en-US Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:43:03 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 217388258 Was it...
Bitter, all-consuming jealousy?
Pathological sibling rivalry?
Pure insanity?

Whatever the cause—and everyone has a theory—it's the Crime of the Decade when glamorous Georgia Cartwright, who was adopted as a newborn, is accused of killing the biological daughter of her wealthy, Southern family.

Georgia is locked in a psychiatric institution where the most violent offenders are held while she awaits trial. The only words she whispers when her estranged twin sister Amanda visits are, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.�

Amanda doesn't trust Georgia, but she can't abandon her in a place so eerie and menacing that it seems to exist in another dimension. Is Georgia the victim of a powerful family that's so depraved murder is the least of their crimes? Or is Amanda being led down a path of madness into the web of a master manipulator?

Nothing is as it seems in Sarah Pekkanen’s The Locked Ward, a shocking psychological thriller about the complex bonds of sisterhood—and what happens when they are stretched to the breaking point.

Some doors in the Locked Ward should never be opened.]]> 320 Sarah Pekkanen 1250349516 JanB 0 3.90 2025
author: Sarah Pekkanen
name: JanB
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: currently-reading, 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley
review:

]]> 213870076
In the first year after her child is born, Jane suffers a series of strange episodes: amnesia, premonitions, hallucinations, and an inexplicable sense of dread. As her psychiatrist struggles to solve the mystery of what is happening to Jane’s mind, she suddenly goes missing. A day later she is found unconscious in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, in the midst of what seems to be an episode of dissociative fugue; when she comes to, she has no memory of what has happened to her.

Are Jane’s strange experiences related to the overwhelm of single motherhood, or are they the manifestation of a long-buried trauma from her past? Why is she having visions of a young man who died twenty years ago, who warns her of a disaster ahead? Jane’s symptoms lead her psychiatrist ever-deeper into the furthest reaches of her mind, and cause him to question everything he thought he knew about so-called reality—including events in his own life.

Karen Thompson Walker’s profound and beautifully written novel is a speculative mystery about memory, identity, and fate, a mesmerizing story about the bonds of love between a mother and child, a man and a woman, and those who we’ve lost but may still be alive among us.]]> 288 Karen Thompson Walker 1984853945 JanB 5 2025-reads, netgalley
The story is told in a dual perspective between Jane and her psychiatrist. Together, they begin to unravel what happened to Jane.

Jane is unremarkable, an average Jane. But when she is found in a public place with no memory of how she got there, the authorities delve deep into her life. She's worried about her young son, who was left at his daycare when she entered a state of fugue.

Jane suffers from amnesia, premonitions, and hallucinations. She tells the story to her psychiatrist of how she saw a man who she knows to be dead. Jane has a photograph memory. She forgets nothing and can remember events in her past down to the most inconsequential details. There are a lot of details which must be pieced together to get a complete picture of her life.

Meanwhile, Henry, the psychiatrist, has secrets of his own.

What follows is a compelling story where the reader is never quite sure what is going on, but I was left so curious the pages flew by. I was completely immersed in their stories.

This is a chilling story that has threads of the pandemic in these pages but years before the actual pandemic of 2020. Time is fluid, which is a major theme in this book.

This is such a unique premise and beautifully written. I don't want to say too much, but this a compelling and mind-bending story that made me think. I love a book that delves into the inner workings of the mind and this book delivered! Speculative fiction can be hit or miss, but this was a complete hit for me.

I realize my thoughts are all over the place, much like this book. Read it for yourself!

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.]]> 3.94 2025
author: Karen Thompson Walker
name: JanB
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: 2025-reads, netgalley
review:
I've loved the author's previous books so jumped into this one without hesitation.

The story is told in a dual perspective between Jane and her psychiatrist. Together, they begin to unravel what happened to Jane.

Jane is unremarkable, an average Jane. But when she is found in a public place with no memory of how she got there, the authorities delve deep into her life. She's worried about her young son, who was left at his daycare when she entered a state of fugue.

Jane suffers from amnesia, premonitions, and hallucinations. She tells the story to her psychiatrist of how she saw a man who she knows to be dead. Jane has a photograph memory. She forgets nothing and can remember events in her past down to the most inconsequential details. There are a lot of details which must be pieced together to get a complete picture of her life.

Meanwhile, Henry, the psychiatrist, has secrets of his own.

What follows is a compelling story where the reader is never quite sure what is going on, but I was left so curious the pages flew by. I was completely immersed in their stories.

This is a chilling story that has threads of the pandemic in these pages but years before the actual pandemic of 2020. Time is fluid, which is a major theme in this book.

This is such a unique premise and beautifully written. I don't want to say too much, but this a compelling and mind-bending story that made me think. I love a book that delves into the inner workings of the mind and this book delivered! Speculative fiction can be hit or miss, but this was a complete hit for me.

I realize my thoughts are all over the place, much like this book. Read it for yourself!

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
]]> 214175092 After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.

Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota whoĚýwants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.

Thirty years before, Hana was someone Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.

Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.]]> 320 Allen Eskens 0316566314 JanB 4
I appreciate reading a book that highlighted the history of the Bosnian-Serbian War. The atrocities were horrific and difficult to read. This happened in our recent lifetime, and we should never ever forget.

I won't go into the plot, and the details of the Serbian-Bosnian War are easy to find and worth the rabbit hole I went down. We all need to be better informed.

HF is not a genre I prefer, for many reasons, which I won't go into. I've made no secret of the fact that I prefer non-fiction when reading about history. Yet, I still appreciate the author highlighting this period of history, which led me down a path to learn even more of this horrific war.

But, I didn't find this particular telling compelling. Yes, it was brutal and horrific, and yes, the revenge plot was understandable and based in truth. Yet, the revenge plot was predictable and was a slog at times. The ending, while unsurprising, was tense enough to bump my rating up to a 4.

HF readers will likely love this more than I did. My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I had a great discussion. It would make a terrific book club read.]]> 4.22 2025
author: Allen Eskens
name: JanB
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, historical-fiction
review:
My review is a bit of a mixed bag. 3.5 stars

I appreciate reading a book that highlighted the history of the Bosnian-Serbian War. The atrocities were horrific and difficult to read. This happened in our recent lifetime, and we should never ever forget.

I won't go into the plot, and the details of the Serbian-Bosnian War are easy to find and worth the rabbit hole I went down. We all need to be better informed.

HF is not a genre I prefer, for many reasons, which I won't go into. I've made no secret of the fact that I prefer non-fiction when reading about history. Yet, I still appreciate the author highlighting this period of history, which led me down a path to learn even more of this horrific war.

But, I didn't find this particular telling compelling. Yes, it was brutal and horrific, and yes, the revenge plot was understandable and based in truth. Yet, the revenge plot was predictable and was a slog at times. The ending, while unsurprising, was tense enough to bump my rating up to a 4.

HF readers will likely love this more than I did. My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I had a great discussion. It would make a terrific book club read.
]]> 216437557 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer comes a new playful yet deeply emotional contemporary romance.

There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong�

. . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date—possibly the best in living history—Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be.

Only no amount of distance or time is nearly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.]]> 416 Abby Jimenez 0349442827 JanB 0 4.38 2025
author: Abby Jimenez
name: JanB
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves: currently-reading, 2025-reads, audiobook, rom-com
review:

]]> 217387739 From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.

In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.

At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.

Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?

Told through multiple points of view in past and present—and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift—Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days we all remember in the dorms when our friends become our family.]]> 320 Alex Finlay 1250360722 JanB 2
I loved his book, The Night Shift, but I’m afraid that was a one off.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.]]> 3.65 2025
author: Alex Finlay
name: JanB
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
Sooo many characters and a dual timeline left me confused, and not really caring.

I loved his book, The Night Shift, but I’m afraid that was a one off.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
]]> 217387810 It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch� Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.

The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t swim—but fakes it that she can.

Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!

But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.]]> 320 Katherine Center 1250283825 JanB 5 I rate a book on how it makes me feel so this was a complete winner!

Katie isn’t the first woman to have body image issues but hers are complicated by growing up with a negative and critical stepmother, and then enduring vicious online attacks on her looks when a picture of her and her rock-star ex surfaced.

Don’t we all engage in negative self-talk? Aren’t we our own worst critic? I think many of us can identify with Katie on some level.

Currently, Katie’s job is on the line, so when she is offered a job to produce a documentary on Hutch, a coast Guard rescue swimmer, she takes it. Never mind that she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t swim, she will learn when she arrives. Desperate times require desperate measures. What ensues is often laugh out loud funny.

When Katie arrives in Key West, she meets the delightful Aunt Rue, her gal friends, as well as Hutch and his rescue Great Dane, George Bailey. Rue makes it her mission to make Katie feel at home and sets her up in one of her colorful cottages, while arranging swim lessons.

No surprise that her swim instructor, much to Katie’s surprise, is none other than Hutch.

What follows is a mixture of hilarity and seriousness. I loved Rue and her friends, and George Bailey, the Great Dane, completely won my heart. I loved the sense of community this group built in Key West. Rue in particular is colorful, warm, and inviting.

In this genre, the focus is on the journey and I enjoyed Katie’s journey as she faced her fears and learned self-acceptance and self-love. The focus on friendships & community was an added bonus.

If I have any complaints I don’t think Cole’s character added much to the story and I’m not a fan of the web of lies as a plot device.

But despite those flaws, I found this a delightful read that addresses some important issues, all while making me wish I was the one living in the Key West cottage and sitting around the pool in colorful clothing having cocktails with Rue & her friends.

An added bonus is learning more about the Coast Guard and the rescuers. The author did her research and it shows.

Enjoy life, silence your inner critic, face your fears, and enjoy to the fullest this one spectacular life we’ve been given.

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end! I love, love, love her thoughts and perspective.

I received a digital review copy via NetGalley . All opinions are my own]]> 4.04 2025
author: Katherine Center
name: JanB
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: 2025-reads, fiction, netgalley
review:
I really enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars!
I rate a book on how it makes me feel so this was a complete winner!

Katie isn’t the first woman to have body image issues but hers are complicated by growing up with a negative and critical stepmother, and then enduring vicious online attacks on her looks when a picture of her and her rock-star ex surfaced.

Don’t we all engage in negative self-talk? Aren’t we our own worst critic? I think many of us can identify with Katie on some level.

Currently, Katie’s job is on the line, so when she is offered a job to produce a documentary on Hutch, a coast Guard rescue swimmer, she takes it. Never mind that she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t swim, she will learn when she arrives. Desperate times require desperate measures. What ensues is often laugh out loud funny.

When Katie arrives in Key West, she meets the delightful Aunt Rue, her gal friends, as well as Hutch and his rescue Great Dane, George Bailey. Rue makes it her mission to make Katie feel at home and sets her up in one of her colorful cottages, while arranging swim lessons.

No surprise that her swim instructor, much to Katie’s surprise, is none other than Hutch.

What follows is a mixture of hilarity and seriousness. I loved Rue and her friends, and George Bailey, the Great Dane, completely won my heart. I loved the sense of community this group built in Key West. Rue in particular is colorful, warm, and inviting.

In this genre, the focus is on the journey and I enjoyed Katie’s journey as she faced her fears and learned self-acceptance and self-love. The focus on friendships & community was an added bonus.

If I have any complaints I don’t think Cole’s character added much to the story and I’m not a fan of the web of lies as a plot device.

But despite those flaws, I found this a delightful read that addresses some important issues, all while making me wish I was the one living in the Key West cottage and sitting around the pool in colorful clothing having cocktails with Rue & her friends.

An added bonus is learning more about the Coast Guard and the rescuers. The author did her research and it shows.

Enjoy life, silence your inner critic, face your fears, and enjoy to the fullest this one spectacular life we’ve been given.

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end! I love, love, love her thoughts and perspective.

I received a digital review copy via NetGalley . All opinions are my own
]]> 214151202 “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.�

Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.]]> 320 Clare Leslie Hall 166807818X JanB 5 The blurb says this book is perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing. I disagree. I was not a fan of Crawdads and I personally see no similarities between the two books.

This book has all the elements of a love story and a literary thriller with a murder trial, but this description fails to capture what makes this book special. The impossible choices and consequences when faced with the dilemmas these characters face makes it a propulsive and heartbreaking read.

I am NOT a fan of love triangles but the writing and characterization elevate it far above books with similar themes. I was pulled into their lives from the first page to the last. We know from the beginning someone was killed but we don’t know who or the details until later.

A few plot developments could be seen as predictable but did I care? No! The writing and emotional depth more than compensated for it. And there was still an unexpected surprise (or two) in store.

Set in a rural English village in the 1960s the environment is in itself a character in this story. I loved the descriptions of life on an English farm. The before chapters set in the 1950s gives context to the dilemma which these characters will face in the future.

I was completely captivated with this emotional, heartbreaking story, and finished it in less than 24 hours. I closed the last page with tears in my eyes and a sigh of satisfaction.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.45 2025
author: Clare Leslie Hall
name: JanB
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: 2025-reads, fiction, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
The blurb says this book is perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing. I disagree. I was not a fan of Crawdads and I personally see no similarities between the two books.

This book has all the elements of a love story and a literary thriller with a murder trial, but this description fails to capture what makes this book special. The impossible choices and consequences when faced with the dilemmas these characters face makes it a propulsive and heartbreaking read.

I am NOT a fan of love triangles but the writing and characterization elevate it far above books with similar themes. I was pulled into their lives from the first page to the last. We know from the beginning someone was killed but we don’t know who or the details until later.

A few plot developments could be seen as predictable but did I care? No! The writing and emotional depth more than compensated for it. And there was still an unexpected surprise (or two) in store.

Set in a rural English village in the 1960s the environment is in itself a character in this story. I loved the descriptions of life on an English farm. The before chapters set in the 1950s gives context to the dilemma which these characters will face in the future.

I was completely captivated with this emotional, heartbreaking story, and finished it in less than 24 hours. I closed the last page with tears in my eyes and a sigh of satisfaction.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 220161593 In this follow-up to #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ware’s multi-million copy mega-hit The Women in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock returns to attend the opening of a luxury hotel, only to find herself in a white-knuckled race across Europe.

When the invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury Swiss hotel—owned by reclusive billionaire Marcus Leidmann—arrives, it’s like the answer to a prayer. Three years after the birth of her youngest child, Lo Blacklock is ready to reestablish her journalism career, but post-pandemic travel journalism is a very different landscape from the one she left ten years ago.

The chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva is everything Lo’s ever dreamed of, and she hopes she can snag an interview with Marcus. Unfortunately, he proves to be even more difficult to pin down than his reputation suggests. When Lo gets a late-night call asking her to come to Marcus’s hotel room, she agrees despite her own misgivings. She’s greeted, however, by a woman claiming to be Marcus’s mistress, and in life-or-death jeopardy.

What follows is a thrilling cat-and-mouse pursuit across Europe, forcing Lo to ask herself just how much she’s willing to sacrifice to save this woman…and if she can even trust her?]]> 400 Ruth Ware 1668025620 JanB 0 to-read 3.81 2025
author: Ruth Ware
name: JanB
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 214152415 This riveting psychological thriller from master of twists Steve Cavanagh, author of the �unguessable and unputdownable� (Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author) Kill For Me, Kill for You, What if the witness was more twisted than the killer?

Something is wrong with Ruby Johnson.

A former resident of the ultra-elite Manhattan upper class, Ruby now works as a maid in the type of houses she used to live in. Unassuming, she sees everyone’s dirty secrets from the inside of their beautiful, renovated brownstones. But when Ruby witnesses a murder, she has wicked plans in mind that don’t involve telling the authorities the truth.

Eddie Flynn, streetwise ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, is the only lawyer in New York City willing to take on hopeless cases. And none is more hopeless than John Jackson’s—the gun that killed his neighbor found, with Jackson’s DNA, in his own home. Flynn and his unconventional team will need to use every trick they know to keep an innocent man from being locked up. But to save his client’s life, Eddie must first protect his own, as the scariest organized criminals in the city are out for his head.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda, Witness 8 is a fresh knockout page-turner from an author who is “the real deal� (Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author).]]> 416 Steve Cavanagh 1668049376 JanB 0
This was my first Eddie Flynn novel and I was expecting a legal thriller. Or at least a psychological thriller as the synopsis promised.

This actually is more of an action thriller. With a LOT of characters and side plots.

The book opened strongly and I would have enjoyed it more had the book focused on that case. I don’t enjoy stories where there’s more hit men, the mob, dirty cops, and killing/cracking of heads than investigation. The added theme of the wealthy behaving badly is not one I enjoy either (unless it’s tongue-in-cheek/funny)

This is a case of it’s me, not the book. Perhaps this isn’t the best book to start with in this much-loved series.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.]]> 4.15 2024
author: Steve Cavanagh
name: JanB
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley, dnf
review:
Dnf at 35%

This was my first Eddie Flynn novel and I was expecting a legal thriller. Or at least a psychological thriller as the synopsis promised.

This actually is more of an action thriller. With a LOT of characters and side plots.

The book opened strongly and I would have enjoyed it more had the book focused on that case. I don’t enjoy stories where there’s more hit men, the mob, dirty cops, and killing/cracking of heads than investigation. The added theme of the wealthy behaving badly is not one I enjoy either (unless it’s tongue-in-cheek/funny)

This is a case of it’s me, not the book. Perhaps this isn’t the best book to start with in this much-loved series.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
]]> 212806636 A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this epic saga of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam.

Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue.

Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.

Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival.]]> 368 Allegra Goodman 0593730089 JanB 2
This book is based on the extraordinary true story of the French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque.
Everything you need to know about her harrowing story can be found here:



If you want a fictionalized overwrought account of her story you will find it in this novel.

I have an issue with fiction based upon real people so I should have known to not pick this book up. But the hype roped me in. The angst and drama were OTT.

I much prefer non-fiction of people who walked this earth. For me, no fiction could compare with their real stories, so this story is not for me. My mistake!]]> 4.02 2025
author: Allegra Goodman
name: JanB
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/14
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves:
review:
I’m an outlier once again. I found this a boring slog,

This book is based on the extraordinary true story of the French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque.
Everything you need to know about her harrowing story can be found here:



If you want a fictionalized overwrought account of her story you will find it in this novel.

I have an issue with fiction based upon real people so I should have known to not pick this book up. But the hype roped me in. The angst and drama were OTT.

I much prefer non-fiction of people who walked this earth. For me, no fiction could compare with their real stories, so this story is not for me. My mistake!
]]> 214151333 A breathless, riveting novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally “normal� life for a career in stand-up comedy.

Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.

With her signature “deep empathy and insight� (Booklist), Harvard-trained neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author Lisa Genova has crafted another profoundly moving novel that makes complicated mental health issues accessible and human. More or Less Maddy is destined to become another classic like Still Alice.]]> 368 Lisa Genova 1668026163 JanB 5
Marialyce and I read this and we were both touched by Maddy’s story and impressed, once again, with Lisa Genova’s talent.

One of my very good friends had a son with bipolar, and I can say Lisa Genova did a phenomenal job of highlighting the challenges on both the person who has bipolar and on their family and loved ones.

Maddy suffers the hallmark cyclical symptoms, with extreme mood swings ranging from the depths of depression when she can barely get out of bed, to the reckless behavior during her manic phases. No one chooses this illness, and the illness doesn’t define the person. Maddy desperately wants to go back to who she was before.

In the author’s own words she chooses to “write about people who tend to be ignored, feared, and misunderstood because of what’s going on inside of their brains�. She’s tackled ALS, Huntington’s chores, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and autism. But this is the first time she’s written about mental illness, which carries the additional burden of shame, stigma, and judgment.

As a neuroscientist, the author knows about what she writes, and it’s clear in the acknowledgments she does extensive research from people who are living it.

It’s not an easy read. It’s heart wrenching to see Maddy experience the lows of depression, and the delusions of grandeur during manic episodes. The disease onset usually strikes young adults, an already uncertain, often tumultuous, time of their lives. Maddy must come to terms with her new normal at a time in life when young adults just want to fit in. It’s typical for sufferers to stop taking their medication during a calm phase, which of course leads to a manic episode. The disease causes behaviors that leads others to label them as “weird� or unlikable.

Being so close to a family whose son suffered with this disorder made this a difficult read. Many of the scenarios were all all too familiar. Unfortunately, our friend’s son, a brilliant, kind young man with a loving family and a promising future, did not survive this devastating illness, despite access to treatment. We have a long way to go.

I hope that readers will gain much understanding and empathy toward those who live with bipolar, a disorder that, according to the author’s note, has 47 million sufferers worldwide, 7 million of those who live in the U.S.]]> 4.23 2025
author: Lisa Genova
name: JanB
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction
review:
Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist whose mission is to write compelling fiction that brings understanding and empathy for the diseases she writes about, has won many well-deserved awards for her efforts. In this book, she provides a window into the world of bipolar disorder.

Marialyce and I read this and we were both touched by Maddy’s story and impressed, once again, with Lisa Genova’s talent.

One of my very good friends had a son with bipolar, and I can say Lisa Genova did a phenomenal job of highlighting the challenges on both the person who has bipolar and on their family and loved ones.

Maddy suffers the hallmark cyclical symptoms, with extreme mood swings ranging from the depths of depression when she can barely get out of bed, to the reckless behavior during her manic phases. No one chooses this illness, and the illness doesn’t define the person. Maddy desperately wants to go back to who she was before.

In the author’s own words she chooses to “write about people who tend to be ignored, feared, and misunderstood because of what’s going on inside of their brains�. She’s tackled ALS, Huntington’s chores, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and autism. But this is the first time she’s written about mental illness, which carries the additional burden of shame, stigma, and judgment.

As a neuroscientist, the author knows about what she writes, and it’s clear in the acknowledgments she does extensive research from people who are living it.

It’s not an easy read. It’s heart wrenching to see Maddy experience the lows of depression, and the delusions of grandeur during manic episodes. The disease onset usually strikes young adults, an already uncertain, often tumultuous, time of their lives. Maddy must come to terms with her new normal at a time in life when young adults just want to fit in. It’s typical for sufferers to stop taking their medication during a calm phase, which of course leads to a manic episode. The disease causes behaviors that leads others to label them as “weird� or unlikable.

Being so close to a family whose son suffered with this disorder made this a difficult read. Many of the scenarios were all all too familiar. Unfortunately, our friend’s son, a brilliant, kind young man with a loving family and a promising future, did not survive this devastating illness, despite access to treatment. We have a long way to go.

I hope that readers will gain much understanding and empathy toward those who live with bipolar, a disorder that, according to the author’s note, has 47 million sufferers worldwide, 7 million of those who live in the U.S.
]]> 215177041 I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died at forty-three. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, she’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants�?

From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.]]> 336 Marshall Karp JanB 2
The set up: Maggie is found to be suffering from the same fatal illness as her mother, who died at the age of 41. She is determined to find a suitable wife for her husband after she’s gone, after her father was the victim of a con artist after her mother died.

But the majority of the book is set in the past with teenage Maggie behaving badly while her friends, parents, and sister speak in pithy, smart-ass comments. They find hilarity and humor even when faced with the death. The problem is the humor wasn’t funny in the least.

Everything that happens in this book requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Everything, and I mean everything, is completely implausible. If it wasn’t so stupid and cheesy I would have been laughing.

The adults at 43 were indistinguishable from their 16 year old selves. They were all insufferable. The dialogue was ridiculous, and bears no resemblance to how people really talk to one another.

The final nail in the coffin is the author portrays women to be predatory, gold-digging, casserole-wielding piranhas out to snare new widowers in their web. Misogyny at its finest. Very offensive.

I was ready to DNF early but the glowing reviews kept me listening to the audiobook, sure that at 50% the book would pick up. It did not.

The synopsis promised a thriller with biting humor. Don’t believe it. The author seems like a good person, working with international charities, but it still doesn’t redeem this book.

A complete disappointment for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce.

The positive: January LaVoy did her usual excellent job narrating the audiobook.

2 VERY generous stars only because I finished it. With regret.

* I received a digital audio and e/book copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ]]> 4.30 2025
author: Marshall Karp
name: JanB
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley
review:
I’m on outlier island once again!

The set up: Maggie is found to be suffering from the same fatal illness as her mother, who died at the age of 41. She is determined to find a suitable wife for her husband after she’s gone, after her father was the victim of a con artist after her mother died.

But the majority of the book is set in the past with teenage Maggie behaving badly while her friends, parents, and sister speak in pithy, smart-ass comments. They find hilarity and humor even when faced with the death. The problem is the humor wasn’t funny in the least.

Everything that happens in this book requires a massive suspension of disbelief. Everything, and I mean everything, is completely implausible. If it wasn’t so stupid and cheesy I would have been laughing.

The adults at 43 were indistinguishable from their 16 year old selves. They were all insufferable. The dialogue was ridiculous, and bears no resemblance to how people really talk to one another.

The final nail in the coffin is the author portrays women to be predatory, gold-digging, casserole-wielding piranhas out to snare new widowers in their web. Misogyny at its finest. Very offensive.

I was ready to DNF early but the glowing reviews kept me listening to the audiobook, sure that at 50% the book would pick up. It did not.

The synopsis promised a thriller with biting humor. Don’t believe it. The author seems like a good person, working with international charities, but it still doesn’t redeem this book.

A complete disappointment for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce.

The positive: January LaVoy did her usual excellent job narrating the audiobook.

2 VERY generous stars only because I finished it. With regret.

* I received a digital audio and e/book copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 211004089
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty of life here, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.

Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, the characters must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.]]> 303 Charlotte McConaghy 1250827957 JanB 5
During a severe storm, a woman, Rowan, washes ashore. It's not a place that sees a lot of traffic so her presence is a mystery. Her reason for making the trip is eventually revealed and exposes secrets on both sides. Meanwhile, Dominic and his children nurse Rowan back to health, who was left barely alive.

Deeply atmospheric, with beautiful writing, there are traumas and mysteries to be revealed. I felt deeply for these characters and their relationship with one another, which makes up the bulk of the novel.

I won’t say much about the plot as it’s best discovered for yourself. The audiobook narration was phenomenal and captured the mood of the book perfectly. I felt the isolation, the desperation, and the love of this family. I was transported to the island and deeply moved. The events of the last chapters were harrowing and heartbreaking.

Words fail to convey how this book made me feel, and I always rate according to genre, how long a book stays with me, and how it makes me feel. It's a rare author who can evoke these emotions without manipulating the reader. This one is an easy 5+ stars.

� I received both the e-book and audio digital copies via NetGalley. I listened exclusively, and highly recommend that format.]]> 4.34 2025
author: Charlotte McConaghy
name: JanB
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: audiobook, netgalley, 2025-reads
review:
Dominic and his 3 children are caretakers on Shearwater, a remote island near Antarctica, home of the world’s largest seed bank. Once filled with researchers, they are the last remaining inhabitants. The rising seawaters will eventually flood the island, and Dominic’s job is to pack up the seeds to be transported to safer ground. A rescue boat is expected within a few months.

