Stumble in the void to find there's no one there: HOLLOW BONES.

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a quintessential Jodi Picoult book. It's filled with complex familial relationships and ties into tense subject matters. And, it's completely spellbinding, featuring her trademark twists.

Molly is the Chief of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Rhode Island Department of Health. It's a mouthful of a title, especially for a young woman under 30. But thanks to COVID, she's been fast-tracked to her role. Molly loves being prepared and weighing the risks of basically everything. Her husband, Jesse, is older; an experienced detective and polygraphy expert. Molly lost her mom, Eloise, in the 9/11 attacks, and Jesse lost his sister when they were both teens. As a result, both Molly and Jesse are fearful of losing those they love. Their entire lives have been shaped by their loss and grief.

The story alternates between the past and present, allowing us to learn more about how Jesse and Molly met and then flashing back even further, to the events leading up to Eloise's death. The format is incredibly effective, especially with multiple POV changes, so you slowly learn more details about all our characters. It's good to go into this book with few details and just let the story happen.

As always, Picoult gives us a well-researched story, rife with facts and statistics about 9/11. She delves into tough topics, such as the post-COVID friction between the government and public health officials and the limited resources given to such organizations. She also gives us a strong portrayal of mental illness, particularly post partum psychosis--such an important and under-discussed diagnosis.

At its heart, this is a story about motherhood, family, and friendship. It illustrates how easy it is to fear losing those we love--and how tenuous life really can be. And it forces the reader to explore whether living in fear or living life fully is the best reaction to this fragility. 4+ stars.

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

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The windows of my soul are made of one way glass: LOVE ME LIKE A ROCK SONG.

Love Me Like a Rock Song: A Novel by Shelly Jay Shore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Shelly Jay Shore's writing and how they always come up with original stories that expertly portray queer Jewish identity.


Singer-songwriter Delilah has just had her wedding called off by her fiancée, Sam. Complicating things is the fact that she and Sam work together as a well-known musical duo. About to record her own solo album (filled with love songs about Sam), Delilah decides to take their planned honeymoon solo and use the time to write a whole new record. As she begins, she picks up a hitchhiker: Emmett. But Emmett just happens to be a golem, a creature from Jewish folklore made out of clay and designed to serve their master. Emmett's master is now dead and they have been ordered to return to their origins (aka disappear).


It sounds wild but Shelly Jay Shore has the ability to make the mystical both believable and fun. The more time Delilah and Emmett spend together, the closer they become. The story explores Delilah's history of mania, deftly looking into how mental illness can affect relationships (and life).


This is such a wonderfully queer story--with many of their road trip stops, the duo explore queer landmarks, meet other queer people, and immerse themselves in queer stories. As they do, Emmett comes to learn more about themself, unearthing an identity hidden by years of serving a harsh master.


Shelly Jay Shore gives us a captivating and complex queer story that explores Jewish identify and folklore, the concept of places as memory, and the importance of self-acceptance. Delilah and Emmett are not your typical couple, but this book benefits from its original storytelling that still captures humanity at its heart.


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

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My heart turned a flip as I stood next to you: PLAY YOU FOR IT.

Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This sapphic romance has a basketball-themed plot. 🏀 Need I say more?

Jordan gets promoted to head coach of a D1 men’s (!) basketball team and along the way falls for the amazing sports reporter covering the team, named Beck. It's a tad cheesy at times, but had me rooting for Jordan's team, and of course, Jordan and Beck.

I'm pretty much a sucker for a sports romance with lesbians. If that sport is basketball--even better. This story drew me in because it features "grown-up" gays, not students playing basketball. (Although there's a very compelling storyline with Jordan winning the trust of her new team.) Jordan and Beck fall for each other immediately, but can't act--Jordan is worried about trusting a reporter, while Beck fears what dating Jordan will mean for her burgeoning career.

Much of the story focuses on the fact that Jordan is the first female D1 coach--a very timely plot piece--and it makes excellent points about the unfairness in basketball: how women are treated, how lesbians are treated, etc. There are some major misogynistic moments for both Jordan and Beck, and the book does a great job of realistically portraying how difficult it can be to be a woman in the sport of basketball. It also captures the drama of basketball so well--the excitement of advancing in a tournament, per se, or the pain of losing.

