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

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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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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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Social Media Edition

The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke (2025)

Ruby Franke turned her children's lives into a YouTube sensation with her channel 8 Passengers, but no one truly understood what her children were going through until she was imprisoned for child abuse and her oldest daughter, Shari, told the story.  In this memoir, Shari recounts the years of pain, embarrassment, and abuse she and her siblings endured and Ruby's disturbing involvement with the life coaching program ConneXions, which only seemed to make everything worse in their house.  I've never seen 8 Passengers, but I watch a lot of commentary videos on the downsides of family vlogging and this channel is often referenced.  It's so sad to hear about what this mother put her children through, portraying herself as the perfect mom while her children's lives and privacy were being monetized.  Shari is so brave for wanting to tell this story and also telling it in her own voice for the audiobook.  It can't have been easy to relive all that.  4 stars

Everyone Is Lying To You by Jo Piazza (2025)

Former college friends Bex and Lizzie reunite years later when Bex, now a super-successful tradwife influencer, invites Lizzie, a journalist, to an influencer conference to write about a huge upcoming deal of hers.  While there, Bex's husband is found murdered on their idyllic ranch, and then Bex (and her children) disappear.  It's up to Lizzie to clear Bex's name and find her before it's too late.  I'm a sucker for social media-related stories, and it was so interesting to get this behind-the-scenes look at the "real" life of an influencer - the work and, of course, all the lies that go into it.  I liked that we got both Lizzie's and Bex's POVs, and the pacing was pretty good.  Some of the twists and reveals were shocking, others more expected, but what was maybe most intriguing (and disturbing) was the amount of manipulation going on, the lengths that people will go to in order to gain some power, fame, and money.  4 stars

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Tudor Edition

The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens by Nicola Clark (2025)

King Henry VIII's six queens were served by numerous ladies-in-waiting (and weirdly enough, four of them became Queen themselves!), and Nicola Clark dives deep into history to tell their stories.  This was an absolutely fascinating read.  The Tudor era is a particular favorite of mine, and Clark has added new dimension to it by exploring the lives of those who served, somewhat of a blank spot in our knowledge.  Yes, there are some we know more about (Jane Boleyn, for example), but others have remained fairly hidden until now.  Told in chronological order, Clark introduces us to many of these ladies-in-waiting, some of whom will have short stints while others will linger for years, serving multiple queens.  She tells us about their personal lives, while also revisiting famous people and events, adding interesting layers to things we thought we knew about.  I enjoyed how Clark explores some accepted rumors of the era and debunks them, and I was truly impressed by her research and how detailed the story is.  Yes, the amount of people (and the fact that many share similar names) can get overwhelming, but this is a small price to pay for such a comprehensive and entertaining read.  4.5 stars

Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory (2025)

Phillipa Gregory is back with another installment in her Plantagenet/Tudor series, and this one focuses on the court life of Jane Boleyn, wife of George and sister-in-law to Queen Anne Boleyn.  It follows her from her time with Anne to her downfall with Kathryn Howard.  Jane served five of King Henry VIII's six queens, so she certainly saw a lot.  Gregory imagines her as a wily, intelligent lady-in-waiting, much relied on by her queens.  It's interesting to get this perspective of the Tudor court, all the behind-the-scenes things, as we watch Jane not only serve her queens, but also exert a lot of power as she guides them.  Gregory's writing is refined and elegant, really evoking the time period.  Another fascinating installment!  4 stars

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Nonfiction Recent Reads

 Women in the Valley of the Kings by Kathleen Sheppard (2024)

Kathleen Sheppard explores the female Egyptologists who paved the way for later explorers and also helped shape the field in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  A lot of the major findings in Egypt have been credited to men, but there were several women, enamored with Egypt and its history, who were critical in the excavation, recording, and education about Egyptian sites.  At a time when the lives of women were perhaps not that well-documented, Sheppard has managed to pull together some amazing personal histories.  She also shows how the work of these women inspired each other.  I did, however, think the writing was a bit heavy-handed and clunky, in that it felt more like a college thesis than a cohesive narrative.  There was a lot of telling the reader why things were important, instead of letting the reader naturally draw those conclusions.  3 stars

