My true love gave to me a signed edition of this book for Chanumas this year. One of my favorite pages is the New Year's Resolution—a philosophy I embrace and heartily recommend to others! Happy New Year to all! [I carried over my rating from the original reading earlier in the year.]

This is twisty heist action for the teen set. I don't appreciate—but completely understand—the cliffhanger ending. Rights were sold for two books, though the second doesn't seem to have a title or publication date yet.

Need a quick read? This is trippy and dryly/darkly funny.

This was mostly lighthearted/fun, despite understandable teen angst. It fit well in my light holiday reading lineup.

I liked Nina in her work persona, along with supporting characters of Nina's father, best friend(s), and baby-daddy.

Bahni Turpin narrates.

I liked this (third) series installment more than the first, but not by a landslide. I haven't read the second book.

Tiny annoyance (falling short of qualifying as “the bad”): For a short book, there's a surprising amount of unnecessary repetition. The biggest offense may be excessive description of clothing. I'm not talking about accounts of outfits that support the storyline—of which there are some—but of repeated description of the casual bakery uniform, including the color of their shirts. We get it—they have matching shirts for their family business.

The indifferent: There were a couple of potential romantic partners in book one, both of whom are still around in book three. Lindsay is brutally clear to one that she doesn't like or trust him. Unfortunately, there is next to no heat generated between Lindsay and the other man, despite hints of mutual attraction. If you're looking for Stephanie Plum– or Finlay Donovan–level heat, you won't find it here. Maybe the slow burn is part of the series strategy . . . or maybe it's just not of interest to the author, which is fine, too.

The good: As expected from a series centering on a family business in a close-knit ethnic neighborhood, there is a strong sense of family and community. Camille wanted proceeds from the band's CD to go to a local cause. Lyndsay’s brother is torn between returning to his law firm and staying with the family bakery beyond the initial need for which he took a break from his law practice. We learn more about the grandmother's history, including the reason for her estrangement from a close friend. These were the most interesting parts of the story, though they have nothing to do with the mystery. Also as expected from a food-themed cozy series, there are recipes at the end.

If you are looking for a very light cozy mystery, this might suit you. I'm not disappointed that I read it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected December 26.

In a way, this graphic poem was crowdsourced into a really cool project in support of refugees. I especially enjoyed the fact that each spread was illustrated by a different artist.

Schooled is a funny treatment of real issues, including equity and access, outdated societal gender roles, family dynamics, and social isolation. There is nice friendship development.

Content warnings include infidelity and gaslighting.

As is customary for the Reacher series, the level of violence is high. There are a couple of fairly satisfying twists.

In case you haven't already prepared yourself based on the publisher's reference to Planes, Trains and Automobiles, get ready to suspend your disbelief. This farcical second-chance romance taking place on a journey from New York City to Chicago just before Christmas was just as I anticipated—mostly light and fun.

Why in the world, you might ask yourself, would a romance genre–resistant, non–Christmas celebrator request to read such a book . . . and rate it well, to boot? Here's my bizarre little secret: I have an inexplicable affection for Hallmark/Hallmark-like Christmas movies and, apparently, their book cousins. I'm at least as surprised as you! In recent years, I've given up resisting. They've become a favorite form of seasonal stress-relief packed with plenty of schmaltz and silliness.

Emergency Contact includes a strong dose of snark; plenty of humor; and a bunch of fun side characters, including coworkers, medical personnel, Tom's family, and strangers met along the journey. [My favorite might be the trucker.] Katherine is not terribly likeable, which is a bummer. Somehow, the story still works.

I enjoyed Brianna Cohen's and Tim Paige's narration of the audiobook. The publisher's suggestion of the book being right for fans of Sophie Kinsella's seems accurate to me—I'm reading Kinsella's latest as of the day I'm writing this review (a week after finishing this book).

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing—Audiobooks, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. It was published October 24.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I requested this book. I wasn't terribly concerned that I haven't read Legends & Lattes, as this is the prequel to that. I repeatedly read reviews of Legends & Lattes, that characterized it as “a warm hug.” And what is a “cozy fantasy?” I wondered. Is that a thing? Well, let's examine. . . .

Given the information with which I started this adventure, the book's opening struck me as surprisingly violent. There are bursts of battle violence on and off throughout the story. Profanity is abundant, and steamy romance book passages are read (from books within the book). Alcohol is consumed to excess. So, (at least this particular) cozy fantasy probably is not recommended for children [as always, you choose what's right for your family] or sensitive readers of any age.

