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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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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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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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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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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I'm a thousand miles from nowhere: THE LAST ONE.

The Last One by Will Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Caz is so excited when her boyfriend, Pete, takes her on vacation aboard the luxury cruise liner, RMS Atlantica. They have a great first night, but when Caz wakes up the next morning and reaches for Pete, he's not there. As she leaves their room to look, she realizes that the ship is empty. Not empty, as in the passengers are elsewhere, but empty empty. No passengers, no crew. The giant ship is in the middle of the ocean, and Caz is all alone on it. I won't say much more to avoid spoilers, but this is a crazy read. It has a tense, eerie feel-- you rarely get a "locked cruise ship" story, but that's what we have here. The story certainly keeps you wondering, and it offers an interesting, timely commentary on society. I won't say on what. ;)

I found this book hard to put down, and the story is really unique. Those are all major plusses. It goes a little off the rails as it continues, though. And there are a lot of unresolved plot points that made me feel as if the story didn't truly finish. (The actual ending is also cray cray.) Overall, this was a 3-star read for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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My address is your name: THE SWEET SPOT.

 

The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

In New York City, a group of women form unlikely friendships when they are brought together by forces of fate--and a baby. There's Lauren and her children, who just moved into a brownstone gifted by her husband Dan's father. But Lauren quickly makes an enemy in Melinda by hastening her divorce. Melinda's been dumped by Russell for Felicity, who runs a fancy shop that sells Lauren's art. At said shop works Olivia, who is unceremoniously fired after a video of her goes viral. Add in Evelyn, Lauren's uppity mother, who comes to stay for the weekend, but winds up not leaving. These women are on a crash course collision--tempers are running high--and oh yeah, Felicity is pregnant!

This is an incredibly charming book that made me laugh out loud on multiple occasions! I truly loved it--some of these characters are crazy, some are downright lovable, some are silly, but I was completely caught up in their wild and chaotic lives. Lauren and Dan have three children who add to the insanity, and soon we have a visit from Dan's father too. There's an untrained dog, a biting gerbil, and a bar in the basement of the brownstone. But at its core, SPOT is an endearing look at families--both your own and the ones you find and make on your own. It delves into motherhood, marriage, friendship, and love (and, sometimes, hate).

The story can meander a bit, but ultimately it's such a lovely and witty read that I did not care. This is such a sweet and fun book. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE SWEET SPOT on 1/31/2023!!


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See how much you may receive: THE KEY TO MY HEART.

The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Natalie Fincher has spent the last two and a half years in a daze. And for perfectly good reason--she unexpectedly lost her husband, leaving her in a pool of grief. She remains behind in their fixer-upper cottage, her career in shambles, and her sister and friends constantly encouraging her to "get out there." Her one bit of joy comes with occasionally playing piano music at a London tube station and getting coffee nearby after. But when someone begins to leave sheet music at the station--music that seems so connected to her late husband--Natalie cannot help but feel hopeful for the first time in ages. Is this music a message from Russ?

I loved this book so much I finished it with only one eye thanks to an unfortunate incident with my dog and a garage door-frame. I am becoming quite the fan of Lia Louis and her lovely books. This was a sadder and quieter tale than I expected. It's a book about grief and getting over (or perhaps through) a loss. Still, it is also a romance with fun banter and hope. Louis writes romantic and friendly chatter so well.

In HEART we actually have two romantic prospects for Natalie--Joe, a man she meets at a grief music support class, and Tom, who is the son of Shauna, who runs the coffee shop where Natalie hangs out. Honestly, it stressed me out a little wondering who might win her heart--if at all--because I had a clear favorite.

Natalie is not a perfect heroine and that's quite nice and refreshing. She's learning to get out in the world again and she misses her husband. She's frustrated with her friends sometimes for pushing too hard, yet recognizes that maybe she may need that push. HEART handles grief very honestly and realistically. I enjoyed Natalie's kind, fashionable sister, and the wonderful strong character of Shauna, who is a tough cookie, even if she couldn't always acknowledge it. She has her own well-deserved subplot.

