thoughts on books

Category: Recommendations

  • no matter what by cara bastone

    Another stunning and poignant novel about grief recovery from Cara Bastone. Go into this one expecting 80% LitFic and 20% Romance. It’s only romance in the sense that being in love is a constant when life throws us some curveballs. The book is one woman’s journey to understanding that she is suffering from PTSD due to an accident that happened a year ago. Although Roz and Vin weren’t killed, they did have some physical recovery. But the mental and spiritual recovery is taking much longer.

    Roz is finding herself again through drawing. Not an artist, she wants to be able to learn about how she sees the world and signs up for a drawing class with nude models. Her husband Vin moved into the guest room months ago, and now she is blindsided by seeing a new lease. She inherently knows he has decided to move out.

    In many ways, this is the classic miscommunication trope, but in others, it is so so so much bigger. Roz and Vin are both suffering since the accident, and they can’t connect with each other. It’s another big old advertisement for therapy. Not even couples therapy, but they both need help individually.

    Another thing I really enjoyed was learning about Roz’s job and how she would try to make new recipes out of leftover food. The organization takes food that is being discarded from grocery, restaurant and farmers market and she tries to figure out ways to use it. There is something so purely symbolic about that, that she was an artist who chose to make sustenance out of trash. As someone who grew up thinking it is a sin to throw away food, seeing leftovers in my refrigerator is incredibly stress inducing. Roz, likewise, was taught young that wasting food is a sin. It is just very cool that she did something productive with that.

    Thank you NetGalley and Dial Delights for the ARC. Book to be published March 17, 2026.

  • every version of you by natalie messier

    Joey is a workaholic corporate lawyer without much of a life. She goes on dates periodically but doesn’t let anyone in because she is secretly in love with Ellie (Elijah) the one who got away. She suddenly dies but gets a second chance at life and she goes back to college in 2012 to have a second chance at love. But instead she finds herself drawn to Alex, a billionaire capitalist that Ellie is friends with, a man she hates. Back in her 18 year old body with a 32 year old soul, she changes so much of what she wishes she could have done differently the first time.

    If I could go back in time to my college days I’d have to do things the same so I could have my kids. But I definitely would find a way to see Whitney Houston, Prince and Michael Jackson live.

    This is well paced and written. The back and forth between her 2026 mind and what she knows in 2012 is a running bit that doesn’t get old. If you enjoy time travel or second chance magical realism romance this is a book you should be reading. There are a lot of characters, many of whom play the same role and the metaphysical aspect of this doesn’t get too deep. I enjoyed the first 25% of the book the most. There were some surprises and twists near the end that were different than most time travel stories.

    Thanks to NetGalley and gallery books for the ARC. Book to be published 4/28/26.

  • the perfect hosts by heather gudenkauf

    Babe, wake up, Heather Gudenkauf has a new book and its set in a state other than Iowa. Another winning suspense thriller! Madeline and Wes are the second richest family in town, this is a huge acreage and horse farm worth many millions. Madeline is about to have her first child and they have invited the town’s elite, 200 people are at their ranch for an obnoxious rich people gender reveal party. Like many people, I find gender reveal parties to be a bit self-indulgent and old fashioned. The guests are wearing “western cocktail attire” whatever that is. (I googled it. Results inconclusive.)

    But when they release the gun that will show the pink or blue powder, there is a second explosion in their barn that kills someone instantly, injuring many others. All the ambulances in the area arrive, and Madeline, who is 7 months pregnant, is thrown high above the ground in the attach. There is an ATF officer assigned, Jamie, who happened to grow up in town. His sister Juneau was killed and Jamie was attacked when in high school, a cold case that has never been solved.

    Yellowstone and Succession Vibes

    There are four POV in this book;
    Madeline, it was her gender reveal party
    Mellie, a 21 year old waitress who worked the party
    Lucy, Madeline’s estranged step-sister
    Jamie, the ATF agent investigating the case

    I really love this author, and I really enjoyed the Wyoming setting. It is much more nuanced than “rich people behaving badly” as well as multiple mysteries going on that I was so engrossed in. The ending tied up most of the loose ends, and I was surprised and energized by the ending, although the ending itself seemed a bit rushed.

    You will really enjoy the POV characters, trying to interpret their actions to determine what secrets they are hiding. I love it when we figure it out just a few paragraphs before the on page characters do.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC. Book to be published November 4, 2025.

  • ms mebel goes back to the chopping block by jesse q sutanto

    Mebel (pronounced “Mabel”) is shocked with Henk (pronounced “Hank”) tells her that he is leaving her for their 24 year old chef. Mebel loves being a Chinese-Indonesian “trophy wife,” she plays tennis and shops and has a collection of Manolos and Birkins to die for. She loves being an elder auntie and meddling mom. Mebel wants her life to go back to normal,
    And decides she needs to learn to cook at culinary school in order to win Henk back.

    Michelle Obama once said that when they go low, we go lower. Or something like that anyway. She’s not one to argue with Michelle Obama.