For all the violence and profanity, though, the main theme seems to be caring relationships, both platonic and romantic. These relationships earn a ratings bump.

Other themes include cooperation, social responsibility, consideration, the importance of reading (and finding the books that are right for you/reader advisory services), and inclusivity—characters include quite a variety of fantasy creatures: orcs, dwarves, elves, goblins, ratkin (wererats—today I learned), and the like. The seaside town in which the story takes place has small businesses—pub/inn, bookshop (obviously), and bakery among them—and the owners of each play significant parts in the story. Character development is fairly good and I became invested in the what happened to the characters. In addition to the fantastical beings, there are magical objects, including grimoire and bonedust.

I wasn't as enthralled by the story as I had hoped, but I do genuinely wish to read the next (published first) book. I don't know whether most fantasy lovers will like this book, or if they might feel the same kind of mild disappointment that some traditional mystery lovers feel about cozy mysteries. If you aren't put off by the qualifiers I opened with, and if you're game for a mostly light read, why not give this a try?

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC, which is narrated by the author, of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected November 7.

This children's picture book is hilarious and informative. I found it surprisingly challenging. Each answer page shares interesting facts about the animal, including where they live, how they protect themselves, what they eat, and so on. Definitely read this to your littles, if you have any, but(t) go ahead and read it to yourself even if you don't have—or can't borrow—littles with whom to share. Don't miss the author's note about the inspiration for the book.

You may remember that I've read several each of David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter and K-9 series. I typically find both series enjoyable but not extraordinary. This one delivers more from the moment it starts. It's funny and there are good plot connections, less repetition (not none—this time the shtick revolves around Andy's son's food and activity preferences), and a tidy end. 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas is 28th in the Carpenter series.

I lamented in my June review for Flop Dead Gorgeous (book 27) that there weren't enough appearances by Marcus, who provides the muscle for Andy's team. I don't know if I had any influence, but I was rewarded with more Marcus in this installment. Thank you, Mr. Rosenfelt!

While the story takes place at Christmas time, it really has little to do with it, though Andy delivers a hilarious inner monologue relating to gross holiday foods and drinks. As in other installments, enough background information is shared that this book can stand on its own.

Narrator Grover Gardner is clearly beloved by many as the series narrator. He might be growing on me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected October 10.

This creepy gothic horror is arriving just in time for spooky season. I'm guessing it will appeal to those who celebrate. As expected, it's overwhelmingly dark, but there are occasional patches of light and humor. It hooked me quickly, kept me on the line with a slow burn, and escalated considerably toward the end. I'm not into hardcore horror, generally—you can use that as a gauge when I say that it's not super-scary.

Relationships abound, notably between Opal and her brother, the owner of the motel in which they live, the local librarian, and Arthur Starling, along with a few highly adversarial and more marginal relationships.

There is some social commentary—historical to the present—including women's rights (or, rather, lack thereof, especially in terms of personal agency and rights to property), racial/civil rights, and environmental issues. I liked these threads, which are pretty low-key and well-integrated.

I jumped at the chance to read this in advance, having had good experiences with Harrow's Fractured Fables (preferring the first over the second). I bought two of her backlist novels when I was burning my remaining Audible credits the day before their expiration, so I'm looking forward to those, as well.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected October 3. That's only three weeks away, so act quickly, folks! [Sadly, publication date was erroneous by the better part of a month on NetGalley. I would have read it and alerted you sooner if I had been better informed.]

It's quite an accomplishment to tell a complete story in 40-ish pages, especially when it's an important story. In this slender picture book, the author/subject, coauthor, and illustrator show what one can achieve with effort, dedication, and strong familial and team support. I especially liked the discussion questions and the brief overview following the illustrated story. There are additional sources provided for those who want to learn more about Abdul-Qaadir's story.

I am thrilled to have discovered this book collection encouraging young readers to become caring, thoughtful, and engaged global citizens. It's never too soon to build social consciousness and civic responsibility.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kids Can Press, for the e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected September 5.

I was drawn in by the publisher's blurb/premise and the interesting and descriptive language, especially very early in the book. It started out strong, but fizzled pretty quickly. Some of the flashbacks to Sister Holiday's band days seemed extraneous to the story, overall. The story's New Orleans setting added some interest.

Content warnings include arson; murder; sexual assault and abuse of minors, including incest and gang rape; smoking; drinking; profanity; and various viewpoints on Catholicism, including its practice and administration.

Mara Wilson narrated—yes, that Mara Wilson: actor in Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and more.

