3.6.2026 - Lady Tremaine

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing debut novel by Rachel Hochhauser - the March pick of Reese's Book Club.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

A retelling of Cinderella - from the evil stepmother's POV.  Etheldreda is twice widowed and now in charge of caring for her two children as well as her spoiled stepdaughter.  Her house is falling apart and she's doing all she can to hide the fact that they have no money, because getting her daughters married to a good man is of the utmost importance.  

It's so hard to believe that this is a debut novel, because Hochhauser has created a world that is so vivid and imaginative that you will fall into it and only look up when the book is done.  I loved how the author took the stereotype we all know of the evil stepmother and turned it around, so we see that what's important is what a mother will do for her children.  It's good to have a reminder that things are not always what they seem behind closed doors - even castle doors.  I loved the way these women eventually figured out that all they needed at the end of the day was themselves, and the ending was perfect.  This book had everything you need for the perfect reading escape, and you'll even learn a bit about falconry too.  Highly recommended!  

3.5.2026 - Where the Girls Were

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Kate Schatz.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

It's 1968, and 17-year-old Baker's future is shining bright.  She's the valedictorian of her high school and will be attending Stanford in the fall, hoping to become a journalist.  But then she meets Wiley at a party with her cousin and becomes pregnant.  Instead of being the shining star of her family, she's now an embarrassment.  She's sent to a home for unwed mothers, where she is sequestered in an old Victorian home with a group of pregnant girls.  

This was an interesting book and it would make a good book club pick, with hot-button relevant topics, especially for women who came of age in this time period compared to now.  Baker seemed ultra-naive about her body even for this era, and her mom was definitely worried more about appearances than anything else.  Some of the scenes were heartbreaking and the end was a little over the top, but I enjoyed the book thoroughly.  Be sure to read the author's note as well!

3.4.2026 - One of Us

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Elizabeth Day.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Martin and Ben used to be best friends, but ever since Ben's 40th birthday party, they haven't spoken.  Martin never quite fit into Ben's privileged world, but gets pulled back in when Ben's wife, Serena, invites him to the funeral of Fliss, Ben's sister.  

This is a slower, character-driven novel, told from multiple POV, but it pulls you into a different world, one of entitlement and political privilege.  It's apparently a sequel to The Party, which I didn't read, but there's plenty of information here and it works perfectly as a stand alone.  It's hard to find too many likable characters here, but there's plenty of dark humor that kept me entertained from the first page.  There's plenty of drama and secrets among all the political and human behavior themes, and I thought the ending was pitch perfect.  

3.4.2026 - Judge Stone

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Little Brown and Company for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful book by James Patterson and Viola Davis, with the audiobook narrated by Viola Davis.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Judge Mary Stone is the most respected person in Union Springs, Alabama.  A case comes before her that will tear the town apart, putting many at risk, including Judge Stone.  And the judge knows that this is a no-win situation because criminally speaking, a law has been broken, but ethically is another story.  No judge can satisfy everyone, but she's willing to fight for justice.

This was a gripping story that was brought to life through Viola Davis' narration.  There's courtroom drama and tension, as well as characters that you will love and that will break your heart.  There are a lot of relevant, hot-button topics here but this author duo handled them perfectly, showing the personal side of the laws.  I'm not always one for these celebrity books, but this is a must read legal thriller - but the audiobook shines with Davis' narration so I would highly recommend that version!

3.2.2026 - Missing Sister

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Harper Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Joshilyn Jackson, who also narrated the audiobook.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Penny and Nix were twins, but when Nix dies in a tragic accident after college, she leaves behind a cryptic voicemail to Penny, that has left her desperate for justice ever since.  Five years later, Penny is a rookie cop when she is called to her first murder scene.  When she sees the victim, she knows instantly that he's one of the three men she holds responsible for Nix's death.  But the decisions Penny makes right after that will put her on the wrong side of the law and searching for a woman who may also be searching for the same men.

This was a good thriller, and I appreciated having both formats to keep reading.  The author did a great job narrating her book, which isn't always the case.  I liked the fact that this book went into morally-gray areas, making you put yourself in various positions.  The revenge theme was strong throughout.  It was a bit of a slow burn, but certainly picked up heading towards that wild ending!  

3.2.2026 - The Ghost Women

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC of this creepy story by Jennifer Murphy.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In 1972, the body of Abel Montague, a student at St. Luke’s Institute of the Arts, is found hanging from a tree in the forest. An ancient Hanged Man tarot card is found in the back pocket of his pants and his body has been positioned into the exact pose illustrated on the card.  St Luke's is a former monastery that once housed a secret order of monks who carried out witch trials and executions.  When Detective Lola Germany arrives on the scene, she believes they are dealing with a ritualistic murder.  When conducting her interviews, Lola discovers his girlfriend was part of a group of friends who call themselves witches.  Then more students are found dead, each body arranged to make a tarot card.  

I love a dark academic thriller and this one had so many dark happenings within its pages, from ghost trees to tarot cards to creepy characters.  There's the group of young women who call themselves witches who all are keeping secrets, as is the detective.  This story is told from multiple POV as the secrets and twists are played out.  It's thick with tension until the very end - read with the lights on!

3.2.2026 - Wait For Me

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of the latest book by Amy Jo Burns, and allowing me to participate in the Little Free Library ARC drop-off as well.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Elle Harlow was a big folk star in the 1970s, but suddenly disappeared at the height of her fame.  Marijohn Shaw's dad always insists that he was the last one to see Elle when she stopped at his gas station, and has become obsessed with her since then.  We learn the background of Elle growing up in Appalachia to her rise to stardom in Nashville.  Almost 20 years later, Marijohn finds a piece of Ella's past after a meteor strike in their small Pennsylvania town.  What is the connection between these two women?

What a beautiful story – I didn’t just read this book, I felt it.  What I loved most was the sacred relationship between women, not just mothers, but those women who change us, make us better, are there for us no matter what, even when they aren’t next to us.  I loved the quote – So much of a woman’s life was this relentless unspooling.  All the things we lose remain in us and change us.  Burns’ writing was just gorgeous – the song lyrics were like poetry and just touched my heart.  It’s two different love stories that are told with tender words, not explicit sex, and It’s also an ode  to country music and how life’s scars write songs that touch us all.  This is a must read!