Michele's Monday Picks #105

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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Monsters of Ohio

John Scalzi

Expected Publication: November 3, 2026

From Goodreads:

Monsters of Ohio is a heartfelt exploration of a tentacular solution to the struggles of the modern world from the New York Times bestselling author of Starter Villain.

In many ways Richland, Ohio is the same tiny, sleepy rural village it has been for the last 150 years.  The same families, the same farms, the same heartland beliefs and traditions that have sustained it for generations. But right now times are especially hard, as social and economic forces inside and outside the community roil the surface of the once-placid town.

Richland, in other words, is primed to explode... just not the way that anyone anywhere could ever have expected. And when things do explode, well, that’s when things start getting really weird.

Daniel Garvey left Richland decades back, to find his own way in the world. But when he is called back to his hometown to tie up some loose ends, he finds more going on than he bargained for, and is caught up in a sequence of events that will bring this tiny farm village to the attention of the entire world... and, perhaps, spell its doom.

John Scalzi is an autobuy author for me! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Michigan

 Our summer road trip also took us to Michigan, where we spent time in Grand Rapids and Holland.  I managed to visit two more indie bookstores, Readers World and Orchard House Books and Cafe!

Readers World is located in Holland, Michigan, an adorable, quaint small town near Lake Michigan.  The downtown area was so cute, I almost couldn't stand it!  This locally owned bookstore has been a staple in the community for over 50 years!

 

Orchard House Books & Cafe was one of the most delightful bookstores I've ever visited!  Located in Grand Rapids, it has the coziest vibes, several seating options including a greenhouse, and a coffee bar!

 

Blog Tour + Review: The Me I Used To Be

Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to celebrate the release of The Me I Used To Be by Kristan Higgins.  Keep reading for my review!  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Me I Used To Be

Kristan Higgins

Published September 15, 2026

At a high school reunion, old secrets and heartbreaking truths come to light for four estranged friends in a poignant, humorous and bittersweet novel by a New York Times bestselling author.

Audrey, Micah, Jasmine and Beck—the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one—are called the Core Four. Full of promise, laughter and loyalty, they promise to be best friends forever. But the night after graduation, they’re in a devastating accident, and the friendship that seemed unbreakable is shattered.

Twenty-five years later, the four women agree to reunite for their high school reunion. None of them is where they hoped to be way back when, and all have scars and secrets. But for one, the diagnosis of early-onset dementia means this is the last chance to revisit their once-golden friendship.

Over the weekend, they’ll come to terms with that tragic accident, as well as the dreams and realities of their lives. Can they forgive each other and peel away those secrets? Is there anything left of that old friendship? After all these years, it’s time to see if the Core Four can come together once more. - from Goodreads

Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were an inseparable friend group in high school, but a tragic accident on the night of their graduation rips the girls apart.  Now, 25 years later, Audrey is facing a devastating diagnosis, and she wants to bring the group back together at their high school reunion and try to mend fences.  Each woman is facing problems in her own life, but they agree to meet up and see if they can find that old magic together again.

I have to admit, I struggled a little initially with this one.  The beginning felt very abrupt, as the woman meet up for the first time in 25 years, Audrey drops her bombshell secret, and asks that they all forgive each other for that night.  Things did smooth out a little after that, as we move through the reunion weekend but also visit each woman individually and learn about their lives and how things haven't gone as they planned.  This is definitely a heavy book, as really none of the characters are all that happy, so it was sometimes hard to read.  The chapters about Audrey's early-onset dementia were probably among my favorites, actually.  They had a different feel to them, and it was heartbreaking to see how Audrey discovered and then experiences her illness.  It's very raw and honest.  Overall, though, this is a bittersweet, rocky story about friendship, family, and illness, with some poignant moments.

3.5 stars

Michele's Monday Picks #104

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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Chateau Reverie

Natasha Siegel

Expected Publication: October 27, 2026

From Goodreads:

Another sweeping speculative, romantic novel from the author of As Many Souls as Stars, in which attendees of a magical auction must bid secrets in exchange for their greatest desires. Perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern or V.E. Schwab.

Reverie and Sons humbly requests your attendance at THE AUCTION OF SECRETS.

Genevieve de Vienne does not remember the journey to the Chateau Reverie. She only remembers receiving her invitation to the Auction of Secrets, writing upon it her greatest desire—to forget the woman she once loved—and setting it aflame.

Leander Sterne does not remember a life outside of the Chateau Reverie. When he receives his own invitation, he does not have any secrets to bid, but his greatest desire—his liberty—is worth risking everything. He has nothing to lose.

