The Society of Shame follows Kathleen, the wife of a politician who is photographed on one of the worst days of her life. Not only has she bled through her pants on her period, her garage is on fire, and she just caught her husband cheating. Things could hardly get worse, until she goes viral. Kathleen is thrust to the front of a campaign called #YesWeBleed and must decide what to do with her newfound fame. Will she forgive her husband? How will this affect their daughter? Kathleen must decide how she will use the social media power she’s stumbled into. 

The Society of Shame was a quick read for me. The writing doesn’t pull any punches. Roper has a talent for sarcasm and irony. However, I didn’t feel much of a connection to Kathleen (nor am I sure that I was supposed to). At times, the bitterness didn’t quite click with my sense of humor, but I think other readers will love it. I enjoyed Kathleen’s relationship with her daughter Aggie. The Society of Shame was such a unique idea and curated a very interesting collection of people. 

This seems like it would be a great book club book, as there is so much to discuss and think about. Roper raises important points about period stigma, the dual-sided nature of social media, and who we choose to be our heroes. Readers who enjoy sharp satire will devour this book.

Thank you to Jane Roper and Anchor Books for a free book in exchange for an honest review. 

The Paris Mystery is the story of Australian writer Charlie James. Charlie is a newspaper writer who left Australia after discovering that her husband cheated on her. Charlie is determined to make a new start in Paris. Charlie works hard to meet the local celebrity figures and secures invites to events. Until one night, a murder occurs at the party and Charlie is thrust into a fast-paced investigation. Every newspaper wants the scoop and Charlie will have to use all her skills to try and uncover who the murderer was in time to beat the other newspapers and solve the case. 

The Paris Mystery is a lighthearted mystery that was very enjoyable. Charlie is a likable and smart heroine. The descriptions were beautiful, readers will definitely feel that they are racing around Paris with Charlie to uncover the clues. Manning captures the time period well, with lots of details that historical fiction fans will love. However, the dialogue was straightforward and at times repetitive (“Understood.”). Since Manning’s writing has an almost sepia feel to it, it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment too much. I particularly liked the twist on the answer to the mystery. I look forward to seeing what happens next to Charlie in Paris! 

Thank you to Kirsty Manning and Vintage Books for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

On the Plus Side is Jenny L. Howe’s latest adult romance. Everly loves her favorite tv show, On the Plus Side, which is a plus-size makeover show that empowers and uplifts contestants. When she is nominated, Everly is shocked and her life changes overnight. Logan is the cameraman assigned to follow Everly around and capture every moment of her transformation. Logan is famous for his grumpy personality and Everly can’t resist trying to make him smile. As Logan and Everly grow closer, Everly starts to wonder about the romantic energy between them. With a showrunner who is focused on ratings, will Everly be able to explore their connection? 

On the Plus Side is impossible to put down! I enjoyed Howe’s debut, but I loved this book even more. Howe’s writing is witty and filled with clever references. Everly is a very relatable character and I loved watching her find self-confidence and growth as the show went on. Everly is an activist for body positivity, but needs to learn to apply what she preaches to herself. I especially related to her strong relationship with her grandma and how that loss impacted her. 

The show’s hosts feel like real people who you’d want to hang out with and receive advice from. Logan and Everly have excellent chemistry and lots of stolen romantic moments as the show films. Logan’s love of dogs was adorable and I loved his business idea. The pacing is excellent. The tension with James and the showrunner are incorporated well, but never steal the joy and happiness of the book. 

 On the Plus Side was a delightful treat! Readers who love the grump/sunshine trope, make-over shows with a positive outlook (like Queer Eye), and lovable characters will enjoy this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what Jenny L. Howe writes next! Readers who enjoyed The Charm Offensive (Alison Cochrun), Spoiler Alert (Olivia Dade), and Talia Hibbert should check out On the Plus Side. 

