⚠️cw: sexual assault, racism, forced institutionalization of a minor

In 1972 when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a Black deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe. As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive.

What a beautiful book! McBride is so talented at his craft and the book was so well written. I loved all of the characters and McBride really did an amazing job at creating so many diverse people. I loved all of the subplots going on in the background and how they ultimately converged. Coming from a Jewish family myself, I found the depiction of the Jewish community beautiful and Chona’s character was my absolute favorite. Her kind heart and justice-seeking attitude made her the absolute best. There were some more sinister subject matters so check trigger warnings, but overall the story was so heartwarming and I loved seeing how people of various races and ethnicities who were marginalized by the white society they lived in were able to band together and find common ground over their shared love of Dodo and Chona. Definitely recommend this one!

Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond the constructs of morality.

This dark academia novel set in New England was the perfect autumn read. The book was the perfect blend of an intellectual work and a psychological thriller. I loved The Goldfinch by Tartt and was glad that her beautiful writing and story-telling abilities also shone through in this book. The Secret History contained many literary allusions to Greek and Classic works, which really helped set the novel’s tone and allowed the novel to almost read as a modern day Greek tragedy. The pace was a bit slow, the book was filled with suspense so I was never bored. The lyrical writing balanced out the slowness of the plot and really commanded the narrative. The characters were complex, thinking themselves living a life full of poetry and meaning but in reality the came off as misguided, insufferable know it alls. Nonetheless, they were still relatable in a way as they searched for meaning and beauty in life (albeit it in the absolute worst and wrongest way). This was a beautifully haunting and unique story that will stay with me for a while!

The day Scarlett dies would have been one of the most important of her life. And now, she's still here, stuck somewhere in the in between, watching the ripple effect of her death on the lives of those she loved the most. Evie, Scarlett’s lifelong best friend and flatmate, cannot contemplate her life without Scarlett, and she certainly cannot forgive Nate, the man she blames for her best friend's death. But Nate keeps popping up when she least expects him to, catapulting Evie's life in directions she'd never let herself imagine possible.

Thank you so much to @netgalley, @beckyhunterbooks, and @readforeverpub for the ARC! This book was so heartfelt and emotional and definitely had me tearing up a few times! The book tackled themes of grief, love, friendship, and sacrifice in a really beautiful and heart wrenching way. For all its more heavy topics and somber moments, the story was also so uplifting and made me smile as I read it, and I really appreciated the way Hunter was able to capture all the different human emotions and bring them together in a touching tale of grief, growth, and friendship. Astrid’s character was particularly light and inspiring and I really loved her relationship with Evie and how they helped each other in different ways.  I loved the dual narrative of Scarlett and Evie and throughly both of their characters were very well developed. This was an emotional beautiful book that I definitely recommend! Out in the UK now, One Moment hits US shelves in March!

In 1977, the anti-shah protests at Tehran University are intensifying. But Amineh is not like her peers who want a say in the future of their country. Her thoughts are instead on the beautiful literature of another era and her past of rose harvests and Rumi poetry evenings under the desert sky. A chance encounter with Farzad, an opposition leader and nuclear disarmament activist, will thrust her into a life she didn’t ask for and didn’t want. But maybe Amineh has been looking at her life all wrong, and maybe what she seeks lies ahead of her. Spanning Iran’s upheaval and over twenty five years of work towards nuclear disarmament, Half a Cup of Sand and Sky is a portrait of one woman’s search for love and belonging cast against a nuanced backdrop of political turmoil.

Thank you so much to @netgalley, @nadine.bjursten, and @alderhousebooks for the ARC! This was a beautiful and moving story and I really enjoyed it! I learned a lot about Iran’s history through this book, and also loved how poetry was intertwined. This book was very character driven and each character was so well developed, even though Amineh was the only narrator for the vast majority of the books I loved Amineh in particular for her silent strength and resilience. The story was so moving and deeply explored themes of love, grief, guilt, and wanting to leave the world a better and safer place. Half a Cup of Sand and Sky is available now!