Overall, this was an enjoyable romance -- with honest characters who reflected the real-world around them. I loved the sports angle and was definitely swept up in the story! 3.5 stars, rounded up.

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

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But you're a fixer-upper if there ever was: SOME KIND OF FAMOUS.

Some Kind of Famous: A Novel by Ava Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first book by Ava Wilder, but it won't be my last.

SOME KIND OF FAMOUS is a slow burn romance, but both its storyline and characters quickly grew on me, even if our protagonist, Merritt, is a tad prickly at times. Once a famous singer-songwriter, Merritt now lives in a small Colorado town with her twin, Olivia, and Olivia's husband. But it's time for Merritt to move out into her own home, which requires her to hire local handyman, Niko. He's attractive and kind and competent and just far too stable for Merritt to get involved with.

But even Niko has to admit he's pretty fascinated with Merritt. And working on her home offers him a steady paycheck that he just can't turn down. Despite both sides being warned off each other, Merritt and Niko keep getting thrown together--and liking it. But Niko's coming off a terrible breakup and Merritt... well, she's coming off her life. Can they make it work?

This story has plenty of fun sexual tension and laughs, but overall, it's a rather serious romance that explores mental health, Merritt's tough issues as a teen rock star, sexual assault, and more. Both Merritt and Olivia are difficult characters to love: Merritt has been through a lot and she holds people at arm's length while Olivia can be awfully mean and lashes out at her sister in cruel ways. The more we learn about their past, the easier it is to understand their actions. As for Niko, he's one of those trope-filled romance teddy bears that you can't help but love. And he's handy!

This is a really witty story, but it's also insightful and poignant. Both Merritt and Niko have plenty of family drama and there's tons of sexual tension to propel the story forward. Also I'm just a sucker for stories that involve a famous person and a regular person falling for each other, even if some of Merritt's glory days are behind her.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell in return for an unbiased review.

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When I woke the dream was gone: THESE SUMMER STORMS.

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a good soapy family drama as much as the next person, but there was something about this one that I couldn't fully get into! I attribute a lot of it to the writing style. It was written with these weird choppy short sentences thrown in, which put the rhythm of the story off balance and kept me from fully getting in the flow.

The premise is there. Alice is exiled from her wealthy family, forced to make her own way without her family's preposterous wealth. The only reason she returns to the fold is the death of her egocentric father. On her family's private island, she learns that the terms of inheritance dictate that she and her three siblings will only inherit her father's vast fortune if they all stay on the island for an entire week and complete an inheritance game: a series of tasks laid out by her father and overseen by his righthand man, Jack Dean. For Alice, it feels like a death sentence.

Using the word "games" seems like an outright exaggeration. It's a few stipulations, mostly punctuated by bickering and dealing with their drunken, overwrought mother. Alice forms an odd relationship with Jack. The island setting is dramatic and stark, with many wealthy friends and family headed there for a "celebration of life" for Alice's late father. Alice's three siblings are mostly hateful. Very little happens until a rush of secrets are revealed, most of which seem predictable.

Some of the drama here is enjoyable (rich people problems have their moments, after all), and I didn't mind Alice or Jack, or the island locale, but after all the hype, this one left me a little lacking.

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I've always wondered what was wrong with me: NOT QUITE DEAD YET.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's really fun to read a book with a different premise!

The idea is that Jet has seven days to solve her own murder. On Halloween, she's attacked at home and left for dead. While she awakes several days later, her injuries have left her with a brain aneurysm that will kill her within a week. Jet--who has always pushed things off until "later"--vows to find her killer.

Jet is the best part about this book. She's an excellent witty and sarcastic protagonist. She cracks jokes constantly, even with her impending death. While this is a mystery, it's quirky and layered. The story is tense, keeping you guessing at every turn. It's dark, chock full of family drama along with secrets and small town stories. Jet has a difficult relationship with her family, leading her to stay with her childhood best friend Billy. Their friendship over the week is its own story and adds extra warmth and nuance to an otherwise dark story.

