This issue took me everywhere—from wartime Europe and windswept prairies to glamorous hotels, dangerous spy missions, cozy magical libraries, and pulse-pounding thrillers. I found stories filled with courage, second chances, heartbreak, suspense, romance, and a few books that made me mutter, “Well… that escalated quickly.”
There were several standouts this time around, including Mark Helprin’s sweeping naval epic The Oceans and the Stars, Holly Jackson’s wildly entertaining adult thriller debut Not Quite Dead Yet, and Mitch Albom’s warmhearted Twice. I also revisited a literary classic with Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! and discovered a few authors I’ll definitely be reading again.
As always, not every book earned glowing praise. A couple left me scratching my head, rolling my eyes, or wondering if the editor quietly wandered off for a snack halfway through the manuscript. But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? If every book were amazing, we’d have nothing to debate over coffee.
So grab a blanket, pour something warm, and settle in for another round of picks, pans, page-turners, and literary detours. I hope you discover a few titles worth adding to your ever-dangerous TBR pile.
The Oceans and the Stars
By Mark Helprin
A Brilliant Sea Story of Honor, Love, and Moral Courage
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Oceans and the Stars is a rousing blend of war novel, love story, and moral compass—and it may be one of Mark Helprin’s most cinematic books yet. Honestly? This should be a movie.
Stephen Rensselaer is a Navy captain near the end of a stellar career: disciplined, principled, and stubbornly unwilling to play political games. When he bruises the president’s ego, he’s reassigned to command the Athena, a small, supposedly doomed patrol ship meant to embarrass him. Instead of resigning, Rensselaer does what he always does—he serves.
While overseeing the ship’s fitting out in New Orleans, he falls into a last-chance romance with Katy Farrar, a brilliant and formidable lawyer who becomes his anchor and north star. What follows is a pulse-pounding sequence of missions, battles, mutiny, and court-martial drama, all tied together by Helprin’s spectacular writing. His metaphors sing, his similes soar, and his command of the sea is vivid and convincing.
Yes, Helprin can be verbose, but here it works. War, love, duty, and conscience crash together like waves. I love how educational it was, too. This is a novel about honor—and it earns every one of its stars.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Overlook Press for a comp of this gorgeous novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
Twice
By Mitch Albom
A Second Chance Worth Taking
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 rounded up to 5)
I’ve read several books by Mitch Albom over the years, and he has a knack for blending heart, faith, and a touch of the fantastical into stories that stay with you. Twice is no exception—and once again, he delivers that feel-good, soul-soothing experience I’ve come to expect.
The story explores second chances and the choices that shape our lives. What would we do if we had the opportunity to begin again? Would we change course—or repeat the same mistakes? Albom leans into familiar territory here, weaving together magical realism with a strong moral thread and characters searching for meaning.
What makes this one work is its emotional core. Themes of regret, redemption, and grace are handled with a light but steady hand. There’s a quiet warmth to the storytelling that feels both personal and universal.
Yes, some elements will feel familiar to longtime readers, but that’s part of the charm. Reading Albom is like settling into a favorite chair—you know what you’re getting, and you’re glad you came back.
I closed the book feeling lighter, hopeful, and reminded that it’s never too late to choose differently.
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Harper for a comp of the eBook. Opinions are my own.
Not Quite Dead Yet
By Holly Jackson
Seven Days to Live. One Killer to Catch. Holly Jackson Nails Her Adult Debut.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4½ stars)
Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Readers’ Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2025)
Holly Jackson makes a seamless leap from YA powerhouse to adult thriller with Not Quite Dead Yet, and wow — what a hook. Thirty-six hours after a brutal Halloween attack, Jet Mason wakes in a Vermont hospital to devastating news: a bone fragment is pressing against a vital artery, and within a week she’ll suffer a fatal hemorrhage. Surgery offers only a slim chance. So Jet makes a choice that sets this story on fire — she’ll spend her last seven days finding her killer.
