9.19.2026 - The Little Monk and the Significance of Silence

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Morehouse Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this quiet, meditative book by Zacharias Heyes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

I have sat with this book for a long time, reading it slowly, trying to absorb and integrate some of these thoughts into my life.  It's a beautifully illustrated story of a curious monk who sets out on a journey to understand the silence within the Benedictine tradition.  Along the way, there is much for all of us to learn and think about.  There are quotes, questions, and exercises for us to begin to value silence in a world that is anything but.  I'll be continuing to learn from this.

9.19.2026 - Mr. and Mrs. Dixon Hide a Body

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of this dark comedy book by Jennifer Holdich.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Daisy spends her days trying to figure out how to escape her abusive marriage to her controlling husband, James.  On the night before she plans to leave, they attend a local fundraiser and on the way home, Daisy accidentally strikes a pedestrian.  James insists they take the man home and hide the body.  Things get even worse from there.

I love a good dark comedy book, and this one had that in spades.  Daisy is such a fun character, even when she makes crazy decisions.  I love how she fights back with James in small but powerful ways.  Their housekeeper, Mrs. Billings, is a hoot too.  She's a kleptomaniac and Daisy leaves things out for her to steal.  This is very much a cat-and-mouse game as both Daisy and James grapple with the police and press.  A very entertaining read!

9.18.2026 - Falling for Peachtree Bluff

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the Peachtree Bluff series by Kristy Woodson Harvey.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Sisters Caroline, Sloane and Emerson seem settled in their lives, but nothing is quite as simple as it seems.  Caroline's almost ex-husband wants a second chance; meanwhile, she's besotted with Emerson's handsome younger costar.  Matriarch Ansley and her husband, Jack, are so happy, but is Jack keeping secrets?

How have I missed this series?  I'm sure it is even better if you started at the beginning, but I'm proof that you can read and enjoy this one as a standalone.  I loved the southern atmosphere, with family always at the forefront.  Plus, these are strong women characters and they certainly have their sisters' backs no matter what drama ensues.  I was thoroughly invested in these characters and their relationships - I'll definitely be reading the rest in this series and hoping for more!

9.17.2026 - Queenie is Working on It

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for gifting me the sequel to Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Queenie is now 33, the editorial director for a media network promoting the voices of Black women.  A research appointment goes wrong and shows that her fertility may be compromised, even while she's not sure she even wants kids.  Everyone around her seems to have found their person and can start a family with ease, and Queenie feels out of sorts and that time is running out on all parts of her life.

It was fun reconnecting with Queenie, although in some ways she hasn't changed too much - like the title says, she's working on it.  I loved the family connection here because even when they can drive us crazy, they will want the best for us.  And sometimes, we just need to get out of the way.  

9.17.2026 - Hollow Bones

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my all-time favorites, Jodi Picoult.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I anxiously await a new book from Jodi Picoult and this one is amazing.  As always, she completely researches her topics and gives the reader multiple viewpoints to make you think about both sides of an issue.  This one is best gone into blind, without any risk of spoilers, but know that it is ripped from the headlines in more ways than one.  I loved seeing Jesse from My Sister's Keeper all grown up (and there are spoilers embedded in this book in case you haven't read that one).  Be sure and read the author's note at the end for more insight into how this book was born.  This is an emotional, important read and I highly recommend it!

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!