9.2.2026 - Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You are So Old and Wise

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this short essay book by Katerine Rundell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

How could you not love a book that celebrates how important children's books are no matter how old you are?  Plus, it celebrates libraries, which can't get enough love.  I adored the history of some of the popular fairy tales - I hadn't heard of many of the versions.  Just lovely to spend a little time with an important subject.

9.2.2026 - The Truth About Ruby Cooper

 

Many thanks to NetGallery and Simon & Schuster | Gallery Books | Scout Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Liz Nugent.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ruby and her older sister, Erin, live a comfortable life in their Boston home with their pastor father and Irish mother, until "the incident."  Afterwards, the family is never the same.  

Go into this one as blind as possible, knowing that you are going to be reading an uncomfortable book, but one that will grip you until that last line.  The story alternates between Erin and Ruby's perspectives over two decades, highlighting how their lives diverged.  I'm a big fan of Liz Nugent but do I dare say that this is my favorite of her books?  I would gush more but I don't want to give even a hint of a spoiler.  Just know that this is a must read book and very highly recommended!

9.1.2026 - Paper Ghosts

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Sarah Addison Allen, with the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Marin Ireland.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

For decades, the women of Wester House have been the source of talk in their small North Carolina town.  Told in two timelines, we first meet Willamena in 1976, when she's desperate to escape the Wester legacy and have some freedom.  In the present day, her granddaughter, Bailey, returns to Wester House.  As she reconnects with Wills, she begins to understand the choices that shaped the women in her family.

I love generational books and was equally fascinated with both timelines.  It's both a coming-of-age story and one of generational trauma, as Wills repeats the pattern of isolation impressed on her.  I really liked the magical realism part of this story, and the those that haunt us for various reasons. Between that and the small-town isolation, you could feel the past settling over the characters.   Marin Ireland's narration just added to that gothic atmospheric tone.  Wonderful!

8.31.2026 - The Treasure House

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Amy Matthews.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Zoe and her daughter, Flo, need a new start but they can't afford one, until she finds a listing for a cottage in Maine.  It's in their price range but it's a treasure house - filled to the brim with junk and sold as is.  We go back in time to read about Marly, the woman who lived in the cottage before.  Can Zoe and Flo find a new forever home or have they made a big mistake?

I loved this author's previous book, Someone Else's Bucket List, and this is just as heartwarming and sweet, with no hint of sappiness.  I had certainly heard of hoarder homes, but love the term "treasure house."  Both timelines were so good and I was equally intrigued with both.  I could picture the small coastal town, where everyone becomes family.  There's some romance, plenty of cats and even a dog, and wonderful characters.  Put this one on your TBR now!

8.30.2026 - Mother Daughter Sister Stranger

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Hank Phillippi Ryan, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Stevi Incremona​.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Eliza and her sister, Bea, were the sole survivors of the plane crash that killed their parents.  Now, 11 years later on the exact anniversary of the crash, Bea fails to pick up her daughter, Piper, from a sleepover at Eliza's.  Eliza knows that she would never leave her behind and fears the worst.  

This story had me glued trying to figure out just what happened to Bea, and the suspense just kept building until the end.  I thought I had things figured out but I didn't, which is always fun.  It's fast paced, with plenty of twists and turns, and complicated family dynamics.  Piper is a star for sure and I loved her spunky character.  The narrator did a fabulous job and let me listen when I couldn't read because I just had to know what happened - highly recommended for a gripping thriller!

8.27.2026 - Before You Were Anne

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Emiko Jean.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Things are finally going well for Detective Chelsey Calhoun in her job and personally, and she's expecting her first child.  Then she gets a case that blows all that up.  A mother is found dead and her teenage daughter is missing.  Chelsey is desperate to find Naomi before she becomes the next victim.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, The Return of Ellie Black, where we were introduced to Detective Calhoun.  She is such a strong woman, not able to rest until she can figure out the latest puzzle.  This story is told in three distinct voices - the detective, the victim now known as Anne, and her daughter, Naomi.  Each voice was so powerful and I was completely invested in their story.  It's a story about family, heritage, and belonging.  A fabulous police procedural and more, beautifully written, compelling, heartbreaking, and powerful.  You wouldn't have to read the first book, but you definitely should.  Highly recommended and I've got my fingers crossed for more in this series.

