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

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

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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

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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

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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

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Review: Gardens & Grudges

Gardens & Grudges

Amanda Pennington

Expected publication date: July 28, 2026

He stole her cat. Now she might steal his heart—if he doesn’t leave town first.

Sylvie Fogg is living her best quiet life in Southern Indiana. She has a steady job, a peaceful neighborhood, a flower garden in her backyard, and a semi-adopted cat.

Then Jack Murray moves in next door. He’s a famous chef looking for his own quiet life, far from the chaos of high-end restaurants and publicity. But he doesn’t expect a Type A neighbor who declares war the moment he starts spoiling her cat.

Their playful neighborhood rivalry turns into something neither of them planned: slow-burn chemistry, flirty banter, and a connection that feels dangerously real.

But when Jack is offered a high-profile cooking show that would put him back in the spotlight, he must choose between their blossoming romance and the fast-paced lifestyle of the rich and famous. And Sylvie would get her cat back, but she’d miss out on the man who knows his way around the kitchen—and the way to her heart.

Gardens & Grudges is a closed-door romantic comedy featuring enemies-to-lovers tension, slow-burn chemistry, and quirky neighborhood drama. Perfect for fans of clean rom-coms, cozy Midwest settings, and feel-good fiction with plenty of heart. - from Goodreads

Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sylvie has created a cozy, drama-free life for herself, including starting a garden and sort-of adopting her neighbor's cat.  Then Jack, a famous chef, moves in next door, and starts feeding Sylvie's cat, inadvertently starting a rivalry between the two and upending Sylvie's quiet life.  But as she gets to know Jack, Sylvie wonders if it's time to open her heart.  

I've been a fan of Amanda Pennington's closed-door romances since her first book came out in 2022.  Gardens & Grudges continues her tradition of clean romances with relatable characters and settings.  Sylvie and Jack are new neighbors in a small Indiana town.  Sylvie has lived there for awhile, while Jack, fresh from big city life, is looking for a change.  They are drawn together when they both start feeding the same cat, and then further during the neighborhood association meeting, where they are tasked with working together on an adopt-a-pet event.  Although Sylvie is put off by Jack at first, she starts to see a different side to him.

I enjoyed getting to know Sylvie and Jack.  Pennington does a good job creating the backstories for each (a difficult family life for her, a chaotic career for him) that have ultimately led them to this place.  I liked the tension that Sylvie feels, trying to ignore her feelings for Jack because she's apprehensive about change in her life.  And I especially liked that Jack kind of falls first and is the one pushing for something more.  

But beyond crafting characters and fun storylines, Pennington's writing is the real star.  It's cozy, it's relatable, it flows well, and it feels like you're having a conversation with a good friend.  There's nothing outlandish here; it all feels so natural, and that's what makes reading her books such a treat.

4 stars

Recent Reads

 The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (2026)

In 1984, a wealthy man was found dead after a hurricane in a small Alabama town, and everyone assumed his mistress killed him.  Now, a writer and that same mistress have descended upon St. Medard's Bay, staying at the local Rosalie Inn, to research the crime.  Geneva, the owner of the inn, is drawn into the scheme.  But with another powerful hurricane baring down on the town, will they all make it out alive?  I liked the multiple POVs; although Geneva is the main character, we do get to hear Lo's (the mistress) story in her own words, and she is such a firecracker.  I did think the story moved kind of slowly, and the final reveal of the "murderer" was pretty predictable.  There was another reveal about the characters that was kind of eye-rolling, though.  3 stars

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth (2026)

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick thought she had successfully buried her difficult past, but now, decades later, someone has discovered her secret - she used to be known as Mad Mabel and was once convicted of murder.  With a dead neighbor and a precocious little girl now obsessed with her, 81-year-old Elsie is finally ready to tell her story.  I really enjoyed this book!  I don't know that I would necessarily consider this a mystery/thriller - it's really more a character study into who Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick was and is today.  While today Elsie is a self-sufficient, private, and stoic woman, Mabel was a lonely girl who had a difficult family life.  I guess the mystery would be, is Mabel really "mad" and did she really kill someone?  Through flashbacks, we discover the truth, along with several other shocking reveals, and I think by the end, most readers will have a soft spot in their heart for Elsie.  4 stars

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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

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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. 