This did bear some resemblance to The Devil Wears Prada (as promised), but not to as good an effect. It reminded me, in some ways, of The Circle, as well. Maybe I just don't have patience for stories about influencers. The company seemed cultish to me—its employees considered it “a movement.” I guess there's no maybe about it—I've never understood how most of these “influencers” gain, much less deserve, such a following.

Good Bad Girl is Feeney's sixth novel. My only previous exposure to her was last year's (2022) Daisy Darker.

This story is told from multiple points of view and in multiple timelines. Unfortunately, this made the story hard to follow at times, especially in the beginning. I started taking notes about family trees and major events pretty early in the game. The narrative was repetitive not only because of instances of the same scene being told by multiple characters, but even the same character recalling certain events multiple times. It became tedious. Some chapters make clear which character is speaking; others are labeled by timeline. While this was necessary to string us along, there is a fine line between creating tension and annoying the reader by overestimating their tolerance for stretching misdirection. I believe that telling a story across multiple timelines can be done well—sadly, I neither think it's the rule or that success was achieved in this case, with one notable exception.

There were, of course, red herrings.

Ultimately, the character connections are a bit far-fetched, but I couldn't help but enjoy them.

There is no way to significantly discuss the book without spoilers, so you'll just have to read it yourself. If you are a mystery/thriller fan and you're willing to relax and go with the flow, this is a solidly entertaining story.

The audiobook is quite well–narrated by Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 29.

This is the third installment in the Detective Matthew Venn series. While I did not read the first two, I didn't feel at all lost. Cleeves also authored the Vera and Shetland series, both of which have been adapted to television.

There's so much going on in the story, with an entire town to meet, question, and assess.

I wasn't a fan of Venn's husband or their relationship—the writing about it seemed awkward. Perhaps one of the earlier installments included greater presence of the husband and he just wasn't meant to be a strong participant in this one. Or, perhaps they just don't have a good relationship. In any event, I didn't feel like the husband's presence in the story added value.

The narrative was not stunning or particularly compelling. Overall, the storytelling might be categorized as serviceable, and yet I was fairly satisfied with how the pieces fell into place by the end.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected September 5.

I lost a ton of notes in a weird technical glitch, including several points to which I wanted to return and examine more closely in the print edition. So, I'll have to work from my thoughts reconstructed from memory immediately after finishing the audiobook.

Amazing Grace Adams was compared with several high-profile, wildly popular novels of the last just over a decade. I didn't feel that it compared well with any of them. [For what it's worth, I read all of the books to which I've seen it compared on several bookish sites. Three of those books, I rated 4 stars; one I rated 2 stars.]

Littlewood tries to cram too many stories into her debut novel. Not all the bad things have to happen to this one person/family, especially not in a single book. I won't list the topics by name for fear of spoiling the book, but I counted no fewer than eight distinct items off the top of my head.

I didn't feel warmly toward any of the characters. I wasn't rooting for Grace.

The chapters are too short and there's too much jumping around in the timeline. It's disjointed.

Most of the book was just an incredible downer. There was little-to-no comic relief. It wasn't enough for me that there was a sliver of hope for Grace by the end of the book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, too, to Henry Holt & Co. via Goodreads for the print ARC. Publication is expected September 5.

This mystery story is told from the points of view of a librarian, a cat, and an ascending middle-grader. It includes ghosts and talking animals (only understandable to each other). Multigenerational relationships abound between friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family. I was so totally engaged that I didn't want to stop reading. The ending was wonderful. This book is perfect to share with tween readers in your life, of course, as well as book, library, and mystery lovers of all ages who enjoy a nonviolent, not scary, slightly magical tale.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 29.

Two books before this made it to the top of my queue, I read a women-in-STEM–themed romance that didn't live up to my expectations based on reviews from my bookish friends, in part because I was disappointed in the lack of maturity of the female main character. [I will definitely get that book's publication data and my rating posted on my blog eventually, but am leaning against actually reviewing it.]

In Unnecessary Drama, by contrast, Brooke seems appropriately immature and insecure as she enters university and finds herself sharing a house with two others, including an estranged childhood friend, Jesse (given name Jeremy).

The book's humor ranges from lightly snarky to laugh-out-loud funny. Particularly funny to me was Brooke's internal monologue—as well as subsequent dialogue—as a fake dating scenario suddenly takes shape at a bar where Brooke and friends run into her ex, who broke up with her for another girl. My partner—who only recently has been seeking and enjoying my fiction recommendations—even snickered at the snippet I read to him.

This generally lighthearted YA romance includes LGBTQ representation. A note for people for whom the following is a sensitive topic: it also includes some family strife in the form of parental abandonment/lack of physical and emotional involvement and support.