    Hilarity ensues! Mebel is a fish out of water as a first year student surrounded by Gen Z kids who don’t pay her the respect she expects in her culture. And a famous chef, Alain, who looks like George Clooney, is a compelling character who we aren’t sure may become a romantic interest.

    I am telling you right now, son, treat your wife better than how your father has treated me.

    Jesse Q Sutanto created the extremely endearing and lovable Vera Wong, as well as the cozy mystery Aunties series. Mebel is cut from the same mold, but this story has no murder and little mystery. Although there is a little romance, I would classify this as more of a “coming of age” tale except the main character is 63. Mebel is hilarious and a deep character with amazing growth. This is really the kind of story where a one-dimensional caricature becomes much deeper and eventually grows into a better version of themselves.

    “That is nice, but I am Chinese mother, I don’t respect anybody’s privacy. Start the car.”

    Mebel would probably hate that I described her that way. But going along for the journey was certainly entertaining. Suntanto has deep respect for her culture while finding the smart woman within.

    If you like Vera Wong, you’re going to love Ms Mebel.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the ARC. Book to be published 4/28/26.

  • where the girls were by kate schatz

    “If men could get pregnant, I bet it would be different.” 
    “That, my dear, is certainly true.”

    Where The Girls Were is a historical fiction novel of a girl unexpectedly pregnant in the 1960’s. She goes to a girls home to have the baby and get back to her life. She is a smart and good girl, Baker gave her valedictorian speech then leaves her beloved cousin May and goes to a residential facility.

    The overturning of Roe vs Wade has led to many historical fiction books in this very theme- 
    The Girls Who Grew Big (Panhandle Florida)
    Witchcraft for Wayward Girls (Rural Florida)
    Wayward Girls (Buffalo, NY)

    All books published in 2025, the gem of this theme is that you get multiple strong female characters. Some are more naive than others and there is usually one truly tragic situation. 

    This book, while still tragic, is perhaps the least tragic of these 4, surprising only because the author is a self described queer feminist- but according to the authors note, she learned that her mother spent time in one of these homes and having a baby that went for adoption. It gives the story a kindness and a hopefulness that is endearing to the reader. This story is more of a characterization and doesn’t beat you over the head, this story is the quietest, the least self-righteous. 

    Baker is our main character, this is her middle name that she goes by. Baker, as in, baking the bun in the oven. The father of her baby, Wiley, is literally just a dude. He is not at all a villain nor a romantic lead. I liked that- the father in this case is simply just not all that important. Baker considers breaking the law to have an illegal abortion but lacks the time and courage. She meets friends and goes through a process to have her baby, not being able to make phone calls or go outside for months. 

    This story is a breath of fresh air, well written, and very readable. I can hardly believe it’s a debut, but the author is a skilled writer, just now publishing a novel.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC. Book to be published Mar 3, 2025. 

  • second chance cinema by thea weiss

    A very fun, creative, and emotional story about the memories we hold. A contemporary magical realism romance for fans of Kate Robb and Ashley Poston. Will we still be lovable if they knew everything about us? And I mean, everything?

    Ellie and Drake are about to be married when they come across a theatre that operates, seemingly, only for them. The theatre shows “The Story of Us” which is a collection of 10 weekly movies that show both of their lives as a film. Starting with them as babies, the movies progress over time showing the most memorable periods of their lives. They agree to continue to see the movies, week after week, and promise to not let anything they see change the way they feel for each other.

    Of course, there are secrets, and reasons to be jealous and even angry. There are some memorable side characters, like the manager of the theatre, Natalie. When I first heard the premise for this book, I thought this would be kind of a nightmare. I think we all have episodes in our past that we would rather not remember. Something I was curious about while reading is- are we actually seeing what happened? Or are we seeing it as Drake and Ellie remember it? They say that when we remember something, we are technically remembering the last time that we were remembering it. So our memories are notoriously unreliable. Something to consider for this story.

    I found the plot fascinating, the characters are good, particularly Ellie. Drake was less intriguing of a lead, but the magical elements made up for it. The prologue was intriguing and in the back of my mind, how it comes full circle in the epilogue is a neat twist.

    This would be a great book to read for a book club, I think it would encourage great and deep conversations.

    Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC. Book to be published October 7,2025

  • this will be interesting by eb asher

    EB Asher fans, it is time to return to Mythria! and this time we get to adventure beyond its borders. Beatrice and Clare are minor characters in this one, but we dive deep on old and new characters alike.

    3 POV;
    Queen Thessia, recently married to Hugh. He likes her but doesn’t love her. Their honeymoon becomes a Quest.
    River; a hired assassin who is planning to kill Galwell.
    Galwell; back from the dead and 10 years younger than his former peers. Is he Galwell the great or Galwell the grateful?

    EB Asher has singlehandedly (triple handedly?, lol) created the cozy romantasy genre. This book is Pixar’s Onward meets The Count of Monte Cristo meets Pirates of the Caribbean. Expect laughter, a lot of camp, and a creative blending of feudal society and our modern culture. As someone who rarely reads fantasy, I can struggle with the world building and in being able to visualize and remember the creatures and characters. I find this book to be incredibly, even compulsively, readable. Low spice, high nostalgia, and all the fun.

