4.23.2026 - Ms Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Mebel is a self-proclaimed trophy wife, but when her husband of more than 40 years announces that he's leaving her for their private chef, her world is turned upside down.  But she has the perfect plan - go to culinary school to be able to create a perfect meal and win back her husband.  Four days later, she finds herself in a small village outside of Oxford, surrounded by. much younger classmates.  

This was fun - full of laughs and adventures, but also with a more serious theme of self-discovery, no matter what age.  It's definitely a story of found family and being there for each other.  There's a bit of mystery involved as one of the students disappears, and no one but Mebel is willing to do anything about it.  I especially liked how the changed Mebel interacted with her daughter-in-law.  

Jesse, if you are reading this review, hello Carrie Breadshaw! 

4.23.2026 - This Song is About Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little A, and Brilliance Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Melissa de la Cruz, with the audiobook narrated by Dominique Salvacion.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up.

It's award night, and as soon as she walked off the stage, Ryan Holding, the biggest star in the world, disappeared.  Six years later, there is still no trace of her.  What happened?  Reporter Elyse James wants the truth, and interviews everyone to try and find out the answers.

I really liked the way this story was told, through interviews from multiple points of view, giving us an oral history.  I thought the narrator did a great job doing all the different voices.  However, it was not even a veiled retell of the story of Taylor Swift, although with a different ending as of now!  While I like some of her songs, I'm way too old to be a Swiftie, so I probably wasn't the target audience for this book.  It would definitely work as YA.  It certainly showcases the dark side of fame and how the public feels entitled to every bit of a celebrity, made worse with social media.

4.22.2026 - The Mountains We Call Home

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the third book in this wonderful series by Kim Michele Richardson. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Following in line with the first two books in this series, this book goes back to the story of Cussy Lovett.  We learn about her time in prison, bringing hope to the incarcerated women, while yearning for her husband and daughter.  

I waited to read the second book so that I could read these two in order, and the story really resonated that way.  You can read any of these books as a stand alone, but I'd highly recommend immersing yourself in this Kentucky world.  While once again showcasing the themes of prejudice (Cussy has hereditary methemoglobinemia, giving her skin a blue color) and the lack of women's rights, in addition to poverty and illiteracy, this book really focuses on the effects of incarceration on the families of the poor and powerless.  But it also focuses on the resiliency of the human spirit, how found family can change our lives, and the power of books.

4.22.2026 - The Book Woman's Daughter

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the second book in this wonderful series by Kim Michele Richardson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Following in line with The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, this book focuses on Honey Lovett.  Her parents have been arrested and are in jail for being in a "mixed" marriage, and Honey tries to avoid becoming a ward of the state.  This was another wonderful book, so thoroughly researched, highlighting the prejudice and injustices of the times, as women fought for their basic rights.  While this can be read alone, I think it's best read in sequence.

4.21.2026 - Liar's Creek

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Matt Goldman, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Fred Berman.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

After twenty years away playing soccer overseas, Clay Hawkins has returned to small town Riverwood, Minnesota, with his son Braedon.  His relationship with his father, Judd, recently replaced sheriff, remains difficult.  When Clay's uncle and Judd's twin suddenly disappears, all three Hawkins men must do whatever they can to find him.

I'm excited that this is the first in the series, and I'm already anxious to see what happens next in Riverwood.  Know that it's more of a character study than thriller, but there was still a good mystery to figure out just what happened to Teddy.  I liked all of the main characters and appreciated the themes of parental expectation, reconnection, and forgiveness - all with that small town feel.  The narrator did a great job with all the voices and I liked having both formats to get fully immersed into this story.  

4.20.2026 - Cherry Baby

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Rainbow Rowell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Cherry's husband, Tom, is famous for drawing Thursday, a webcomic about their life.  Thursday is now being made into a movie, and Tom is in Hollywood promoting it.  Baby is the character in the movie based on Cherry, and she is easily recognizable.  Cherry is okay with being a fat person, but not so much about being made fun of in public because of her weight.  While Tom and Cherry are separated and preparing for divorce, Cherry runs into her college crush, Ross, who has never heard of Thursday.

Rainbow Rowell is masterful at writing characters that you will care about, and that certainly plays out in her latest book.  We get to know Cherry through her interactions with her family and are privy to her thoughts and emotions.  It's the story of trying to reclaim your life when people have put you in a box, or you have put yourself in one.  I lost myself in these characters and their messy world while reading this book.  I felt sensitive subjects were handled appropriately and cautiously but there was more spice in this book than I remember in her others!  I felt the ending was wonderful.

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.