8.4.2026 - The Nightingales

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Avid Reader Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut graphic novel by Emil Wilson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

A gorgeously rendered story of the friendship between a man dying of AIDS in the 1980s and a teenage girl, based on real events.  The beautiful illustrations and unique graphic concept allowed the reader to be transported back to this fraught time period to see the impact that this disease had on just one family, yet also see the far-reaching ripple effects it had on the characters.  Some of my favorite spots were the mother talking to the Virgin Mary, and the dogs brought some comic relief into a heartbreaking yet hopeful story.  Stunning debut.

8.4.2026 - The Amateur

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Chris Bohjalian.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

One moment is all it takes to ruin lives.  In 1978, a young woman golf prodigy, accidentally kills a caddy with a stray ball at the country club.  The investigation of this freak accident reveals a dark and shocking tale of secret affairs, predatory men, and a teenager on trial.

I’m a big fan of Chris Bohjalian, and this one ranks as one of his best in my mind.  I was mesmerized by not only the story but the way it was told.  He was able to inhabit the soul of both a young woman and an older one looking back on the experience and writing it as a memoir.  Our attitudes in the 1970s versus today were made so powerful in this manner.   The story is just so emotional, suspenseful, and gripping that I couldn’t stop reading and you'll feel for these characters.  Long-time readers will also find Easter eggs geared toward his own books and biography.  Bravo! 

8.3.2026 - Breathing Under Water

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful book by Jacqueline Friedland with Cassandra Campbell and Annalee Scott narrating the audiobook.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

We follow two women - Berry, a school vice principal, and mother to an older son as well as 16-year-old autistic Leo.  McKenna is a college student on scholarship for swimming, with a tough past, who is trying to care for her beloved grandmother with dementia.  These women's paths converge in an unexpected way.

The story opens with Leo missing, then takes us back to alternate POV between Berry and McKenna, each voice so compelling.  McKenna's story is heartbreaking, having lost her mother early, and now dealing with the world on her shoulders.  She's trying so hard but also has a breaking point.  Berry has worked so hard to give Leo all he needs, but she knows he needs more social skills to survive in the real world.  Watching both these women face real struggles while trying to keep all the other balls in their life in the air is both difficult and encouraging.  Leo is the star, of course, and has the biggest heart.  I loved every minute spent with these characters and was sad it was over, and would highly recommend it to everyone.  It would make a great book club pick with so many themes to discuss.  The audiobook was fabulous and I ended up listening to it most of the time.  Reading this treasure is why I so appreciate NetGalley and the publishers who offer these ARCs - this is a new to me author and I'm now desperate to go and read her backlist.  

8.3.2026 - How to Ruin a Wedding

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Mindy's Book Studio, and MB Communications for gifting me both a digital and physical ARC of this adorable book by Elba Luz.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Lucy has turned her desperation for money into a business as a professional wedding wrecker.  But she'll only do it for the right reasons - she wants to prevent others from making the same mistakes she's made.   Then she crashes the wrong ceremony, only to meet Anders.  He offers her the kind of money she can't refuse to get his sister to cancel her upcoming wedding.  They come up with a scheme to fake-date so Lucy can infiltrate the family enough to make the scheme work.  But sometimes love has other plans.

This was such a fun read - there are absolutely laugh-out-loud moments, sweet moments with both human and fur people, as well as lots of life lessons in between.  You can't help but root for Lucy in all her craziness, because her heart is always in the right place.  Anders may be a bit too good to be true, but isn't that what we want in our rom coms?  There's also lots of sister love here and staying true to following your dreams.  Perfect for a summer read!

8.2.2026 - The Women in White

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Sarah Pekkanen., with the audiobook narrated by the brilliant Saskia Maarleveld.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Riley is recently divorced, looking for a job and a place to live.  She is hired to be a caretaker for Betty, an elderly widow.  It’s strange, because both Betty and her home seem frozen in time.  Riley begins investigating into just what happened to Betty and her three college friends who all disappeared in the 1960s.

Told from Betty’s POV in the past and Riley’s in the present, this is a sad but fascinating peek into a real event – women subjects forced to take part in parapsychology experiments.  Of course, this book can’t help but delve into women’s standings during that period, but also into their resilience.  The mystery of what happened to these women is creepy and frightening, and the tension will keep you glued.  As always, Sarah Pekkanen has written another wonderful thriller!

7.31.2026 - Meet Me in Paris

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Kristin Harmel.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Nine Americans in Paris and seven interlocking love stories, with fresh starts, second chances, and enduring love.  With a step away from her normal historical fiction, this is also a love story to Paris, and I felt like I traveled along for the ride.  These stories are full of self-discovery and the knowledge that it's never too late for true love.  While there are a number of characters, you won't have any trouble keeping them straight.  Just be sure and have your tissues handy!  Be sure and read the author's note for a personal look into the writing of this story.

7.31.2026 - Cruise to Nowhere

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Citadel for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest true crime book by James Renner.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Most of us are familiar with the Amy Bradley case - the young woman who was on a cruise with her family in 1998 and just disappeared.  The author delves completely into this mystery, beyond even what was portrayed in the Netflix documentary.  What I like about Renner's books is the personal aspect.  He not only gives you his research, but you feel like you are along for the ride as he tells you what's going on in his life and just how he investigated.  I liked that he went for a cruise on the same ship, took trips to sometimes scary locations, all to find out more.  While we still don't know what happened to Amy, this is a comprehensive look into the case.  Since I lived in the Cleveland/Akron area for decades, his books always have a nostalgic feel for me.  Another intriguing read from this author!