Recent Reads

Dying to Meet You by Sarina Bowen (2025)

Rowan can't help keeping track of her ex-boyfriend on a phone app, until the night she discovers his dead body in front of the historic mansion she's helping renovate.  Rowan becomes the prime suspect, and with her daughter's father unexpectedly coming back into town at the same time, she's got a lot to worry about.  This was an interesting little mystery.  I think Bowen did a great job mixing the mystery aspect with romance, with Rowan having to deal with her ex-boyfriend's death and growing closer again with her daughter's father, without it feeling too contrived.  The story had multiple POVs, one of which really ended up surprising me, and I enjoyed how the story unfolded.  As a former historian, I especially liked how the historic mansion played such a big role in the story.  4 stars

Tristan 4 America by Bruce Overby (2026)

As a result of the pandemic, Tristan Heller is laid off from his job in tech sales.  He begins to take stock of the current political and social climate and decides to run for President.  Although he never seriously expects to win, Tristan uses the opportunity to say the kind of things that no one else will.  But, his campaign starts getting attention from extremist militia groups, and suddenly, everyone around him is at risk.  This is such an intriguing premise - I think it's absolutely plausible that someone devastated by the pandemic could enter politics, and I think Overby does a good job capturing those feelings of frustration.  However, the execution lacked for me.  I was expecting more of a thriller, but there was a lot of exposition - at times it felt more like Overby wanted to give his opinions on certain political and social topics, rather than keep the plot moving.  The attempts to build suspense never felt like enough for me.  This is also just a personal thing, but there was way too much cursing in this book - now, cursing does not really offend me in everyday life, I am certainly not immune from using bad words, but when the main character is supposed to be giving interviews, meeting with constituents, debating various topics in public forums, and every other word is an f-bomb, it just felt very unprofessional and unnecessary.  I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  3 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Extracurricular

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Extracurricular

Rachel Lynn Solomon 

Expected publication date: July 14, 2026

When a former pop star enrolls in college, the last thing she expects is A-plus chemistry with her psychology professor in this sexy and tender romance from New York Times bestselling author Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Ramona Wilder has spent her whole life in the spotlight. After a hit kids’ TV show, she transitioned into music, singing in arenas around the world and becoming an icon for millions of teenage girls. Now at age twenty-six, exhausted by the inhumane lack of privacy, she’s done—with all of it. She wants a chance at normal, whatever that might mean for her. And she’s starting with college.

Professor Nick Navarro is recently divorced but determinedly optimistic, allowing himself a very reasonable ten minutes per day to wallow. When his department calls a meeting about a celebrity enrollment, he plans to treat whoever it is like any other student. Except when Ramona blazes into class and causes an uproar, the typically easygoing professor is rattled, maybe for the first time in his career.

Ramona loves the way she flusters him, taking every opportunity to push Nick’s buttons, though what she really wants is to unbutton them completely. When a crisis brings them closer outside of class, they begin a tentative friendship amid an undeniable attraction. But Ramona can’t be so easily finished with her old life, and they’ll both have to confront their pasts if they want a chance at something real. - from Goodreads

Mid-Year Goals Check-In

We are officially halfway through 2026 (what?!?), so it's time to look back at the goals we set at the beginning of the year!

1. Read 75 books.  At the time I'm writing this, I've read 56 books, so making great progress!
2. Complete the sit-to-standing test.  I actually did it!  I was able to do it for the first time in January and a few times since, although it's been awhile since I tried!
3. Do 100 jumps a day.  I was really good about doing this at the beginning of the year, but around May, I fell off it!  I'm going to try to get back into it, though!
4. Complete 52 puzzles.  Ok, this was an unrealistic goal.  If you follow me on Instagram, you can see all the puzzles I've done this year.  I'm currently at 50 - eek!  I need to slow down.
5. Complete at least 4 new-to-us baking projects with Henry.  So far we have done 3 new baking projects, from scratch!  Pumpkin spice muffins (huge hit!), chai-spiced apple muffins (I liked them, Henry was not a big fan), and cookies 'n cream cookies (I thought they were a little dry, but the teachers at Henry school loved them!).  We are definitely having lots of fun in the kitchen!

