3.28.2026 - Upward Bound

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Hogarth for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Woody Brown.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Upward Bound is an adult day care center for adults with challenges.  From the viewpoint of 12 different people who interact with the facility in some way.  We mostly hear from Walter, a non-speaking autistic adult who is very intelligent and capable but needs assistance communicating.  Through family tragedies, he spends his days at Upward Bound while his mom works.  We get the viewpoints from other residents, staff, even the Target cashier where the group visits on Fridays.

I was so blown away by this book and won't forget it.  It should be mandatory reading by everyone but especially anyone interacting with neurodivergent or other challenged people.  It is a beautiful look into those in our society who have been overlooked and gives them a voice.  It's all done so sensitively, with humor and heart.  It's also a nod to the way there are not good options for many among us and what programs are available are underfunded and the carers aren't adequately compensated.  Much like sticking our elderly in nursing homes, we as a country need to do better to help those who need more assistance, in a way that values them as a unique person.  The author was the first nonspeaking person in history to graduate from UCLA; he then went on to receive a creative writing degree from Columbia.  I hope this is the first of many books from this author - bravo to all involved!  Very highly recommended.

3.27.2026 - The Survivor

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the US debut thriller by Andrew Reid.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Ben Cross was fired on his first day at his new job in NYC.  He thought his day couldn't get any worse.  But when he's on the subway, he starts receiving anonymous text messages from someone with proof that they've just killed someone, then kills another as proof that they aren't bluffing.  But Ben wasn't picked at random; he's got a past that he's been keeping secret.

This is pretty much non-stop action; be prepared for some gore as well.  Taking place mostly underground in the subway system allows for even more tension and fear.  I loved the character of Detective Kelly Hendricks - she's on punishment duty with the transit police for following her gut instinct; now that instinct may save the day.  There are themes of nature vs nature, past trauma, and those in charge with ulterior motives.  Told from multiple POV and past timelines, this book kept me at the edge of my seat.  Looking forward to more from this author!

3.26.2026 - Son of Nobody

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, WW Norton & Company, and Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new novel by Yann Martel, author of the amazing Life of Pi.  The audiobook was perfectly narrated by Robin Wilcock and Aaron Willis.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Harlow Donne is a Canadian academic researcher working on his dissertation.  Leaving his wife and young daughter in Canada, he accepts a scholarship to work for an Oxford Don, deciphering Ancient Greek texts while also pursuing his own research into the history of Troy and the Trojan War.  In his research, he finds new and potentially groundbreaking information about Psoas, the son of nobody, but nobody cares, including his Oxford sponsor.  

This is not an easy read, but it is a worthy read with many layers.  I will admit that I know next to nothing about Greek mythology, but it was still fascinating.  We learn of Harlow's family life, his Oxford dealings, the work he's doing, and the story he builds from following Psoas' path.  Because of its unique format of presenting Harlow's family life, I found the audiobook with its dual narrators easy to immerse myself in.  It's a good book to listen to while you read.  It's heartbreaking in the comparison between what Donne gives up to dedicate his time to a project no one cares about.  

3.25.2026 - 51%

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Level Best Books and the author for gifting me a digital and physical copy of this wonderful book.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Imagine a not-so-distant future, where the government controls everything, even the people.  Need to get into high school or college?  Need to make sure your children have all the advantages possible?  One of the Big 6 Syndicates will give you money for a percentage.  But be careful, because if you get to where the syndicate controls 51% of you, they have control and chip you.  When a young immigrant woman, a 51%'r, is brutally murdered, NYPD, Inc. Detective Jude O'Keefe and his partner, Crime Marketing Consultant Haylee Navarro, catch the case.  They have to crowdfund enough money to investigate the case and Haylee knows this case won't bring in any money.  But Jude is determined to find the killer.  

This book is unlike anything I've read - and I've read a lot!  The premise is so scary because it's so real.  Who can afford to send their kid to college now?  We have to pay entrance fees to drive into some cities.  We're calling to defund the police.  One big medical bill can have us reeling.  AI has its fingers all over our lives and social media rules.  But what sets this book apart from other dystopian books is that it is not only a thriller, but it has plenty of humor, different speech jargon, science that feels real rather than made up, and characters you will love and root for.  Once I started reading it, it was tough to put down and I found myself thinking about it in between.  Even if this genre isn't something you would normally read, you must read 51%!

3.23.2026 - Where the Truth Lies

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by the author duo known as Katherine Greene.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Based on real events, childhood sweethearts Rhett and Lucinda seem to have the perfect marriage and the child they always wanted.  But 15 years ago, the couple was involved in a tragic event which has now reared its head along with new evidence.  Lucinda’s dad has always smoothed out all the rough edges for her, but can he save her this time?

I am a big fan of this writing duo and was so anxious for their latest book - and it did not disappoint.  Told in three different timelines from multiple POV, this story is atmospheric and full of dark secrets.  Its small town setting adds to the tension, where everyone pretends to believe your story, but is more than happy to gossip about you behind your back.  There aren’t likeable characters here and toxic masculinity and violence abound.  I liked the short chapters and the addition of text conversations in between to further the story and keep me absolutely glued to the pages until that final surprise ending.

3.22.2026 - Daughter of Egypt

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest historical fiction by Marie Benedict, with the audiobook narrated by Bessie Carter and Suehyla El-Attar.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In the 1920s, we follow Lady Evelyn Herbert as she obsessively pursues the lost tomb of Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's only female pharaohs.   In alternating chapters, we learn Hatshepsut's story in 1486 BC.  Eve has studied with her father and his archeologist, Howard Carter, since she was a girl, but her mother is more insistent on her finding the right husband.  Both of these women, thousands of years apart, were strong and determined to rise above societal expectations.

Marie Benedict's books are always meticulously researched, bringing strong women's stories to life.  Their grit and determination in times when women's roles were extremely narrow in scope were fascinating.  While Hatshepsut's story was fictional, the author made a compelling story about why she was almost completely erased from history.  The book transports you to far away lands, opening your eyes to not only the women's role, but the discussion of the possession of artifacts was also fascinating.  Be sure to read the author's note at the end.  I liked having both formats of this book - just hearing the names pronounced was big when I went back to the book!  

3.20.2026 - Two Kinds of Stranger

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of the latest in the wonderful Eddie Flynn series by Steve Cavanagh.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Social media influencer, Elly Parker, had the perfect life, that is until she discovered her husband had been having an affair with her best friend.  But she's still doing her mission of doing a random act of kindness daily.  But her latest small act sets off a series of events she never saw coming.  When she's arrested, she knows she needs the best - Eddie Flynn and his team.

The worst part of an Eddie Flynn book?  Finishing it and having to wait for the next!  Thankfully, there's hope and Cavanagh has already announced that book #10 will be coming.  You can read each of these books as a stand alone or out of order, but it is fun to see Eddie's progression from con man to lawyer.   I carried around this latest book and my Kindle around wherever I was, hoping for just a few more minutes of reading.  This book has two legal trials being held at the same time, both of which require Eddie's magic, and a plot that will have you gripped until that last final twist at the end.  I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite, but this might be it!  Highly recommended!