⚠️ cw: murder, mental health issues, self-mutilation

One evening when her husband Gabriel returns home late, Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word. Alicia’s refusal to talk turns a domestic tragedy into a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations and a search for the truth that threatens to consume him.

Girlie pop book club book for this month! This was a super quick read for me and I read it in two nights. The story was fast paced and kept me turning the pages to get to the bottom of what happened, and I loved the plot twist at the end! I loved the symbolism of snow throughout the novel as the unattainable fleetingness of joy and happiness for Theo. Themes of empathy and boundary setting for therapists and patients were also well explored, both in Theo’s relationship with his own therapist and his relationship with Alicia, and he straddles the fine line of empathizing with his patient’s mental state and embodying her emotions as he tried to understand her. I also really enjoyed how the novel took on destiny versus tragedy with how interwoven the Greek tragedy of Alcestis, and how the plot almost mirrored that of Alcestis with Theo almost becoming a tragic hero. I really enjoy the incorporation of Greek mythology in Michaelides’s works. This was a great thriller filled with twists and turns that also employed some great literary themes and devices. 

⚠️ cw: suicide, murder, death of a child, mental health issues, racism

After her friend's mysterious death is ruled a suicide, Elizabeth can’t shake the suspicion that her friend was actually murdered. As she spirals, her husband hires a personal assistant to keep her on track. Brianna is exactly who Elizabeth needs and soon, the assistant hired to distract Elizabeth from her obsession with her friend's death is the same person working with her to uncover the truth behind it. Because Brianna has questions too. She wants to know why a police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighborhood called the cops on him that day. Who took that first step that stole her child away from her. And the only way she’s going to be able to find out is to infiltrate Elizabeth’s life, where the answers to her questions lie.

Thank you so much @netgalley, @sarathekoffi, and @putnambooks for the ARC! This book was a page turner for sure and I couldn’t put it down so it was a quick read! The blurb described the book as a mix of Such a Fun Age and Parasite. I haven’t seen Parasite, but I totally got Such a Fun Age vibes, but as a more of a domestic thriller. The way the secrets and mysteries were unfolded as the plot progressed was masterful and kept me engaged throughout. I loved the dual point of view and thought that both Brianna and Elizabeth were such well developed characters. The dual point of view really allowed the reader to get in their heads and empathize with them, despite how crazy and unlikeable they each are. A great domestic thriller, While We Were Burning releases April 16!

⚠️ cw: murder, rape, assault, and graphic descriptions

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On a Saturday night in 1978, a soon-to-be-infamous murderer descends upon a Florida sorority house with deadly results. The lives of those who survive, including sorority president and key witness, Pamela Schumacher, are forever changed. Across the country, Tina Cannon is convinced her missing friend was targeted by the man papers refer to as the All-American Sex Killer—and that he’s the same man that struck Pamela’s sorority. Determined to find justice, the two join forces as their search for answers leads to a shocking confrontation.

Fall is the best time to read thrillers and I will not be convinced otherwise! This book grabbed me from the start and I could not put it down. The novel reads like true crime and is definitely inspired by real events. The story alternates between the 1970s when the murders occurred, and 2021 as Pamela reflects on what happened and uncovers new details. I really enjoyed the dual timelines, and also when Ruth’s voice was introduced. I also loved that The Defendant is never named, and we don’t learn who he is until the very end. The story is quite dark and graphic at times so definitely check trigger/content warnings if you’re interested in reading this one. I think a more detailed author’s note at the end would have added a lot of perspective as well, as I’m interested to learn more about the research that went into the book’s writing. A gripping and haunting read that will stay with me for a while, pick this up if your love thrillers or true crime!

