The Jellyfish Problem
by Tessa Yang
The Jellyfish Problem (4/18/2026)
Thanks to BookBrowse for the ARC and to NetGalley for the download in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes June 2, 2026.
An old college friend (lover?) is beckoned to an small island by her friend, Nadia. There is a large jellyfish that comes to the island on the night of the full moon and that is Jo's expertise - jellyfish. Everyone on the island has something to say about Clementine, their name for the large jellyfish, everyone but Nadia - who is missing. Then Jo finds she can't leave the island. What is going on?
This is a good book for a debut book - better than most. The writing is simple and yet it pulls you in. Characters are easy to like - or not - depending on who they are. Pretty typical sea monster story, but other themes keep you engaged. Good atmosphere involving a mystery paralleled with grief, well researched marine biological facts, along with a touch of magical realism. This one is worth the reading time.
Boring Asian Female
by Canwen Xu
Bored Asian Female (4/16/2026)
3.5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse for the ARC and NetGalley for the download for an unbiased opinion. Publishes April 28, 2026 by Berkley.
Elizabeth is obsessed with getting into the Harvard Law progam. She will do anything to complete her goal. Including stalk and sabotage a fellow student, continue an unwanted pregnancy, lie and take advantage of friends. Liz is the protagonist that you hate, but also the one that keeps you turning pages.
Great academic setting, protagonist that you love to hate, and a couple of nice twists that were unexpected. Very good debut novel - up to date, current in today's ideology, and the descriptive of Asian American problems. This book hits on mental health, 'whiteness' and privilege, the pressures on college students to do well and strive for more, along with the alcohol and drugs that are prevalent in their lives.
Stay for a Spell
by Amy Coombe
Fairy tale dream (3/3/2026)
4 stars Thank you to Ace Publishing and BookBrowse for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes April 14, 2026
I really enjoyed this book - which surprised me. I am not much for fairy tales and don't read romances at all. However, I picked this up at a good time because I immediately got right into this book.
A Princess is cursed when she unthinkingly accepts a key from a sweet little old lady bookshop owner. The cursed is to remain in a run-down small town bookshop until she unlocks her heart's desire - but for the Princess this is far from a curse - it is more like a dream. Then enters the elves, draconians and dancing blue belles, along with a cursed pirate. Unable to leave the bookshop her parents send in all 7 of the Shining Realm Princes to break her spell. But low and behold only one person can release her and she must determine who that person is.
Again I am not much on fairly tales, but I thought this one was really cute and I enjoyed it.
The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives
by Elizabeth Arnott
Dramatic ending (12/29/2025)
3.5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes March 3, 2026
Three women, who were each married to a serial killer, become friends and decide to locate and expose the most recent serial killer in their town. Then, thrown in among the voices of the three wives, is another unknown voice.
It felt like two separate people wrote this book. For the majority of the story it just seemed to wander along. There were some instances of the story not flowing well, kind of jumping in spots, like something was missing. Other parts of the story drug a slight bit. But once chapter 46 started it was like a new light was turned on. You could read the excitement in the authors writing. This was the wrap up of the story and all the drama was placed here. However that didn't end the novel, but it should have! What came afterwards was virtually unnecessary.
Overall not a bad novel, but a 3.5 rating out of 5 is pretty accurate.
The Magic of Untamed Hearts: Wild Magic #3
by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled up together (10/30/2025)
Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes January 13, 2026.
I have to be more careful when requesting books. Here again I ended up with the third book in a series. I guess it was ok as a stand alone, but not having read the first two books I feel like I was missing a lot. For that reason I can only give it 3 of 5 stars.
This book centered on Sky - they youngest of three sister's - all with a special gift. For Sky it is the ability to communicate with animals. And she is returning after an 8 year absence.
This book is fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled up together. Maybe a bit heavy on the 'romance' aspect. But an easy read all the same.
The Sister's Curse
by Nicola Solvinic
Mysticism... (7/22/2025)
Immersed in supernatural events, a young police woman, Anna Koray, tries to unwind many mysteries. Both past and present problems plague her. Coming from a very dysfunctional family she finds current solace with her boyfriend Nick and her dog Gibby. However she is totally alone when the Rusalka takes over her body!
