8.27.2026 - Before You Were Anne

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Emiko Jean.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Things are finally going well for Detective Chelsey Calhoun in her job and personally, and she's expecting her first child.  Then she gets a case that blows all that up.  A mother is found dead and her teenage daughter is missing.  Chelsey is desperate to find Naomi before she becomes the next victim.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, The Return of Ellie Black, where we were introduced to Detective Calhoun.  She is such a strong woman, not able to rest until she can figure out the latest puzzle.  This story is told in three distinct voices - the detective, the victim now known as Anne, and her daughter, Naomi.  Each voice was so powerful and I was completely invested in their story.  It's a story about family, heritage, and belonging.  A fabulous police procedural and more, beautifully written, compelling, heartbreaking, and powerful.  You wouldn't have to read the first book, but you definitely should.  Highly recommended and I've got my fingers crossed for more in this series.

8.27.2026 - Ideal Life

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria | Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Evelyn Skye.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Talia has built her neuroscience startup and it's now poised for a $100M acquisition to make her dream come true of making the world a better place through technology.  But a glitch in the app leads to a catastrophe and she's about to lose everything.  Then she wakes up with a mysterious watch that allows her to rewind the last 24 hours.  Suddenly, she can make everything in her life perfect?  Or can she?

I'm a big fan of Evelyn Skye's books - quiet, thoughtful, with a touch of magic, that will make you think about doing and being better.  This book is no different - Talia will learn that trying to achieve perfection not even possible and comes at a price.  Plus, it's the butterfly effect, where minute changes can have giant ripple consequences.  It's also a nod that technology, for all the good it can do, is not the answer.  I enjoyed my time with this book!

8.27.2026 - Counting the Days

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Laura Chinn.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Rhea is 38, single, and desperate for a baby.  She's been told that her fertility will plummet at age 39, so she resolves to find the perfect man before her date.  Cue the countdown.  Then she meets Danny and he is perfect - expect he doesn't want children.  

This was a funny, sweet novel that will make you think about life choices.  Do you make the choices because that's what everyone else is doing?  Because it's what is expected of you?  Because of what others think?  Rhea started creating vision boards in high school and continued on, creating what she felt would be a perfect life.  But we all know that there is no perfect life and no vision board perfection will bring happiness.  I liked that both Rhea and Danny were open to communicating their issues and not playing games, and the ending was sweet.  A nice summer romance to make you think about life!

8.26.2026 - They Say a Girl Died Here

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by Sarah Pinborough, with the audiobook narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Anna is living with her family in a small town in Nebraska, hoping for a fresh start.  But there’s a cloud hanging over the town, and it’s not rain.  Two young women have been murdered exactly three years apart, and the anniversary is coming up.  Even though the murders were supposedly solved, people are still talking.  Anna’s young sister is scared, and her elderly grandmother with dementia is having strange episodes.  Something strange is happening.

I listened to the audiobook and Saskia Maarleveld once again nailed the narration of this novel, making it feel like there’s an entire cast.  This is a creepy, intense story where you’re never exactly sure who or what to believe.  Anna has her own demons and secrets and struggles to take care of her sister and grandmother as well as make peace with her mother.  The small-town atmosphere is a character as well, with an ominous feeling throughout.  A slow-burn, creepy novel leading to an explosive ending.  

8.25.2026 - The Opposite of Murder

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller and police procedural by Sophie Hannah.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Jemma walks into a police station confessing a desire to kill her stepmother, Marianne.  She's hoping that confessing will mean that she will never follow through with her plan, because then the police would know who did it.  But at the same time as Jemma is confessing, Marianne is murdered. 

This was a wild ride, completely original, and I love a book that makes me think.  This one has you looking at every event from a different angle, letting you see what you were missing.  Sure, some things were a bit over the top, but that just made for a good read.  I'm actually surprised that this book isn't getting better ratings.  If you like mysteries that will make you think and you'll still never figure it all out, this one is for you!

8.25.2026 - Make Nice

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Ryan Effgen.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The three Pickford siblings - Pete, Viv (along with her daughter Ash), Corey - are summoned by their widowed father to meet at The Grand Hotel on the island where they had a summer house decades ago.  The siblings couldn't be more different and old hurts and resentments among all of them reemerge.

I love a good, messy family drama story and found myself invested in all of these characters.  Each one is going through a battle, and being together doesn't help.  There is plenty of humor to dull the sharp edges, and encouraging to know how strong those family bonds really are.  I loved the relationship between Pete and the young neighbor boy, plus you'll learn lots about snails to boot!  Wonderful debut - anxious to read more from this author!

8.24.2026 - Wicked Wanted Widows

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the third book in The Widows series by Vanessa Lillie, Kimberly Belle, and Cate Holahan.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

The Widows once again find themselves in danger and chaos, as one of their own gets kidnapped.  Each of them are also carrying their own troubles along the race for finding Meredith, and things aren't looking good for any of them.

It's always fun to go along with the Widows on their latest adventures, and this book had some wild ones along with plenty of references from The Goonies - what's not to love?  As typical, we hear from each of the ladies, but not as much from Meredith obviously.  Each of their voices are so distinct, and they kept me laughing and in suspense throughout the book.