Michele's Monday Picks #80

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little 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!

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

 

A Time Traveler’s History of Tomorrow

By Kendall Kulper

Expected Publication: November 4, 2025

From Goodreads:

A time-bending love story between a prickly young woman and a carefree stranger, who are tasked with saving the universe—after accidentally destroying it in the first place.

Genevieve Newhouse and Ash Hargreaves weren’t supposed to meet like this. Unless it was always meant to be . . . 

Gen is a fastidious science prodigy with a chip on her shoulder, and she can turn herself invisible. 

Happy-go-lucky Ash has just escaped a sheltered (read: cultish) childhood, and he can manipulate time. 

The gifted eighteen-year-olds cross paths at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, where Genevieve’s experimental physics project causes an apocalyptic explosion. Ash tries to avert catastrophe by gallantly rewinding time a few minutes, but instead, he transports them back to 1893. The duo finds themselves trapped in an unfamiliar, unwelcoming era, with no idea how to return to their own time—or if their own time even exists. Their cataclysmic leap across decades might have destroyed the world as they know it . . . 

Fate and free will intertwine in this page turning historical romance that sets two irresistible strangers down a chaotic, potentially apocalyptic path. “Will they or won’t they” takes on a whole new meaning as Gen and Ash fight for survival while falling in love.

I have loved this entire series and I’m excited to learn about the third sister, Genevieve! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (2024)

A routine flight in Australia becomes something extraordinary when a woman stands up and starts predicting the age and manner of death of each passenger.  While some are well into the future, a few are disturbingly soon.  When some of the predictions start coming true, how will the rest of the passengers react?  I've always enjoyed Moriarty's books - they are refreshing, surprising, even a bit quirky.  Here One Moment explores how people react when faced with their own potentially determined destiny - do the passengers believe the woman who made the predictions?  What do they do with this information?  Do they believe they can stop it, and should they even try?  I liked getting to know each of the passengers featured - they were all so unique.  Moriarty intersperses their chapters with a first-person POV from the woman who made their predictions - I have to admit, I wasn't as taken with her chapters.  I see why Moriarty chose to include her story this way, but until the end, I was almost a little bored with reading about her history.  Interesting, thought-provoking, and a satisfying ending, overall!  4 stars

Reputation by Lex Croucher (2022)

It's Mean Girls in the Regency Era when Georgiana, recently living with her aunt and uncle, falls in with wealthy Frances Campbell and her group of friends, where she's introduced to a world she never dreamed of.  But will the cost of popularity be too high?  I've had this book on my TBR for awhile and finally got a copy of it - I enjoy historical fiction/romances set in this time period, so I had high hopes.  Unfortunately, this was a bit of a disappointment for me.  Frances and her friends are so lackluster - super wealthy but have nothing going on except to get drunk and high seemingly all the time.  It was almost a bit sad to see Georgiana latch onto this lifestyle with little thought; as Georgiana starts to befriend other characters outside Frances' group, I wanted there to be more tension between the two parts of her life, more internal struggle for Georgiana.  It was too little, too late for me.  3 stars

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

Little Free Library Sightings: The Cape Cod Edition

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!  Here are some of the Little Free Libraries we found on our summer trip to Cape Cod!

#195175 - Here's the story: "Visit our Free Little Library and the beautiful campus of Saint Barnabas's Episcopal Church in Falmouth. A bench is provided by the library for you to sit and relax. The campus of StB's has a labyrinth, memorial garden, church, chapel and playground for all to enjoy."

#63092 - How awesome is that door?  I love the intricate design!

#183512 - This is the Gifford Street Little Free Library - so cute!

#101112 - Here's the story of the King Street Little Free Library: "In time of the pandemic, our wonderful Falmouth Town Library was closed. So we started this little library as a way our neighborhood could compensate for the loss of the Main Library! Now we libraries under assault in much of the country we stand proudly with the Big Free Libraries!!"

#1108 - I actually walked right past this one before I opened the app and saw it!  Check out this story: "Located in the heart of Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha's Vineyard, this Little Free Library is kept and curated by the Oak Bluffs Public Library, which is about a five-minute walk away. Take a book, leave a book, and come visit the library for even more great *free* books!"  I love that we were able to find one on the island of Martha's Vineyard!
 

And here are some unregistered ones my husband and brother-in-law came across and sent me pictures of!

Michele's Monday Picks #79

Angela is so generous to let me pop in with my little 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!

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

The Princess Knight

By Cait Jacobs

Expected Publication: October 14, 2025

From Goodreads:

A princess desperate to win back the prince who broke her heart follows him to his kingdom's prestigious military academy—and in doing so, falls in love, saves the realm, and continues to look fabulous in this delightful debut fantasy.

