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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Noticing isn't what makes it so: THE SANDY PAGE BOOKSHOP.

The Sandy Page Bookshop by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I can count on Hannah McKinnon to pull me into an engaging story.

Here she takes a fairly routine plot – a woman loses her job and simultaneously sees her engagement end and therefore escapes to the beach – and brings a fun and heartfelt twist.

Reeling from the changes in her life, Leah leaves Boston for some time at her father’s beach cottage. Instead of wallowing (more power to her!), she starts a bookstore inside a vacant historical building. (Seriously, this is one determined woman.) The bookstore brings together a wide range of people. We have the anxious widow and former school counselor, Eudora; teenage Lucy, who is dealing with her sister’s recovery from a car accident; Brad, who is hiding is true self from his grandmother; and Luke, the handsome contractor (and childhood acquaintance of Leah) helping fix up the place.  

What follows is a sweet and touching story as these folks join together to bring the store to life, while also changing each other’s lives. Yes, there’s a romance between Luke and Leah, but it’s more of a slow burn awakening with these two than a full-on romance plot. There are lots of POV, with McKinnon doing a great job of capturing everyone from the older Eudora to teenage Lucy. She also gracefully portrays Eudora’s anxiety and panic attacks and Brad’s attempts to date another man while hiding it from his grandmother.  

Overall, this is a very cute story that leaves you wanting to be both at the beach and a bookstore—what sounds better than that, really?! (3.5 stars) 

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

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Still lying by your side even in the great divide: TELL ME LIES.

Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because I live under a rock, I had no idea that this book was made into a TV show. I also thought this was supposed to be more of a thriller, based on other books of Lovering's that I've read. Still, I found this to be a captivating story about unlikable people in toxic relationships.

Lucy meets Stephen at Baird College, where they begin a toxic on-and-off relationship that spans years. The book alternates between Lucy and Stephen's POVs, so you can see how easily Lucy falls for Stephen's charms and how Stephen is a sociopathic, awful person. Lucy's obsession with Stephen is rooted in trauma and we see her struggles with an eating disorder (please note that trigger).

The hardest part of this story was how awful the characters are. Lucy grows on you, but she and Stephen spend so much of the book drinking and doing drugs--that part is too much at times. But the nuanced look into how someone can stay, or return, to a terrible relationship is honestly quite well-done, and I found the book incredibly difficult to put down. It was honest and raw and different.

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A heart that burns so true: UNCOMMON FAVOR.

Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three by Dawn Staley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dawn Staley is a legend in my house. I’m a University of Virginia girl since birth, and I remember being in awe of Dawn since I was a kid.

Reading her autobiography only enforced that tenfold. This is such a great book. Dawn writes in such an engaging, conversational style—I flew through this. Each chapter in UNCOMMON FAVOR centers around a lesson she’s learned in her life. She's led such a remarkable life, coming from the Philly projects to high school stardom to UVA and the Final Four to the pros to Olympics championships and then to her famous coaching gigs. I also had no idea about some of the twists and turns her life took; her story is incredibly motivational. Yet she remains true to her roots and a steadfast supporter of the women she coaches and what she believes in.

While you’ll love this if you like basketball or sports, the book is applicable to all areas of life, and I highlighted so many quotes. I think this one should be mandatory reading for leaders, or those aspiring to leadership positions.

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And we both know our hands ain't clean: DON'T LET HIM IN.

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Oh, this was excellent -- classic Lisa Jewell!

Ash is reeling after the sudden death of her father, Paddy, who was pushed off a train platform. She's not thrilled when her mom, Nina, starts dating again: the charming, Nick, who knew Paddy when they worked at the same restaurant together and comes into Nina's life after sending her a note and a few of Paddy's things.

Meanwhile, Martha is a tired mom of three and a busy owner of a local flower shop. She loves second husband, Al, desperately, but wishes his job kept him home more, or that there was extra money to go around. She'd love to expand her shop, or go on one of the holidays Al is always promising her.