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

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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

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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

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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

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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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Recent Reads

 The Weekend Crashers by Jamie Brenner (2025)

Maggie and her daughter Piper travel to charming New Hope, PA for a knitting retreat but their weekend is interrupted by a bachelor party at the same inn.  Relationships are tested as the weekend continues.  Ugh, I wanted to love this one!  It sounded so cute - I love New Hope, PA, and I really felt like the book transported me there, but the characters were a bit of a downer for me.  Maggie is a single mom who had her daughter young - while on the surface their relationship seems good, Maggie desperately wants more for Piper than the life she had, and Piper is always doing things that will make her mother happy instead of herself.  Maggie just felt a bit overbearing.  There were too many extraneous side characters to keep track of, and a whole lot of unnecessary drama.  I did enjoy the character of Belinda, the inn keeper, though.  She and her husband have contrasting ideas on their next steps in life - keep the inn or retire?  The ending was underwhelming, unrealistic, and rushed, unfortunately.  3 stars

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon (2025)

When southern England receives a nuclear bomb alert, giving people just 59 minutes before the attack, three women find themselves willing to do anything to get to their loved ones.  Carrie is a young mother trying to get across London to her daughter and girlfriend.  Frankie, who just found out she's pregnant, is on vacation when she's separated from her boyfriend.  Mrs. Dabb is an older woman who realizes her daughter is missing during the alert.  This premise is absolutely terrifying to me - knowing you only potentially have minutes to live and desperately wanting to be with your family or other loved ones.  What would you do to get to them?  This was a quick, absorbing read - short chapters kept the rapid pace, and I couldn't read fast enough to see how each woman would fare as the minutes counted down.  I was heartbroken for them as they faced insurmountable odds and had to make unimaginable choices.  But, I was shocked further when I realized there was a twist, and the story definitely ends in an unexpected way!  4.5 stars

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Recent Reads

Royal Heirs Academy (Royal Heirs Academy #1) by Lindsey Duga (2025)

After fifty years on the throne, King Leander is finally ready to name an heir - but first, he's going to make his three grandchildren and one stranger duke it out for the ultimate role by making them all attend an elite school and tracking their progress.  Titus, Alaric, Emmeline, and Sadie must face challenging classes, interpersonal feuds, and fierce competitions for the chance to take the throne.  This book was full of teen angst as the 4 young adults get to know each other and their new situation.  I appreciated how each character's backstory was very different, yet they all ended up in the same place.  I did think the level of scheming and just overall intelligence/skills attributed to both the throne contenders and their schoolmates was a bit unbelievable, and there was some odd tension between the story wanting to be gritty but still somewhat innocent that was a bit jarring, but I cannot resist a royal story, so overall I did enjoy this one!  4 stars

An American Beauty by Shana Abe (2023)

A fictionalized account of the life of Arabella Huntington, a Southern woman who came from nothing to become one of the richest women in America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Arabella worked at a gambling parlor until she began an affair with Collis Huntington, a railroad baron.  He brought her to New York and gave her a life she only dreamed of, but she was also shrewd and intelligent, amassing her own wealth through land and property deals.  Eventually, she and Collis married, but her story didn't end with Collis.  I really enjoyed this book - although the Huntington name is well-known, I didn't know really anything about Arabella and this book piqued my curiosity.  This depiction certainly painted her as smart (but not cunning), loyal, and with impeccable taste.  I really felt the partnership between her and Collis - a love affair, yes, but also respect and admiration (not to say that affairs are acceptable!).  The Gilded Age setting also came through really well.  4 stars

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Recent Reads: The Time Travel Edition

The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick (2020)

Amy (Robsart) Dudley is married to Robert Dudley, favorite courtier of Queen Elizabeth I.  Amy wants to escape her loveless marriage, but her actions have repercussions that apparently trickle down through the centuries.  In the present day, pop star Lizzie finds herself in a scandal with her best friend and his wife's family, with links to the past.  I wanted to love this book - I love the Tudor era, I love dual-timeline stories - but it was such a mess.  The "past" timeline was really good - I enjoyed learning about Amy and more about a side of the Tudor era I don't normally come across.  However, the "present" timeline was a total dud.  Silly names, convoluted characters and backstories, extraneous details, magical realism that felt gimmicky.  Unfortunately, it brought the whole reading experience down for me.  3 stars

The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve (2025)

Sometime in the near future, the ability to time travel has been achieved by a large company, allowing people to visit one hour in their past without repercussions for their future.  Unfortunately, while in the past, four "travelers" are stranded for more than their allotted hour.  As they cross paths with one another, they are all forced to take a closer look at this pivotal time in their lives.  I really enjoyed this book!  I loved the fairly new take on the time travel genre.  Seeing how all these seemingly unrelated people and stories were actually quite intertwined was beautiful storytelling - I loved seeing all the connections and how the travelers used their future knowledge to maybe, perhaps change their circumstances from what happened previously.  I have to admit, this book was a lot more introspective than I anticipated - I was expecting a thriller, but it delved more into themes about being present in a moment and how we can create our own second chances.  4 stars

