7.5.2026 - The Great Wherever

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut novel by Shannon Sanders, with the audiobook narrated wonderfully by Keylor Leigh.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Aubrey is grieving the recent loss of her father as well as the end of a relationship.  At 32, she's working multiple gig jobs and struggling to survive in Washington DC.  When she learns that she has inherited a shared stake in a Tennessee farm from her father, she's hoping it will help get her out of debt.  But when she meets with the relatives with whom she now shares ownership of the farm, she discovers the backstory of the land.  The wishes of the Black man who bought and owned it ended up dividing the family and drawing attention from outsiders.  

Okay, first, this book makes me feel that everyone really needs to prioritize inheritance issues, because what we want may not be what happens.  I really liked the combination of the supernatural narration of this complicated family drama along with the story of the characters in multiple timeframes.  Plus, the snarky humor from the deceased as well as from Aubrey made for lighter reading portions.  The subject of Black land ownership was eye opening, as always with these historical racism themes.  I felt that the audiobook production was great and the narrator brought life to the story and voices - even the dead ones!  Anxious to read more from this author.

7.5.2026 - The Last Time We Saw Her

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books | Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by Jaclyn Goldis.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

A group of family and friends have gathered in Portugal's Azores to honor the tenth anniversary of Sydney, who went missing and is presumed dead after a summer camp trip.  One of the friends is making a documentary about the incident, and the others are grudgingly going along with it.  Sydney's sister, Olivia, an author whose stories bear a marked similarity to the incident, has always been silently accused of her sister's death but was never charged.  When one of the group is killed, they realize that nothing has been resolved and the past is far from dead.

This was an atmospheric, tense read, with a closed case coming back after a decade.  There's plenty of family drama and toxic friendships here, both present and past, to keep things interesting as well.  There are a lot of characters' POV to keep track of, and I didn't always do a great job of that, but it was well written and the twists kept me intrigued throughout.  

7.4.2026 - All the Lies We See

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Intrigue Ink Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book in the wonderful Jess Lambert series by Christina McDonald.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Detective Jess Lambert is days away from the trial of the woman accused of killing her daughter when she wakes in a seedy hotel room with no memory of how she got there. On her phone is a viral video showing Jess calmly shooting the woman in cold blood.  Jess has no other choice but to run, and she must find out who's behind it all.

This is a wonderful police procedural, and Jess is such a wonderful character.  I've read and loved all the books in this series, but of course I lose all memory once I read them, so this could easily be read as a stand alone.  But it's a great series, so start at the beginning.  McDonald writes gripping police procedurals, typically with a touch of the supernatural, and it works so well.  Just an extra creepy feeling amongst all the tension.  But this book takes all that to a different level, because of the explosion of AI into our lives.  It's frightening to think how easily Jess' situation could happen to any of us.  And people believe what they see.  Scary stuff but makes for a great thriller!  Can't wait for more in this series!

7.4.2026 - Julia at the Drive-in

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing | Amazon Original Stories for gifting me this short story from Rainbow Rowell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

This is such a sweet coming-of-age story, as Julia transforms her looks and suddenly becomes noticeable.  You can easily sit and read this quickly, but it's full of nostalgia (drive ins!) and remembering how much we all, but especially teenagers, feel the need to be seen.  

7.2.2026 - The Housewife

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Natalie Barelli.  All opinions expressed in this book are my own - 4.5 stars!

Jodie has always wanted to be a housewife and has perfected her skills in cooking, cleaning, and being the perfect mate.  After a quick romance, she marries psychologist Dr Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home.  But reality is a bit different - his friends think she's a gold digger, Roy still has pictures of his late wife, Deborah everywhere, and even Marie, the housekeeper, doesn't like her.  But Jodie is keeping her own secrets.

I love dark, sarcastic humor and this book was filled with it.  Add to that a twisty thriller that kept me flipping the pages and you have the perfect summer thriller.  The short chapters continue to build the tension as Jodie sneaks around the house trying to find answers to all her questions, with the fear of someone always looking over her shoulder.  Jodie is the kind of character that you can't help but root for, even when she behaves badly - she had me laughing out loud at her witty commentary and behavior.  If you love your domestic suspense on the dark side, this one's for you!

7.1.2026 - Dead but Dreaming of Electric Sheep

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Paul Tremblay.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Julia is a former gamer, now working menial jobs and living with her uncle.  Her estranged mother, a CFO for a big tech company, reaches out and offers her a temporary job with a payday she can't refuse.  All she has to do is chaperone a man in a vegetative state - one who has proprietary AI implanted.  But what if he's not really dead?

Worry.  Worry more.  Because the best sci-fi novels are the ones that feel way too real, and with AI, all bets are off.  This book has Trembley's trademark humor mixed in with the terror, and characters that you will love.  Julia names her charge Bernie, and we hear from his POV as he struggles with memories, only knowing that he needs to find someone.  As Julia learns more about the company's intentions and Bernie's condition, she turns her back on everything to help him.  Fascinating.

6.30.2026 - Gray After Dark

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for gifting me both a physical and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Noelle W. Ihli.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Miley's dreams of Olympic gold are sidelined after a tragic accident.  She takes a summer job at a mountain guest lodge, hoping to heal and train.  She ignores the local lore about a staffer who died years ago.  But then she's abducted during a morning run and held captive in an off-the-grid cabin.  She'll have to do everything she can to escape.

I hadn't even heard of this author a year or so ago, and now I'm completely obsessed.  Every book I read seems better, and that's saying something.  This book grabbed me by the throat and would not let go.  It's so frightening and because it's based on a true story, it feels incredibly real.  It's dark, but it's also the story of resilience and strength.  Grab this one and clear your calendar!