And here's a check-in of Michele's goals:

 

Bookish Goals 

1. Read 200 Books – I just hit the midway point of this goal, so things are looking good!

2. Read books from a wide variety of genres – Romance and thrillers are up for me so far this year, but I know I have some great historical fiction and Middle Grades on my shelf just waiting for me!

3. Utilize my library more – my library use percentage is up over last year so far, so doing good there!

4. Buddy read with my daughter and husband – Luna and I have been continuing our Stuart Gibbs journey, so I’m really excited about that. My husband and I have a few books out later this year that we are both looking forward to.

Nonbookish Goals 

1. Learn needlepoint – haven’t gotten to this yet but my stepmom is hosting a girls’ crafting day next month so maybe I will bring my starter kit to that!

2. More monthly baking challenges – I have baked a few new items, but not really from the challenges, as I haven’t been a huge fan of a lot of the prompts! We’ll see what the second half of the year brings.

3. Plant a garden – totally dropped the ball on this. Kinda late to start now, but maybe I can start planning for next year….

4. Complete 24 puzzles – I’ve only done 6 so far this year, yikes. I do enjoy my puzzles, but they admittedly fall after my books and crocheting.

5. Continue my fitness journey – doing really well! I was able to keep up my exercise routine during my 60+ hour weeks in tax season and have been consistent all year so far. 

    

   How are you doing on your 2026 goals?
   

Recent Reads

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage (2025) 

Lexi is a medical resident in Australia, but very few people also know that she's an estranged member of the British royal family.  When her brother and father are killed in a skiing accident, Lexi suddenly finds herself as first in line to the throne.  Her grandmother, the queen, gives her a year to decide if she wants to return to the family or continue her life of anonymity.  I love a royal story, and this one was a really good one!  The story unfolds over Lexi's year back in England as she re-enters royal life for a time, with flashbacks to important moments in her life.  The story is rich with family drama and secrets, and I thoroughly enjoyed the peek behind the curtain of what being a princess could be like.  While I felt the ending was a bit weak, overall I enjoyed this book!  4 stars

Overruled by Lana Ferguson (2025)

Danica and Ezra are rival divorce lawyers who occasionally sleep together.  When they end up on opposite sides of the table for the biggest case of Danica's career, her vow to keep things casual is in serious jeopardy, as she gets to know Ezra better.  Lana Ferguson is an author I want to love, and while I always go into her books with an open mind, I find myself somewhat disappointed.  That was not the case here - I absolutely fell in love with Ezra and Dani and couldn't get enough of their story!  They were each such complicated characters, especially with their family dynamics, and I particularly loved how Ezra was the one pushing for something more.  Dani was sometimes a little too prickly - I just wanted to shake her and tell her to finally admit her feelings!  But, I could also see how their careers could make it difficult.  4.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. 

Month in Review: June 2026

 

June was a pretty quiet month for us!  Henry finished up tball with a couple more games, and he even got his first trophy at the end-of-season celebration!  We went to a pool party for his cousins' birthdays and then I went to a big puzzle swap, where I snagged several new puzzles!  We had my in-laws over for a BBQ and celebrated Tom for Father's Day.  Other than that, we've been enjoying walks around the neighborhood and trips to the playground.

The Books

Sunk in Love // Mother Tongue: A Memoir of Taiwan // Heiress Among Thieves // Every Summer After

Two Can Play // Catch Her If You Can // The Heir Apparent // Overruled

Daughter of Egypt // Dying To Meet You

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #96

Can't-Wait Wednesday: When You Loved Me

Recent Reads

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Love You More

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #97

Can't-Wait Wednesday: An Infinite Love Story

Michele's Monday Picks #98

How are you doing?

