The wind blows where it will: ANATOMY OF AN ALIBI.

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an excellent page-turner that keeps you guessing!

We have Camille, a wealthy woman married to a well-known lawyer, Ben. And we have Aubrey, a waitress whose life was drastically changed by an accident over ten years ago. Camille and Aubrey's lives are about to intersect--and Ben's is about to end. My favorite character was easily Hank, Ben's law partner. We get narrations from Hank, Aubrey, and Camille.

It's good to go into this book blind and just enjoy it. Sure it's wild with a slightly preposterous plot, but it's twisty and dark and a really good read, too.

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

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She drives a hard bargain with a woman's touch: WE ALL LIVE HERE.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I typically enjoy Jojo Moyes, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s engaging, but it treads familiar ground—a struggling, divorced author and mom juggling family chaos and career uncertainty.

Lila is trying to keep life together post-divorce, raising her daughters, Celie and Violet, while sharing a home with her stepfather, Bill, who moved in after her mother passed away. The irony? She built her career on a bestselling book about her "perfect" marriage—one that has since crumbled. Now, she’s under pressure from her publisher to rebrand as a fun, sexy single mom, but inspiration is nowhere to be found.

Enter her long-estranged father, Gene, a charming yet self-absorbed actor. His sudden reappearance stirs up plenty of tension, particularly with Bill, who harbors deep resentment toward him. As Lila struggles with writer’s block, family drama, and personal insecurities, nothing seems to be going as planned.

I had a hard time fully rooting for Lila. While character growth is essential, she often comes across as self-absorbed—neglecting her kids, belittling the kindhearted gardener, and using people's personal stories as writing material without much thought. She also fails to appreciate either of her father figures. Gene, for all his flaws, at least has some heartwarming moments with her daughters, and Bill, despite his quirks (and questionable health-conscious cooking), is endearingly steadfast.

Honestly, I would have loved more from Gene, Bill, and Celie’s perspectives. Their dynamics were more compelling than Lila’s romantic woes, which felt repetitive. While the story is easy to read, it doesn’t break new ground. Lila’s fixation on needing a man overshadowed the strong family bonds already present in her life, which was frustrating.

Overall, this is a quick, readable novel, but not one that will stay with me.

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We get years of practice camouflaging shame: PINEAPPLE STREET.

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

PINEAPPLE STREET introduces us to the three Stockton siblings: Darley, Cord, and Georgiana. Each is a rich, privileged New Yorker raised by parents who have more money than most of us can ever fathom. Their story is told by Darley, Georgiana, and Cord's wife, Sasha, a "regular" girl who married into the wealthy Stocktons and is immediately deemed a gold-digger by her sister-in-laws. Is it any surprise that Sasha quickly became my favorite? For a decent part of this book, the original Stockton clan seemed spoiled, clueless, and utterly ridiculous.

PINEAPPLE STREET attempts to make deep points about income inequality and generational wealth, but it's difficult when its characters are shallow and often unredeeming: their world contained to the privileged "fruit streets" of Brooklyn.

Still, there's something oddly compelling about this clan, even if we're just getting a sneak peak into their daily lives. There's a voyeuristic aspect of watching people spend and deal with amazing amounts of money not known to the average human. Still, I'm not sure I learned much more from this book than our characters did by the end.


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I wanna be at least almost close to worth your love: FIRST LIE WINS.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Very rarely does a popular book live up to the hype, but this was a really good one!

Evie and Ryan seem like a great couple. He's a handsome, wealthy guy whom she lucked out meeting when her car got an unexpected flat tire. On the surface, Evie looks like a nice girl trying to land a great guy. But beyond that, we learn that Evie doesn't actually exist--Ryan just happens to be her latest mark in a long line of jobs. However, her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, has just changed the rules, and things are about to get crazy, fast.