During a severe storm, a woman, Rowan, washes ashore. It's not a place that sees a lot of traffic so her presence is a mystery. Her reason for making the trip is eventually revealed and exposes secrets on both sides. Meanwhile, Dominic and his children nurse Rowan back to health, who was left barely alive.

Deeply atmospheric, with beautiful writing, there are traumas and mysteries to be revealed. I felt deeply for these characters and their relationship with one another, which makes up the bulk of the novel.

I won’t say much about the plot as it’s best discovered for yourself. The audiobook narration was phenomenal and captured the mood of the book perfectly. I felt the isolation, the desperation, and the love of this family. I was transported to the island and deeply moved. The events of the last chapters were harrowing and heartbreaking.

Words fail to convey how this book made me feel, and I always rate according to genre, how long a book stays with me, and how it makes me feel. It's a rare author who can evoke these emotions without manipulating the reader. This one is an easy 5+ stars.

� I received both the e-book and audio digital copies via NetGalley. I listened exclusively, and highly recommend that format.
]]> 214312329
“What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella

Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain.

As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it.

Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again.

“Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella]]> 144 Sophie Kinsella 0593977564 JanB 5 2025-reads, fiction
The author received the same diagnosis and says this is her most autobiographical novel. At 144 pages, this is a novella, and easily read in one sitting.

Told as a series of vignettes as she navigates her new normal, this could be somber and depressing but in this author’s hands it’s filled with her trademark humor and optimism, even in the midst of struggles and heartbreak.

I have great admiration to those who can navigate difficulties with grace and courage. I wish all the best to the author, as well as her loving, supportive husband and children. ]]> 4.26 2024
author: Sophie Kinsella
name: JanB
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/02
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves: 2025-reads, fiction
review:
Eve, a successful novelist, wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband finally tells her the truth. She had surgery to remove a brain tumor, and the diagnosis is glioblastoma, an aggressive, malignant brain cancer.

The author received the same diagnosis and says this is her most autobiographical novel. At 144 pages, this is a novella, and easily read in one sitting.

Told as a series of vignettes as she navigates her new normal, this could be somber and depressing but in this author’s hands it’s filled with her trademark humor and optimism, even in the midst of struggles and heartbreak.

I have great admiration to those who can navigate difficulties with grace and courage. I wish all the best to the author, as well as her loving, supportive husband and children.
]]> 219811373 Chronicles London’s 1500-year history of crime, from poverty-driven acts to notorious figures and scandals shaping the city’s dark legacy.

London has a history that emerges from the mist of time some 1500 years ago and is one that evolves yet never ends. It has always been a breeding ground for crime as people from around the world are drawn by its numerous attractions and opportunities. Each generation has produced its own colourful cast of robbers, murderers and fraudsters. Much of the crime was prompted by poverty and foul living conditions, but the main driver has always been the desire or need for money by whatever means and the risks involved. Until the eighteenth century this often involved a trip to perform �the Tyburn jig� in front of a baying crowd of thousands.

For a time Londoners staggered around in a gin-induced haze. Mothers often abandoned or even sold their children, just for a chance to block out the horrors of a seething London. The lanes and alleys around Covent Garden were lined with prostitutes, many still children. Famous beauties were kept by aristocrats and royalty and referred to as courtesans, although in many cases the dividing line between them and their less fortunate sisters lining the streets was thin indeed.

The ending of the Great War saw the appearance of drugs, although at this stage they were mainly confined to the rich and influential as London entered the �jazz age�. The second world war and the Blitz was not all about the spirit and bravery of Londoners, as gangs plundered wrecked houses and even stole from corpses. After the war the likes of the violent Jack Spot and Billy Hill were superseded by the Kray twins and the sadistic Richardson brothers, as they fought for control of London’s drinking clubs. A little light relief was offered throughout the years by a succession of sexual scandals. Those particularly welcome involved senior politicians.

A heady brew indeed covering centuries of crimes and indiscretions brought together this very readable account by author and social historian Mike Hutton.]]> 224 Mike Hutton 1399039474 JanB 0
I understand that london in the past was a cesspool of filth and extreme poverty, which led to crime, but this book read like a textbook. Some interesting parts but the delivery kept me from wanting to pick it up so onto the dnf pile it goes.]]> 3.33
author: Mike Hutton
name: JanB
average rating: 3.33
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/03
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley, non-fiction, true-crime, dnf
review:
DNF:

I understand that london in the past was a cesspool of filth and extreme poverty, which led to crime, but this book read like a textbook. Some interesting parts but the delivery kept me from wanting to pick it up so onto the dnf pile it goes.
]]> 74891920 Harrison Scott Key, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, tells the shocking, “shot through with sharp humor� (The Washington Post), spiritually profound story of his journey through hell and back when infidelity threatens his marriage.

One gorgeous autumn day, Harrison discovers that his wife—the sweet, funny, loving mother of their three daughters, a woman “who’s spent just about every Sunday of her life in a church”—is having an affair with a family friend. This revelation propels the hysterical, heartbreaking events in How to Stay Married, casting our narrator onto “the factory floor of hell,� where his wife was now in love with a man who “wears cargo shorts, on purpose.� What will he do? Kick her out? Set fire to all her panties in the yard? Beat this man to death with a gardening implement? Ask God for help in winning her back?

Armed only with a sense of humor and a hunger for the truth, Harrison embarks on a hellish journey into his past, seeking answers to the riddles of faith and forgiveness. Through an absurd series of escalating confessions and betrayals, Harrison reckons with his failure to love his wife in the ways she needed most, resolves to fight for his family, and in a climax almost too ridiculous to be believed, finally learns that love is no joke. “A fiercely memorable account of marital devotion against all odds� (Publishers Weekly, starred review), How to Stay Married is a comic romp unlike any in contemporary literature, a wild ride through the hellscape of marriage and the mysteries of mercy.]]> 317 Harrison Scott Key 1668015668 JanB 2 4.13 2023
author: Harrison Scott Key
name: JanB
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves:
review:
Full RTC but in general I found this book distasteful with oversharing of the intimacies of a troubled marriage
]]> 207298822
“Sharing food is one of the purest human acts.�

Food has always been an integral part of Stanley Tucci’s life: from stracciatella soup served in the shadow of the Pantheon, to marinara sauce cooked between scene rehearsals and costume fittings, to home-made pizza eaten with his children before bedtime.

Now, in What I Ate in One Year Tucci records twelve months of eating—in restaurants, kitchens, film sets, press junkets, at home and abroad, with friends, with family, with strangers, and occasionally just by himself.

Ranging from the mouth-wateringly memorable to the comfortingly domestic and to the infuriatingly inedible, the meals memorialised in this diary are a prism for him to reflect on the ways his life, and his family, are constantly evolving. Through food he marks—and mourns—the passing of time, the loss of loved ones, and steels himself for what is to come.

Whether it’s duck a l’orange eaten with fellow actors and cooked by singing Carmelite nuns, steaks barbequed at a gathering with friends, or meatballs made by his mother and son and shared at the table with three generations of his family, these meals give shape and add emotional richness to his days.

What I Ate in One Year is a funny, poignant, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying serving of memories and meals and an irresistible celebration of the profound role that food plays in all our lives.]]> 368 Stanley Tucci 1668055686 JanB 5 2025-reads, audiobook, memoir
His book is a reminder to all of us the role food & celebrations plays in our lives. His life may not resemble mine, but I found him humble and relatable. I loved his wit, his dry sense of humor, as well as his often poignant memories and stories. He’s known grief as he lost his first wife to cancer, and he’s known illness as he himself was diagnosed with cancer (now in remission).

I enjoyed the audio, which was narrated by the author himself. I added the author’s cookbook to my Amazon cart as soon as I finished. If you love food, especially Italian food (and who doesn’t?), this is a must read! Better yet, listen to it!

Oh and follow him on Instagram - he often posts cooking videos and his sense of humor is on full display.]]> 3.86 2024
author: Stanley Tucci
name: JanB
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, memoir
review:
Written as journal entries over the course of a year, Stanley Tucci’s love of family and good food comes across loud & clear in these pages as he shares snippets of his life, as well as the amazing food he ate over the course of the year. He’s quite the cook and shares his successes, as well as his failures.

His book is a reminder to all of us the role food & celebrations plays in our lives. His life may not resemble mine, but I found him humble and relatable. I loved his wit, his dry sense of humor, as well as his often poignant memories and stories. He’s known grief as he lost his first wife to cancer, and he’s known illness as he himself was diagnosed with cancer (now in remission).

I enjoyed the audio, which was narrated by the author himself. I added the author’s cookbook to my Amazon cart as soon as I finished. If you love food, especially Italian food (and who doesn’t?), this is a must read! Better yet, listen to it!

Oh and follow him on Instagram - he often posts cooking videos and his sense of humor is on full display.
]]> 173754979 A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with nuanced humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780385550369.]]> 303 Percival Everett JanB 0 dnf 4.47 2024
author: Percival Everett
name: JanB
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves: dnf
review:

]]> 212378262 When I Was You

Nothing ever happens in small towns�

When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it—for herself, and for her family. Fifteen months later, with the help of her best friend, Mackenzie, she finally feels safe again in the snowy Minnesota town she calls home. But when an anonymous note appears on her windshield bearing the same threats her attacker made, Shelby realizes that her nightmare has only just begun.

As new evidence surfaces, and a group of well-meaning senior citizens accidentally makes the case go viral online, the situation quickly goes from bad to worse. And with suspicious accidents targeting those closest to her happening all over town, Shelby ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Fighting to stay one step ahead of disaster, she finds herself asking the question on everyone’s lips: Who attacked her that night?

But Shelby isn’t the only one with questions. Mackenzie’s husband, Leo, vanished without a trace on that terrible night, and over a year later, no one knows why. Until a deep dive into his finances reveals a history of debts, mismanaged funds, and hidden accounts—one of which is still active. Their suspicion that Leo is still alive only complicates things further, though, and when another person connected to Shelby goes missing, she’s caught in a race against time before her attacker becomes a killer.]]> 304 Seraphina Nova Glass 1525836722 JanB 2
Each chapter is narrated by a different person in the 1st person so it’s easy to forget which person is talking especially since most are unmemorable. Mack & Shelby are interchangeable.

Most of the story line was eyeball-roll inducing. Add in the most inept police force in history and the reader is forced to accept all the plot holes.

Nothing much happens in the middle of the book but there is a lot of filler with information that has no bearing on the story,

I did enjoy the older characters in the old age home and the idea they started a podcast. But the characterization is awful�.really people in their 60s and 70s are more savvy than portrayed. The podcast angle is never fully explored.

This reads as a cozy but language is thrown in to prevent the book being pigeonholed into that category, which was jarring.

I’m rambling, much like this book�.so I’ll stop here

The beginning was promising and there were elements I enjoyed but ultimately this was a huge miss for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce

* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.49 2025
author: Seraphina Nova Glass
name: JanB
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/25
shelves:
review:
As the title suggests, nothing much is happening here�

Each chapter is narrated by a different person in the 1st person so it’s easy to forget which person is talking especially since most are unmemorable. Mack & Shelby are interchangeable.

Most of the story line was eyeball-roll inducing. Add in the most inept police force in history and the reader is forced to accept all the plot holes.

Nothing much happens in the middle of the book but there is a lot of filler with information that has no bearing on the story,

I did enjoy the older characters in the old age home and the idea they started a podcast. But the characterization is awful�.really people in their 60s and 70s are more savvy than portrayed. The podcast angle is never fully explored.

This reads as a cozy but language is thrown in to prevent the book being pigeonholed into that category, which was jarring.

I’m rambling, much like this book�.so I’ll stop here

The beginning was promising and there were elements I enjoyed but ultimately this was a huge miss for me and my reading buddy, Marialyce

* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 213890792 New from the author of Presumed Innocent, the #1 bestseller that redefined the legal thriller and is the basis for Apple TV+’s most-watched drama series ever.

Rusty is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife, Bea, with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best, and his last. But the peace that’s taken Rusty so long to find evaporates when Bea’s young adult son, Aaron, living under their supervision while on probation for drug possession, disappears. If Aaron doesn’t return soon, he will be sent back to jail.

Aaron eventually turns up with a vague story about a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, that ended in a fight and a long hitchhike home. Days later, when she still hasn’t returned, suspicion falls on Aaron, and when Mae is subsequently discovered dead, Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first degree murder.

Faced with few choices and even fewer hopes, Bea begs Rusty to return to court one last time, to defend her son and to save their last best hope for happiness. For Rusty, the question is not whether to defend Aaron, or whether the boy is in fact innocent—it’s whether the system to which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty.]]> 544 Scott Turow 1538706369 JanB 0 4.25 2025
author: Scott Turow
name: JanB
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley, dnf
review:

]]> 50659467
At least, he’s not a beast all the time.

As she adapts to her new home, her feelings for the faerie, Tamlin, transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie she’s been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But something is not right in the faerie lands. An ancient, wicked shadow is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it, or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

From bestselling author Sarah J. Maas comes a seductive, breathtaking book that blends romance, adventure, and faerie lore into an unforgettable read.]]> 419 Sarah J. Maas 1635575567 JanB 3
This book is everywhere and much loved. I have nothing new to add that hasn’t been said before.

Fantasy is not my preferred genre but I’m glad I gave this a chance. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it enough to continue with the series. ]]> 4.16 2015
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: JanB
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/20
date added: 2025/02/20
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fantasy
review:
3.5 stars

This book is everywhere and much loved. I have nothing new to add that hasn’t been said before.

Fantasy is not my preferred genre but I’m glad I gave this a chance. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it enough to continue with the series.
]]> 203579177 From the bestselling author of Hidden Pictures comes a breathtaking work of suspense about a father trying to save his daughter from a life-altering decision that will put everything he loves on the line.

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate—very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.]]> 338 Jason Rekulak 1250895782 JanB 4 2025-reads, mystery-thriller
He receives a call from her with news of her upcoming wedding to the son of a tech billionaire and wants him to walk her down the aisle. Frank is thrilled at the prospect of a reconciliation.

Frank, his sister, and Abigail, his sister’s foster child arrive at the lavish lakefront estate for 3 days of festivities preceding the wedding. As Frank gets to know the family, he’s more convinced than ever something is not right. Plus rumors are swirling that his daughter’s fiancée had something to do with a local girls disappearance the previous year.

Aiden, his future son-in-law, is never around, Maggie is often unavailable, Aiden’s mother is ensconced in the upstairs bedroom and said to be too ill to attend the festivities. As Frank uncovers more about the family he’s determined that something is very, very wrong. Then a dead body washes ashore.

Frank wants to save Maggie from what he thinks will be a disastrous marriage, but maybe Maggie doesn’t want saving. Does he want to risk losing her again?

I was not a fan of the author’s last book, Hidden Pictures, but I’m glad I gave him another chance. I very much enjoyed this part mystery/part family drama narrated solely from Frank’s perspective. He was a McCranky Crankypants in the beginning, which some readers didn’t like. But at his core he is a decent hard-working guy who wants to do the right thing and was put smack dab in the middle of a situation which would make anyone cranky.

I loved the secondary characters, especially Abigail, his sister’s foster child. The character development of all was very well-done. A great setting, lots of family drama, diabolical characters, and secrets to be revealed. There are even secondary themes of some substance for those who want to delve deeper.

I flew through the last half of the book on a snowy afternoon. A propulsive read with no crazy twists that highlights the fact the author is not pigeonholing himself into a single genre.]]> 3.62 2024
author: Jason Rekulak
name: JanB
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves: 2025-reads, mystery-thriller
review:
Frank, a UPS driver, and widower, raised his daughter Maggie on his own, but they’ve been estranged for 3 years.

He receives a call from her with news of her upcoming wedding to the son of a tech billionaire and wants him to walk her down the aisle. Frank is thrilled at the prospect of a reconciliation.

Frank, his sister, and Abigail, his sister’s foster child arrive at the lavish lakefront estate for 3 days of festivities preceding the wedding. As Frank gets to know the family, he’s more convinced than ever something is not right. Plus rumors are swirling that his daughter’s fiancée had something to do with a local girls disappearance the previous year.

Aiden, his future son-in-law, is never around, Maggie is often unavailable, Aiden’s mother is ensconced in the upstairs bedroom and said to be too ill to attend the festivities. As Frank uncovers more about the family he’s determined that something is very, very wrong. Then a dead body washes ashore.

Frank wants to save Maggie from what he thinks will be a disastrous marriage, but maybe Maggie doesn’t want saving. Does he want to risk losing her again?

I was not a fan of the author’s last book, Hidden Pictures, but I’m glad I gave him another chance. I very much enjoyed this part mystery/part family drama narrated solely from Frank’s perspective. He was a McCranky Crankypants in the beginning, which some readers didn’t like. But at his core he is a decent hard-working guy who wants to do the right thing and was put smack dab in the middle of a situation which would make anyone cranky.

I loved the secondary characters, especially Abigail, his sister’s foster child. The character development of all was very well-done. A great setting, lots of family drama, diabolical characters, and secrets to be revealed. There are even secondary themes of some substance for those who want to delve deeper.

I flew through the last half of the book on a snowy afternoon. A propulsive read with no crazy twists that highlights the fact the author is not pigeonholing himself into a single genre.
]]> 211003858
Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the questions: Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women� or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, THE BUSINESS TRIP takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?]]> 344 Jessie Garcia 1250364418 JanB 4
Jasmine is a waitress escaping from an abusive relationship. Stephanie is a well-off business woman on her way to a conference. Both are yearning for a different life.

The plane lands and soon their friends get the same message from both women about a man named Trent. Who is Trent? Then both disappear. Friends and family begin to panic when texts and calls go unanswered and a search is on. The reader is just as clueless as they go on a journey of discovery.

Then midway, the perspective changes as we discover what really happened. What follows is a fun twisty story. The mixed media format (texts, voice messages, multiple POV, etc) as friends and family desperately search for the missing women, worked especially well on audio with a full cast of TEN narrators. This added to the urgency.

Sure you have to suspend a bit of disbelief, but it was fun and the format made it even more fun. This is a terrific debut for fans of twisty thrillers that is anything but formulaic. Just when you think you know what’s going on, you find out you do not! Everything is turned on its head.

An author to watch!

Audio is the way to go with this one, as it greatly enhances the experience. ]]> 3.63 2025
author: Jessie Garcia
name: JanB
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
Jasmine & Stephanie both board the same flight, and sit next to one another. But they couldn’t be more different.

Jasmine is a waitress escaping from an abusive relationship. Stephanie is a well-off business woman on her way to a conference. Both are yearning for a different life.

The plane lands and soon their friends get the same message from both women about a man named Trent. Who is Trent? Then both disappear. Friends and family begin to panic when texts and calls go unanswered and a search is on. The reader is just as clueless as they go on a journey of discovery.

Then midway, the perspective changes as we discover what really happened. What follows is a fun twisty story. The mixed media format (texts, voice messages, multiple POV, etc) as friends and family desperately search for the missing women, worked especially well on audio with a full cast of TEN narrators. This added to the urgency.

Sure you have to suspend a bit of disbelief, but it was fun and the format made it even more fun. This is a terrific debut for fans of twisty thrillers that is anything but formulaic. Just when you think you know what’s going on, you find out you do not! Everything is turned on its head.

An author to watch!

Audio is the way to go with this one, as it greatly enhances the experience.
]]> 214152422 She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.

A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parentsâ€� bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.

As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?]]> 309 Megan Collins 1668048078 JanB 3
Rosie has a health crisis that leads to a heart transplant. She is naturally curious about the donor and begins an anonymous communication with the donor’s husband via the DonorConnect program.

She soon becomes obsessed with him, which is nothing new for her. As we get to know her past, it’s clear she’s a bit unhinged with the idea of love and needs some serious therapy. Yet a part of her is sympathetic, which made for interesting character development.

As she “researches� (I.e. stalks) her donor’s husband, she finds he’s a well-known thriller author, and suspicions swirl that he may have had something to do with his wife’s death.

Such a fun, unique premise and protagonist.

Told through multiple POV, text messages, and e-mails, it was a fun format. As the story unfolds it’s clear not all is as it should be, which led to fun speculations with my reading buddy, Marialyce.

At around 50% there was a gasp out loud twisty moment that I didn’t see coming, and turned everything I thought I knew upside down. This story from here is a wild ride with some turns that at the end gave me whiplash. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it was a bit too OTT. It was too much, just like Rosie herself. Up till then this was a solid 4 star read. The last paragraph though was perfect.

A fun read and for readers who love OTT endings and have no problem suspending disbelief, it’s a winner.

* I received a digital copy via Edelweiss. All opinions are my own]]> 3.63 2025
author: Megan Collins
name: JanB
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/15
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, edelweiss, mystery-thriller
review:
3.5 stars (which is not a bad rating!)

Rosie has a health crisis that leads to a heart transplant. She is naturally curious about the donor and begins an anonymous communication with the donor’s husband via the DonorConnect program.

She soon becomes obsessed with him, which is nothing new for her. As we get to know her past, it’s clear she’s a bit unhinged with the idea of love and needs some serious therapy. Yet a part of her is sympathetic, which made for interesting character development.

As she “researches� (I.e. stalks) her donor’s husband, she finds he’s a well-known thriller author, and suspicions swirl that he may have had something to do with his wife’s death.

Such a fun, unique premise and protagonist.

Told through multiple POV, text messages, and e-mails, it was a fun format. As the story unfolds it’s clear not all is as it should be, which led to fun speculations with my reading buddy, Marialyce.

At around 50% there was a gasp out loud twisty moment that I didn’t see coming, and turned everything I thought I knew upside down. This story from here is a wild ride with some turns that at the end gave me whiplash. I wasn’t a fan of the ending, it was a bit too OTT. It was too much, just like Rosie herself. Up till then this was a solid 4 star read. The last paragraph though was perfect.

A fun read and for readers who love OTT endings and have no problem suspending disbelief, it’s a winner.

* I received a digital copy via Edelweiss. All opinions are my own
]]> 199531989 Knives Out gets a rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers Christmas romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room three days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:
She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.
He’s Mr. Big-Time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.]]> 293 Ally Carter 0063276682 JanB 1
BUT�..be skeptical of the publisher’s description of a “knives out rom-com�?

Even in a lighthearted mystery/rom-com I need something: terrific characters, great dialogue, wit, sizzling chemistry, an engaging mystery�..I’m even ok with suspending disbelief if I’m enjoy the journey. But something needs to engage me.

This book had none of these things.
By 80% I was simply slogging through just to get to the end. I gave up instead. ]]> 3.92 2024
author: Ally Carter
name: JanB
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/12
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller, rom-com
review:
I love a fun rom-com with witty banter and/or snark. Add in an Agatha Christie style mystery in a secluded location, and I’m in. I couldn’t wait to get to this one.

BUT�..be skeptical of the publisher’s description of a “knives out rom-com�?

Even in a lighthearted mystery/rom-com I need something: terrific characters, great dialogue, wit, sizzling chemistry, an engaging mystery�..I’m even ok with suspending disbelief if I’m enjoy the journey. But something needs to engage me.

This book had none of these things.
By 80% I was simply slogging through just to get to the end. I gave up instead.
]]> 211399773 A vacation in the Hamptons goes terribly wrong for three friends with a complicated history.

It was meant to be a harmless prank.

Growing up, May Hanover was a good girl, always. Well-behaved, top of her class, a compulsive rule-follower. Raised by a first-generation Chinese single mother with high expectations, May didn’t have room to slip up, let alone fail. Her friends didn’t call her the Little Sheriff for nothing.

But even good girls have secrets. And regrets. When it comes to her friendship with Lauren and Kelsey, she's had her fair share of both. Their bond—forged when May was just twelve years old—has withstood a tragic accident, individual scandals, heartbreak and loss. Now the three friends have reunited for the first time in years for a few days of sun and fun in the Hamptons. But a chance encounter with a pair of strangers leads to a drunken prank that goes horribly awry.Ěý

When she finds herself at the center of an urgent police investigation, May begins to wonder whether Lauren and Kelsey are keeping secrets from her, testing the limits of her loyalty to lifelong friends.

What had they gone and done?

The Note is a page-turner of the highest orderĚýfrom one of our greatest contemporary suspense writers.]]> 287 Alafair Burke 0593537084 JanB 1 2025-reads, mystery-thriller
I made it past 50% and couldn’t go on another page.

Silly, silly grown-ass women who have been “cancelled�, all doing silly, silly things for silly, silly reasons.

The story was very heavy on the pandemic and virtue signaling. It’s 2025, let’s move on.

The author thought it was a good idea to throw every hot button social issue into the story �.no stone was left unturned - ad nauseam. No thank you.

This might possibly be the worst book I’ve read. Certainly the worst so far in 2025.

The only mystery here is how this got published. Or why I hung in till 50%.]]> 3.37 2025
author: Alafair Burke
name: JanB
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2025
rating: 1
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves: 2025-reads, mystery-thriller
review:
I won’t waste time recapping the plot, it’s easy enough to find.

I made it past 50% and couldn’t go on another page.

Silly, silly grown-ass women who have been “cancelled�, all doing silly, silly things for silly, silly reasons.

The story was very heavy on the pandemic and virtue signaling. It’s 2025, let’s move on.

The author thought it was a good idea to throw every hot button social issue into the story �.no stone was left unturned - ad nauseam. No thank you.

This might possibly be the worst book I’ve read. Certainly the worst so far in 2025.

The only mystery here is how this got published. Or why I hung in till 50%.
]]> 216223604 The nightmare she’s running from is nothing compared to where she’s headed.

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn’t realize she’s heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she’s made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn’t right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn’t what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself—and her unborn child.

A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.
]]> 384 Freida McFadden 1464232989 JanB 4
Several recent “new releases� of hers were not. They were from the publisher re-releasing very early books (which, frankly, were not that great, which the author admits.)

I don’t read these books for their literary merit, but as a fun escape, easy to digest, and stories that keeps me listening. I prefer her books on audio as the narrators are great and I can multi-task as I listen.

Now to the review�

Tegan is 8 months pregnant, alone and ready to put her past behind her. She starts off on a road trip to visit her brother but never arrives. She drives into a snowstorm, crashes her car in a remote location, and suffers a broken ankle.

Tegan is sure she will freeze to death but then a Good Samaritan stops to help. He’s the silent type, which leaves Tegan frightened, but she has no choice but to go with him. The weather is too bad to take her to the hospital.

Tegan feels a little safer when she learns he has a wife at home, a nurse who can help care for her until they can get her to a hospital. Tegan insists the wife do all the caretaking, understandable given that Hank is a physically imposing guy.

But once ensconced in their basement, Tegan is helpless. She has a broken ankle, and as the excuses pile up for why they cannot get her to a hospital, she slowly realizes that things may not be as they appear.

Being stranded during a snow storm is one of my favorite tropes and this does not disappoint. Expect the typical McFadden twists!

A fun read.]]> 3.59 2025
author: Freida McFadden
name: JanB
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves: 2025-reads, mystery-thriller, audiobook
review:
Pop the popcorn, we have a new Freida book! And I mean this in the best way possible.