I did not realize this was the second book of a duology. I have not read book number one - which would probably have made a difference and brought me into the present in this book. I thought that the writing was good in this book, however I am really not much into mythology or curses or the mystic theme that this book follows. Author 4 stars, book content 2 1/2 stars.
The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant
by Liza Tully
Who did-in who? (4/25/2025)
3 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC. Publishes July 2025
Many murders in this book - all done by different people. But who did-in who? And why?
Although I really don't care for books that have a lot of characters, this book did really well introducing them so that I didn't notice them mounting up. There must have been close to 20 throughout the story, but I didn't realize that while reading it.
Although this book was long - 400 pages - it didn't seem to bog down at any point, there wasn't a time when I did not want to pick it back up and read more. There were a few twists and turns throughout the novel that I was not expecting, which added to the enjoyment. A few unlikable characters added meat to the plot and the detectives unwillingness to mollify her critique of her assistant kept the girl on her toes.
This was a first read of this author and although I really think this will end up being a series, I would like to read something else by Tully. Something besides a cozy. Which is very possible since Tully is a pseudonym for Elisabeth Brink, who writes dark thrillers under the name Elisabeth Elo, as well as literary fiction under the name Elisabeth Panttaja Brink.
L.A. Women
by Ella Berman
never really hit the mark (4/21/2025)
2 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for providing this ARC. Publishes August 5, 2025
I liked the premise of this book when I first read it. However I felt that it never really lived up to the hype.
Two very different female authors become friends - or do they? One is quiet and self loathing while the other is loud boisterous and unapologetic. Over time they have a falling out and the loud author goes missing.
This is a long book that, for me, never really hit the mark. There was enough to the story that you kept turning pages, hoping for a twist or a turn somewhere along the line, but that never really came. I believe that I would have been happier had the book only been around 250 pages. Waiting 400 pages for something to happen, that never does, takes a lot away from a book.
The Fairbanks Four: Murder, Injustice, and the Birth of a Movement
by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue
The slow wheels of justice... (4/8/2025)
I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. But I had a real problem following the story. There were so many people in this story I could not keep them straight. It got to the point that I could not even remember the names of the 4 accused - who were the whole point of the book.
A young 14 year old boy was beaten to death in Alaska and soon afterward four boys were arrested - four Native American boys. And therein lays the problem. Half the town were sure those four boys were the correct criminals, the other half opposed to the quick arrest and unsavory police department who arrested them. This story played out for over 18 years before a final solution, showing us just how long it takes the justice system to admit mistakes and then to finally take any corrective action.
The premise of the story was solid, however I had a lot of trouble with how it was written. Not only were so many extra people thrown into the mix, more than once the author threw in a curve ball and just went off on something very unrelated - like the Iditarod. I really find it hard to believe that the author is both a journalist and professor of investigative journalism. Maybe short pieces are his thing, because this book was extremely hard to follow, had way too many unneeded people written in, went on way too long being repetitive and was hard to follow the real crux of the story.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder (3/21/2025)
Thank you to Berkley and BookBrowse for giving me a copy for a unbiased review. Expected publication September 30, 2025.
Life in post revolutionary Cuba, with all the challenges that so many faced, was the basis for this story. It stung together the thread connecting three timelines in this book. A fictional book drove all three timelines. There was Eva in 1900 - who wrote the book. Then Pilar in 1966 who saved the book. And Margo in 2024 who tracked down the book.
This novel was well put together. A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder and all was wrapped up expertly.
The Husbands: A Novel
by Holly Gramazio
When is 'this' husband the one? (3/12/2025)
I really enjoyed this book. Very unique premise. But you must let your imagination go and suspend real life for this story. Because once you enter the 'magic attic' nothing will be the same. It seems husbands - new husbands - pop out of the attic each time a current husband goes up there. (Not a spoiler - detailed in synopsis). So we go along with Lauren on her husband exchange throughout the book. But when does she stop? When is 'this' husband the one?
