Greenwich Park starts with prenatal yoga and ends with a punch to the gut. Katherine Faulkner’s debut is a twisty domestic thriller that unwraps like a baby shower gift with something sinister inside. Helen is pregnant after years of loss, married to a charming architect, and living in a dreamy Victorian home. But when she meets Rachel—a chain-smoking, wine-guzzling hot mess at her prenatal class—her carefully built life cracks. Rachel latches on fast. She’s fun, unpredictable, and clearly hiding something. So is everyone else, apparently. We get multiple narrators (Helen, her chic sister-in-law Serena, and Katie, a dogged reporter), all tied together by a dark event from their Cambridge days. […]
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Unveiling a Hidden Heroine: A Review of Let Us March On
Shara Moon’s Let Us March On brings overdue attention to Elizabeth “Lizzie” McDuffie, a maid in FDR’s White House who quietly advocated for civil rights. Known as the “Secretary-On-Colored-People’s-Affairs,” Lizzie acted as a vital bridge between the Black community and the President—an incredible feat for a woman in her position during the 1930s. Told through Lizzie’s eyes, the story offers an inside look at the Roosevelts and the political landscape of the time. Moon captures Lizzie’s strength and determination, showing how she used her role to push for justice in subtle but powerful ways. That said, the pacing lags in spots, especially when it gets too bogged down in politics. […]
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A Bookshop, a few Mitfords, and a Slow-Paced Novel
Let’s start with what worked: The Mayfair Bookshop has a great hook—London, WWII, a charming bookshop, and a spotlight on Nancy Mitford. The historical setting is rich, and the real-life Mitford drama adds some sparkle. If you’re already a fan of Nancy and her scandal-prone sisters, you might find the behind-the-scenes stuff intriguing. There’s gossip, heartbreak, and the war looming in the background, which makes for decent historical fiction. But here’s the thing: the dual timeline structure doesn’t quite balance. Nancy’s chapters are clearly the main event, while the present-day storyline feels like filler. Lucy, the modern book curator, just didn’t do it for me. Her quest to uncover a […]
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A Tender Look at Grief, Growth, and the Messiness of Moving On
Anna Quindlen’s After Annie is an emotionally raw story—but oh so beautiful. It opens with a gut punch: Annie Brown collapses and dies, leaving behind a stunned husband, four grieving kids, and her best friend, Annemarie. From there, Quindlen doesn’t build a plot so much as she gently lays out the emotional wreckage and lets you sit with it. Thirteen-year-old Ali takes center stage, trying to step into her mother’s shoes while barely understanding her own grief. Her relationship with Annemarie—who’s battling her own demons—is messy, tender, and real. There’s not a ton of action here, but that’s the point. This is about the quiet, day-to-day unraveling that comes after […]
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Say Yes to This Book: A Sweet Road Trip You’ll Be Glad You Took
Okay, so I rarely fall into the chick-lit camp. But The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh got me good. It’s quirky, heartfelt, and just the kind of book you want to read with your feet up and something fruity in hand. Kelsey Worthington is a junior editor who’s all about routines and playing it safe—until she gets smacked by a car and ends up in the hospital. That’s where she meets Georgina Tate, a powerhouse businesswoman with a terminal illness and more regrets than she’ll admit. Kelsey, fresh off her brush with death, pitches a wild idea: say “yes” to life. Georgina rolls her eyes… then goes along for […]
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Treachery, Betrayal, and Romance in 17th Century Britain.
Susanna Kearsley is back doing what she does best—serving up rich historical fiction with a side of slow-burn romance and just a sprinkle of second sight. The King’s Messenger is set in 1613, after the death of Prince Henry, heir to King James I. Rumors swirl the prince was poisoned, and Andrew Logan, one of the King’s Messengers (who’s hiding his own mystical secret), is sent north to arrest Sir David Moray, a close friend of the late prince. Phoebe Westaway is dragged into the mission to assist her aging father, who’s acting as the trip’s scribe. She’s not a fan of Andrew—at all—but over the course of the dangerous […]
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Heartache, Hope, and Healing, Along Route 66
4.5 stars Vanessa Miller tackles a brutal chapter of American history with honesty and heart in The Filling Station. Sisters Margaret and Evelyn flee the devastating Tulsa Race Massacre, finding refuge at the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66. Miller shines a necessary spotlight on Greenwood, Oklahoma, and its violent destruction, a tragic event overlooked by many history books. Margaret, practical and cautious, struggles with shattered faith. Evelyn dreams of escape and a brighter future. Both women feel vividly real, their flaws and strength equally believable. Miller carefully shows how trauma shapes them differently, making their journey toward healing messy but meaningful. Some plot points land predictably, yet strong character […]
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Under the Golden Sun Shines with Love, Resilience, and a Stunning Australian Setting
Jenny Ashcroft’s Under the Golden Sun is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, a breathtaking historical novel filled with love, resilience, and the beauty of second chances. From the moment we meet Rose Hamilton, a young woman searching for purpose, we’re swept away on an unforgettable journey from war-torn England to the sun-drenched landscapes of Australia. Tasked with escorting young orphan Walter to his family, Rose embarks on an adventure that reshapes her understanding of love and belonging. Walter, with his heartbreaking past, is more than just a child in her care—their bond is deeply moving. The novel beautifully captures their shared sorrows and joys, as well as the rich customs and […]
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A Doggone Wild Ride: Love, Loss, and Mayhem in Three Wild Dogs
Markus Zusak, best known for The Book Thief, turns his storytelling skills toward real life in Three Wild Dogs, a memoir about the joy and chaos of adopting three unruly rescue pups. From biting piano teachers to breaking bones to—yes—killing the family cat, Reuben, Archer, and Frosty bring love, destruction, and plenty of trouble into the Zusak household. This book had me laughing out loud one moment and near tears the next. Zusak’s writing is, as expected, top-notch—he can make training disasters feel poetic and losing a pet feel like the end of the world. But while his storytelling is strong, the book felt too long for its 240 pages, […]
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A Smart, Tense Espionage Thriller with a Fierce MI5 Operative
British author Henry Porter delivers a gripping spy thriller with The Enigma Girl, proving why he’s considered a worthy successor to John le Carré. The novel introduces Slim Parsons, a disgraced MI5 agent who’s as sharp as she is dangerous. After a botched deep-cover operation leaves her with a target on her back, she’s reluctantly pulled back in to infiltrate an investigative news site. What starts as a routine job soon turns into a tangled web of political intrigue, cyber threats, and old enemies resurfacing with a vengeance. Tension, layered subplots, and sharp character work fill the novel. Slim is an exceptional lead: smart, resourceful, and unafraid to challenge authority. […]
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