thoughts on books

Category: Recommendations

  • Rasputin swims the Potomac by Ben fountain

    Rasputin swims the Potomac by Ben fountain

    An absurd satire about Trump’s reelection campaign for a 3rd term and the one that comes to challenge him, WWE Champion Rasputin, who despite being American born, legally changed his name to Rasputin and claims to be the reincarnation of one of the most notorious villains in recorded history. At first Trump and Rasputin are friends. The nation is suffering from a “weeping disease,” officially called conversion disorder which is a more scientific and updated way to say mass hysteria.

    This book’s vibes are like no other.

    This book is wild- but so is the news. Trying to take on the task of political satire at a time when we have breaking news on a daily basis that reads like satire is, well, ambitious. But this – as ridiculous as it seems- is a story that we can’t see where it’s going and it seems relevant at all times. I think this scenario is as likely as any for 2028. Some details are true and some are creatively inserted. I will admit googling a few news items because I didn’t know if they had happened or if they were part of the story. From the blurb I though the president would be called “president mcpresidentface” but he is written, extremely realistically and convincingly, Donald Trump.

    The challenge, I think, is just that this book will appeal more to those that think Trump is a threat to our democracy (which is most of us readers, but not all)… and yet many of us hate him so much that we don’t want to read him as a character in a fictitious story. It just makes me so mad that no one has read this but me I can’t wait to discuss with someone !!!!! I’m fascinated in Rasputin using Christian orthodox imagery as propaganda and his political platform.

    Who knows. Maybe fountain is prescient and the one that will destroy MAGA will be another pawn of political theater.

    I don’t know anyone else who has read this and it was only briefly on NetGalley but I’m so glad I snagged this one.

    Melania’s Character arc… 🤌🤌🤌 chef’s kiss

    Favorite character? Clarence Thomas.

    Thanks to NetGalley and flatiron books for the ARC. Book to be published June 9, 2026.

  • The fall of iris henley by Jennifer graham

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    A Young Adult suspense with several mysteries. The small town in Texas a few months ago was ravaged by an apparent murder suicide. Iris’s boyfriend Rocky and his “side piece” her ex-best friend and recovering addict and former cheerleader Lynnette. Rocky was the quarterback and was found dead of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound. Then someone posts on “secret” a social networking app, that Iris was guilty of their murder.

    I was definitely very drawn in to the murder mystery, but the main storyline here is who is cyber bullying Iris. Someone is anonymously posting secrets online and accusing her of murder. Oddly the school seems to be on board with bullying her, she gets benched from the cheer team. I found the motivations of people to be really strange, she should have been really upset about her boyfriend being dead and why is he able to also pull these side pieces? Jeez he is a bad person. I feel like these are all ways teenagers don’t really act. And this bullying storyline is kind of unrealistic. I did like the book and I thought the pacing was good, but it was a bit lacking in a couple of ways for me. I liked it, but you may love it.

    Three adjectives to describe the main character? Popular. Controlling. Cold.

    My favorite character? Iris’s sister who is mean and jealous but plays the trombone, which is cool. Not a lot of heartwarming funny or fun characters in this one tbh

    Audiobook review- a fun mystery with lots of twists and reveals. I appreciated the performance. My only critique is that for a book based in Texas SOMEONE should have had a little twang in their accent. These characters sound like they are from Omaha.

    Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC. Book to be published February 24, 2026.

  • The women in white by Sarah pekkanen

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    Riley has just gotten divorced from her gambling husband Danny. She has lost everything and now has the chance to be a love-in caretaker for Betty, an old lady widow in her 80’s who has been a hermit for the last 60 years.

    Betty asks her to look into her 3 best friends from her time at Marquis college- loosely based on Duke. She and her 3 friends showed psychic abilities and were used an experiments for a professor there in the 60’s.

    It’s a story that intrigued me, although I found the pacing to be clunky and the ending somewhat disappointing. The beginning and setup was very well done, I was so drawn in by the chapters in the early 60’s.

    Three words to describe the main character? Enabler. Loyal. A
    Mary sue.

    Hollywood cast
    Betty- Lily Tomlin
    Riley- Zoe Saldana

    Thanks to NetGalley and st martins press for the ARC. Book to be published August 4, 2026.