Soon, though, the lives of these two families will collide in unexpected ways, as Jewell weaves an amazing, tangled web! The beauty of this story is that, in some ways, it's quite simple: there's a terrible man doing horrible things to some good people. Rarely have I hated a villain so much, or found myself screaming at the characters to figure things out, to stop, to realize something!

Go into this thriller blind and lose yourself in the tale of a demented individual and so many secrets and lies. I read the second half of this book straight through--I was totally hooked! A really enjoyable, twisty read and total page-turner! 4.5 stars.

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

Look for the U.S. version of DON'T LET HIM IN on June 24, 2025!!

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There is no sense in pretending: ALL THE MEN I'VE LOVED AGAIN.

All the Men I've Loved Again by Christine Pride
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

All the Men I’ve Loved Again was an enjoyable read! Like its protagonist, Cora Belle, the novel seemed to be finding itself at times, but I still found it compelling.

While marketed as a love triangle, this novel is just as much a coming-of-age story. Cora arrives at Hamlin College in Virginia eager to reinvent herself. Having grown up as the only white girl at her elite private school—which she attended only because her father taught there—college presents a fresh start. She can finally make her own friends and define her own path.

At Hamlin, she quickly bonds with her best friends, Kim and Neisha, and falls deeply for Lincoln, a driven scholarship student determined to make a name for himself in politics. Their relationship is passionate but tumultuous, and during one of their rough patches, Cora crosses paths with Aaron, leading to a whirlwind romance in Paris. Yet, for Cora, love always seems to end in heartbreak.

Fast forward twenty years, and Cora finds herself at a crossroads, with both Aaron and Lincoln back in her life. Can she let her guard down and embrace love again? And if so, who should she choose?

Christine Pride’s solo debut deftly balances romance with weighty themes, including Black identity and abortion. The writing has a natural, conversational flow, alternating between Cora’s first experiences of love with Lincoln and letters from Aaron. I appreciated how the narrative mirrored Cora’s own indecision, making me constantly reevaluate who seemed like the better choice.

That said, Cora’s privilege and occasional indecisiveness could be frustrating, though she deserves credit for refusing to settle. The pacing drags at times, and some characters could have been more fully developed, but the novel’s exploration of love, friendship, and self-discovery makes up for it.

For me, the standout character was Cora’s father, Wes. With his unwavering love and sharp sense of humor, he added warmth and levity to the story—I would have happily read an entire book about him!

While not without its flaws, All the Men I’ve Loved Again is a character-driven novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about love, friendship, and personal growth. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for All the Men I’ve Loved Again on 07/08/2025!

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And summer faded into fall: FAR AND AWAY.

Far and Away: A Novel by Amy Poeppel
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

A house swap between two families on opposite sides of the world—what could go wrong?

When Lucy’s teenage son, Jack, makes a monumental mistake, she sees only one way out: escape. Enter Greta, a German woman whose husband has just accepted a job in Dallas—right where Lucy and her family live. The solution seems perfect: Greta and her family will move into Lucy’s house, while Lucy, Jack, and her twin daughters, Alice and Zoe, take up residence in Greta’s Berlin flat. A fresh start for everyone.

But swapping houses doesn’t mean escaping problems. As Lucy navigates motherhood, a demanding job, and the fallout from Jack’s actions, Greta struggles with leaving behind her beloved flat, sister, and mother. What unfolds is a lively, heartfelt, and often hilarious tale about family—the ones we’re born into and the ones we find along the way.

Poeppel’s characters leap off the page, brimming with personality, quirks, and dreams. Lucy and Greta, despite being separated by an ocean, become quickly entangled in each other’s lives. Greta envies Lucy’s spontaneity, while Lucy admires Greta’s discipline—though only sometimes. Meanwhile, Greta and her husband, Otto, are drawn into Lucy’s world thanks to her well-meaning parents, who live in her backyard. Clueless but endearing Otto embraces Texas life with gusto, donning cowboy boots, diving into barbecue culture, and developing a love for Costco, while Greta struggles to find her footing, focusing instead on her complicated relationship with her teenage daughter, Emmi.

