I'm on my way to your house, guided by the stars: IN HER SPOTLIGHT.

In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tess Gardner is a well-known actress, most famous for a Marvel-type role entitled Princess Platinum. She's famous but also held to a pretty high standard--and has to hold to pre-existing expectations. Ready to prove her acting chops, she get a theatric role, but a #MeToo scandals forces out her famous director. The replacement, Rebecca, just happens to be the same Rebecca whose heart Tess broke years ago at theater camp, since Tess was unwilling to admit her sexuality to herself, or Rebecca.

I love this series, though this book was a bit slower than the others. It wasn't quite as fun, with no big queer group of friends, and Tess was certainly hard to like. She's especially mean to her best friend, taking her for granted. And she lives up to her actress name, acting as if the world revolves her. (I could go without hearing the phrase "Professional Actress Tess Gardner" ever again.)

Eventually Tess' redemption arc makes it a bit easier to warm up to her--and the book. She's deeply closeted and hiding who she is: that's never easy. I found this more a coming out story than a true romance. The chemistry between Tess and Rebecca is a slow burn, without some of the wit and charm in other Spalding books. When the story focuses on Rebecca's exploration of her sexuality, it's nuanced and well-done.

We do get to see Max and Sadie (from the other books in this series) and a bit of Ari--that was fun, and I wish there was more of them. Over time, I warmed up to Tess' cast for the play and they were some strong foils for her. Overall, this story builds, culminating in a good ending.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in return for an unbiased review.

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Same things keeping us together are the very ones making it hard: MEET THE NEWMANS.

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this is an interesting one. The Newman family--dad Del, mom Dinah, and sons Guy and Shep--are a real family. But they also appear on TV every week, playing themselves, as the perfect family.

Behind the scenes, things aren't so perfect. Del rules over the family with an iron fist, Dinah feels lost and numb, Guy is hiding his love life, and Shep may be going off the rails. Around them, the show's ratings are tanking and sponsors are running for the hills.

When Del is in a car accident that puts him a coma, Dinah snaps in action. She starts courting new sponsors and hires reporter Juliet Dunne to help her write the show's final episode.

At times, this story makes amazing points about feminism, women's rights, and more. At other points, it just seems like a group of people bickering about silly things. Juliet and Dinah, for instance--an unlikely pair who constantly fight and then reunite--often have a very annoying relationship.

My favorite was easily Guy, the beleaguered older brother who finally gets a chance to shine--both romantically and professionally--without his father around.

As Dinah steps up with Del (literally) out of commission, she starts to realize how imbalanced the world is, with power tipping all toward men. She and Juliet both see women being ignored and lost behind their male counterparts.

Even though the story takes place in the mid-1960s, the scary part is how Juliet and Dinah's story resonates now. Juliet wakes Dinah up to women's terrifying inability to have control over their own bodies, for instance being unable to buy the pill or condoms (without a husband's consent, or at all, if single), or get an abortion. We've come so far, you think, and then wonder... are we going back?

This ode to TV, family, and love is a different sort of read--funny at times, serious at others. It makes you laugh and think.


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My stride is slowed by memory but not innocent: MAD MABEL.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh, MAD MABEL is just excellent--an utterly captivating read.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is in her 80s and lives a quiet life on her street, where her main duty is keeping an eye on the business of her neighbors. But when a turn of events reveals to said neighbors that Elsie is the infamous Mad Mabel, well known as Australia's youngest murderer, things take a turn.

This is such a compelling read, part-thriller and part-character-driven tale. Elsie is an intriguing, complicated, and wonderfully written character, who draws you into her story immediately. A close second is young Persephone, a child who lives near Elsie.

The story is nearly impossible to put down, especially with its then-and-now format, alternating between the present-day and Elsie's memories of her life.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read in some time, featuring a fascinating protagonist and a narrative style like no other.

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

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And for making me smile when things at home weren't great: GIRL NEXT DOOR.

Girl Next Door: A Hilarious Sapphic Rom-Com Brimming with Secrets, Yearning, and Heart by Rachel Meredith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute romantic comedy about MC, a freelance writer, whose best friend, Joe, encourages her to write an article about the current "It" book floating around, Girl Next Door. Why, you ask? Because Joe is convinced that the book's anonymous author is MC's old neighbor and the love interest is based on... MC. Joe, a writer at a popular publication, wants MC to reveal the author, Nora, to save his job.

If you are okay with this somewhat skeevy premise, the rest of the book is fine. Joe is a pretty awful friend, and MC has pretty much no ability to stand up for herself in any fashion! Sure, I'll return home and live with my brother and his wife and stalk Nora for you, Joe! I think I like Nora, but I'll risk ruining her life--and therefore mine--for you, Joe!

