11.12.2026 - No Such Thing as Monday

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Siân Hughes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The novel follows Steffie, a scrappy, middle-aged woman working at a dry cleaner's while caring for her abusive, impoverished father.  Haunted by childhood trauma and the memory of her estranged sister, Caroline—who fled to escape their father's rage—Steffie sets out on a raw, darkly humorous quest for love and redemption after her father passes away.

This is a wonderful book as we follow Steffie throughout her childhood and into the present.  She's had a tough life but is pretty much accepting of her lot.  It's a story of the resilience of the human character and Steffie's story is told with humor and truth.  I was rooting for her throughout the book, even or maybe especially when I felt bad over her decisions.  I am a bit behind on my reading and was able to snag this one on audiobook from Libby, and I highly recommend that version, because the narrator, Tessa Gallagher, truly brought Steffie to life.  

11.12.2026 - When They Find Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Carter Wilson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Annie, her daughter, Coral, and their dog, Harley, are hiding out in Expanse, CO.  A town of only 313 souls, it's the perfect place for them to be away from the world.  They're as happy as can be, until a young woman, Riven, with a gun breaks in, looking for someone named Richard.  She's got the wrong address, but that fact doesn't matter to her father and brother who come in next.  

Oh my goodness, I'm not sure I breathed through much of this book.  Told from the POV of Annie and Riven, in both the present and past, we learn just how they both came to be in Expanse.  With short chapters, I kept telling myself just one more until I had finished.  And what a finish - sure didn't see that coming.  It's gripping, atmospheric, tense, and highly recommended for your next thriller read!

11.11.2026 - The Body in the Bath

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 Ragnar Jónasson, the third book in the Helgi series, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Will Tudor.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Police detective Helgi returns to work after taking a month off.  His boss allows him to ease back into the job and he begins investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of Hulda Hermannsdottir, the detective whose job he now holds.  Meanwhile, Helgi's ex, Bergþóra is found drowned in her bathtub. There is evidence that she was murdered.  

While you can easily read this as a stand alone, this series is so good that you should start from the beginning.  But I'm keeping my synopsis and review very spoiler free for all three books just in case you want to go back (do!).  Told from two different timelines - Helgi in 2012 and Hulda in 1980 - these are quiet, reflective Nordic mysteries, and I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.  Know that each ends with a cliffhanger - and I was shocked by the ending in this one - so please hurry with the next book please!  Narration by Will Tudor and audio production top notch again!

11.11.2026 - Revenge Plot

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Stephanie Wrobel.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

All Arnie Tenderton wants is to be a published author.  He’s been trying to write the perfect novel and now he just needs a literary agent, and he wants the best, Claudia.  He just happens to know where she's spending Christmas - a remote treehouse cabin in the Catskills.  He's confident he can get her to read his book.  Because he has some information she's been trying to keep hidden.  

I loved this book - from the very beginning, I was pulled into this story of three authors (Arnie, Neve, Jo) and their literary agent, Claudia.  It's very creatively told through 4 parts and the courses of Christmas dinner at the treehouse, along with Neve's backstory.  I am always a fan of books that delve into reading and the publishing industry as a whole, and this view of the literary agent was new to me.  The book and all the twists will keep you in its grasp, with the remote setting, the snowstorm, and the characters you're just not sure you can trust.  Clear your calendar - highly recommended!

11.10.2026 - The First House

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Summit Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Avni Doshi.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

A husband tells his wife that he is leaving, that he was never happy.  A wife is left behind in their house with their two children.  She also has a complicated relationship with her family.  What happens to her next?

Told from the POV of an unnamed narrator, the wife, this is the story of a marriage gone wrong.  It's the story of that woman's fight to make a new life for herself and her children, taking back control that she gave to her husband and earlier, to her parents.  I loved the analogy of the cicadas' life cycle as compared to her becoming a new version of herself.  There's lots of info about astrology too and how people can let predictions control their lives.  It was a very reflective book, and I felt like I was inside the narrator's brain as she contemplates her life.

11.8.2026 This Jury is Guilty

 

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

Ripped out of the headlines, high profile Hollywood actor Danny Scott is accused of trying to murder his wife, actress Hope Harrison.  Twelve sequestered jurors must decide Danny's fate.  But even a jury has its secrets.