Poeppel masterfully weaves these storylines together, blending humor with heartfelt moments. Lucy’s absent husband, Mason, is at a NASA training facility in New Mexico—or, as Greta thinks, possibly in jail. "Mason is on Mars." Regardless, Lucy is left to handle everything on her own. Despite a colorful supporting cast, the novel never feels overcrowded; every character serves a purpose.

Equal parts funny and poignant, FAR AND AWAY will have you laughing one moment and tearing up the next. From hilarious moments (you’ll never hear The Chicks' "Goodbye Earl" the same way again) to the deeply personal struggles of marriage and parenting, Poeppel delivers a rich, emotionally resonant story.

As a longtime fan of Poeppel’s novels, I can confidently say this one continues her tradition of witty, character-driven storytelling. When I reached the final page, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. And the epilogue? Absolutely perfect.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for FAR AND AWAY on 06/10/2025!!

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The wreckage of my past keeps haunting me: NOWHERE.

Nowhere by Allison Gunn
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Not entirely sure how I feel about this one. It seemed to have some trouble finding itself, mixing Appalachia folklore/horror with a depressed and messed up grieving family. Rachel Kennan is the police chief of a small Virginian town--she and her family are outsiders to the locals, even with the death of their young son, Aiden. Aiden died in a car accident while his father, Finn, was driving drunk. Younger daughter Lucy survived, and Rachel and Finn are making it day-to-day for their daughters, even though Rachel resents Finn so completely for the loss of their son.

Gunn mixes Rachel and Finn's grief with a story rooted in local folklore: a terrifying thing/spirit in the woods, luring children into the forest, igniting hatred and violence throughout the town.

This is a truly horrible and dark story--it does not commit fully to horror or its character-driven plot, but either way, it's violent and awful, full of blood and gore. The characters are pretty mean and terrible, too. Even with the loss of her son, it's impossible to sympathize with Rachel, who comes across as a cheater and a mean, hateful person. She and Finn are terrible parents; honestly, it's not surprising their children want to turn into demons.

This story made me cringe many times and not because of its creepiness. It would have benefited from committing to a character-driven tale, focusing on Rachel and Finn's grief and outsider status in town and deeper points about exclusion of what is different leading to hate. Or, it could have gone fully into the horror story, really embracing the kids and demons. Blending both is a lot, making the plot feel choppy, uneven, and long.

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

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Tearing all these walls down, made from my mistakes: WITNESS 8.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've never read an Eddie Flynn book before, but it was easy to follow, even though this was the eighth book in the series. It gave off a very Lincoln Lawyer-type vibe -- a lawyer too cool and smart for the law, with a con man angle.

We have Ruby Jackson, a young woman from a once wealthy past who now works as a maid and babysitter for rich people in NYC. This gives her plenty of opportunity to spy and snoop on her employers. One night, Ruby witnesses the murder of Margaret Jackson; instead of calling the police, she files the information away for her own use.

Meanwhile, Eddie's new client is John Jackson, accused of murdering his wife Margaret, with the gun found in his possession, DNA evidence and all. Flynn is convinced John Jackson is innocent, but it is going to be tough to prove it.

This is a wild and crazy tale, filled with corrupt cops, hitmen, and all sorts of killing and blood! It's certainly a dark and violent story, with plenty of murder. I am always impressed when the author can make you interested in the bad guys, though.

There are plenty of moving plot threads in WITNESS 8 but they weave together well. So many of the characters have dark pasts, and some are rather evil, but certainly intriguing. The book has a courtroom aspect and a mystery side, as well as learning more about Ruby and her past.

This is a great page-turner that keeps you reading. I'd definitely like to go back and read more about Eddie.

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


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I was walking with a ghost: THE LAST SESSION.

The Last Session by Julia Bartz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

At first, THE LAST SESSION felt like a familiar premise—a retreat that turns out to be a cult—but then it took a sharp turn into outright absurdity.

