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?

Recent Reads

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams (2025) 

After barely passing culinary school in NYC, Madison is offered an opportunity to be the executive chef at her friend James' new restaurant on his farm.  While they plan the business together, the two start to realize they have deeper feelings for each other.  Ugh, ok, this might be a "me" thing - this book has pretty decent reviews on Goodreads, but I barely made it through, and the eye-rolling was incessant.  For an 11-hour audiobook, which is long for me to listen to, it felt like NOTHING was happening.  The whole story is premised on Madison helping open this restaurant, and they barely mentioned it.  And I am so tired of this trend of "weak" female main characters - they are messy, quirky, nothing ever goes right for them, they are constantly failing at something (either for real or just perceived), and just in general don't have their sh*t together.  Madison is 30 years old, yet she came across so naive and immature.  Listen, I have no problem with people changing careers, but Madison seemed flighty.  Maybe I missed something previously in this series, but I didn't understand her motivations for going to culinary school, and then for her to think she could be a head chef fresh out of the school she only passed because of extra credit?  What?  Her and James' interactions felt so cringey - for two people who have known each other so long, I wasn't feeling the chemistry.  And when the restaurant actually opens, everything goes to hell, but of course, within a few pages, everything works out perfectly.  More eye rolls.  2 stars

Extracurricular by Rachel Lynn Solomon (2026)

What happens when a world-famous pop star decides to quit her day job and go to college, only to find herself falling for her professor?  This spectacular book is what happens!  I have been so excited for this book since Solomon announced it, and I couldn't have been a more satisfied reader.  I loved Ramona's journey, making the difficult decision to leave her music career for awhile and finally do something for herself.  I loved Nick and his devotion to his family and his teaching.  And I loved them together!  They had scorching chemistry, but it was more than that - Nick believed in Ramona in a way no one had before, and she pushed him out of his post-divorce funk.  They were so good for each other and I was rooting for them to find a way for their circumstances to work.  No notes, just loved every minute of this!  5 stars

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

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Broken Rival

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

Broken Rival

Tessa Bailey

Expected publication date: October 6, 2026

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey comes a gripping, heated romance about a girl trapped in a new reality, forced to make a choice between two brothers—one who is the high school golden boy, the other sworn to hunt down her kind—time travelers. This is Tessa Bailey as you’ve never seen her before.

Magnolia Brown loves Friday night football games, volunteering and dominating at high school swim meets. Just your average everyday eighteen-year-old. Except for one thing:

She’s from fifty years in the future.

Magnolia’s parents, two brilliant scientists, are the inventors of time travel, but due to widespread destruction and rampant abuse of the technology from a corrupt few, time travel is outlawed and punishable by death. When Magnolia’s parents are seized and executed for illegally traveling to the past, they leave Magnolia stranded in 2026 without a way to get home.

Now Magnolia has nowhere to turn but a complicated Kansas family with two sons—Fallon, her high school sweetheart with secrets of his own, and Ramsey, the brooding militia commander who hunts and kills criminals like her. Magnolia knows Ramsey resents and hates her, but how can he be her true enemy when he looks at her with such hunger, despite his callousness, and guards her with his very life? Which brother can she trust and is the real danger coming from inside the house? - from Goodreads

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Pittsburgh

On our recent summer road trip, I had to search for some indie bookstores!  When we stopped in Pittsburgh, I was able to visit two of them: White Whale Bookstore and Posman Books.

White Whale Bookstore

This store opened in 2016 after the owners purchased an existing used bookstore and relaunched to sell new books.  The store has been so successful as a host to many literary events and as a community hub that they recently expanded their footprint and added an in-store cafe where they serve coffee and beer!

 

 

Posman Books

I'm not sure if Posman Books is a true indie bookstore (they have several locations across multiple states), but it sure was fun to visit!  In addition to books, stationary, and games, you're greeted by an ice cream bar as soon as you walk in!

 

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: Another Tudor Edition

 Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History by Tracy Borman (2024)

Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, was also mother to Queen Elizabeth I.  Elizabeth was not even three years old when her mother was executed, so it could be assumed that Anne's influence on her life was minimal; however, author Tracy Borman posits that Anne actually had quite a large influence on her daughter as she grew up, including her religious beliefs and her stance on marriage.  Anne's untimely and violent end would stay with her daughter for the rest of her life, but this tragic event would not be the only thing Elizabeth took from her brief time with her mother.  Borman offers intriguing evidence showing how Anne doted on her daughter and also how Elizabeth honored her after her death.  Although she had to be discreet for awhile, she still found ways to keep her mother's memory alive.  After she became queen, she surrounded herself with Boleyn relatives and friends, and her mother's strong religious beliefs helped shape Elizabeth's reign.  I very much enjoyed this fresh look at a favorite topic of mine; we know a lot about Elizabeth and much about Anne (although there are still many questions), but I've never read a book that so directly linked the two.  4 stars