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep (2020)

During the 1970s, a Southern man was accused of killing his family members to gain the insurance money.  When he was shot dead, his previous lawyer helped the shooter get an acquittal.  The case piqued the interest of author Harper Lee, who attended the trial and hoped to write a book about it - but she never did.  Cep explores the murder cases and also gives a comprehensive portrait of a successful but elusive author.  I really enjoyed this book!  The first half of the book is about the Reverend Willie Maxwell, accused of murdering five members of his own family, and the trial of the man who shot him.  I found this part to be absolutely fascinating.  The second half focuses on Harper Lee, author of the classic To Kill a Mockingbird.  It explores her early life, her success, and her struggles to write another book.  While interesting, I did think this part was a bit slower and kind of rambled toward a somewhat unsatisfactory conclusion.  4 stars

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Nonfiction November 2025: New to My TBR

 

It's the last week of Nonfiction November and it's hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.  This last week is all about the new books we've found out about this month and what we've added to our TBRs!  Life got away from me this month and unfortunately I wasn't able to blog hop as much as I wanted to.  However, I did manage to find three new books for my TBR!  Thank you to the following bloggers:

Ice Ghosts - Read All The Things!

Uncredited - Book'dOut

Shakespeare, The Man Who Pays The Rent - What? Me Read? (I actually saw this book on many blogs, so I apologize for not mentioning them all!)

Nonfiction Quick Reviews

Cue the Sun! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum (2024)

I think many of us would probably say that reality tv is our guilty pleasure, but how did this revolutionary genre of television first come to be?  Emily Nussbaum explores the roots of reality tv, from its beginnings in radio, of all places, to the earliest iterations on television, to the lasting legacy of some of the most famous reality shows.  I love reality tv - the Housewives, cooking competitions, and The Amazing Race are all things I've enjoyed over the years, so this was a truly fascinating read for me.  Through research and interviews with many of the people who created or worked on such shows, Nussbaum gives a comprehensive chronological look at the growth of reality tv.  She devotes in-depth chapters to shows like Survivor and even The Apprentice.  Definitely a must-read for reality tv fans!  4 stars

The Hidden History of the White House by Corey Mead (2024)

The White House, one of the most famous buildings in the United States, has seen a lot over its history.  In this book, Corey Mead has compiled a series of the most interesting, dramatic, and scandalous events that have taken place there.  President Obama's watching of the raid on bin Laden's compound, Winston Churchill's visit with FDR during WWII, and the trashing of the White House during Andrew Jackson's inauguration are just some of the stories told in this collection.  I enjoyed Mead's writing style - it's clear and very easy to read, although in terms of research, I wasn't crazy about the fact that he says up front that some information, such as dialogue, has been "invested or embellished."  Some of the stories I'd read about before, but some were new to me, so I thought it was a good mix and also represented a wide variety of time periods.  An interesting read for fans of American history and also those interested in architecture!  4 stars

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Nonfiction Recent Reads

Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe (2022)

In Vanderbilt, Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe explore another of America's most famous families - this time, his own mother's family.  For those who don't know, Anderson Cooper's mother was Gloria Vanderbilt, so this gives him unique knowledge and perspective in writing about the rise and fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty.  From "the Commodore's" ruthless beginnings to marrying into British aristocracy to the mansions of Newport, the Vanderbilt family had quite an interesting run, with both professional and personal wins and devastating losses.  As with this duo's other nonfiction book, Astor, I enjoyed learning about the family - some things I already knew, but other stories were new to me, and it was a quick and easy read.  4 stars

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen (2024)

