5.1.2026 - Liar's Dice

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Thousand Voices for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Juliet Faithfull.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Identical twins Dolores and Mita grow up in rural Brazil in the turbulent 1970s, . But at age seven, they discover that Mita has a degenerative condition eventually becoming debilitating.  Without telling Dolores, their parents send Mita to a hospital in their father’s native London.  The rest of the family moves to Rio, but Dolores is miserable without her twin, and her parents seem to have forgotten her.  Dolores can't even contact Mita because she doesn't know how to read or write.  Then she meets a new friend at school who opens doors for her.

This is a beautiful debut, a very haunting and heartbreaking coming-of-age story.  It's a tale of quiet strength, as Dolores overcomes her lack of education in order to be able to write a letter to her sister, and the wonderful teacher who made that happen, eventually using that talent to make money.  The story also shows the rise of the dictatorship in Brazil, marked by oppression, police torture, and the early sexualization of young girls, all portrayed through Dolores' eyes.  It contains a powerful theme of family secrets, and all the guilt and shame those secrets can invoke.  This one will stay with you.

5.1.2026 - Don't Wait to Light the Candles

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row, and Harlequin Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this beautiful collection of poems by Allie Michelle, narrated by the author.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I'm not always one to pick up a poetry collection, but I've now added Allie Michelle to my list of those poets that I will gladly read anything they write.  This is a slow, soft collection of poems that give a much-needed reminder in this fast-paced world to appreciate all the people, opportunities, and joys that surround us.  So many of them touched me personally, that I am going to order a physical copy of this book to keep on my shelf along with my other favorite poetry collections.  The author did a wonderful job bringing life to her words on the audiobook.  Highly recommended!

4.29.2026 - Ghost Town

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Tom Perrotta.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Narrated by a much-older Jimmy, we basically meet Jimmy growing up in 1970s suburban NJ.  After tragedy strikes his family, he finds himself drifting into troubling friendships, searching for answers in an Ouija board, and confronting racism at its worst.  As an adult, Jimmy is invited back to his hometown and is finally able to face his past.

This was a short book with some punch, but not the usual humor that inhabits most of Perrotta's books.  I would have been Jimmy's age in the 1970s and it was a nostalgic look at that era.  It's definitely a coming-of-age book from the male point of view, which I haven't read much about.  The small-town feeling and whiteness/racism felt very on point for that time period.  A look into how the past changes us and our future.

4.29.2026 - The Radiant Dark

Many thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects | SJP Lit for gifting me a digital ARC of this intriguing book by Alexandra Oliva.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

It's 1980, and Carol and her husband are living in a small town in the Adirondacks.  They have just had their first child, Michael, and Carol is struggling with motherhood.  Then, lights appear in the sky which are later determined to be communication from life on another planet 11 light years away.  We follow the stories of Carol, Michael, and Ro, named for the celestial star.  

While this book has an interesting sci-fi plot about possibly communicating with other intelligent beings. this is more of a character-driven novel.  Carol's obsession with this other life leads her to search for answers outside her small town and family.  It's the story of generational trauma, identity, marriage, and motherhood.  We follow this family for generations, through tragedies and celebrations, as they navigate their future.  Extra points for all the Adirondack area references (Stewart's!).  Wonderful, thoughtful book.

4.28.2026 - How to Cheat Your Own Death

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book in the Castle Knoll Files series by Kristen Perrin.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In 1968, Frances Adams is loving her new London life, going to university, and stepping into a new world of glamour thanks to a new friend, Vera.  In present day, Annie Adams heads to London to visit her famous artist mother, Laura, only to find herself investigating the murder of Laura's new protégée.  Annie has read about a very similar murder in the journals of her late great aunt Frances.  

This series just keeps getting better!  Do yourself a big favor and start at the beginning, because there is no sign of this one slowing down.  This time, the majority of the action takes place in London, rather than Castle Knolls, but we still catch up with all the regulars, including getting the backstory of Sam, Annie's father whom Laura has always refused to discuss.  I love how the story plays out, with excerpts from Frances' diary telling the story of her life as it relates to what's going on in the present.  Plus, the connection between Annie and Detective Crane continues on, or does it?  Please don't make us wait too long for the next in this series!

4.27.2026 - The Story of Marceau Miller

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Marceau Miller for gifting me an audio ARC of this novel by Marceau Miller, narrated by the wonderful team of Saskia Maarleveld, Jean Brassard, and Stephanie Németh-Parker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Marceau Miller is a successful writer who falls while climbing in the French Alps (with no ropes!) and dies.  His wife, Sarah, is convinced that it was not an accident and was instead murder.  Then she discovers that her husband has left behind a final manuscript that she has to find if she wants to know the truth about Marceau as well as the disappearance of his sister long ago.

The audiobook was narrated by a dream team, so I would highly recommend listening to that version.  This is a slow-burn mystery, and very clever as it is written from the perspective of the author after his death.  It kept me on my toes and I felt so bad for Sarah.  It's an exploration of just how toxic both secrets and relationships can get.  Intriguing!

4.27.2026 - We Burned So Bright

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by TJ Klune, with the audiobook beautifully narrated by Kirt Graves.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Don and Rodney have been married for over 40 years and thought they had more time.  But the world is ending because of a rogue black hole heading for Earth.  They hope they have enough time to make it from Maine to Washington to fulfill a promise.  Traveling in their old RV, they meet others trying to live their last days as best they can.

What a punch this book gives in only 176 pages.  I listened to and read this in one sitting, and it left me in tears, with life lessons to ponder.   It's tragic, beautiful, and a must read.