It's best to go into LIES as blind as you can, because this is a wonderful cat and mouse story filled with people playing games with other people. Secrets, twists, and--you guessed it--lies abound! Sure, you have to suspend a little disbelief here and there, but it's worth it, like watching a really fun popcorn action flick. Reading about everyone trying to get the upper hand over everyone else is exciting and suspenseful, as it's pretty much impossible to figure out what will come next!

I loved that this book was different from most of the thrillers I read and that I couldn't work out the story. A thriller that surprises me is a fun, worthy read. 4.5 stars.

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I was always sad, mom was always mad: EVERYONE HERE IS LYING.

Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

Angry and devastated when his affair with a neighbor unravels, William Wooler returns home in the middle of the day and surprises his nine-year-old daughter, Avery. The two argue and William angrily leaves. A few hours later, William and his wife declare Avery missing.

This is a fast-paced read focusing on a group of people in a neighborhood tied together by their secrets and various lies. It's easy to suspect everyone in the neighborhood once Avery goes missing--her angry dad; the husband of the woman with whom he was having an affair; a shifty teenage boy, and so on. The book starts off like gangbusters, sucking you in with Avery's disappearance and the various points of view of the neighbors. The short chapters keep things moving, with lots of intrigue and messed up relationships. Everyone suspects one another, and it seems as if there are no happy marriages or strong relationships with their children. The book slowed a little near the end and the vague ending ruined things a little for me. This was still a mysterious and enjoyable read. 3.75 stars.

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Empty glasses and empty promises: SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nisha lives a glamorous life with her wealthy husband, but it all ends when he abruptly cuts her off and asks for a divorce. Nisha has no friends, no place to stay, and no access to her clothes or belongings in the hotel where they've been staying. The same day Carl cuts her off, Nisha accidentally swaps bags with someone at the gym, losing her fabulous red Christian Louboutin shoes. The person who finds them is Sam, a struggling mom who is dealing with an unemployed and depressed husband, a horrible boss, a best friend with cancer, and a soul-sucking job. Sam puts the shoes on for a business meeting and feels an amazing surge of confidence. Both women are at their lowest points--what will come next?

I almost put this one down, as it took a bit to warm up to the story and the characters at first. The beginning piece with the shoe swap, Sam finding the shoes, and Nisha losing everything is oddly slow. Luckily things pick up as Nisha expands her horizons, making a friend and getting job at the hotel where she once stayed in the penthouse. I never fully warmed to Sam, though I certainly empathized with some of her plight. Her story focused on her depressed husband, terrible job and boss, and awful parents who took terrible advantage of her. She seemed like quite a punching bag for a really long time, and I did not always care for the fact that, while, yes, her husband was very frustrating, depression was sometimes seen as something she wanted for him to just get over.

The best part of SHOES is its focus on friendship and the strong bonds that form between the female characters in the novel. Nisha turns out to be a spitfire, along with her awesome friend, Jasmine. Sam's friend Andrea, who is suffering from cancer, is also a wonderfully strong character too. There's plenty to laugh and cheer about as everyone unites for a common cause. There's even a bit of a mystery, as it seems Carl wants Nisha's red shoes... but why?

Overall, this is fun book centered around friendship and found family. It's a little slow to start and a few plot pieces gave me pause, but it's a good, witty read. 3.75 stars, rounded to 4 here.

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'Cause there is so much wrong going on outside: NOT A HAPPY FAMILY.

Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars

NOT A HAPPY FAMILY is the twelfth book in my author challenge. Fred and Shelia Merton live in a fancy house in a wealthy neighborhood. They have three children, Dan, Catherine, and Jenna, whom they have spent most of their life emotionally abusing and neglecting. As such, the kids hate them. After a disastrous Easter family dinner, Fred and Sheila are murdered. If they had to be honest, the kids are a bit relieved: they will now inherit millions and their hateful parents are gone. But their meddling aunt is convinced one of them murdered her brother and she's out to prove it.

"Something awful has happened here."