I wasn't sure about reading a book where it was known the protagonist would die, but NOT QUITE DEAD YET is worth the read. It's complex, funny, and mysterious.


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Lured to the ends of overwhelm: SUNSHINE GIRL.

Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life by Julianna Margulies
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My wife and I have been re-watching ER from the beginning, so when I saw this book on my shelves, I picked it up!

This is an interesting memoir, told mainly in a linear fashion. It picks and chooses life moments to highlight, centering around the childhood idea that Margulies was told she's a "sunshine girl," always trying to keep the peace and make everyone happy.

Margulies spends a lot of time on her unstable childhood, discussing her divorced parents, including her flighty mom and reserved father, whom she rarely saw. She and sisters were always moving, often living overseas and away from their father, and she craved stability and normalcy. She had a fascinating childhood and her desire to keep the peace continued into her adult relationships, keeping her in a toxic partnership far too long.

Margulies is very introspective and feelings-based, going into great deal about these important events and moments in her life, often small things that stood out. There's not necessarily a lot of detail about her acting or the shows she was on, which was a little disappointing since I'm in the middle of my ER binge and wanted details.

If you like memoirs driven by character and emotion, versus celebrity status and name-dropping, you'll enjoy this one.

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The night's all that's left behind: THE MISSING HALF.

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nic's life has been in complete disarray since the disappearance of her sister seven years ago. Everyone assumes her older sister, Kasey, is dead, after they found her car abandoned, her belongings still inside. Nic remains in the same dead-end job, living the same dead-end life. Then she meets Jenna, the one person who might understand what she's been through: Jenna's sister Jules disappeared two weeks before Kasey, under nearly the exact same circumstances. The two team up to figure out what happened to their sisters.

This is a well-written mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end. I was convinced I had it all figured out, but wow, I was wrong. It's twisty and incredibly dark, but also character-driven, as we watch Nic negotiate her sad life. Flowers does an excellent job of tying together so many disparate plot threads.

The hardest part of HALF is that Nic is quite unlikable and that personality trait only seems to increase as the book goes on. There is so much drinking in the story, even in the flashbacks, before Nic was 21. It's just dismal and depressing. And the ending was a disappointment for me after all I'd invested into the story; yes, it was twisty and shocking, but not quite how I wanted it all to turn out.

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Time will do the talking, years will do the walking: THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS.

The Language of the Birds: A Novel by K.A. Merson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is quite an intriguing book. It features a YA protagonist but it's a very "smart" story--filled with big words, big theories, and big problems.

Also, it feels as if there are a lot of books featuring codes and puzzles lately. I love National Treasure as much as the next person, but I will freely confess that I am not smart enough for all these clues and treasure hunts!

Seventeen-year-old Arizona's father dies in a motorcycle accident and her mother disappears while they are mourning him. She quickly learns her mom has been kidnapped and the only way to get her back is to solve a series of puzzles and codes. The kidnappers have ties to the old alchemists and the book features tons of puzzles and mentions of ancient texts (and lots of readings of poems). I won't lie--it's a lot.

The puzzling is fun, but my favorites were the more emotional sections with Arizona herself. She was clearly autistic, or something similar, and it was her father with whom she had identified more (he was also a puzzle guy). Arizona is crazy mature for a 17-year-old, driving the family truck and camper all around to solve these puzzles, and basically dealing with a death and disappearance without completely freaking out. She also has an adorable dog, Mojo.

This is definitely a different sort of book, but that's not a bad thing. The puzzles and ciphers and some of the odd plot choices were a bit too much for me, but I'm still glad I read it.

I received this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review.

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I'm in the middle of starting over: BACK AFTER THIS.

Back After This by Linda Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is a slow starter, but it warms up!

Cecily, a podcast producer, agrees to star in a podcast, mostly because she believes it will save jobs at her failing company. She has a bad past with an ex-boyfriend who stole their podcast idea and took off with it, becoming famous, causing Cecily to wonder if she can do the same. The new podcast revolves around Cecily dating and receiving self-help advice from Eliza, a social media influencer. But, right before it starts, she has a "meet cute" with a man named Will and a dog named Buddy. After that, she sees Will everywhere.