Jet, the sharp-tongued, restless daughter of one of Woodstock’s wealthiest families, has always believed she had time. Time to start her life. Time to figure things out. That illusion shatters fast. As her condition worsens, she begins to see everyone differently — her powerful family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend. Trust evaporates. Motives surface.
With only her loyal childhood friend Billy at her side, Jet races the clock to solve her own murder. The ticking timeline gives this novel serious propulsion, and Jackson handles the tension with confidence. Jet’s voice is feisty and biting, which keeps the story from sinking into darkness.
A bold premise, strong execution, and a heroine I won’t forget. I’m officially a new Holly Jackson fan.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for a complimentary copy of the eBook.
Dirty Thirty
By Janet Evanovich
Diamonds, Dogs, and Double Trouble
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
If you’ve stuck with the Stephanie Plum novels this long, you already know the drill—and Janet Evanovich still makes them feel fresh. This outing is fast, funny, and one of the stronger entries in the series.
In Dirty Thirty, Stephanie Plum is back in Trenton chasing not one but two suspects tied to the same jewelry store heist: a bail-jumping thief and her old high school acquaintance, “Nutsy” Manley, now a clown (because of course he is). What starts as a seemingly easy paycheck quickly spirals into firebombs, gun threats, and a rising body count. In other words… just another week for Stephanie.
With Morelli out of town, Ranger steps into the spotlight—and into Stephanie’s orbit—with his usual cool competence and undeniable chemistry. Meanwhile, Bob the dog is eating everything in sight, Lula is convinced a demon has it out for her wardrobe, and Grandma Mazur proves she could probably outdrive a NASCAR rookie.
The plot zips along, the humor lands, and the whole thing just works. It’s a little wild, a little ridiculous, and a whole lot of fun. Having read them all, this one lands near the top for me. Pure escapism with plenty of laughs—and a couple of surprises along the way.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for a comp of this fun book. Opinions are my own.
The Handler
By M.P. Woodward
When Your Ex Is Your Handler, Nothing Goes According to Plan
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
The Handler is a sharp, high-octane spy thriller with a killer hook: a disgraced former CIA operative forced back into the field—with his ex-wife as his handler. That alone is enough to grab your attention, but Woodward delivers far more than a clever premise.
Meredith Morris-Dale is a talented CIA case officer whose career hangs by a thread after a mission goes sideways. Instead of being shown the door, she’s handed an impossible assignment. A long-embedded CIA mole inside Iran’s uranium enrichment program wants out, and the only person he’ll trust is Meredith’s ex-husband, John Dale. Fired, sidelined, and bitter, John is the last person she wants to rely on—but the stakes couldn’t be higher.
What follows is heart-pounding action layered with tradecraft that feels real, not flashy. Woodward’s background as a former Navy intelligence officer shows in the operational details and the messy politics inside the CIA. The marriage baggage adds emotional tension without bogging down the plot, and the action scenes crackle, especially once John shakes off the rust.
The book does bounce through several points of view, which slows things a bit, but John Dale is the clear standout. He’s flawed, capable, and hard to look away from. This is a smart, muscular debut—and I’d happily read the encore.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley for the advance copy. Opinions are my own.
O Pioneers!
By Willa Cather
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Quietly Powerful Portrait of Grit and Grace
O Pioneers! is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. On the surface, not much “happens,” yet by the end, it feels like you’ve lived an entire life on the Nebraska prairie. First published in 1913, it marked Willa Cather’s first great novel and set the tone for much of the work that followed.
Set in the late 19th century, O Pioneers! follows Alexandra Bergson, a determined young woman who inherits her family’s struggling farm. While her brothers doubt the land—and her—Alexandra trusts her instincts, digs in her heels, and slowly turns hardship into opportunity. She’s practical, steady, and quietly radical for her time.
As the progeny of Swedish and Norwegian immigrants, I felt especially connected to this novella. The stoicism, the work ethic, the emotional restraint—it all rang true. The book reminded me of my grandparents, who farmed on the North Dakota prairie, scraping out a living through grit, faith, and sheer perseverance. That personal connection made the story land a little deeper.