Marketed as a "locked room" thriller, the story only begins to touch on that aspect about a quarter of the way through the book, and even then, it's a stretch. Thea, our unreliable narrator, finds herself trapped at a New Mexico retreat for a few days, but the real sense of entrapment comes from being stuck with her disjointed narrative and a cast of bizarre, unlikable characters.

The plot follows Thea, a therapist, who becomes overly involved with her patient Catherine. This connection leads her to the retreat, which may or may not be a front for a cult. Supposedly mysterious events unfold, but they're hard to take seriously. The story is riddled with references to past lives and leans heavily on Stargirl—a strange, fictional movie Catherine starred in as a teen—which becomes a central, if perplexing, thread in the plot.

The characters’ decisions are baffling and often defy logic, even when the book provides shaky backstories to justify them. The narrative is a series of odd twists, many revolving around Stargirl, but none of them felt grounded or satisfying. As a reader, I found myself cringing at the implausibility of the characters’ actions and the awkward execution of the story.

Ultimately, I kept reading in the hope that things would improve, but they didn’t. THE LAST SESSION left me more frustrated than thrilled, with its over-the-top plot and lack of coherence.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. It releases in April 2025!

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Tastes just like danger: CROSS MY HEART.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rosie has a new heart, but that hasn’t stopped her from dreaming of finding someone to steal it all over again. A year after a devastating breakup, she’s not only survived a heart transplant but is also helping out at her parents’ bridal shop—still holding on to the hope of true love. When she begins corresponding anonymously through DonorConnect, she starts to suspect that her donor heart once belonged to the late wife of famous author Morgan Thorne. As she digs deeper into Morgan’s life and his marriage to Daphne, unsettling questions arise. The more she learns, the more she wonders: Could Morgan have had a hand in his wife’s death? And can she trust him?

This is one of those wildly implausible yet utterly addictive books you can’t put down. Told through multiple perspectives—including Rosie and Morgan’s viewpoints, their DonorConnect messages, and Morgan’s emails to his best friend—the story unfolds with layers of mystery and intrigue. But no one here is entirely innocent. Rosie crosses some questionable lines, obsessively researching Morgan and even making a habit of walking her dog past his house. Meanwhile, Morgan charms through witty, poetic chats that might not be entirely his own words.

Rosie is sweet but incredibly naïve, making some exasperating decisions that will have readers wanting to shake some sense into her. Luckily, she has a fiercely protective best friend, Nina, and a budding friendship with Edith, a fellow dumped bride.

The book is packed with twists—some unpredictable, others fairly easy to spot. While one major reveal didn’t sit well with me personally, most readers seem to love this story. It delivers solid themes of friendship and self-acceptance, though it doesn’t quite reach the level of a truly unforgettable thriller (it’s no YOU, let’s be honest). Still, if you’re looking for a fast-paced, entertaining read, this one will keep you turning the pages.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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When the loneliness leads to bad dreams: THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

THE THREE LIVES OF CATE KAY is a magical and mesmerizing story that drew me in from the very beginning.

The "three lives" in the title refer to the different names Anne Marie Callahan adopts throughout her journey. To her childhood best friend, Amanda, she’s Annie. After leaving her hometown, she becomes Cass Ford, and finally, under the alias Cate Kay, she writes a series of famous novels that change her life.

Structured as a kind of memoir, CATE KAY unfolds not only through Annie’s eyes but also through the perspectives of key people in her life. We hear from her alcoholic mother, her cherished best friend Amanda, her literary agent, a famous actress who stars in the film adaptations of her books, and many others. This multi-perspective approach enriches the narrative, revealing the complexities of Annie’s personality and the different facets of her “three lives.”

At its heart, this is a love story—not just romantic, but one that celebrates love in its many forms. Annie and Amanda’s friendship is a particularly poignant thread, alongside Annie’s later relationships. The story is beautifully written, deeply emotional, and utterly captivating.