Cecily also has problems saying what she wants and standing up for herself, though she's fine as a bossy producer telling others what to do. She's not thrilled with doing this show--does anyone really want to date publicly? (I guess anyone who goes on The Bachelor.) We quickly realize she needs to learn more about herself and how she sees others. Waiting for her to realize that--that's a bit more frustrating. My favorite in the story is Will, a rather charming guy, even though he's worried that his lack of a formal career means there's something wrong with him.

There's no huge momentum or story arc in BACK AFTER THIS, but it delves into Cecily as she goes on her dates, secretly sees Will, and performs self-discovery. This is a story of character development and growth, with an in-depth look into the world of podcasting. Holmes writes with her usual wonderful voice. The story is witty and often laugh out loud funny (thanks, Will!). Cecily and Will have good banter, and this is fun overall. 3.75 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for BACK AFTER THIS in February 2025!

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Is there something or someone I should be: THE SUMMER PACT.

The Summer Pact by Emily Giffin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This one was fine but not my favorite of Giffin's. Its plot centers on four best friends from college and revolves around the suicide of one of the foursome. Suicide is a tough and personal subject for me, and I had a difficult time reading some of the pieces.

Our four friends--free spirit, Lainey; uptight Tyson; group cheerleader Hannah; and their athletic leader Summer--become fast acquaintances after a shared evening at the University of Virginia as first years. But their world is rocked when the driven Summer dies by suicide when they are fourth years (right before graduation). The remaining friends make a pact that, in the future, they'll always be there for each other. Hannah invokes it when her fiance cheats on her.

Lainey, now an actress, and Tyson, a lawyer, rush to Hannah's side and they decide to take a trip together (in lieu of Hannah's honeymoon). They'll hit sites that mean something to each of them, including visiting Lainey's half sisters, hitting up Capri, which was Summer's dream, and more. Unfortunately for us, all three characters are rather insufferable and often annoying. I felt bad for Hannah, but she was often a bit of a doormat (she still had my favorite storyline). Lainey makes terrible decisions thanks to her impulsive nature and alcoholic tendencies. Tyson can't seem to let go or let his friends make their own decisions. Everything becomes quite dramatic for this trio; for Pete's sake, you're grown adults! Act like it! Most of the book is them making poor choices while not much happens.

This book tries to make some good points about friendship, especially in the wake of grief and loss. There are some emotional moments, but they are often marred by theatrics and immature characters.

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But you are like a gale wind, mad and unaware: WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's certainly nice to see young Flavia de Luce again, especially after thinking the series had ended with book #10. Flavia is dealing with the death of her father and having her younger cousin, Undine, living with her and her sister, Daffy, at Buckshaw. When a local civil servant passes away, Flavia becomes involved because, well, she's Flavia, but also because the family's beloved housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet, the man's cook, is suspected, as she was the one who served him the supposedly poisoned mushrooms with his breakfast.

For me, the best parts of the Flavia series are now her interactions with beloved butler, Dogger, and Mrs. Mullet (Mrs. M). Flavia's wisdom and sweetness shine through as she talks to these grown-ups in her life, revealing how, at age 12, she is both old beyond her years, and yet, just a kid.

Alas, Undine, while growing on me, is still a tough character to like, and the series fairly recent addition of a secret society (the Nide) that involves the entire de Luce family is tedious. I truly prefer Flavia when she's just young Flavia, solving mysteries, riding her bike Gladys across the countryside, puttering about in her chemistry lab, and chattering with Dogger and Mrs. M.

So, while this is a fun read, there are plenty of distractions that take away from its true Flavia essence. Perhaps, sometimes, series are meant to end, though I'm sure I won't give up on Flavia anytime soon.

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She might be priceless but they're blind to it: BY ANY OTHER NAME.

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

As an English major, I found myself totally enthralled by BY ANY OTHER NAME, a fascinating story about two women--centuries apart--who are storytellers, yet can only get their voices heard behind a male counterpart.

In the 1580s, we meet Emilia Bassano, a young woman who serves as a courtesan to a Lord many years her elder and later finds herself sold into a loveless and violent marriage. Throughout it all, Emilia perseveres, finding solace in her writing, and eventually selling many of her plays to a man named William Shakespeare.