Several recent “new releases� of hers were not. They were from the publisher re-releasing very early books (which, frankly, were not that great, which the author admits.)

I don’t read these books for their literary merit, but as a fun escape, easy to digest, and stories that keeps me listening. I prefer her books on audio as the narrators are great and I can multi-task as I listen.

Now to the review�

Tegan is 8 months pregnant, alone and ready to put her past behind her. She starts off on a road trip to visit her brother but never arrives. She drives into a snowstorm, crashes her car in a remote location, and suffers a broken ankle.

Tegan is sure she will freeze to death but then a Good Samaritan stops to help. He’s the silent type, which leaves Tegan frightened, but she has no choice but to go with him. The weather is too bad to take her to the hospital.

Tegan feels a little safer when she learns he has a wife at home, a nurse who can help care for her until they can get her to a hospital. Tegan insists the wife do all the caretaking, understandable given that Hank is a physically imposing guy.

But once ensconced in their basement, Tegan is helpless. She has a broken ankle, and as the excuses pile up for why they cannot get her to a hospital, she slowly realizes that things may not be as they appear.

Being stranded during a snow storm is one of my favorite tropes and this does not disappoint. Expect the typical McFadden twists!

A fun read.
]]> 217506549 368 Julie Clark 1464221286 JanB 5
The catch? Her father, Vincent, is a famous author of horror. He & Olivia have been estranged for years and no one, not even her significant other, knows Olivia’s checkered history.

Her father’s siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered when they were teens in the 1970s. The crime went unsolved but suspicions have swirled around her father as the suspected perpetrator. When Olivia was in kindergarten her mother abandoned the family.

VIncent is now ready to tell his side of the story. Olivia is in financial trouble and accepts the job, despite reservations.

The second catch? Her father has been diagnosed with Lewey body dementia and Olivia must sift through her father’s memories to determine what is true and what is not. The stories we tell ourselves are complicated and not always rooted in truth. Memory has a way of tricking us. I loved the exploration of this phenomenon.

Long buried secrets and evidence is uncovered which makes Olivia & her father question everything they thought to be true. Olivia’s own assumptions about her past may not be based in reality.

This is not a thrill-a-minute story. It’s a thoughtful mystery told in dual timelines, and left me questioning everything. My reading buddy Marialyce and I had some great discussions as the story unfolded.

It left me feeling a bit melancholy at the revelations and all the pain & misery that could have been avoided. The adage that “hurt people hurt people� is brought home with this story. I cared deeply for the characters, especially knowing how their story turned out. Getting to know Poppy as a teenager in the 70s was bittersweet. I normally dislike this age group in my reading, but not here.

Julie Clark has written a riveting, immersive, multi-layered mystery that would be excellent on film. It’s smart and intelligent and kept me on edge until the last page was turned. I hope it’s optioned for a movie.

I ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t wait to see what this author writes next!

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own]]> 4.27 2025
author: Julie Clark
name: JanB
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
Celebrated ghostwriter Olivia returns home after a decades long absence to help write her father’s memoir.

The catch? Her father, Vincent, is a famous author of horror. He & Olivia have been estranged for years and no one, not even her significant other, knows Olivia’s checkered history.

Her father’s siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered when they were teens in the 1970s. The crime went unsolved but suspicions have swirled around her father as the suspected perpetrator. When Olivia was in kindergarten her mother abandoned the family.

VIncent is now ready to tell his side of the story. Olivia is in financial trouble and accepts the job, despite reservations.

The second catch? Her father has been diagnosed with Lewey body dementia and Olivia must sift through her father’s memories to determine what is true and what is not. The stories we tell ourselves are complicated and not always rooted in truth. Memory has a way of tricking us. I loved the exploration of this phenomenon.

Long buried secrets and evidence is uncovered which makes Olivia & her father question everything they thought to be true. Olivia’s own assumptions about her past may not be based in reality.

This is not a thrill-a-minute story. It’s a thoughtful mystery told in dual timelines, and left me questioning everything. My reading buddy Marialyce and I had some great discussions as the story unfolded.

It left me feeling a bit melancholy at the revelations and all the pain & misery that could have been avoided. The adage that “hurt people hurt people� is brought home with this story. I cared deeply for the characters, especially knowing how their story turned out. Getting to know Poppy as a teenager in the 70s was bittersweet. I normally dislike this age group in my reading, but not here.

Julie Clark has written a riveting, immersive, multi-layered mystery that would be excellent on film. It’s smart and intelligent and kept me on edge until the last page was turned. I hope it’s optioned for a movie.

I ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t wait to see what this author writes next!

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
]]> 199534613
Margo braucht Geld. Seit sie ungewollt von ihrem Collegeprofessor, der sie jetzt mit dem Kind alleinlässt, schwanger wurde, mehr denn je. Wie Margo es auch dreht und wendet, kein Job scheint passend zu sein, oder könnte auch nur ansatzweise ihr Leben mit einem Baby finanzieren. Durch einen Zufall wird sie auf die Plattform OnlyFans aufmerksam, und Margo ist fasziniert von dieser Welt, in der Frauen mit sich und ihrem Körper experimentieren, und offenbar gut dabei verdienen. Also beginnt auch sie, Inhalte zu produzieren. Dabei erhält sie Unterstützung von ihrer Mitbewohnerin Suzie, einem großen Cosplay-Fan, und auch von ihrem Vater Jinx, einem Ex-Wrestlingprofi. Ehe sie sich versieht, ist Margo ein Online-Phänomen. Könnte dies die Antwort auf all ihre Probleme sein, oder hat der Internet-Ruhm einen zu hohen Preis?]]> 304 Rufi Thorpe 0063356589 JanB 5 ETA the narrator Elle Fanning was nominated for an Audie award for this book and she, along with Nicole Kidman, will star in the upcoming Apple TV series.

Did I want to read about a teenage single mom who starts an OnlyFans account? Absolutely not.

But my curiosity won out when I saw it on “best books� lists and decided to give it a try.

( I also didn’t want to watch a show about a teacher who runs a meth lab, yet it was one of the best series I’ve ever watched.)

The character arcs are what made both so compelling.

Margo is a 19 year old college student who is pregnant by her college professor, and wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Despite everyone in her life telling her to not keep the baby, she decides to move forward and has the baby. She loves Baby Bodhi but struggles when she finds herself unemployed and on the verge of being evicted.

She gets the idea to start an Only Fans account to make some money on the side while allowing her to stay home with her baby, who she loves fiercely. But with it comes judgment and estrangement from some friends and family.

Every time Margo takes a step forward, something happens to knock her down (which made me angry more than once). But Margo is smart, strong , and wise beyond her years plus has some help along the way from her rather unconventional father. He gives advice based upon his past life in competitive wrestling: craft a compelling character that makes people fall in love with you (exactly what the author did here btw). Be in control of your own narrative.

I found this book unputdownable. It’s funny, heartwarming, and insightful. I loved the relationship between Margo and her father and I loved Margo’s growth as a person.

I never expected to love this book as much as I did. There are so many nuances and thought-provoking scenarios that made me test my assumptions. Margo is a wonderful character to root for and I won’t soon forget her. This book will be on my 2025 favorites list!

* Elle Fanning did an excellent job as the narrator]]> 3.87 2024
author: Rufi Thorpe
name: JanB
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/06
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, fiction
review:
ETA the narrator Elle Fanning was nominated for an Audie award for this book and she, along with Nicole Kidman, will star in the upcoming Apple TV series.

Did I want to read about a teenage single mom who starts an OnlyFans account? Absolutely not.

But my curiosity won out when I saw it on “best books� lists and decided to give it a try.

( I also didn’t want to watch a show about a teacher who runs a meth lab, yet it was one of the best series I’ve ever watched.)

The character arcs are what made both so compelling.

Margo is a 19 year old college student who is pregnant by her college professor, and wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Despite everyone in her life telling her to not keep the baby, she decides to move forward and has the baby. She loves Baby Bodhi but struggles when she finds herself unemployed and on the verge of being evicted.

She gets the idea to start an Only Fans account to make some money on the side while allowing her to stay home with her baby, who she loves fiercely. But with it comes judgment and estrangement from some friends and family.

Every time Margo takes a step forward, something happens to knock her down (which made me angry more than once). But Margo is smart, strong , and wise beyond her years plus has some help along the way from her rather unconventional father. He gives advice based upon his past life in competitive wrestling: craft a compelling character that makes people fall in love with you (exactly what the author did here btw). Be in control of your own narrative.

I found this book unputdownable. It’s funny, heartwarming, and insightful. I loved the relationship between Margo and her father and I loved Margo’s growth as a person.

I never expected to love this book as much as I did. There are so many nuances and thought-provoking scenarios that made me test my assumptions. Margo is a wonderful character to root for and I won’t soon forget her. This book will be on my 2025 favorites list!

* Elle Fanning did an excellent job as the narrator
]]> 222407453
Because Bea believes that what she does have is more important � her job at St Helen’s Hospital, which offers a warm, dry shelter for her and Ellie to stay while she figures things out. By day Bea cleans the wards, by night she tucks her daughter into bed between mops and buckets.

And tries so hard to hold on to hope.

When Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold and lonely bench outside the hospital, she really doesn’t have time to stop. She should be clearing up her own mess, not worrying about this cantankerous stranger. But Bea ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t help herselfâ€�

As she slowly starts to draw out Malcolm’s heartbreaking story, could this simple act of kindness begin to heal a decades-old pain? And might finding peace for Malcolm help Bea in ways she didn’t even know she needed?

A moving, emotional and uplifting story about second chances and chosen families guaranteed to break your heart and patch it back up again. The perfect book for fans of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont, A Man Called Ove and The Keeper of Stories.

Readers love Brooke Harris�

�To say that my heart was broken would be an understatement. I felt like someone had ripped it out and stomped on it� THE most moving, emotional, tender novel I think I have ever, ever read.� The Writing Garnet, �️�️�️�️�️

�My heart insisted on reading just one more chapter, and another, and another� I even ate a banana in bed on the last night, as there was no way I was putting it down during the last few chapters� I was crying so much, I could hardly see the words, and woke up the following morning with puffy eyes.� Reader review, �����

�I couldn’t actually see due to the great big fat tears spilling from my eyes� I didn’t want it to end. This is not a book to read out in public unless you don’t mind being a big snotty mess� Amazing.� Reader Review, �️�️�️�️�️

�Wow! I am still in awe by what I have just read� There are not enough stars to show just how much this book meant to me� Top read of the year!� Reader review, �����

�This book broke me apart, my heart felt as if it was being crushed by a giant sledgehammer� Took my heart and squeezed it until all my emotions flowed down as tears� I loved every single thing about this book.� Shalini’s Book Reviews, �️�️�️�️�️

�One of the most moving stories� Tears literally streaming down my face� An unputdownable, heartbreaking and inspirational read, one that deserves more than 5*.]]> 349 Brooke Harris 1805087479 JanB 4
This book promises to break your heart and stitch it back together again and it does just that.

Bea’s partner delivers a bombshell that leaves her and their 4-year-old daughter Ellie, homeless. She has a housekeeping job at a hospital, St Helen’s, which becomes their safe haven as Bea is desperate to find a solution to their dilemma.

One day as she’s leaving work, anxious to pick up her daughter from day care before she’s charged a late fee she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t afford, she sees an older gentleman sitting on a bench in the cold.

But soft-hearted Bea ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t walk by without trying to help. She befriends Malcolm and discovers he’s holding onto some hurts too. As they get to know one another they are able to help each other in surprising ways.

I love a good underdog story and Bea, who is knocked down repeatedly by life, is a great character to root for, even as she makes some frustrating decisions. Ellie is adorable and realistic, neither precocious nor annoying (both of which are pet peeves of mine). Ellie is refreshingly normal.

It’s a lighthearted book but it really brings home how people with no safety net can so easily fall into homelessness.

This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, a read we both enjoyed. I appreciated that the story wasn’t completely predictable and had some surprises in store. Despite the serious situations depicted, the story is full of optimism and hope which left me with a full heart as I closed the last page.

* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.32
author: Brooke Harris
name: JanB
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/07
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley
review:
Do you need an Up Lit book? A lighter read with substance? Look no further!

This book promises to break your heart and stitch it back together again and it does just that.

Bea’s partner delivers a bombshell that leaves her and their 4-year-old daughter Ellie, homeless. She has a housekeeping job at a hospital, St Helen’s, which becomes their safe haven as Bea is desperate to find a solution to their dilemma.

One day as she’s leaving work, anxious to pick up her daughter from day care before she’s charged a late fee she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t afford, she sees an older gentleman sitting on a bench in the cold.

But soft-hearted Bea ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t walk by without trying to help. She befriends Malcolm and discovers he’s holding onto some hurts too. As they get to know one another they are able to help each other in surprising ways.

I love a good underdog story and Bea, who is knocked down repeatedly by life, is a great character to root for, even as she makes some frustrating decisions. Ellie is adorable and realistic, neither precocious nor annoying (both of which are pet peeves of mine). Ellie is refreshingly normal.

It’s a lighthearted book but it really brings home how people with no safety net can so easily fall into homelessness.

This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, a read we both enjoyed. I appreciated that the story wasn’t completely predictable and had some surprises in store. Despite the serious situations depicted, the story is full of optimism and hope which left me with a full heart as I closed the last page.

* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 211004123 The million-copy bestselling Queen of Twists Alice Feeney returns with a gripping and deliciously dark thriller about marriage. . .
. . . and revenge.

Author Grady Green is having the worst best day of his life.

Grady calls his wife to share some exciting news as she is driving home. He hears Abby slam on the brakes, get out of the car, then nothing. When he eventually finds her car by the cliff edge the headlights are on, the driver door is open, her phone is still there. . . but his wife has disappeared.

A year later, Grady is still overcome with grief and desperate to know what happened to Abby. He ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t sleep, and he ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t write, so he travels to a tiny Scottish island to try to get his life back on track. Then he sees the impossible â€� a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

Wives think their husbands will change but they don’t.
Husbands think their wives won’t change but they do.]]> 306 Alice Feeney 125033778X JanB 2
Grady is on the phone with his wife Abby, preparing to celebrate his first NYT bestseller status. But she never makes it home after she stops to help a woman lying in the road. Abby is never found.

In his grief, he finds himself unable to write. His agent offers him a cabin on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, thinking the change will help him write his next novel.

The island is strange to say the least: the people are quirky, there is no cell or internet service, and he sees a woman who looks like his missing wife. A series of strange events makes Grady wondering if he’s losing it.

What a great set up. I loved the setting and the foreboding atmosphere of the island. But then�.

The story jumped the shark and the twists became more and more unbelievable. The island’s backstory was nonsensical. The explanation of what went down the night of Abby’s disappearance was so silly it’s laughable.

Yes, I know it’s fiction, and I expect to suspend some disbelief, but there is a tipping point and this one tipped into absurdity. As tempting as it is to give into a good rant, I don’t want to waste any more time. I’ll let the one star reviews do it for me. They are spot on!

This was a convoluted mess that not even Richard Armitage’s narration or the dog, Columbo, could save. The only reason it gets 2 stars is because it was a great read up until the wheels fell off.

* I received a digital audio via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.65 2025
author: Alice Feeney
name: JanB
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/26
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley, 2025-reads
review:
A buddy read with Marialyce, this started out as a compelling read which was particularly excellent on audio with sound effects plus Richard Armitage’s 5+ narration.

Grady is on the phone with his wife Abby, preparing to celebrate his first NYT bestseller status. But she never makes it home after she stops to help a woman lying in the road. Abby is never found.

In his grief, he finds himself unable to write. His agent offers him a cabin on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, thinking the change will help him write his next novel.

The island is strange to say the least: the people are quirky, there is no cell or internet service, and he sees a woman who looks like his missing wife. A series of strange events makes Grady wondering if he’s losing it.

What a great set up. I loved the setting and the foreboding atmosphere of the island. But then�.

The story jumped the shark and the twists became more and more unbelievable. The island’s backstory was nonsensical. The explanation of what went down the night of Abby’s disappearance was so silly it’s laughable.

Yes, I know it’s fiction, and I expect to suspend some disbelief, but there is a tipping point and this one tipped into absurdity. As tempting as it is to give into a good rant, I don’t want to waste any more time. I’ll let the one star reviews do it for me. They are spot on!

This was a convoluted mess that not even Richard Armitage’s narration or the dog, Columbo, could save. The only reason it gets 2 stars is because it was a great read up until the wheels fell off.

* I received a digital audio via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 205435940 Join Cecilia Blomdahl in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the world’s northernmost town.

Located in the Arctic Ocean near the North Pole, Svalbard is a unique archipelago that boasts stunning wintry landscapes, endangered Arctic animals, and awe-inspiring natural phenomena. Since 2015, Cecilia has called this beautiful and remote location home. Along with her partner, Christoffer, and her dog, Grim, she has adjusted to life at the top of the world—where polar bears roam free and northern lights shine bright.

With evocative text and spectacular photography, Cecilia shares the joys and challenges of adapting to an inhospitable climate. Her story begins in the darkness of polar night, and the allure of her remote location is revealed gradually as sunlight returns months later. Through personal stories and firsthand advice, Cecilia offers insight for anyone seeking to thrive in unusual living conditions.

Whatever your location, Life on Svalbard will give you a deeper understanding of why people choose to live in extreme environments and perhaps help you find the hidden magic of where you live too.]]> 256 Cecilia Blomdahl 0744095093 JanB 5
I not only love her absolutely gorgeous photos, but I love her enthusiasm and optimism in the face of what many of us would consider brutal conditions.

The book is organized into 5 seasonal parts -- polar night, pastel winter, sunny winter, polar day, and golden autumn.

Polar night, where they live in total darkness lasts from mid-October to mid-February. The northern lights are visible during this season.

Polar Day, when the sun never sets, lasts from mid-April to mid-August.

Which is more difficult? Polar day. You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

Some notable moments in the book:
- No cats are allowed on the island (there’s a good reason!)
- Despite living in such a remote location, she and her partner still feel a need to vacation in an even more remote cabin, accessible only by snowmobile
- Grim, her dog - adorable
- Regardless of the weather, she and Grim take a daily walk
- Residents must carry a rifle when venturing outdoors, as protection from polar bears (very rarely needed)
- And much more�

I loved this glimpse into a life so very different than my own. I read this during a particular cold snap and loved the cozy, hygge vibe. It almost made me want to go for a walk but then I remembered I no longer have a dog and I can't see the Northern Lights, ha!

This was a 2 hr audiobook narrated by the author but the hardback copy with the stunning photography is on the way..]]> 4.48
author: Cecilia Blomdahl
name: JanB
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, non-fiction
review:
I follow the author, Cecilia Blomdahl, on social media, where she chronicles her life on Svalbard, an sparsely populated island close to the North Pole, a place she moved to in 2015.

I not only love her absolutely gorgeous photos, but I love her enthusiasm and optimism in the face of what many of us would consider brutal conditions.

The book is organized into 5 seasonal parts -- polar night, pastel winter, sunny winter, polar day, and golden autumn.

Polar night, where they live in total darkness lasts from mid-October to mid-February. The northern lights are visible during this season.

Polar Day, when the sun never sets, lasts from mid-April to mid-August.

Which is more difficult? Polar day. You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

Some notable moments in the book:
- No cats are allowed on the island (there’s a good reason!)
- Despite living in such a remote location, she and her partner still feel a need to vacation in an even more remote cabin, accessible only by snowmobile
- Grim, her dog - adorable
- Regardless of the weather, she and Grim take a daily walk
- Residents must carry a rifle when venturing outdoors, as protection from polar bears (very rarely needed)
- And much more�

I loved this glimpse into a life so very different than my own. I read this during a particular cold snap and loved the cozy, hygge vibe. It almost made me want to go for a walk but then I remembered I no longer have a dog and I can't see the Northern Lights, ha!

This was a 2 hr audiobook narrated by the author but the hardback copy with the stunning photography is on the way..
]]> 215056612 An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling series.

A killer fueled by revenge. A detective haunted by the past. They are headed for a high-stakes showdown in this bone-chilling new Tracy Crosswhite novel by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite isn’t one to lose her cool. Until her interrogation of the taunting and malicious Erik Schmidt, a suspect in two cold case killings. Schmidt also has unnerving ties to the monster who murdered Tracy’s sister, stirring memories of the crime that shaped Tracy’s life. After a critical mistake during a shooting exercise, Tracy breaks.

Haunted by nightmares and flashbacks, Tracy heads to her hometown of Cedar Grove to refocus. Just a peaceful getaway with her husband, her daughter, and their nanny at their weekend house. But Tracy’s sleepless nights are only beginning. A legal glitch has allowed Schmidt to go free. And Tracy has every reason to fear that he’s followed her.

Forced into a twisted game of cat and mouse, Tracy must draw on all her training, wits, and strength to defeat a master criminal before he takes away everyone Tracy loves.]]> 373 Robert Dugoni 1662524749 JanB 2
Haunted by her sister’s death and the man who killed her, Detective Tracy fails her routine shooting test and is placed on leave.

The man who killed Tracy’s sister is dead, shot by Tracy herself, but someone is out to avenge his death. Someone who has murdered before but is set free on a technicality. He not so subtly threatens Tracy.

Tracy and her husband, decide to take their 3 year old daughter and go to their mountain home in Cedar Grove, where Tracy grew up.

As she settles into life in Cedar Grove, she befriends Lydia, a young woman who is on the autistic spectrum, and with Lydia’s help, she hones her skills. Skills she will soon need when events escalate and Tracy must fight for her life, and the lives of her loved ones.

So why 2.5 stars? The story was slow to take off, with the action not starting until 50-60%. Also, much of the story involves competitive shooting, which I found boring so I skimmed much of those sections. I also had to fight my irritation at some of the poor decisions made by Tracy and her husband.

These things were deal breakers for me, but diehard fans of the series may feel differently.

The author explains in his note that he and his dad were big fans of spaghetti westerns and I believe he was successful in his attempt to recreate some of those scenes.

This was a buddy read, and for Marialyce and I, it was all a bit too much. This was my 3rd book by this author. Although it’s #11 in the series, it works as a standalone.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.07 2025
author: Robert Dugoni
name: JanB
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/22
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: 2025-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley
review:
2.5 stars

Haunted by her sister’s death and the man who killed her, Detective Tracy fails her routine shooting test and is placed on leave.

The man who killed Tracy’s sister is dead, shot by Tracy herself, but someone is out to avenge his death. Someone who has murdered before but is set free on a technicality. He not so subtly threatens Tracy.

Tracy and her husband, decide to take their 3 year old daughter and go to their mountain home in Cedar Grove, where Tracy grew up.

As she settles into life in Cedar Grove, she befriends Lydia, a young woman who is on the autistic spectrum, and with Lydia’s help, she hones her skills. Skills she will soon need when events escalate and Tracy must fight for her life, and the lives of her loved ones.

So why 2.5 stars? The story was slow to take off, with the action not starting until 50-60%. Also, much of the story involves competitive shooting, which I found boring so I skimmed much of those sections. I also had to fight my irritation at some of the poor decisions made by Tracy and her husband.

These things were deal breakers for me, but diehard fans of the series may feel differently.

The author explains in his note that he and his dad were big fans of spaghetti westerns and I believe he was successful in his attempt to recreate some of those scenes.

This was a buddy read, and for Marialyce and I, it was all a bit too much. This was my 3rd book by this author. Although it’s #11 in the series, it works as a standalone.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 209330233 A novel of money and morality from the New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind.

Brooke wants. She isn’t in need, but there are things she wants. A sense of purpose, for instance. She wants to make a difference in the world, to impress her mother along the way, to spend time with friends and secure her independence. Her job assisting an octogenarian billionaire in his quest to give away a vast fortune could help her achieve many of these goals. It may inspire new desires as well: proximity to wealth turns out to be nothing less than transformative. What is money, really, but a kind of belief?

Taut, unsettling, and alive to the seductive distortions of money, Entitlement is a riveting tale for our new gilded age, a story that confidently considers questions about need and worth, race and privilege, philanthropy and generosity, passion and obsession. It is a provocative, propulsive novel about the American imagination.]]> 288 Rumaan Alam 0593718461 JanB 5
On the face of it this isn’t a book or a subject I’d enjoy but there’s something about the author’s writing style that appeals to me. I never feel as if he is preaching to me or hitting me over the head with an agenda. He lets us, the reader, draw our own conclusions.

The MC, Brooke, is a young black woman, who takes a job working for an elderly, wealthy white man who plans to leave his wealth to good causes. Brooke’s job is to find those causes.

With time, Brooke’s access to wealth changes her and she develops a sense of entitlement. The lines blur between her and her wealthy employer until it all comes to a head in a surprising turn of events. I found the tension palpable.

No one is particularly likable here but if you are looking for a book that makes you think and question, then this one is a compelling read I had difficulty putting down. Sometimes I want pure entertainment in my reading, and sometimes I want a meatier thought-provoking book. Just as in his previous books, the ending is not tied up in a neat bow, which I love.

The narrator of the audiobook, Nicole Lewis, was excellent.
]]> 3.00 2024
author: Rumaan Alam
name: JanB
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: 2025-reads, audiobook, fiction
review:
I loved the author’s previous book, Leave the World Behind, and so added this one.

On the face of it this isn’t a book or a subject I’d enjoy but there’s something about the author’s writing style that appeals to me. I never feel as if he is preaching to me or hitting me over the head with an agenda. He lets us, the reader, draw our own conclusions.

The MC, Brooke, is a young black woman, who takes a job working for an elderly, wealthy white man who plans to leave his wealth to good causes. Brooke’s job is to find those causes.

With time, Brooke’s access to wealth changes her and she develops a sense of entitlement. The lines blur between her and her wealthy employer until it all comes to a head in a surprising turn of events. I found the tension palpable.

No one is particularly likable here but if you are looking for a book that makes you think and question, then this one is a compelling read I had difficulty putting down. Sometimes I want pure entertainment in my reading, and sometimes I want a meatier thought-provoking book. Just as in his previous books, the ending is not tied up in a neat bow, which I love.

The narrator of the audiobook, Nicole Lewis, was excellent.

]]> 220160814 Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

Restauranteur Paddy Swann was the life of the party until the day a man pushed him in the path of an oncoming train, leaving his twenty-something daughter Ash and wife Nina devastated. Shortly after Paddy’s funeral, the two women receive a surprise in the mail: a note and package from Nick Ratcliffe, an old friend of Paddy’s, and a nondescript lighter that once belonged to him decades ago. This unexpected gift draws Nick and Nina closer together—much to Ash’s dismay.

Martha is a small-town florist with dreams of expansion. She lives with her second husband Al, her baby, and two sons from her prior marriage. But they never seem to have any money, and with his constant traveling for work, she feels like a single parent—especially when an emergency makes her realize something needs to change.

But Nick and Al may not be who they say they are, leading these three women on a shocking collision course, wishing they had heeded a warning: Don’t let him in.]]> 368 Lisa Jewell 1668033879 JanB 4
When Paddy dies from a deliberate shove in front of a train, it leaves his wife, Nina, and their daughter, Ash, devastated. In the midst of their grief, they unexpectedly connect with Nick, an old friend of Paddy’s.