Of course, I won't be spoiling anything by confirming that there are happily-ever-afters, or at least happily-for-right-nows.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 8.

When I requested this ARC, I didn't put together that Heather Webber is the author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café, which I have been thinking lately (and often) of rereading. That is, I requested this new book based on its description alone—on its own merit. I'm so glad I did.

The story is warm and tender; sometimes sad, but more often sweet and/or hopeful; mystical; occasionally truly funny (often, but not exclusively, due to a strange old woman who is the town seamstress).

As we often are led to believe is common, small-town gossip is rampant. It's clear, though, that everyone seems to care about all their neighbors. There is mention at several points about how many people came to town for vacation and decided to put down roots. There are intergenerational relationships that are rich and rewarding. There is LGBTQ representation. There is descriptive language about the sights, sounds, and smells. There are so many interesting and appealing characters.

A major plot twist at 94% made sense according to clues given earlier. However, when I reread the book (I already know I will), I will be on alert so I might get a better handle on the timeline. In this first reading (when I didn't know what was coming), I felt that parts of the timeline were rushed and implausible. [I'm sure the author planned it all out carefully—I'll trust, but verify.]

Honestly, I didn't want it to end.

As I did for another recent Macmillan Audio ARC that pleased me immensely, I immediately hunted down and preordered a signed hardcover and started following the author on several sites.

The audio edition is narrated beautifully by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 1.

Birder, She Wrote is installment 33 in the Meg Langslow series of cozy mysteries. Previously, I read books one through three and 14. Obviously, I've missed huge chunks of Meg's life. Still, this installment can be read as a standalone.

Several of Meg's family members play a part in the story, to varying degrees, including both her parents, two grandparents, a brother, her partner, and her twin sons. Grandmother Cordelia is a main player in this plot, as she's being interviewed by a magazine reporter who rubs Meg (and others) the wrong way throughout the story.

There are a surprising number of interlacing parts. Andrews does a good job of fleshing out and linking people and their activities. She also injects a great deal of humor, which is always welcome, in my humble opinion.

The entire adventure takes place between Friday, May 5 and Monday, May 8.

While interesting—and definitely important to the plot—there was a bit too much concentration on bees and beekeeping. There's also a fair amount of time spent on hummingbirds, though that makes more sense in relation to the title. In between those two concentrations lies the portrayal of rich interlopers to the community and other bad neighbors.

I'm not a super fan of narrator Bernadette Dunne (especially her performance of Meg's dad's voice), though I gather series devotees are. She has other high-profile narration credits. Maybe I'll appreciate her talents more in another series installment or another book altogether.

All in all, I enjoyed the book enough to both rate it above average and consider going back occasionally to read earlier installments.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected August 1.

You may remember (or you might want to search for it before or after reading this review) that my 8 July 2022 review of Center's The Bodyguard started like this: “This, folks, is what I'm talking about! If the modern version of the romance genre is going to encompass pretty much every work of fiction including a romantic relationship, this is what I want it to look like. . . .” Because I had a truly satisfying experience with The Bodyguard, I jumped at the chance to read Hello Stranger before publication. I was richly rewarded.

More and more books seem to feature introverted main characters. I am here for it . . . as long as the portrayal is done thoughtfully and accurately! Not all introverts are alike. Not all are shy, or nerdy, or socially inept, or dislike people, or, or, or. . . . [If they are any or all of those things, that's OK. My point is just that we come in many flavors.] Having introversion portrayed as a completely normal trait that is found in up to half the population (it depends on who you ask, with a common range being 33–50%) is important. It doesn't have to be made a big deal. Just acknowledging that extroverts and introverts gain, and are depleted of, their energy differently is a mighty fine start. There is such acknowledgement here.

The story is bursting at the seams with humor and relationships—two of my favorite things. In addition to the characters in romantic relationships, I especially liked Mr. Kim, who is Sadie's best friend's dad and Sadie's landlord. There are quite a few animal companions who play a part,

SPOILER ALERT—If you really want to know more, click to reveal

(including snakes—oh, happy day!).

.

I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about face blindness. I have read at least one other book in which a main character had this condition.

Humorous reference was made to Bob Mankoff's famous New Yorker cartoon “How about never?” If you're so inclined, you might read both his memoir—How About Never—Is Never Good for You?—and his article The Story of “How About Never,” dated 27 March 2014. [I read the former in July 2014 (it was OK—I'm glad I read it) and the latter this week.] Anywho, I was pleased to get the reference in Hello Stranger. I'm also tickled pink that Center uses the word “anywho” (not in conjunction with the Mankoff reference), enabling me to whip it out in this review. It reminds me, warmly, of my elders.