Overall, this is a sometimes serious but quite enjoyable read. While it touches on sad subject matter, it's often very funny. Louis writes with a such a great voice that she truly brings these characters to life. 4.5 stars.

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

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I've been kind and I've been ruthless: FIRST BORN.

First Born: A Novel by Will Dean
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Molly is a very quiet and shy person who lives her life based on routine and structure. She's the exact opposite of her outgoing identical twin sister, Katie. Molly has always relied on Katie, but her sister recently moved to New York City from London. Then Molly receives the worst news: Katie has died, a possible murder. She has to overcome her fears and travel to New York City to try to figure out exactly what happened to her sister.

FIRST BORN is a twisty thriller that offers a ton of surprises, but I confess that I just didn't love it all that much. I kept reading to find out what happened, so the book captured my attention, but I did not find the characters very engaging or likeable. There was not much character development here, and the writing style was rather weird. It's a wild plot, for sure; so if you can suspend disbelief and just go for it, you'll enjoy this one. Barely 3 stars for me.

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

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I'm the shadow on the ground: REPUTATION.

Reputation by Sarah Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma, a former teacher, is now a Member of Parliament (MP). As such, her life has changed greatly-- she's now divorced and her relationship with her teenage daughter, Flora, is strained. Emma often finds herself in the spotlight as she campaigns hard for women's issues. She's also subjected to endless threats and online bullying. Flora, too, is being bullied at school--a secret she keeps from her mother. As Emma works to get a new law passed to protect women and girls from the effects of revenge porn, she and Flora find their lives uncomfortably intertwining. And then--a horrible incident occurs, and Emma finds a man dead in her home. The focus increases on her considerably, and she find herself fighting for her reputation and perhaps even her life.

This is another smartly written thriller from Vaughan. It's a bit of a slow-mover, but it certainly gets you thinking. It skips around in time a lot, which made it harder to immediately get into the narrative, along with the fact that I'm not as familiar with the Parliament political system as I'd like. But it's fairly easy to catch up. Vaughan covers the familiar topic of cyber bullying, but with a twist, as Emma is campaigning for stricter laws against it, while Flora is enmeshed in various scandals at school.

REPUTATION does an excellent job in highlighting all the various ways women (and girls) face violence in their daily lives as well as what female public figures must endure. Honestly, Emma could be a bit tedious at times and some plot pieces seemed a little repetitive, but overall, this was a pretty interesting read. There are no huge twists, but Vaughan certainly throws in some good surprises. The insight into female violence and cyber bullying was well-done, and Vaughan writes excellent courtroom drama. The themes of family, motherhood, and (of course) reputation are strong. 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 here.

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

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You're not easy to love: ISLAND TIME.

Island Time: A Novel by Georgia Clark
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Kelly and Lee families couldn't be more different. But their daughters are married, so they are vacationing together on a remote tropical island off the coast of Queensland for a few days. Then a volcano eruption completely derails everyone's plans, stranding the families on the island for six weeks with two employees. While there, everyone is forced to do some intense reckoning about their lives, loves, and futures.

Oh I wanted to like this book--I always try to champion LGBTQIA books--but I just couldn't get into this one. It felt so LONG. Like, so long you guys. I kept thinking I'd read most of it, and then I'd see I wasn't even 25% done. It felt like so much of this book could have been shortened or benefited from a deep edit.

There are a lot of people in ISLAND TIME and truly, none of them seem that nice or interesting. The Kelly family consists of Julia and Gene (parents) and their daughters Amelia and Matty. The daughters come across as spoiled brats. We rehash their problems over and over. As for the Lees, we have parents Randall and Ludmilla and their daughter Parker (married to Matty). There are also two island employees, including Liss (also queer). I wanted to feel an affinity for more people with so many queer characters (I didn't mind Liss too much), but everyone came across as self-centered or annoying. There's a large natural disaster, people elsewhere have died, the natural life and vegetation of this island is in peril, but wow, these folks seem to care less. Also, somehow there is power and enough food for six weeks (copious, fancy food), which just didn't make things seem realistic at all.