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Michele's Monday Picks #98

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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Habits of the Sea

Shea Ernshaw

Expected Publication: July 7, 2026

From Goodreads:

The second adult novel from New York Times bestselling author Shea Ernshaw, in which a woman rediscovers the mythical island she stumbled upon as a child—and the man she once met who apparently hasn’t aged—and must choose between the life she’s built and a love that defies the laws of time and nature. 

The night Clay Lockhart’s wife dies, a violent storm tears their home—and the eight hectares of land beneath it—away from the Scottish coast, sending it adrift into the Atlantic. Thirty years later, twelve-year-old Ellie Mills discovers the fabled floating island off the coast of Nova Scotia and finds Clay still living in the weatherworn farmhouse perched on its highest hill.

When the island vanishes overnight, Ellie is left questioning whether it ever existed at all. But decades later, now in her thirties, the island resurfaces—and Ellie returns, determined to uncover the truth. What she finds is even Clay hasn’t aged a single day.

Faced with the impossible, Ellie learns that some mysteries aren’t meant to be solved—and that a life shaped by wonder may hold more promise than one bound by certainty.

Spanning centuries and coastlines, Habits of the Sea is a haunting, romantic journey through time, memory, and the invisible tides that pull us home.

I thought this sounded very beautiful! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Can't-Wait Wednesday: An Infinite Love Story

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

An Infinite Love Story

Chanel Cleeton    

Expected publication date: July 7, 2026

When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.

When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.

Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.

As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her. - from Goodreads

Michele's Monday Picks #97

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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13 Little Love Stories
Anthology
Expected Publication: June 30, 2026

From Goodreads:

From bestselling YA authors comes thirteen dazzling contemporary romances inspired by the songs of Taylor Swift!

If you could live inside one Taylor Swift song for a day, which would you pick? In this shimmering anthology, thirteen best-selling and acclaimed authors do just that, reimagining some of Taylor’s most iconic songs as love stories. 

Whether you’re in an era of fairy lights and folktales or diss tracks and dance floors, here’s a playlist that features all the the soaring high note of first love. The minor key of heartbreak. And the steady rhythm of true friendship and self-discovery.

As clever and unforgettable as the songs that inspired them, these stories are sure to play on repeat in your head and your heart. 

Stories 

Elise Bryant

Jennifer Dugan

J. Elle

Jessica Goodman

Sloan Harlow

Crystal Maldonado

Krystal Marquis

Katharine McGee

Julie Murphy

Lynn Painter

Laura Sebastian

Sara Shepard

Jesse Q. Sutanto

I thought this sounded so fun! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (2022)

Percy and Sam fall in love as teenagers over the course of her summer visits to the lake, but one mistake causes Percy to stay away for a decade.  When Sam's mother passes away, Percy returns to Barry's Bay and is forced to confront her feelings for Sam.  Carley Fortune's books are so hyped that I've avoided reading them for years, but when I saw this book in a Little Free Library, I took the opportunity to finally read one of her stories!  For the most part, I enjoyed this book.  I liked the back and forth between present and past, seeing Percy and Sam grow up and realize their feelings for each other.  The ending really threw me, though - it was so abrupt and I honestly can't believe that Sam could get over the "mistake" that Percy made when they were younger.  The reveal of the mistake took so long and it seemed so monumental to me, yet it was resolved fairly quickly and painlessly.  4 stars

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood (2024)

Viola and Jesse are video game designers at rival firms, but they have a chance to work together on Viola's dream job.  Their firms participate in a snowy retreat, where Viola finally confronts Jesse over his apathy towards her over the years, and Jesse shocks her with his response.  This was a fun (and spicy) little novella!  I think Hazelwood did a great job succinctly creating a believable and well-rounded backstory for Viola and Jesse, and also for Viola's love for the book series-turned-video game.  The other co-workers on the retreat added some flavor, but in such a short story, it really was all about Viola and Jesse.  I appreciated that they were able to talk through their issues, but I did feel like they got serious so fast, and it always seems a little weird to me that people who have barely talked to each other hold such a torch for each other - is it just me?  3.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Love You More

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

Love You More

Emily Giffin

Expected publication date: July 7, 2026

A woman is newly engaged to a man she adores when she receives a call from her first love—with news that shatters her carefully ordered world—in this emotional, powerful novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Pact.

