4.19.2026 - Mad Mabel

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by Sally Hepworth, with the audiobook narrated by Hannah Fredericksen and Jenny Seedsman.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old.  She's lived on Kenny Lane for sixty years and is known as the local curmudgeon.  When a new little girl, Persephone, moves into the neighborhood, she instantly befriends Elsie.  But unfortunately, Elsie's past comes rearing back and her old nickname of Mad Mabel come back as well.  Elsie eventually agrees to do a YouTube interview about her past.

I'm a huge fan of Sally Hepworth's books, but I think this is my absolute favorite.  What characters she has created in both Elsie and Persephone - they captured my heart.  It's wonderful when older women are portrayed as strong, capable, and sassy to boot.  I liked how the story is told - in the Now chapters, we meet Elsie where she is, but we learn how she got there in the Then chapters.  You will be hard pressed not to shed a tear or two.  It's heartbreaking, charming, emotional and just a fabulous mystery with the most amazing characters.  Have I gushed enough?  This is a must read, although the audiobook's narration was so wonderful, that I would probably recommend listening to it.

4.19.2026 - The Caretaker

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster | Atria Books | Emily Bestler Books | 12:01 Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Marcus Kliewer, author of We Used to Live Here.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Macy is desperate for money when she answers a Craigslist ad for a caretaker.  The job seems too good to be true and she can't turn down the money offered for just 3 days of work watching a house on the Oregon Coast.  What could possibly go wrong?

Wow - just clear your calendar once you start this book, because you will not be able to put it down.  Definitely no sophomore slump here, because this book was even creepier and more addicting than his debut, which is saying something.  The story starts off slowly, but quickly builds into non-stop fear and creepiness.  Apparently this will also be made into a movie or series, and you'll definitely have horror movie conversations with Macy as you're reading!  Sign me up for anything Kliewer writes - but I'll be reading with the lights on for sure!

4.18.2026 - Don't Fall in Love With Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest romance novel by Paige Toon.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Grace has loved Jackson since she was fifteen – when they spent every childhood summer exploring France's breathtaking Ardèche region together. They were best friends, until life took its course and Jackson married someone else.  Years later, Jackson approaches Grace with her dream job in the very place where their story began.  And he's single.  But Grace also encounters another old friend, Étienne, who proposes a plan to help make Jackson jealous. But as their scheme unfolds, Grace finds herself questioning if the sparks between them might not be so pretend after all

I loved taking a book vacation to the French Alps - the scenery, the food, the wine became characters in the story.  The author perfectly described all the feelings between these three characters and they all felt fleshed out.  It's a bit of a slow burn, but I enjoyed the journey and the twist at the end.  

4.18.2026 - Good Grief, Pass the Bread, Mom is Dead

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins | Amistad for gifting me this moving memoir by Angela Nissel.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Angela didn't always have the easiest relationship with her mom.  Her mom was a devout Christian and Angela felt her mom was embarrassed by the fact that her depression landed her in a psychiatric ward when she was younger.  Now living in LA, her fortunes have turned and she finds herself broke and divorced.  Then she finds out her mother has cancer.  

While dealing with obviously difficult subjects - cancer, mental health, grief, family issues, racism, classism - this book is so on point.  It's the perfect amount of life lessons and humor, all the while being the perfect tribute to her mom.  Having just lost my mom, I related to so much of this book and instead of making me more sad, made me feel seen.  Angela was completely honest in this book, even at the parts that we would normally hide, making this so relatable.  Her mom would be so proud.

4.17.2026 - Japanese Gothic

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Kylie Lee Baker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In October, 2026, Lee Turner doesn't remember how or why he killed his college roommate.  He flees NY to go to his father's new home in Japan.  But something seems wrong with the house - the bedroom window isn't always a window, and a woman with a sword appears in the yard at night.  In October, 1877, Sen is a young samurai, hiding from the imperial soldiers.  She knows the soldiers will soon kill her whole family when she sees a young foreign man outside her window.  One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.  Something is hiding beneath the house of sword ferns, and Lee and Sen will soon wish they never unburied it.

I was a fan of Baker's previous novel, Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng, and this one was just as intriguing and mind bending.  I loved how the house connected the two timelines.  The story was so atmospheric and creepy, and the Japanese folklore told in intermittent chapters just added another layer.  Definitely lots of parent/child themes here of control and gaslighting.  I appreciated the author's note at the end for more background.  

4.16.2026 - Go Gentle

Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Maria Semple, just picked as Oprah's Book Club latest selection.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Adora Hazzard is a Stoic philosopher and feels like she finally has life figured out.  She lives in an apartment building in NYC in what she calls a "coven" - like-minded women who live on the same floor and help each other through life.  She's also divorced and raising her teenage daughter.  Then she meets a handsome stranger at the ballet and her world is soon turned upside down.

Adora Hazzard (don't you love that name?) is such a great character.  This book has something for everyone - sign me up for a coven for middle-aged women on their own, sharing bread, celery and much more.  You'll learn about Stoicism and I think everyone will take something to ponder away from this book.  We go back in the past with Adora, as she's trying hard to make it as a comedy writer, only to come face-to-face with the #MeToo movement.  There's humor, there's thoughtfulness, there's the reminder that as much as we plan for life, there are always surprises around every corner.  And don't forget love.  

4.16.2026 - Hope Rises

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by David Baldacci, with the audiobook supremely narrated by the cast of MacLeod Andrews, Will Collyer, Shiromi Arserio, Christine Lakin,; Larry Herron, and  Tim Lounibos.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Walter Nash, working under the alias of Dillon Hope, is on the road to revenge after becoming an informant for the FBI against a global criminal operation headed up by Victoria Steers. Steers has ripped everything Nash held dear away from him. He has nothing left to lose and only one goal left in life: taking down Victoria Steers.  In order to succeed, he’s going to need to work the job from the inside. Nash must rely on every ounce of his hard-earned skills in order to prove himself an ally to Steers if he’s ever going to get close enough to decimate her criminal empire.

This is the sequel to Nash Falls, a 5 star read for me, which ended on a huge cliffhanger.  You definitely need to read that one first to understand Walter's journey.  While I still enjoyed this book and was so anxious to see where it would go, it took me a bit longer to get into and I wasn't quite as engrossed as I was with the first book.  I did like that Steers was not a complete victim; we get to learn her backstory. As always, Baldacci is a supreme storyteller and the cast narration brought this book to life.