I often talk about how predictable I find a particular story. This isn't always a bad thing—it depends on how entertaining the story is overall and how well it's crafted. In mysteries, I like to follow the clues along with the detective, and I like to be challenged. If it's too easy for me to solve, I may not be as enamored with the book, which is reflected in my rating. By the same token, I don't necessarily disqualify any book whose ending I predict early on. I give brownie points for any twist I didn't see coming. In her author's note at the end of this novel, Center talks about how the majority of clues writers drop in romances, rom-coms, and non-tragic love stories are giving you things to look forward to (as opposed, presumably, to something to dread in mysteries, thrillers, and the like). Good point! Further, she urges us to stop saying “predictable” and start talking about “the feeling of anticipation.” I appreciate what she said and how she said it. I hope it will help me better express my impressions of a genre about which I have long been critical (at worst) or at least ambivalent. With this new language and attitude in mind, I will admit that I anticipated the most important plot point early on—but I'm not mad about it because the story continued to be engaging. I was surprised and delighted by a different plot twist at around 80%. Tell me when you get there . . . and whether you were similarly surprised or anticipated it.

Immediately after finishing Hello Stranger, I hunted down and preordered a signed/inscribed hardcover. Then, for good measure, I found and ordered a signed hardcover of last year's The Bodyguard, which I received so quickly that I've already rearranged my home library to accommodate these new prized editions. I've also added a bunch of Center's back catalog to my TBR list, which allowed me to realize that I have watched and enjoyed the movie adaptation of her book The Lost Husband.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected July 11.

I rediscovered Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter series by way of his related later series The K Team. I have now read three of each: installments 1, 7, and 27 of the former, and installments 1 through 3 of the latter. The writing seems consistent, so if you dig one, you'll probably dig more. Like the others, I found Flop Dead Gorgeous to be mildly funny, sometimes in a sarcastic way.

Andy mentions a team member who likes to talk like a film detective, which is how I feel about narrator Grover Gardner. Like most voracious readers, both audio and visual, I create an image of how the characters look and sound. Gardner and I just aren't on the same page. That's a me problem. I'll get over it.

Specific to this installment, Andy is constantly reminding us that he dated Hollywood star Jenny in high school. I think this is part of Rosenfelt's shtick. It became too much. Neither canine Tara nor team member Marcus appear as much as I would have liked. I'm especially partial to Marcus, who speaks very little but whose use of his physical stature makes every situation crystal clear.

I gave my rating a slight boost toward the end to reward the nice little twist that I absolutely should have—but didn't—see coming. As soon as it landed, I completely remembered the set-up.

As I've mentioned in a previous review, Rosenfelt gives enough background information to allow this book to stand alone. I'll keep reading the series whenever I feel the need for a decent light mystery.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected July 4.

This cozy mystery features wholesome language and a cast of fully developed characters. Mallory—and the story overall—is naïve to the extreme, maybe even to the point of being too precious. There is a little bit of romance and a little more drama. There are many red herrings.

I snorted at the ridiculousness of a moment, followed quickly by laughter. [My partner was next to me while I was reading that section. He also laughed.]

There is one point at which a journalist cites his perceived duty to be neutral (as in giving equal time and weight to two things regardless of truth). No, that's really not how that is supposed to work. I will not pull you down that rabbit hole.

The rabbit hole I did go down after finishing the book relates to the expression “champing at the bit.” I always thought it was “chomping at the bit.” Among other search results, I found that NPR did a piece revealing quite a lot of debate over which is the preferred usage or whether alternates are acceptable at all. Who knew?

Three recipes are shared at the end. Perhaps I'll remember to refer to the print edition in the future to try those.

For cozy mystery fans—and maybe traditional mystery fans, myself included—this series starter is a good light-read candidate.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected June 20.

[See review at end of year.]

Bad Summer People was promoted under the mystery and thrillers umbrella. There is not enough of either for my tastes. Instead, I'd characterize it as melodrama. The book opens with a child discovering a body—unidentified to the reader until very late—but that's the last we hear about the murder until the end. There are alternating chapters from various characters' points of view, with more than one chapter devoted to each character, no matter how minor (decidedly more for major characters). Just for reference, we're still just meeting and digging deep on all the wretched players almost halfway through the book. Any one of these could be the victim or the killer. There's too much repetition—partly because of the multiple points of view, but also because the story is superficial. The ending was decidedly anticlimactic.