8.27.2026 - Ideal Life

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria | Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Evelyn Skye.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Talia has built her neuroscience startup and it's now poised for a $100M acquisition to make her dream come true of making the world a better place through technology.  But a glitch in the app leads to a catastrophe and she's about to lose everything.  Then she wakes up with a mysterious watch that allows her to rewind the last 24 hours.  Suddenly, she can make everything in her life perfect?  Or can she?

I'm a big fan of Evelyn Skye's books - quiet, thoughtful, with a touch of magic, that will make you think about doing and being better.  This book is no different - Talia will learn that trying to achieve perfection not even possible and comes at a price.  Plus, it's the butterfly effect, where minute changes can have giant ripple consequences.  It's also a nod that technology, for all the good it can do, is not the answer.  I enjoyed my time with this book!

8.27.2026 - Counting the Days

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Laura Chinn.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Rhea is 38, single, and desperate for a baby.  She's been told that her fertility will plummet at age 39, so she resolves to find the perfect man before her date.  Cue the countdown.  Then she meets Danny and he is perfect - expect he doesn't want children.  

This was a funny, sweet novel that will make you think about life choices.  Do you make the choices because that's what everyone else is doing?  Because it's what is expected of you?  Because of what others think?  Rhea started creating vision boards in high school and continued on, creating what she felt would be a perfect life.  But we all know that there is no perfect life and no vision board perfection will bring happiness.  I liked that both Rhea and Danny were open to communicating their issues and not playing games, and the ending was sweet.  A nice summer romance to make you think about life!

8.26.2026 - They Say a Girl Died Here

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by Sarah Pinborough, with the audiobook narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Anna is living with her family in a small town in Nebraska, hoping for a fresh start.  But there’s a cloud hanging over the town, and it’s not rain.  Two young women have been murdered exactly three years apart, and the anniversary is coming up.  Even though the murders were supposedly solved, people are still talking.  Anna’s young sister is scared, and her elderly grandmother with dementia is having strange episodes.  Something strange is happening.

I listened to the audiobook and Saskia Maarleveld once again nailed the narration of this novel, making it feel like there’s an entire cast.  This is a creepy, intense story where you’re never exactly sure who or what to believe.  Anna has her own demons and secrets and struggles to take care of her sister and grandmother as well as make peace with her mother.  The small-town atmosphere is a character as well, with an ominous feeling throughout.  A slow-burn, creepy novel leading to an explosive ending.  

8.25.2026 - The Opposite of Murder

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller and police procedural by Sophie Hannah.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Jemma walks into a police station confessing a desire to kill her stepmother, Marianne.  She's hoping that confessing will mean that she will never follow through with her plan, because then the police would know who did it.  But at the same time as Jemma is confessing, Marianne is murdered. 

This was a wild ride, completely original, and I love a book that makes me think.  This one has you looking at every event from a different angle, letting you see what you were missing.  Sure, some things were a bit over the top, but that just made for a good read.  I'm actually surprised that this book isn't getting better ratings.  If you like mysteries that will make you think and you'll still never figure it all out, this one is for you!

8.25.2026 - Make Nice

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Ryan Effgen.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The three Pickford siblings - Pete, Viv (along with her daughter Ash), Corey - are summoned by their widowed father to meet at The Grand Hotel on the island where they had a summer house decades ago.  The siblings couldn't be more different and old hurts and resentments among all of them reemerge.

I love a good, messy family drama story and found myself invested in all of these characters.  Each one is going through a battle, and being together doesn't help.  There is plenty of humor to dull the sharp edges, and encouraging to know how strong those family bonds really are.  I loved the relationship between Pete and the young neighbor boy, plus you'll learn lots about snails to boot!  Wonderful debut - anxious to read more from this author!