  • Adrift by will dean

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    Two alternating POV- Peggy, the wife of an abusive gaslighter, and her 14 year old son Sampson (if you’re wondering if he gets a haircut in the book, yes he does).

    This book is highly suspenseful and perfectly written, although it is technically thriller, I have to say it nearly reads like horror in the emotional abuse aspect. While realistic, the way that Drew manipulates and controls both Peggy and Sampson is relentless and horrific. So big trigger warning for emotional abuse. I literally had to stop reading at 60% to skip to the end to make sure Drew got his just desserts. My apple watch told
    Me I was too stressed out.

    So if you want a book that makes you feel something you will absolutely want to pick this one up! Drew is a villainous awful person.

    My favorite character? Phoenix. He isn’t introduced until the second half but he has a good back story and a heart of gold.

    Three words to describe the main character? Manipulated. Pitiful. Mother.

    Hollywood cast
    Drew- Jared Leto
    Peggy- Elizabeth Olsen
    Sampson- Tanner Buchanan (from Cobra Kai)

    Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler for the ARC. Book to be published February 16, 2026

  • this story might save your life by tiffany crum

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    This is a special book. Plenty of books try to be mystery/thriller plus romance but one of the two always shines. This is an equally five star thriller alongside a five star romance. And did I mention it’s a debut? I’m blown away. I requested this after seeing several rave reviews and it did not disappoint.

    Benny and Joy are podcasters and best friends with incredible chemistry. They’ve never been romantically entangled but it’s because of insecurities. They obviously love each other. The mystery is that Joy and her husband Xander have gone missing and the world is looking for them.

    Audiobook is amazing- both performances are stellar. There is a bonus podcast episode and duet narration. I already ordered a trophy copy, I really loved this book. Definitely a Q1 favorite.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the arc. Book to be published March 9, 2026.

  • harmless by marissa shulman

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    Audrey died due to her heroin addiction two years ago, now, her oddball sister Bea will set us a kennel in business with Audrey’s two best friends from childhood.

    The other characters are;

    1. Layla, her single mom is a tv icon. She doesn’t do anything but has an assistant
    2. Tatum, she lives with her boyfriend Ed but she doesn’t love him anymore.
    3. Park Slope itself, which is not just a setting but a character in the story.

    I don’t know how else to put this, but this is both extremely well written and poorly structured, maybe the chaotic structure is just not for me. I loved several sentences and they are so great about developing character and showing rather than telling. Some of the analysis and dialogue are great. I can see many people loving this book, it’s really different and unique.

    My favorite character? Bea. She’s so weird. I love that they hint at her ASD but specifically say she has no diagnosis. She might be a sociopath or just an odd duck.

    Do I recommend it? Maybe. If you like a fever dream type story and intriguing but sometimes unlikable characters.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC. Book to be published April 13, 2026

  • shapes of love by lv penalba

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    “I’ve always hated the expression More than friends, as if romantic love were one step above friendship.”

    A deep, meaningful and funny “romance” book that has so much to tell us about identity and love. A YA book that is very true to the voice of Gen Alpha. Shapes of Love challenges our assumptions about romantic love and partnership.

    Sasha (stage name Sassy) is just at the crux of stardom and she has found a solid audience. Her campaign year for Best New Artist Grammy, the world is very interested in her love life. She accidentally likes a post potentially outing her as aroace. Although her closest friends know, her producer Shirley and studio does not. As a PR stunt, her manager decides to hire her ex boyfriend and ex best friend Kai for fake dating for 6 months. She also gets a guest role on her favorite show and they meet Asher, a nepo baby with a penchant for partying.

    Young Adult books can sometimes be heavy handed in their messaging, but I found this to be very meaningful and plot driven. The characters are wonderful. As a cis middle aged lady, I picked this up to educate myself so I can be a better and more educated ally to our aroace friends. I definitely found myself reading and realizing I have a lot to learn about the aroace community. Shapes of Love is the perfect title to describe all the ways we experience love, connection and partnership. And romantic love is not the only path, just like there’s not only one way into the ocean.