Henry Tudor Must Die by Jillian Lane (2026)

Imagine a world where Queen Catherine of Aragon faked her own death, and then helped Anne Boleyn escape the gallows, and then the two women work for a secret society that works to improve women's rights and education throughout Europe and ultimately get their revenge on King Henry VIII - sounds wild, right?  This premise of Henry Tudor Must Die had me hooked immediately and as a consumer of all things Tudor, I was very excited to read it.  This book did not disappoint!  Told mostly from the dual POVs of Anne and Catherine (called Lina here), we watch as the two former enemies form a friendship and support each other during their Hellebore Sisterhood missions.  They recruit others along the way and help change the fates of most of Henry's other wives, intriguingly blending history with fiction (and witchcraft!).  Friendship, love, revenge, motherhood, and the strength of women are all explored, and I was here for all of it!  4.5 stars

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

Michele's Monday Picks #102

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!

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

 

Winterveil

Ava Reid

Expected Publication: September 24, 2026

From Goodreads:

The Secret History meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in #1 bestselling author Ava Reid’s brand new, thrilling, dystopian YA novel.

There is no application process for Valeran Academy, but it boasts the brightest – and precociously criminal – students in the nation.

A disgraced politician from a powerful American dynasty.

A coldly brilliant strategist who will sacrifice anything to win.

A former pageant queen with a talent that could change the world.

A prodigious female soldier with an enigmatic past – and a dangerous secret.

With eerie war simulations, cutthroat competitions and foreboding new technology, Valeran trains its students to be elite assets in a Cold War that has dragged on for nearly a century. But as a sinister conspiracy takes shape and these four are drawn together for a mysterious mission, their loyalties are tested, their convictions shaken and they all begin to are they ushering in a new era of freedom, or tyranny?

I have loved Ava Reid’s previous books and thought this one sounded fantastic! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester (2026)

After her parents are killed in a tragic accident, Aria Jones is sent to California to live with her aunt, at the iconic Chateau Marmont.  She grows up in the hotel, learning all sorts of secrets and meeting all kinds of people.  When Theo Winchester buys the hotel, Aria finds herself falling in love with the rock star - but will she get her happily ever after?  I was interested in this book because it's a Jane Eyre retelling and that's one of my favorite books.  There are enough callbacks to the original to make the comparison, yet Lester also brings a fresh, new story.  I have to admit, I struggled a bit in the beginning with this book.  The story moves back and forth between the present day and flashbacks to Aria's early years at the Chateau.  The writing, however, wasn't always super clear and I honestly couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't at times.  When we get to the part of the story where Aria/Jane runs away from her wedding, due to discovering a big secret about her fiancé, I finally felt like the story came alive.  After years of never leaving the Chateau, Aria makes a big move, and I appreciated her courage to finally make changes in her life and also help those around her.  3.5 stars

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf (2025)

A wealthy ranching family hosts a gender reveal party, but things turn chaotic when two explosions rock the party, leaving one woman dead.  An ATF agent is brought in to investigate, and more secrets than anticipated are revealed.  Since there always seems to be a headline about gender reveal parties going wrong, I was intrigued by this premise, but unfortunately this turned out to be kind of a "meh" read for me.  First, the writing was just not great - very stilted and could have used more editing.  There were inconsistencies in the narrative, too - first they said the gender reveal party was when Madeline was 37 weeks pregnant, then she was 7 months, then 4 weeks away from giving birth - none of it made sense!  The ATF agent had a clear conflict of interest but decided to keep it a secret.  None of the reveals were particularly interesting or surprising - just a bunch of unlikable people doing bad things.  The one exception was Madeline's sister, and I wish we had gotten to know her a little better.  3 stars

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

Month in Review: August 2026

 

August was a busy month!  We attended a big picnic with our community service group, and then my mom came to visit!  She stayed at my sister's house but came up to our house to attend Henry's music class with us.  My sister had a pool party, which was a lot of fun.  Henry's daycare took a fieldtrip to the Land of Make Believe, a small theme park here in NJ.  We celebrated Tom's birthday and then went on our big vacation for the summer - a road trip to Pittsburgh, Grand Rapids, and Cleveland!  We went to 3 zoos, visited lighthouses and windmills, saw some cool sculptures, gardens,and parks, and of course, visited some indie bookstores!  We also got to meet up with our Chicago-area family and meet our nephew!

The Books

All Hail Chaos // Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I // Henry Tudor Must Die // The Perfect Hosts

In Your Dreams // The Catch // The Wedding Ringer // Happier Here With You

The Posts and Reviews

Michele's Monday Picks #101

Blog Tour + Review: The Economy Always Gets Better

How are you doing?

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

Blog Break!

 

Summer is winding down, so I'll be taking a brief break from the blog to soak up these last days!  Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to talking books again in September!