Everyone has issues in ISLAND--so many issues. Personal issues. Work issues. Romantic issues. So many issues. They rehash these issues over and over. And then again. Often you might want characters to fix their issues because you care for them, but in this book, I often felt like I didn't care if they resolved them or not, because they just irritated me.

ISLAND does discuss the indigenous people of Australia in depth. I feel like I learned a lot there, as well as about some of the animals and plant life of the country. That, I appreciated.

Overall, this book just didn't work for me. I'm glad there were queer characters, but their relationships felt stilted or full of insta-love, and mostly, everything was just long and drawn out. 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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Don't take for granted the love this life gives you: MESSAGE IN THE SAND.

Message in the Sand by Hannah McKinnon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wendell Combs knows loss more than most. Both his parents are gone, along with his little brother. Wendell still lives in his hometown and he's found comfort in White Pines, the large estate of Alan Lancaster, his wife, and their two daughters, Julia and Pippa. There he can seek peace in the land and the animals. But all that changes when tragedy strikes. Suddenly, Wendell, Julia, and Pippa find their lives upended.

"It was true what others said about him: that Wendell preferred the company of animals to people."

This book was sadder than I expected for a Hannah McKinnon story, but it was excellent. I love McKinnon's work, and this was a very heartfelt read that delved into loss and the meaning of family.

I fell for Wendell immediately--I am a sucker for a loner who prefers animals to people! (I wonder why, ahem...) Throw in two kids (teenage Julia and six-year-old Pippa) and this was pretty much guaranteed to be a winner for me. The cast is also filled with other interesting female characters, including Candace, the girls' prickly aunt, whom they've never met; Roberta, an ex judge with strong ties to Wendell; and Ginny, Wendell's ex-girlfriend who has returned to town to help her parents with their real estate agency.

So, is the plot a little predictable at times? Sure. Do we care? Not at all. A few times the book veered toward overdone or a tad too schmaltzy for me, but otherwise I found it to be a sweet and touching tale. Julia was a tough and wonderful character and, as mentioned, I loved Wendell immediately. He is faced with the systematic destruction of White Pines, the place that saved him, in the novel, and watching him overcome that, as well as seeing Julia and Pippa become stronger--it's beautiful. I loved SAND's message about finding family in the most unexpected places. 4+ stars.

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The red thread that ties me to you: EIGHT PERFECT HOURS.

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Noelle Butterby has recently broken up with her boyfriend of twelve years, Ed. Ed found Noelle pathetic for staying home to take care of her ill Mum and therefore being unwilling to travel to the States with him for a new job. But for Noelle, it's more than that. Her family obligations are both confining and all she has--leaving her unable to fulfill her own dreams, including opening her own flower shop. On her way to her university reunion--the first time she's been out in ages--Noelle finds herself trapped on a snowy roadway. With traffic stalled for hours, she meets Sam, the man in the car next to hers. They form a small friendship over the eight hours they're stuck, bonding while she charges her phone and they forage for food. In those few hours, Noelle is truly, actually happy. But the roadway is cleared and Sam drives off. Yet, somehow, after their snowy time together, the universe seems to continue to throw Sam and Noelle together. Each is dealing with their own relationship woes, but they feel drawn to one another. Are Sam and Noelle meant to be? And can Noelle find her own way while dealing with the weight of her family responsibility?

"Eight hours. Eight tiny hours is all they were. And already I miss them. Ridiculous. I am ridiculous."

I fell completely for this charming story. It's completely lovely, with such wonderful characters in Noelle and Sam, whom I found myself rooting for from the beginning. There are enough obstacles that I actually found myself wondering if they would wind up together, yet determined that they were meant to be. The book is so sweet yet has its serious moments as well, and it tackles mental health in a honest way, dealing with depression, agoraphobia, and post-partum issues quite well.

"And I feel--something. I don't know what exactly. Alive. Buzzy. Like my blood is rushing with stars, with electricity."

Both Sam and Noelle lost someone early in their lives, and some parts of this book will hit hard if you lost a loved one in your early twenties--their grief feels so real and raw (also a trigger warning for suicide). Their lives have been changed by these deaths, as well as hanging on to relationships that may not be the best for them. Watching them bond is so heartwarming. This is such a romantic read, with excellent pieces of chemistry and sexual tension--it's so well-done and builds quite excellently. This isn't insta-love, but a good slow burn that feels passionate and honest.