Billie has built the perfect life. Her practice as a doctor in New York City is thriving, and she’s finally found the right partner in Dean after years spent trying to move on from her high-school sweetheart, Mick. Their young love had been intense and true, but distance and ambition pulled them apart when she left Wisconsin for medical school.

Then one morning, just after accepting Dean’s romantic marriage proposal, Billie’s phone rings. It’s Mick—calling for the first time in nearly a decade. His news is urgent, and in a moment, everything changes.

As Billie boards a plane back to Wisconsin, the past comes rushing in—her friendships from home, the love she shared with Mick, and the choices that shaped them. What awaits her is a reckoning with what she’s lost, what she’s built, and what she still wants.

Gripping and deeply moving, Love You More is a story about the plot twists life throws at us—and how love, in all its forms, has the power to change everything. - from Goodreads

Recent Reads

Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss (2024)

After a bad breakup, Caroline has no job and no apartment in the city, so she's kind of forced to return home to New Jersey when her father asks for her help.  She is to take his place on the local men's softball team, but coming home is more difficult than she imagined it to be.  First off, I loved the NJ setting of this book - it's not one I see often and it was fun to know a lot of the local references.  I liked Caroline's sarcasm and the growth in her relationship with her father; although always pretty close, she gets to see a different side of him and help him as she never could before.  If you're looking for romance, I'd look elsewhere - although Caroline is reunited with her first crush, there are other elements at play that force a love match to the backburner.  The pacing was extremely slow and there's a lot of plot points to keep track of.  Caroline has to deal with some heavy topics, but because there's so much going on, there wasn't as much impact as I'd hoped for.  3 stars

Sunk in Love by Heather McBreen (2026)

A divorcing couple hide their secret from her family while they attend a vacation with them, but the close proximity stirs up old feelings and makes them question if they're doing the right thing.  I just loved this book!  I read a lot of romance, but not a lot about married couples, so that was a nice change and felt more relatable to me.  Mostly we get romances about couples just starting their journey together, but Roslyn and Liam have been together for 9 years, married for 5.  We get to see where they started from, but also the obstacles that can creep in over the years.  Happily ever afters aren't guaranteed; Roslyn's mother's death put a serious strain on their marriage, and issues that they may have overlooked before, now became magnified.  I loved watching them find their way back to each other, but also witness Roslyn's growth in regard to her family and never quite feeling like she fit in.  4.5 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Can't-Wait Wednesday: When You Loved Me

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

When You Loved Me

Beatriz Williams

Expected publication date: June 23, 2026

A young widow returns to her late father’s New England estate, only to be drawn into the hunt for the rumored pirate treasure that consumed his life, in this thrilling and moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Husbands & Lovers.

Local history insists that a legendary pirate buried his treasure somewhere beneath Windward, the decayed Cooper estate on Winthrop Island, but Lucy Cooper never trusted the fable that broke her family apart. When a widowed Lucy returns with her young daughter to grieve her estranged father, she discovers the property’s buried under a mountain of debt, and Ben Ressler has just turned up on her doorstep.

Thirteen summers ago, a teenaged Lucy never meant to fall in love with Ben, a Dartmouth football star vacationing next door at the Peabody estate, and the object of an all-consuming crush by Laura Peabody, Lucy’s best friend. Those two weeks with Ben were the best and worst of Lucy’s life, dooming her friendship with Laura. Now Ben’s returned to live quietly in the Peabodys’ caretaker lodge, after a fatal accident ended his dazzling NFL career. He’s also the last person who saw Lucy’s father alive.

As Lucy reconstructs her father’s troubling final days, she uncovers his research on the frozen winter of 1717, when a desperately wounded pirate sought refuge on Winthrop Island with an enigmatic healer. To Lucy, this history points the way to a different kind of how to forgive yourself for the mistakes of the past and earn a second chance at love. But just as Lucy’s long-buried emotions sear to the surface, a shocking turn of events reveals that someone else on the island will do whatever it takes to claim the fabled plunder.