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Recent Reads

Gradchanted by Morgan Matson (2025)

Cass is celebrating her high school graduation at Disneyland's Grad Nite.  After spending her childhood constantly moving for her dads' work, she wants one magical night before she leaves again.  However, the night is a total disaster and Cass is shocked to find herself reliving the night, over and over and over again.. I love a time loop novel, from the main character discovering and accepting they're in one to how they figure out how to get out of it - it's always fun!  I loved the Disneyland setting of this one, and I appreciated how Cass finally came to terms with how her childhood affected her ability to get close to people.  I thought there was WAY too much time spent on Cass trying to help musician Freddie, believing that was her key to escaping the loop.  Clearly, it had to be about her and the mistakes she's made.  But overall, I thought this was a clever, spirited addition to the time loop genre!  4 stars

Meet Me on the Bridge by Sarah J. Harris (2024)

Julia discovers she has the ability to time travel, and she uses it to hopefully meet the man of her literal dreams, who she discovers died a year ago while trying to save others.  However, Julia realizes that her attempts to change the past have effects on the future that she never anticipated.  I love a time travel romance, so I was excited for this one; however, it was a bit of a letdown.  The writing is so clunky; the transitions aren't good, things are not explained well, and Julia is not a character I found myself sympathizing with.  I wanted to like her, but she was so over-written, almost to the point of caricature.  3 stars

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Storm Edition

 Northeaster: A Story of Courage and Survival in the Blizzard of 1952 by Catherine Pelletier (2023)

In 1952, a huge snowstorm hit New England, and Maine in particular, and Northeaster tells the true stories of what happened to several real people during those days.  The narrative flows in a chronological way and moves from person to person, giving you brief insights before revisiting them later.  Pelletier covers a wide range of individuals, from teenagers, to housewives/mothers, to soldiers.  Where I live experiences occasional blizzards and northeasters, so in one sense I was able to relate to the individuals, although I've never been in a storm of this magnitude, with snowdrifts piling 20 feet high, causing people to be trapped for days, so many of the stories were also shocking to me.  There were so many instances of neighbors helping neighbors, people helping strangers, doctors going above and beyond to help their patients.  However, be prepared because not every story has a happy ending.  4 stars

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen (2025)

A grandmother and granddaughter are trapped at a lavish estate when a snowstorm crops up during a party, and to make matters worse, the party host is found dead in her room.  With the police unable to get there during the storm, the duo takes it upon themselves to investigate the murder.  Although not without its issues, this was a fun little murder mystery.  Grandmother Mimi is blackmailed into going to her neighbor's charity auction/party, and she invites her granddaughter Addie to go with her.  Addie is the co-inventor of a popular murder mystery video game, so she believes this gives her experience in crime solving.  In any event, the two interview suspects and look for clues, while the bodies continue to pile up.  I did think the story moved kind of slowly, and I couldn't get a good read on Mimi - although she doesn't seem like a loving grandma, she is also consistently referred to as someone that people are drawn to and open up to.  Kinda contradictory.  But, the story had its humorous moments and I did not guess the killer, so there's that!  3.5 stars

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Recent Reads

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave (2025)

Maya is a new mom, struggling in her new role while also trying to maintain her job as CEO of her company.  When she meets successful entrepreneur Liz Anderson, she finds Liz might have the answer to all her problems - a pill that erases her feelings of guilt, allowing her to move forward without constantly second-guessing herself.  But the pill comes with some major downsides, and Maya finds herself on the brink of losing it all.  I thought portions of this book were really relatable - I think most working moms feel a struggle between their personal and professional lives, feeling like they're never able to fully give 100% to either without the other suffering.  So, I enjoyed those messages, even if it was a little heavy-handed at times.  I had to laugh at some of the double standards between Maya and her husband, too.  The climax of the book went a little off the rails for me, unfortunately, but overall, this was a decent read.  3.5 stars

Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich (2025)

Julie is a middle-aged woman who believes her co-worker, 25-year-old Sean, is her soulmate - the problem is, he's with someone else.  But Julie isn't about to let that get in her way; she'll help Sean "escape" his relationship, even if it means resorting to murder.  This book was so fun - I mean, I know that's weird to say about a serial killer story - but it's true!  Julie is so deliciously delusional, finding meaning in the smallest things, and constantly convincing herself that men are in love with her and need her help in getting out of their current relationships.  The way Julie sees herself and the way others see her are so drastically different, it was comical at times.  I felt a bit sorry for her, because she's just looking for connection, but instead of it happening organically, she misinterprets everything, making for some very cringey and awkward moments.  The story moved a tad too slowly, especially when the reader just wants to know if Julie is ever going to have to take responsibility for her actions.  4 stars

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