Martha, the owner of a florist shop, is married to Al, who tends to disappear frequently, leaving her confused and on her own to manage her business and their child.

The lives of these three women will intersect in surprising ways.

To say any more about the plot would involve spoilers so I will just say the short chapters and alternating points of view in this domestic thriller makes this a page-tuner as the pieces of the puzzle falls into place. The ending was perfect!

The scary part? One only needs to read the news and watch documentaries to see that this can, and has, happened.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
]]> 4.00 2025
author: Lisa Jewell
name: JanB
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley, 2025-reads
review:
First book of 2025, and a great start to the year, reading & discussing with my book buddy, Marialyce.

When Paddy dies from a deliberate shove in front of a train, it leaves his wife, Nina, and their daughter, Ash, devastated. In the midst of their grief, they unexpectedly connect with Nick, an old friend of Paddy’s.

Martha, the owner of a florist shop, is married to Al, who tends to disappear frequently, leaving her confused and on her own to manage her business and their child.

The lives of these three women will intersect in surprising ways.

To say any more about the plot would involve spoilers so I will just say the short chapters and alternating points of view in this domestic thriller makes this a page-tuner as the pieces of the puzzle falls into place. The ending was perfect!

The scary part? One only needs to read the news and watch documentaries to see that this can, and has, happened.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

]]> 199605519
When Lydia takes a job running the Senior Citizens� Social Club three afternoons a week, she assumes she’ll be spending her time drinking tea and playing gentle games of cards.

The members of the Social Club, however, are not at all what Lydia was expecting. From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to Daphne, who has been hiding from her dark past for decades to Ruby, a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn, these seniors look deceptively benign—but when age makes you invisible, secrets are so much easier to hide.

When the city council threatens to sell the doomed community center building, the members of the Social Club join forces with their tiny friends in the daycare next door—as well as the teenaged father of one of the toddlers and a geriatric dog—to save the building. Together, this group’s unorthodox methods may actually work, as long as the police don’t catch up with them first.]]> 337 Clare Pooley 0593831497 JanB 5 “life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, but rather to "skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!� Hunter S. Thompson

A buddy read with Marialyce, this is one of the most fun “lighter novels with substance� that I’ve read.

The novel opens when a police officer pulls over a bus full of mostly seniors, all who, without being asked, are quick to confess to a variety of crimes.

From there we go back in time to find out led to the present dilemma.

Eccentric Daphne, having just celebrated her 70th birthday, alludes to a mysterious past, is tiring of her solitary life, and decides to join the senior center. Here she meets a motley crew including:
* Lydia, the program director, is a woman in her mid-50s who is married to a complete ass and needs to find her backbone and her voice
* Art, an aging actor with a bad habit and an estranged family
* William, Art’s best friend
* Ziggy, an 18 yr old single father trying to go to school & care for his infant daughter
* Anna, who knits, but she’s not knitting potholders. I won’t ruin the fun by disclosing why she’s knitting oversized projects, but they are irreverent, a bit (ok, a lot) naughty, and hilarious.
* an adorable aged dog named Margaret Thatcher
* The children at a day care center

But the real star of the show here is Daphne who made me laugh out loud more than once. She’s completely delightful! She’s witty, snarky, opinionated, minces no words, and bears no fools. And she gets things done.

It may seem like a lot of characters but they each have a unique voice and story arc , so they are easy to follow. They all come together to save the community center but it’s about is much more than that.

Not only does this book destroy stereotypes of aging, these seniors are vibrant and intelligent, who have much to offer society and show the younger members of their group a thing or two. I loved the bond and intergenerational sense of community they built.

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end where she tells us her inspiration for the story.

I may not be aging as disgracefully as this group but I sure did have fun with them!

* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.13 2024
author: Clare Pooley
name: JanB
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/15
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, humor, netgalley, 2025-reads
review:
“life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely, but rather to "skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!� Hunter S. Thompson

A buddy read with Marialyce, this is one of the most fun “lighter novels with substance� that I’ve read.

The novel opens when a police officer pulls over a bus full of mostly seniors, all who, without being asked, are quick to confess to a variety of crimes.

From there we go back in time to find out led to the present dilemma.

Eccentric Daphne, having just celebrated her 70th birthday, alludes to a mysterious past, is tiring of her solitary life, and decides to join the senior center. Here she meets a motley crew including:
* Lydia, the program director, is a woman in her mid-50s who is married to a complete ass and needs to find her backbone and her voice
* Art, an aging actor with a bad habit and an estranged family
* William, Art’s best friend
* Ziggy, an 18 yr old single father trying to go to school & care for his infant daughter
* Anna, who knits, but she’s not knitting potholders. I won’t ruin the fun by disclosing why she’s knitting oversized projects, but they are irreverent, a bit (ok, a lot) naughty, and hilarious.
* an adorable aged dog named Margaret Thatcher
* The children at a day care center

But the real star of the show here is Daphne who made me laugh out loud more than once. She’s completely delightful! She’s witty, snarky, opinionated, minces no words, and bears no fools. And she gets things done.

It may seem like a lot of characters but they each have a unique voice and story arc , so they are easy to follow. They all come together to save the community center but it’s about is much more than that.

Not only does this book destroy stereotypes of aging, these seniors are vibrant and intelligent, who have much to offer society and show the younger members of their group a thing or two. I loved the bond and intergenerational sense of community they built.

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end where she tells us her inspiration for the story.

I may not be aging as disgracefully as this group but I sure did have fun with them!

* I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 209192698 In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.Ěý

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.

From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.]]> 320 Ina Garten 0593799895 JanB 5 2024-reads, audiobook, memoir
This book removes the veil of her roots and where her motivation lies. She had a sad childhood, and her climb to success was not without struggles, which makes her even more relatable. She is not an icon who relegated the grunt work to others - she worked hard for everything she accomplished and her story is a compelling one.

Memoirs can be a difficult genre with the pitfall of humble bragging. You won't find this here. Highly recommended!]]> 4.26 2024
author: Ina Garten
name: JanB
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, memoir
review:
I'm a huge fan of Ina Garten and own all her cookbooks. Listening to her memoir narrated in her own voice was a complete pleasure. She writes beautiful uncomplicated cookbooks and her love of cooking and serving beautiful food shines through this memoir.

This book removes the veil of her roots and where her motivation lies. She had a sad childhood, and her climb to success was not without struggles, which makes her even more relatable. She is not an icon who relegated the grunt work to others - she worked hard for everything she accomplished and her story is a compelling one.

Memoirs can be a difficult genre with the pitfall of humble bragging. You won't find this here. Highly recommended!
]]> 207252770
Once home to Vanessa: A famous artist whose notoriously unfaithful husband disappeared twenty years ago.

Now home to Grace: A solitary creature of the tides, content in her own isolation.

But when a shocking discovery is made in an art gallery far away in London, a visitor comes calling.

And the secrets of Eris threaten to emerge . . .

A masterful novel that is as page-turning as it is unsettling, The Blue Hour recalls the sophisticated suspense of Shirley Jackson and Patricia Highsmith, and cements Hawkins’s place among the very best of our most nuanced and stylish storytellers.]]> 320 Paula Hawkins 0063396521 JanB 4
The payoff is worth the patience. It's a story to savor. A subtle story with layers that are uncovered as an onion peel - the clues are uncovered one after another.

I won't say more - but I highly recommend to those who are willing to be patient with the way the story unfolds.

]]> 3.25 2024
author: Paula Hawkins
name: JanB
average rating: 3.25
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
THE BLUE HOUR really shows off Paula Hawkins� writing skills. This is not a thriller a minute story. It requires a bit of patience as does the Daphne du Maurier books.

The payoff is worth the patience. It's a story to savor. A subtle story with layers that are uncovered as an onion peel - the clues are uncovered one after another.

I won't say more - but I highly recommend to those who are willing to be patient with the way the story unfolds.


]]> 28187230 341 Ruth Ware 1501132938 JanB 4
Even I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this story. I’m sorry I waited so long to read it. With the upcoming Netflix film I decided to read it and I’m so glad I did.

This is an older title so I won’t go into the plot. I found it engaging and a page-turner. Can’t wait for the movie!
]]> 3.73 2016
author: Ruth Ware
name: JanB
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
After reading less than stellar reviews I put this book on the back burner the year it was released. Whew�. it got a lot of hate, and frankly I don’t understand why.

Even I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this story. I’m sorry I waited so long to read it. With the upcoming Netflix film I decided to read it and I’m so glad I did.

This is an older title so I won’t go into the plot. I found it engaging and a page-turner. Can’t wait for the movie!

]]> 54197718
A night spent sleeping on dirt and leaves is not how Claire Matchett expected to spend her vacation.

She thought this would be a break from the stresses of work and raising her young children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubs with two other couple friends. It sounded like heaven.

Then Claire’s minivan breaks down on a lonely dirt road. With no cell reception, the group has no choice but to hike the rest of the way to their hotel. But it turns out the woods aren’t as easy to navigate as they thought.

Hours later, they are lost. Hopelessly lost.

And as they navigate deeper into the woods, the members of their party are struck down mysteriously one by one. Has a wild animal been hunting them? Or is the hunter one of them?

But as more time passes, one thing becomes clear:

Only one of them will return home alive.]]> 295 Freida McFadden JanB 4
However, on the way to their destination, Claire's minivan breaks down, and there is no cell phone service.

As they head out on foot, things go from bad to worse. They become lost, and one in their party is found dead. More follow. They are out there alone, so it must be one of their own who is a killer. A perfect locked door scenario.

In addition to Claire, there is a second POV from "anonymous" that adds to the tension.

Freida McFadden is a master of the twist…just when you think you have it figured out, there’s a plot twist that makes sense even as it shocks and surprises you.]]> 3.87 2020
author: Freida McFadden
name: JanB
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
Claire decides to go on a week-long trip with her husband and several other couples, thinking this could inject some fun & life into her marriage.

However, on the way to their destination, Claire's minivan breaks down, and there is no cell phone service.

As they head out on foot, things go from bad to worse. They become lost, and one in their party is found dead. More follow. They are out there alone, so it must be one of their own who is a killer. A perfect locked door scenario.

In addition to Claire, there is a second POV from "anonymous" that adds to the tension.

Freida McFadden is a master of the twist…just when you think you have it figured out, there’s a plot twist that makes sense even as it shocks and surprises you.
]]> 211780885
She needs a distraction, and Patrick, the wedding photographer, just might be the solution. Everyone has decided he is perfect for her. He is perfect for her. But the arrival of Mac, a not-quite-famous actor who has flown in from New York, complicates everything.

Much-loved YA author Nina Kenwood hits the spot with her first novel for adults. Laugh-out-loud funny with chemistry that jumps off the page, The Wedding Forecast will be the feel-good romcom of the summer.]]> 336 Nina Kenwood 1922790842 JanB 4
Maybe Patrick, the wedding photographer, will be a welcome distraction. Or Mac, the semi-famous actor.

The setting, the witty dialogue, Anna’s often hilarious self-talk, the matchmaking mothers, bookstores, writing, the focus on female friendships, and the unexpected turns made this a winning combination.

Heartwarming and fun!
]]> 4.16 2024
author: Nina Kenwood
name: JanB
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, rom-com
review:
Anna is the bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding and her ex, Joel, is the groomsmen, who is there with his new girlfriend. His very pregnant girlfriend, despite the fact that the reason for their break-up was he didn’t want kids.

Maybe Patrick, the wedding photographer, will be a welcome distraction. Or Mac, the semi-famous actor.

The setting, the witty dialogue, Anna’s often hilarious self-talk, the matchmaking mothers, bookstores, writing, the focus on female friendships, and the unexpected turns made this a winning combination.

Heartwarming and fun!

]]> 207299448
Though the authorities rule Liam's death accidental, Nora and her estranged brother, Sam, believe otherwise. As they form an uneasy alliance to unpack the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father’s past and uncover a family secret that changes everything.

With Laura Dave’s “signature blend of pulse-pounding suspense� (PEOPLE) and “trademark emotional heft� (The New York Post), The Night We Lost Him is a “propulsive� (Oprah Daily) must-read, with a heartbreaking final twist you’ll never see coming.]]> 298 Laura Dave 1668002930 JanB 5
This is a thriller (lite, so be prepared) but it is also a heartwarming family story and a romance. I just love the way the author writes and how she brings all these elements together. I really loved it.

*the audiobook was narrated by Julia Whelan, who narrated flawlessly, as usual.
]]> 3.56 2024
author: Laura Dave
name: JanB
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/13
date added: 2024/12/14
shelves: 2024-reads, mystery-thriller, audiobook
review:
When wealthy businessman Liam Noone falls to his death at his cliffside home, it is ruled as an accident. But his son Sam is unconvinced, so he enlists the help of his estranged step-sister Nora. As Nora and Sam fly between New York and California to try and make sense of Liam’s death, they uncover long-held secrets . As they put together the pieces, they begin to realize there was more to their father than they knew.

This is a thriller (lite, so be prepared) but it is also a heartwarming family story and a romance. I just love the way the author writes and how she brings all these elements together. I really loved it.

*the audiobook was narrated by Julia Whelan, who narrated flawlessly, as usual.

]]> 199347234
When Cleo, a student at NYU, arrives late for dinner at her childhood home in Brooklyn, she finds food burning in the oven and no sign of her mother, Kat. Then Cleo discovers her mom’s bloody shoe under the sofa. Something terrible has happened.

But what? The polar opposite of Cleo, whose “out of control� emotions and “unsafe� behavior have created a seemingly unbridgeable rift between mother and daughter, Kat is the essence of Park Slope perfection: a happily married, successful corporate lawyer. Or so Cleo thinks.

Kat has been lying. She’s not just a lawyer; she’s her firm’s fixer. She’s damn good at it, too. Growing up in a dangerous group home taught her how to think fast, stay calm under pressure, and recognize a real threat when she sees one. And in the days leading up her disappearance, Kat has become aware of multiple threats: demands for money from her unfaithful soon-to-be ex-husband; evidence that Cleo has slipped back into a relationship that’s far riskier than she understands; and menacing anonymous messages from her past—all of which she’s kept hidden from Cleo . . .

Like Mother, Like Daughter is a thrilling novel of emotional suspense that questions the damaging fictions we cling to and the hard truths we avoid. Above all, it’s a love story between a mother and a daughter, each determined to save the other before it’s too late.]]> 320 Kimberly McCreight 0593536428 JanB 4
Thus begins a hectic search for answers. They’ve had a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and it soon becomes obvious to Cleo that there is more to her mother than she could have imagined. Kat’s role at her law firm is much more than a patent lawyer, and it’s a role that puts her in danger. (I’m being deliberately vague) Moreover, Kat has a traumatic past that Cleo knew nothing about. I really loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship and this is where the story shined. The title is apt!

The layers to the story, the dual timelines and POV, as well as the list of potential suspects (just about everyone) made this a page-turner. It can appear at first that there’s perhaps too much going on but the subplots are compelling and the author brought it all together flawlessly.

� I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.]]> 3.65 2024
author: Kimberly McCreight
name: JanB
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: 2024-reads, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
NYU student Cleo, heads to her parent’s home for dinner with her mother, Kat. But when she arrives, her mother is nowhere to be found. There is a chicken burning in the oven and blood on the floor. Then she finds a bloody shoe under the sofa.

Thus begins a hectic search for answers. They’ve had a complicated mother-daughter relationship, and it soon becomes obvious to Cleo that there is more to her mother than she could have imagined. Kat’s role at her law firm is much more than a patent lawyer, and it’s a role that puts her in danger. (I’m being deliberately vague) Moreover, Kat has a traumatic past that Cleo knew nothing about. I really loved the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship and this is where the story shined. The title is apt!

The layers to the story, the dual timelines and POV, as well as the list of potential suspects (just about everyone) made this a page-turner. It can appear at first that there’s perhaps too much going on but the subplots are compelling and the author brought it all together flawlessly.

� I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
]]> 549938
The title creature is a sort of barometer of life at the home of John Peerybingle and his much younger wife Dot. When things go well, the cricket on the hearth chirps; it is silent when there is sorrow. Tackleton, a jealous old man, poisons John's mind about Dot, but the cricket through its supernatural powers restores John's confidence and all ends happily.]]> 82 Charles Dickens 0809500418 JanB 3 audiobook 3.49 1845
author: Charles Dickens
name: JanB
average rating: 3.49
book published: 1845
rating: 3
read at: 2013/12/16
date added: 2024/12/09
shelves: audiobook
review:
A sweet Dickensonian Christmas tale narrated by Jim Dale, who is such an awesome narrator he could make a reading of the phone book interesting
]]> 203164357 The stage is set. Marooned overnight by a snowstorm in a grand country house are a cast of characters and a setting that even Agatha Christie might recognize � a vicar, an Army major, a Dowager, a sleuth and his sidekick - except that the sleuth is Jackson Brodie, and the �sidekick� is DC Reggie Chase.

The crumbling house - Burton Makepeace and its chatelaine the Dowager Lady Milton - suffered the loss of their last remaining painting of any value, a Turner, some years ago. The housekeeper, Sophie, who disappeared the same night, is suspected of stealing it.

Jackson, a reluctant hostage to the snowstorm, has been investigating the theft of another The Woman with a Weasel, a portrait, taken from the house of an elderly widow, on the morning she died. The suspect this time is the widow’s carer, Melanie. Is this a coincidence or is there a connection? And what secrets does The Woman with a Weasel hold? The puzzle is Jackson’s to solve. And let’s not forget that a convicted murderer is on the run on the moors around Burton Makepeace.

All the while, in a bid to make money, Burton Makepeace is determined to keep hosting a shambolic Murder Mystery that acts as a backdrop while the real drama is being played out in the house.

A brilliantly plotted, supremely entertaining, and utterly compulsive tour de force from a great writer at the height of her powers.]]> 320 Kate Atkinson 0385547994 JanB 5
So, right off the bat, this book was right up my alley. Plus, I love Kate Atkinson’s literary thrillers featuring PI Jackson Brodie. I haven’t read them all and I’m not sure why. I need to fix that.

This one works as a standalone. Never mind the mystery, this one has great characters, excellent writing, and dry humor that kept me chuckling. I got the feeling that the author was having a bit of fun turning this trope on its head.

I’m a huge fan of Kate Atkinson and this was no exception! Narrated by Jason Isaacs, the audiobook was a joy to listen to.
]]> 3.70 2024
author: Kate Atkinson
name: JanB
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
One of my favorite tropes that never grows old is characters who are stranded in a snowstorm. Guests stranded during a Mystery Murder Weekend is even more fun.

So, right off the bat, this book was right up my alley. Plus, I love Kate Atkinson’s literary thrillers featuring PI Jackson Brodie. I haven’t read them all and I’m not sure why. I need to fix that.

This one works as a standalone. Never mind the mystery, this one has great characters, excellent writing, and dry humor that kept me chuckling. I got the feeling that the author was having a bit of fun turning this trope on its head.

I’m a huge fan of Kate Atkinson and this was no exception! Narrated by Jason Isaacs, the audiobook was a joy to listen to.

]]> 204169194 The Family Remains, on Two Dead Wives

An exhilarating psychological crime thriller that will have you racing to the finish!

HIS FIRST WIFE DIED. NOW THERE'S A VACANCY�

When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems to be just what she needs.

Yet as their relationship moves fast, Emma’s friends worry she might be exploited. She’s a rich woman after all.

Emma doesn’t care Matthew has no money. But as the memory of his perfect first wife hangs over them, Emma does have one tiny doubt.

If Matthew’s wife hadn’t died, he wouldn’t be with her. And Emma wonders if she’s second best. Can she ever fill the dead woman’s shoes?

As jealousy and suspicion blossom between Emma and Matthew, events take a darker, dangerous turn.

Suddenly Emma doesn’t know who she can trust. Her friends? Her husband? Or even herself�?]]> 368 Adele Parks 0778368130 JanB 4
Then strange things begin happening and the clever twists keep the pages turning. A fun read!
]]> 3.93 2024
author: Adele Parks
name: JanB
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
After a whirlwind romance Emma marries Matthew. She’s head over heels but she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t stop thinking she is second best to Matthew’s first wife, who passed away a year ago. Adding to her angst is her two best friends who think this marriage happened all too fast and suspect Matthew is a gold digger.

Then strange things begin happening and the clever twists keep the pages turning. A fun read!

]]> 203578763 The Afterword. After all, how hard can it really be to write a universally lauded bestseller?

But when Anna publishes her book and indulges in her own literary acclaim, she begins to receive excerpts of a novel she never expected to see again, a novel that should no longer exist. Something has gone wrong, and someone out there knows far too much about her late brother, her late husband, and possibly about Anna herself. What does this person want, and what are they prepared to do? She has come too far and worked too hard to lose what she values most: the sole and uncontested right to her own story—and she is, by any standard, a master storyteller.]]> 304 Jean Hanff Korelitz 1250875471 JanB 5 The sequel to THE PLOT, Anna is back and crazy as ever. Starting where THE PLOT leaves off (no spoilers!) she’s published her own book, THE AFTERWARD. She’s living a dream, until she begins to receive excerpts in the mail of a novel that isn’t supposed to exist. Whoever is sending the excerpts appears to know enough about Anna that can blow her perfect world apart. She has a LOT of skeletons.

What follows is a fun cat-and-mouse game. It’s no secret that I love living inside the mind of a psychopath, and Anna is no exception. The wry humor added to my enjoyment.

Smart, intelligent, and well-written, don’t miss this series!

But do read book one in the series first.

The audiobook narration by Julia Whelan was excellent, as one would expect from my favorite narrator.

*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 3.60 2024
author: Jean Hanff Korelitz
name: JanB
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, netgalley, mystery-thriller
review:

The sequel to THE PLOT, Anna is back and crazy as ever. Starting where THE PLOT leaves off (no spoilers!) she’s published her own book, THE AFTERWARD. She’s living a dream, until she begins to receive excerpts in the mail of a novel that isn’t supposed to exist. Whoever is sending the excerpts appears to know enough about Anna that can blow her perfect world apart. She has a LOT of skeletons.

What follows is a fun cat-and-mouse game. It’s no secret that I love living inside the mind of a psychopath, and Anna is no exception. The wry humor added to my enjoyment.

Smart, intelligent, and well-written, don’t miss this series!

But do read book one in the series first.

The audiobook narration by Julia Whelan was excellent, as one would expect from my favorite narrator.

*I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own

]]> 113877384
Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns to the English village of her childhood after living abroad for six decades. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss.

Helen retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship.

Sipsworth is a reminder that there can be second chances. No matter what we have planned for ourselves, sometimes the world has plans of its own. Simon Van Booy’s lyrical storytelling is a delight even as it will fill your heart.]]> 240 Simon Van Booy 1567927947 JanB 5
But, unexpectedly, she encounters a mouse she names Sipsworth and her entire world changes.

This is everything I love in a book. It’s quiet, poignant and tender. There is more to Helen than we know and as her backstory is revealed, I loved her even more. Helen’s desire to live blossoms and she finds connection to others through her beloved pet, opening her heart to living again.

A sweet tender tale that will be among my favorites of all time.]]> 4.12 2024
author: Simon Van Booy
name: JanB
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/16
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, fiction
review:
83 year old Helen returns to her hometown after many decades away. She’s had happier times but now she is alone and lonely and is simply waiting to die.

But, unexpectedly, she encounters a mouse she names Sipsworth and her entire world changes.

This is everything I love in a book. It’s quiet, poignant and tender. There is more to Helen than we know and as her backstory is revealed, I loved her even more. Helen’s desire to live blossoms and she finds connection to others through her beloved pet, opening her heart to living again.

A sweet tender tale that will be among my favorites of all time.
]]> 208503280 She's looking for the perfect man. He's looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can't shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He's charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim...

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…]]> 368 Freida McFadden 1728296226 JanB 4
When her close friend turns up dead, it appears that there is a connection between her murder and the other murders happening around the city. Each of the victims dated their killer.

She’s just about ready to give up online dating when she meets a sexy doctor. She ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t believe her luck. But there are little signs that this probably won’t be a long-term relationship. She catches him in some lies and she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t shake her unease.

As Sydney begins to fear for her life, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Meanwhile, in alternating chapters, we meet a young Tom and his high school sweetheart, Daisy. Why is this relevant? All will be made clear by the end.

The MC, Sydney isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer and dumb as a box of rocks. I wanted to smack her more than once, but the plot is worth putting up with her stupidity. She’s not the first woman who has made stupid decisions with men.

The red herrings and nail-biting situations make this a bingeable read. It’s certainly worth popping the popcorn and settling in. Best of all I was surprised by the ending even th0ugh in retrospect the breadcrumbs are all there.

A fun read.]]> 3.95 2024
author: Freida McFadden
name: JanB
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/30
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
Sydney is 34, living in New York, and despite online dating, she still hasn’t met “The One�.

When her close friend turns up dead, it appears that there is a connection between her murder and the other murders happening around the city. Each of the victims dated their killer.

She’s just about ready to give up online dating when she meets a sexy doctor. She ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t believe her luck. But there are little signs that this probably won’t be a long-term relationship. She catches him in some lies and she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t shake her unease.

As Sydney begins to fear for her life, she doesn’t know who she can trust. Meanwhile, in alternating chapters, we meet a young Tom and his high school sweetheart, Daisy. Why is this relevant? All will be made clear by the end.

The MC, Sydney isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer and dumb as a box of rocks. I wanted to smack her more than once, but the plot is worth putting up with her stupidity. She’s not the first woman who has made stupid decisions with men.

The red herrings and nail-biting situations make this a bingeable read. It’s certainly worth popping the popcorn and settling in. Best of all I was surprised by the ending even th0ugh in retrospect the breadcrumbs are all there.

A fun read.
]]> 62365896 A charming, deeply moving novel about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.

Our Reasons meet us in the morning and whisper to us at night. Mine is an innocent, unsuspecting, eternally sixty-one-year-old woman named Lorraine Daigle�

Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.

When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.

How to Read a Book Ěýis an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living.Ěý .Ěý]]> 288 Monica Wood 0063243679 JanB 5
The novel opens with 12 incarcerated women who are part of a book club, led by retired librarian, Harriet. I loved their book discussions and getting hints into the women’s� lives and what led them to prison. Harriet deftly guides the women on how to approach a story and the characters as they read. (A lesson we can all use!)

One on the inmates, 22-year-old Violet, is released. She’s struggling and dearly misses Harriet and the book group. Circumstances cause their paths to cross again. Making things more complicated is that Harriet’s new friend Frank, is the husband of the woman who was killed by Violet in the drunk driving incident that sent her to prison.

What follows is a story of second chances, found family and the power of friendship and forgiveness. I appreciated that the author’s characters are all too human and flawed, and often make bad choices. The author approaches this with grace and humor, but doesn't shy away from tackling difficult issues.

I also loved that the characters ranged in age from 20s to 60s, and there is even a romance featuring an older couple. Violet’s work with parrots was fun and fascinating, and every single side character was compelling. As the character’s lives intersect the reader is in for a treat that will leave you with a smile on your face and a lump in your throat.

