I've been needing something good: THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER.

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Naomi is shocked by the reception she receives when she walks into a diner in Knockemout, Virginia, until she realizes that everyone there believes she's her troubled twin sister, Tina. Shortly after, Tina disappears with Naomi's car and all her cash. She leaves behind only one thing: her daughter, Waylay, age 11, whom Naomi had no idea existed. Broke and stuck in a small town where everyone hates her, Naomi has to figure out how to take care of herself and Waylay. Enter Knox: he's loved in Knockemout, but has a bad boy reputation for a reason. Still Knox can't help but feel drawn to Naomi and Waylay--with a plan to help them out so his calm life can go back to normal.

I picked up this book during a tough time when I needed a distraction from life. Sure, it's a little cheesy and silly, but I really enjoyed it. It is the perfect escape read, and I'm a total sucker for books with kids involved (Waylay is awesome). OVER offers good characters, such as Knox's brother and grandmother, and Naomi's best friend, and a humorous small town setting. Everyone is in everyone's business, and I appreciated the appearance of gay and bisexual characters (who went beyond the token throw-in). It's quite easy to fall for Naomi and Knox--while they have their hang-ups (wouldn't be a romance without them, right?), they are sweet characters and easy to root for. I also empathized with a lot of Naomi's personality traits.

While there's plenty of sexiness and lust in OVER, there's a lot of truth and love hidden here too. There's a bit of a mystery as we try to track down Tina. It has a great message about loving even when you could get hurt, looking after your own, and the power of family and found family. It tosses in some great parenting gems and covers serious issues like domestic abuse. A really enjoyable read! 4 stars.


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But your want-me-back eyes, get-me-back smile: HAPPY PLACE.

Happy Place by Emily Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Harriet is headed back to her favorite place in the world, a Maine cottage belonging to her college friend Sabrina. She's spent over a decade returning to this beloved place with her college pals. But now she's back at the cottage with her fiance, Wyn. Sounds great, right? The only problem... Wyn and Harriet broke up six months ago--and haven't told their best friends yet.

I have loved many Emily Henry books and while I liked pieces of this one, it was not my favorite. Sacrilege, I know! I did not care for present-day Wyn or Harriet much at all. Honestly I did not like most of the characters. It seemed like Henry dropped in our token lesbians, Cleo and Kimmie, who were the only sane ones. How did these people last so long as friends? All they did was drink, fight, and not communicate with one another. Basically all the issues in the book could have been avoided if they just talked! And Harriet--all she did was whine, whine, whine. I wanted to shake some sense into her.

Our story is told in present-day sections and then flips to the past, as Harriet and Wyn meet and fall in love. I enjoyed those pieces and always felt annoyed when we came back to the bickering present. Sure, there were sexy moments and the lingering wanting between Harriet and Wyn was beautifully tense at times, but mostly they were frustrating.

I wanted Kimmie and Cleo to leave the rest of these folks in the dust and head back to their lovely farm. Still, there were sections of the book I liked, so 2.5 stars, rounded to 3 here.


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Love finds itself right where it longs to be: THE LAST REMAINS

The Last Remains by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

The 15th--and supposedly final book--in Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series is basically perfect in every way. I say it in every review of these books, but I find these characters completely beloved, with their own unique expressions and personalities. (I can just picture DCI Nelson exclaiming, "Jesus wept!") We've grown along with Ruth, Nelson, their daughter Kate, Nelson's team, Ruth's druid friend Cathbad, and so many more near and dear characters.

"She feels that she has been fighting things - Covid, the university, her own feelings - for too long."

Things come full circle in REMAINS, with mentions of cases from previous books, along with historical sites Nelson and Ruth have visited (read: been trapped at and/or found someone murdered at) before. It seems like one giant Easter egg for readers, and it's wonderful. We find Ruth at a crossroads, with her university department being shut down. A body is found in a nearby cafe, and when she's called in to excavate, the bones are recent, so she and Nelson must work together once again. The young woman's remains are identified as Emily Pickering, who disappeared in 2002. And we soon learn she knew Cathbad, who is still reeling from having Covid.

The mystery of Emily's murder--and how she was walled up in a cafe--keeps you guessing. It pulls in Cathbad and his partner Judy. Reading about these familiar and loved characters makes me feel so happy and content. And, of course, I love Nelson and Ruth and their attempts to figure out their own complicated relationship. REMAINS is nuanced and detailed--dark at times, but humorous at others (oh Nelson). Its ending was just perfect, and I cried at the end (and again when I read Griffiths note about her dear late cat, Gus). I adore this series and cannot recommend it enough!

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I am small and the world is big: WATCHING FROM THE DARK.