8.24.2026 - Wicked Wanted Widows

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the third book in The Widows series by Vanessa Lillie, Kimberly Belle, and Cate Holahan.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

The Widows once again find themselves in danger and chaos, as one of their own gets kidnapped.  Each of them are also carrying their own troubles along the race for finding Meredith, and things aren't looking good for any of them.

It's always fun to go along with the Widows on their latest adventures, and this book had some wild ones along with plenty of references from The Goonies - what's not to love?  As typical, we hear from each of the ladies, but not as much from Meredith obviously.  Each of their voices are so distinct, and they kept me laughing and in suspense throughout the book.  

8.24.2026 - Heart of Glass

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC, as well as an audio bonus chapter, of the latest thriller by Jennifer Hillier.  The audiobook was narrated by the amazing cast of Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, and January LaVoy.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a drifter named Samuel Figg met three teenage girls at the local amusement park, Wonderland.  Days later, one of them was found dead.   After he's arrested for the murders of five young women – one of whom was their best friend, Lorelei – Nicolette and Barb tried to move on, until the Carnival Killer recants his confession and a new body washes ashore.

I'm a big fan of Hillier's books, and listened to Wonderland when it came out in audio a few years ago, but you can easily read this one as a stand alone.  This story plays out in five parts, each part opening with an episode from Season Seven of Criminal Confessions, where we get an unedited version of a jailhouse interview with Sam. There's a lot going on here - a long-ago murder, missing reality tv stars, personal dramas, all as Wonderland is preparing to reopen to hopefully save the town.  It all came together in a heart-stopping fashion, and I couldn't put it down.  I listened to the audio because I love a full cast, especially one with all these talented narrators, and there were wonderful sound effects as well.  The bonus chapter just added the proverbial cherry on top!  Highly recommended for your summer thrill read!

8.23.2026 - To All the Men I've Killed Before

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper360 for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the Kitty Collins series by Katy Brent.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Kitty has tracked the lowlife who hurt her best friend to Los Angeles, and she's brought her sister, Antoinette, along.  Kitty has rules for murder - no one innocent, no one vulnerable, and don't get caught.  Antoinette has much to learn.

If you love dark humor and bad men getting their dues, this series is for you and it keeps getting better.  I'd recommend reading the others (they are too good to miss!) so that you understand Kitty's motivations and back story.  There's plenty of suspense as well, and I put life aside until I finished.  Supposedly this is the last book in the series which makes me sad, but it sure was a great ride!

8.22.2026 - Daggerbound

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest novel by T. Kingfisher, narrated so perfectly by Jesse Vilinsky.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Learned Edmund, a disillusioned scholar, is transporting a precious relic from one temple to a different temple.  But when Edmund is set upon by bandits, he breaks the cardinal rule and grabs for the relic, an ancient sword. To his surprise, instead of unsheathing a rusty, ancient weapon, an alarmingly handsome man appears, wielding daggers of blue steel and cutting the thieves down.  This man is the Dervish, an immortal warrior who has been trapped for centuries in the sword, and he's mad.  

T. Kingfisher is the master at creating worlds and creatures that feel so real and immersive.  Then, the stellar narration by Jesse Vilinsky really brings that world to life.  While listening, the real world just faded away.  I loved all these creatures - especially Large Francis, and Dog Violet - and their personalities just shine.  I would go from laughing to feeling emotional time after time.  Somehow I missed the first book, Swordheart, but it obviously didn't affect my enjoyment of this book.  Wonderful!

8.21.2026 - The Silent Appeal

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

The Fairway Players amateur drama group are back, this time staging Agatha Christie's The Hollow.  But much is happening off stage as well - Nicky-Rose, committee cochair Sarah-Jane's sister, is back from Barbados under mysterious circumstances.  Then a murder occurs on opening night.

