And They Were Roommates

And They Were Roommates (Publication Day 5/27/25) is Page Powars’s second published book, and is set at the Saint Valentine’s Academy for Boys, an exclusive boarding school that promises that those who excel there have their pick of Ivies. Charlie is going as a scholarship student, the same as his Mom, who went to theContinue reading “And They Were Roommates”

Disappoint Me

I was charmed by Disappoint Me (publication day May 27, 2025), much more so than Nicola Dinan’s first book, Bellies. Max and Vincent are the two main characters. Max is a trans woman, a lawyer who analyzes contracts as an AI, and is in between boyfriends, bored by the queer London scene. She falls downContinue reading “Disappoint Me”

Project Hail Mary

I read Andy Weir’s first book, The Martian, years ago, but hadn’t read any others until my book group picked his 2021 Project Hail Mary. As the book opens, an unnamed man is awakening without knowing who or where he is, and he slowly realizes he is alone on a spaceship, the medical robot havingContinue reading “Project Hail Mary”

The History of a Difficult Child

The History of a Difficult Child (2023) is Mihret Sibhat’s first novel, and I wish there had been more buzz about it, as it is so inventive and original, and the primary character–the “difficult child” Selam Asmelash–has such a strong voice! Sibhat uses multiple perspectives to tell Selam’s story, beginning before her birth to DegituContinue reading “The History of a Difficult Child”

Get Real, Chloe Torres

Get Real, Chloe Torres (publication day May 13, 2025) by Crystal Maldonado is young adult chick lit of the finest kind–it centers on rekindling an old friendship, through a cross-country road trip and boy-band fandom! Newly-graduated Chloe is working at her summer job as a non-Disney princess at little-kid birthday parties, when she realizes thatContinue reading “Get Real, Chloe Torres”

The Language of the Birds

I really enjoyed The Language of the Birds (publication day May 13, 2025) by K.A. Merson, which is a young adult thriller/ mystery that features a neurodivergent, 17-year old main character named Arizona and her dog Mojo. As I read it, I was somewhat reminded of the middle-grade mysteries Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, andContinue reading “The Language of the Birds”

Detective Aunty

Detective Aunty (publication day May 6, 2025) by Uzma Jalaluddin is a satisfying cozy mystery featuring the widowed Kausar Khan, who is called back to Toronto, from her home in North Bay, Ontario, by her adult daughter who is a suspect in a murder. Kausar and her late husband, Hassan, had fled Toronto fifteen yearsContinue reading “Detective Aunty”

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet

The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet (publication day April 29, 2025) by Lindz McLeod is for Austen fans that wanted a better ending for Elizabeth’s best friend Charlotte than being married to the pompous Mr. Collins. As the book opens, Mr. Collins has just passed, and Charlotte is faced with having to figure out herContinue reading “The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet”

All the Sinners Bleed

All the Sinners Bleed (2023) by Anthony award-winning S.A. Cosby was a gripping, frightening mystery/ thriller set in rural, coastal Virginia featuring former FBI agent, and the county’s first Black sheriff, Titus Crown. Racial tensions are coming to a head, with local white people wanting to parade in support of a Confederate statue and TitusContinue reading “All the Sinners Bleed”

The Queen Bees of Tybee County

I loved The Queen Bees of Tybee County (publication date April 15, 2025) by Kyle Casey Chu! I loved meeting Derrick Chan, his best friend JJ, grandmother Claudia, and the new friends he meets in Heritage, Georgia. As the book open, 7th grader Derrick is playing in the championship basketball game as a point guard,Continue reading “The Queen Bees of Tybee County”