Besides a cataclysmic natural event, what else could bring about the end of the world as we know it?  The answer is nuclear war.  In Nuclear War, Annie Jacobsen imagines (through the use of extensive interviews and documents) what would happen from the moment a nuclear missile is launched at the United States to a devastating conclusion, which would probably happen a lot faster than you would think.  I was fascinated by the idea of this book the minute I heard about it but put off reading it for awhile - I wanted to know but also, I didn't want to know, at the same time.  It scared me, but also felt like information I needed to know.  Jacobsen gives a minute-by-minute account of what is likely happening, in both America and abroad, from just a few seconds after North Korea (hypothetically but also inexplicably) launches a nuclear missile at Washington, D.C.  It was both fascinating and terrifying to learn about the decisions that have to be made (and how quickly), the chain of command that has to be in place, and our various retaliatory measures, while ultimately knowing that this one missile will cause complete destruction, chaos, and devastation the world over through a chain of events that, once started, can't be stopped.  This is definitely not light reading - while it is informative (teaching us about the history of "the Football," for example), it is also brutal and gory.  4 stars

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Nonfiction November 2025: Book Pairings

 

Week 3 of Nonfiction November is hosted by Liz at Adventures in reading, running and working from home.  This week is Book Pairings of fiction and nonfiction books - one of my favorite weeks of the event!  I love pairing fiction and nonfiction books, and here are the pairings I've done this year!

 

The Museum Edition

 

The Heiress Edition

 

The Astor Edition

 

The Out of This World Edition

Have you read any of these pairings?

Nonfiction November 2025: My Year in Nonfiction

 

It's time to start celebrating Nonfiction November!  The first week is hosted by Heather at Based on a True Story and is all about our year in nonfiction.  At the time I'm writing this, I've read 9 nonfiction books this year, and they've all been 4 stars or higher!  My taste in nonfiction tends to be all over the place - so many things interest me, and here are some of my favorites of the year:

The Indifferent Stars Above // The Ship Beneath the Ice // White House by the Sea

My goals for Nonfiction November are to see what everyone else is reading, find some interesting titles for my TBR, and to celebrate the genre of nonfiction!  Here are some I'd like to read this month:

Women in the Valley of the Kings // Nuclear War: A Scenario // Powder Days

What are some of your nonfiction highlights from this year?

Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Out of This World Edition

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel (2014)

Many of us have heard of America's first astronauts, but few of us know about the women and families of those men.  Lily Koppel gives us an inside look at the astronaut wives who became overnight celebrities, whether they wanted to or not.  I thought this was a really interesting read - I've read other books about astronauts, how they were chosen, how they trained, and their professional achievements (and sometimes tragedies, unfortunately), but I've never seen a book focus on their wives and family lives.  Koppel explores how these women became somewhat famous in their own right, were touted as the "perfect" wives and homemakers, and had to keep up appearances even when they were going through tough times.  There were a lot of people to keep track of, especially as the astronaut classes grew bigger, but several of the women stood out, and overall I thought this was an honest and intimate look at astronaut wives.  4 stars

Cold Eternity by S.A. Barnes (2025)

Halley is looking for a place to hide while she rides out a political scandal, so she takes a job as a sort of caretaker on a space barge that was previously used as a glamorous place to store the cryogenically frozen bodies of the rich and famous, years ago.  Soon after, though, weird noises and odd images on the security cameras make her wonder if something truly horrible is happening on the ship.  SA Barnes is always good for a space horror, although I have to admit, this one was a bit convoluted for me.  Halley is a well-rounded character, even if her backstory isn't totally clear at first.  The space barge is an eerie, atmospheric setting for a horror novel, with all the defunct cryo chambers around the ship and a handyman who just seems a little off.  The whole bit with AI, though, just added too many layers and made this already unbelievable story almost a bit laughable, unfortunately.  3 stars

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Recent Reads

 Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey (2025)