Cather’s writing is spare but beautiful. The prairie isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a living force that shapes the people who try to survive it. Alexandra is the kind of heroine who doesn’t ask for attention—she earns it.
Dark of Night
By Colleen Coble
Family Secrets and Fresh Danger in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is classic Colleen Coble—fast-paced, layered with secrets, and set against a moody coastal backdrop that almost feels like another character. In Dark of Night, the second installment in the Annie Pederson series, Coble blends suspense, family drama, and a thread of faith into a story that kept me eagerly flipping pages.
Annie’s life is already unraveling when a woman appears claiming to be Sarah—the sister abducted at age five twenty-four years ago. The emotional fallout is immediate. Can Annie risk believing her? And what will it mean for her eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, who senses more than Annie wants to admit? Add to that the unexpected return of Jon, Annie’s first love, and her carefully guarded heart is pulled in two directions.
Meanwhile, Annie is investigating the abduction of hiker Michelle Fraser in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The estranged husband tops the suspect list, but the deeper Annie digs, the murkier things become. Coble keeps the tension tight while exploring trust, forgiveness, and the cost of buried secrets.
A few twists felt predictable, but the emotional stakes and layered mystery make this a satisfying, suspenseful read.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a comp of this eBook. Opinions are my own.
Homecoming
By Kate Morton
A Sweeping Mystery with Heart—But Bring Your Patience
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In Homecoming by Kate Morton, past and present collide in a richly layered story rooted in a real-life tragedy. The novel opens with a shocking 1959 event in rural South Australia—a family found dead at a picnic site, with one child mysteriously missing. Decades later, journalist Jess returns from London to care for her grandmother Nora and stumbles into the long-buried mystery, uncovering secrets that ripple through generations.
I love that this story draws inspiration from true events—it adds an extra layer of intrigue that kept me invested. Morton shines when it comes to character work; the emotional depth and backstories are terrific, especially as the narrative moves between timelines. The Australian setting is vivid and immersive, almost a character in its own right.
That said, this one demands patience. The pacing is slow, and at times it could have used a firmer editorial hand. The plot is intricately layered—maybe a bit too much so—making it hard to keep track of the many characters and shifting threads. The novel excerpts woven into the timelines didn’t quite land for me and occasionally disrupted the flow. It’s also longer than it needs to be.
Still, if you enjoy sprawling, atmospheric mysteries with strong characters and a touch of history, this is a rewarding read—just settle in for the long haul.
His Delightful Lady Delia
by Grace Hitchcock
Scandal, Satin, and a Side of Suspense
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ll be honest—His Delightful Lady Delia (American Royalty #3) by Grace Hitchcock isn’t typically the kind of book I grab off the stack. Gilded Age romance with plenty of emotion? Not my usual lane. And yet… I ended up enjoying it more than I expected.
After years as her temperamental mother’s understudy, Delia Vittoria finally steps into the spotlight when her diva mother loses her voice for good. Delia now stands center stage at the Academy of Music, which is locked in a fierce opera war with the flashy new Metropolitan Opera House. To save the Academy—and prove herself—she agrees to a risky scheme. Enter Kit Quincy, who is trying to atone for a past mistake and finds himself cast as her secret patron… and an enigmatic “phantom” pulling strings behind the curtain. But when a second phantom appears, the twists begin to stack up, and more than Delia’s career hangs in the balance.
There’s melodrama, yes—but there’s also genuine intrigue. The mystery element adds momentum, and the opera rivalry gives the story real stakes beyond the romance. Through it all, Delia’s growing relationship with Kit provides warmth and stability amid the theatrics.
Is it over-the-top at times? Sure. But it’s fun, romantic, and layered with suspense. Not my usual genre—but sometimes it’s fun to visit a ballroom instead of a battlefield.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Bethany House for a comp. Opinions are my own.