The title and cover were enticing. Narrator January LaVoy is experienced and talented. I bumped the rating a smidge just for her.

If you like dishy stories about entitled, rich (or not), vapid, scheming, greedy, narcissistic, cheating people—or any combination of these—this might be a great beach read for you. If you were here for mystery or thrills, you might want to keep shopping.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected May 23.

I liked this second installment in the series marginally less than the first.

We have the return of Dr. Peter; trusty canine sidekick Pippin; wife Laura; and brother-in-law Kevin, an RCMP officer. New characters include a host of high-personality animals (Peter's patients, including a group of ostriches named after Sesame Street characters), the members of a darts team trying to recruit Peter, and a college crush of Peter's, among others.

Foul language use was harsher and more plentiful than I remember from the first book. As I'm not terribly sensitive to swearing, the fact that I registered this seems notable. Peter's college crush was useful in terms of the expertise she could lend to solving the mystery. Her use as a temptation to infidelity on Peter's part was uninteresting and unwelcome—it didn't add to the story. Peter struck me as introverted in the first book and perhaps on the autism spectrum in the second book. I don't know if I'm misremembering the first book or if his characterization has changed considerably in the second. There were plenty of red herrings. The main culprit was not a shocking surprise to me. As in the first installment, there was a frenetic increase in activity at the very end, while the bulk of the book was pretty steady and uneventful, the excessively gory multiple murders notwithstanding.

Fun detail: Peter very appropriately celebrates his 42nd birthday with a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy-themed party. Not fun: This book made me aware of Odinism and, further, its ties to white supremacy. Yikes!

Content warnings include senseless violence toward and mutilation of animals (including human).

I imagine I'll continue reading the series, though I'm hoping that subsequent installments will be more consistently exciting without depending on shock value.

Thank you, NetGalley and ECW Press Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected May 22.

I didn't find Ward D the least bit suspenseful or thrilling, even with the narrator's over-the-top gasps and exclamations. There are no likeable characters. I found it completely implausible that Amy was smart or competent enough to be in medical school.

While I don't know from personal experience, I strongly suspect that the book's representation of mental health issues is grossly inaccurate and dangerous. At the very least, it's insensitive.

I see from glancing at other readers' ratings that my opinion is not the popular one, though I am not alone in my rating either. It seems that the author—a practicing physician specializing in brain injury—is consistently highly rated. She just may not be for me.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected May 9.

I am ever-so-glad that NetGalley didn't include in its description “for readers of The Midnight Library” as Goodreads did. Had that been included, I might not have requested The Collected Regrets of Clover, and I would have missed out on possibly my favorite new work of fiction so far this year.

I was delighted by this poignant, sweet, and funny fiction debut. Apparently, Brammer typically writes about architecture, art, and design for serial publications. I requested this ARC quite close to publication date, and was granted access even a few days later, so I pushed it to the top of my to-be-read list immediately. As it turns out, I had no need to worry about finishing it in time—once I started reading, I didn't want to stop.

Clover is extremely introverted, is hesitant and slow to open up to others because of past hurts, likes to watch rom-coms, reads voraciously, and loves animals—she has one dog and two cat companions. After Clover's parents are presumed dead in an accident in China when she was six years old, her grandfather—a biology professor, if I remember correctly—raises her, instilling a love of reading and learning, and teaching Clover about honesty, keen observation, and consideration for others.

I never liked potential love-interest Sebastian, who hired Clover to work with his grandmother. I was lukewarm on neighbor Silvie, though she served to draw Clover out of her comfort zone a bit. I liked the bookstore owner (whose name escapes me at the moment) whom Clover (and her grandfather) visited at least weekly throughout Clover's life.

I adored elderly neighbor Leo (with whom Clover visits and plays mahjong regularly), Sebastian's grandmother Claire (a photojournalist before working women—especially society women—were accepted), and Hugo (Claire's Hugo's grandson). If we had gotten to know Clover's grandfather better, I think I might have adored him, too. Clover's relationships with these characters are what made the book so engaging and enjoyable.

My feelings about Clover aren't so easy to quantify. I especially appreciated her thoughtful relationships with those who were dying. She was a spectacular question-asker and listener. I liked her quite a bit, and I was certainly rooting for her throughout. Her imperfections were so slight that I didn't find her irritating as I do so many main characters in fiction lately. That is, however human, Clover is not unlikeable, unredeemable, mean, whiny, wishy-washy, or narcissistic.

