I know you say you've got no regrets: THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND.

The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand


Hollis Shaw's life seems perfect on the surface--a thriving food blog, a handsome surgeon husband, and a daughter in film school. But when her husband, Matthew, dies after a fight with Hollis, her perfect life is shattered. Her daughter, Caroline, blames Hollis, and their relationship is in tatters. Adrift, Hollis decides to host a "Five-Star Weekend," where she invites four friends from various decades in her lives--best friend from high school (Tatum); college (DruAnn); thirties (Brooke); and currently (Gigi). But when all the women arrive at Hollis' home in Nantucket, it's clear each has their own struggles too.

This is typical solid Hilderbrand fare. Not one of my absolute favorites but an interesting read. There are some good twists, and the characters are interesting if not particularly deep or diverse. The thing about Hilderbrand is that she has a way of weaving a story that just pulls you in. I really liked Tatum, Hollis' childhood best friend, and Tatum and Hollis' backstories were more well-done. Each women is suffering from varying types of angst, even Caroline, Hollis' daughter. The Nantucket setting was enticing, as always, making you wish you were at the beach, if perhaps not suffering from the same woes as these characters. All in all, a quick, compel.

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Cause the truth is I don't even care if you're lying: MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW.

More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the mid-1980s, Lore Rivera was married: to two men. It all went quite smoothly, until one of the men shot the other and killed him. Today, journalist Cassie Bowman reads about Lore's story. But it isn't the murder that fascinates Cassie. It's Lore herself. How did she meet and find these men? Marry them both? Keep up two, separate secret lives? Amazingly, Lore is willing to talk to Cassie. The two women grow close, and Cassie finds herself telling Lore her own secrets. But the more they share, the more Cassie realizes there's more to Lore's story than anyone knows.

"Except it turns out brick walls don't matter when the wolf lives inside."

This book is a little long, but tells a really captivating story. I had to read it in large gulps to find out what happened. It's told in back and forth fashion, alternating between present-day, with Cassie as the focal point, and the past, with Lore's point of view. We learn how she met both men, with the book (slowly) leading up to the death of one of them. Still, I absolutely had to find out what happened on that night. And even though I had an inkling, there were plenty of twists and surprises.

While this is certainly a mystery in many ways, it offers many insights into motherhood and marriage. Lore's story makes you think, and it gets into your head. There are some ancillary storylines that almost do not seem worth it (Cassie's boyfriend Duke, for instance), but overall, this is a fascinating, powerful tale.

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Throw your sticks and your stones: JULIET TAKES A BREATH.

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Juliet has spent most of her life in the Bronx. But as part of a college internship, she heads to Seattle to work with her idol, Harlowe Brisbane, an author and well-known feminist. Juliet comes out to her parents right before she leaves, with mixed results. She hopes that Seattle will help her figure out how she feels... about everything.

"I've got a secret. I think it's going to kill me. Sometimes I hope it does. How do I tell my parents that I'm gay?"

I wanted to love this book, but it took forever to get into. I'm not sure why. It's written somewhat oddly, with excerpts from Harlowe's book at the beginning of each chapter. Harlowe is a lot--sometimes almost too cringe to read about. But when the book focuses on Juliet's journey to find herself as a gay Pureto Rican, it shines. Her coming out journey is lovely and touching. While I didn't love Harlowe (the book appropriately deals with Juliet's own struggle of realizing her idol might not be perfect), I enjoyed the queer cast of characters (many of color) surrounding her.

JULIET meanders a lot and sometimes feels like it could benefit from a good edit. But the story at heart--a young girl finding her way--is a good one. 3.5 stars, rounded up here.


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She's showing you her scars, isn't she: YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT.

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Charity Curtis has a summer job working as the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake, where guests pay to experience a full immersion horror terror game based on a movie filmed at the same location. As the camp nears closing for the season, some of Charity's coworkers stop showing up for work. Annoyed by her unreliable employees, Charity and her remaining crew press on, bringing in some friends as reinforcements. But soon, someone turns up dead--and Charity realizes they are playing the game for real.

I really love a lot of Bayron's books, but this one really wasn't for me. A lot of that is on me: I'm just not a huge horror person. This book is filled with characters who love horror tropes and the rules of horror, but they freaking ignore them all and make terrible decisions. I wanted to scream at them constantly! The camp setting, by an eerie lake, is certainly effective, and there are some truly terrifying, creepy moments.

The book takes a turn though about halfway through and turns into a strange weird horror fantasy mashup. There's a ton of blood and gore, but also a very weird plot twist that just made everything odd.

The book has excellent queer rep and strong black characters, so I loved that part. I just didn't care for the strange plot change-up and how slow it felt at times. But if you like horror and fantasy (especially together), you'll enjoy this one. 3 stars.

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


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And we march towards the light: WHERE ECHOES DIE.