Overall, I really loved this one. The romance is excellent, and the message of finding your way together when it was meant to be is beautiful. 4.5 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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The birds in the morning don't sing anymore: LITTLE DISASTERS.

Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A compelling and emotional thriller about motherhood

Liz and Jess have been friends since they met in a prenatal group over ten years ago. So Liz, a doctor in a pediatrics hospital ward, is of course anxious when Jess brings her youngest daughter, baby Betsey, in with a head injury. But the worry turns to further concern when Betsey's injury appears suspicious and Jess's explanations of how it occurred are insufficient. The incident in the ward sets off a series of events that will change the two women's friendship--and lives--forever.

"A voice singsongs in her head, like a child desperate for attention--You're a bad, bad mother--and she tries to shove it away."

Vaughan gives us an excellent read here--powerful, sad, and real, covering a variety of serious topics that are not always discussed. Child abuse, postpartum depression, martial strife: it's all here, in a heartbreaking novel that is, surprisingly, a compelling thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page. Little Disasters is captivating, offering us front row seats into family tragedy and strife. Secrets are uncovered as the pages turn--not only for Jess and her husband, Ed--but also for Liz, as we learn more about her past and her own troubled mother, who had a dark history as well.

Vaughan expertly weaves the past and present together, giving us a taunt and compelling narrative, part mystery, part insight into relationships and motherhood. This wasn't always easy to read, given the difficult subjects, yet I found myself desperately wanting to know what happened to Betsey and what would become of the two women. Overall, this is a well-done thriller and enjoyable in its original plot and emotional realism. 4 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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I go to my heart on my knees: MUSICAL CHAIRS.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A charming and delightful look at family and friendship

Bridget and Will are the best of friends--and nothing more--despite what everyone thinks. For over thirty years, they've been the two long-standing members of the Forsyth Trio. The third founding member, Gavin, went on to great success and stardom, leaving Bridget and Will to fill the position with a rotating crew of musicians. Before starting up the trio again, Bridget plans on spending the summer at her country house in Connecticut near her father, the famous musician Edward Stratton. But things go awry quickly. Her boyfriend breaks it off with her; her twenty-something twins surprise her by returning to the house for the summer, bringing their chaos with them; and the older Edward announces he's getting married. Will and Bridget decide to relaunch the Forsyth Trio at the wedding, but it all hinges on getting Gavin to return--someone they've both been avoiding for quite some time.

This is a charming and funny story. If it sounds all over the place, it's only because it's a reflection on Bridget's life, which is a total mess at the beginning of our tale. Each character in Poeppel's heartfelt tome is wonderful: real and true, standing out on the page as their own person. I fell easily for poor Bridget, hapless Will, the twins, and our host of side characters, ranging from Bridget's very New York-ish sister to Gwen to uppity Edward and his assistant to the local Connecticut townfolk who swarm to try to keep Bridget--and her cottage--from falling apart.

There's a lot of focus on music here--with Bridget, Will, and Edward all musicians, and it makes for a different and lovely book. While plenty of serious things happen, overall this is a sweet and funny story. I found myself smiling and laughing often while reading. There are some downright laugh out loud scenes. Bridget's inability to master technology, coupled with the helplessness of her twins, allow for some wonderful moments. But what really shines through is how much everyone here loves each other--Bridget and her kids, the whole Stratton family, and Will, who is truly part of the clan. How nice to read a book where, even if everyone might fight a day, their compassion and caring for each other shines through.

And, of course, I have a soft spot for any book featuring twins, so I enjoyed a prominent storyline featuring them.

Overall, this is delightful book that offered a wonderful distraction to the woes of the world. It's a funny and kind look at family and friendship, and it simply made me happy. 4+ stars.

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

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Must bar the windows and the doors: STRIKE ME DOWN.

Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nora Trier is a forensic accountant. She prides herself on her lack of bias and her ability to stay completely independent in her cases. As such, she's able to catch a lot of criminals. That all changes when Strike, a large athletic and kickboxing company hires Nora's firm. They are headed by Logan Russo, a bold famous athlete and hero to the world, and her husband, Greg Abbott, who runs the marketing side of the company. Strike is ready to launch their biggest event yet--a kickboxing tournament, Strike Down, with fighters all over the world competing for twenty million dollars in prize money. But there's a small problem: the money is missing. Greg suspects his wife has taken it, sabotaging her own company. Nora's firm places her in charge of finding the missing funds--just days before Strike Down--and are unaware of own her ties to Strike. As the clock ticks down, Nora begins to unravel a web of secrets that threatens her independence--and her life.


"Numbers, like people, have no inherent quality. Their value lies only in their relation to others and what they represent. Good. Bad. Strong. Weak. These are descriptions given by the counter. The counter weaves a story into the number, a narrative combining quantity and quality, fact and fiction. Numbers by themselves are invisible, much like the counters."


This was certainly an intriguing book with an interesting premise. Nora and her firm are given only a few days to find the money missing from Strike's coffers. Strike is run and controlled solely by Logan and Greg, without outside influence from shareholders. As such, they are self-made. But that's also made them vulnerable to such a theft. I honestly would have liked to see more of the forensic accounting pieces--I'm a big dork. For instance, Nora's company has a computer named Inga who searches emails for clues and patterns. I would have been fine seeing and learning more about Inga at work.


"Five days. Twenty million dollars. The pressure was indisputably on."


The book, however, was focused more on personalities, with much of the story told via Nora and Greg's eyes. This would have been fine, but I never really felt much of a connection with either of these characters. Or Logan Russo, either, despite her portrayal as a dynamic, forceful heroine who has impacted a generation of kickboxers and athletes. Nora makes a series of bad decisions and seems oddly obsessed with Logan for no real reason--a weird focus that is never really explained. She has a past that has led her to her role in forensic accounting, but it never really leads to much in the end. Greg is a focused businessman on the outs with his wife, and I never felt much sympathy with him. And Logan, as mentioned, who is supposed to be the core of this book, just falls flat until nearly the end of the novel.


"For forty years she'd been invisible, a quality she'd not only taken for granted, but turned into her greatest asset. She was the unseen eye, the counter nobody counted, who wove numbers into dark and avaricious stories."


Overall, the book is just weird. I feel bad putting that in a review without much further explanation, but I don't want to put spoilers. It's strange. Yes, it's compelling, in some ways, but I never felt like I needed to get back to reading it. I was interested about what happened to the money, but also had a good inkling early on about what really went down (and was proved right). Maybe if you connect more with the characters, this will be a true page-turner. It's still a tense read and different, for sure. I did enjoy the ending, and I actually felt something for the characters there. Therefore, this one squeaks by at 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books.

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I'm the fallen man's daughter: SAILING LESSONS.

Sailing Lessons by Hannah McKinnon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Bailey sisters grew up on Cape Cod--and overall, they are fairly close. The sisters are particularly bonded by the fact that their father, Caleb, left when they were small, after a traumatic incident that affected each sister in their own way. Wren remained on the island and is now raising her daughter, Lucy, while juggling an attempt to open a small business. Her older sister, Shannon, is a perfectionist leading a picture-perfect Cape life with her husband and three children: at least that's how it appears. As for the youngest, Piper, who barely even remembers her father: she fled to Boston, where she's spent years pursuing educational degrees she isn't sure she wants. And her love life? Don't ask. The girls' mother, Lindy, has settled down on the island with her second husband, Hank. All in all, everyone has a routine. But Caleb disturbs all that when he sends a letter, asking to return and see the girls again. Each sister responds differently to his return, and each much confront their own past--and present--in light of Caleb's presence.

I really enjoyed this book, and I found myself quite enraptured by its characters. I'm a sucker for some island-themed fiction (I'd love to go to the Cape or Nantucket someday, though I'll be so sad when everyone there isn't grappling with family issues and/or falling in love at first sight!). This was one of the books that I read at the right time, as I needed a story I could escape into. I started it while I was on "vacation" (a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with six-year-old twins - you determine if this counts as a vacation), and I found myself wishing I could transport myself to a beach somewhere to finish it.