American pop singer Jennie Jensen is ready to marry the love of her life, England's Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess—any way they can. As she’s learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol, Jennie finds that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess. When Jennie receives a threatening note, she can't help but see the parallels between herself and another young woman who struggled to adjust to royal life: Hugh's mother, Princess Penelope, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash. As the threats to Jennie grow more serious, she digs into Penelope's past, discovering a woman who also suspected someone in the palace was out to get her. Was Penelope murdered? And is Jennie next?

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! This book was a quick and engrossing read that lovers of the royal family will enjoy. I liked that the story alternated between Jennie in the present and Penelope in the past. This book reads almost like fan fiction of the actual royal family, and parallels between the novel’s characters and real life royals can be easily drawn. The story focuses more on the mystery of uncovering who is threatening Jennie and what happened to Penelope, and while I enjoyed that plot line I would have liked a little more development and background of Hugh and Jennie’s relationship. The ending felt a little rushed, especially in the final chapters, but wrapped up everything neatly. Overall this was a quick and fun read. The Royal Game hits shelves in January!

Rufus Leung Gresham, future Earl of Greshambury, has a problem: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted, and behind all the magazine covers, Instagram stories, manors, and yachts lies nothing more than a mountain of debt. The only solution, put forth by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a luxury resort and seduce a woman with money. But Rufus wishes to follow his heart (and in his mother’s eyes betray his family and squander his legacy) by confessing his love to the literal girl next door, the humble daughter of a doctor, Eden Tong. When a volcanic eruption burns through the nuptials and a hot mic exposes a secret tryst, the Gresham family plans—and their reputation—go up in flames. Can the once-great dukedom rise from the ashes? Or will a secret tragedy, hidden for decades, reveal a shocking twist?

Thank you to @netgalley, @doubledaybooks, and @kevinkwanbooks for the ARC! The author of the Crazy Rich Asian series (which I loved!) is back with an other juicy and hilarious tale of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Throw in a murder and a family secret kept buried for decades, and the result is a true page turner. Kwan has such a penchant for capturing the truly absurd and ostentatious lives of the one percent in such a hilarious manner, while also humanizing some of the more ridiculous characters. He does it so well in this book! I loved that the story took the reader all over the world. Eden and Rufus were such excellent characters, and being so grounded really balanced out the more overly lavish characters. Arabella was aggravating but so well written. And who else caught the little Kitty Pong cameo? The drama, lies, scandals, and secrets were so so good and I really enjoyed this book! Look for Lies and Weddings on shelves in May 2024!

Rose Perkins Bourdon returns home to Parsons, GA, without her husband and pregnant with another man’s baby. After tragedy strikes her husband in the war overseas, Rose is left with pieces of who she used to be and is forced to figure out what she is going to do with the rest of her life. Her sister introduces her to members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Feeling emotions for the first time since her husband’s passing, Rose becomes increasingly involved in the resistance efforts. Rose embarks on a path toward self-discovery and growth as she becomes involved in the Civil Rights Movement, finally becoming the woman she has always dreamed of being.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC! The audiobook performance of this book was great. The speaking was a little slow but I listened in 2.5x speed and it was perfect. The story itself was both heartbreaking and hopeful, and provided a lot of educational anecdotes about what Black people experienced living in the south during the Civil Rights Movement. The first 30% or so of the book was a bit slow for me and pretty much just involved laying the background and introducing all of the characters. I struggled a lot with Ruth’s character during this portion as she didn’t come across as very likable. The second half of the book was much more enjoyable to me as it delved into Rose and her community’s participation in the Civil Rights Movement and the hardships they suffered trying to bring equality to their small town. I really enjoyed this part of the book, so I think I would have rated this higher if the Civil Rights Movement was incorporated more into the first part of the book and if less time was spent with Rose dwelling on the consequences of her own actions and feeling sorry for herself. I really enjoyed all of  Rose’s family members and thought they were very well developed, despite not being the main focus. Overall this was an enjoyable and educational book!