Into the Gray Zone
By Brad Taylor
High-Octane Action with a Few Eye-Rolling Moments
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Brad Taylor’s Into the Gray Zone, the 19th installment in the Pike Logan series, delivers exactly what longtime fans expect—nonstop action, high-stakes geopolitics, and a race-against-the-clock mission that keeps the pages turning.
This time, Pike Logan and the Taskforce are in India providing security for a clandestine meeting between the CIA and India’s intelligence service about China’s grip on rare-earth elements. When terrorists disrupt the meeting, most officials dismiss it as a minor incident. Pike isn’t convinced. As attacks escalate—including a shocking assault tied to an elaborate Indian pre-wedding celebration—he begins to suspect a far more dangerous plot unfolding in the murky “gray zone” between peace and war.
Taylor sends readers racing through Old Delhi’s chaotic markets, the luxurious resorts of Goa, and the iconic Taj Mahal as Pike and his team scramble to rescue hostages and prevent a geopolitical catastrophe. The pacing is relentless, the stakes are global, and Taylor’s background as a former special forces officer lends the story an appealing sense of realism.
That said, the author occasionally leans on some downright dorky metaphors and similes—so much so that I literally rolled my eyes. Those moments pulled me out of the story and ultimately cost the book a star.
Still, highly recommended for readers who enjoy high-octane spy thrillers packed with action, suspense, and a seasoned hero who refuses to quit.
Last Call at the Savoy
By Brisa Carleton
A Sparkling Stay at The Savoy
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Last Call at the Savoy by Brisa Carleton is a glamorous yet heartfelt debut that blends emotional women’s fiction with a fascinating slice of forgotten history.
After losing her parents in a tragic accident years earlier, Cinnamon Scott has drifted through life as a wealthy New York party girl, masking grief she never fully faced. When her pregnant sister Rosie is placed on bedrest in London, Cinnamon travels to England to help care for her. While staying at the legendary Savoy Hotel, she becomes captivated by the story of Ada Coleman, the hotel’s real-life female bartender whose accomplishments helped shape the famous American Bar, only for her name to largely disappear from history.
I loved the elegant hotel setting, the late-night bar atmosphere, and the themes of grief, reinvention, and overlooked women. The Savoy itself almost feels like another character. The plot occasionally felt a bit too neat, and some supporting characters existed mainly to push Cinnamon toward personal growth, but the emotional core kept me invested throughout.
I listened to the audiobook edition, narrated by Christine Lakin, who always does a terrific job. She brought warmth, sophistication, and personality to the story and made this a particularly enjoyable listen.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a comp. Opinions are my own.
North of Nowhere
By Allison Brennan
Lost, Hunted, and Running Out of Time in the Wilderness
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love discovering a great new author! North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is a tense, fast-moving thriller that drops you straight into survival mode and never lets up. When a group outing in the remote wilds of Montana goes horribly wrong, what begins as a getaway quickly turns into a nightmare. Brennan wastes no time raising the stakes, and the isolation of the setting adds a constant undercurrent of dread.
The strength of this novel lies in its pacing. Short chapters and shifting perspectives keep the story moving at a clip, and just when you think you’ve caught your breath, Brennan raises the stakes again. She delivers sharp, cinematic action scenes that are easy to visualize, pulling you right into the chaos. That said, the story features a sizable cast, and with so many layered backstories in play, it can take a bit of effort to keep everyone straight.
The wilderness itself becomes a character, cold and unforgiving, amplifying every bad decision and stroke of misfortune. You can practically feel the chill in the air and the panic creeping in.
This was my first book by Brennan, and it won’t be my last. She knows how to keep the pages turning!
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for a comp. The opinions are my own.
The Forget-Me-Not Library
By Heather Webber
A Library Full of Secrets, Magic, and Second Chances
⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you enjoy small-town stories with a touch of whimsy, family secrets, quirky characters, and just a sprinkle of magic, The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber is a charming escape.
After surviving a lightning strike that leaves her grieving the death of her grandfather and struggling with memory loss, Juliet Nightingale heads out on a solo road trip through the South searching for healing and purpose.