I'm always up for a good legal thriller, and this one turns the spotlight on the jury, because all of them are lying.  It takes the reader behind the scenes into the juror machinations, as they try and control each other's votes as well as the jury makeup itself.  It's told from many different POVs so you begin to understand where each is coming from and hopes to achieve.  I was glued to the pages to see just how it was all going to come out - and it was worth the wait for that ending!  Wonderful debut novel that has me anxious for more from this author!

11.7.2026 - The Party in the Woods

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the new book by Fiona McPhillips, narrated perfectly by Conor Dunne  and Emer Heatley.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Twenty years ago, an illegal rave in the woods resulted in one of their group going missing, and DJ Annie gave up that life for good.  Now, married and the mother of two children, her friend group reunites when remains are found, presumed to be that of Sean.  It's starting to appear that someone in their group had something to do with his death, and may do anything to keep it hidden.

Told in two different timelines and from the POV of both Annie and Moe, one of her friends, we gradually learn what happened long ago at that party.  But everyone only knows part of the story.  Meanwhile, we also learn just how that party changed Annie and their group forever.  Everyone is carrying a lot of guilt and questions and everyone is suspect.  There are a lot of bad decisions here (youth and drugs are a bad combination), but I still felt for many of these characters, especially Annie.  The narration of the audiobook was wonderful - loved having both a male and female narrator plus those gorgeous Irish accents!

11.6.2026 - Bad Company

 

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 stand-alone novel by Sara Paretsky, with the audiobook narrated by Eliza Foss.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Lily appears to be an ordinary 70-something retiree, single and living in Chicago, but she has quite the past as a former CIA operative.  She's happy in her current life until she receives an anonymous package containing a magazine story with a previously unknown picture showing Lily in the background of a sacred women's ritual in Hayalistan, a former USSR territory.  Lily is determined to find out who's behind this.  Word of her investigation reaches the CIA and they know they must silence her, but Lily is more determined.

I love seeing strong, powerful older women in books now, and this one differed from many in that there were no cute, cuddly attributes related to Lily.  She's just tough and steel minded no matter her age or physical condition.  I appreciated all her volunteer activities as well, using what she learned as an operative to help the younger generation.  This story has a lot going on - political, moral, environmental - all wrapped up in a spy thriller.  It moved a bit slowly for me at times, maybe because my brain is on political overdrive at the moment.  I alternated listening and reading this book and thought the narrator did a wonderful job.

11.5.2026 - The Heights

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Ian Rankin.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.75 stars rounded up!

The Heights, a luxurious apartment complex in London, has it all.  It caters to the uber-wealthy who don't appreciate their privacy being interrupted by a murder investigation.  

I liked the Only Murders in a Building vibe of this one, and DS Gillian Gish was a great character.  For whatever reason, I had some trouble keeping track of all the different characters, most of who had motives to kill the concierge.  It's definitely thought provoking on how the 1% live, and their portrayed expectations.  It was a big of a slow read for me, especially since I typically love police procedurals, but I'd be anxious to read more books starring Gish!

 

11.5.2026 - The Brightness

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for gifting me a digital ARC of the follow up to The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

We follow Pella and Irma in the years after Westish College and into their adult lives.  Pella is engaged to Mike, and helping her best friend plan his wedding on Block Island.  But things go wrong, and Pella soon finds herself trying to start a new life in NYC.  Meanwhile, Irma's involvement in a political prank has gone viral.

I read The Art of Fielding when It came out forever ago, and while I don't remember much, I appreciate how that book appears in this book in a unique way.  You certainly don't have to have read it to read this one.  This has a lot going for it, and at almost 700 pages, probably too much.  I liked seeing how these young women tried to invent and reinvent their adult lives, and how their friendships changed.  There are certainly many relevant themes, although in a period before #MeToo, so some of the happenings feel extra cringey.  It's very character driven and I enjoyed my time with them.