Sig and Chloe's immediate attraction to each other faces a big problem when they soon realize they're about to be stepsiblings.  Knowing a relationship between them would be seriously taboo and may have serious consequences for their careers, the two try to stay away from each other, romantically at least.  But can they truly fight their feelings?  I didn't really feel the "forbidden love" aspect of this - being related by marriage is way different than being related by blood, and especially when I figured out how Bailey was going to get around the issue, it seemed like it was making too big a deal out of the stepsibling deal.  I loved the way Sig was so protective of Chloe and wanted to help her become independent from her mother, but Chloe was a bit frustrating at times - she knew NOTHING about how to live on her own.  Like, stop buying eye cream and pay your rent!  You seem like a shopaholic who has no regard for actual life responsibilities.  In any event, I also enjoyed the interactions with Sig's fellow sports guys - always good for a laugh!  And Bailey is killing it with the epilogues in this series - I love the glimpses into the future - they make me feel all warm and cozy! 3.5 stars

A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue by Dean Jobb (2024)

During the 1920s, conman and thief Arthur Barry executed many heists, eventually stealing millions of dollars' worth of jewels.  His preferred method was to slip in and out of a house through an upper window, sometimes while the residents were downstairs eating dinner or even while they were sleeping just feet away.  Eventually, he was caught and sentenced to prison, but when his wife Anna became sick, he broke out so he could be with her.  This was an interesting, although sometimes repetitive, book.  It tells the life story of Arthur Barry in great detail and the many crimes he admitted to (and others he was suspected of).  Despite being a criminal, Barry came across as quite a gentleman, often dressing in a dapper suit and speaking politely to his victims.  Violence was a rarity for him.  His victims included some of the most famous people of the time; he was even accused of kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.  Fans of narrative nonfiction, true crime, and the Jazz Age will enjoy this book.  4 stars

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Recent Reads

The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound (2024)

Ever since I learned about Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 27 being marooned on the ice near Antarctica in 1914-1915 following the sinking of their ship, Endurance, and ultimately all surviving the ordeal, I have been fascinated.  I was so happy to come across this book by Mensun Bound, which details his two expeditions to the site of the sinking to attempt to locate the Endurance at the bottom of the Weddell Sea.  Bound is an incredible storyteller, setting up the book in a sort of diary format of each day of the voyages, giving background on Shackleton and his voyage mixed with happenings from Bound's own.  Even if you don't know the entire Shackleton story, Bound does a great job of providing you with details both big and small.  He also explains the technology and science behind his own expedition in an easy-to-read way.  Readers will feel his disappointment at not finding the Endurance during the first trip and elation at the discovery during the second.  Overall, a must-read for Shackleton enthusiasts but also a great read for those new to the subject.  4.5 stars

Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025)

After a not-so-meet-cute and an unforgettable first date, Samantha and Xavier decide a relationship between them can go no further, as Samantha is moving 2,000 miles away to help take care of her mother.  But, the two can't seem to forget each other and commit to making it work.  This was a rough one for me, not in that it was a bad story at all, but it was just so heavy and often sad.  I loved Samantha and Xavier together, and the way Jimenez juxtaposed their desire to make lasting memories and create a life together with the way Samantha's mom was being lost to dementia was especially poignant.  But their time together was often pierced with hardship, and it made me wonder if, despite their love for each other, it was really worth it.  It just seemed like hardly anything went right for them, and that made it a tough read.  I felt like Xavier was perhaps a little too perfect - yes, he had a terrible childhood, but as an adult, he always seems to say and do the right thing at all times and it felt unrealistic.  And with Samantha's family, I was a little confused at the beginning; we were just kind of dropped into their situation with not much explanation.  3.5 stars

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Recent Reads

 A Novel Summer by Jamie Brenner (2024)