A timeless story of love and atonement, When You Loved Me maps both a centuries-old treasure hunt and the intimate territory of the human heart, weaving together past and present as only Beatriz Williams can. - from Goodreads

Michele's Monday Picks #96

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my series, Michele’s Monday Picks!  I’m not a blogger or bookstagrammer, but I love getting excited about new releases with the rest of you.  Here I’ll be sharing new books I’m really looking forward to!

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Scandal of the Summer

By Alexandra Vasti

Expected Publication: June 23, 2026

From Goodreads:

A desperate debutante meets a ragtag smuggler in this sexy Regency romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.

Eccentric heiress Lady Ruby Ballimore has had enough of the Marriage Mart. After offending yet another Very Important Marquess―and imperiling her father’s diplomatic career―Ruby flees London for the holiday house of a glamorous (and better yet, absent) princess. Armed with a forged invitation and accompanied by her like-minded friends, Ruby arrives at the Cornwall estate expecting a summer of blissful freedom.

Instead, she discovers a derelict mansion and the most suspiciously charming man she’s ever met.

Former privateer and current con artist Captain Malcolm Archer has dragged his ramshackle crew into a new life. Posing as staff at a princess’s abandoned estate provides the perfect cover for Archer’s smuggling scheme (not to mention free rent). Everything’s going according to plan―until an unorthodox London heiress crashes the party.

But when Archer and his crew attempt to frighten off their uninvited guests, Ruby’s unfazed by insect invasions and sham sea monsters. Harder to ignore? The scorching heat between the rakish pirate and the debutante who can see right through him. As sparks fly, deceptions run wild―because in this Great Cornish Fake Off, the only thing riskier than telling the truth is falling in love.

I thought this sounded so fun! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

 The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda (2023)

A decade ago, a group of students survived a horrific crash when many others perished.  Now, the survivors meet yearly, as the only ones who really know what happened that night.  This year, though, feels different.  As their group gets smaller, Cass, one of the survivors who is trying to distance herself from the group, begins to wonder if something else is going on.  I feel like the premise of this book definitely didn't match the execution.  I liked the dual timeline, with one focusing on the survivor group at their yearly get-together in the present day and the other on the night of the accident.  The past timeline is told in a reverse chronological way, which definitely made for a shocking (yet also wholly unbelievable) reveal but also made me feel confused as to what was happening.  I think this book was trying to be more of a thriller than it actually was.  The reveals didn't necessarily make sense and the whole book felt kind of convoluted.  3 stars

The Write Off by Kara McDowell (2026)

Mars and West met in college, became best friends, and briefly dated, which ended badly.  Now, a decade later, they are both back on campus, attending a book festival as published authors, and they are forced to confront their complicated past.  I loved the college setting of this book, both seeing Mars and West in the past as undergrads and now being back as older adults.  I think McDowell captured that unique setting and feeling very well.  I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the life of a successful author who is also trying to make a comeback.  I felt the connection between Mars and West, but at times there was a bit too much drama for me.  I get the dynamics between them, but more than once, it felt like things were finally getting on track, just for one of them to abruptly pull the plug.  They both felt a bit immature (and since McDowell mostly writes YA, I get it) and it seemed like there was too much miscommunication and impulsivity.  4 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Month in Review: May 2026

 

May was another busy month!  Henry continued tball - I was very nervous when he refused to play any of the second game, but after that, he was excited to go to practice and his games, and he's doing great!  My sister and I attended a book event with author Sally Hepworth (linked below if you missed the original post!).  We took our annual trip to Cape May with my in-laws.  We had really nice weather and spent a lot of time walking around Cape May, visiting lighthouses, walking the boardwalk, and shopping downtown.  Memorial Day weekend was almost a total washout, so it ended up being a very relaxing weekend for us.  We ended the month with a Somerset Patriots game (our local minor league baseball team).  Henry and Tom got to walk the field with our tball league and Henry saw fireworks in person for the first time - he was so excited, he couldn't stop yelling!