I'm absolutely enthralled with anything that Janice Hallett writes, and adore the way this series.  Told in the epistolary style of writing, the story plays out through emails, text messages, transcripts, and interviews.  In addition, Femi and Charlotte are back - two lawyers tasked with figuring out just what happened, if the correct person has taken the blame, or if an appeal should be filed.  The lawyers get the same information as the reader, in the same time period, so we see their deductions as we read.  In addition, we get all the gossip, pettiness, and arguing going on backstage.  It's brilliant.   I would highly recommend starting with The Appeal because these books are so good and there is some character retention, but it's set up to read as a stand-alone as well.  Bravo!

8.20.2026 - That Night

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and HarperAudio for gifting me both an audio and digital ARC of this republished book by a favorite, Gillian McAllister, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Amrita Acharia.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Three siblings - Joe, Cathy, and Frannie - are on vacation together in Italy. One night, Frannie makes two phone calls - one to each sibling. The siblings come running and find Frannie covered in blood, kneeling over an unmoving body. They make a promise. They’ll never tell anyone. But then the lies start piling up.

Before I watched the Netflix series, I was anxious to read the book (because the book is always better, right?). What a wild, twisty ride with so many moral and ethical thoughts - just what would you do to protect your family? Told from the POV of the three siblings along with Lydia, Joe's wife, the tension just keeps building as time passes. The siblings are extremely close, bonding after a traumatic event in their childhood, and they live next to each other and work together, causing Lydia to feel like an outsider.  The audiobook narrator did a great job with the voices.  This is a wonderful book and I can't wait to see if the series does it justice!  

8.19.2026 - The Shadow Friends

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer, MBCommunications, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a physical, digital, and audio ARC of the latest book in the Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen, with the audiobook brilliantly narrated by Hillary Huber.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

When a renowned disease expert is found dead during a conference in Purity, Maine, the group of former spies known as the Martini Club are once again pulled into investigating an international crisis.  This time, Ingrid sees chilling links back to a disastrous mission from decades ago.  Soon, the club members are investigating even each other as they try to solve the mystery.

What a dynamic duo - Tess Gerritsen and Hillary Huber have combined once again to make this series so good.  I love how this group of retired spies never feel they are too old to get involved, and instead know that they are strong and capable whatever their age.  Plus, they love a good cocktail with friends at the end of a day - what's not to love?  This book focuses on Ingrid and her past and involves a former lover, international intrigue, and danger.  I highly recommend this series - and it's fabulous on audiobook.  While you could enjoy this as a stand alone, this is a series to start at the beginning to fully enjoy the backstories.  Can't wait for more!

8.18.2026 - My Sister is Going to Kill Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Nina Simon, author of Mother-Daughter Book Club, which I enjoyed.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Liv and Mandy take a yearly sister trip, alternating who chooses their location.  The two sisters couldn't be any more different - Liv is responsible, practical, organized, while Mandy lives life spontaneously, and on the edge.  This year, Mandy picks a rafting adventure through the depths of the Grand Canyon, but when one of their group is found dead, the rafting trip turns beyond frightening.  They don't know who they can trust, maybe not even each other.

This was definitely more of a slow burn than her first book, with most of the action taking place in the second half.  I really liked the sisterhood angle of this book, although both women seemed to be a bit too typecast in their role, as did the influencer.  Plus, and maybe this was just me, but every time I read the name of the beauty product/company involved, CareFree, I would get distracted and think of the sanitary product instead!  The description of the rafting adventure was frightening to me, but I am sure that it is beyond beautiful.  

8.17.2026 - If Books Could Kill

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Kate Eberle.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Roxie makes a wish with a stranger on the street to live out the plot of her favorite author's next novel.  Anna Matthews is known for her sweet, rom coms and just the kind of happily-ever-after Roxie dreams of.  So when her wish is granted and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger, she's ecstatic.  Until it doesn't appear that the handsome stranger is in a rom com.  Desperate for help, she finds herself in the path of Grant, an anxious English professor.  Let the fun begin.

And fun it was!  This book encompasses and just maybe pokes a little fun at these book genres, giving us lots of twists along the way.  It's a madcap race to make the world right, with characters you will love and root for.  I loved Roxie's snark and confidence as well as Grant's anxiety and courage.  I can't wait to read what's next from this author!