After celebrating her first bestselling novel, Shelby returns to the town and people that inspired her book.  She doesn't get a warm welcome even though she takes over managing the local bookstore for her friend.  Over the course of the summer, she tries to repair relationships and save the store, while also trying to write her second novel.  Ugh, this was a disappointment for me.  I love a bookstore setting, so that was fun, as was seeing some of the ins and outs of a writer's process.  But, I didn't care for the characters (and there were SO MANY to keep track of), and the pacing of the story was inconsistent.  Some situations dragged on, while others were dealt with in a matter of paragraphs.  It all felt very shallow and uninspired.  3 stars

White House by the Sea by Kate Storey (2024)

Kate Storey recounts the lives of the Kennedy family through the lens of their Hyannis Port, Massachusetts compound, where so many family events, both big and small, have taken place.  In a mostly chronological order, Storey tells how the Kennedy family initially came to Hyannis Port and how they grew from one house to many over the area.  Through research and interviews with family members, neighbors, and friends, Storey is able to give an intimate look at the highs and lows experienced by the family at their retreat.  From football games and sailing to untimely deaths and political celebrations, it was so interesting to see how much happened to the family in this location.  4 stars

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Astor Edition

 Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe (2024)

The Astor family is probably one of the most well-known throughout American history, starting from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest families in the country.  In this book, Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe detail the Astor family tree, from how they started, to ruling the Gilded Age, to falling in spectacular fashion in the early 2000s.  I've always loved Gilded Age history and the Astors factor prominently there, so I was excited to learn more about this family.  It does get a bit confusing when so many family members have similar names, and some of the chapters made me scratch my head at why they were even included, but I did really enjoy this book.  4 stars

The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe (2021)

This novel imagines the courtship and brief marriage of John Jacob "Jack" Astor and Madeleine Force, his second (and much younger) wife, before his untimely demise on the Titanic.  Madeleine is just 17 when she begins a relationship with Jack, and this coupled with his famous name cause them to be swamped by press.  Even in tragedy and heavily pregnant, Madeleine cannot escape them.  I thought this book was just beautiful.  It's practically impossible to know the true nature of their relationship, but Abe imagines it as a love match on both sides.  The feelings she is able to evoke through her words are so lovely - it's romantic, it's ethereal, the way the two are so entranced with each other that everything else fades away.  I truly felt transported and invested in their story, although it is bittersweet knowing how quickly and sadly their story would end.  5 stars

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Heiress Edition

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka (2024) 

After Olivia's dad divorces her mom and kicks them out of the family house, Olivia plans to get revenge by stealing his money during his upcoming wedding.  Well, I finally made it through a book by this duo, but I'm not sure I'll be reading them again.  I liked the idea of this novel, but the execution lacked for me.  I'm always a little leery of teenagers being able to pull off really complicated plans - Olivia didn't have the most sophisticated plan, but it did hinge on another team member being extremely computer savvy.  So much felt overwritten, and the pacing was glacial.  Also, the idea that a former teacher of Olivia's would help a bunch of kids steal millions of dollars seems highly unlikely, and the way the ending set up a sequel felt so heavy-handed.  The relationship between Olivia and her dad was painful and raw, and that at least added some depth, but the character of Kevin really saved this one for me, as he was a bit of a wild card - unexpected and I never really knew what to make of him!  3 stars

The Imposter Heiress: Cassie Chadwick, The Greatest Grifter of the Gilded Age by Annie Reed (2024)

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, con artist Cassie Chadwick (just one of many names she used) managed to amass a fortune by convincing people she was the illegitimate daughter of wealthy businessman Andrew Carnegie.  Using faked documents, she borrowed millions of dollars and spent money like it was going out of style, eventually causing the downfall of many men and banks and landing herself in jail.  This story was almost truly unbelievable in how Cassie was able to firstly, come up with such a scheme, and secondly, have people believe it for long.  Literally all it took was some rumors that she started and a piece of paper she claimed was signed by Andrew Carnegie to begin her con.  I liked that Reed included some short chapters from the point of view of Andrew Carnegie, how at first he had no idea that this woman was claiming to be his daughter and then later as he's made aware, but I wish there was more, maybe even some information about how his wife felt about it.  But, Reed's research is amazing, and the story was covered pretty extensively in newspapers at the time.  The narrative did feel a bit repetitive at times, in that it was a lot of Cassie borrowing from one person to pay another, but overall, a pretty fascinating story!  4 stars