At the risk of turning off other readers as I might have been turned off by the book comparison mentioned above, aspects of this story remind me of the movie Letters to Juliet.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected May 9.

It always makes me sincerely sad to give a less-than-stellar book review.

Hestia Strikes a Match was an especially surprising disappointment to me, as the publisher's description was intriguing. There are a couple of main sources of this disappointment. Firstly, after years of increasing polarization in real life, the second civil war aspect of the story sounds too much like our real sociopolitical environment—it's not at all inconceivable. Both sides claim to be the patriots. [Twelve states have seceded in the story, whereas fewer have threatened in real life, and none have followed through . . . yet.] Secondly, there's way too much time (for my tastes) devoted to Hestia's string of bad dating decisions. Her affairs arise both from using a dating app and from people she knows already or meets in her daily life. In most cases, the dalliances are short-lived, superficial, and unsatisfying (in that she's not thrilled with any of her choices, usually finding more faults than positive attraction).

Not unlike another recent review of mine, the elderly characters are pretty much the only redemption to the story. In particular, 84-year-old Mildred is interesting, wise, and supportive, if a bit ornery. Mildred—one of Hestia's writing students in the retirement village—takes Hestia under her wing, and seems to be Hestia's only true friend. [Hestia considers one of her coworkers a friend, at least eventually, but if she is one, she isn't a good one.] Others of Hestia's students are quoted throughout the book, in the form of their responses to writing prompts. These responses are, overall, the most interesting parts of the book.

Between the treatment Hestia receives from her college-professor parents, her abandoner husband, her sexual partners, and her “friends,” Hestia comes across as a bit of a doormat. Truthfully, though, she doesn't treat others terribly well, either. Too, she doesn't seem appropriately mature or competent for a well-educated person in her 40s.

As I often remind you, your mileage may vary. This just isn't a book for me, at least at this time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected April 18.

I found the majority of Said No One Ever tedious, boring, and unpleasant. In particular, Ellie's mom and sister are absolutely horrid—being insensitive about her decision to leave her serious boyfriend; completely ignoring the fact that she's trying hard to find a new job; and generally trying to control her, as if she's a child (or incompetent). They are selfish, narcissistic, snobby, and demeaning.

The old ladies—Ellie's Airbnb host Marilyn and, later, Marilyn's roommate at the physical therapy care facility—are the saving grace of the book. I also enjoyed Ellie's friendship with Dr. Tori, the local vet, though that doesn't get a lot of attention.

The main romance isn't the one you likely think.

I was amused that Warren's ringtone for Marilyn (his grandmother) is the Golden Girls theme. Even funnier, though, is that his ringtone for his mom is an emergency siren.

Despite the several rewarding female friendships, the animals, the occasional humor, and an admittedly nifty ending, I dinged the rating because one shouldn’t have to wait until the 80% mark for the story to get really good and interesting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected April 4.

As I continue to slog through especially challenging times, my appreciation of lighter fiction (in this case, cozy mysteries; but also extending to some romances) is growing.

This cozy mystery is especially fun. American doctor Emilia McRoy jumps right into trouble as soon as she arrives in her new Scottish village, where she has signed a one-year contract to provide all necessary medical services as an escape from trouble at home.

In the first 10% of the book, we get an intimate look at her casual clothing preferences, including sports bra and Batman boy shorts and her favorite sloth pajamas. [This isn't important, but it amused me greatly.]

Em immediately forms a squad of girlfriends, including the granddaughter of the local pub owners, a local shopkeeper, and the Jill-of-all-trades assisting at Em's home/clinic. The squad helps Em solve the mystery, with each woman showing her bravery, strength, and particular skills. I loved the girlfriend relationships, as well as their own family relationships.

There are a couple of potential romantic partners for Em, though she's disinterested in another relationship after a bad ending to her marriage.

So many townspeople are considered potential suspects, of course, including the local law-enforcement.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected April 4.

Yes, French Holiday is ridiculously implausible at pretty much every turn. But, if you're willing to suspend your disbelief, it's not a bad story. By the end, I felt that my needs for light, escapist reading were met.

Right out of the gate, Merry is a bit whiny, and certainly a huge pushover. Her little sister, Angela, is a self-centered brat; and her “best friend”/crush, Leo, isn’t much of a friend with the way he talks about how much better Angela is than Merry.

Merry's godmother, Jupiter, is the orchestrator of the French chateau trip. [How nice that Merry can afford to up and quit her job in HR and run off to France for months!] The Jupiter character is way out there. But her inappropriate gift sense (preceding and separate from the France trip) was amusing.