Nora and MC's "romance" (I wouldn't call it a romance, more of an awkward dance around one another) is sweet and can be funny. MC's family plays a pretty big role in the book--her brother is the local principal and he's married to MC's first crush, Gabby (seriously). It's often more a character and family study than a romance.

Overall, I think I might have enjoyed the book Nora supposedly wrote more than this one. Lots of secrets and bad decisions, but it's still witty.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harper Perennial in return for an unbiased review.

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And brought me back from being too far gone: BARBED WIRE HEART.

Barbed Wire Heart by Tess Sharpe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow, what a brutal, violent story--but one that will completely capture your attention.

Harley McKenna has been raised by her crime boss, backwoods drug dealer dad, Duke McKenna, since the death of her mom. He's isolated her and kept her tough and hard, just like daddy, to take over his businesses (meth, running guns, etc.) one day. No one messes with Duke McKenna, or his baby girl.

The McKennas have always warred with the Springfields. Carl Springfield murdered Harley's mom, changing the entire path of her life. Now that she's coming of age, it seems like they are coming for Harley too. Harley feels like she only has one option: to (literally) burn down everything her father has built to make her world (and the town) safe again.

Sharpe tells Harley's story in a very effective "now and then" format, but it also sometimes made me want to scream, because I needed to know what was happening now... NOW!

This is a violent story, filled with plenty of killing and abuse. There's a side story about the Rubies, a group of women who Harley tries to protect from domestic abuse. Sharpe does an excellent job of illustrating how women can be attacked, yes, but also how they are often underestimated and overlooked, leading them to overtake men.

Overall, this story runs a bit long, but I still found it incredibly compelling (and dark). I listened to part of it via audio while driving to another state for work, but wouldn't recommend it--the audio is nothing special and it's hard to differentiate amongst the characters.


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Tell me bout how you've been waiting so patiently: SUMMER OFFICIAL.

Summer Official by Rebekah Weatherspoon


Well, first of all, this book features one of my favorite lines ever:

"I never regret a cake run. If you're queer, you deserve cake. I feel like that should be a rule..."

I would get this on a t-shirt if I could. Hard agree.

Overall, this is a lovely YA lesbian romance. Sporty Saylor breaks her arm at basketball camp, dooming her to a summer spent with her influencer mom who dominates her life. She turns to Heaven, an acquaintance; through their parents Saylor knows that Heaven's father has created a summer bingo challenge to entertain her (and force her out of her shell). Saylor wants in to avoid her mother. Anxious, artistic Heaven isn't so sure about having a "plus one," until Saylor agrees to help Heaven with the social media required in her quest to be a tattoo artist.

What I loved about this story is that it truly evokes the longing, yearning, and excitement that comes with your first youthful teenage (queer) romance. Truly, this story took me back. It also captures the fear that accompanies falling for the first time, too.

The bigger issue here is Saylor's awful mom, who is pretty horrible with her influencer lifestyle, even using Saylor's coming out by posting about it. Her actions keep Saylor from wanting to truly to commit to anything or anyone. I really felt for this kid!

Perhaps my only hesitation here is that the story wraps up a little too easily (thank goodness Heaven has good parents), but I'll grant that it's a teen romance: we deserve a HEA! I also wish I'd realized there was a first book in this series, featuring some oft mentioned friends, as it would have provided a little context, even though this can definitely stand-alone.

Still, this is a great YA story and a truly thoughtful lesbian romance!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group / G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers in return for an unbiased review.

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Everything's tougher than it has to be: BOTH THINGS ARE TRUE.

Both Things Are True by Kathleen Barber
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Vanessa is happy as a yoga influencer (apparently those exist), but feels unsure about her future with her cryptocurrency fiancé. But any happiness and her romantic future ends when her fiancé and his company is involved in major, headline-drawing fraud. He flees the country, leaving her reputation in shatters too.

I have to admit it felt like time was going backwards reading this book. The more I read, the more it felt like was left. It never ended. Vanessa is a rather insufferable main character. She's the absolute worst communicator, with no ability to be a grownup in anyway. Ha, I'm always late, ha, I run on my bad knee and wonder why it doesn't heal, ha I sit around and cry to my sister, who has her own problems... it was endless. There's also much yoga talk. Just too much.

At the same time, nothing happens, just the occasional teasing encounter with Sam, her old boyfriend (technically ex-husband, the two married in Vegas and then hastily split). Sam now magically lives in her building, but has his life together, and is about to launch his own company. Association with Vanessa could taint his company's debut forever, so Sam is hesitant about reuniting. (I would have run too, Sam. I liked Sam. Poor Sam.)

Vanessa turns things around, of course, but by then, it's pretty hard to care about her. There's also very little explanation or follow-up about once major plot points, such as what happens with the fiancé and his fraud.

Overall, this was not a winner for me. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

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