Don’t miss this one!
]]> 4.21 2024
author: Monica Wood
name: JanB
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/24
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: 2024-reads, fiction, audiobook
review:
A love letter to books, this is delightful, heartwarming read on the transformative power of books and reading.

The novel opens with 12 incarcerated women who are part of a book club, led by retired librarian, Harriet. I loved their book discussions and getting hints into the women’s� lives and what led them to prison. Harriet deftly guides the women on how to approach a story and the characters as they read. (A lesson we can all use!)

One on the inmates, 22-year-old Violet, is released. She’s struggling and dearly misses Harriet and the book group. Circumstances cause their paths to cross again. Making things more complicated is that Harriet’s new friend Frank, is the husband of the woman who was killed by Violet in the drunk driving incident that sent her to prison.

What follows is a story of second chances, found family and the power of friendship and forgiveness. I appreciated that the author’s characters are all too human and flawed, and often make bad choices. The author approaches this with grace and humor, but doesn't shy away from tackling difficult issues.

I also loved that the characters ranged in age from 20s to 60s, and there is even a romance featuring an older couple. Violet’s work with parrots was fun and fascinating, and every single side character was compelling. As the character’s lives intersect the reader is in for a treat that will leave you with a smile on your face and a lump in your throat.

Don’t miss this one!

]]> 206766189 A deviously twisty novel of psychological suspense about secrets, neighbors, a need to belong, and murder by the award-winning author of The Maid’s Diary.

Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

A move to the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a fresh start for Jemma and Adam. It’s a renewed commitment to a marriage fractured by secrets. A chance to work through the tragic losses in their past. For Jemma, however, this new beginning also comes with an unnerving sensation that she’s being watched.

Then, on a fog-shrouded beach early in the morning, Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer. Her suspicions aroused, she suddenly sees her neighbors in a sinister new light. But as a detective and her partner close in, nothing is quite as it seems. Because the Spenglers are not the only ones with secrets. And Chloe isn’t the only one who’s been watching.]]> 349 Loreth Anne White 1662518919 JanB 5
Chloe is an introverted loner, living with her ailing mother, and watching the goings-on of her neighbors, especially wealthy Jemma and her surgeon husband, Adam. It helps that their windows are uncovered. Little is kept secret from Chloe’s prying eyes.

One morning Chloe is on her early morning walk when she sees a swimmer run down by a jet ski. In case there was any question that it was an accident, the jet ski circles back for another go at the swimmer.

Chloe flees the scene, but she is certain she knows the who and the why. The next day, despite her mother’s constant admonitions and criticisms running through her mind, she calls it in to police. What follows is a tale of secrets, deceit, and revenge, and Chloe becomes entangled in ways she couldn’t have anticipated.

Told from multiple points of view, the short chapters alternate between “Before the Hit and Run�, and “After the Hit and Run�, plus excerpts from the podcast & documentary, “It’s Criminal: She’s Been Watching You-The Chloe Cooper Story�, makes this story fast-paced.

The clues, the red herrings, and the jaw-dropping revelations and twists made for a fun, clever, unputdownable read! 5 stars for the entertainment value alone.

*Available on KU with audio narration by Reba Buhr who did an excellent job

]]> 3.97 2024
author: Loreth Anne White
name: JanB
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/10/26
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
4.5 stars

Chloe is an introverted loner, living with her ailing mother, and watching the goings-on of her neighbors, especially wealthy Jemma and her surgeon husband, Adam. It helps that their windows are uncovered. Little is kept secret from Chloe’s prying eyes.

One morning Chloe is on her early morning walk when she sees a swimmer run down by a jet ski. In case there was any question that it was an accident, the jet ski circles back for another go at the swimmer.

Chloe flees the scene, but she is certain she knows the who and the why. The next day, despite her mother’s constant admonitions and criticisms running through her mind, she calls it in to police. What follows is a tale of secrets, deceit, and revenge, and Chloe becomes entangled in ways she couldn’t have anticipated.

Told from multiple points of view, the short chapters alternate between “Before the Hit and Run�, and “After the Hit and Run�, plus excerpts from the podcast & documentary, “It’s Criminal: She’s Been Watching You-The Chloe Cooper Story�, makes this story fast-paced.

The clues, the red herrings, and the jaw-dropping revelations and twists made for a fun, clever, unputdownable read! 5 stars for the entertainment value alone.

*Available on KU with audio narration by Reba Buhr who did an excellent job


]]> 203164414
Flavia de Luce, along with her pestilent younger cousin, investigates the murder of a former public hangman and uncovers secrets that bring the greatest shock of her life.



Poisonous mushrooms, pestilent cousins—and a most perplexing murder...

There's a new arrival at Buckshaw—Flavia de Luce's obnoxious cousin Undine. Flavia reluctantly takes on the mentorship of her fellow orphan, who in her best moments shows some potential for trespassing and trickery.

When Major Greyleigh, a former hangman, is found dead from a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms, suspicion falls on the de Luce family's longtime cook, Mrs. Mullet. After all, didn't she pick the mushrooms and serve them to Greyleigh moments before his death?

Flavia knows her beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and the odious Undine, she sets out to find the real killer and clear Mrs. Mullet's good name.

But following the case's twists and turns will lead her to a most surprising discovery—one with the power to upend her entire life...]]> 298 Alan Bradley 0593724518 JanB 4
Flavia is delightfully fascinated by chemistry and death, and bicycles around Bishop’s Lacy in 1950’s England solving crimes. She’s smart, precocious, and witty.

The mystery is fun & interesting in each book, but I’m here for the characters, especially Flavia and Dugger, although the secondary characters are also delightful. Her cousin Undine is a mini-Flavia, and Flavia’s reactions to her in this book are particularly enjoyable.

As with the last book, there’s a shocking revelation, and I hope we won’t have to wait so long for the next book!

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley but I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator, Jayne Entwistle, nails the character of Flavia and is a delight to listen to.]]> 3.98 2024
author: Alan Bradley
name: JanB
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/06
date added: 2024/10/08
shelves:
review:
I feared the previous book would be the last but my favorite juvenile amateur detective is BACK!

Flavia is delightfully fascinated by chemistry and death, and bicycles around Bishop’s Lacy in 1950’s England solving crimes. She’s smart, precocious, and witty.

The mystery is fun & interesting in each book, but I’m here for the characters, especially Flavia and Dugger, although the secondary characters are also delightful. Her cousin Undine is a mini-Flavia, and Flavia’s reactions to her in this book are particularly enjoyable.

As with the last book, there’s a shocking revelation, and I hope we won’t have to wait so long for the next book!

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley but I highly recommend listening to the audiobook. The narrator, Jayne Entwistle, nails the character of Flavia and is a delight to listen to.
]]> 208516656 If you knew your future, would you try to fight fate?

Aside from a delay, there will be no problems. The flight will be smooth, it will land safely. Everyone who gets on the plane will get off. But almost all of them will be forever changed.

Because on this ordinary, short, domestic flight, something extraordinary happens. People learn how and when they are going to die. For some, their death is far in the future—age 103!—and they laugh. But for six passengers, their predicted deaths are not far away at all.

How do they know this? There were ostensibly more interesting people on the flight (the bride and groom, the jittery, possibly famous woman, the giant Hemsworth-esque guy who looks like an off-duty superhero, the frazzled, gorgeous flight attendant) but none would become as famous as “The Death Lady.�

Not a single passenger or crew member will later recall noticing her board the plane. She wasn’t exceptionally old or young, rude or polite. She wasn’t drunk or nervous or pregnant. Her appearance and demeanor were unremarkable. But what she did on that flight was truly remarkable.

A few months later, one passenger dies exactly as she predicted. Then two more passengers die, again, as she said they would. Soon no one is thinking this is simply an entertaining story at a cocktail party.

If you were told you only had a certain amount of time left to live, would you do things differently? Would you try to dodge your destiny?

Liane Moriarty’s Here One Moment is a brilliantly constructed tale that looks at free will and destiny, grief and love, and the endless struggle to maintain certainty and control in an uncertain world. A modern-day Jane Austen who humorously skewers social mores while spinning a web of mystery, Moriarty asks profound questions in her newest I-ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t-wait-to-find-out-what-happens novel.]]> 512 Liane Moriarty 0593798600 JanB 4
How would that information affect your actions? We follow some of the passengers and as they wrestle with their fate, they make decisions that begs the questions: is their fate predestined regardless of what they do? Did the prediction lead to actions that can alter their fate? Alternatively, do their actions lead to the prediction actually coming true, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy?

As we delve into these passengers lives, we also learn more about the lady who made the predictions.

Despite the topic, in the author’s hands, it is anything but heavy.

* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley.]]> 3.99 2024
author: Liane Moriarty
name: JanB
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/07
date added: 2024/10/07
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
Imagine being on a flight and a lady goes up the aisle predicting the age and cause of death of everyone.

How would that information affect your actions? We follow some of the passengers and as they wrestle with their fate, they make decisions that begs the questions: is their fate predestined regardless of what they do? Did the prediction lead to actions that can alter their fate? Alternatively, do their actions lead to the prediction actually coming true, a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy?

As we delve into these passengers lives, we also learn more about the lady who made the predictions.

Despite the topic, in the author’s hands, it is anything but heavy.

* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley.
]]> 213243949 A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding.

Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay, and without even a suit.

But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband to be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past.

Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life,ĚýThree Days in JuneĚýis a triumph, and gives us the perennially bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer at the height of her powers

]]> 165 Anne Tyler 0593803485 JanB 5
Gail feels like an outsider at her only daughter’s wedding, she learns she’s being passed over at work, her daughter shares a disturbing revelation, and her ex shows up at her doorstep with a foster cat.

Gail must navigate these events, and as she does so she reflects on the past and gains clarity on her future. The characteristic Tyler wisdom & subtle humor are here and at less than 200 pages, I easily read this book in one day. So much is said in so few pages, the mark of an excellent author.

Anne Tyler’s depiction of human nature and her observations about the world are excellent. She’s one of a handful of authors who can write about the ordinary in an extraordinary way, with flawed but sympathetic characters.

Another winner from Anne Tyler!

*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*pub date Feb 11, 2025 ]]> 3.65 2025
author: Anne Tyler
name: JanB
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/14
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves: 2024-reads, fiction, netgalley
review:
This novel tells the story of Gail, the MOB, during 3 days surrounding her daughter’s wedding.

Gail feels like an outsider at her only daughter’s wedding, she learns she’s being passed over at work, her daughter shares a disturbing revelation, and her ex shows up at her doorstep with a foster cat.

Gail must navigate these events, and as she does so she reflects on the past and gains clarity on her future. The characteristic Tyler wisdom & subtle humor are here and at less than 200 pages, I easily read this book in one day. So much is said in so few pages, the mark of an excellent author.

Anne Tyler’s depiction of human nature and her observations about the world are excellent. She’s one of a handful of authors who can write about the ordinary in an extraordinary way, with flawed but sympathetic characters.

Another winner from Anne Tyler!

*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*pub date Feb 11, 2025
]]> 19792871 The electrifying first appearance of Jo Nesbø’s detective, Harry Hole.
Ěý
Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad is dispatched to Sydney to observe a murder case.Ěý Harry is free to offer assistance, but he has firm instructions to stay out of trouble. The victim is a twenty-three year old Norwegian woman who is a minor celebrity back home. Never one to sit on the sidelines, Harry befriends one of the lead detectives, and one of the witnesses, as he is drawn deeper into the case.Ěý Together, they discover that this is only the latest in a string of unsolved murders, and the pattern points toward a psychopath working his way across the country. As they circle closer and closer to the killer, Harry begins to fear that no one is safe, least of all those investigating the case.


BONUS MATERIAL:ĚýThis ebook edition includes an excerpt from JoĚýNesbø'sĚýPolice.]]> 331 Jo Nesbø 0345807103 JanB 2 audiobook
I did find out how Harry Hole was pronounced (Ho-lay) so now I can stop pronouncing it the American way, which makes it a very unfortunate name indeed :-)

I've heard enough good things about the series that I'll read #3 next, but I'm not in a big hurry ]]> 3.67 1997
author: Jo Nesbø
name: JanB
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1997
rating: 2
read at: 2014/10/13
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: audiobook
review:
I should have listened to the reviews that recommended starting this series with Book 3. This was rather boring and the author took the reader out of the narrative with lectures on Australian and Aboriginal culture. More than I ever wanted to know. Nor did I find the mystery all that compelling.

I did find out how Harry Hole was pronounced (Ho-lay) so now I can stop pronouncing it the American way, which makes it a very unfortunate name indeed :-)

I've heard enough good things about the series that I'll read #3 next, but I'm not in a big hurry
]]> 17675004 The memoir of a young diplomat’s wife who must reinvent her dream of living in Paris—one dish at a time

When journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post—alone. Suddenly, Ann’s vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Lights is turned upside down.

So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city.ĚýJourneying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of life’s truths.

Like Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French and Julie Powell’s New York Times bestseller Julie and Julia, Mastering the Art of French Eating is interwoven with the lively characters Ann meets and the traditional recipes she samples. Both funny and intelligent, this is a story about love—of food, family, and France.]]> 288 Ann Mah 0670025992 JanB 4 2024-reads, non-fiction
I found the history and background of the various areas and the food they are known for quite interesting but it may have been too much had we not planned this trip

Overall, enjoyable and quite informative! ]]> 3.58 2013
author: Ann Mah
name: JanB
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/12
date added: 2024/09/13
shelves: 2024-reads, non-fiction
review:
I’m currently on my way to Spain to be followed by a few days in Paris followed by a river boat cruise focusing on food & wine.

I found the history and background of the various areas and the food they are known for quite interesting but it may have been too much had we not planned this trip

Overall, enjoyable and quite informative!
]]> 199743738 Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin...

It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests� healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule� cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

THE FOUNDER * THE HUSBAND * THE MYSTERY GUEST * THE KITCHEN HELP

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at� The Midnight Feast.]]> 354 Lucy Foley 0063003104 JanB 2
I won’t go into the plot, however thin it was but�.

Too many plot lines, POV, and timelines. I checked out. There were too many characters to keep track of, most of whom I could not care less about and none who were particularly memorable .

For the reader to believe characters wouldn’t recognize each other from the not all that distant past is ludicrous
Also, I’m tiring of the �rich people behaving badly� trope.

The folklore and legends and birds…idk? ]]> 3.55 2024
author: Lucy Foley
name: JanB
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, memoir, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
Honestly, I had no idea what was happening most of the time. What a slog

I won’t go into the plot, however thin it was but�.

Too many plot lines, POV, and timelines. I checked out. There were too many characters to keep track of, most of whom I could not care less about and none who were particularly memorable .

For the reader to believe characters wouldn’t recognize each other from the not all that distant past is ludicrous
Also, I’m tiring of the �rich people behaving badly� trope.

The folklore and legends and birds…idk?
]]> 63881093
When the anonymous invite arrived, we knew exactly who it was from.

Elle Romero, the beautiful, charismatic Texan who burst into our lives when we were teenagers.

We’d gone our separate ways and lost touch. Until now.

Elle, the legendary prankster, is back.

She’s invited us all - me, Claire, Lizzie and Megan - to a swanky country house for a reunion.

We arrive excited for a weekend of reminiscing and reconnecting. A chance to step out of our uneventful lives for a while.

But when Elle fails to show up at her own party, we begin to wonder if she’s up to her old tricks.

And when a body turns up in the cellar, it seems this time the joke might just be on us�

The Invite is the twisty, addictive new thriller by A J McDine, the author of No One I Knew.]]> 324 A.J. McDine JanB 3
Elle invites her besties from childhood, Claire, Lizzie, and Megan, to a swanky country house for a reunion. It was a surprise invite as they haven’t seen each other in 20 years but the lure of a weekend away is too strong to pass up.

The three ladies arrive but Elle is nowhere to be found. She was always a prankster so they assume this is another of her pranks. Then strange things begin happening. Things that would have sent me packing for home.

Sound familiar? It should as this is not a new premise. It’s been done many times before. I don’t want to ruin the fun, but be prepared for the unexpected
The surprises and twists keeps this interesting, although I wish they had come a bit earlier in the story. It was 70% before a dead body appears. The ending was a nice touch.

The full cast of narrators: Antonia Beamish, Deirdra Whelan, Helen Phillips, and Andy Cresswell were excellent.

]]> 3.90 2022
author: A.J. McDine
name: JanB
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/07
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
3.5

Elle invites her besties from childhood, Claire, Lizzie, and Megan, to a swanky country house for a reunion. It was a surprise invite as they haven’t seen each other in 20 years but the lure of a weekend away is too strong to pass up.

The three ladies arrive but Elle is nowhere to be found. She was always a prankster so they assume this is another of her pranks. Then strange things begin happening. Things that would have sent me packing for home.

Sound familiar? It should as this is not a new premise. It’s been done many times before. I don’t want to ruin the fun, but be prepared for the unexpected
The surprises and twists keeps this interesting, although I wish they had come a bit earlier in the story. It was 70% before a dead body appears. The ending was a nice touch.

The full cast of narrators: Antonia Beamish, Deirdra Whelan, Helen Phillips, and Andy Cresswell were excellent.


]]> 199262864
To add insult to injury, there’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay. Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a loved and certain future glimmering just ahead. Now she isn’t certain of anything except her love for her kids and a growing realization that this place, although beautiful, is unsettling.]]> 339 Ally Condie 1538757583 JanB 3
Ellery travels alone to a swanky resort on what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary, but a divorce derailed those plans. The trip was pre-booked and her friend urges her to go anyway, only to find out the resort is filled with a wedding party. Bad decision #1 is she decides to stay, only to have torrential rains and a mudslide leaving her and other guests isolated with no communication to the outside world. Then the dead bodies start piling up.

With a raging storm and a murderer on the loose I loved the atmospheric setting but in the end it didn’t quite deliver the promised White Lotus/Agatha Christie vibes. The story fizzled and the sideline plot of missing art made my eyes glaze over. I did like Ellery’s character and her growth of self-discovery after her devastating divorce but the story was too convoluted and unbelievable, and my interest waned.

It wasn't a total loss. 3 stars is a good read, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.]]> 3.16 2024
author: Ally Condie
name: JanB
average rating: 3.16
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/07
date added: 2024/09/07
shelves: 2024-reads, mystery-thriller, audiobook
review:
Described as a mix of White Lotus and Agatha Christie, and a fan of both, this was a highly anticipated read.

Ellery travels alone to a swanky resort on what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary, but a divorce derailed those plans. The trip was pre-booked and her friend urges her to go anyway, only to find out the resort is filled with a wedding party. Bad decision #1 is she decides to stay, only to have torrential rains and a mudslide leaving her and other guests isolated with no communication to the outside world. Then the dead bodies start piling up.

With a raging storm and a murderer on the loose I loved the atmospheric setting but in the end it didn’t quite deliver the promised White Lotus/Agatha Christie vibes. The story fizzled and the sideline plot of missing art made my eyes glaze over. I did like Ellery’s character and her growth of self-discovery after her devastating divorce but the story was too convoluted and unbelievable, and my interest waned.

It wasn't a total loss. 3 stars is a good read, and I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.
]]> 195790841 Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

And Lenny Marks is very, very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The day a voice in the back of her mind started whispering, You did this.

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail—and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny’s careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life—but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.]]> 352 Kerryn Mayne 1250340101 JanB 2
There were aspects of Lenny’s character that I loved, especially her word games. Yet I still failed to connect with her. I hate to bring up Elinor Oliphant, as each book should stand in its own, but it’s inevitable. I was completely charmed by Elinor, who was endearing �..Lenny, not so much.

It’s not as whimsical as the cover suggests, which is fine, but some humor would have been welcomed. The story is a slow burn with a lot of telling, with little showing.

Lastly, I’m tired of the �survivor of abuse� trope.

This didn’t hit the mark with me, but I’m obviously an outlier so do read all the stellar reviews.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.93 2023
author: Kerryn Mayne
name: JanB
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/08/31
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley
review:
On the surface this is a book I should have loved, yet I did not.

There were aspects of Lenny’s character that I loved, especially her word games. Yet I still failed to connect with her. I hate to bring up Elinor Oliphant, as each book should stand in its own, but it’s inevitable. I was completely charmed by Elinor, who was endearing �..Lenny, not so much.

It’s not as whimsical as the cover suggests, which is fine, but some humor would have been welcomed. The story is a slow burn with a lot of telling, with little showing.

Lastly, I’m tired of the �survivor of abuse� trope.

This didn’t hit the mark with me, but I’m obviously an outlier so do read all the stellar reviews.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 210331622 Following her explosive debut thriller Falling and its harrowing follow-up Drowning, #1 internationally bestselling author T.J. Newman is back with Worst Case Scenario.

When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications.

The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters. It has seven levels. Level 7 is a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl. There has never been a Level 8. Until now.

In this heart-stopping thriller, ordinary people—power plant employees, firefighters, teachers, families, neighbors, and friends� are thrust into an extraordinary situation as they face the ultimate test of their lives. It will take the combined courage, ingenuity, and determination of a brave few to save not only their community and loved ones, but the fate of humanity at large.]]> 336 T.J. Newman 0316576794 JanB 5
The pilot suffers a heart attack, while the co-pilot is trapped in the lavatory. The plane crashes, causing the inevitable death and mayhem. But the worst possible scenario? A nuclear power plant is hit by the debris. It’s damaged and they have 16 hours until catastrophe with global implications.

Each chapter is a countdown to disaster which keeps the tension ramped up.

What sets this book apart from other disaster novels are the human stories. We get to know not only the major players in the race against the clock to save the planet from disaster, we get the backstories of all involved.

When the worst-case scenario happens, the result is the best of humanity steps up. This is the story not just of disaster, but a story of everyday heroes. The bravery and the sacrifices made are touching and emotional.

The audiobook, narrated by Joe Morton, was excellent. The CB radio transmissions added an element of authenticity to the narrative and kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension was palpable and I flew through this one in little more than one day.

� I received review copies of both the audiobook and e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.05 2024
author: T.J. Newman
name: JanB
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/25
date added: 2024/08/25
shelves: 2024-reads, mystery-thriller, netgalley, audiobook
review:
The author, a former flight attendant, has delivered another heart-stopping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat!

The pilot suffers a heart attack, while the co-pilot is trapped in the lavatory. The plane crashes, causing the inevitable death and mayhem. But the worst possible scenario? A nuclear power plant is hit by the debris. It’s damaged and they have 16 hours until catastrophe with global implications.

Each chapter is a countdown to disaster which keeps the tension ramped up.

What sets this book apart from other disaster novels are the human stories. We get to know not only the major players in the race against the clock to save the planet from disaster, we get the backstories of all involved.

When the worst-case scenario happens, the result is the best of humanity steps up. This is the story not just of disaster, but a story of everyday heroes. The bravery and the sacrifices made are touching and emotional.

The audiobook, narrated by Joe Morton, was excellent. The CB radio transmissions added an element of authenticity to the narrative and kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension was palpable and I flew through this one in little more than one day.

� I received review copies of both the audiobook and e-book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 211752484
Ten years have passed since my beloved sister was murdered, leaving behind her sweet five-year-old daughter,ĚýLily.

I’m trying my best to care for Lily and salvage what’s left of our shattered family. I promised to keep her safe after all she’s been through, and after a lot of challenges, I hope she might be starting to lead a normal life again.

But then I see a face in a photo I took just yesterday that turns my blood to ice.

I tell myself it ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t be him, but I know in my gut it is. The man my sister married. The man who killed her. The man I thought was deadâ€�

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. Fans of Freida McFadden,ĚýClaire McGowan andĚýLisa JewellĚýwill be utterly gripped!]]> 320 A.J. McDine 1835250092 JanB 4
Lara is a former photo journalist who gave up her career to become a wedding photographer. She has a traumatic past: her sister Isabelle, along with Isabelle's twin sons were murdered. All evidence pointed to a murder-suicide by Isabelle’s husband, Jason, who remains missing.

The lone survivor was the couple’s five-year-old daughter, Lily, who is now fifteen, and aspires to be an “influencer�, posting on Tik Tok and garnering unwanted attention as she discusses her past.

But life moves on, until Lara sees a man in the background of one of her photos, a man who she identifies as her brother-in-law, Jason.

It’s been 10 years but Lara wonders if he is here to finish the job?

What follows is a fun twisty entertaining ride with plenty of surprises. The characters were engaging and kept me interested. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ]]> 4.20
author: A.J. McDine
name: JanB
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/25
date added: 2024/08/25
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller, netgalley
review:
3.5 stars

Lara is a former photo journalist who gave up her career to become a wedding photographer. She has a traumatic past: her sister Isabelle, along with Isabelle's twin sons were murdered. All evidence pointed to a murder-suicide by Isabelle’s husband, Jason, who remains missing.

The lone survivor was the couple’s five-year-old daughter, Lily, who is now fifteen, and aspires to be an “influencer�, posting on Tik Tok and garnering unwanted attention as she discusses her past.

But life moves on, until Lara sees a man in the background of one of her photos, a man who she identifies as her brother-in-law, Jason.

It’s been 10 years but Lara wonders if he is here to finish the job?

What follows is a fun twisty entertaining ride with plenty of surprises. The characters were engaging and kept me interested. This was my first book by this author and won't be my last.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 199798953 Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension and ingenious thriller follows five couples trapped on a storm-swept island as a killer stalks among them.

Lyla is in a bit of a rut. Her post-doctoral research has fizzled out, she’s pretty sure they won’t extend her contract, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, aren’t going great. When the opportunity arises for Nico to join the cast of a new reality TV show, The Perfect Couple, she decides to try out with him. A whirlwind audition process later, Lyla find herself whisked off to a tropical paradise with Nico, boating through the Indian Ocean towards Ever After Island, where the two of them will compete against four other couples—Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana—in order to win a cash prize.

But not long after they arrive on the deserted island, things start to go wrong. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight storm takes matters from bad to worse. Cut off from the mainland by miles of ocean, deprived of their phones, and unable to contact the crew that brought them there, the group must band together for survival. As tensions run high and fresh water runs low, Lyla finds that this game show is all too real—and the stakes are life or death.

A fast-paced, spellbinding thriller rife with intrigue and characters that feel so true to life, this novel proves yet again that Ruth Ware is the queen of psychological suspense.]]> 385 Ruth Ware 1668025590 JanB 4 2024-reads, mystery-thriller
Back in the day my husband and I were huge fans of the show, SURVIVOR, and never missed an episode. This book gave off strong Survivor vibes, which I loved.

Lyla, a scientist, whose boyfriend, Nico, a struggling actor, convinces her to accompany him on a trip to an island off the coast of Indonesia as contestants in a reality show. They and 4 other couple will be competing to be named “The Perfect Couple�. Lyla reluctantly agrees.

Shortly after they arrive a hurricane strikes, and the contestants are stranded. Suddenly the fun reality show turns into a fight for survival. Completely cut off from the world, the dangers are not just from without, but within. As the supplies dwindle the tensions and power struggles escalate. Not everyone will be making it off the island alive.

