Somebody Worth Killing
by Jessica Payne
abrupt ending . (5/5/2026)
I was disappointed in Somebody Worth Killing. Interesting premise of a female assassin who only kills "bad" people, although it really seemed unlikely to me that a true psychopath could form the emotional attachments that Nadia has with her family. I felt the ending of the book was very abrupt and it caught me off guard. I understand that the author is setting up the stage for a sequel, but it just seemed clumsy. I tend to like bad-ass women characters so I wasn't happy to not feel attached to the character.
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
eye opening (3/22/2026)
I love it when fiction also presents overlooked historical events. Although I was aware that there were towns established by former slaves after the end of the Civil War, I had no knowledge of places like the kingdom of Happy Land. You know a book is holding your interest when you have to curb your need to look at the last pages. I found the characters to be believable and I loved the way the book moved from present day back to the Civil War era. And I liked that both present and past were equally compelling.
The Jellyfish Problem
by Tessa Yang
How to fall in love with a jellyfish (3/18/2026)
I really enjoyed The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang. I have noticed an uptick in novels about exotic creatures of the deep since the documentary My Octopus Teacher was released, and this one does not disappoint. Grief, loss, folklore, science and new beginnings all weave together to form one of those books that will resonate for a long time. I became invested in the characters and I especially liked the growth that we see in the main character Jo Ness. I will definitely be looking for more from this author,
Fireflies in Winter
by Eleanor Shearer
Illuminating (2/2/2026)
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction and in strong women protagonists. I was unaware of the history of the Jamaican maroons who came to Nova Scotia, so I found it very illuminating. There were moment that I found truly powerful and I thought it was well written and it certainly held my attention. I definitely could see this being turned into a movie or Netflix series.