Without giving too much away (to avoid spoilers), the novel features a diverse and unique cast of characters and offers excellent LGBTQIAP+ representation, adding depth and inclusivity to its already compelling narrative.

I’d easily rate this 4+ stars for its stunning prose, intricate storytelling, and unforgettable characters.

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

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Used to daydream in that small town: MIDDLETIDE.

Middletide by Sarah Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quiet and character-driven debut that certainly pulls you into the story. Elijah leaves his small hometown of Point Orchards to make it as a writer. This means abandoning his beloved girlfriend, Nakita, from the nearby reservation. He returns years later as a "failure," having only published one book that barely sold any copies. When a woman is killed on his property--local doctor Erin Landry--in the same fashion as his book, Elijah's attempt at a simple life quickly becomes anything but, as he is the prime suspect in the Sheriff's eyes.

MIDDLETIDE is quite an interesting read. I didn't particularly connect to the characters, but it's such a well-written story, and it kept me reading; I finished the book in one day. It wasn't exactly what I expected: it's part mystery, part character study, part romance. Once back home, Elijah throws himself into restoring his father's ramshackle cabin and trying to make things right with Nakita. But when Erin's suicide is found to be a murder, we see him a different light, especially through Erin's journals and his and Nakita's memories.

The story is told in a back and forth style that sometimes makes it hard to keep track of timelines. It builds up to what happens to Erin, plus the current timeline of the Sheriff investigating the case. We hear from a variety of points of view, which does help build suspense and interest. The small town atmosphere is strong, with the focus on Elijah restoring the cabin, life at the reservation, and how the townspeople's public opinion affects what happens to Elijah.

This isn't an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but it's a solid, well-done mystery.

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These days have made a change in me: BETTER LEFT UNSENT.

Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The premise of this has promise: Millie keeps all her true thoughts (rants to her boss, real opinions about her BFF's husband, reviews on poor vacation experiences, feelings about her parents, responses to crushes) in her email drafts. It helps her release stress. The system works well until one day a server error at work releases all the drafts at once, sending the emails off to their quite surprised (and sometimes angry) recipients.

When you dive into this more, it seems flimsy. Who would write these sorts of things at work?! Why would you actually put the recipient's email address in the To line of the draft?! It makes more sense when you meet Millie, who, honestly, is a bit of an idiot and comes across as a clueless doormat, making it too hard to root for her. She's suffering from a breakup several years ago with Owen, who still works at her company, and one of her emails threatens to end Owen's current engagement. Millie's inability to recognize that Owen is a complete psychopath is incredibly frustrating. Her endless focus on her emails may be even more frustrating. Her relationship with Jack, her love interest, has little pep, as they barely have any scenes together. It's a shame, because Jack is funny and the two have good chemistry. There's also a side plot with Millie's parents that seems completely unnecessary.

I love Lia Louis' books and there was some fun in this one, but overall, it didn't work for me. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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But who's gonna make my mistakes if I don't: THE SUMMER CLUB.

The Summer Club by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not my favorite of McKinnon's books, though it's a fast read. Honestly, the plot feels already done, and I would not categorize this as a light beach read, as it resolves around serious themes. THE SUMMER CLUB focuses on a literal club, stuffy Mayhaven, where Ned Birch and his daughter Darcy both learned to golf--but have never been members. Ned is now the manager, trying to restore Mayhaven to its former glory. As for Flick, he's a teenage boy forced to move to Massachusetts from New York with his mom and new stepdad, where they live next door to the Birch family. He gets a job at Mayhaven and finds himself fascinated by Darcy.

There's no major in-depth characterization here, but it's easy to like Flick and Darcy and feel for Ned. He must deal with the insiders versus outsiders vibe of Mayhaven. McKinnon does a fairly good job capturing teens, especially Darcy, who has stopped playing golf and withdrawn from her family. There's a mostly unresolved story with Darcy and a sometimes mean rich kid she liked that just sort of fizzled out. Like a lot of the book, it feels like everything skims the surface, but never delves too deep. This is a decent, quick read but won't stick with me.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE SUMMER CLUB on 07/23/2024!

