Aphrodite in Pieces
by Lauren J. A. Bear
Beauty in Words (4/20/2026)
Aphrodite in Pieces came to life through gorgeous sentences and emotion. The lives of the Greek gods spilled forth with such ease it felt like a memoir. Aphrodite shared her story bit by bit, pulling the reader in and making us care about the women Aphrodite championed throughout the story. Bear took a unique angle on the goddess of love and beauty, and offered a glimpse at the kind of struggle women bear, even in the heavens. This was no simple story. It covered the gamut of a woman's experience with all its joys, triumphs, tragedies, frustrations, and humiliations. Throughout the story, Aphrodite approached life with a mixture of grit and compassion, heartbreak and hope. I loved this book and wanted it to continue after the last page. Bear is a talent and understands how to capture myths in a way that makes them relevant and wrenching. I can't wait to find another of her books.
The Young Will Remember
by Eve J. Chung
A Journey Home (3/5/2026)
This book revealed the conflict between the peoples of war and those running them. It spoke of family, home, and loyalty. It dove into the atrocities that happen during war and the devastating effects on the people who endure them. But it also offered hope in the continued fight for justice and for a final reckoning. This book will make you feel and rage and want to fight. It doesn't let go. It calls into question the concepts of right and wrong, us and them, and righteousness vs. compassion. It captured the women's experience of war particularly well, I think, and the reality of what that does to a nation.
Stay for a Spell
by Amy Coombe
A Fanciful Read (1/28/2026)
Stay for a Spell was a light escape from the world filled with fanciful characters, curses, and fairies. It was a coming of age novel cozy fantasy wrapped in a curse and set in a fairy tale. Tandy, the overworked princess, represented every working woman who wants to slow down and take it easy. Her internal monologue pulled me in. Sasha, the teenage draconae, was hilarious and full of teen angst. But it was Bash the Barn Pirate that stole the story. His penchant for theft (uh, exchange) was adorable. I do hope we will get a resolution to his curse in a future book. This was a charming, cozy story of a woman who is cursed to live in a bookshop...a dream so many of us would welcome, especially if it came with bluecaps.
Evelyn in Transit: A Novel
by David Guterson
One Stone at a Time (12/15/2025)
Evelyn in Transit takes you on a journey one vignette at a time. The book comprises short stories from the two main characters' lives, each short glimpse into their lives leading you to the ending. This is a contemplative book, filled with moments and ideas. I thoroughly enjoyed how it unfurled along the pages. It, like the core of the book, seemed rooted in the tenets of Buddhism. Meditative and thoughtful. Mindful and curious. It is a book to consider and observe, not fly through. There are moments of insight mixed in with the mundane. Each page like the stones Evelyn carries up the mountain.
This Book Made Me Think of You
by Libby Page
A Year of Books (11/5/2025)
This book pulled me in with its concept and characters. How I longed for a bookshop like Alfie's to lose myself in and order up a year of books of my own. The grief hit hard and was familiar to anyone who has experienced loss, but the hope and focus on life made the book a joy to read. I think it captured the recovery process well and offered a way out to those who are in mourning.
The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend
Botanist's Quest (7/14/2025)
The Botanist's Assistant takes you on a fact-based exploration of a death most dismiss as accidental or suicide. But Margaret Finch disagrees. She's quirky, intelligent, and ordered. She approaches the event as a scientific exploration, using the scientific method to guide her investigation aided by a former journalist. This was a fun procedural-style mystery set in a university. The plot unfolds like one of the flowers Margaret grows in her massive garden and studies in her lab. Each petal taking us closer to the resolution. It was a satisfying mystery that gives as many facts about botany as it does about the murder. I recommend for those who like their mysteries to follow logic and a methodical approach aided by distinct characters who make the journey enjoyable.
The Magician of Tiger Castle
by Louis Sachar
Tiger Tiger (4/8/2025)
The Magician Of Tiger Castle charmed me. I loved how real the characters were, even down to Luigi. The castle and events came to life on the page—the dusty roads, the hungry tiger, the politics of castle life. The story pulled me in with its twists and turns. It was great to see Louis Sachar tackling adult fantasy. Take a chance on it. You won't regret it.
The River Knows Your Name: A Novel
by Kelly Mustian
The River Knows (3/31/2025)
This book swept me away like the eponymous river that ran through its pages. Becca, Lottie, Nell, Evie, and the rest of the characters jumped off the page. I felt like I knew them by the end and shared their losses and regrets. This book made me feel, in the best way. I loathed Mildred. Felt for Hazel, Evie, and Nell. Ached for Becca. It started slow, but kept pushing me forward in by inch to understand what happened and how it would all play out in the end. I highly recommend this book.
Serial Killer Games
by Kate Posey
Mixed bag (1/14/2025)
While I ended up enjoying this book, the start of it felt like setup, setup, setup with no real payoff. Then halfway through, the story took a decided turn and became something else far more interesting. This was at heart a character-driven story, not a mystery as the title suggests (though there were aspects of that genre and true crime mentioned throughout). The characters were well written and deep. I loved their conversations and twisted sense of humor. Overall, I ended up liking the book, but it took a bit and it wasn't what I expected from the title and blurb.