When her car breaks down in the tiny town of Forget-Me-Not, Alabama, she crosses paths with Tallulah Byrd Mayfield, a newly single mother trying to rebuild her shattered life after an unexpected divorce. The two women form a heartfelt friendship as they discover the strange magic of the Forget-Me-Not Library, where treasured memories seem to linger between the pages of old books.
The library itself is easily the star of the show. Between hidden histories, mysterious books, a magical library cat, and the comforting atmosphere woven throughout the pages, I found myself wishing this place actually existed. The supporting cast is equally delightful, filled with eccentric townspeople and layered family dynamics that give the novel warmth and heart.
That said, the pacing occasionally drifts, and a few plot threads wrap up a little too neatly. Still, the cozy charm and emotional sincerity carried me through. I listened to the audiobook and the narration by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis was beautifully done, adding even more warmth and personality to these lovable characters.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a comp. Opinions are my own.
The Heart of Winter
By Jonathan Evison
A Love Story That Spans a Lifetime
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. It reads gently at first, then hits you right in the heart. Honest, a little raw, and very real.
At its center is the seventy-year marriage between Abe and Ruth, a relationship that began with a disastrous blind date and somehow grew into a life of deep, if imperfect, devotion. As Ruth’s health declines, Abe steps into the role of caregiver, while their adult children hover with concern—and doubt. It’s a familiar tension, handled with grace and restraint.
This is my fourth Evison novel, and once again, he proves he doesn’t write the same book twice. The structure weaves past and present, showing how a love story is built in fits and starts, through loss, forgiveness, and stubborn commitment.
If you’ve been married a long time, this one might nudge you to love a little better. And if you’ve cared for aging parents, parts may hit close to home and feel a bit heavy at times. Either way, it’s a tender reminder that the real work—and beauty—of love happens in the everyday moments.
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Dutton for the eBook. Opinions are my own.
The Librarian Spy
By Madeline Martin
Books, Codes, and Quiet Courage in WWII Europe
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Librarian Spy is a thoughtful WWII spy novel inspired by the true history of America’s little-known “library spies.” I enjoyed learning the fascinating ways books, newspapers, and printed materials were gathered, analyzed, and transformed into intelligence during the war.
The story follows two women on parallel paths. Ava, a librarian at the Library of Congress, is recruited by the U.S. military and sent to neutral-but-dangerous Lisbon, where she works undercover collecting and microfilming enemy publications. Across the ocean, Elaine joins the French Resistance through a clandestine printing press, fully aware the Nazis are hunting both the press and those who run it. Their stories connect through coded messages and shared risk, adding tension and emotional resonance.
Martin’s research is clearly a strength, particularly in her portrayal of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications and the shadowy wartime world of Lisbon. The settings in both Lisbon and occupied France feel convincing and well drawn.
A few moments feel slightly overexplained, though the strength of the story and its historical foundation easily carry the book.
This is an engaging and informative read that stands apart from more familiar WWII narratives, reminding us that in wartime, information can be just as powerful—and dangerous—as weapons.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for a comp of this eBook. The opinions are my own.
The Widow
By John Grisham
Grisham Serves Up Another Addictive Courtroom Ride
⭐⭐⭐⭐
With The Widow, John Grisham reminds us why he’s been the king of legal thrillers for decades. This time, he trades big-city law firms for small-town Virginia—and the result is a tightly wound, character-driven whodunit that pulls you in fast.
Simon Latch isn’t your typical Grisham hero. He’s struggling—financially, professionally, and personally. When wealthy widow Eleanor Barnett walks into his office, he sees a lifeline. What follows is a slow-burn unraveling of secrets, questionable motives, and one very inconvenient murder charge… against Simon himself.
Grisham shines when it comes to moral gray areas, and Simon lives squarely in one. He’s flawed, occasionally frustrating, but still someone you root for. Eleanor, too, is drawn with surprising tenderness, giving the story emotional weight beyond the courtroom drama.
