The Frozen River

The Frozen River (2023) by Ariel Lawhon (2024 Goodreads Choice Nominee for Reader’s Favorite Historical Fiction) was a recent book group choice, and I’m so glad that it was. Although I love historical fiction, I might not have gotten to it as quickly if it hadn’t been a book group choice. And it has theContinue reading “The Frozen River”

While You Were Seething

While You Were Seething (publication day April 14, 2026) by Charlotte Stein is a cute, fat-positive, enemies-to-lovers hetero rom-com. The third book in a trio of standalones with some of the same characters (When Grumpy Met Sunshine, My Big Fat Fake Marriage), Seething features public relations professional Daisy Emmett and mega best-selling author Caleb Miller.Continue reading “While You Were Seething”

Cherry Baby

Cherry Baby (publication day April 14, 2026) is only the second Rainbow Rowell book I’ve read, and wow!! (I read her amazing historical YA romance Eleanor and Park ten years ago!) Cherry Baby is fat positive in the best ways, and though Cherry has to deal with anti-fat bias (as we all sadly do inContinue reading “Cherry Baby”

Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead

Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead (publication day April 14, 2026) by Mai Nguyen is a well-written, funny book about a subject that is the furthest thing from funny–getting through the loss of an infant. So be warned if you want to stay far away–I wouldn’t blame you for not feeling up to it. ButContinue reading “Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead”

Love By the Book

I was very much looking forward to the advance review copy of Love By the Book (publication day April 7. 2026) by Jessica George, as I loved her first book, Maame. I was not disappointed!! Remington (Remi) is a twentysomething writer, the daughter of a single mother by choice, and one of a group ofContinue reading “Love By the Book”

Second Chance Romance

Second Chance Romance (2025) by Olivia Dade is the second book in the Harlot’s Bay series, set in that small town along the coast of Maryland. It features the grumpy baker Karl from At First Spite, and the one that got away, his high school one and only friend, Molly. Molly is recently divorced, fromContinue reading “Second Chance Romance”

A Crushing Walk in Cornwall

A Crushing Walk in Cornwall (publication day March 31, 2026) by Nicholas George is the third book in a series written by Nicholas George that follows retired San Diego detective Rich Chasen, who goes by Chase. He loves to go on walking tours of different parts of England in his retirement, and this one isContinue reading “A Crushing Walk in Cornwall”

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)

Jesse Q. Sutanto has created an unforgettable (if sometimes annoying) character in Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023) and Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) (2025)! I so enjoyed the audiobooks, each narrated by Eunice Wong. Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Vera Wong is a widow, set in her ways ofContinue reading “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers and Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)”

Rears & Vices

Rears & Vices (publication day March 17, 2026), by E.M. Caro intrigued me immediately–a pirate story beginning on Lake Ontario in Canada? Set in 1816, Everard Anderson de Anglada is the captain of a British 10-gun schooner stationed in the Great Lakes Service, just after the War of 1812 has ended. His friend and formerContinue reading “Rears & Vices”

Westward Women

Westward Women (publication day March 10, 2026) by Alice Martin is completely unique–speculative fiction, but in an alternate history way. It’s 1973, and an epidemic has gripped the United States at the same time as news of Watergate has broken. Women ages 18-35 are gripped with an itch that’s impossible to satisfy–both internal and external.Continue reading “Westward Women”