The tension was palpable, and kept me flipping the pages. The journal entries were a nice touch. Lyla must use her wits and her intelligence to survive. Her character was in contrast to the other contestants who were mostly in the influencer/entertainment industry.

I love a weather-related disaster in a remote location trope. Do you have to set aside some plausibility? Of course. Don’t expect a mystery. There is no mystery, there are no shocking twists. The beginning requires a bit of patience but if you’re ok with that then it’s a fun escapist read.
]]> 3.60 2024
author: Ruth Ware
name: JanB
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/23
date added: 2024/08/23
shelves: 2024-reads, mystery-thriller
review:
Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read

Back in the day my husband and I were huge fans of the show, SURVIVOR, and never missed an episode. This book gave off strong Survivor vibes, which I loved.

Lyla, a scientist, whose boyfriend, Nico, a struggling actor, convinces her to accompany him on a trip to an island off the coast of Indonesia as contestants in a reality show. They and 4 other couple will be competing to be named “The Perfect Couple�. Lyla reluctantly agrees.

Shortly after they arrive a hurricane strikes, and the contestants are stranded. Suddenly the fun reality show turns into a fight for survival. Completely cut off from the world, the dangers are not just from without, but within. As the supplies dwindle the tensions and power struggles escalate. Not everyone will be making it off the island alive.

The tension was palpable, and kept me flipping the pages. The journal entries were a nice touch. Lyla must use her wits and her intelligence to survive. Her character was in contrast to the other contestants who were mostly in the influencer/entertainment industry.

I love a weather-related disaster in a remote location trope. Do you have to set aside some plausibility? Of course. Don’t expect a mystery. There is no mystery, there are no shocking twists. The beginning requires a bit of patience but if you’re ok with that then it’s a fun escapist read.

]]> 128747019
After bonding with Hélène, an almost 100-year-old resident, the two women slowly reveal their stories to one another. Whilst Justine helps Hélène to relive her memories of love and war, Hélène encourages Justine to confront the secrets of her own past, and the loss she has buried deep within.

One day, trouble arrives in the form of a mysterious phone call that shakes the retirement home to its core and uncovers a shocking revelation. At once humorous and melancholic, Valérie Perrin’s debut novel is a story of how the past can shape our present, and the scars of undeclared love.]]> 256 Valérie Perrin 1787704785 JanB 0 set-aside-for-now 4.25 2015
author: Valérie Perrin
name: JanB
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: set-aside-for-now
review:

]]> 199698485 When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.]]> 490 Liz Moore JanB 3
Set in the beautiful Adirondacks, the wealthy Van Laars family are the owners of a camp. But not everything happening in the family is beautiful.

The timeline is non-linear, shifting back and forth from 1961 to 1975, and told from multiple POV: Tracy, Barbara’s bunkmate at camp, Louise, the camp counselor, Alice, the children’s mother, and the detective, Judyta.

*Not my favorite style of storytelling so this likely affected my thoughts.

Don’t go into this expecting a fast-paced thriller. It is a literary mystery, a character study of damaged people with some heavy themes and long-held lies and secrets.

These are all elements that I usually love in a novel. So why not 5 stars? At 475 pages, the book seemed longer and I was often bored and anxious for it to be over. The writing is beautiful, but less is more. The split timelines and too many POV often made for a confusing read. Lastly, I found the ending rather fantastical and unsatisfying so this was not the 5-star slam dunk I was expecting. I liked it but didn’t love it.

Many have loved it, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I simply prefer tighter storytelling. Still, I loved her books, HEFT, and THE LONG BRIGHT RIVER and I look forward to her next book.]]> 4.16 2024
author: Liz Moore
name: JanB
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/13
date added: 2024/08/13
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
The Van Laars family have a son, Peter, (Bear), go missing in 1961. He is never found. Inexplicably, in 1975 their teenage daughter, Barbara, also goes missing. Coincidence? Or something more sinister?

Set in the beautiful Adirondacks, the wealthy Van Laars family are the owners of a camp. But not everything happening in the family is beautiful.

The timeline is non-linear, shifting back and forth from 1961 to 1975, and told from multiple POV: Tracy, Barbara’s bunkmate at camp, Louise, the camp counselor, Alice, the children’s mother, and the detective, Judyta.

*Not my favorite style of storytelling so this likely affected my thoughts.

Don’t go into this expecting a fast-paced thriller. It is a literary mystery, a character study of damaged people with some heavy themes and long-held lies and secrets.

These are all elements that I usually love in a novel. So why not 5 stars? At 475 pages, the book seemed longer and I was often bored and anxious for it to be over. The writing is beautiful, but less is more. The split timelines and too many POV often made for a confusing read. Lastly, I found the ending rather fantastical and unsatisfying so this was not the 5-star slam dunk I was expecting. I liked it but didn’t love it.

Many have loved it, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. I simply prefer tighter storytelling. Still, I loved her books, HEFT, and THE LONG BRIGHT RIVER and I look forward to her next book.
]]> 200028726 From the beloved author of We All Want Impossible Things, a moving, hilarious story of a family summer vacation full of secrets, lunch, and learning to let go.

For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their humble beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, sunny days, great meals, and messes of all kinds: emotional, marital, and—thanks to the cottage’s ancient plumbing—septic too.

This year’s vacation, with Rocky sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents, promises to be just as delightful as summers past—except, perhaps, for Rocky’s hormonal bouts of rage and melancholy. (Hello, menopause!) Her body is changing—her life is, too. And then a chain of events sends Rocky into the past, reliving both the tenderness and sorrow of a handful of long-ago summers.

It's one precious week: everything is in balance; everything is in flux. And when Rocky comes face to face with her family’s history and future, she is forced to accept that she can no longer hide her secrets from the people she loves.]]> 240 Catherine Newman 0063345161 JanB 2 DISCLAIMER: many people loved this novel, but many others did not. I'm in the latter group, but, as always, YMMV.

This was one of my most anticipated books of summer. It started out bonkers in a funny way> I'd never talk to my children this way, nor they to me, but it made for an amusing if unrealistic read. Plus the descriptions of the food they ate made me want to go to the beach and drink a mojito and eat a sandwich (haha, see what I did there?)

For many years we had a beach house and we have many fond memories of our family vacations there. I thought this might be a nostalgic read.

I’m a woman of a certain age who has grown children and navigated the years where I truly was sandwiched for years between teenagers who needed me and our aging and ill parents, so I thought I could relate.

But then�

� As far as I can tell the only relationship between Rocky and sandwiches is she was making sandwiches constantly. Now that I think about it maybe that’s why she was so pissed all the time.
� Sandwich generation? Wait a minute. Her children are young adults who launched just fine and her parents are aging but living independently. This irritated me to no end. Trust me, Rocky had it easy.
� Rocky (short for Rachel) started getting on my nerves. She’s angry and lashes out at everyone, especially her saintly husband. Her excuse for bad behavior is menopause. Sorry, no woman should use hormones as an excuse for being a shitty human. Get yourself to a GYN and get your hormones under control. Good lord, if I had read this as a young woman I’d be terrified (young women, don’t be, Rocky is insane)
� Rocky’s constant reminiscing about her pregnancies and early motherhood, her rage, her menopausal symptoms, her vulgarity, her oh so witty and woke dialogue with everyone around her grew old and frankly, cringey.
� Slight spoiler complaint: I did not need to hear about a miscarriage in such graphic detail (full disclosure: I'm a nurse, so far from squeamish, and I’ve had a miscarriage but this was unnecessary)
� But what really killed this book for me was the incessant conversations that sounded like a woke lecture. No subject is left unexplored. Repeatedly.
� The way the BIG DARK SECRET was exposed and the reaction from the person it affected the most made me want to throw the book across the room. (But, alas, I was listening on my phone.) *I'd love to be more specific but I can't without a spoiler.
� Seriously, who are these people???? No one, and I mean no one, would utter the words this person uttered after finding out they had been lied to for so long on something this major. My eyes rolled out of my head
� Another big dark family secret is so absurd as to be laughable. But then Rocky is so self-absorbed is it any wonder she never thought to question how her Jewish grandparents died?

� The BIG problem in this novel? It’s Rocky. SHE’S the problem!


Now I’m going to give this book to my husband so he can appreciate how lucky he is.]]> 3.55 2024
author: Catherine Newman
name: JanB
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/08/10
date added: 2024/08/11
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, fiction
review:
RANTY OUTLIER OPINION
DISCLAIMER: many people loved this novel, but many others did not. I'm in the latter group, but, as always, YMMV.

This was one of my most anticipated books of summer. It started out bonkers in a funny way> I'd never talk to my children this way, nor they to me, but it made for an amusing if unrealistic read. Plus the descriptions of the food they ate made me want to go to the beach and drink a mojito and eat a sandwich (haha, see what I did there?)

For many years we had a beach house and we have many fond memories of our family vacations there. I thought this might be a nostalgic read.

I’m a woman of a certain age who has grown children and navigated the years where I truly was sandwiched for years between teenagers who needed me and our aging and ill parents, so I thought I could relate.

But then�

� As far as I can tell the only relationship between Rocky and sandwiches is she was making sandwiches constantly. Now that I think about it maybe that’s why she was so pissed all the time.
� Sandwich generation? Wait a minute. Her children are young adults who launched just fine and her parents are aging but living independently. This irritated me to no end. Trust me, Rocky had it easy.
� Rocky (short for Rachel) started getting on my nerves. She’s angry and lashes out at everyone, especially her saintly husband. Her excuse for bad behavior is menopause. Sorry, no woman should use hormones as an excuse for being a shitty human. Get yourself to a GYN and get your hormones under control. Good lord, if I had read this as a young woman I’d be terrified (young women, don’t be, Rocky is insane)
� Rocky’s constant reminiscing about her pregnancies and early motherhood, her rage, her menopausal symptoms, her vulgarity, her oh so witty and woke dialogue with everyone around her grew old and frankly, cringey.
� Slight spoiler complaint: I did not need to hear about a miscarriage in such graphic detail (full disclosure: I'm a nurse, so far from squeamish, and I’ve had a miscarriage but this was unnecessary)
� But what really killed this book for me was the incessant conversations that sounded like a woke lecture. No subject is left unexplored. Repeatedly.
� The way the BIG DARK SECRET was exposed and the reaction from the person it affected the most made me want to throw the book across the room. (But, alas, I was listening on my phone.) *I'd love to be more specific but I can't without a spoiler.
� Seriously, who are these people???? No one, and I mean no one, would utter the words this person uttered after finding out they had been lied to for so long on something this major. My eyes rolled out of my head
� Another big dark family secret is so absurd as to be laughable. But then Rocky is so self-absorbed is it any wonder she never thought to question how her Jewish grandparents died?

� The BIG problem in this novel? It’s Rocky. SHE’S the problem!


Now I’m going to give this book to my husband so he can appreciate how lucky he is.
]]> 176443093
Patric Gagne realized she made others uncomfortable before she started kindergarten. Something about her caused people to react in a way she didn’t understand. She suspected it was because she didn’t feel things the way other kids did. Emotions like fear, guilt, and empathy eluded her. For the most part, she felt nothing. And she didn’t like the way that “nothing� felt.

She did her best to pretend she was like everyone else, but the constant pressure to conform to a society she knew rejected anyone like her was unbearable. So Patric stole. She lied. She was occasionally violent. She became an expert lock-picker and home-invader. All with the goal of replacing the nothingness with...something.

In college, Patric finally confirmed what she’d long suspected. She was a sociopath. But even though it was the very first personality disorder identified—well over 200 years ago—sociopathy had been neglected by mental health professionals for decades. She was told there was no treatment, no hope for a normal life. She found herself haunted by sociopaths in pop culture, madmen and evil villains who are considered monsters. Her future looked grim.

But when Patric reconnects with an old flame, she gets a glimpse of a future beyond her diagnosis. If she’s capable of love, it must mean that she isn’t a monster. With the help of her sweetheart (and some curious characters she meets along the way) she embarks on a mission to prove that the millions of Americans who share her diagnosis aren’t all monsters either.

This is the inspiring story of her journey to change her fate and how she managed to build a life full of love and hope.]]> 368 Patric Gagne 166800318X JanB 0
But, for many reasons, this was not the book for me. I wish only the best to the author ]]> 3.74 2024
author: Patric Gagne
name: JanB
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/04
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, memoir, dnf
review:
I won’t write a review because a memoir is the author’s story as she chooses to tell it

But, for many reasons, this was not the book for me. I wish only the best to the author
]]> 201627012 The bestselling author ofĚýThe PartyĚýand The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.]]> 342 Robyn Harding 1538766108 JanB 4
The present day story is interspersed with snippets of her debut novel.

The theme of reviewers who leave less than flattering reviews and the impact of social media is nothing new, and I feared it would be the same old, same old�

No fear…this was as fresh as could be and the story line kept me on my toes and listening as fast as I could. Camryn’s personal relationships play an important part of the narrative and provide context.

A mean girl theme is not my favorite but the author has crafted an engaging tale with relatable sympathetic characters.

This story let me get into the head of the MC and feel complete sympathy for her. I could feel her frustration and helplessness as the media mob went after her.

Recommended!

The audiobook was expertly Narrated by Megan Tusing & Jess Nahikian





]]> 3.56 2024
author: Robyn Harding
name: JanB
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/04
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
Camryn, a high school counselor, has written her debut and almost immediately is accused by online trolls of exploiting the teens she works with. The anonymous threats and the accusations from the social media snowball to the point she is fearful of her life and the life of her teenage daughter.

The present day story is interspersed with snippets of her debut novel.

The theme of reviewers who leave less than flattering reviews and the impact of social media is nothing new, and I feared it would be the same old, same old�

No fear…this was as fresh as could be and the story line kept me on my toes and listening as fast as I could. Camryn’s personal relationships play an important part of the narrative and provide context.

A mean girl theme is not my favorite but the author has crafted an engaging tale with relatable sympathetic characters.

This story let me get into the head of the MC and feel complete sympathy for her. I could feel her frustration and helplessness as the media mob went after her.

Recommended!

The audiobook was expertly Narrated by Megan Tusing & Jess Nahikian






]]> 136142444 An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in thisĚýchilling thriller from theĚý New York Times Ěýbestselling author ofĚýLocal Woman MissingĚýandĚý Just the Nicest Couple .

Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.Ěý

But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was CaitlinĚýpushedĚýand if so, by whom and why?Ěý

Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.]]> 331 Mary Kubica 0369746945 JanB 5
Meghan is an ICU nurse, recently divorced and living with her teenage daughter.

There are 3 main threads:
- Caitlin, the unconscious patient, an apparent failed suicide attempt. Meghan finds herself becoming emotionally attached to the patient and her family, even more so when police question if it was a suicide attempt or attempted murder. As Meghan becomes more embroiled in her patient’s life, she fears she’s putting herself & her daughter in danger.
- Nat, an old friend from Caitlin’s high school days. Meghan reconnects with Nat, who has fallen on hard times and needs help. Meghan, being an empathetic soul, befriends her and even gives her a place to stay.
- There’s a stalker/rapist loose in the city, which leaves Meghan feeling vulnerable and at risk

I’ve not been able to connect with all the author’s books but this was a winner. Very clever and even though I guessed one of the twists, there were still several surprises in store and moments that surprised and shocked me.

There’s a slow build to the twists & turns and Kubica does a great job keeping the tension high with a sense of foreboding as she brings these three seemingly disparate threads together. I loved watching this story unfold and I couldn’t put it down. I listened to the audiobook in 2 days.]]> 3.95 2024
author: Mary Kubica
name: JanB
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/04
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
4.5 stars!

Meghan is an ICU nurse, recently divorced and living with her teenage daughter.

There are 3 main threads:
- Caitlin, the unconscious patient, an apparent failed suicide attempt. Meghan finds herself becoming emotionally attached to the patient and her family, even more so when police question if it was a suicide attempt or attempted murder. As Meghan becomes more embroiled in her patient’s life, she fears she’s putting herself & her daughter in danger.
- Nat, an old friend from Caitlin’s high school days. Meghan reconnects with Nat, who has fallen on hard times and needs help. Meghan, being an empathetic soul, befriends her and even gives her a place to stay.
- There’s a stalker/rapist loose in the city, which leaves Meghan feeling vulnerable and at risk

I’ve not been able to connect with all the author’s books but this was a winner. Very clever and even though I guessed one of the twists, there were still several surprises in store and moments that surprised and shocked me.

There’s a slow build to the twists & turns and Kubica does a great job keeping the tension high with a sense of foreboding as she brings these three seemingly disparate threads together. I loved watching this story unfold and I couldn’t put it down. I listened to the audiobook in 2 days.
]]> 199797969
Reclusive, mysterious author Ginevra Ex is famous for her unusual approach to crafting her big bestselling she hires real people and conducts intensive interviews, then fictionalizes them. Her latest main character, Rory, is thrilled when Ginevra presents her with an extravagant bonus—a lavish trip along Italy’s Mediterranean coast on the famed, newly renovated Orient Express. But when Rory boards the train, she’s stunned to discover that her brother, her best friend, and even her ex-fiancé are passengers, as well. All invited by Ginevra, all hiding secrets.

With each stop, from Cinque Terre to Rome to Positano, it becomes increasingly clear that Ginevra has masterminded the ultimate real life twisty plot with Rory as her main character. And as Ginevra’s deceptions mount, and the lies and machinations of Rory’s travel companions pile up, Rory begins to fear that her trip will culminate like one of Ginevra’s with a murder or two. In the opulent compartments of the iconic train, Rory must untangle the shocking reasons why Ginevra wanted them all aboard—and to what deadly end.

Another stylish and compulsively readable mystery from Jaclyn Goldis, this is the perfect read for fans of Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Paula Hawkins.]]> 336 Jaclyn Goldis 1668013045 JanB 3
Ginevra’s latest main character is Rory, who she sends on the Orient Express along the Italian coast as a thanks for her willingness to be her main character. Rory initially believes it to be a luxurious solo trip so imagine her shock when she discovers her brother, best friend, and ex-fiancé are also on the trip. As the trip progresses secrets and lies unravel. It seems the author uncovered some truths while researching Rory, truths that will shock her.

I loved this premise but I found it to be too slow for my liking, despite the fact that I love a good character study. Don’t be fooled by the description of this book as an homage to Agatha Christie.

The story is told from multiple points of view with a dual timeline. I struggled with this format, which dampened my enthusiasm. I found myself bored with this cast of unlikable immature characters.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.29 2024
author: Jaclyn Goldis
name: JanB
average rating: 3.29
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/04
shelves:
review:
Ginevra is a best-selling author, with an unusual method of writing. She hires real people, interviews them, takes a deep dive into their lives, then uses that information to weave a tale for her next book. setting up circumstances to see how the react.

Ginevra’s latest main character is Rory, who she sends on the Orient Express along the Italian coast as a thanks for her willingness to be her main character. Rory initially believes it to be a luxurious solo trip so imagine her shock when she discovers her brother, best friend, and ex-fiancé are also on the trip. As the trip progresses secrets and lies unravel. It seems the author uncovered some truths while researching Rory, truths that will shock her.

I loved this premise but I found it to be too slow for my liking, despite the fact that I love a good character study. Don’t be fooled by the description of this book as an homage to Agatha Christie.

The story is told from multiple points of view with a dual timeline. I struggled with this format, which dampened my enthusiasm. I found myself bored with this cast of unlikable immature characters.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 198902277 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9781250899576.

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.]]> 384 Alison Espach JanB 5
* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.

Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.

Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t even get room service for a final meal.

Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.

Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.

I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.

The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.

Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.

* I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.12 2024
author: Alison Espach
name: JanB
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/30
date added: 2024/07/30
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley
review:
Phoebe. Her life is a mess. I won’t give you the details so you can discover for yourself, but she’s had enough. She ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t take it anymore

* don’t read the synopsis and think this is a depressing read. I promise you it is not. It’s joyful and life-affirming.

Phoebe goes to the swanky Inn in Newport RI, the Inn she expected to visit with her husband.

Things don’t quite go as Phoebe intended. Turns out she won’t have a final blow-out splurge before departing this world. Instead she’s the only guest at the Inn who is not part of the wedding party and she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t even get room service for a final meal.

Lila, the bride, isn’t thrilled that Phoebe may ruin her wedding and has a heart-to-heart with her. She has no boundaries and is disarmingly honest. Which makes her completely endearing.

Phoebe suddenly finds herself caught up in the wedding people, the wedding party that are at the inn for a week long celebration prior to Lila’s OTT nuptials.

I won’t ruin the fun but I’ll say this was completely delightful! It was fabulous and completely entertaining with plenty of humor & heart. The dialogue was snappy & witty. And not to be maudlin, but the overriding message was wise and tender and wonderful.

The characters were all delightful. 100% refreshingly funny and tender.

Don’t miss this one. A 5+ star read!! I loved everything about this story and was sad when it ended. It’s a rare book that completely captivates me the way this book did.

* I received a digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 199797895
Meanwhile, the DelDine group has been snapping up beloved eateries along this stretch of coast, and it is pursuing Jack with a very generous offer to take Schmidt’s off his hands. Jack craves companionship and maybe even a family. He wonders whether closing the door on the restaurant might open a window for him—but who would he be without Schmidt’s, and can he trust DelDine’s claims that it will continue to employ his staff and honor his family’s legacy?]]> 287 Ethan Joella 1668024608 JanB 5
Jack runs a restaurant, an establishment owned by his family for generations, a place where everyone knows your name. It’s a beach location but Jack’s beach chair is gathering dust in his closet. Who has time to lounge at the beach?

He has a string of failed relationships with no time for hobbies or his own interests but Jack is a good guy who cares deeply for the town and the people in it. This makes me care deeply for Jack.

He simply rarely gets this care and attention returned to him in kind. He’s approaching an age where he considers selling the restaurant but what will this mean for the town, his employees, and for himself?

Then Jack receives shocking news from his past that has him questioning his life choices and his path to the future. Jack is kind and generous to all, the type of good man we can and do admire. We get to know his employees and the townspeople, warts and all.

The story is interspersed with snippets from a guidebook on Rehoboth Beach, which were delightful. We are treated to bits of Jacks past life, current life, and his hopes for the future. There are deep issues touched upon but the overall tone and message is one of hope.

This is a quiet story that took hold of my heart. It’s the kind of writing that I absolutely love and I ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t recommend it enough!. This was my first book by this author and I’m including him in my short list of authors who write about the ordinary in extraordinary ways.

5+ stars!

* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* The audiobook was flawlessly narrated by Chris Henry Coffey
]]> 3.71 2024
author: Ethan Joella
name: JanB
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/25
date added: 2024/07/27
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, netgalley
review:
This is a character-driven slice of life story that could be described as a slow burn but I prefer the term thoughtful, the kind of writing that reaches down to my core and touches my soul.

Jack runs a restaurant, an establishment owned by his family for generations, a place where everyone knows your name. It’s a beach location but Jack’s beach chair is gathering dust in his closet. Who has time to lounge at the beach?

He has a string of failed relationships with no time for hobbies or his own interests but Jack is a good guy who cares deeply for the town and the people in it. This makes me care deeply for Jack.

He simply rarely gets this care and attention returned to him in kind. He’s approaching an age where he considers selling the restaurant but what will this mean for the town, his employees, and for himself?

Then Jack receives shocking news from his past that has him questioning his life choices and his path to the future. Jack is kind and generous to all, the type of good man we can and do admire. We get to know his employees and the townspeople, warts and all.

The story is interspersed with snippets from a guidebook on Rehoboth Beach, which were delightful. We are treated to bits of Jacks past life, current life, and his hopes for the future. There are deep issues touched upon but the overall tone and message is one of hope.

This is a quiet story that took hold of my heart. It’s the kind of writing that I absolutely love and I ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t recommend it enough!. This was my first book by this author and I’m including him in my short list of authors who write about the ordinary in extraordinary ways.

5+ stars!

* I received a digital copy for review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
* The audiobook was flawlessly narrated by Chris Henry Coffey

]]> 199026522 In the latest jaw-dropping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager, a man must contend with the long-ago disappearance of his childhood best friend—and the dark secrets lurking just beyond the safe confines of his picture-perfect neighborhood.

The worst thing to ever happen on Hemlock Circle occurred in Ethan Marsh’s backyard. One July night, ten-year-old Ethan and his best friend and neighbor, Billy, fell asleep in a tent set up on a manicured lawn in a quiet, quaint New Jersey cul de sac. In the morning, Ethan woke up alone. During the night, someone had sliced the tent open with a knife and taken Billy. He was never seen again.

Thirty years later, Ethan has reluctantly returned to his childhood home. Plagued by bad dreams and insomnia, he begins to notice strange things happening in the middle of the night. Someone seems to be roaming the cul de sac at odd hours, and signs of Billy’s presence keep appearing in Ethan’s backyard. Is someone playing a cruel prank? Or has Billy, long thought to be dead, somehow returned to Hemlock Circle?

The mysterious occurrences prompt Ethan to investigate what really happened that night, a quest that reunites him with former friends and neighbors and leads him into the woods that surround Hemlock Circle. Woods where Billy claimed monsters roamed and where a mysterious institute does clandestine research on a crumbling estate.

The closer Ethan gets to the truth, the more he realizes that no place—be it quiet forest or suburban street—is completely safe. And that the past has a way of haunting the present.]]> 367 Riley Sager 0593472373 JanB 4
Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Billy is gone.

Billy is never found. Time passes, neighbors move away�.fast forward 30 years, and family circumstances brings Ethan back to his childhood home. Creepy things begin happening in the middle of the night. Someone is lurking around the neighborhood at night and there are signs of Billy’s presence in Ethan’s yard.

Ethan is determined to find out the truth of what happened to Billy all those years ago. As he investigates, the quiet neighborhood of Hemlock Circle has plenty of secrets to reveal, and then there’s the strange Hawthorne Institute deep in the woods. Did they play a part in Billy’s disappearance?

Some readers didn’t think it had enough chills & thrills but Sager’s writing always draws me in. Surprisingly, for a thriller, there were even a couple of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed the dark atmospheric, the “paranormal lite� vibe, the nostalgic flashbacks to the 90s, and the trademark Sager twists & surprises that made this a fun summer read that I flew through.

]]> 3.66 2024
author: Riley Sager
name: JanB
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/23
shelves: 2024-reads, audiobook, mystery-thriller
review:
4.5 stars

Two young boys, Ethan and Billy, are having a backyard sleepover. When Ethan wakes in the morning, the side of the tent in slit open and Billy is gone.

Billy is never found. Time passes, neighbors move away�.fast forward 30 years, and family circumstances brings Ethan back to his childhood home. Creepy things begin happening in the middle of the night. Someone is lurking around the neighborhood at night and there are signs of Billy’s presence in Ethan’s yard.

Ethan is determined to find out the truth of what happened to Billy all those years ago. As he investigates, the quiet neighborhood of Hemlock Circle has plenty of secrets to reveal, and then there’s the strange Hawthorne Institute deep in the woods. Did they play a part in Billy’s disappearance?