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Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Love...with a limit

Ever since she was a kid, Daphne has received notes with a name and a time period... they correlate to her relationships and how long they will last. Her first youthful romance lasted a week. One in Paris lasted three days. And the one with Hugo, who eventually became her best friend, lasted three months. When you know how long your relationship has, you only put in so much effort. Daphne finds herself not forming any attachments. Then she receives "the note"--one with a name but no date. It simply says Jake, and Daphne realizes this means he must be the one. He seems nearly perfect; but as their relationship progresses, and Daphne knows she has more information than Jake, she starts to question if this truly is forever.

This is a slightly weird book, though I always like the hook in Serle's books. The notes angle is fun. It's hard to get into the story, as the POV flips between present-day with Daphne and Jake and then randomly jumps back to all of Daphne's time-limited relationships. While we learn more about Daphne and her past this way, this slows the book's momentum and interest in Daphne's current life. It takes a surprising and unexpected turn partway through, and I'm not sure if I liked it. She was an interesting character, but no one I felt particularly attached to. Same with Hugo, who features prominently. I think I felt the most for Jake.

DATES explores the ideas of finding the right person and believing in yourself. It's more serious than a typical romance, with several sad subplots. I wish I was more invested in the characters, but I still enjoyed it. 3.5 stars.



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Looks like I'm taking the hard way home: HERE WE GO AGAIN.

Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was magical. Leave it to Alison Cochrun to make a book about a dying man insanely romantic.

HERE WE GO AGAIN is a perfect story about queer (found) families and finding love when you need it most. Teachers Logan and Rosemary take their beloved beloved gay high school teacher, Joe, on one last cross country trip. Logan and Rosemary are former childhood best friends turned enemies but must unite to help Joe, who is dying from cancer.

The story hits first loves and enemies to lovers wonderfully, with a perfect simmering burn between Rosemary and Logan. We have Logan, who is well-known on the lesbian circuit for "liking" and then leaving girls. For Logan, whose mom left in her childhood, she fears forming any strong attachments. Rosemary is a wonderful and renowned teacher who has perfected hiding her anxiety from others. All the characters pop off the page--none more than Joe, an amazing gay teaching icon who has provided guidance and care for so many students, but holds a special place in his heart for his "girls," both of whom needed a little extra care coming out in their small town. Joe helped motherless Logan find herself and mentored Rosemary's writing.

Once he convinced the two to join him on the trip from Washington (state) to Maine, we get a story filled with humor and sadness, hi-jinx and pain. Along with Joe's lovable pup, the trio sets forth across the country, encountering national monuments and flat tires alike. There is a bathtub scene that will make you swoon and a drag show moment that will make you cheer. The build up between Rosemary and Logan is amazing, but it's just as good watching the two of them learning from (and about) Joe.

This story touches so beautifully on anxiety, ADHD, found family, and the importance of teachers and gay adults in younger lives. There are some moments that made me laugh out loud and others that made me cry. I fell head over heels for these characters. AGAIN is crazy emotional for a variety of reasons yet funny and heartfelt without being schmaltzy. I cannot recommend this lovely book enough.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for HERE WE GO AGAIN on 04/02/2024!!

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Now the quietest noise I'm told, is the sound of letting go: NORTHWOODS.

Northwoods by Amy Pease
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An oft depressing but intriguing debut novel!

Eli North was an investigative officer in the elite U.S. Forestry Service, but everything changed after his time in Afghanistan. He returns home to the small Midwestern town of Shaky Lake to see his marriage crumble and the only job he can keep is the one offered by his Mom at the local sheriff's department. Just alcohol brings Eli solace and comfort. When he finds the body of a boy in a boat, the trauma only deepens Eli's pain, even as he works to find the murderer and locate a missing teenage girl, whose disappearance they believe is related.

