Imagine you are sitting on an airplane minding your own business when a sweet little old lady comes up and tells you when and how you are going to kick the bucket. Is she a crackpot or let her prognostication change everything? That’s the unique premise of Liane Moriarty’s brilliantly constructed recent novel, Here One Moment. Set aboard a delayed flight from Hobart to Sydney, Australia, this inventive tale introduces a vivid cast of characters: a newlywed couple still glowing from their vows, a tired mom wrangling two kids, a pregnant woman, and a brooding hipster. No one notices the unassuming elderly woman in the aisle seat. Dubbed “The Death […]
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Our American Friend: A Glamorous Cold War Spy Tale with Modern Echoes
Our American Friend takes readers on a journey of espionage, love, and political intrigue. Journalist Sofie Morse, disillusioned after covering President Henry Caine’s administration, is invited by First Lady Lara Caine to write her biography. Lara, a Russian-born former model, shares her secretive past, drawing Sofie into a tale of Cold War espionage, betrayal, and a doomed romance with dissident Sasha, whose influence reshaped her life. Anna Pitoniak alternates timelines between 1970s Paris, where Lara’s youthful idealism clashes with Soviet realities, and Sofie’s present-day efforts to understand Lara’s motives. The story’s global settings—Moscow, Paris, and Washington, D.C.—and complex characters add depth. The novel’s structure can feel disjointed, especially in audio […]
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The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
In The Demon of Unrest, Erik Larson dives into the chaotic five months between Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 election and the outbreak of the Civil War, with the focus squarely on Fort Sumter. Larson brings his trademark depth to the narrative, weaving together perspectives from key figures like Major Robert Anderson, a conflicted Union officer, and Mary Chesnut, a Southern diarist grappling with slavery and societal roles. Drawing from diaries, letters, and historical documents, Larson delivers a richly detailed account of how miscommunications and inflamed egos pushed the nation to the brink. That said, this book didn’t quite land for me. While the level of detail is impressive, I found it […]
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Target Acquired: High-Stakes Suspense with Heart
Lynette Eason delivers another pulse-pounding thriller with Target Acquired. This second installment in the Lake City Heroes series seamlessly blends intense action, buried family secrets, and a touch of romance, making it a standout read for fans of clean suspense. Kenzie King has fought hard to earn her place as a tactical medic on the all-male SWAT team, but proving herself isn’t easy. With rumors swirling that her position came from connections, not skill, she’s determined to show she belongs. When team members become targets of a deadly assailant and Kenzie herself receives threats, the stakes skyrocket. SWAT leader Cole Garrison has his own struggles—balancing his growing feelings for Kenzie […]
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The Lion Women of Tehran: A Stirring Tale of Friendship and Courage
“Waves begin their journey thousands of miles out at sea. They accumulate shape and power from winds and undersea currents for ages. And so, when you see the women in Iran screaming for their rights, please remember that the force and fury of our screams have been gathering power for years.” ― Marjan Kamali, The Lion Women of Tehran. Marjan Kamali’s The Lion Women of Tehran is a breathtaking journey through three decades of friendship, betrayal, and redemption, set against the tumultuous backdrop of Iran’s political upheavals. Spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s, this poignant novel explores the unbreakable bond between Ellie and Homa, two young girls from vastly […]
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The Refugee Ocean: A Symphony of Struggle and Survival
The Refugee Ocean intertwines the stories of two refugees, Marguerite Toutoungi and Naïm Rahil, across time and continents through history, loss, and music. Marguerite (who is based on the author’s cousin) is born in 1922 Beirut, and dreams of becoming a composer, but societal and familial expectations keep her tethered. A romance with a Cuban tobacco farmer leads her to a turbulent life in Havana during the Cuban Revolution. Decades later, Naïm Rahil, a teenage piano prodigy from Aleppo, flees war-torn Syria with his mother, seeking solace in suburban America after losing his family and part of his hand in a bombing. Their stories are linked by Annabel Crandell, a […]
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The Last Exchange by Charles Martin – A Heart-Wrenching Story of Redemption and Love
“Scars are just the body’s response to things that shouldn’t be there. A reminder of the pain.” This line from The Last Exchange perfectly captures the heart of Charles Martin’s latest novel, where suspense and deep emotion blend into a story that lingers long after the last page. In The Last Exchange, Martin introduces us to MacThomas “Pockets” Pockets, a former Scottish Special Forces soldier. Pockets lands a role as a bodyguard to Hollywood star Maybe Joe Sue, a woman with a picture-perfect public life but a private world marred by trauma and a desperate longing for a child. Martin’s portrayal of Maybe’s two lives—the glitz and glamour versus her […]
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Eliza Hamilton’s Untold Story of Love, Loss, and Legacy
4.5 stars. Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie’s retelling of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton’s life in My Dear Hamilton is rich with historical detail and vibrant prose. They bring Eliza to life not just as Alexander Hamilton’s wife, but as an influential figure who helped shape a nation. Through extensive research, including thousands of letters, they explore Eliza’s journey from spirited young woman to the grieving widow of a flawed yet brilliant man. Eliza’s fierce love for her country and her complex relationship with Hamilton lie at the book’s heart, and her character shines against the backdrop of a nation struggling to find its footing. The story is episodic, immersing readers in […]
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A Tale of Freedom, Friendship, and Bravery in Pre-Civil War Philadelphia
All We Were Promised transports readers to 1837 Philadelphia, where three young Black women—Charlotte, Nell, and Evie—struggle against societal constraints and personal secrets. Charlotte, who recently escaped slavery, lives as a servant to her white-passing father in a city she thought would guarantee her freedom. Nell, from a wealthy, freeborn Black family, is passionate about the abolitionist cause and introduces Charlotte to the movement. Their paths intersect with Evie, Charlotte’s old friend, who remains enslaved and longs for escape. The story delves into the meaning of freedom, both physical and emotional, as each woman seeks a better future in a city simmering with racial unrest and anti-abolitionist sentiment. Lattimore enriches […]
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Stormy Setting, Shallow Story: The Unwedding by Ally Condie
Ally Condie’s adult debut, The Unwedding, sets a classic locked-room mystery against the picturesque backdrop of Big Sur. Ellery Wainwright, recently divorced and alone, goes to the luxurious Resort at Broken Point for what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary. Instead of peace, she finds chaos: she finds the groom at a wedding held there dead in the pool, and a sudden storm traps the guests with no hope of rescue. As bodies pile up, Ellery and two other guests, Ravi and Nina, step into the unlikely roles of amateur detectives. While the setup is promising, the execution falls flat. The characters, including Ellery, don’t leave a lasting impact, […]
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