    If you enjoy queer YA romance, don’t miss this one!

    Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC. Book to be published May 18, 2026.

  • lady tremaine by rachel hochhauser

    WOW- extremely intriguing retelling of Cinderella from the viewpoint of her stepmother. This is one of those re-tellings that makes you question history to begin with and how no on eis the villain of their own story. In this version, Cinderella (Ellen) is a little bit dramatic, immature and slightly self-centered- in other words, kind of a typical 16 year old girl. Etheldreda is twice widowed, the first to Henry, her daughters’ father, and the second to Robert, Ellen’s father. He made an interesting and not-great decision about how to handle his estate. All of his money went into a dowry for Ellen that cannot be touched until she is married and it goes directly to her husband once she is married. So Etheldreda has no way to support herself and the 3 girls, although she has inherited the estate she really cannot take care of it.

    A bit of a mystery, this book takes awhile before revealing who the true villain is in this story, and it is very much an adult tale with adult themes and language. It reveals with exquisite pacing the challenges and drawbacks of high society in a highly patriarchal system. Lady Tremaine truly is misunderstood, and makes a lot of mistakes being a stepmother but also has their best interests in mind. I wasn’t expecting her to become an amateur detective and to help her daughters and step daughter learn how to be responsible for their choices.

    I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction and especially if you enjoy retellings. The story is really addictive!

    Audiobook review- wonderful performance from Bessie Carter, one of the best in the audio game. I loved her accents and the way that she read the inner dialogue, to be complex and interesting and multi-faceted.

    Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for the ARC and ALC. Book to be published March 3, 2026.

  • BRIGHTER than before by courtney walsh

    Claire is figuring out what the second half of her life is going to look like after heartbreak. Her husband of 23 years, John, cheated on her and is now getting married to the sidepiece, Misty. She can’t bear the humiliation of living in Colorado where her whole community is, and needs to find out who she is apart from a wife and mother. Her divorce newly finalized, she moves to Chicago and makes a list of things she wants to do- get a dog, get real friends, and download a dating app. Her neighbor Miles owns the apartment building she gets and apartment in, and he helps her along the way as she tries dating for the first time, kind of ever.

    This book really made me feel seen. Being humiliated by John was only her first embarrassment, but later when Claire makes mistakes she learns how to pick herself back up and try again. If you like a clean/closed-door romcom with a FMC in her 40’s, friends-to-lovers please pick this up. It is not the complicated and dramatic and sad plot in many lovely books. This one is a lot more like a Hallmark movie, it is perfect in its pure simplicity. The characters do have some tragic back story, but this is not the story, it is more about the every day, the inner dialogue that is perfect for a character learning who they are.

    I loved the text message exchanges between Claire and her adult daughter Minnie, her quirky first dates that go nowhere, and her tiny triumphs. This book was honestly a real joy to read.

    I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. Book to be published June 8, 2026.

  • missed connections by aimie runyan

    For fans of magical realism and the fine dining industry- it is like a mixture of Aftertaste and your favorite Ashley Poston. Who hasn’t wanted a magical remote control that could allow you to return to certain points in your life and do something differently? Sabrina Sorensen is at a point in her life where she wants to be a Michelin guide, but her career in the restaurant industry has gone sideways. From the chef’s assistant to lots of kitchen roles, sauce person and General manager and front of the house roles, she has a culinary degree and many connection across the globe. She gets into a special airport lounge that gets her a flight to a certain point in the past.

    At times romantic, I see this as much more of a contemporary light-fantasy-magical realism book than a traditional romance. I liked the storyline and the idea that in our 30’s we are much less insecure and able to speak up for ourselves. Most of our regrets become in being braver, speaking up and taking more risks rather than playing it safe.

    The big surprise and win here is the level of detail and setting of fine dining, not just in running a kitchen, but the career path of someone in this field. Everyone eats at restaurants, but very few have the level of detail and experience in knowing how cut throat and political this can be. I loved the setting and hearing more about what this is like and the interpersonal relationships involved. I loved Sabrina’s character arc and the variety of people who changed based on her path back as a cosmic re-do.

    I definitely recommend this unique story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

    Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. Book to be published May 26, 2026.