Watching from the Dark by Gytha Lodge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Aidan Poole logs onto Skype to chat with his girlfriend Zoe, he witnesses a horrible incident--Zoe being attacked just out of frame. Terrified that she's dead, Aidan tries to reach her without success. But, for some reason, Aidan is reluctant to reach out directly to the police. When DCI Jonah Sheens finally gets Zoe's case, he discovers the dead body of the vibrant young artist. Zoe was beloved by her group of friends. So why was she killed--and why didn't Aidan want to contact the police?

This was a good one! Told in a back and forth storyline, jumping between the present-day investigation of Zoe's murder and the past, starting with Zoe meeting Aidan at a wedding and falling for him, WATCHING FROM THE DARK is an exciting thriller! I loved that it kept me guessing with its full slate of suspects (Zoe has a lot of friends and acquaintances). I am a total sucker for British police novels--if there's a DCI or DI, I'm totally in. I've read the first book in the series but cannot really remember it, but I quite enjoyed seeing DCI Jonah Sheens and his team again.

Lodge does an excellent job delving into the nuances of all the characters--both Sheens' team and all those suspected in Zoe's murder. We learn a lot about Zoe via the past excerpts, so our victim comes alive, creating empathy and pushing forward the desire to solve the crime. I also loved the concept of someone both witnessing a crime via Zoom and also being a suspect for said murder. Overall, this is a quick-moving mystery filled with a slate of mysterious suspects. 4 stars.


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Make me remember who I am: THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND OF FRICK ISLAND.

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anders has big dreams of being a famous journalist. Instead, he's tasked to cover a boring Cake Walk in the tiny town of Frick Island, which has only 91 residents. While visiting, he starts to think there is more to Frick Island than meets the eye, as the little island--so resistant to change--will soon be lost to climate change. Drawn to Frick Island, Anders returns over and over, especially captivated by one resident, Piper Parrish. He soon learns that Piper lost her husband Tom in a boat accident. Devastated by the loss, Piper continues to act as if Tom is still with her, talking to him and eating lunch with him at the local diner. Even more wild? The whole town is pretending he is still alive to placate her. Fascinated by the situation, Anders starts a podcast about Frick Island and Piper, but cannot seem to tell Piper or the town as it gains a life of its own.

INVISIBLE was quite hyped around the book community. It was a bit slow to warm up, but was good once it did. I never fully liked Piper, but adored sweet awkward Anders. Still, I found myself frustrated that he would not come clean about Piper being the subject of his podcast. (The island, conveniently, does not receive reliable Internet for most of the novel.)

Oakley's writing is lovely and the characters of this little island pop before your eyes. The cast is full of charming and quirky folks. Still, this is a story of grief and it's often quite sad. The end result is a thoughtful and beautiful tale.




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Someone said kiss her and so you did: YOURS TRULY.

Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

Dr. Briana Ortiz is miserable. Her divorce from her cheating husband is just about to be finalized. She's living in her childhood home with her sick brother, Benny, who desperately needs a kidney donor just to stay alive. And the promotion she was just about guaranteed? It looks like she has competition from the new doctor, Jacob Maddox, who seems to be taking over her hospital.

"This year was going to be my villain origin story, I just knew it." ~Briana

As always, Abby Jimenez delivers a charming love story. Just when Briana thinks she cannot stand Jacob, he writes her an amazing letter. The two grow close and he even donates a kidney to Benny. In turn, she agrees to "fake date" him to prove that he's over the fact that his brother is dating his ex-girlfriend (not complicated at all, right)? I loved this book, though PART OF YOUR WORLD was just a tad better for me. TRULY dragged a bit with the miscommunication between Jacob and Briana; a few times, I wanted to shake her for being unable to talk to him and not trusting the world's best guy due to her past.

Because, seriously, Jacob was a dream. He is kind, loving, attentive, and sweet. He has anxiety, which was portrayed incredibly well and very realistically. Briana's inability to trust, though--oh my gosh. Just let this man love you! So, yes, our rocky road to HEA was a bit much sometimes. This meant it didn't always feel as witty as some other Jimenez books, though there are some moments with road kill (yup) that were pretty awesome. And Jacob's wonderfully crazy family. Plus we had some great cameos from Alexis and Daniel from WORLD! There's plenty of serious times here too, especially with Benny's illness and Jacob's anxiety. The ending to this one is excellent. 4.25 stars.



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Some people get religion some people get the truth: HUSBAND MATERIAL.

Husband Material by Alexis Hall
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Book two in the London Calling series picks up with Oliver and Luc happily together... but is there such a thing as too happily? Luc is struggling with settling down in a life of calm domestic bliss, while Oliver must deal with the fact that his conservative parents still do not approve of their relationship. Are they truly meant to be?

"This made no sense. I was happier than I had ever been in my life. So why did I feel like I was failing?"