Noah's family mystery is a big focus. Tertiary (or maybe secondary) characters Pierre and Camille fit in well and contribute to making a more well-rounded romance than is often delivered. That is, the book isn't only focused on the enemies-to-friends-to-lovers trope. The adventures Merry has in France also add to the overall fun and interest of the book.

There is more character- and relationship-development than in many romances. There is very little sex, and it's handled tastefully.

Thank you, NetGalley and Swift & Lewis Publishing, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected April 26.

Like the first two series installments, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun is full of escapades, banter, and humor. As I trudged through several other heavier or darker (and definitely no fun) books before writing this review, I appreciated the tone of this book even more. [I'm recovering from hand surgery, so I'm doing a lot more reading and sleeping than writing or anything else.] I need much-more-frequent infusions of escapism, silliness, and comedy, even (or especially?) if it’s dark. Finlay Donovan definitely satisfies.

In addition to nanny/ride-or-die bestie Vero and hot cop Nick, Finlay's sister Georgia and their parents are among the active characters again. Apropos of nothing, there's a reference to Kathy Reichs' character Temperance Brennan, which I enjoyed. [For the record, I prefer the books to the television adaptation, but my partner and I have just finished season eight of the latter—largely repeats for me, but new to him.]

Narrator Angela Dawe does an excellent job, as usual. I did a little sleuthing on her, finding that she lives in Chicago. Maybe someday we'll meet. I can dream, right?!

The ending definitely leaves the door open for a fourth book. I, for one, can't wait!

The series has a similar feel to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, which also features a female protagonist/buddy duo, one or more romantic interests at a time, close familial support, and unrealistic and darkly comedic storylines. There's a nice cover quote on this installment from Evanovich herself.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected January 31.

I have surprisingly little to say about this engaging and interesting debut novel. Bottom line: I recommend that you read it for yourself.

Maddie is a sympathetic character. We (perhaps especially those of us who have the benefit of double or more her years of lived experience) don't always relate to or approve of her thoughts and actions. But, we care about what's happening to her and we're rooting for her life to improve. It hurts to read the number of people who hurt Maddie and the atrociousness of certain of those acts of harm. The book is nearly 80% over before Maddie finally stands up for herself. We know she's going to be okay.

Commentary unrelated to the quality of this novel: Brace yourselves . . . I'm going to get crabby about genres again. This book is classified as belonging to the women's fiction genre. Yes, I understand that it is a book about a woman's experiences that is directed at women readers. I call that “fiction.” Why shouldn't men be interested in Maddie's story? Perhaps many would be. Perhaps some should be, in order to gain a perspective other than their own. Publishers and booksellers: Please stop classifying fiction as “women's fiction”!

Another tangential note: One of the promotional blurbs for Maame was written by Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming, another fiction debut with which I was impressed (and honored to read and review before its publication).

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected January 31.

I found this mystery almost completely unsatisfying. There were few, if any, surprises, and there are no characters who are significantly good and moral—I had no desire to root for anyone.

The story is told primarily from the point of view of the parents, either individually or in conversation with each other, though there was some important dialogue between the parents and their progeny. The parent group includes the parents of the three teens who were partying with the victim, as well as the victim's mom and a man introduced at the opening who becomes involved in several ways (I'm being vague in order to avoid spoilers).

A distinct us-versus-them situation quickly develops between the wealthy kids (suspects Jack and Hannah, who are dating) and their parents and the less- or non-affluent kids (victim Eden and suspect Christopher) and their parents. That is, the wealthy families use their wealth and power to manipulate and influence the investigation, with the police force and community seemingly eager to oblige. [There is one exception to this that I'll leave you to discover on your own.]

We are subjected to exhaustive (and exhausting) backstories about each of the parents, including an especially baffling backstory about Jack's mom, Celia, tacked on near the end that seemed marginal and misplaced. I thought this concentration on the parents was unnecessary padding. I guess I should be thankful that it didn't become a much longer book. My interest level was being sorely tested as it was.

Content warnings include a graphic description of serious harm done to a dog, murder, bullying, serial sexual assault, self-harm, infidelity, child abuse, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected January 17.

There were times during the book that I was irritated by a sense of repetitiveness. It took quite a long time for the story to become interesting. Once it finally got going, though, I didn't want to stop reading. There are several plausible (as fictional mysteries go) candidates for the abductor, and that's not the only mystery: there are some mistaken identities at play, too. That is to say, ultimately, the book is satisfyingly twisty.

The author uses descriptive language. Narrator Karissa Vacker does a good job with both female and male voices.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected January 10.