The characters in this tale are simply interesting and fascinating. I don't know how else to say it, except I liked them, you know? OK, it took a little while to warm up to Shannon, but I could definitely relate to bits of her anxious characteristics. But I especially loved Wren and Hank. I could just picture them so easily, and I was rooting for them the entire way. (I sort of want Hank to be my Dad now.) Even Caleb was an intriguing sort of guy in his own way.


"He'd been given a talent for capturing images and a woman whom he'd loved with a fierceness that he could never seem to capture. And he'd lost it all."


So, yes, there's a bit of predictability to this one, but there's a comfortableness to it that I really liked (and needed). And there were definitely some pieces I didn't always see coming, too. Plus, I was so caught up in the characters that I was along for the ride, no matter what. They were well-written, and I was invested in their lives, which is a sign of good women's fiction, in my opinion. I had a bit of a dysfunctional childhood myself, so maybe I could relate well to this one; it just worked well for me.


"'Memory has weight. We carry it around with us in our baskets.' It had sounded lovely to her ears as a kid, this bountiful collection: a bushel of fruit, a bouquet of flowers. But as she grew, it took on a new meaning. There were days Shannon wished to set her basket of memories down; days she wished to abandon it altogether."


Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, easy-moving plot--it was just a good read. I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to the sisters and their clan by the end. 4 stars.

I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more). Look, I'm doing a little better at trying to read books I actually *own* (though this will be re-swapped soon)!

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There's plenty left to make a getaway: LEAVE NO TRACE.

Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia

My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars


Maya Stark is twenty-three and an assistant speech therapist at Congdon, a facility for the mentally ill. She's had a tough past, and it isn't easy for her to form attachments with anyone. Maya's mom left when she was a kid, and Maya was once a patient at the facility where she now works. So she's surprised when she feels drawn to Congdon's newest patient, nineteen-year-old Lucas Blackthorn. Lucas arrives at Congdon after being arrested for breaking and entering into a wilderness store. Lucas and his father, Josiah, haven't been seen in ten years: Josiah took his son camping in the vast stretch of Minnesota territory known as the Boundary Waters a decade ago and the two haven't been heard from since. It's clear that Lucas wants nothing more than to return to the Boundary Waters. He's a recalcitrant and sometimes violent patient, who will cooperate with no one but Maya. Maya wants to help Lucas, and she wants to know why she feels so strong for this strange and angry boy.

This was my first Mejia book, and while it wasn't quite what I was expecting (I was thinking more mystery, less character-driven novel), it was really interesting. It's told mostly from Maya's point of view, but we hear some from Lucas and others too. It's a very readable book--I tore through it quickly, as there's something gripping about the style and reveal of facts about both Maya and Lucas' lives. We start out knowing very little about either of them--what put Maya in Congdon, what drove Lucas and Josiah into the Boundary Waters, and the novel does a good job of keeping you reading and wondering.

It's an emotional read--obviously being partially set in a mental hospital, it deals with mental illness. I thought, overall, Mejia did a good job with the topic, but if that's a trigger for you, just keep it in mind. The ancillary characters are pretty sparse: Maya's boss, the patients, Maya's dad, etc., but all are well-formed as well. Maya and Lucas are the stars, and both are well-done and easy to picture. The novel did a great job of pulling together all its various pieces. I was impressed how Mejia brought together the different parts of Lucas and Maya's lives--it's quite exceptionally thought out.

Probably the only thing marring this one for me were little things, but they nagged at me a bit. At times, the care Lucas receives seems odd and a bit weirdly thought out--giving a speech therapist such control over his care, for instance, and taking a violent patient into some strange situations. Maya and Lucas' instant attachment was also a little hard to completely believe, as well. But those were pretty small pieces in the scheme of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed my first Mejia book. The plot was the best part for me--I loved how it was a quick read and how enjoyable it was to put together all the various pieces of Lucas and Maya's lives. While there were a few little quirks that kept this from being a 4-star read, it was still a solid, worthwhile read. 3.75 stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!); it is available everywhere.

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