Time that you notice the girl next door: JOY MOODY IS OUT OF TIME.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Be prepared, this is a quirky and sometimes weird story, but it's truly quite touching.

Twins Joy and Cassie grew up believing they were from the future. Isolated, with most of their life occurring at the family's laundromat, they know little about the real world. So when their mom, Joy, dies shortly after their 21st birthday--right after the twins realize they aren't returning to the future as promised, their lives are turned upside down.

This book has such a fun cast of characters, despite mainly taking place at the laundromat -- we meet the three other business owners who share the laundromat's building -- and each play such an important role in the story. My favorite was Monty, the locksmith who was madly in love with Joy. Each character bounces off the pages, pulling you into the strange world of Joy Moody and her children.

This is a lovely story, touching on the importance of found family, and delving deeply into the powerful bonds of motherhood and what you would do for those you love. While not a conventional read, it's a poignant, well-written one.

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

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If we'd known ten years ago today would be ten years from now: GONE IN THE NIGHT.

Gone in the Night by Joanna Schaffhausen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another excellent mystery from Schaffhausen, as always.

In book #5 featuring Detective (now PI) Annalisa Vega, we have incredibly well-developed characters and an excellent plot that ties disparate threads together so well while still keeping you guessing until the end. By now, Annalisa and Nick are married (again) and expecting their first child. Annalisa takes on a new case, a client recommended by her brother (who is in jail, as is her new client). But the new case drudges up an old one Nick worked as a cop. Joe claims he's in jail for something he did not do; Annalisa agrees, but soon realizes the situation is far more complicated than it seems.

While investigating on Joe's behalf, Annalisa meets the crew at Ruby's Place, a shelter for abused women. Did Joe abuse his wife? How about his first wife, Jessica? Schaffhausen does an excellent job tying together intricate plot pieces about Joe's life, Nick's past investigation, and Annalisa's current case, giving us an intense and moving story of spousal abuse and family ties (and, of course, murder). We also get to see Nick and Annalisa emotions, as they feel forced to compete against one another, with Annalisa's investigation into Nick's old cases not exactly helping the couple's relationship.

This is a great mystery, and it gives us more insight into Annalisa and Nick as well. Such a good series.

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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So I laid in broken pieces on the floor: THE LOCKED WARD.

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those crazy page turners that kept me flipping the pages like mad. This reads like a soap opera. There's not always logic here, but it's exciting!

Georgia is in a mental ward, suspecting of killing her adopted sister. Her wealthy family is now shunning her. With no one else to turn to, Georgia reaches out to her birth twin, Mandy, to get her name cleared. Only problem? Mandy has no idea Georgia exists.

Pekkanen alternates the POV between Georgia and Mandy, as Georgia pulls Mandy into her web and forces her to investigate on her behalf. Along the way, we get drama with rich families, ambitious senators, suspicious ward patients, and angry grudges and secrets. It's all a bit histrionic and crazy, but it makes for a compelling and wild tale that dips into sisterhood and family ties.

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

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And I had to break your heart to make you see: NO BODY NO CRIME.

No Body No Crime: A Novel by Tess Sharpe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The lesbian crime thriller we all need in our lives.

At Chloe's sweet sixteen party, she and Mel kill a boy. The ramifications extend far beyond what the two could have ever imagined, and two years later, Chloe disappears. Mel becomes a Private Investigator (PI) and with the help of her mentor, tracks her down.

This is a wild tale filled with crooked politicians, drug dealers, and secrets piled on top of lies. But there's also the intense love between Chloe and Mel, paired with simmering tension and chemistry. Nothing like lesbian longing that endures gun fights and years apart!

The duo's story is told with sarcasm and humor, giving us a quick-moving page-turner that's part love story and part crime thriller. There are plenty of surprise twists to keep you guessing, with intense suspense and heightened emotions. This is a very enjoyable read! 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Farrar, Straus and Giroux/MCD and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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Everything you do, you do just right: THE FINE PRINT.

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the #bookstagram community; thanks to them, I stumbled across this book. This was such a fun read.

Is it cheesy? Sure. But it's an adorable and moving story, too.

Also I had no idea that "Dreamland" references a theme park and conglomerate similar to Disney. Being a huge Disney fan, I loved all the inside jokes and fun allusions to the park.

Rowan's grandfather started Dreamland. With his death, his will dictates that Rowan and his two brothers must complete certain tasks to earn their shares of the billion-dollar company. For Rowan, he must serve as Dreamland director for six months and come up with plans to rejuvenate and improve the park.

Enter Zahra, who works at a boutique in Dreamland, but dreams of becoming a Creator. When Rowan learns of her ideas to revitalize rides and park lands, he recruits her, but he's quickly interested in more than her brain.

The story plays up the vulnerable, grumpy guy trope, while Zahra is the quintessential tough girl hiding a hurt heart. Zahra and Rowan absolutely ooze tension (and about a million HR violations!). But there's a tenderness to their story that makes it irresistible. I really enjoyed their fairy tale romance.

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In silence, my darkness is denied: THE FUTURE SAINTS.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It seems as if books about bands are a dime a dozen lately, but Winstead's latest offers a unique twist on the premise.

When we first meet The Future Saints, they are in fairly bad shape, overdue on an album owed to their label and giving drunken concerts. Their label, Manifest, sends in the "Fixer," Theo, to try to get the band back on track--and record their long overdue album (before dropping them).
Soon some performances go viral, as does their new sound--a darker type of rock influenced by the death of their manager, Ginny, who was also the sister of their lead singer, Hannah.

Theo quickly finds himself caught up in the lives of the band. He realizes how talented Hannah and her bandmates are, despite the self-destructive bent. Hannah's drowning in grief over Ginny's death, resulting in amazing music but intense pressure on the band.

The resulting story is raw and an intense look at the power of sisterhood and friendship. It explores the debilitating effects of grief without pulling any punches. Theo and Hannah grow closer, but the specter of Ginny's death hovers over everyone and every decision. How do you move on after losing someone so dear to you--and at what point do you move on when someone you love is not willing to help themselves? The book asks these hard questions and many more. It's unflinching yet tender and while the characters can sometimes be frustrating, it's a good read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE FUTURE SAINTS on 01/20/2026!

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The wind blows where it will: ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent page-turner that keeps you guessing!

We have Camille, a wealthy woman married to a well-known lawyer, Ben. And we have Aubrey, a waitress whose life was drastically changed by an accident over ten years ago. Camille and Aubrey's lives are about to intersect--and Ben's is about to end. My favorite character was easily Hank, Ben's law partner. We get narrations from Hank, Aubrey, and Camille.

It's good to go into this book blind and just enjoy it. Sure it's wild with a slightly preposterous plot, but it's twisty and dark and a really good read, too.

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

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