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!

9.14.2026 - Something of a Calling

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Zoje Stage, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Jenn Lee.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Detective Andy Cooper is days away from retirement, not quite sure what her plans are after that.  After losing her daughter and getting divorced, her job is all she has.  Then bodies begin to turn up.  Murdered, but not by any obvious means.  A chance encounter with a stranger in town leads to an unexpected friendship, even though the two women are very different.  But Fiona has a secret too.

I listened to the audiobook for this one, and the narrator's voice was perfect for this story.  This one will make you think about our world in a very different way.  It's horror light, more quiet and thoughtful.  Always anxious to read anything from this author!

9.14.2026 - The Me I Used to Be

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing | Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Kristan Higgins.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In high school, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine and Beck were known as the Core Four, and they promised to be best friends forever. But the night after graduation, they’re in a devastating accident, and the friendship that seemed unbreakable is shattered.  Twenty-five years later, the four women agree to reunite for their high school reunion. None of them is where they hoped to be way back when, and all have scars and secrets. 

I'm not a crier, so when a book has me in ugly sobs, it's an automatic 5 star for me.  But because it's a Kristan Higgins book, there is plenty of humor and lightness to counteract the hard parts.  Told from the POV of the four friends in different timelines, we learn what happened to break up their friendship and what life was like for them afterwards.  This would be a great book club pick as well, with themes of friendship, parenthood, forgiveness, and making peace with the past.  Fabulous - highly recommended!