Some readers didn’t think it had enough chills & thrills but Sager’s writing always draws me in. Surprisingly, for a thriller, there were even a couple of moments that brought tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed the dark atmospheric, the “paranormal lite� vibe, the nostalgic flashbacks to the 90s, and the trademark Sager twists & surprises that made this a fun summer read that I flew through.


]]> 195790821 The Silent Patient meets Gone Girl in this sharp psychological thriller about a psychiatrist with a shocking past and her dangerous new patient.

Brooklyn psychiatrist Dr. Caroline Strange is certain she knows what's best for her patients, her family, and pretty much everyone else, but that all changes when a troubled young man arrives for his appointment and makes a pair of alarming confessions: I am going to kill someone, and I know who you really are.

Dr. Caroline is accustomed to hearing her patients� deepest, darkest secrets, but it seems Nelson Schack may be one step ahead when detectives show up later that day, inquiring about a missing woman. It looks like Nelson has made good on his threat—yet somehow it’s Dr. Caroline who becomes the prime suspect.

Convinced the police are incompetent, Dr. Caroline takes matters into her own hands, chasing down the elusive Nelson and running headlong into a past she has spent her entire life trying to forget. As she closes in on her target, all the polished pieces of her manicured life splinter when people begin to question who she really is.

Harrowing, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, award-winning author Louisa Luna’s Tell Me Who You Are is an utterly gripping psychological thriller that begs the question: Can a person ever really outrun their past?]]> 352 Louisa Luna 037461279X JanB 5
The story is told from 3 POV:
� Dr Caroline Strange
� Ellen Garcia, a woman who has been kidnapped and held hostage. She may have questionable morals but she’s a badass and I enjoyed hearing her thoughts too
� Gordon Strong, a person who may be more unhinged than Dr. Strange. It’s unclear at first the part he plays in the story but trust the author to bring it all together.

Dr Caroline, as she prefers to be called, has a patient who confesses that he is thinking about killing someone and tells the doctor �I know who you really are�. When she hears reports of a missing reporter, she wonders if her patient has made good on his threats of murdering someone.

But mostly she’s concerned about the latter part of his message. Just what does he know and how much of a threat is he to her? Dr Strange has a troubling incident from her childhood that she would prefer remain hidden.

When police discover the kidnapped woman is a reporter who named Dr Strange as one of the worst 10 doctors in their area, they set their sights on the doctor as their main suspect. Dr Caroline decides to do her own investigating and in doing so, her past seems to have caught up to her.

Did I ever love this one! The dark humor and Dr Caroline’s thoughts were an utter delight. If you love to hate unlikable characters who nonetheless makes you laugh, you will love living inside this character’s head too.

The plotting, the red herrings, and the characters made this a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was satisfying while managing to take me completely by surprise.

Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read. The audiobook narrators were excellent: Megan Tusing, Robb Moreira, and Stephanie NĂ©meth-Parker

� I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
]]> 3.50 2024
author: Louisa Luna
name: JanB
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/13
date added: 2024/07/16
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, netgalley, audiobook
review:
I love it when someone’s surname seems to fit them to a T. Psychiatrist Dr Caroline Strange, is, well…strange. And I mean that in the best possible way. If you like characters who are snarky, and off their rocker, then you will enjoy her as much as I did.

The story is told from 3 POV:
� Dr Caroline Strange
� Ellen Garcia, a woman who has been kidnapped and held hostage. She may have questionable morals but she’s a badass and I enjoyed hearing her thoughts too
� Gordon Strong, a person who may be more unhinged than Dr. Strange. It’s unclear at first the part he plays in the story but trust the author to bring it all together.

Dr Caroline, as she prefers to be called, has a patient who confesses that he is thinking about killing someone and tells the doctor �I know who you really are�. When she hears reports of a missing reporter, she wonders if her patient has made good on his threats of murdering someone.

But mostly she’s concerned about the latter part of his message. Just what does he know and how much of a threat is he to her? Dr Strange has a troubling incident from her childhood that she would prefer remain hidden.

When police discover the kidnapped woman is a reporter who named Dr Strange as one of the worst 10 doctors in their area, they set their sights on the doctor as their main suspect. Dr Caroline decides to do her own investigating and in doing so, her past seems to have caught up to her.

Did I ever love this one! The dark humor and Dr Caroline’s thoughts were an utter delight. If you love to hate unlikable characters who nonetheless makes you laugh, you will love living inside this character’s head too.

The plotting, the red herrings, and the characters made this a page turner with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that was satisfying while managing to take me completely by surprise.

Pop the popcorn and settle in for a fun read. The audiobook narrators were excellent: Megan Tusing, Robb Moreira, and Stephanie NĂ©meth-Parker

� I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

]]> 199797582
Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents � his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.]]> 352 Christina Lauren 1668017725 JanB 4 This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.

The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe� and more than one reviewer has described the story as Pretty Woman meets Succession.

Of course it’s much more light-hearted than Succession. Anna Green is our quirky but sweet Pretty Woman. She enters into a fake marriage in order to get student housing but they barely see or know each other when they part ways 3 years later.

She thought she was divorced but it seems she didn’t read the papers and she discovers she is still very much married to Liam.

Turns out Liam’s wealthy family thinks they are still married and his inheritance is dependent on him staying that way. So he makes Anna an offer she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t refuse and they take off for a lavish family wedding weekend on a tropical island.

Anna is the yin to Liam’s yang, which makes for a fun dynamic. Anna is an extroverted pink-haired starving artist while Liam is strait-laced and buttoned up. But we discover there’s so much more to both of them.

This, combined with the lush tropical setting, the OTT wedding, and the Succession- type family dynamics, made for a fun engaging read.

Note that the bedroom door is wide open - very spicy! I don’t understand the need to include such explicit sex scenes. I’m no prude but this was OTT and cringey, what I would call erotica. The story would have been stronger if the authors had toned it down. ]]> 4.07 2024
author: Christina Lauren
name: JanB
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/07
date added: 2024/07/07
shelves: audiobook, rom-com, 2024-reads
review:

This is a fun one, perfect for an escapist summer read.

The authors describe it as “Succession-esqe� and more than one reviewer has described the story as Pretty Woman meets Succession.

Of course it’s much more light-hearted than Succession. Anna Green is our quirky but sweet Pretty Woman. She enters into a fake marriage in order to get student housing but they barely see or know each other when they part ways 3 years later.

She thought she was divorced but it seems she didn’t read the papers and she discovers she is still very much married to Liam.

Turns out Liam’s wealthy family thinks they are still married and his inheritance is dependent on him staying that way. So he makes Anna an offer she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t refuse and they take off for a lavish family wedding weekend on a tropical island.

Anna is the yin to Liam’s yang, which makes for a fun dynamic. Anna is an extroverted pink-haired starving artist while Liam is strait-laced and buttoned up. But we discover there’s so much more to both of them.

This, combined with the lush tropical setting, the OTT wedding, and the Succession- type family dynamics, made for a fun engaging read.

Note that the bedroom door is wide open - very spicy! I don’t understand the need to include such explicit sex scenes. I’m no prude but this was OTT and cringey, what I would call erotica. The story would have been stronger if the authors had toned it down.
]]> 203019740 From the New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that spans decades.

1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.

When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy with one eye, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.

Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another.

A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.]]> 608 Chris Whitaker 0593798872 JanB 2
There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room for books that are.

I usually know fairly quickly when a book isn’t for me. But once in a while I ignore my instincts and power through, especially when I see a lot of glowing reviews.

This was one of the times I fell victim to the hype. This book was most definitely not for me:

* Unrealistic situations. Be prepared to suspend a massive amount of disbelief. It’s fiction, I don’t expect complete realism but this reached my tipping point
* Too long. At 600 pages, 250 could have been cut. I don’t think I would have liked it any better but I would have wasted less time
* The writing style kept me from becoming invested in the characters. This type of writing appeals to many, but not me.
* The characters failed to move me emotionally. Zero emotion, and I’m easily moved and brought to tears. I stopped caring what happened to any of them
* The author jumped around in time with every chapter and there are 261 chapters
* The story is S-L-O-W. It’s not a thriller which is fine. I love a character driven story, I just didn’t love THIS one
* So many pages where nothing of interest happens filled with lots and lots of description
* What some readers call beautiful language, I call overwrought and flowery with many nonsensical sentences
* I have a lot to say about the religious overtones but I’ll refrain
* I couldn’t buy into most of the situations. To list them would involve spoilers but my eyes rolled
* But surely there would be a huge payoff in the end, right? Nope!

What I liked: the author’s last book

Many readers have loved this book, so be sure to check out their reviews.

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own]]> 4.24 2024
author: Chris Whitaker
name: JanB
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/03
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, netgalley
review:
Outlier opinion!

There’s power in the DNF. I’m a huge fan of moving on when a book isn’t a good fit. No book is for everyone and dnf’ing leaves room for books that are.

I usually know fairly quickly when a book isn’t for me. But once in a while I ignore my instincts and power through, especially when I see a lot of glowing reviews.

This was one of the times I fell victim to the hype. This book was most definitely not for me:

* Unrealistic situations. Be prepared to suspend a massive amount of disbelief. It’s fiction, I don’t expect complete realism but this reached my tipping point
* Too long. At 600 pages, 250 could have been cut. I don’t think I would have liked it any better but I would have wasted less time
* The writing style kept me from becoming invested in the characters. This type of writing appeals to many, but not me.
* The characters failed to move me emotionally. Zero emotion, and I’m easily moved and brought to tears. I stopped caring what happened to any of them
* The author jumped around in time with every chapter and there are 261 chapters
* The story is S-L-O-W. It’s not a thriller which is fine. I love a character driven story, I just didn’t love THIS one
* So many pages where nothing of interest happens filled with lots and lots of description
* What some readers call beautiful language, I call overwrought and flowery with many nonsensical sentences
* I have a lot to say about the religious overtones but I’ll refrain
* I couldn’t buy into most of the situations. To list them would involve spoilers but my eyes rolled
* But surely there would be a huge payoff in the end, right? Nope!

What I liked: the author’s last book

Many readers have loved this book, so be sure to check out their reviews.

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
]]> 202102018 From the best-selling author of The Dog Stars, a novel about two men—friends since boyhood—who emerge from the woods of rural Maine to a dystopian country racked by bewildering violence

Every year, Jess and Storey have made an annual pilgrimage to the most remote corners of the country, where they camp, hunt, and hike, leaving much from their long friendship unspoken. Although the state of Maine has convulsed all summer with secession mania—a mania that has simultaneously spread across other states—Jess and Storey figure it’s a fight reserved for legislators or, worst-case scenario, folks in the capital.

But after weeks hunting off the grid, the men reach a small town and are shocked by what they find: a bridge blown apart, buildings burned to the ground, and bombed-out cars abandoned on the road. Trying to make sense of the sudden destruction all around them, they set their sights on finding their way home, dragging a wagon across bumpy dirt roads, scavenging from boats left in lakes, and dodging armed men—secessionists or U.S. military, they cannot tell—as they seek a path to safety. Then, a startling discovery drastically alters their path and the stakes of their escape.

Drenched in the beauty of the natural world and attuned to the specific cadences of male friendship, even here at the edge of doom, Burn is both a blistering warning about a divided country’s political strife and an ode to the salvation found in our chosen families.]]> 291 Peter Heller 0593801628 JanB 5
While they were off the grid, civil war erupted, towns are burnt to the ground, and destruction and death is everywhere. While attempting to make their way home, they are met with secessionists and military who intend to kill anyone they meet who are not one of them.

Their trek becomes even more treacherous when they find a little girl hidden away who is frightened and crying for her parents and her dog. The scenes with the little girl are some of the most heartfelt and emotional of the book.

As they attempt to make their way home, they try to make sense of what happened. Who are the bad guys here? Secessionists or the military? Or both?

Heller never gives us the details of the political divide that led to civil war, and I was thankful he didn’t make it political, which would do nothing but divide readers.

This is a wilderness and survival story like no other. It’s a thriller but a quiet literary one. There’s an emotional depth with themes of male friendship, love, courage, and moral responsibility.

I love Heller’s portrayal of good men, men who are thoughtful and do the right thing at great risk to themselves, men who are tender and protective of children. He writes of men, through no fault of their own, who are tested to the limits. More than once I was brought to tears.

This is a beautiful story I won’t soon forget. 5+ stars

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.51 2024
author: Peter Heller
name: JanB
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/07/02
date added: 2024/07/03
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, fiction, mystery-thriller, 2024-reads, netgalley
review:
Two lifelong friends, Jess & Storey, at the end of their annual hunting trip in rural Maine, leave the woods to head home but find a world in chaos and violence.

While they were off the grid, civil war erupted, towns are burnt to the ground, and destruction and death is everywhere. While attempting to make their way home, they are met with secessionists and military who intend to kill anyone they meet who are not one of them.

Their trek becomes even more treacherous when they find a little girl hidden away who is frightened and crying for her parents and her dog. The scenes with the little girl are some of the most heartfelt and emotional of the book.

As they attempt to make their way home, they try to make sense of what happened. Who are the bad guys here? Secessionists or the military? Or both?

Heller never gives us the details of the political divide that led to civil war, and I was thankful he didn’t make it political, which would do nothing but divide readers.

This is a wilderness and survival story like no other. It’s a thriller but a quiet literary one. There’s an emotional depth with themes of male friendship, love, courage, and moral responsibility.

I love Heller’s portrayal of good men, men who are thoughtful and do the right thing at great risk to themselves, men who are tender and protective of children. He writes of men, through no fault of their own, who are tested to the limits. More than once I was brought to tears.

This is a beautiful story I won’t soon forget. 5+ stars

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 127280429 SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s new novel has it all.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.]]> 359 Sally Hepworth 125028452X JanB 4
Until buried bones are discovered and they are forced to confront their past.

A compelling look into the effects of trauma and narcissistic abuse, a theme that Hepworth excels at.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley ]]> 3.98 2024
author: Sally Hepworth
name: JanB
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/15
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: 2024-reads, netgalley, mystery-thriller
review:
Does the past ever stay buried? Three girls grew up in an abusive narcissistic foster care home and are determined to move forward, live their lives, and leave the past behind.

Until buried bones are discovered and they are forced to confront their past.

A compelling look into the effects of trauma and narcissistic abuse, a theme that Hepworth excels at.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley
]]> 65213277 New York Times bestselling author B. A. Paris captivated psychological thriller readers everywhere with Behind Closed Doors. Now she invites you into another home full of heart-pounding secrets, in The Guest.

Some secrets never leave.

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband—and their good friend—Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure's mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel's only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past. Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.]]> 308 B.A. Paris 1250289424 JanB 4 3.53 2024
author: B.A. Paris
name: JanB
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/22
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: netgalley, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, 2024-reads
review:
Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. (Or less
]]> 164444179 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780593492918.

Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job isn’t like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t make any mistakes—especially after what happened last time.

Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher—but then, Evie has always liked a challenge. . . .]]> 340 Ashley Elston JanB 5
Fun and fast-paced with an ending that was unexpected and perfect! I enjoyed this more than expected.

A buddy read with my friend Marialyce.

5 star performance by the audiobook narrator, Saskia Maarleveld]]> 3.97 2024
author: Ashley Elston
name: JanB
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/01
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, 2024-reads
review:
A female con woman cat-and-mouse story with all the favorite thriller tropes.

Fun and fast-paced with an ending that was unexpected and perfect! I enjoyed this more than expected.

A buddy read with my friend Marialyce.

5 star performance by the audiobook narrator, Saskia Maarleveld
]]> 123206645 A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder � from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time � it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse � a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.]]> 298 Alex Michaelides 125075898X JanB 5
The fury of the Greek winds picks up and all are stuck on the island without any means to leave.

Gunshots are fired, a body appears, and murder is not taking a holiday. The fury of the Greek winds are nothing compared to the fury going on in this group.

Elliot, the narrator, breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader. The author has a bit of fun with his readers, as Elliot, by his own admission, is far from a reliable narrator.

I was kept entertained and guessing right up to the fun twisty end. The author is quickly becoming a top favorite!

A buddy read with my friend Marialyce. The audiobook, narrated by Alex Jennings, was excellent. ]]> 3.34 2024
author: Alex Michaelides
name: JanB
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/02
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads
review:
Lana, a reclusive ex-movie star, invites a small group of friends to visit on her private Greek island.

The fury of the Greek winds picks up and all are stuck on the island without any means to leave.

Gunshots are fired, a body appears, and murder is not taking a holiday. The fury of the Greek winds are nothing compared to the fury going on in this group.

Elliot, the narrator, breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader. The author has a bit of fun with his readers, as Elliot, by his own admission, is far from a reliable narrator.

I was kept entertained and guessing right up to the fun twisty end. The author is quickly becoming a top favorite!

A buddy read with my friend Marialyce. The audiobook, narrated by Alex Jennings, was excellent.
]]> 75494984 Ěý
“Michael Easter’s genius is that he puts data around the edges of what we intuitively believe. His work has inspired many to change their lives for the better.”—Dr. Peter Attia, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlive

AreĚýweĚýhardwired to craveĚýmore? From food and stuff to information and influence,Ěýwhy ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t we ever get enough?

Michael Easter, author of The Comfort Crisis and one of the world’s leading experts on behavior change, shows that the problem isn’t you. The problem is yourĚýscarcityĚýmindset, left over from our ancient ancestors. They had to constantly seek and consume to survive because vital survival tools like food, material goods, information, and power were scarce and hard to find. But with our modern ability to easily fulfill our ancient desire for more, our hardwired “scarcityĚýbrainâ€� is now backfiring. And new technology and institutions—from dating and entertainment apps to our food and economic systems—are exploiting ourĚýscarcitybrain. They’re bombarding us with subversive “scarcitycues,â€� subtle triggers that lead us into low-reward cravings that hurt us in the long run.ĚýScarcityĚýcues can be direct and all-encompassing, like a sagging economy. Or they can be subtle and slight, like our neighbor buying a shiny new car.

Easter traveled the world to consult with remarkable innovators and leading scientists who are finding surprising solutions for ourĚýscarcityĚýbrain. He discovered simple tactics that can move us towards an abundance mindset, cement healthy habits, and allow us to live our lives to the fullest and appreciate what we have, including how

â€� Detect hiddenĚýscarcityĚýcues to stop cravings before they start, from a brilliant slot machine designer in a Las Vegas casino laboratory
� Turn alone time into the ultimate happiness hack, from artisanal coffee-making Benedictine monks
� Reignite your exploration gene for a more exciting and fulfilling life, from an astronaut onboard the International Space Station
� Reframe how we think about and fix addiction and bad habits, from Iraq’s chief psychiatrist
� Recognize when you have enough, from a woman who left a million-dollar career path to adventure the world

Our world is overloaded with everything we’re built to crave. The fix forĚýscarcityĚýbrainĚýisn’t to blindly aim for less. It’s to understand why we crave more in the first place, shake our worst habits, and use what we already have better. Then we can experience life in a new way—a more satisfying way.]]> 304 Michael Easter 0593236629 JanB 5 Fascinating! ]]> 3.87
author: Michael Easter
name: JanB
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/02
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, non-fiction, 2024-reads
review:
A perfect non-fiction book to start the new year that explores the WHY behind our striving for more despite having an abundance.
Fascinating!
]]> 61918816 A novel of terrible first impressions, hilarious second chances, and the joy in finding your perfect match.

Dr. Briana Ortiz’s life is seriously flatlining. Her divorce is just about finalized, her brother’s running out of time to find a kidney donor, and that promotion she wants? Oh, that’s probably going to the new man-doctor who’s already registering eighty-friggin�-seven on Briana’s “pain in my ass� scale. But just when all systems are set to hate, Dr. Jacob Maddox completely flips the game . . . by sending Briana a letter.

And it’s a really good letter. Like the kind that proves that Jacob isn’t actually Satan. Worse, he might be this fantastically funny and subversively likeable guy who’s terrible at first impressions. Because suddenly he and Bri are exchanging letters, sharing lunch dates in her “sob closet,â€� and discussing the merits of freakishly tiny horses. But when Jacob decides to give Briana the best gift imaginable—a kidney for her brother—she wonders just how she can resist this quietly sexy new doctor . . . especially when he calls in a favor she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t refuse.]]> 416 Abby Jimenez 1538704390 JanB 4
I finished this in Nov �23. Loved it. I enjoy this author who writes lighter reads with substance, often tackling heavy subjects without making the story heavy.]]> 4.29 2023
author: Abby Jimenez
name: JanB
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/05
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, rom-com, 2024-reads
review:
4.5 stars

I finished this in Nov �23. Loved it. I enjoy this author who writes lighter reads with substance, often tackling heavy subjects without making the story heavy.
]]> 127482608
It's 2017 at the University of Arkansas. Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, wants to graduate, get a job, and buy a house. So when Agatha Paul, a visiting professor and writer, offers Millie an easy yet unusual opportunity, she jumps at the chance. But Millie's starry-eyed hustle becomes jeopardised by odd new friends, vengeful dorm pranks and illicit intrigue.

A fresh and intimate portrait of desire, consumption and reckless abandon, Come and Get It is a tension-filled story about money, indiscretion, and bad behavior.]]> 400 Kiley Reid 0593328205 JanB 2
This has everything I should have loved in a character driven novel. But I didn’t love it. To be fair, it’s difficult to make a book featuring a group of college girls and their banal conversations interesting. Fortunately, the excellent writing and the audiobook narrator kept me awake.

This was supposed to be (I think?) about money: who has it and who doesn’t and how this affects their attitudes. Race, power imbalance, sexuality and journalistic ethics come into play. So much potential. But the plot meanders along, tensions build slowly, (too slowly) and the climactic scene fell completely flat. Was the pizza cutter scene supposed to be absurd and funny? I don’t think so but I found it eye-rolling.

I love Reid’s writing but I just couldn’t muster enough interest to care about what happened to any of these characters.

* I received a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.32 2024
author: Kiley Reid
name: JanB
average rating: 3.32
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/02/12
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: fiction, netgalley, 2024-reads
review:
I loved the authors first book, Such a Fine Age. It was social satire at its best.

This has everything I should have loved in a character driven novel. But I didn’t love it. To be fair, it’s difficult to make a book featuring a group of college girls and their banal conversations interesting. Fortunately, the excellent writing and the audiobook narrator kept me awake.

This was supposed to be (I think?) about money: who has it and who doesn’t and how this affects their attitudes. Race, power imbalance, sexuality and journalistic ethics come into play. So much potential. But the plot meanders along, tensions build slowly, (too slowly) and the climactic scene fell completely flat. Was the pizza cutter scene supposed to be absurd and funny? I don’t think so but I found it eye-rolling.

I love Reid’s writing but I just couldn’t muster enough interest to care about what happened to any of these characters.

* I received a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 122765395 From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter.

When Elon Musk was a kid in South Africa, he was regularly beaten by bullies. One day a group pushed him down some concrete steps and kicked him until his face was a swollen ball of flesh. He was in the hospital for a week. But the physical scars were minor compared to the emotional ones inflicted by his father, an engineer, rogue, and charismatic fantasist.

His father’s impact on his psyche would linger. He developed into a tough yet vulnerable man-child, prone to abrupt Jekyll-and-Hyde mood swings, with an exceedingly high tolerance for risk, a craving for drama, an epic sense of mission, and a maniacal intensity that was callous and at times destructive.

At the beginning of 2022—after a year marked by SpaceX launching thirty-one rockets into orbit, Tesla selling a million cars, and him becoming the richest man on earth—Musk spoke ruefully about his compulsion to stir up dramas. “I need to shift my mindset away from being in crisis mode, which it has been for about fourteen years now, or arguably most of my life,� he said.

It was a wistful comment, not a New Year’s resolution. Even as he said it, he was secretly buying up shares of Twitter, the world’s ultimate playground. Over the years, whenever he was in a dark place, his mind went back to being bullied on the playground. Now he had the chance to own the playground.

For two years, Isaacson shadowed Musk, attended his meetings, walked his factories with him, and spent hours interviewing him, his family, friends, coworkers, and adversaries. The result is the revealing inside story, filled with amazing tales of triumphs and turmoil, that addresses the are the demons that drive Musk also what it takes to drive innovation and progress?]]> 688 Walter Isaacson 1982181281 JanB 5 RTC 4.29 2023
author: Walter Isaacson
name: JanB
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/22
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, non-fiction, 2024-reads
review:
RTC
]]> 195967140 A mind-bending, psychological thriller from Freida McFadden, the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Housemaid!

Lesson #1: trust no one

Eve has a good life. She gets up each day, gets a kiss from her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except�

Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair, with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye.

Addie can't be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that's what everyone says.

But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet.

From the New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden comes a story of twisting secrets and long-awaited revenge.]]> 379 Freida McFadden 1728296218 JanB 4
A compulsive thriller where everyone lacks a moral compass.

Fast/paced, addictive, with twists you won’t see coming, this plot-driven book kept me listening and helped end a months long book slump!]]> 3.82 2024
author: Freida McFadden
name: JanB
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/29
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads, mystery-thriller
review:
A completely bonkers fun read!

A compulsive thriller where everyone lacks a moral compass.

Fast/paced, addictive, with twists you won’t see coming, this plot-driven book kept me listening and helped end a months long book slump!
]]> 177185880
Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.

Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.]]> 283 Anna Quindlen 0593229800 JanB 5
The novel is divided into seasonal sections, until a year has passed. The author, as she does in all her novels, puts us in the heads and hearts of her characters. We get to know and care about them deeply, and as we get to know them we also get to know Annie through their memories.

As I read, I began to think about these realistic and relatable characters even when I wasn’t reading. Anna Quindlen has a deep understanding of the human spirit, one that touches me.

Ali, who takes on more responsibility than any child should�.Anthony (Ant), who in his grief turns into himself…the younger boys who still wait for mommy to come home�.Bill, who is struggling to keep his plumbing business going while meeting the needs of his 4 kids without his Annie�..and her best friend Annemarie who struggles to stay clean in her recovery without Annie to save her from herself�

At this stage of my life, where I have known loss, and have dear friends who have suffered profound unimaginable losses, I related to the road these characters traveled. How do they cherish the memories of Annie while moving forward with the love she showed them?

The author doesn’t emotionally manipulate her readers, but instead has created a story of love, loss, family, and friendship, combined with the resilience of the human spirit, one that is ultimately filled with hope.

If you know me, you know I don’t give out 5 stars lightly. This book is worthy of 5 stars, and more.
]]> 3.89 2024
author: Anna Quindlen
name: JanB
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/03/16
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads, fiction
review:
The novel opens when Annie, a 37-year-old wife and mother of four, drops dead of an aneurysm on her kitchen floor as her family gathers for dinner. And so begins life after Annie.

The novel is divided into seasonal sections, until a year has passed. The author, as she does in all her novels, puts us in the heads and hearts of her characters. We get to know and care about them deeply, and as we get to know them we also get to know Annie through their memories.

As I read, I began to think about these realistic and relatable characters even when I wasn’t reading. Anna Quindlen has a deep understanding of the human spirit, one that touches me.