Thank you so much to Jenny L. Howe, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

Samwise Becker only wants to save his team’s jobs when he is summoned to London by his austere boss, Jonathan Frost. Selling bed and bath sets has never been his dream, but he feels connected to his team and wants to fight for them. A tour of the sales floor goes horribly wrong and Sam ends up with a concussion. When his boss mistakenly assumes he has amnesia, Sam suddenly finds himself living with his boss. Is fake amnesia the best way to save his team from being cut? Is Jonathan Frost as cold as he seems? Sam is about to find out…

Alexis Hall is such a hilarious writer and I find myself highlighting paragraphs of witty banter. Hall’s sense of humor is so detailed and smart, he really incorporates some form of comedy in every line of dialogue. I loved how Hall uses forced proximity to create extremely amusing situations that end up leading to deeper character growth. Sam has the best intentions, which only makes it funnier when things get more and more absurd. I also loved his cat, Gollum! Sam and Jonathan embody the classic grump/sunshine dynamic and I really enjoyed how they got to know each other better. As they learn more about each other, Hall also manages to weave in complicated family dynamics and grief. 

Readers who love a grump/sunshine dynamic, LGBTQ+ romance, and hilarious writing will love this book! I can’t wait to read more from Alexis Hall. 

Thank you so much to Alexis Hall, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

When Elisheva receives a scholarship to study at a prestigious art program in New York, she is horrified to realize that her professor is someone she’s already met. Last night, in fact, at a queer club. Ely is an artist and recovering addict. Her religious past in Crown Heights haunts her as she works to create art that tells her story. Wyatt Cole is a trans art professor who understands Ely’s struggle- he’s ten years sober. Can Wyatt and Ely pursue their connection or is a one night stand all they’ll share? 

A Shot in the Dark is such a beautiful and intricate book. Victoria Lee tells the story of a passionate romance between two imperfect people, both of whom are trying to be better. They cover the relationship between queerness and religion (and how they coexist), addiction and sobriety, and the power of family (biological and found). Ely and Wyatt have complicated relationships with their families. There are no easy answers, but I liked how Ely and Wyatt ultimately experienced realistic growth and some form of closure. 

Wyatt and Ely are such a lovely pairing- they share so much in common and also bring out the best in each other. The LGBTQ+ rep was excellent and thoughtful. Wyatt is trans and Ely is pan, and I related to how Ely wasn’t as concerned with labels and instead focused on the individual person. I was interested in how Lee showed the intersection of religion and queerness. Ely finds a form of Judaism that accepts her for who she is, providing hope and community. A Shot in the Dark offers plenty of reflection and shows the characters’ experiences in sobriety and staying clean. I liked how Wyatt helps Ely learn that there is no one right way to be sober. Victoria Lee has incredible range in writing and I can’t wait to see what they write next!

A Shot in the Dark is a beautiful, heartfelt, and emotional book. I would highly recommend it to anyone!  Readers who enjoy forbidden romance, LGBTQ+ romance, and found family will love A Shot in the Dark. 

Thank you so much to Victoria Lee, Ballantine, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

June Farrow knows that she and all the women in her family are cursed. Sooner or later, a sickness comes for them that steals their memories and gives them visions. None of the Farrow women have ever escaped this fate. When June starts experiencing “episodes” sooner than she hoped, she tries to research the curse. One day, she decides to follow a vision and slips through a mysterious red door. The door transports her to the 1950s, where she finds a family she doesn't remember that has been torn apart without her. Secrets unravel, the curse is put to the test, and a dark mystery haunts the town… 

Adrienne Young is an auto-buy author for me! I’m pretty sure she could be describing her grocery list and I would be interested. The Unmaking of June Farrow is Adrienne Young’s second adult book. One of my favorite things about Adrienne Young’s writing is how vivid it is. I felt like I could see the red door and flower farm so clearly in my mind. She always makes sure to describe all the senses and creates an immersive experience. June is a relatable and strong heroine who it was easy to feel invested in. I loved how powerful women are portrayed and how they work the magic that allows them and their families to stay safe. 

The Unmaking of June Farrow is compelling and very hard to put down after a certain point. Adrienne Young effectively ties together time travel and how the choices we make have an impact. June’s story is one with undertones of grief and loss. I loved how June reflects that the world must keep on spinning even after what feels like an unfathomable loss. While not  your typical romance (for many reasons), Eamon and June had a palpable and sharp-edged energy between them that was difficult to look away from.   

Adrienne Young has a magical ability to completely sweep readers away. I would recommend The Unmaking of June Farrow to readers who love atmospheric mysteries, compelling characters, and immersive prose. I can’t wait to read what Adrienne Young writes next! 

Thank you so much to Adrienne Young, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.