Three Days in June: A Novel
by Anne Tyler
Three Cheers for Three Days in June (12/11/2024)
Anne Tyler does it again. This spare novel reveals deep characters with flaws and depth. In just three days, Tyler reveals the most important parts of their lives. The struggles, regrets, pivots, moments of forgiveness, and hope. It has it all. Tyler, known for her attention to detail and ability to make the mundane compelling, is at the top of her form. Three Days in June gives us a glimpse into a woman's life on the eve of her daughter's wedding and on the edge of her own happiness.
Beast of the North Woods: Monster Hunter Mysteries #3
by Annelise Ryan
Not so Beastly (11/7/2024)
This was a fun cozy mystery sprinkled with cryptids and other creatures. As the third in the series, it would have helped to have read the first two. Some of the character references and relationships would have had more depth and context. But I had fun reading the book. It had action, suspense and I loved the dog. It was what you would expect of a cozy mystery--character-focused, somewhat simple mystery, some intrigue, a resolution, and a small relationship cliffhanger to keep you going in the series. A fun read. I do recommend it.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
Atmospheric Novel (1/4/2024)
Cleeton weaves an atmospheric, gothic novel in The House on Biscayne Bay. While the start was a tad slow for me, once I got to the dual timeline it took off. I was engaged and intrigued to see where the mystery would lead. Marbrisa came alive with its gardens, animals, and tension. Nothing was as it appeared. Everyone in the cast of characters was suspect. This was a well-developed historic thriller.
The Stone Home: A Novel
by Crystal Hana Kim
Sad Historical Story (12/4/2023)
The Stone Home wrenches the heart all the more for the truth behind the story. Eunju and Sangchul (and all the other characters) represent so many women and children who were torn from the streets of Korean and interned in homes that were little more than prisons and death camps. It was a heartbreaking read that flowed effortlessly, dragging the reader along for every insult and injury. Crystal Hana Kim captured the range of emotions for each character in a stunning way.
This Is Salvaged: Stories
by Vauhini Vara
A Collection of Loneliness and Loss (8/29/2023)
This is Salvaged captured the essence of grief, loss and loneliness. Each story had its own voice, perspective and cast of well-drawn characters. Each was a world of its own. Some worlds I connected with more than others, but they all succeeded in saying something unique about loss. Overall, the collection worked. The writing shone. But ultimately, I didn't connect with it as much as I had hoped. I appreciated the craft and quality of the writing, and enjoyed some of the stories. The others were a miss for me, despite the quality of the writing. But that is the risk of a short story collection.
The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
Angelic Tale of Strength (4/5/2023)
The Gifts reveals the heart of five women caught by circumstances beyond their control. Three are transformed. One is broken. Another finds the truth. Each of the women must face her own path and purpose. Ultimately this is a book about strength and courage. The courage to face life as it happens and to forge your own path using the gifts you have been given. These women use their wings, art, and curiosity as their guides. I loved it. It was both fanciful and realistic. Sad but hopeful. Caged and empowered. Everything you want in a story.
Zig-Zag Boy: A Memoir of Madness and Motherhood
by Tanya Frank
All too familiar (2/26/2023)
This is a heartbreaking tale of a mother's journey into caring for a child who has lost touch with reality. It brought back so many emotions of staring down the same path with my son. Frank found a way to move forward despite the chaos and fear. I applaud her bravery and honesty in this book. It is a beautiful tale for those of us on a similar path. More mothers need to claim their stories and struggles.
The Empire of Dirt: A Novel
by Francesca Manfredi
Beautiful Writing, Lacking Story (7/11/2022)
This book contains some beautiful sentences, but the story didn't hold together for me. It tended to wander and try to pursue too many points, none of which fully satisfied. The story of the three generations of women in a small Italian town living in a broken down house in the 1990s was a compelling premise, particularly with a "family curse" mentioned at the start. But that curse was never fully realized and the ending left a lot to be desired. I was hoping for more.
Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer
More Than a Romance (3/31/2022)
This romance is about more than just falling in love. It tells the story of two flawed people driven by their past and ambition. Pitted against each other, they find redemption in the truth and in acceptance. I quite enjoyed the book and will look for more by this author. Her story and characters pulled me in and kept me turning pages.
Fencing with the King: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber
Fencing with the Truth (12/31/2021)
This book will transport you to the desert and sing to you of times past. It was written so well it practically had sand in its pages. A beautiful story of a woman finding herself while facing hidden truths about herself, her family and their secrets. I missed Jordan after turning the last page. Wonderful book. I highly recommend it.
Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint
The Life of Ariadne (5/13/2021)
This retelling of Ariadne's life is stunning. The language pulled me in despite knowing how the story ends. Jennifer Saint brought Greek mythology to life. Her descriptions, characters and tragedies resonated with me. I felt for Ariadne, her sister, Dionysus and enjoyed the journey from liking to disliking Theseus. Saint made it read like a true story with consequences and heartache for the characters. This is the way to connect or reconnect with mythology and our own humanity. A great read.