FAMILY is a compelling, quick read. Told from multiple POV across our many characters, it's snappy and intriguing. Despite my instant dislike of Fred and Sheila--and, honestly, their children too--I wanted to know what happened. The kids turn on each other nearly at once, as predicted by the family's housekeeper and former nanny. The book is packed with unlikable characters, but in this case, it's almost where the joy of the novel comes from. Which terrible person committed this heinous act? They are all almost competing for the award of "worst person."

Lapena tosses in some good twists and turns and family secrets to keep us surprised. There are certainly some dark secrets buried here. I was not a fan of the ending and felt like it left too many things unresolved, knocking my rating down to a 3.75. Still, this a quick and enjoyable thriller and worth a read.

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I will not leave this pulse alone: THE PUSH.

The Push by Ashley Audrain
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I realized I need a book project to keep me reading the books on my shelves… so I’m turning to the ABCs again. This time, it’s authors. The only rule is the book can start with either the author’s first or last name, and I’m trying to prioritize BOTM books to meet my goal of reading twelve this year. Let’s see how I do!

My first choice was THE PUSH by Ashley Audrain (two As and a BOTM!). This was a mesmerizing psychological thriller about a woman, Blythe, who has always feared motherhood, based on her own childhood. After giving birth to Violet, she becomes convinced there’s something wrong with her. Violet doesn't act like other kids. Her husband Fox says it's all in her head. When their second child, Sam, is born, Blythe has a wonderful connection with him--motherhood is finally everything she's wanted. But then it all changes in a devastating moment, and Blythe must face the awful truth she's been fearing.

THE PUSH offers a very honest and brutal look at motherhood. It definitely kept me flipping the pages! It starts off with a bang, then dragged a bit for me in the middle. It's certainly serious and sad, and, at times, a mystery as well. THE PUSH will keep you thinking long after you've turned that last page. 3.5 stars.

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I'm not ready to back down: THE GIVER OF STARS.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

My rating: 4+ of 5 stars


This was such a great read—I was completely caught up in the story, set in 1930s Kentucky. It tells of a group of women who agree to set up a traveling library—where the books are delivered via horseback—per the direction of Eleanor Roosevelt and the WPA.

What a vivid and mesmerizing tale. We are introduced to Alice, who comes from England to Kentucky after her marriage. But her union isn’t all she imagined, and she finds herself feeling trapped and alone—until she joins the library. They are led by Margery, who refuses to fit the mold of the typical Kentucky woman, much to the ire of some townspeople, including Alice’s father-in-law, who runs the local mine.

The plot is dramatic, riveting, and, honestly, stressful at times (I was so invested). I loved the idea of a tale that mixes the power of books and reading with the power of women and the fear so many had of both. You’d like to think a lot has changed since the ‘30s, but this felt rather timely sometimes... The book also speaks eloquently to the racial divide, classism, and more. I found many parts to be so touching and others very powerful. This is a book that speaks to you on a variety of levels.

Overall, this is a beautiful book, with a strong and moving message. Definitely recommend! 4+ stars.

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But lately all I do seems to wreck you: AN UNWANTED GUEST.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Mitchell's Inn is a lovely lodge far away from the hustle and bustle of it all--there's no wifi, just a relaxing setting, good food, and comfortable rooms. But this particular weekend, things go awry when a bad storm hits, covering the Inn in ice and knocking out the power: there's no phone service or the ability for anyone to leave the premises. Then, by morning, one of the guests is dead. It could be an accident, but no one can say for sure. And when the second guest dies, it's certain: they are trapped with a murderer. There's no power, no contact with the world, and someone is slowly killing them off. Is someone else next and how do the remaining guests stay safe?


"It feels like they're playing at something, some sort of parlor game, or murder mystery evening, with the lights out. Only no one's having fun."


Believe it or not, I've never read a book by Shari Lapena, but I was drawn to this one due to the Agatha Christie comparisons, as I'm a sucker for anything similar to Christie. And this one definitely had some likenesses, with the guests trapped in the Inn, limiting our pool of suspects (and victims). Weirdly enough, my brain kept occasionally going to the movie Clue too - silly, I know, but something about the setting!