In the 2020s, we hear from Melina, Emilia's ancestor, also a playwright. She writes a play about Emilia's life, but can only sell it to a festival when she changes her name to "Mel Green" and uses her male friend as a stand-in.

Between Melina and Emilia's stories, we see the power of the written word to effect change. But we also see how much the world prioritizes the male story and voice above all others, instead of recognizing that others in society may want to hear and see their own story reflected in art--or tell their own story. NAME explores who controls the narrative, and how those who control it have the power to be heard.

By telling Emilia's story, Picoult posits a theory of Shakespeare as a collective of writers, including women. Honestly, it's pretty easy to leave the book at the end going "I buy this," but even just reading it as a work of fiction (she explains her sources and the liberties she's taken in some places in comprehensive notes at the end), it's intriguing. Emilia's sections are fascinating, highlighting just how much women endured in the time period, but also how strong they were.

Yes, the book is long, but honestly, once it got going, it flew by for me, especially as I found myself caught up in Emilia's life. The writing is wonderful, the story is tragic but inspiring, and the message about the power of the written word to last after we are gone is stunning. 4.5 stars.

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

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Spend half your life trying to make a change: RULES FOR GHOSTING.

Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not, perhaps, the fun, fluffy ghost story it's billed as, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The fact that it's a debut is even more impressive. Ezra has the weight of the world on his shoulders, with a host of familial expectations and history of caring for his siblings, along with being transgender. When his parents unexpectedly split, Ezra finds himself back at his family's funeral home, a place he's avoided for years--ever since he realized he could see the dead.

He soon meets Jonathan, who is grieving the loss of his late husband--only to realize that one of the dead people he's been spying around just happens to be Ben, Jonathan's late husband. Even weirder, Ben can talk to Ezra, something none of the other ghosts have ever done. Jonathan and Ezra grow closer, but Ben remains a barrier between the two (for a myriad reasons).

This story is a little long-it takes on a lot-and while it manages most of it well, it feels a bit unwieldy. It takes some time to get to the ghosts, especially the talking one! Still, it provides excellent insight into Jewish funeral customs and traditions. The book wonderfully explores the idea of family, digging into the concept of being what your family wants versus what you need for yourself. How does a person shape themselves for, and because of, their family? I empathized very much with Ezra and all the guilt he felt about his family and the duties and responsibilities he had toward them.

Ezra is a charming character and he comes across as very real and likable. His story is often funny, even with the funeral home setting and all the dead people hanging around. Ezra has a wonderful cast of friends--many of them POC and/or queer--and the story does a great job of exploring queer friendships and how important found family is, especially with Ezra's bizarre family situation.

There's certainly a lot of discussion of grief and death in GHOSTING, so avoid if that's a trigger for you. But know that this is also a really poignant and lovely story--part almost coming of age and also a sweet romance. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell in return for an unbiased review.

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My shirt looks good on you: WHEN IN ROME.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Welcome to the magical world of small towns where bakers just let strange women, even if they are pop stars, stay in their homes and freely come and go as they please!

Amelia Rose, stage name Rae Rose, is burnt out and needs a break! She takes inspiration from her favorite movie, Roman Holiday, and seeks solace in Rome... Rome, Kentucky! But her car breaks down and she finds herself stranded in the front lawn of Rome's beloved pie-shop owner, Noah Walker. Noah just wants Rae out of his life, but instead he offers her his guest room while her car is being repaired. (Because that's what normal people do.)

So there's nothing unique or revolutionary about this romance, but it's totally charming. They reminded me of the whole Taylor/Travis relationship going on right now in the real world. Amelia is a total sweetheart, whom you immediately want to take care of, and Noah is the epitome of the lovable gruff handsome trope. I mean, the dude runs his late grandmother's pie shop. He loves his sisters. He wears old man pajamas. Could he be any more adorable?

Amelia and Noah have excellent banter, one of my romance must-haves, and great chemistry. ROME is packed with small town charm and a cast of quirky home-grown Rome characters. While there are lots of fun moments and a great romance, both Amelia and Noah do grow throughout the story and encounter serious issues as well. 3.5 stars.