NORTHWOODS is sad, emotional story that focuses just as much on how war affects those who make it home and its far ranging effects on their family and friends as it does on Ben's murder and Caitlin's disappearance. Eli is a very complex individual, where you find yourself simultaneously sympathetic and frustrated with him. How is it possible for one man to make so many bad decisions or consume so much alcohol? Yet what he's endured is unimaginable, and Pease does a wonderful job of showing how much he's been through. His relationship with his mother Marge, the town's Sheriff, is especially well-done.

This is a character-driven story, which doesn't move quickly, so do not expect a fast-moving thriller. The investigation takes a backseat to character exploration and then wraps up quickly (while leaving a few loose ends, it seemed) at the end of the book. I saw a few plot pieces coming a mile away and needed a few details to back everything up. There's so much happening and sometimes I wish the story focused on one area more in-depth.

Still, I listened to part of this on audiobook and was so moved that I found myself in tears at parts of the story, so that bumps my rating up. What it lacks in investigative detail, it makes up for in emotional depth. This is a very intense and timely look at opiate addiction, as well as the effects of violence and war, which will tear at your heartstrings.

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That's me in the story and the story is real: INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE.

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily R. Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rather strange but surprisingly touching read!

So I won't lie, I found parts of this book to be really weird and a little cringey, but some of that became wrapped up in our main character, Enid, a well-written neurodivergent soul, who struggles with a variety of phobias and some issues caused by being born deaf in one ear. Enid copes by focusing on space facts and listening to true crime podcasts. She's a serial dater (and is a lesbian, which makes this book wonderfully queer) who has never had a serious relationship.

We find Enid struggling to develop a relationship with her half sisters, whom she's never really known, as her father abandoned her and her mom when she was just a kid. As a result, she grew up dealing with her mom's depression and mood swings. Enid slowly realizes that some of her fears (such as being terrified of bald men) might relate to her difficult childhood. She starts to think someone is breaking into her apartment. This all sounds serious, but much of this book is witty and quirky. It's told in very short snippets from Enid's point of view, with flashbacks going all the way back to her childhood.

Some of these snippets are definitely odd (Enid had a YouTube channel as a kid, for instance, and she recorded some weird stuff). But overall, as we get to know Enid and watch her trying to form bonds with her half sisters, struggle to be a good daughter to her mom, attempt to actually form a real relationship with a woman named Polly (whom she meets in quite an interesting way), and maintain her closest friendship with her co-worker Vin... well, she grows on you! There are some very touching moments, some bizarre ones, some sweet ones. You have to really give this book a chance and truly experience it--it's hard to describe. It's different and character-driven, and I think it's worth a read.

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

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She's never learned how to live for today: NONE OF THIS IS TRUE.

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is yet another impossible-to-put-down thriller from Lisa Jewell. For most of the book, I was all in. It's easy to suspend disbelief when you're reading one of Jewell's books. They have a compelling, frenetic feel. Alix and Josie meet at a restaurant, where both are celebrating their 45th birthdays. They realize they're "birthday twins." A few days later they meet again, and Josie reveals she's been listening to Alix's popular podcasts. She suggests her life would make a great subject for Alix. As the two start working together, Alix realizes Josie is a rather dark individual, and she's starting to take over Alix's life.

It's easy to read TRUE in big great gulps. Josie is the ultimate unreliable narrator--the title certainly seems prescient for much of the book. How much can we trust her, or Alix? The book has a creepy and ominous feel, as Josie ingratiates herself into Alix's life, taking over and seeming like she just won't leave. Is she just friendly and in awe of Alix, or is there more to this story? Jewell delves into the topics of motherhood and family while we watch, breathlessly, to see the story behind Josie's life. At the same time, we learn more about Alix's relationship with her husband.

This would have been an easy 4-star read for me, but there are some issues that were glossed over that really bothered me--excusing both pedophilia and alcohol abuse being the main ones. I'm not sure the racing, exciting plot was enough to truly overcome those. 3 stars for now...

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


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