11.3.2026 - Madeline McKnight Signs Off

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of the debut novel by Evan Brooke.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Madeline is dying.  Once a powerful figure on Wall Street, she still uses pie charts, line graphs, and predictive formulas in her life.  Madeline knows she's going to need help, so she presents her goddaughter, Bri, an offer she can't refuse.  Bri, the daughter of Madeline's estranged best friend, is struggling with debt to finish nursing school.  Bri isn't expecting Madeline's feistiness nor her plans for the future.  Can Madeline make things better before it's too late?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all its snarky humor while dealing with some serious subjects.  Madeline was treated horribly in her past and that has fueled her behaviors.  But she has regrets too and a desire to leave things better.  There are just wonderful characters here, including Madeline's male friend, Lee, and Hopie, the dog.  Some of my favorite parts were Madeline's musings in between alternating POV chapters.  You'll also learn a lot about Hetty Green, known as the Witch of Wall Street, the richest woman at the turn of the 20th century.  On a personal note, I liked all the NE Ohio references.  Wonderful debut - looking forward to more from this author!

11.2.2026 - How to Be Less Useful

  

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of this wonderful book of essays by Priyanka Mattoo.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Some books arrive just when you need them, even if you wish you had them decades ago when you really needed them!  This is that book.  So much of the author's stories about wanting to swoop in and fix things for people, especially family, and then getting internally upset and frustrated when you have given everything you have just really rang true.  Even now, when my kids have long flown the nest, it's still in my nature.  But when actively parenting, these messages would have been invaluable.  This book is filled with ah ha moments that I marked and plan on revisiting, as well as relatable humor just being a human in these times.  Never preachy, just wonderful.  

11.1.2026 - Sweet Pea

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful novel by Kit de Waal, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Sara Powell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.75 stars!

Paulette's grandmother called her "Sweet Pea," and taught her to avoid temptation and embrace love and forgiveness, in that order.  Paulette feels like it's her time - she has a good job, hopefully she's soon to be married, children and a home will follow.  Until tragedy strikes and she finds herself grieving and with a son, Bird.  Then another child comes into her life who needs her.  

Oh, this story will sneak up on you and will slowly carve out a special place in your heart for these characters.  In all her troubles, Paulette can still open her heart to others, even when her own is broken.  It's the story of how small kindnesses can mean so much - just one of the lessons that will make you look into your own life and feel that you can do a bit better.  This story is very character-driven and one that readers will relate to, because most of us have a future that we mourn for, but this book gives hope in that future even though it may look a bit different.  I loved this book and the ending was perfect.  I listened to the audiobook and felt that the narration and production just added to my immersion in this story.

10.31.2026 - Another Name for Red

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pantheon for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Amber Blaeser-Wardzala.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

A red dress remains on the clothesline of the house on the Minnesota Rez where Old Sister has been missing for a year.  Middle Sister is keeping a secret from her family, and feels that her sister's disappearance is her fault.  All of her old relationships have disintegrated, and there's a new man in town, John Smith, who follows Middle Sister around.  Middle Sister is also actively trying to investigate her sister's disappearance, finding she must rely on her community for assistance.

A beautifully-written debut that once again showcases the plight of Indigenous women disappearing and being found murdered, while a nation turns a blind eye.  It's also a moving story about grief, guilt, and loss and what it does to individuals, families, and communities.  It's very atmospheric, and a sense of impending pain and dread hangs over Middle Sister, yet there's a hopeful turn as well.  A wonderful debut - looking forward to more from this author!

10.31.2026 - Gloria Don't Speak

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperAudio and Mariner Books for gifting me an audio ARC of the debut novel by Lucy Apps, a Women's Prize for Fiction nominee.  The audiobook was narrated to perfection by Olivia Vinall.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Gloria is mostly nonverbal, has aged out of school, and spends her days wandering the streets.  That's where she meets Jack, who talks to her, gives her Cokes, walks with her.  It's 1999 and Jack fears everything will change when the calendar flips to 2000.  But Jack breaks before the world does and changes Gloria forever.

This book is so well written and the narration made Gloria come alive.  I felt like I was inside her head, hearing all the words she couldn't say.  But Jack occupies Gloria's brain, even as her life moves on.  I was set for an incident that didn't occur, and that made the real incident even more powerful.  It's heartbreaking to think of how society treats those with disabilities, and showcases how all of us need others.  I felt privileged to spend time with this book.