Domhnall and Clía are an ideal match—or so everyone says. They are prince and princess of neighboring kingdoms. An alliance the gods will smile on. Until Domhnall ruins everything by refusing to propose.

Heartbroken but determined, Clía makes the perfect plan: Follow Domhnall to Caisleán Cósta, the military academy he’s attending. Show she can protect her kingdom. Secure the betrothal. Sure, the castle has a brutal reputation. But how hard can dueling really be?

Warrior Ronan promised himself he’d never lose his focus. He fought and sacrificed for his place at Caisleán Cósta, and he has no time for blonde princesses who waltz intro arenas like they’re attending a ball. Even if she and her otter-like pet are…well, cute.

He doesn’t want to be intrigued by Clía. But her hunger to prove herself is something he understands. He tells himself there’s no harm training her. Even if his heart does race around her. Even if Domhnall is his best friend.

But as they say, love is a battlefield—and unfortunately for them all, a very real war is looming on the horizon. It’s a fight that will threaten all their kingdoms…and test all their hearts. 

This book is a take on Legally Blonde, so I have high hopes! Do you think you’ll be picking this one up?

Recent Reads

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan (2024)

Rae is dying from terminal cancer when one day she is approached with a mysterious offer - a chance to live by first entering the fantasy world of her favorite book series and retrieving a flower.  With nothing to lose, Rae takes a chance and wakes up as a character in the story, with the world around her feeling all too real.  She's been cast as one of the villains, and she'll have to be truly devious to keep herself from being killed.  I really enjoyed this book!  It took me a little bit to really get into it - the writing is very dense, to create this fantasy world - but the concept is amazing!  A chance to meet some of your favorite characters and experience their world?  Awesome!  As Rae makes it further into the storyline, things are not quite as she expected, and even her own actions will have serious consequences.  I admired Rae's ability to maneuver this world while still being herself, and the cast of characters around her are both terrifying and extraordinary.  I'm excited to see where Brennan takes the story next!  4 stars

Dating After the End of the World by Jeneva Rose (2025)

After spending her childhood unhappily helping her doomsday-prepping dad, Casey left as soon as she could and hasn't looked back.  That is, until a zombie apocalypse surges through the nation and she's forced to return to her childhood home.  There, she finds her father had continued his prepper ways and is now thriving, somewhat, while offering refuge to several other people, including Casey's childhood nemesis, Blake.  This book had a little bit of everything, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  There's some science fiction, with the zombies, and of course plenty of gore comes along with that.  There's action and drama, as the survivors fight to keep their home safe.  Casey and her father are able to work on their damaged relationship, and I definitely shed some tears there!  And Casey and Blake finally find some common ground and, in working together, love blossoms.  After an explosive ending, I'm hoping for a sequel!  4.5 stars

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

Month in Review: September 2025

 

September was a pretty chill month for us.  After our vacation, it was back to work and back to school - Henry started preschool at daycare, so that has been a fun adjustment!  We decided not to do any structured activities like music classes this fall, so our weekends have been a mix of outings, walks, and playground visits.  We visited a couple Jersey shore lighthouses one Saturday (I've lived in NJ all my life and have only been to like one lighthouse, so Henry's new obsession meant we all got to see something new!).  My sister, niece, and I took a beeswax candlemaking class at a local farm one day, and then the week after we took Henry back to the same farm so he could meet all the animals - goats, geese, and peacocks!  We also did a local Walk to Fight Alzheimer's - it was at a park we often go to anyway, so it was perfect! - and took Henry to a Touch-a-Truck community event at the mall.

The Books

Wait for It // The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories // Under the Stars // Long Live Evil

Dating After the End of the World // Never Lie // Here One Moment // The Astronaut Wives Club

Reputation

The Posts and Reviews

Recent Reads

Michele's Monday Picks #77

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Circle of Days

Blog Tour + Review: The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta R. Garg

Michele's Monday Picks #78

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Soul Searching

Recent Reads

Guest Blogger: My Favorite Audiobooks #4

Top Ten Tuesday: My Fall TBR

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Good Spirits

Recent Reads

Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Eight Cousins Books

How are you doing?

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

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Boleyn Traitor

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

Boleyn Traitor

Philippa Gregory

Expected publication date: October 14, 2025

#1 New York Times bestselling author and “queen of royal fiction” (USA Today) Philippa Gregory returns with a dazzling historical novel of ambition, betrayal, and survival in the court of Henry VIII.

Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens.

For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.

Philippa Gregory masterfully shines a spotlight on the untold story of Jane Boleyn, peeling back the myths to reveal a complex portrait of a woman who dared to survive at any cost. Perfect for fans of thrilling historical drama and readers captivated by the intrigue of the Tudor period, Boleyn Traitor is a must-read. - from Goodreads