Where Echoes Die by Courtney Gould
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Courtney Gould can WRITE.

WHERE ECHOES DIE is a totally mesmerizing story written in Gould's gorgeous prose. I was completely drawn into the town of Backravel, Arizona-- a place where there are no cars, cemeteries, or churches. It seems like a picturesque place built among worn military structures. But Beck's mom started out writing an article on Backravel and eventually the town consumed her until her death. Now Beck and her sister Riley are spending two weeks in Backravel for a supposed vacation. But for Beck, it's so much more: she has to know why she lost her mom to Backravel.

This is an amazing fantasy tale that explores grief in deep and beautiful ways. The methods Beck uses to deal with her mom's death are not always healthy, but they are nuanced and touching. ECHOES is haunting in so many ways. Time just seems to move differently in Backravel. It's a mystical place, though not necessarily a good one. Gould uses the stark desert landscape to her advantage, creating an atmospheric story that is truly creepy and unsettling. You can feel Backravel as you read--see it, imagine the characters, sense the heat rising off the car-less streets.

The story dragged just a little for me slightly after the halfway mark. I needed Beck to be better to Riley, to communicate more, and things to move just a little faster. Otherwise, this was a great read. A wonderful spooky fantasy page-turner with a sapphic bent.

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

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But you're gonna die if you don't hit the road: YOU CAN TRUST ME.

You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Summer and Leo live a nomadic life, traveling around California while living in her Land Cruiser. They have no home base and fund their lifestyle through their cons and literally picking the pockets of others. When the tech billionaire Michael Forrester likes one of Leo's Instagram posts, they think they've found their next mark. Leo goes on a date with Michael and comes back convinced they can make money off of him. But when Michael takes Leo to his private island, she disappears. Summer goes searching for her friend, but Michael and his staff claim they haven't seen her. Can she find Leo?

This is a perfectly fine book; there's nothing wrong with a 3-star rating. I found it good but not great. I felt I never really knew Summer or Leo and just didn't care that much about them, nor Michael's motivations. We learn bits and pieces about the women's lives and why they have no desire to settle down: Summer's mom was a nomad herself, forcing the lifestyle on her daughter, while Leo's sister was killed in an accident, breaking up their family and causing Leo to want to get away from her devastated parents. Beyond that, though, the women seem shallow and it's sometimes hard to root for people so thoroughly dedicated to robbing and destroying other's lives.

Michael's weird island compound offers an atmospheric (read: creepy) setting, and this is a fast read. There are certainly some twists, even if some felt a bit telegraphed from afar. If you're looking for a quick page-turner, you'll enjoy YOU CAN TRUST ME. 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for YOU CAN TRUST ME on 6/13/2023!!



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Dark and dangerous like a secret: THE DROWNING WOMAN.

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

When Lee's restaurant goes out of business during the pandemic, she suddenly finds herself homeless and living in her car. While parking it by the beach, she spots a drowning woman in the water. But when Lee gets Hazel out of the water, she finds that Hazel is irate at being rescued. She tells Lee she was trying to escape her life and her abusive husband. However, the two become close, sharing details about their lives. Eventually, Hazel asks Lee to help her flee from her husband once and for all.

But this is a Robyn Harding book, so nothing is that simple! This was such a page-turner--I stayed up late to finish it, because I *had* to know what happened!! It was totally addictive! DROWNING is filled with a tangled web of relationships and secrets. It's honestly best to just go in blind and enjoy the ride. Everyone is running, hiding, and keeping something from someone else. Told from the back and forth perspective of Lee and Hazel, it keeps you guessing from the very beginning. DROWNING is an excellent dark, deep, and twisted read. 4.25 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for it on 6/13/2023!!


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And the first thing on my mind when I arise: GOING BICOASTAL.

Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 4+ of 5 stars

Natalya Fox has a big choice to make: stay home in New York City for the summer, with her mathematician professor dad and familiar group of friends, or go to LA to stay with her pretty much estranged mom and intern at her mom's company. Natalya is scared of change, but she knows she should fix things with her mom. Unable to decide, her story plays out SLIDING DOORS style: alternating chapters show us her life in NYC and then in LA.

This is an amazing story with tons of bisexual and Jewish rep -- it so awesome to see this book out in the world! It totally cements that I'll read anything Dahlia Adler will write. Once you get into the two timelines, the story flows nearly effortlessly. We see Natalya in LA with her mom, where she meets Adam, a fellow intern struggling to get by. Or she's in NY with her dad, her group of friends, and Elly--the redheaded girl she's long lusted after. Both Adam and Elly are excellent love interests, so we really get two romances in one. Both timelines allow us to see sweet Natalya finding her way and exploring her Jewish identity.

While the two timelines idea could be gimmicky, it's really cute overall and works well here. I loved the Jewish and bisexual representation. This is a fast read with a wonderful cast that will make you smile. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for GOING BICOASTAL on 6/13/2023!!