I really enjoyed this one! I was sold at Four Weddings and a Funeral, queer style. MATERIAL is an excellent blend of witty and serious. I forgot how much I loved the mix of Luc's humor and Oliver's dry wit--their group of friends is often just plain crazy and outright batty, but Hall makes it work. In fact, what leads to the book's success is the tenderness and emotional depth of Luc and Oliver's relationship. Their story focuses not only on their love but the religious elements of marriage and their role and place in the gay community. Oliver and Luc come at this place from very different spectrums, and Oliver's parents certainly do not help. The emotions Oliver experiences as he grapples with his homophobic parents are portrayed so touchingly and realistically--Hall does this portion so beautifully.

MATERIAL gives us a great look at the ups and downs of relationships. What I love is that the book treats Luc and Oliver just like any couple (straight or gay) while also exploring queer-specific topics, looking at the subjects beyond the hetero-normative lens.

The social commentary along with the sweet romance and story is great here. This is such a charming, witty, and fun tale about a wonderful couple. I know the entire book led up to justifying the ending, but I didn't fully love it, which is the only reason my rating isn't even higher. Still, 4+ stars.

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Searching the darkness for something: OUT OF THE ASHES.

Out of the Ashes by Kara Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As a teen, Samantha Newsom's uncle Scott is pulled over by a cop in August 2021 and beat up. A month later, Sam's entire family is murdered: her uncle, dad, mom, and baby sister, Lyndsay. Over twenty years later, Sam returns to her hometown of Carney. While there, an investigator tells her a prison snitch has proffered up some new information about the night of the murder, and there's a chance Lyndsay may be alive.

So this book shouldn't have been so good. It's total trope city: a woman with a messed up past and dead family from a small town filled with secrets comes back and then starts her own misguided investigation. And, of course, she's drinking more than she should. Why with the investigations that only lead to certain trouble, why? I wanted to yell at Sam to just get out of Carney and never come back!

Yet this is an addictive read with a complex and tortured main character desperate to figure out the truth about her past. Sam has more than her share of survivor's guilt, but also plenty of secrets. Thomas weaves a twisty read that keeps you guessing, especially as Sam jumps from place to place searching for the truth. I wanted to wring her neck as she made a string of horrible choices, but she was a surprisingly strong character nonetheless. ASHES has that perfect small town feel, illustrating how trapping a corrupt and dying town can feel. There are corrupt cops, drugs, messed up families, horrible friendships, and so much more.

Overall, this is an addictive read that follows a lot of different paths. 4 stars.

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

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Hell, there's hell everywhere I go: THE POWER OF THE DOG.

The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In book one of the Power of the Dog series, we meet Art Keller, a focused DEA agent fighting the war on drugs in the United States and Mexico. He goes up against Adan Barrera and his brother, who become kingpins in the war. As part of Art's journey, he comes across Nora, a beautiful prostitute; Father Parada, an honorable priest; and Callan, an Irish kid from New York who becomes a hired killer.

THE POWER OF THE DOG is typical Winslow: long, sometimes confusing, and wonderfully written. It's sweeping and terrifying for its realism--based very much on real life, it covers years of the drug war, jumping from the U.S. to Mexico and back again. Despite its length, it's so easy to get caught up in the drama, especially as Winslow tells the story in his usual format. Said format is short snippets featuring a few of our key players over a stretch of time, meaning we hear from Art, Nora, Adan, Father Parada, Callan, and more. So many different people in so many different phases of their lives. The way their lives come together is expertly done.

DOG is sometimes a bit confusing, with a lot of names, dates, and places to keep track of. But it's amazingly compelling and so well-researched. It's a dark and fascinating read. 4 stars.

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And bring us back together when the day is done: THE DARLINGS.

The Darlings by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Darling family gathers for youngest daughter Sydney's wedding, but receive the shock of their lives when reticent matriarch Tish Darling shows up and gifts Sydney the deed to Riptide, the family's beloved Cape Cod family home. She also reveals a horrible secret that will devastate the entire family, including her son, Charley; daughter-in-law Cora; and their elder twins, Andi and Hugh.

I love Hannah McKinnon's books so much; they are such an enjoyable escape. THE DARLINGS is a great family saga about past secrets and what happiness really means. McKinnon always excels at delving into her characters, showing us various POVs and their motivations. So many Darlings are doing what they feel is right--even if they may appear awful at times. I loved how we learned about Tish's past and how all her choices cascaded from so many early events. The relationships here are tangled and intertwined, but nuanced.

It seems like the trope of an elderly woman returning to her beach home to remember her past life or loves is done often (alas, didn't seem to happen with my family!). There is only so much that can be done with such a story, but I still found this tale quite engaging. Does it tread a lot of new ground? Perhaps not, but it's moving and interesting, with a lovely beach setting. It did end a little abruptly though--I would not mind seeing the Darlings again sometime. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 here.

I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE DARLINGS on 05/02/2023!

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