But you're a fixer-upper if there ever was: SOME KIND OF FAMOUS.

Some Kind of Famous: A Novel by Ava Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Ava Wilder, but it won't be my last.

SOME KIND OF FAMOUS is a slow burn romance, but both its storyline and characters quickly grew on me, even if our protagonist, Merritt, is a tad prickly at times. Once a famous singer-songwriter, Merritt now lives in a small Colorado town with her twin, Olivia, and Olivia's husband. But it's time for Merritt to move out into her own home, which requires her to hire local handyman, Niko. He's attractive and kind and competent and just far too stable for Merritt to get involved with.

But even Niko has to admit he's pretty fascinated with Merritt. And working on her home offers him a steady paycheck that he just can't turn down. Despite both sides being warned off each other, Merritt and Niko keep getting thrown together--and liking it. But Niko's coming off a terrible breakup and Merritt... well, she's coming off her life. Can they make it work?

This story has plenty of fun sexual tension and laughs, but overall, it's a rather serious romance that explores mental health, Merritt's tough issues as a teen rock star, sexual assault, and more. Both Merritt and Olivia are difficult characters to love: Merritt has been through a lot and she holds people at arm's length while Olivia can be awfully mean and lashes out at her sister in cruel ways. The more we learn about their past, the easier it is to understand their actions. As for Niko, he's one of those trope-filled romance teddy bears that you can't help but love. And he's handy!

This is a really witty story, but it's also insightful and poignant. Both Merritt and Niko have plenty of family drama and there's tons of sexual tension to propel the story forward. Also I'm just a sucker for stories that involve a famous person and a regular person falling for each other, even if some of Merritt's glory days are behind her.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell in return for an unbiased review.

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You traded me away long gone: THE SHADOW WRITER.

The Shadow Writer by Eliza Maxwell
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

As a child, Graye Templeton witnessed some horrendous acts. She was raised in a foster care, overseen by a caring nun who encouraged her love of writing. Graye finds work as assistant for writer/professor David West and eventually starts working for his wife, influential book blogger, Laura West. She even moves south from NYC with the family. But soon Graye finds herself deeply attached to Laura and enmeshed in the West family, including concerns about David's drinking.

Honestly, this story was creepier than I expected! That's not a bad thing--it surprisingly gory and tense. The story can be a little slow at times, but there's some excellent surprises that keep you reading and guessing. Maxwell's tale explores morality, looking at who is really good or bad and what that truly means. It's also a bookish tale, with Graye wanting to write, David being a (once) successful writer, and Laura promoting books and holding festive book events.

If you like a twisty and character-driven tale with dark plot twists, you'll enjoy this one. (Trigger warnings for abuse, alcoholism, miscarriage.) 3.5 stars

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And the pins were pulled long ago: HE'S TO DIE FOR.

He's to Die For by Erin Dunn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rav is not your typical NYC cop -- he's a posh British gay man; the son of a British lord, with an ivy league education and a penchant for designer clothing. Rav loves being on the force and is thrilled when his lieutenant gives him a high profile case involving a music executive. As part of the case, he meets Jack, the lead singer for the famous band The Knickerbockers. Sparks fly between Jack and Rav immediately, but unfortunately, Jack is a suspect in Rav's case. Getting close with him means an end to Rav's career.

I'm always a sucker for the "regular" person and famous person romances. This story pairs that storyline with an over-the-top mystery. At times, it feels like a lot of plot jammed in! There are dying people tossed in with FBI agents and conspiracy theories galore. Add that to Jack and Rav's relationship ups and downs, and it can become very difficult to keep all the mystery threads straight!

Still, Rav and Jack are cute together, and while there's nothing really revolutionary about this romance, it's a fun m/m romance with a mystery twist.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.

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When I woke the dream was gone: THESE SUMMER STORMS.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a good soapy family drama as much as the next person, but there was something about this one that I couldn't fully get into! I attribute a lot of it to the writing style. It was written with these weird choppy short sentences thrown in, which put the rhythm of the story off balance and kept me from fully getting in the flow.

The premise is there. Alice is exiled from her wealthy family, forced to make her own way without her family's preposterous wealth. The only reason she returns to the fold is the death of her egocentric father. On her family's private island, she learns that the terms of inheritance dictate that she and her three siblings will only inherit her father's vast fortune if they all stay on the island for an entire week and complete an inheritance game: a series of tasks laid out by her father and overseen by his righthand man, Jack Dean. For Alice, it feels like a death sentence.

Using the word "games" seems like an outright exaggeration. It's a few stipulations, mostly punctuated by bickering and dealing with their drunken, overwrought mother. Alice forms an odd relationship with Jack. The island setting is dramatic and stark, with many wealthy friends and family headed there for a "celebration of life" for Alice's late father. Alice's three siblings are mostly hateful. Very little happens until a rush of secrets are revealed, most of which seem predictable.

Some of the drama here is enjoyable (rich people problems have their moments, after all), and I didn't mind Alice or Jack, or the island locale, but after all the hype, this one left me a little lacking.

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Now it seems the kindest thing to do is cut loose and let go of you: OVERDUE.

Overdue: A Novel by Stephanie Perkins
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I thought this would be a very different story than it turned out to be. Librarian Ingrid and her longtime boyfriend Cory have been together since college. Ingrid's now 29 and with her younger sister getting married, wondering why she and Cory haven't done the same. The two agree that they need to take a month-long "break" to date other people before settling down, since they never had a chance to do so before meeting one another.