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Nobody wants to get to the heart of this town: THE LONG WAY BACK.

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

Charlie and Eva hit unexpected Instagram fame with a photo of teenage Eva by a waterfall. Their newfound fame allows them to hit the road for over two years in their Airstream trailer, spending all their time together. But now they are back in Charlie's Minnesota hometown, where Eva is attending her senior year of high school. Charlie dreams of one last trip before Eva heads off to college, but Eva is ready for stability. Then everything changes when Eva disappears while the two are boating. Suddenly, it seems their Instagram fans and the police suspect Charlie of hurting her own daughter...

This was a great read--beautifully written, suspenseful, and a total page-turner! Baart does a wonderful job exploring motherhood and parenthood alongside the mystery of what happened to Eva. Charlie struggles with returning home--she's famous not only for her Instagram and traveling with Eva, but for being the daughter of the town drunk in small town. She holds so much baggage from her past and clings to the idea that traveling on the road with Eva will keep her close and prevent her from having secrets.

But, wow, secrets abound in LONG! There are some amazing twists in this book! While so much of the story focuses on the potential benefits and dangers of social media (are you exposing your child while traveling around, or putting your adventures on social media, or giving her memorable adventures that she couldn't find elsewhere), there are other dark turns too--and it's best to go in blind.

Told from both Charlie and Eva's point of view, THE LONG WAY BACK shows a mother struggling to let her daughter go and a daughter itching to be set free. It delves deeply into familial relationships of all types and the power of social media in our divisive world. It keeps you reading with its immersive tale and beautiful prose. It presents a fascinating mystery along with a thoughtful story. 4.25 stars (rounded up).

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE LONG WAY BACK on 6/13/2023!!


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I can see you light a match: EVERYBODY KNOWS.

Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Mae Pruett is a publicist for a LA PR firm--her job isn't to celebrate good news, but keep bad news from getting out for her famous, wealthy, and powerful clients. When her boss, Dan, tells Mae he wants to bring her in on an exciting and secretive side project, she's intrigued. But then Dan is murdered shortly before a meeting. As Mae tries to figure out what happened, she gets entangled in the web of what she calls "The Beast," a group of lawyers, security firms, and PR folks who protect the rich and famous. Can she face The Beast and come out alive?

I read this book based solely on the recommendation of Michael Connelly, whose advice I usually love. And, honestly, this is a well-written and fascinating story, but it confused the absolute heck out of me half the time. I will freely admit it: I was not smart enough for this book. Figuring out who was after who in the labyrinth of The Beast took almost too much energy than I wanted to use when reading for pleasure. That doesn't make this book terrible in any way--it just means it wasn't the best fit for me!

EVERYBODY focuses on the selling of secrets and keeping secrets and the conglomerate of the Beast. There are very few likable characters in this story, filled with Hollywood moguls sleeping with young girls and the abuse and murder of homeless people. My favorite part was Mae's relationship with Chris, a former police offer whom she teams up with to tackle The Beast. Chris seems a bit more human than everyone else, even with his background of brutality and current use of brute force.

This book is complicated and often very gruesome. It is a dark story that features a greater and deeper message about society and its obsession with power. It's certainly intriguing, but I was disappointed by its vague and unfulfilling ending. 3.5 stars.


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At times I feel myself smiling: CHARM CITY ROCKS.

Charm City Rocks by Matthew Norman
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Billy Perkins is known for being a happy guy. He teaches piano lessons in his apartment above Charm City Rocks, an independent record store. And he has his son teenage son, Caleb, whom he shares amicably with his ex-wife, Robyn. It's Caleb who orchestrates a meeting with Margot Hammer, Billy's long-time celebrity crush and drummer of the defunct band, Burnt Flowers. Burnt Flowers crashed and burned spectacularly in public fashion, and Margot's been dubbed a recluse ever since. Neither Billy nor Margot have any intention of meeting let alone becoming a couple, but when they become Internet-famous, they realize they may actually like each other (for real). Can this surprise couple last though?

Okay, CHARM CITY ROCKS is completely and thoroughly charming. It may even rock. This sweet and funny book is an ode to the power of music in our lives, the city of Baltimore, and to finding love and happiness again when you're 40+. I fell head over heels for Billy and Margot (and Caleb) and the entire cast of characters of this adorable romance.

It's so refreshing to read a romance with characters beyond their 20s, who have age-appropriate problems, even if one of them happens to be a rock-star! Billy and Margot were relatable characters, and the supporting cast was funny and rounded out the book perfectly. Norman weaves in music superbly, and if you love it in any form, you'll gravitate to this story. Also, if you've ever lived in Baltimore or know the city at all, CHARM captures the city's spirit so well. Beyond love, this is a tale of family, finding yourself again, and being brave. It truly had me smiling goofily as I read it -- cannot recommend enough! 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for CHARM CITY ROCKS on 06/06/2023!

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