Alongside five fellow attendees, Leander and Genevieve must survive three nights in the Chateau in order to bid their secrets and win their hearts’ desire. But the Chateau has a mind of its own. As guests begin to disappear and Leander and Genevieve become more and more entangled, it becomes clear that the rules of the Auction might not be in anyone’s favor…and even those who win might not be allowed to leave.

Written in Natasha Siegel’s transportive, lush prose and set amidst the final days of the French Revolution, Chateau Reverie is a rococo fairytale full of horrors and both a sweeping romance and a twisting speculative mystery.

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

Recent Reads

In Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto (2026)

She's an online meteorologist, he's a flashy tv weatherman, and now they're spending the summer chasing storms in Florida and maybe even falling in love.  I enjoyed this book so much!  I loved Quincy's commitment to teaching people about weather and I felt for her desire to want to prove herself.  And I loved Sebastian, too!  He's got fame and fortune but is maybe ready to try something new.  The banter between them is so good, and because of their shared history and many years of knowing each other, it felt so natural.  They are both so quick and witty, and the story moved at a fast speed.  But most of all, Sebastian's love for Quincy was so romantic - he loves her for her brain as much as her beauty and he's not afraid to tell people how smart she is.  I loved the way he continually stuck up for her when others weren't treating her fairly.  4.5 stars

A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay (2025)

Hazel and Fox are former serial killers, now married with a child, and the drudgery of life is getting to Hazel.  When she breaks her promise to Fox not to kill anymore, suddenly life gets a lot more complicated.  This was such a fun read!  After rough childhoods (although very different), Hazel and Fox find an outlet in killing others (but only really bad guys, right?).  When they meet, it feels like fate, but after years of traveling (and killing), Hazel becomes pregnant and they decide to lead a more normal life.  I actually found myself relating a lot to Hazel and Fox - not the murdering part, of course, but adjusting to parenthood, experiencing wanes in the romance of marriage, and trying not to lose yourself when you have to give so much to others.  And the idea that Hazel would accidentally befriend a police detective was absolutely genius.  I enjoyed the story moving between Hazel and Fox's POVs, although it never really seemed like we truly know Fox (so many secrets are revealed at the end).  But overall, this story is both truly unique and truly relatable.  4 stars

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

Month in Review: September 2026

 

After our road trip, it was back to work and school for all of us!  Henry started pre-k at daycare, which means we are just that much closer to him starting real school!  ::sobs::  But we had a fun September!  We went to a fun fair day for a local town.  We also went to a hot air balloon festival - after going to his first one last year, Henry was very much looking forward to going back.  And this time, he got to cross an item off his bucket list when he took a (tethered) hot air balloon ride!  Weatherwise, we experienced a weekend nor'easter that caused a lot of cancelled plans, but we managed to get to a pizza challenge event, where we got to eat a lot of pizza and vote for the best pizzeria!  

Side note - parents, when did your kids start calling you "mom" and "dad" versus "mommy" and "daddy"?  Henry has recently started calling me mom, and I have to admit, I'm really missing "mommy"!

The Books

The Mad Wife // I Came Back For You // Extracurricular // Never Been Shipped

In Stormy Weather // An Infinite Love Story // A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #102

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: Another Tudor Edition

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Pittsburgh

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Broken Rival

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #103

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 #103

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!

******************************************************************

 

Wondrous

Heather Fawcett

Expected Publication: October 6, 2026

From Goodreads:

Timed to the 75th anniversary of Disney’s enduring classic Alice in Wonderland, this young adult sequel follows teenaged Alice on a curious new adventure down the rabbit hole, many years after her first visit to Wonderland.

Now eighteen, Alice feels much more comfortable spending her days in Wonderland than in the “real” world. After all, no one in Wonderland will judge you for being strange! But things in Wonderland have seemed off lately, especially when Alice encounters another teen, and then another . . . both of whom also claim to be named Alice.

Before long, card soldiers capture all three Alices, and they are taken to the Queen of Hearts’ castle, where a strange truth is it has been prophesied that a “blue Alice” would one day save Wonderland from terrible peril. Ever since, the White Rabbit has been opening portals to Wonderland for children dressed in blue named Alice. And now, the foretold danger has three terrifying dragons have appeared in Wonderland, from the worlds beyond the doors in Doorknob’s hallway.

The Queen declares that the Alice who can save Wonderland will be named “The Alice” . . . and the others will be cast out, never allowed to return. So Alice sets out on a quest to save the land she loves, meeting new friends and enemies along the way, including a strange boy who she isn’t sure she can trust. Is Alice truly “The Alice,” or is she just a footnote in someone else’s story?

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