This is a light funny read. I found myself laughing out loud a number of times. Often we meet the men in Laurens life - even the one who knows what is happening and is a reoccurring character. But often with only a sentence or two, as to why they were sent right back up in the attic, we move along quickly.
I think if there is a negative to this book it is a bit repetitive in the middle. Husband upon husband, some in the same day, can get old. Can you even imagine?? But in my opinion this cute story is still very readable, plus enjoyable.
One Death at a Time
by Abbi Waxman
An alcoholic starlet, prone to blackouts... (1/12/2025)
This is my second book by Waxman. I have also read The Bookish Life of Nina Hill and I must say I enjoyed that one moreso than this book. To get the cons out of the way, I felt that the book was way too long - cutting 100 pages would have been better. I also thought that Waxman added about 6 additional characters that she could have left out. They seemed to be just busy work - unnecessary - they added nothing to the story and took the character count way too high for my satisfaction. When you have too many to keep track of you begin to ask yourself if the story is even worth reading. Instead of being entertaining it becomes just another problem of the day.
On the plus side Waxman's writing style is good - simple easy prose that keeps you turning pages. Her main characters have good development and are likeable. Some of the added themes are good - however she is a bit heavy handed in adding these. The plot was simple enough, yet had a good fundamental concept.
An alcoholic starlet, prone to blackouts, and her assistant try to track down a murderer, even though the starlet is the one accused - currently released after having been incarcerated for an earlier murder. Everyone is a suspect - but who took the fatal shot?
I am hoping that this book is just one that doesn't quite suit me -since I have another Waxman book on my shelf. Hoping that I can put that book in the positive column, with her first one.
Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein
A deeper probe of Fagin... (12/21/2024)
3.5 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Doubleday for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Publishes Feb 25, 2025.
I am pretty skeptical about retellings. Seldom do I care for the changes that are made to the original story or characters. However with this book, it was not so much a retelling as it was a deeper probe and continuation into the lives that Dickens made popular.
We are reintroduced to Fagin, as an adult. Along with Nancy, Bill Sikes, Dodger and the dog, Bullseye. Fagin takes them all under his wing, along with a few more, and makes sure they are the best pickpockets in Victorian London. Until Sikes tries a job that puts them all under the thumb of the law.
I will be following the writing career of Epstein, having enjoyed this book. Sadly to say, her other two books are in eras that I do not particularly like to read about, so hoping that a future book will liken back to a time period that I do enjoy.
Beast of the North Woods: Monster Hunter Mysteries #3
by Annelise Ryan
OH NO! A Hodag... (11/7/2024)
4 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for letting me read this ARC. Publication is January 28, 2025.
A man is found dead and gutted in a field. Andy, having found the man, and it being his well known rival, is accused of the murder. He swears that he saw a Hodag and that that was the killer. But Hodags are mythical and never seen.
A Hodag is a knock off of a Big Foot in a spiny form with large claws. And this Wisconsin town billed itself as having friendly Hodags - sculptures all over town, a festival in summer and most businesses using it as a logo. So when Andy accuses the Hodag of the murder the town revolts. Just so happens that Andy's aunt works for a cryptozoologist. And Morgan flies into town to prove it was not Andy but was a Hodag.
Interesting? Yes. But that is just the start. This investigation brings more and more problems into view. One thing leads to another and Morgan has more problems to solve than she could ever have wished for.
This is actually the third book of a series, but it reads like a stand alone. I had no problem getting into the story. The description makes it sound humorous, but it is not. There is tension, mystery, suspense and a loving dog.
Probably not the kind of book that I would choose to read, however I found it relatively good and a nice change of pace. I liked it well enough to back up and add books one and two to my reading list.
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida
Up lifting, delightful and cozy... (7/28/2024)
4 stars Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for a copy of this book to read and review. Published March 8, 2023
Totally enjoyed this book. Five related stories and the first book of the We'll Prescribe You a Cat series. The tie between the stories is the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul - which may or may not exist - and the fact that each person visiting the clinic has a problem that they cannot work out alone. And as the title predicts, each is prescribed a cat to heal their problems.