The mystery itself isn’t the most jaw-dropping Grisham has delivered, but the pacing? Spot on. The legal maneuvering and trial scenes feel authentic without bogging things down, and the tension builds steadily to a satisfying finish.
It’s not his most groundbreaking novel, but it’s a solid, engaging read—exactly what you want when you pick up a Grisham.
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Doubleday Books for a comp of the eBook. Opinions are my own.
Once We Are Safe: A Novel
By Alessandra Carati, Linda Worell (Translator), Laura Masini (Translator)
Heavy, Honest… but a Bit Disjointed
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5 rounded up)
Once We Are Safe by Alessandra Carati opens with six-year-old Aida fleeing war-torn Bosnia with her family, trading danger for a fragile safety in Italy. But “safe” doesn’t mean settled. Her parents remain tethered to a past they can’t let go of, while Aida grows up caught between what was and what is—resenting a homeland she barely remembers but can’t escape.
I was especially drawn to this one because I’ve read very little about the Bosnian War, and Carati doesn’t shy away from the emotional toll. This is a heavy read—raw, painful, and deeply rooted in grief and depression. That weight gives the story its impact, but it also makes it a tough sit at times.
The structure didn’t always work for me. The short chapters made the narrative feel choppy, almost like snapshots that never fully connect. In the first half, I struggled to get a clear sense of place, time, or even Aida herself. The second half shifts focus to her brother and his mental health struggles, which is compelling, but it feels like a different book altogether.
I alternated between reading and audio, and Laura Ezzo truly elevates the experience—her narration is excellent.
There’s a lot to admire here, especially in its emotional honesty, but it didn’t fully come together for me. Still, a meaningful read.
** Thanks to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio, and Amazon Crossing for review copies. Opinions are my own.
Good Dirt
By Charmaine Wilkerson
A Beautiful Idea That Never Quite Comes Together
⭐⭐⭐
After loving Black Cake, I went into Good Dirt with high hopes, which may be why this one felt like such a letdown. Charmaine Wilkerson aims for another sweeping family story, but this time the pieces never fully click.
The novel follows Ebby Freeman, whose childhood trauma and family history are tied to the loss of a stoneware jar passed down through generations. On paper, that heirloom should carry deep meaning, yet I kept wondering why anyone would want it in the first place and why it held such enormous value. Instead of anchoring the story, the jar often left me scratching my head.
Wilkerson raises intriguing questions about legacy, race, and how the past shapes the present. I appreciated the intention, and there are moments where the emotional weight almost lands. The problem is that the plot feels thin, and the many threads never quite weave into a satisfying whole. The author clearly tries to connect everything through the history of the jar, but the story’s strands drift instead of locking together.
More than once, I found myself thinking that the narrative simply didn’t make sense, which made it hard to stay invested in Ebby’s journey. That’s frustrating, because the writing itself is polished and thoughtful.
In the end, Good Dirt has big themes and admirable ambition but compared to the richness and cohesion of Black Cake, this one left me disappointed.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a comp. Opinions are my own.
Pretty Girls
By Karin Slaughter
A Horrific Thriller That Goes Way Too Far
⭐⭐⭐
Pretty Girls is a book I finished out of stubbornness, not enjoyment.
I like a solid thriller. I can handle dark subject matter. But this one pushed straight past dark into twisted, gory, gruesome, and deeply disturbing territory. The violence is graphic to an almost numbing degree, with explicit depictions of torture, sexual assault, and murder that felt excessive rather than necessary. Instead of heightening suspense, it often pulled me out of the story.
That said, Slaughter can write. The novel is complex, the characters are well developed, and the emotional fallout within the family feels authentic. There’s a strong foundation here, even if it’s buried under layers of brutality. I also rolled my eyes at the mishmash of clichés and the way Claire suddenly puts everything together with near-superhuman insight. It didn’t ring true.
This book also could have used a firmer editorial hand. It’s long, dense, and would have benefited from trimming. I enjoyed the narration by Kathleen Early, though.