This book draws you in from the beginning; the first death happens fairly quickly. There are a lot of characters to keep track of: most are in pairs, and I found myself flipping back a page or two trying to remember who was attached to whom for a while. The narration style is in very short paragraphs, each from the perspective of a different guest. This gives you a bit of whiplash feel at times, as you never really get to fully immerse yourself in anyone's point of view. Still, while I did feel things slowed slightly after the first death, for the most part it keeps things moving fairly quickly and lets you see things from a variety of sides.

Lapena is also very descriptive and sets the scene well. It's easy to picture this lovely Inn--which quickly turns dark and disastrous. The book is actually creepy and eerie at times; I won't go into detail as to why, to avoid spoilers, but I definitely found myself a little spooked. In fact, I was surprised the guests were so calm in the beginning, what with a dead woman and no power! (Don't worry, it won't last.) The novel allows you to think how you'd feel in that particular situation. It certainly doesn't encourage you to go vacation at a remote Inn anytime soon.

I was certainly completely perplexed at whodunnit, so kudos to Lapena for that. With such a limited cast of characters (and getting slimmer every moment), that's quite a feat. I thought the ending was a bit tidy and I was left feeling oddly letdown; I'm not sure I can even explain why.

Overall, I enjoyed this one even I didn't wildly love it. It does have a bit of a Christie feel to it, and it kept me guessing. The scene setting is excellent, and I liked the eerie, trapped sense I felt while reading. It wraps up a tad neatly, but I'd still recommend it. 3.5+ stars.

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But this old heart is still the same: STILL ME.

Still Me by Jojo Moyes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Louisa Clark is attempting to follow advice to live boldly and try new things, which leads her to New York City. There, she becomes enmeshed in the life of the wealthy Gopnik family, serving as Agnes Gopnik's personal assistant. As such, Lou has plenty of time to tend to Agnes' every whim, but it takes some time to realize she might not be spending quite so much time on finding herself. Lou is far away from her boyfriend, Sam, who is still serving as a paramedic in England, and they are finding that long-distance romance isn't so easy. Meanwhile, Lou meets a new friend in New York, Joshua Ryan, who causes her to question many of her feelings. Lou loves New York, its pace and fashion, and many of the people she meets. But she still feels torn between worlds and her quest to discover who she really is, for once and for all.

I had no idea that Moyes was writing a third book in this series until recently and also had no clue where the story would go, but I have come to really care for the character of Louisa and knew I'd read it. I have to say, this one really surprised me, and I ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would. While pieces of it may be a bit predictable, other parts were a little surprising, and the cast of characters is just so enjoyable that you get sucked in immediately. I found myself looking forward to immersing myself in the novel after a long day. It was refreshing to see Lou start to look inward a bit more, maybe grow up a tad, and start looking after herself more. After all these novels, you feel responsible for her and also get frustrated with her decisions, as if she's a sister or friend of your own.

The novel does a strong job of showing how Lou is tugged between two places--America and England--and struggling to discover where she belongs. It also illustrates some surprising similarities between herself and her wealthy patron. Watching Lou deal with Agnes' secrets--and, as the younger wife of an older, wealthy man, she has many--you get to see her mettle and true character. There are also some lovely and funny appearances by Lou's family, whom I've come to quite adore. You'll fall for the Gopnik's eclectic neighbor, Margot, as well.

This novel is surprisingly touching at times and really I just enjoyed it. It's a typically well-written novel from Moyes, featuring well-loved characters and a cast of new, engaging ones that you can't help but fall for and love (or dislike, as required) as well. If you've enjoyed Lou before, I think you'll find this a nice addition. If you haven't read about her journey, I encourage you to go back and pick up the first book--she's a rewarding character to discover.

You can read my review of ME BEFORE YOU here and AFTER YOU here.

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