But after a month, neither is ready for marriage. And while Ingrid was turned down by her co-worker, Macon, her crush on him isn't going away. So Ingrid and Cory extend their break...

This is such a slow burn romance, and I would argue it's a book about finding yourself that turns into a romance. Ingrid has spent so long with Cory that she realizes she doesn't really know herself, so before she can commit to anything, she has to learn about herself. After Macon rejects her, she does date other people, but can't help always returning to Macon. The two start up a friendship, but it oozes with the undercurrent of their tension, and they have some pretty good banter going as well.

Of the two, I certainly preferred Macon and found myself wishing we heard from his POV once in a while. He's dealing with a lot--family members with various mental illness--and I just identified with his gruff, sarcastic manner. While Ingrid presents as cheerful, she often came across as ungrateful to me. I understand that her unhappiness was somewhat the point; she's finding herself and working out what truly makes her happy, but sometimes you wanted to shake her.

It takes a while to get into this story; you certainly want the Macon and Ingrid romance to happen right away. Still, I eventually warmed up to the way the plot was going. The end made me smile, and there's a cat, which is always a plus. 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for OVERDUE on 10/07/2025!

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It just reminds us of the cost of everything we've lost: THE HITCHHIKERS.

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I've been eagerly anticipating a new Chevy Stevens novel, and THE HITCHHIKERS absolutely delivered.

Fair warning: this is a dark and violent story—very much in the vein of a Karin Slaughter stand-alone. There’s blood, brutality, and death, so if that’s not your thing, this might not be the book for you. But if you’re up for it, what you’ll find is a masterfully crafted thriller with deeply layered characters and relentless suspense.

The story kicks off with Tom and Alice, a couple traveling through Canada in their new RV, who decide to give a ride to two hitchhikers: a visibly pregnant young woman named Ocean and her boyfriend, Blue. What begins as an act of kindness quickly spirals into a nightmare. Blue and Ocean aren’t who they claim to be—they’re actually Simon and Jenny, fleeing the aftermath of a gruesome crime. Soon, Tom and Alice are taken hostage, forced into a horrifying journey where Alice becomes the unwilling driver of their getaway RV.

Despite the graphic violence, this is ultimately a character-driven novel. Stevens does a remarkable job exploring the emotional complexities of her cast. Alice’s struggles with infertility add a painful layer to her interactions with the pregnant Jenny, while Jenny and Simon’s traumatic pasts slowly come to light. The dynamics between the four become increasingly intricate, especially as Jenny begins to question Simon’s escalating violence—and what it means for her future as a mother.

Though I found a few elements of the ending slightly predictable, it didn’t take away from the overall impact. THE HITCHHIKERS is a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that hooks you from the first page and doesn’t let go. It’s a gripping blend of psychological depth and high-stakes terror that will leave you breathless—and thinking, “What would I do in their shoes?” 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE HITCHHIKERS on 10/07/2025!


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Me holding you and you holding me: NOBODY IN PARTICULAR.

Nobody in Particular by Sophie Gonzales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an enjoyable one - I mean boarding school setting + royalty + queer characters? What more do you need?

I will say this book felt long to me. There was just *a lot* going on.

Danni is headed to Bramppath College, a boarding school, thanks to her Mom's new relationship. Danni didn't have the best of luck at her old high school in Colorado, so she's not sure about moving across the globe to a new school, let alone one as elite as Bramppath. But at Bramppath, she makes friends, including Princess Rosemary of Henland. She learns her new friends are grieving from a terrible incident last year, which greatly affected Rose's public reputation. She and Rose also become extremely close--starting a relationship that they must keep secret, or face the wrath of Rose's parents and the entire nation of Henland.

I loved the premise of this story, including the importance of being yourself and coming out on your own terms. Rose has grown up realizing that she can never fully be herself and be Queen. The story does an excellent job of showing her grappling with this difficult idea. Further, there's delicious tension between Rose and Danni, which is wonderful (setting aside the fact that they are high schoolers). They are both smart, witty, strong young women who come into their own as the book progresses.

A very dark and awful event hangs over much of this book, keeping this from feeling like a total light and breezy rom-com. It also feels somewhat pushed aside in the final quarter, which is strange after it looms over so much of the story.

Still, this is a lovely story and often quite humorous, despite the serious topics. It's unabashedly queer and will make you cheer out loud at times. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.

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I've kicked myself at times because I've lied: DISCONTENT.

Discontent by Beatriz Serrano
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. Working in a corporate job myself, I was hoping to find a book that resonates with that aspect of my life. And there are definitely amazing flashes of brilliance here, with some hilarious lines that truly spoke to me.

But wow, pieces of this story are so depressing. Marisa works for an ad agency in Spain. She's fallen into the job, sticking with it since an internship. She now manages employees, but performs her job mainly by delegation and stealing work from others. When she can, she spends her workdays watching YouTube videos and escaping to museums.

Marisa has a particularly bleak outlook on life and honestly, she's an unlikable character. There's little to find redeemable about her. I get it, the book is satire and so is she, but sometimes her choices and personality made me cringe.

I enjoyed the pieces that truly related to corporate work, but some parts just felt too much and awfully depressing. 2.5 stars.

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