The Books

Too Old For This // Manor for Sale, Baron Included // The Only Survivors // Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

The Honeymoon Cottage // Into Thin Air // The Write Off // Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i

Welcome Home, Caroline Kline

The Posts and Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #95

Author Tea with Sally Hepworth

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Chateau on Sunset

Recent Reads

Little Free Library Sightings: The Jersey Shore Edition, Part 5

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Hawaii Edition

How are you doing?

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Hawaii Edition

 The Guest in Room 120 by Sara Ackerman (2025)

Jan Stanford, founder of Stanford University, flees to Hawaii to escape her enemies for awhile, but she is then found dead at a new hotel.  One hundred years later, author Zoe is attending a writers' conference at the same hotel when she feels compelled to solve the mystery of what actually happened to Jane Stanford.  I had mixed feelings about this fictional approach to the real-life mystery of Jane Stanford's death.  I loved the Hawaiian setting and the inclusion of another POV, a hotel worker named Iliahi, brought a unique perspective to the story.  I thought the writing was pretty stilted, though, and Jane was eccentric to the point of being unlikable.  Zoe's storyline has too much going on (a tragic backstory, a romance, and trying to keep herself anonymous while also making friends at the conference, although the "writer" talk was interesting, to learn more about the publishing industry and how to craft a novel), and the addition of some paranormal activities was a little laughable.  I think the book could have worked much better without it, just being a straight mystery.  3 stars

Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai'i by Sara Kehaulani Goo (2025)

Journalist Sara Kehaulani Goo's family was granted a portion of land by the Hawaiian king in 1848, near Hana on the island of Maui.  The ancestral land has remained largely untouched, but one year, a 500% increase in the property taxes puts the family's ability to keep the land at risk.  Sara works with her family to figure out how to overcome this, and she ends up connecting more to her family and culture along the way.  I really enjoyed this mixture of memoir and history lesson.  Goo provides a lot of background information on the history of Hawaii and the struggles that native Hawaiians have had in holding onto their land and culture.  To this, she adds her family's personal story of their ancestral land.  At times it got a bit confusing because there are so many family members and transactions to keep track of, and the timeline didn't always make sense.  But, I also enjoyed learning about Goo's efforts to connect more to her Hawaiian heritage.  4 stars

* This post contains affiliate links; I earn a small commission on qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Little Free Library Sightings: The Jersey Shore Edition, Part 5

It's always fun to see a Little Free Library "out in the wild!"  I love to spot them, browse their selection, leave a book if possible, and then look them up on the official website, because sometimes they have interesting stories to go along with them!  There's also an app you can download to find local Little Free Libraries where you can even "check in" to keep track of the ones you've visited!  We recently took our yearly visit to Cape May, and I came prepared with a bag of books I wanted to donate and a list of the LFLs I wanted to see.  On previous trips to the area, I've checked in at a lot of the LFLs, but there were some I hadn't seen yet and a couple new ones, too!

#220844 at the Boarding House Cape May - This is a new LFL right around the corner from our VRBO, and I loved the sentiment, "As a space that welcomes thousands of guests annually we find ourselves thinking about things we often forget to pack when heading off on a vacation at the beach. A good book on the sun soaked beaches of Cape May happens to be one of those things. We rescue books that others have tried to send to landfills, guests have finished and want to share the story they’ve just enjoyed and some good reads of our own. Whether you’re visiting or local we hope our little free library helps bring you joy. Remember, Life can be hard, your vacation shouldn’t be. The Boarding House Cape May Crew."

#60660 - This LFL was located in West Cape May and as you can see, it was quite well-stocked!

Although this LFL has an official charter, it wasn't on the map in the app.  It's located at the Emlen Physick Estate, a historic property in Cape May, and we came across it while attending a craft fair.