I can see why fans of extreme thrillers praise it. If I had known it is also classified as horror, I would have skipped it.
** Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudioAdult for a complimentary review copy of the audiobook. Opinions are my own.
The First Time I Saw Him
By Laura Dave
Same Formula, Different Story
⭐⭐⭐
I gave the first Hannah Hall novel by Laura Dave three stars, too, so at this point I think I’ve officially accepted that her books and I are stuck in a polite but emotionally distant relationship. I keep hoping the next one will completely win me over… and instead I end up mildly entertained and slightly underwhelmed.
Five years after Owen disappeared, Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter Bailey have finally built a stable life in Southern California. But when Owen suddenly resurfaces at one of Hannah’s exhibitions, the fragile peace they’ve created shatters overnight. Forced to go on the run once again, Hannah and Bailey find themselves caught in another dangerous web of secrets, lies, and unfinished business while searching for answers—and possibly a second chance.
Dave certainly knows how to keep the pages turning. The short chapters and steady tension make the novel easy to fly through, and the bond between Hannah and Bailey remains the strongest part of the series. I also appreciated the emotional thread surrounding family, trust, and rebuilding a life after trauma.
That said, I once again found myself wanting more depth and emotional impact. The suspense never felt especially urgent to me, and much of the story became forgettable soon after I finished it. Not a bad read by any means—just another solidly middle-of-the-road Laura Dave novel for me. I’m glad it was short.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for a comp. Opinions are my own.
The Woman in Suite 11
By Ruth Ware
A Sequel That Leaves New Readers Behind
⭐️⭐️
This novel makes one thing clear pretty quickly: it was written with prior knowledge in mind. Having never read The Woman in Cabin 10, I often felt unmoored, as if I’d walked into the second half of a conversation and was expected to keep up. Key relationships and emotional stakes are taken for granted instead of built on the page, which makes it hard to fully invest.
The setup should work. Travel journalist Lo Blacklock, sidelined by motherhood and a changing media landscape, jumps at the chance to attend the opening of a luxurious Swiss hotel on Lake Geneva. The owner is a reclusive billionaire, the setting is glamorous, and a late-night summons to Suite 11 launches Lo into another high-stakes mystery involving a woman who claims to be in serious danger. From there, the story turns into a fast-moving chase across Europe.
Unfortunately, the execution is messy. The book is overly long, padded with repetition, and weighed down by excessive profanity that feels more distracting than authentic. While the plot has plenty of motion and a few clever turns, the mystery never develops the chilling, immersive atmosphere I expect from Ruth Ware. It’s readable, but far from gripping—and not a great entry point for newcomers.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for a comp of this title. Opinions are my own.
We Are All Guilty Here
By Karin Slaughter
Small-Town Secrets, Big-Time Twists—Slaughter Dials It Back (Just Enough)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In We Are All Guilty Here, Karin Slaughter kicks off her new North Falls series with a story that’s intense, twisty, and—dare I say—slightly less disturbing than some of her recent work. Either she’s easing up… or I’m getting used to it. (Also, I still can’t get over that’s her real name.)
Set in a seemingly tight-knit Georgia town, the novel opens with the disappearance of two teenage girls during a Fourth of July celebration—an event that fractures the illusion that everyone knows everyone. Officer Emmy Clifton takes the case personally, and what unfolds is a layered mystery spanning years, riddled with secrets, guilt, and long-simmering resentments.
What worked for me? The pacing is fast, the tension stays high, and the twists absolutely deliver. I loved how Slaughter kept peeling back the layers—just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, she pulls the rug out again. And again.
That said, the story does get a bit bogged down with backstory at times, and a few of the small-town details feel more like filler than flavor. But overall, this is a strong series opener with compelling characters and a finale that packs a punch.
If you like your thrillers dark—but not too dark—and full of jaw-dropping turns, this one’s worth the ride.
** Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and William Morrow for a comp. Opinions are my own.