedy when she was a teen, and the townspeople's opinions of her.  This book has the perfect combination of mystery, tension, supernatural vibes, and small town gossips and it kept me glued to the pages.  The audiobook production and narration was wonderful too, just amping up the creep factor.  Can't wait to read more from this author! 

9.15.2026 - One Split Second

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas and Mercer, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book in the Tracy Crosswhite series by Robert Dugoni, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Detective Tracy Crosswhite is determined to help an old friend, Sheriff Jenny Almond, who has been charged with murder for shooting an unarmed veteran.  Tracy's husband, Dan, has stepped up to defend Jenny in court.  Meanwhile, Tracy's investigation draws her back to a cold case of a missing teenager that still haunts the community.  Could these two crimes be connected?

One of my absolute favorite series by a favorite writer, it's so nice to just slide back into this world with its familiar characters and see what's happening.  This book is the perfect combination of legal thriller, police procedural, and mystery.  It shows how a crime can have such long-reaching effects on a community and its residents.   It will work well as a stand alone, but getting to follow along with these characters has been a privilege, so I would highly recommend starting at the beginning!  I mostly listened to this one and the narration and production were top notch as well.  I'm here anxiously awaiting for more.

9.14.2026 - Dead Happy

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Nick Spalding, with a cast narration of Maxim Reston, Eilidh Beaton, and Simon Mattacks.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Alex believes that taking risks adds to life, even though his daughter, Hannah, is concerned about him.  He's also determined to show Hannah that she needs to take risks too.  But then Alex takes things too far and the past comes to the surface.

The first part of this book was funny, but it did get a bit repetitive, with Alex taking more and more crazy risks.  But a shift in the story gives it a whole different feel.  It's a moving story about family, guilt, and trying to move forward.  Always look forward to this author's next book!