Ali, who takes on more responsibility than any child should�.Anthony (Ant), who in his grief turns into himself…the younger boys who still wait for mommy to come home�.Bill, who is struggling to keep his plumbing business going while meeting the needs of his 4 kids without his Annie�..and her best friend Annemarie who struggles to stay clean in her recovery without Annie to save her from herself�

At this stage of my life, where I have known loss, and have dear friends who have suffered profound unimaginable losses, I related to the road these characters traveled. How do they cherish the memories of Annie while moving forward with the love she showed them?

The author doesn’t emotionally manipulate her readers, but instead has created a story of love, loss, family, and friendship, combined with the resilience of the human spirit, one that is ultimately filled with hope.

If you know me, you know I don’t give out 5 stars lightly. This book is worthy of 5 stars, and more.

]]> 61431922 Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders...

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile� humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die]]> 498 Rebecca Yarros 1649374046 JanB 4
I enjoyed it far more than I expected. Be aware this is VERY open door, so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger readers.

]]> 4.56 2023
author: Rebecca Yarros
name: JanB
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/13
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads, fantasy
review:
Not my usual genre but I needed to shake things up in my reading life, and this fit the bill.

I enjoyed it far more than I expected. Be aware this is VERY open door, so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger readers.


]]> 127305853 From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie� McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.]]> 471 Kristin Hannah 1250178630 JanB 5 5+ stars!<br /><br />RTC 4.59 2024
author: Kristin Hannah
name: JanB
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/29
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads, historical-fiction
review:
5+ stars!

RTC
]]> 96177629
Now he is. . .

Without a home

Waiting for his stand-up career to take off

Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking

Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. But Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story�

In this sharply funny and exquisitely relatable story of romantic disaster and friendship, Dolly Alderton offers up a love story with two endings, demonstrating once again why she is one of the most exciting writers today, and the true voice of a generation.]]> 345 Dolly Alderton 0241523672 JanB 2
It’s important to remember we are inside of Andy’s head through most of the book. Yes he can seem whiny but who wouldn’t be thinking these thoughts after the break-up of a long term relationship? Especially when given no explanation.

Toward the end we hear Jen’s perspective, which did nothing to endear myself to her.

My thoughts after I finished:
1. It’s not ok to end a relationship without an explanation. If a man did this, he would be thrown under the bus
2. It’s 2024 people! Do not demonize women who make different choices in order to justify your own. Single vs married, child-free vs motherhood, career vs SAHM�.who cares?? It’s all valid and one isn’t better than the other.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce and a complete miss for both of us!]]> 3.85 2023
author: Dolly Alderton
name: JanB
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/21
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, 2024-reads, fiction
review:
Hearing a 35 yr old man’s perspective after a break-up is an intriguing premise.

It’s important to remember we are inside of Andy’s head through most of the book. Yes he can seem whiny but who wouldn’t be thinking these thoughts after the break-up of a long term relationship? Especially when given no explanation.

Toward the end we hear Jen’s perspective, which did nothing to endear myself to her.

My thoughts after I finished:
1. It’s not ok to end a relationship without an explanation. If a man did this, he would be thrown under the bus
2. It’s 2024 people! Do not demonize women who make different choices in order to justify your own. Single vs married, child-free vs motherhood, career vs SAHM�.who cares?? It’s all valid and one isn’t better than the other.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce and a complete miss for both of us!
]]> 90587135
Crissy Dowling has created a world that suits her perfectly. She passes her days by the pool in a private cabana, she splurges on ice cream but never gains an ounce, and each evening she transforms into a Princess, performing her musical cabaret inspired by the life of the late Diana Spencer. Some might find her strange or even delusional, an American speaking with a British accent, hair feathered into a style thirty years old, living and working in a casino that has become a dated trash heap. On top of that, Crissy’s daily diet of Adderall and Valium leaves her more than a little tipsy, her Senator boyfriend has gone back to his wife, and her entire career rests on resembling a dead woman. And yet, fans see her for the gifted chameleon she is, showering her with gifts, letters, and standing ovations night after night. But when Crissy’s sister, Betsy, arrives in town with a new boyfriend and a teenage daughter, and when Richie Morley, the owner of the Buckingham Palace Casino, is savagely murdered, Crissy’s carefully constructed kingdom comes crashing down all around her. A riveting tale of identity, obsession, fintech, and high-tech mobsters, The Princess of Las Vegas is an addictive, wildly original thriller from one of our most extraordinary storytellers.]]> 400 Chris Bohjalian 0385547587 JanB 2
The crypto currency and mobster side plots bored me to tears. The direction the book would take was telegraphed from the beginning: A Princess Di look-alike who has a residency in Las Vegas? A sister who looks just like her, who gets involved in a shady cryptocurrency deal?

Predictable, but the ending was so convoluted my eyes glazed over.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and sadly, not one we’d recommend.]]> 3.39 2024
author: Chris Bohjalian
name: JanB
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/28
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, buddy-read-with-marialyce, 2024-reads
review:
This had a very strong start that quickly became bogged down by a dumb as a box of rocks MC, and an unrealistic foster child who is a brilliant child prodigy.

The crypto currency and mobster side plots bored me to tears. The direction the book would take was telegraphed from the beginning: A Princess Di look-alike who has a residency in Las Vegas? A sister who looks just like her, who gets involved in a shady cryptocurrency deal?

Predictable, but the ending was so convoluted my eyes glazed over.

This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and sadly, not one we’d recommend.
]]> 65214306
Elizabeth “Bitsy� Dockering (age 19), third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all—and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Peter Cordray, one of Bitsy’s most insistent beaux and a particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners and sharp teeth, has hired a petty thief (Jimmy Bly) to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit.

When the two dogs and their “people� meet in the park, chaos ensues and unknowingly results in a dog swap. Which means Lancelot is kidnapped instead of Galahad! But when both dogs go missing in an ever thickening dognapping plot, Michael and Elizabeth end up coming together to scour London, recover Lancelot and Galahad all while falling in love.]]> 320 Suzanne Enoch 1250842549 JanB 4
This is described as a retelling of Bringing Up Baby. Two identical dogs get switched by mistake, and one (the wrong one) is dognapped. The dogs are Identical only in looks, but the exact opposite in personality. One is serious and reserved while the other is an extroverted dynamo of energy. Just like the main characters, who join forces to find the missing dog. Hilarity ensues (and no dogs are harmed).

A fun historical rom-com, excellent on audio.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley ]]> 3.81 2023
author: Suzanne Enoch
name: JanB
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/09
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, netgalley, rom-com, 2024-reads
review:
A historical rom-com which was silly but fun. Bonus: there are dogs involved!

This is described as a retelling of Bringing Up Baby. Two identical dogs get switched by mistake, and one (the wrong one) is dognapped. The dogs are Identical only in looks, but the exact opposite in personality. One is serious and reserved while the other is an extroverted dynamo of energy. Just like the main characters, who join forces to find the missing dog. Hilarity ensues (and no dogs are harmed).

A fun historical rom-com, excellent on audio.

* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley
]]> 193781998 An exuberant debut, The Husbands delights in how do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options?

When Lauren returns home to her flat in London late one night, she is greeted at the door by her husband, Michael. There’s only one problem—she’s not married. She’s never seen this man before in her life. But according to her friends, her much-improved decor, and the photos on her phone, they’ve been together for years.

As Lauren tries to puzzle out how she could be married to someone she ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t remember meeting, Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb and abruptly disappears. In his place, a new man emerges, and a new, slightly altered life re-forms around her. Realizing that her attic is creating an infinite supply of husbands, Lauren confronts the question: If swapping lives is as easy as changing a lightbulb, how do you know you’ve taken the right path? When do you stop trying to do better and start actuallyĚýliving?]]> 352 Holly Gramazio 0385550618 JanB 5
(Full disclosure: I’ve been happily married for many decades but I have kids who have participated in online dating. Quite happily I might add - our daughter met her husband on Match - but I’m well aware of the pitfalls, especially for men.)

The paradox of choice: Too much choice causes the feeling of less happiness and less satisfaction with the constant search for what might be better out there.

I think we’ve all found ourselves caught in the endless search for the best of something: who hasn’t gone down that online rabbit hole?

But what if you had an endless choice of husbands with the lure of someone better right around the corner (or, in this case, up in the attic?).

When Lauren returns home one evening her husband Michael is waiting. The problem? She’s not married.

When Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb, a new husband descends. It seems Lauren has a magical attic with an endless supply of husbands. Switching husbands is as easy as swiping left. Some get an immediate “hell, no� and are immediately sent back up to the attic, while others stick around for a while before being sent away (sound familiar?�.swipe left, swipe right�)

The dilemma: when so many different people offer you so many different things how do you settle? When there’s a niggle of dissatisfaction, why not see who is next?

The tone is light-hearted and I had a lot of fun with this story. Many of the situations Lauren finds herself in are quite humorous (an IRL version of a dick pic? Off to the attic!), while others are a bit tense.

The crux of the problem is when do you say enough, and stop looking for something better and be content with the life you have?

This is compulsively readable and expertly executed, yet also thought-provoking when viewed from the lens of online dating and modern life. Highly recommend!]]> 3.50 2024
author: Holly Gramazio
name: JanB
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/15
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, fiction, 2024-reads
review:
Have you ever been on an online dating site? It’s practically a full-time job with a parade of potential dating partners. It’s easy to be picky when there is a sea of choice.

(Full disclosure: I’ve been happily married for many decades but I have kids who have participated in online dating. Quite happily I might add - our daughter met her husband on Match - but I’m well aware of the pitfalls, especially for men.)

The paradox of choice: Too much choice causes the feeling of less happiness and less satisfaction with the constant search for what might be better out there.

I think we’ve all found ourselves caught in the endless search for the best of something: who hasn’t gone down that online rabbit hole?

But what if you had an endless choice of husbands with the lure of someone better right around the corner (or, in this case, up in the attic?).

When Lauren returns home one evening her husband Michael is waiting. The problem? She’s not married.

When Michael goes to the attic to change a lightbulb, a new husband descends. It seems Lauren has a magical attic with an endless supply of husbands. Switching husbands is as easy as swiping left. Some get an immediate “hell, no� and are immediately sent back up to the attic, while others stick around for a while before being sent away (sound familiar?�.swipe left, swipe right�)

The dilemma: when so many different people offer you so many different things how do you settle? When there’s a niggle of dissatisfaction, why not see who is next?

The tone is light-hearted and I had a lot of fun with this story. Many of the situations Lauren finds herself in are quite humorous (an IRL version of a dick pic? Off to the attic!), while others are a bit tense.

The crux of the problem is when do you say enough, and stop looking for something better and be content with the life you have?

This is compulsively readable and expertly executed, yet also thought-provoking when viewed from the lens of online dating and modern life. Highly recommend!
]]> 186872450 A detective investigating a grisly crime in rural Alaska finds herself caughtĚýup in the dark secrets andĚýsuperstitions of a small town in this riveting novel from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man

Deadhart, Alaska. 873. Living.

In a small Alaska town, a boy is found with his throat ripped out and all the blood drained from his body. The inhabitants of Deadhart haven’t seen a killing like this in twenty-five years. But they know who’s responsible: a member of the Colony, an ostracized community of vampyrs living in an old mine settlement deep in the woods.

Detective Barbara Atkins, a specialist in vampyr killings, is called in to officially determine if this is a Colony killing—and authorize a cull. Old suspicions die hard in a town like Deadhart, but Barbara isn’t so sure. Determined to find the truth, she enlists the help of a former Deadhart sheriff, Jenson Tucker, whose investigation into the previous murder almost cost him his life. Since then, Tucker has become a recluse. But he knows the Colony better than almost anyone.

As the pair delve into the town’s history, they uncover secrets darker than they could have imagined. And then another body is found. While the snow thickens and the nights grow longer, a killer stalks Deadhart, and two disparate communities circle each other for blood. Time is running out for Atkins and Tucker to find the truth: Are they hunting a bloodthirsty monster . . . or a twisted psychopath? And which is more dangerous?]]> 336 C.J. Tudor 0593356594 JanB 4
But a boy is found dead, apparently from a vicious vampyr attack. Barbara, the lead detective, and a vampyr expert, arrives to investigate if it was indeed a vampyr attack and authorize a cull of the colony of vampyrs, which many of the townspeople want. As she works the investigation, she suspects something even more sinister is afoot.

I loved Barbara. She’s in her 50’s a bit out of shape, loves food (but no reindeer please), and is intelligent, empathetic, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right.

I think the author did a great job of including vampires (vampyrs) in her story without making it into a traditional horror book. These are not the vampires we know from Dracula-type stories. Instead they look and act just as normal people do. Except of course they need to drink blood and they live hundreds of years (Ha!)

This story, at its heart, is about discrimination and hatred and two opposing viewpoints: those who think the only good vampyr is a dead vampyr vs those who have empathy for the vampyrs and are content to let them live in peace. There are laws that protect the vampyrs but that doesn’t stop the crimes against them.

C.J. Tudor is one of my favorite authors and gets props for writing such a unique murder mystery/police procedural with a side helping of horror lite that felt strangely believable.

*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 3.86 2024
author: C.J. Tudor
name: JanB
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/16
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley, 2024-reads, mystery-thriller
review:
In a small rural Alaskan town, the colony of vampyrs (vampires) and regular townspeople have an uneasy truce of sorts. The colony lives deep in the woods outside of town and must leave the townspeople alone or risk officials authorizing a cull of their colony.

But a boy is found dead, apparently from a vicious vampyr attack. Barbara, the lead detective, and a vampyr expert, arrives to investigate if it was indeed a vampyr attack and authorize a cull of the colony of vampyrs, which many of the townspeople want. As she works the investigation, she suspects something even more sinister is afoot.

I loved Barbara. She’s in her 50’s a bit out of shape, loves food (but no reindeer please), and is intelligent, empathetic, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right.

I think the author did a great job of including vampires (vampyrs) in her story without making it into a traditional horror book. These are not the vampires we know from Dracula-type stories. Instead they look and act just as normal people do. Except of course they need to drink blood and they live hundreds of years (Ha!)

This story, at its heart, is about discrimination and hatred and two opposing viewpoints: those who think the only good vampyr is a dead vampyr vs those who have empathy for the vampyrs and are content to let them live in peace. There are laws that protect the vampyrs but that doesn’t stop the crimes against them.

C.J. Tudor is one of my favorite authors and gets props for writing such a unique murder mystery/police procedural with a side helping of horror lite that felt strangely believable.

*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 127281856
Supported throughout with inspirational case histories that add up to a troubleshooting primer, as well as tips, truths and tweaks, 28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day also has an important write-in aspect. Most IFers “fail� because they don’t think the practice is working, or think it’s only working because they are naturally reducing calories by time-boxing their daily eating. With simple, direct check-ins at the end of each of the first twenty-eight days, readers will stay on track by noticing how their bodies are reacting to IF, acknowledging “non scale victories� and setting a goal for the next it’s Gin’s version of habit formation, and it works!

28-Day FAST Start Day-By-Day is a complete program. Almost everything except the time framework will feel new even to readers of FAST. FEAST. REPEAT. , from picking an entry speed (“Easy Does It�, “Steady Build� or “Rip Off The Band-Aid�) on Day One, to discovering your “Appestat� (Appetite Thermostat) in the middle of the month, to “Master the Delay� on Day Twenty-Eight.]]> 368 Gin Stephens 1250824176 JanB 5
An invaluable resource for the intermittent fasting lifestyle, whether you choose IF for weight loss or for the health benefits. I highly recommend the paperback vs the e-book so you can write in the pages and easily refer back to earlier chapters. I bought the paperback book after reviewing the kindle version.

This is the starter book but if you only want to read one book, I recommend her prior book, Fast, Feast Repeat. Not everyone wants the science....if that is you then try this quick start!

Don't miss the 2 podcasts Gin Stephens hosts: Intermittent Fasting Stories, and Fast, Feast, Repeat, Intermittent Fasting for Life.

* I received the digital e-book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.]]> 4.21
author: Gin Stephens
name: JanB
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/19
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: netgalley, non-fiction, 2024-reads
review:
As an RN, and someone who suffers from an autoimmune disease, I'm a firm believer in "Food Is Medicine". What and how we eat has a profound influence on our health. As an intermittent faster and a fan of Gin Stephens, this is an excellent book to ease your way into IF. A wonderful companion to her book Fast, Feast, Repeat, this book holds your hand as you navigate the first 28 days. But if you want a more in depth explanation of the details and the science behind IF, don't neglect to read her book Fast, Feast, Repeat. In fact, I think it's imperative to own both books.

An invaluable resource for the intermittent fasting lifestyle, whether you choose IF for weight loss or for the health benefits. I highly recommend the paperback vs the e-book so you can write in the pages and easily refer back to earlier chapters. I bought the paperback book after reviewing the kindle version.

This is the starter book but if you only want to read one book, I recommend her prior book, Fast, Feast Repeat. Not everyone wants the science....if that is you then try this quick start!

Don't miss the 2 podcasts Gin Stephens hosts: Intermittent Fasting Stories, and Fast, Feast, Repeat, Intermittent Fasting for Life.

* I received the digital e-book via NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.
]]> 40121378 Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving—every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights.

Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field.

Learn how to:
-ĚýMake time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);
-ĚýOvercome a lack of motivation and willpower;
- Design your environment to make success easier;
- Get back on track when you fall off course;
...and much more.

Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.]]> 319 James Clear JanB 5
I love reading about habits…how to form new ones and break old ones. The author does a great job in breaking it down into clear, actionable steps. Nothing too difficult or time consuming. The author did a great job making it highly entertaining as well.

I’m glad I listened but I’m also glad I have the hardback on my shelf to refer to when needed.

A practical guide that can benefit everyone! ]]> 4.34 2018
author: James Clear
name: JanB
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/21
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, non-fiction, 2024-reads
review:
I’ve owned this book in hardback since 2018 snd finally just hit around to listening to it on audio (perhaps one habit to work on should be reading books on my shelves!)

I love reading about habits…how to form new ones and break old ones. The author does a great job in breaking it down into clear, actionable steps. Nothing too difficult or time consuming. The author did a great job making it highly entertaining as well.

I’m glad I listened but I’m also glad I have the hardback on my shelf to refer to when needed.

A practical guide that can benefit everyone!
]]> 195790586 She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?

Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.

Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.� Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.

But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?]]> 336 Katherine Center 1250283809 JanB 5
He needs help. And fast. Enter Emma, an aspiring screenwriter who has been hired to re-write Charlie’s script.

Her problem? She’s the full-time caretaker for her dad, who was injured in an accident that took her mother’s life. But her sister steps in to help so Emma can fulfill her dream to write for Charlie, her writing hero. Dreams can come true.

Now her problem is how to thaw Charlie’s cold heart and make him believe in love and rom-coms.

In true Katherine Center form, this book has the perfect blend of romance and comedy, but with substance and depth. The witty banter gets me every time.

I closed the book with a full heart and a smile on my face.

I also loved the theme in defense of love and rom-coms, a theme the author continued in her note at the end of the book. Don’t miss it. Finding joy in adversity is another overriding theme that I loved.

I read a variety of genres and rom-coms will always have a place in my heart and on my shelves. Especially one written by this author. A well-done rom-com requires serious writing chops, and Katherine Center is among the best. She is able to write a story that has the perfect magical blend that captivates this reader.

My only regret is I now have to wait another year for a new Katherine Center book.

Don’t miss this one. A pure delight from start to finish! 5+ stars!

* I received a digital copy plus the audio version, via NetGalley. All opinions are my own]]> 4.06 2024
author: Katherine Center
name: JanB
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/23
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: audiobook, netgalley, rom-com, 2024-reads
review:
Charlie, a successful screenwriter, needs to write a rom-com. His problem? He wrote one but it’s bad. Very, very bad. He thinks romance is a Ponzi scheme and doesn’t believe in love.

He needs help. And fast. Enter Emma, an aspiring screenwriter who has been hired to re-write Charlie’s script.

Her problem? She’s the full-time caretaker for her dad, who was injured in an accident that took her mother’s life. But her sister steps in to help so Emma can fulfill her dream to write for Charlie, her writing hero. Dreams can come true.

Now her problem is how to thaw Charlie’s cold heart and make him believe in love and rom-coms.

In true Katherine Center form, this book has the perfect blend of romance and comedy, but with substance and depth. The witty banter gets me every time.

I closed the book with a full heart and a smile on my face.

I also loved the theme in defense of love and rom-coms, a theme the author continued in her note at the end of the book. Don’t miss it. Finding joy in adversity is another overriding theme that I loved.

I read a variety of genres and rom-coms will always have a place in my heart and on my shelves. Especially one written by this author. A well-done rom-com requires serious writing chops, and Katherine Center is among the best. She is able to write a story that has the perfect magical blend that captivates this reader.

My only regret is I now have to wait another year for a new Katherine Center book.

Don’t miss this one. A pure delight from start to finish! 5+ stars!

* I received a digital copy plus the audio version, via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 195790531
A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.

From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?]]> 341 Sarah Pekkanen 125028399X JanB 4
Stella quickly realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she imagined.

And there's something creepy about the house itself: there’s not a single shard of glass to be found: all glass was replaced by plastic.

Stella has quite a complicated past herself when she witnessed her mother’s death when she was a child, and also suffered from traumatic mutism. Which makes her the perfect person to relate to Rose.

Everyone in the house is a suspect, and everyone is lying. As Rose uncovers secrets she’s also forced to confront her own past.

This was an interesting premise that kept me guessing. A fun read, even if I did have to set aside some issues I had with the story, so a 4 star from me.

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ]]> 3.84 2024
author: Sarah Pekkanen
name: JanB
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/28
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: buddy-read-with-marialyce, netgalley, mystery-thriller, 2024-reads
review:
Rose, a nine-year-old girl witnessed the possible murder of her nanny and immediately stopped speaking. Her parents are divorcing and Stella, a best interest attorney, is appointed to serve as counsel for Rose in the bitter custody battle.

Stella quickly realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she imagined.

And there's something creepy about the house itself: there’s not a single shard of glass to be found: all glass was replaced by plastic.

Stella has quite a complicated past herself when she witnessed her mother’s death when she was a child, and also suffered from traumatic mutism. Which makes her the perfect person to relate to Rose.

Everyone in the house is a suspect, and everyone is lying. As Rose uncovers secrets she’s also forced to confront her own past.

This was an interesting premise that kept me guessing. A fun read, even if I did have to set aside some issues I had with the story, so a 4 star from me.

* I received a digital copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
]]> 179311283 In New York Times–bestselling author Anthony Horowitz’s ingenious fifth literary whodunit in the Hawthorne and Horowitz series, Detective Hawthorne is once again called upon to solve an unsolvable case—a gruesome murder in an idyllic gated community in which suspects abound

Riverside Close is a picture-perfect community. The six exclusive and attractive houses are tucked far away from the noise and grime of city life, allowing the residents to enjoy beautiful gardens, pleasant birdsong and tranquility from behind the security of a locked gate.

It is the perfect idyll until the Kentworthy family arrives, with their four giant, gas-guzzling cars, a gaggle of shrieking children and plans for a garish swimming pool in the backyard. Obvious outsiders, the Kentworthys do not belong in Riverside Close, and they quickly offend every last one of their neighbours.

When Giles Kentworthy is found dead on his own doorstep, a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest, Detective Hawthorne is the only investigator that can be called on to solve the case.

Because how do you solve a murder when everyone is a suspect?]]> 419 Anthony Horowitz 006330564X JanB 5
Horowitz, the character, is under a deadline to produce a book. In desperation he decides to write about one of Hawthorne’s old cases, a murder that took place 5 years ago in the seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac community of Riverview Close.

The residents have lived in peaceful harmony for many years until the neighbor from hell moves in.
When he’s found on his doorstep with a crossbow to the chest, there is no shortage of motives among the quirky eccentric neighbors. As we get to know each of them, Horowitz’s detection skills are put to the test.

Very clever! The breadcrumbs are all there but my detection skills were put to the test too, and I was surprised at the resolution. The author has written a smart whodunit featuring my two favorite characters, and did so while keeping things fresh. The relationship between Horowitz & Hawthorne remains amusing, and the neighbors were delightfully annoying and fun (as long as they aren’t MY neighbors).

Excellent - all the stars! My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I thoroughly enjoyed our yearly dose of H&H and we ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t wait for the next book.]]> 4.06 2024
author: Anthony Horowitz
name: JanB
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/04/28
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: 2024-reads, buddy-read-with-marialyce, mystery-thriller, audiobook
review:
If you’re a fan of the Horowitz & Hawthorne duo, then you need no introduction to the characters. If you haven’t met them, do yourself a favor and start with book one.

Horowitz, the character, is under a deadline to produce a book. In desperation he decides to write about one of Hawthorne’s old cases, a murder that took place 5 years ago in the seemingly idyllic cul-de-sac community of Riverview Close.

The residents have lived in peaceful harmony for many years until the neighbor from hell moves in.
When he’s found on his doorstep with a crossbow to the chest, there is no shortage of motives among the quirky eccentric neighbors. As we get to know each of them, Horowitz’s detection skills are put to the test.

Very clever! The breadcrumbs are all there but my detection skills were put to the test too, and I was surprised at the resolution. The author has written a smart whodunit featuring my two favorite characters, and did so while keeping things fresh. The relationship between Horowitz & Hawthorne remains amusing, and the neighbors were delightfully annoying and fun (as long as they aren’t MY neighbors).

Excellent - all the stars! My reading buddy, Marialyce, and I thoroughly enjoyed our yearly dose of H&H and we ł¦˛ą˛Ô’t wait for the next book.
]]> 176443330 The new thrilling novel from Megan Miranda, the instant New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls, The Last to Vanish, and The Only Survivors.

When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.]]> 368 Megan Miranda JanB 5
A drought provides rich atmosphere as Hazel uncovers long-hidden secrets, namely the traumatic events of her childhood, including evidence that may explain her mother’s disappearance many years ago.

The author has said in interviews that she enjoys exploring how the past impacts the present, and how a place is tied to memory. The author delivers these themes expertly in this highly atmospheric, character-driven mystery where the setting is as much of a character as the characters themselves.

I found this a tense compelling character-driven novel that I couldn’t put down. It had everything I love in the genre.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own ]]> 3.88 2024
author: Megan Miranda
name: JanB
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/05/05
date added: 2024/07/02
shelves: mystery-thriller, netgalley, 2024-reads, audiobook
review:
Hazel, the daughter of Mirror Lake’s detective, inherits her childhood home when her father dies. She finds herself drawn back to the town she left behind almost a decade earlier.

A drought provides rich atmosphere as Hazel uncovers long-hidden secrets, namely the traumatic events of her childhood, including evidence that may explain her mother’s disappearance many years ago.

The author has said in interviews that she enjoys exploring how the past impacts the present, and how a place is tied to memory. The author delivers these themes expertly in this highly atmospheric, character-driven mystery where the setting is as much of a character as the characters themselves.

I found this a tense compelling character-driven novel that I couldn’t put down. It had everything I love in the genre.

* I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
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