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The future's bright in your favorite horoscope: A WINTER IN NEW YORK.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Me realizing that I liked this book, except for the entire premise, because I hate when things are based on a lie, ha.

Seriously, though, I could almost excuse Iris, who moves from London to New York after a terrible breakup (that guy was a total jerk) and randomly tells someone at a bookstore a lie. That lie spirals when she meets Gio, a very cute gelato store owner, and suddenly she's trapped in a whole web of lies. Still, I found myself wishing she'd just come clear in the first moment. Iris realizes that Gio has ties to her late mother, who knew his family, and that her mother's scrapbook has a copy of Gio family's precious gelato recipe, which has gone missing in Gio's era. Much drama ensures.

Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad, except there is so so so much buildup about all these lies and half truths and kept secrets (aka the whole book), and then the huge reveal and aftermath sort of happens with a whimper. After all that?! Are you kidding me?

It's sad, because I liked Iris and enjoyed the few chapters that had flashbacks to her mom's life in New York City. Silver captured NYC really well, with great descriptions of the city and its character in various weather conditions and seasons. It's easy to imagine yourself there, eating gelato and seeing the sights from the Brooklyn Bridge. Gio had a very sweet, boisterous, Italian family while I adored Iris' friend Bobby and husband (and the stray cat). So... side characters and setting were excellent and even our main couple was pretty good, I just wish the premise had better legs. 3 stars.

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Oh, we could make a good thing bad: SAMMY ESPINOZA'S LAST REVIEW.

Sammy Espinoza's Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Sammy Espinoza ruins a great job to try save her relationship with her girlfriend. She's got one chance left to salvage her music column, but it will involve heading to her hometown, of sorts, in Washington, to track down an old flame, Max Ryan. A former and beloved rock star, Max has been in hiding, and rumor has it, he's recording a new album in their hometown. If Sammy can review it, she'll win back her job. But can she forgive her history with Max to do so?

I loved this book very much! It's such an ode to music, but also has great banter and romance. There's a lot of lies and miscommunication and family issues! Sammy's mom is a bit of a mess, always abandoning her daughter for her latest love (including leaving her in Washington for a year with a whole other family). But Sammy can't see that: she's constantly making excuses for her. So Sammy has a whole host of frustrating excuses for her mom--and life--due to these abandonment issues: shutting down, bailing, and just being a general doormat for her mother. Apply this to Max--and you can see a whole train wreck about to happen. Oh Sammy. Some of the miscommunication was a bit too much (just tell him what happened with your job, Sammy!).

But the rest of the story was really picture perfect. Max and Sammy have amazing banter and chemistry. The small town setting is just lovely while the theme of found family is so well-done. The book is filled with diverse characters, including pansexual and queer folks. Parts of Sammy's story truly made me cry. It's such a funny, sweet, and touching tale. The book deftly explores abandonment and anxiety as well as love and music. Overall, a truly lovely read. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of Sammy Espinoza's Last Review from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine 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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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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But I'm wide awake and afraid to fight: MAD HONEY.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Olivia McAfee never expected to return to her New Hampshire hometown with her son Asher, to live in her parents' farmhouse, and to take up beekeeping after the death of her father. But after a dark turn in her marriage, here she is. And she and Asher have made a nice, quiet life with one another. Asher is happy, playing hockey on the high school team and dating Lily Campanello, who is new to town. Then one day Olivia receives a call that Lily is dead and Asher is being questioned by the police, and suddenly their idyllic existence is threatened.

This was an excellent and thought-provoking read by Picoult and her co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan. I don't want to give much away, so I'll keep my review short. The story alternates between Lily and Olivia's point of views, with Lily's going backward in time, chronicling her relationship with Asher. It's a neat plot device, but a little confusing sometimes. MAD HONEY focuses on the fierce and tumultuous relationships between teens and between mothers and sons. It delves into domestic violence and gender identity in deep and explorative ways. It also features a very Picoult-like trial (featuring a reoccurring character you may recognize from a few of her other books). It was sad, but lovely and mesmerizing. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for MAD HONEY on October 4th!

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