This novel is up lifting, delightful and cozy, just like snuggling in a warm blanket with a purring sleepy kitty beside you. Hoping that the second book of this series is soon translated.
The Day Tripper: A Novel
by James Goodhand
What day is this????? (12/20/2023)
Thank you to BookBrowse and Mira for a copy of this ARC. Publishes March 19, 2024
Do you have trouble remembering what day it is? How would you like to wake up to a morning in 2014 one day and then a morning in 1998 the next day? Quite confusing. That is the life of Alex Dean. You wake up not recognizing your surrounding, not knowing who you are. A happily married man, a drunken homeless bum, a man married to a woman he doesn't love, the man holding the hand of his dying mother. Who will you be? What year will it be? How do you survive?
I was not sure that I was going to like this book, but I ended up loving it. Once I got with the rhythm of the story, and the reasoning behind the year changes, I settled in for a good story telling. A bit historical, a bit futuristic, a lot of cause and effect, a bit of time and space alignment, but all in all a good book.
My first by this author and I am anxious to see where he goes from here.
The Witches at the End of the World
by Chelsea Iversen
Bonds of Love... (9/9/2023)
I so wanted to like this book much more than I actually did. I like books driven by characters, as in speech, or by the plot, where ever the story is going. I found this book to revolve more around the 'thoughts' of the two main characters. So between that, and the prose and binding of the story, which I did think was good and interesting, I was a bit disappointed.
That is not to say that this book is bad - it it far from that. It just was not related to me in the fashion that I like best. So I could only read short patches of it at a time and my interests went to other books I was enjoying more.
The House of Lincoln: A Novel
by Nancy Horan
Abraham Lincoln from a new persapective... (6/8/2023)
A different take on the life of Abraham Lincoln. This story is told from the point of view of a young Portuguese refugee, Ana, who went to work for the Lincoln's as a Saturday girl. She not only looked after the children, but did some housework. As she aged she become more indispensable to Mary Todd Lincoln.
The book moves through the well known life of Lincoln, almost as an after thought. It concentrates more on his private life and how that affected Ana, his home town of Springfield and his family life in the White House. Once assassinated the story moves more to Mary, but still remains on Ana and her adult life.
Taking place in the 1840's to the 1890's the story depicts the Underground Railroad, the Springfield race riots, and the Civil War. With Illinois being my home state, I have studied a lot about Abraham Lincoln and believe that this historical fiction book was well researched. The slant of bringing in a house girl to tell the story was ingenious and made the reading from her point of view interesting.
King of the Armadillos
by Wendy Chin-Tanner
Great Debut... (6/2/2023)
4.5 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Flatiron Books for a chance to read this ARC. Publishes July 25, 2023.
This is a great debut novel by Wendy Chin Tanner. She based the story on her own father when he spent time in Carville, Louisiana. Carville has a federal institution there that quarantined people in the 1950's known to have Leprosy.
In the story Victor is sent to Carville. He made the long trip from China as a child, to live in the Bronx with his brother and father. As he assimilates to the States he comes down with Leprosy. His father sends him to Carville.
During his stay at Carville, Victor makes friends with an unforgettable cast of characters. He finds his first love, his first best friend, as all the while he is undergoing treatment for his disease. There is trust, betrayal, loss and tragedy. As he fights to get better and be released, the family he once had is slowly falling apart. His new found promising career is pulling him in one direction and his family in the other.
A great coming of age story, set in the 1950's, pulling a young Chinese immigrant in a number of ways as he tries to recover from a community shaming disease called Leprosy.
The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
Great Debut Book (4/23/2023)
I am usually leery of books that come from too many points of view and was therefore leery of this book. However I think the author did a great job in keeping the protagonists separated and involved in their own stories until the time to bring them all together.
You won't be able to put this book down. It has a number of things that I like in a book. It has short direct chapters that keep you turning pages. Magical realism, historically based in London, strong women and a good ending to name just a few of its attributes.
This is essentially the tale of four females struggling in a male dominated Victorian England to find their place in society. Great debut.
Power Reviewer