Blog Tour + Review: The Economy Always Gets Better

Today I'm partnering with WOW! Women on Writing to celebrate the release of The Economy Always Gets Better: Navigating Uncertain Times with Confidence by Nikki M. Finlay, PhD.  Keep reading for my review!  I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Economy Always Gets Better: Navigating Uncertain Times with Confidence

Nikki M. Finlay, PhD

Published August 18, 2026

For those of us who forgot what we learned years ago or never had the opportunity to take an economics class, terms like recession, depression, tariffs, inflation, and gross domestic product can make our heads spin.

If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

In The Economy Always Gets Better, award-winning economist Dr. Nikki Finlay explains the economy in its simplest terms, making it easier to understand and giving readers the tools to approach even the most distressing economic information with confidence.

Dr. Finlay combines her knowledge and years of academic experience in this practical and accessible guide for anyone wishing to better their understanding of the economy. Using personal stories, useful metaphors, visual representations, and statistical data, she makes economics accessible to everyone.

Whether you’re worried about the current economic troubles or trying to figure it all out for the first time, The Economy Always Gets Better will leave you better informed and better prepared to thrive. - from Goodreads

I am not a person who follows things like politics or the well-being of the economy very closely.  I'll be honest, I don't really understand a lot of it.  Sure, I notice things like the cost of groceries and gas and how my investments are doing on a quarterly basis, but I don't really think too much about (or understand!) why those things happen the way they do.  Economist and professor Nikki Finlay aims to solve that problem with her new book, The Economy Always Gets Better.  She explains terms and concepts in an easy-to-understand way, breaking down big picture themes into smaller bites.  She uses examples from her own life to illustrate the concepts, and she also references the pandemic often, since the economy was hit so hard.  The book is split into two parts: part 1 focuses on basic concepts such as prices, trade, and banks, while part 2 focuses on problem areas such as inflation, unemployment, and recessions and the role the government plays in helping us get out of tough times.  I liked the way she ended each chapter, with a little exercise asking the reader to think about how they would explain the gist of the chapter to an 8 year old.  Sometimes breaking something down into its simplest terms is the best way to learn.  While I'll never be an expert, I do feel a little better equipped to talk about the economy after reading this book.

3.5 stars

Michele's Monday Picks #101

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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Big Little Truths

Liane Moriarty

Expected Publication: August 25, 2026

From Goodreads:

In her first-ever sequel, Liane Moriarty examines the complexities of modern women’s lives, shining light on shame and family secrets with wit and compassion. Whether you’ve read Big Little Lies or not, this is the perfect novel for longtime fans and new readers alike.

The last time we saw the women of Big Little Lies—Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie—their children were five years old. If someone wasn’t invited to a child’s birthday party, feelings were hurt. But ten years have passed, and the kids are now in high school, with all of the drama that accompanies teendom (goodbye playdates, hello drugs, sex, and alcohol).

Now, after the principal of the high school receives a severed human finger in the mail, the parents are in an uproar. But Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie have other things to worry about. Celeste’s mother-in-law, Mary Louise, is behaving oddly—is it old-age forgetfulness and forthrightness, or something more sinister? Madeline is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of her life, Jane is at a dangerous fork in her marriage, Bonnie has realized there’s only so much solace in yoga. And Renata? Renata is living her best life—revenge is sweet.

When a strange man begins lurking around the school asking supposedly innocent questions, this tightly connected group of women must finally face the full repercussions of the big little truths they have and haven’t shared with their kids. Because the stakes are now much higher than not being invited to an ice-skating show—and the ice has never been thinner for any of them.

I loved Big Little Lies and the TV adaptation! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Month in Review: July 2026

 

July was a decent month!  We took Henry to the movies to see the new Minions movie, and he had fun!  We spent 4th of July in my sister's pool, which was so nice!  Henry started music again, so that's been a fun way to spend Saturday mornings.  We took advantage of our zoo membership to attend a Member's Night, free from the crowds.  My college roommate passed through New Jersey on a road trip, so we met up for dinner - it was so good to see her and catch up!  My stepmom hosted a craft day for the ladies, and it was such a fun, chill day - no kids or husbands allowed!  My craft was a paint-by-number painting, which is now proudly displayed in my home office, ha!  The weather this month has been wild - some seriously hot weather, wildfire smoke that kept us indoors for a couple days, and lots of thunderstorms!  But thankfully, we also got some really beautiful days.

The Books

The Devil Wears Prada // Tristan 4 America // The Storm // Gardens & Grudges

Mad Mabel // The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes // Fable for the End of the World // The Divorce

The Economy Always Gets Better // The Chateau on Sunset

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Mid-Year Goals Check-In

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Extracurricular

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #99

Recent Reads

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Residency

Review: Gardens & Grudges

Michele's Monday Picks #100

Recent Reads

How are you doing?

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