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Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews: The Museum Edition

 Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan (2024)

Sir Griffin, a medieval knight, has been trapped as a statue for hundreds of years, cursed by someone he believed to be a friend.  He is brought back to life by Emily, a museum art conservator.  Can the two overcome their differences and find their happily ever after?  Was this book a literary masterpiece?  No.  Was it well-written?  At times.  But, was this a compelling premise that revealed a silly but often romantic story? Yes!  As soon as I heard about this book, I had to read it - a knight brought back to life in the present day?  Sign me up.  It's over the top, it's a bit goofy, but I loved watching Griffin learn about the world he's found himself in, as well as getting to know Emily, who is the perfect match for him with her background in art history.  There were some other elements to the story that I wish had been fleshed out further (particularly with Emily's boss), but ultimately this is the unconventional love story of Griffin and Emily, and it was just the escape I needed.  3.5 stars

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley (2023)

After his brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Patrick Bringley decided he needed a change in his life and so he became a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  He wanted a place of quiet and solitude, where he could be alone with his feelings among beautiful art (yes, even amongst the many daily visitors).  He brings the reader into his world, telling personal stories and ruminating on the role art plays in our lives.  Bringley is a great storyteller, and I loved the behind-the-scenes look at how such a huge institution runs.  We see how Bringley grows over the years, from first wanting to be very solitary in his job to befriending other guards and having conversations with visitors as he works through his grief over his brother.  His love for art comes through clearly, as he brings us to various parts of the museum and introduces us to certain pieces.  I enjoyed his ruminations on art and life, although at times it did feel a bit overwritten.  4 stars

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Nonfiction November Review Round-Up

While I didn't *exclusively* read nonfiction this month, I was able to knock quite a few off my TBR, and honestly, they were all pretty incredible.  I wouldn't be surprised if most of them made my "best of 2024" list!  Here is a quick round-up of some of the books I read this month.

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff (2022) 

I was only a casual watcher of The Big Bang Theory when it started, but by the last couple seasons, it was required Thursday night viewing for me!  I fell in love with the characters, with the humor and heart, and even the science!  In this book, Jessica Radloff compiles interviews with the cast and crew, creating a comprehensive look at a TV show that dominated our screens for over a decade - behind-the-scenes stories, memories, and things they haven't talked about until now.  A must-read for fans of the show!  4.5 stars

The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court by Gareth Russell (2023)

Historian Gareth Russell explores the history of the British palace Hampton Court.  From its humble beginnings to massive renovations to its current state, Hampton Court has been an important location for many British monarchs.  I love history and especially learning about royalty and iconic buildings, so this was the perfect mash-up of all those topics for me!  It was fascinating to learn how many events took place at Hampton Court, from births to deaths to scandals and everything in between.  Russell has arranged the book in chronological order by royal house, and while the Tudor section was a particular favorite of mine, they all offered something interesting.  4.5 stars

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson (2024)

If Erik Larson writes it, I will read it.  Even if it's about a subject that, on the surface, I might not think I'm interested in!  I love history, but American history is, ironically, not at the top of my list of subjects I enjoy reading about.  But, when I saw that Erik Larson was releasing a book exploring the months between Abraham Lincoln's election and the first shots of the Civil War, I knew I was going to read it.  Larson's narrative nonfiction style truly does make it feel like you're reading a novel, but you can also tell that he's done a ton of research.  He transports you back to 1861, bringing people, both famous and not, to life through vivid details.  I always feel like I learn a lot from Larson's books, and this one was no exception.  5 stars

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