(free review copy) If you want a hyper-seasonal cozy mystery, give this one a shot. I was disappointed in the quick wrap-up, though ~ it seemed like t(free review copy) If you want a hyper-seasonal cozy mystery, give this one a shot. I was disappointed in the quick wrap-up, though ~ it seemed like the story was just getting going and then .... it was over. Bonus points for lots of dogs, though.
(free review copy) This was such a great premise for a book that I absolutely inhaled it despite a few minor quibbles I had with the structure. I've b(free review copy) This was such a great premise for a book that I absolutely inhaled it despite a few minor quibbles I had with the structure. I've been saying for a long time that none of us need to posting public pictures of our kids online, and as the children of the moms in my generation start getting old enough to speak up, they're in full agreement. This is a perfect light but heartfelt and modern read for anyone who just can't put their phone down when scrolling a feed full of momfluencer content.
(free review copy) I'm so very happy that a print review copy of this book just appeared in my mailbox because I may never have paid it any attention (free review copy) I'm so very happy that a print review copy of this book just appeared in my mailbox because I may never have paid it any attention otherwise. Once I realized that it fed my late 90's - early 00's Dawson's Creek love, though, I was ALL. IN. There is an element of magical realism in the book, but because the magical realism takes place tangentially in a world we already know, I was able to fully suspend disbelief and just sink into the story. I was especially able to sink in because the protagonist and all of her contemporaries are 30, rather than teens or early 20's. There was definitely an element of maturity that makes this book appeal to us original DC fans, rather than new viewers. This romance won't be for everyone, but for those of us who debated Dawson vs. Pacey with fervor back in the day, it's a must-read. Personally, I always wanted to be cool enough to covet Pacey, but unfortunately I was just a totally basic Dawson girl all the way. Sigh. This story brought me right back to the end of my HS and beginning of my college years and for that reason, this was a hit.
(free review copy) I'm really starting to enjoy the offerings from Harper Muse - undeniably women's fiction, but not romance, and not Christian. Lots (free review copy) I'm really starting to enjoy the offerings from Harper Muse - undeniably women's fiction, but not romance, and not Christian. Lots of middle aged women and just generally relateable content. Nothing absolutely stellar, but just solidly good, you know? Anyway, this one was a really fun listen, and as the mother of a teenage son myself, I loved that aspect of the story. All the UK road trip content was amazing, and I loved where and how everything ended up. If you're looking for a relatable, happy, fairly unique story, definitely give this one a shot. The audio narration is great.
(free review copy) What an absolute delight! I adore stories about older adults, and this one is just so heartwarming and life affirming. The care hom(free review copy) What an absolute delight! I adore stories about older adults, and this one is just so heartwarming and life affirming. The care home setting was so original and I loved meeting all of the different residents and watching Fred make friends and realize how much value he still had to the world. There was one minor structural thing in the book that knocked this down from a 5 to a 4 for me, but it's a great fit for anyone who loves multigenerational stories featuring found family and very mature characters. I found myself cheering for Fred as he navigated near homelessness and then second (and third!) chances.
(free review copy) Hands down my favorite book by this author! I was riveted the entire time I was reading and absolutely fascinated by the premise of(free review copy) Hands down my favorite book by this author! I was riveted the entire time I was reading and absolutely fascinated by the premise of the story. I think we could all do with a little more living as it were our last day / year on earth …..
Get on your library holds list or preorder this one ASAP!
(free review copy) Whew, this was a heartbreaking story. I love Rendon's Cash Blackbear series, and while this is not part of that series, it is equal(free review copy) Whew, this was a heartbreaking story. I love Rendon's Cash Blackbear series, and while this is not part of that series, it is equally powerful on the topic of the grievous harm done to Native American peoples over the course of history. In this book, essentially a primer on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) travesty, this would be an excellent pairing with Warrior Girl Unearthed. At times the writing seems much more "tell" than "show" and the pacing was a bit jarring at times, but the setting was so vivid, the relationships so strong, and the message about the very real horrors of women and girls disappearing every day so necessary, that I'm willing to completely overlook a few structural quibbles. Rendon manages to write about this issue in a way that empowers the women characters rather than exploit those they represent, and brava to her for this feat.
"You prefer it without advertising?” she found herself asking. “The thing is, May,” the hum said, “the goal of advertising is to rip(free review copy)
"You prefer it without advertising?” she found herself asking. “The thing is, May,” the hum said, “the goal of advertising is to rip a hole in your heart so it can then fill that hole with plastic, or with any other materials that can be yanked out of the earth and, after brief sojourns as objects of desire, be converted to waste.”
THIS BOOK. I started it before bed last night and just finished it instead of napping this afternoon because I could. not. stop. reading. Kicking myself for not reading it early enough to include in this morning’s newsletter! Stunning and haunting very-near-future commentary on AI, motherhood and environmental endtimes. It's just the perfect mix for me ~ realistic enough to be horrifying, especially regarding surveillance, modern parents' compulsion to track their children, American society's immediate urge to take children from their parents in ridiculous situations, and OMG the nature commentary freaks me all the way out.
(free review copy) I just inhaled this tale of a middle-aged Stockholm couple's marriage imploding, not because of the train-wreck factor, but because(free review copy) I just inhaled this tale of a middle-aged Stockholm couple's marriage imploding, not because of the train-wreck factor, but because getting to read both sides of the situation was such an enlightening experience. So often when we know anything about relationship difficulties we only know one side, so thinking I knew what was going on in the first half of this book and then realizing there was much more to the story was so fascinating. This isn't at all a thriller or suspense story, just a domestic tale as old as time that nonetheless read like the most intriguing thriller ever. Perhaps it's because I have been married for 20 years and also have teenage children, but absorbing and analyzing the dysfunction in, and dissolution, of other relationships really does help me process my own.
(free review copy) This single mom spy comedy was so much fun!! The parenting and divorce commentary was my favorite part about it ~ it's a fun pairin(free review copy) This single mom spy comedy was so much fun!! The parenting and divorce commentary was my favorite part about it ~ it's a fun pairing with Summer Romance on those notes. Was the spying part in any way shape or form believable? NO. Was it really supposed to be? NO. It offered a great way to pull the main character out of her rut and make her see that she's so much more valuable than she had been crediting herself for and gave a little action to the story, but IMO this is first and foremost a "woman reclaiming herself in midlife" story. Can't wait to read more by the author!
(free review copy) A sweet follow-up to On Fire Island that could definitely also be read as a stand alone. I love a beach read in a unique setting, a(free review copy) A sweet follow-up to On Fire Island that could definitely also be read as a stand alone. I love a beach read in a unique setting, and Fire Island doesn't get nearly as much fictional play time as does Nantucket. While I didn't love some of the miscommunications throughout the story, the large cast of quirky and lovable island characters, the weekend guests, the family drama and the gorgeous beach setting overall won me over. This was a fun read poolside!
(free review copy) I loved this story set in the world of art forgery and NYC galleries! The mother-daughter relationship was written with such depth,(free review copy) I loved this story set in the world of art forgery and NYC galleries! The mother-daughter relationship was written with such depth, and I loved the reality that was portrayed about the cost of art school and the actuality of life after graduation ~ as the mother of a child desperate to go to the prestigious art schools she was accepted into, but then absolutely blown away by the sticker shock, it was such a relief to see this actually portrayed accurately. This is a really fun mystery-esque read for anyone who likes books such as Mother-Daughter Murder Night, Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers or Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, although this book is NOT a murder mystery. Art crime is similar though, and the tone is alike ~ not a cozy, not a suspense/thriller, but right in the middle.
Source: paper copy gifted to me by the author / PR team...more
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