    Do you need to read “This Will Be Fun” in order to enjoy this one? No. But it will spoil it for you, so I recommend reading it first. I found this second book to be more adventurous, more mysterious and even funnier. It is a found family adventure for reluctant coworkers to lovers. The anticipation is real!

    My Hollywood cast
    Elizabeth Olsen, as River
    Emma Watson, as Thessia
    Chris Hemsorth, as Hugh
    Noah Centineo, as Galwell
    Alexandra Daddario, as Celine

    thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC. Book to be published March 24, 2026.

  • girls dinner by olivie blake

    Girls Dinner is not your typical horror novel, although, yes, this is about a cannibalistic sorority, it doesn’t use a lot of horror language and detail, and you don’t know about these elements at ALL until 60% of the way through. This is why I loved it so much, but my more hard-core horror fans may describe this as “slow”- I will say this is horror-lite for feminists and those interested in culture and sociology. It reads much more like a female centered book club type novel. I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy before reading the blurb. Here I thought I was going to read about dark academia and maybe eating disorders and working mom guilt… then BAM. I was blown away. I wish all of you could have this experience.

    We have multiple Points of view- Nina, a sophomore going through sorority recruitment, and Sloane Hartley. Sloane is a sociologist and professor, she is going back to work after having a baby girl. Her husband is more well respected and into his career as a professor, although Sloane is more talented than he is. He kind of sucks. Not a traditional villain, he just… sucks. You’ll see. She is invited to be the sorority’s academic liasion.

    The character arc is phenomenal- Blake really spends time helping us understand who these characters are, their loyalties and motivations. The audiobook narrators are also great, engaging, and good performances.

    Perhaps my favorite part were the parts of the texts that explore Sloane’s field of sociology, how late stage patriarchy affects millenials and Gen Z women, and how we connect and this relates to achievement. I would never pick up a sociology book- hell- I would never even read a sociology ARTICLE- but the author slyly inserted her best work into a horror-lite fiction novel and I am RIVETED.

    I really loved this one- thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published October 21, 2026.

  • the austen affair by madeline bell

    How many Austen re-tellings do we need? SHUT UP HATERS, AT LEAST ONE MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

    Okay, so besides being enemies to lovers, this isn’t a re-telling, it is literally a time travel novel and doesn’t follow an Austen format, but Austen herself makes a cameo.

    Tess Bright has left her TV show to make a Jane Austen movie with co-star Hugh. They really get under each others skin, he doesn’t think an American TV star is worthy to do a British classic, and she thinks he is pompous. Tess has recently lost her mother, who adored Austen, and doing this movie makes her feel closer to her mom. An unexplained electricity accident puts them both back in the 1800’s in their period costumes. They are in and around Hugh’s family and they mistake him for his great-great-great-grandfather. Which is insane as you have 31 other sets of DNA in there (?) but for the sake of romance, let’s pretend they are identical.

    What follows is a funny series of misunderstandings and cast of characters. The author has some points to make about how far we have come (and not) since this time. Hugh and Tess use their research to help them assimilate into the culture, all the while working together to find a way home, which they seem indecently confident they can get back to the present time. Naturally, as they work together they find commonalities and slowly fall in love.

    I really liked Tess and I felt her emotions- Hugh, as a Brit, is a little more buttoned up, but dedicated to his craft. I really enjoyed the little boy, who was sick and then recovered. He was a very cute character, and I love the way that the audiobook narrator voiced him and all of the British accents. Only one narrator on this one but she was very engaging and really allowed Tess vulnerability in her inner dialogue.

    Read if you like;
    Enemies to Lovers
    Austen theming
    Recent loss of parent
    Time Travel – fish out of water stories

    Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published September 16, 2025.

  • the storm by rachel hawkins

    A tensely twisty mystery of disastrous proportions! Geneva owns a small inn on the gulf coast. The small town is known for getting epic hurricanes, and a hurricane is on the way. There is a famous cold case of Landon Fitzroy, a politician who died during hurricane Marie in 1984. His 19 year old mistress, Lo Bailey, was arrested for his murder because there was no fluid in his lungs, so he has to have died prior to the hurricane claiming his life. Lo’s trial resulted in a hung jury.

    Now, 50 years later, a journalist is coming to Geneva’s inn to investigate the crime and also Lo Bailey had returned with him to clear her name. Naturally everyone has secrets, and the book paces itself exactly like a hurricane. 🌀

    You get the warnings and you prepare, boarding up your windows and filling tubs with water. In this way the book then slowly gave us the background and prepared us for the big reveals and explosive conclusion. This is a well paced mystery. I found the characters to be compelling and the dialogue to be believable. I was “blown away” (lol) by the conclusion.

    This is the kind of mystery thriller that fans of Rachel Hawkins have come to expect- and it doesn’t disappoint!

    Thanks to NetGalley and St martins Press for the ARC. Book to be published January 6, 2026.