This is another LFL that has an official charter but isn't listed on the app map.  We were visiting the Cape May Kiwanis Club open house and saw this one, so of course I had to leave a book for my fellow Kiwanians!  Their clubhouse is also a historic property, recently renovated, so this LFL is a nice addition!

#164950 - Charlotte's LiBerry is located in North Wildwood and we stopped by after visiting the Hereford Lighthouse nearby.  The owner was actually touching up the library for the season (hence the open door and empty interior!).  She told me the library is named for their cat, Strawberry.  I gave her a book to put in when it's done!

Recent Reads

 Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (2025)

Sophie's dad is throwing her a massive Sweet 16 party at his recently renovated historic home, but with several troubling relationships coming to a head, the party ends in tragedy.  This one was kind of a mixed bag for me.  I think the author did a great job setting up these difficult interpersonal dynamics, with Sophie's divorced parents, a nanny that seems a little off, a stepmom dealing with fears about new motherhood, and Sophie's best friend, who feels like she doesn't quite fit in anymore.  We get different POVs of the party as we follow several characters during the evening, and it definitely piqued my curiosity as to who would be killed and why.  Where it went downhill for me was in two areas - first, the author incorporates almost a haunted house vibe, with a tragic backstory for the property and hints at a ghost, but it never quite fits.  Also, the reader comes to learn quite late in the story about a deeply disturbing relationship that's been hidden, and it kind of just made me feel icky about the whole story.  3.5 stars

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing (2025)

A serial killer is brought out of retirement when people start knocking on her door, asking too many questions and bringing up old cases.  Lottie is not your typical serial killer - she's a little old lady who plays bingo with her church friends.  But Lottie has a checkered past, and although she hid things really well, someone has potentially put the pieces together.  This was a fun read!  Lottie is smart, really smart, and always trying to think 5 steps ahead.  When a documentary maker appears on her doorstep, wanting to ask questions about some unsolved murders that Lottie was previously implicated in, her old reflexes kick in.  Although at times this got a little outlandish and unbelievable, I really liked Lottie.  She also has some stuff going on in her personal life involving her son, and I appreciated that more humanizing element to the story.  4 stars

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Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Chateau on Sunset

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Chateau on Sunset 

Natasha Lester

Expected publication date: June 2, 2026

Epic Love. Tragic Loss. Beautiful Friendship. The entrancing story of an orphan who grows up surrounded by the beautiful and the broken in the world's most infamous hotel.

After her parents' deaths, Aria Jones is sent to live with her reclusive starlet aunt at the Chateau Marmont, the hotel on Hollywood Boulevard with a notorious reputation.

Left alone to wander the hotel, Aria sees everything-all the ways people wheel and deal for fame. But the Marmont isn't meant for young girls with big hearts, and Aria discovers an insidious secret that will haunt her childhood.

As she matures, she finds solace in the hotel's library. Her sole goal is to be as inconspicuous as possible. Until one day, the hotel is sold to mysterious rock star Theo Winchester and his troubled daughter, Adele. Will Aria realise there's more to life than being invisible?

Captivating from its very first page, The Chateau on Sunset blends the beloved Jane Eyre story with the rich and colourful history of the entertainment industry from the 1950s to the 1970s. - from Goodreads

Author Tea with Sally Hepworth

Michele and I recently attended our first book event of the year - an author tea with Sally Hepworth to celebrate the release of her new book, Mad Mabel!  The event was hosted by the Princeton Public Library and held on the grounds of the Historical Society of Princeton in their restored historic barn.  This was Sally's last event during her US book tour before heading home to Australia! 

The event consisted of Sally in conversation with local author Megan McCafferty.  They talked about all the usual stuff - the inspiration behind the book, the characters, and Sally's writing process.  Sally was super charming and very funny!  There was a short time allowed for an audience Q&A.

After the talk, we all lined up outside to meet Sally and get our books signed!

We were near the end of the line, but Sally still talked with us for a few minutes and got up to take a picture with us (she got up for everyone, which showed some serious commitment!).  She was so nice and made everyone feel so special.

I'm so glad we got to go to this event and look forward to the next one!