10.31.2026 - The Tribes

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House | Dutton Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Mari Howes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Heather is a college student, not fitting into the expectations of her family, and failing out of college.  She comes across a group that seems so welcoming and loving, giving her all she needs.  Until she's trapped.  Decades later, police respond to a 911 call that a newborn baby has died, and they charge Heather with murder of her infant son.  Abby, single and pregnant, is Heather's lawyer, and she's convinced that there's more to Heather's story than she's admitting.

Wow - I was completely engrossed with this book until the very last page.  It has a bit of everything - a cult, mystery, legal thriller, intriguing characters - wrapped up in such a fashion that you won't be able to look away.  The old saying, Nobody joins a cult, is sure apt here.  Things always look good in the beginning until you slowly lose yourself.  Heather's story is parsed out slowly as the chapters alternate between her past and Abby's defense of her in the present.  These characters and their plights felt so real to me.  Know that this isn't an easy read, but it is so well written with such a thought-provoking, emotional storyline that I was obsessed with it and felt gutted at the end. 

10.29.2026 - What Mother Knows

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Chad Zunker, wonderfully narrated by Austin Rising.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Denver attorney Josh King has been estranged from his mother and stepfather, but when his mother is accused of killing his stepfather, Josh returns to Austin to be there for his younger sister.  But when he arrives, his mom, the city's mayor, persuades him to act as her defense attorney.  Josh must believe everything she tells him but does he?

This was a quick story, made better by the wonderful narration that made the characters come alive.  Loved the relationship between Josh and his sister and how he rose above all the noise to take care of her.  Dark family secrets abound and liked the final twist at the end!

10.29.2026 - The Other Kind of Lion

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Lake Union Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by a favorite, Catherine Ryan Hyde, with the audiobook beautifully narrated by Eva Kaminsky.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.75 stars rounded up!

In the 1970s in rural California, Shirley is a Vietnam War widow living with her two sons.  She sees a young boy in need of care and gradually does everything she can to take care of him.  These simple kindnesses create a bond that will span their lives.

I will read anything that this author writes, because you will always get a heartwarming story that will leave you feeling like you can do a bit better in interacting with the world.  While the characters, especially the kids, improbably always say just the right things, it's okay because those are the things our hearts and minds need to heal.  This book reminded me of Mother Teresa's famous quote, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love."  The. narration was fabulous and Kaminsky did a great job with all the characters.  

10.27.2026 - Ordinary Wife

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Dreamscape Select for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest true crime novel by Gregg Olsen and his daughter, Morgan Olsen, with the audiobook perfectly narrated once again by Karen Peakes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

In Idaho in 1920, a new bride set out three saucers of flypaper on the boarding house porch. By nightfall, her husband was on the floor of their canvas tent, clutching his stomach in agony. Within days he was dead.  This wasn't the first husband of Lyda Trueblood to come to an early end - 6 deaths in 5 years, including her young daughter.  

When you think about serial killers, at least I tend to think about more recent headlines and, more often than not, male perpetrators.  We've heard of black widows, killing off their husbands for money, but to get away with so many deaths in a short period of time back in the 1920s is definitely a story to read.  I'm a long time fan of Gregg Olson, and this is the first collaboration with his daughter, but not the first of his books to be wonderfully narrated by Karen Peakes.  Once again, this is a well-researched and fascinating look into the dark side of humans.

10.27.2026 - Update

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Kim van Alkemade.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Audrey is living in NYC during Covid, grieving the loss of her husband, when a post about a bookshop for sale in Upstate New York comes to her attention.  She impulsively makes an offer on the rundown house and barn.  She cashes in everything she has and heads to Schuywich.  She meets a group of locals who bit by bit help her make a life.  She finds a stack of old magazine features, written by Evelyn, the former owner, and letters written to Evelyn by her long-time lover, Hazel.

This book is just so immersive.  Told through Audrey's voice in 2020, and from the magazine articles and letters decades earlier, we see history come alive through their eyes.  Audrey is full of grief, and it's so heartening to see a community come together to help her.  Plus, there's all the animal life Audrey becomes responsible for, from sheep to goats to bees.  I was just always anxious to get back to reading all three different lives and timelines - all the characters just came alive.  Added points because I live outside of Saratoga Springs where the author lives and works (shout out to Northshire Books!), and it's always fun to see familiar places when you read.  Highly recommended!