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The Profiler by Helen Fields: Be Prepared To Lose Sleep!

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What did I just read? The Profiler by Helen Fields is both terrifying and intense at the same time. It was like watching a traffic accident. Some gory details made me want to look away, but I had to keep to keep reading in order to find out what happened.

Book cover of 'The Profiler' by Helen Fields featuring a silhouette of a woman in a blue light with swirling patterns and bold text.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

To read more about the story: https://amzn.to/3KeveDC

Published on: February 25th, 2025

From the publisher: THE MILLION-COPY INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER RETURNS WITH A DARK AND TERRIFYING JOURNEY INTO THE MIND OF A KILLER. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!

‘Truly exceptional…twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, a unique concept, and brilliant characters…simply captivating.’ JOHN MARRS

What I Liked About The Profiler:

The Profiler was originally published as Profile K. This psychological thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would keep reading after the first chapter. Helen Fields does not hold back on the details of a murder. I had to skip over some details throughout the book, but that should tell you how good the story was because I had to keep reading. Did parts make me feel uncomfortable? Absolutely. However, the storyline of a serial killer combined with profiling technology was genius.

The story is told through two points of view. There is Midnight, who is an analyst for a biotech company and comes across the profile of a psychopath. There is also the point of view of the serial killer. I enjoyed Midnight’s character; she is well-written and you cheer her on throughout the book. I like that she is a smart, courageous woman who fights for what is right in the world. I also love that she takes care of her twin sister, Dawn, who has limited communication skills and a low IQ.

A warning though: this book is dark and chilling. I can’t believe I kept reading it right before I went to sleep. If you like a thriller, this book is definitely for you. I can see why some people said they didn’t finish it after the first few chapters. It was too dark for them. I’m glad I stuck with it, though. The second half of the book was worth it! It wouldn’t be a book that I would want to see at the movies, but I’m still glad I read it. I felt wrung out after I finished the book. I think I held my breath for the last 20 percent of the story.

Where To Buy The Profiler by Helen Fields and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins 360, and Helen Fields for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

To read more about Helen Fields: https://www.helenfields.com/

Now, I’d love to hear from you: If AI and profiling were advanced enough to reliably predict a violent criminal (like The Profiler), would you support using it to monitor citizens, even if they hadn’t committed a crime yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Now I think I will read a happy rom-com!

The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf

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Don’t you love watching those gender-reveal videos on social media? I admit, I’m one of those people who especially loves the videos where something goes hilariously right, or horribly, wrong. This is why I wanted to read The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf. It is an interesting mystery that takes place at a gender-reveal party.

Book cover of 'The Perfect Hosts' by Heather Gudenkauf featuring a cake with pink and blue frosting and a knife on top, set against a blue background.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

To read more about the story: https://amzn.to/4pmpcjg

Published on: November 4th, 2025

From the publisher: “You don’t know who to trust or where loyalties lie in The Perfect Hosts. I loved every minute of this fun, twisty wild ride!” –Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing

A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest.

What I Liked About The Perfect Hosts:

I am a big fan of the show Yellowstone, and I kept picturing their horse ranch as I read this story. It takes place on a big ranch in Wyoming, and the very expensive gender-reveal party is called, “Pistols and Pearls.” When there is a misfire and then a second explosion, the party turns to chaos.

I liked that there are different multiple points of views and subplots throughout the book. This adds to the mystery of who was involved in the explosion and keeps the story moving along at a faster pace. Was it a family member? An enemy of the family? Someone from the past? A close friend? This is why it keeps you guessing. Secrets are revealed throughout the story, and everyone seems to have a dark one from their past.

My favorite character in the book is Jamie Saldano. He is the agent that is brought to the town in order to investigate the explosion. Little does anyone know that Jamie actually grew up in this town. Is his return fully for professional reasons? Read it to find out.

The publisher markets this as a ‘gripping thriller.’ However, I found it to be more of an intriguing mystery. It focuses on character secrets and uncovering a single culprit. Either way, it kept me turning pages! Plus, don’t you love the cover of the book?

A large rustic house with arched windows is illuminated at dusk, surrounded by mountains and a valley. This is what the ranch looks like in The Perfect Hosts.

Where To Buy The Perfect Hosts and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Heather Gudenkauf for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: Do you enjoy watching gender-reveal videos on social media? Have you ever been to a party to find out the gender of a baby? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo

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A beautiful, thought-provoking story of love, death, faith, and family, Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo has truly stuck with me, earning a resounding five stars.

Cover of the novel 'Life, and Death, and Giants' by Ron Rindo, featuring a silhouette of a giant surrounded by a natural landscape.

5/5 stars ★★★★★

Read more about the story at: https://amzn.to/3XKx4zj

Published on: September 9th, 2025

From the publisher: A heart too big for this world. A life that changes everyone.

“Life, and Death, and Giants is an intriguing and alluring novel from beginning to end. The events are startling, sad, amusing, invigorating, and informative. Reading it is like meeting a family that you never knew existed and becoming close friends in a few weeks. Highly recommended.” –Jane Smiley, author of Lucky and A Thousand Acres

What I Liked About Life, and Death, and Giants

The story pulled me in right from the beginning. Gabriel Fisher was born weighing 18 pounds and was 27 inches long to an unmarried, shunned Amish woman in Wisconsin. This was also the day that his mother died. I don’t want to give away too much of the story from there.

I am intrigued by the Amish community, which is why I chose this book. With Gabriel’s love of animals and his gift of athleticism, it was hard to keep this 8-foot teenage giant hidden from the outside world, turning him from a boy into a figure of modern legend. The story is told through multiple points of view: his Amish grandmother, his football coach, the local veterinarian who became his mentor, and his friend, a local bar owner. All of these points of view truly added to the story. Each character is flawed in his/her own beautiful way.

I also loved the spirituality throughout, which isn’t surprising that it was included since his grandparents are Amish. The references to the poems of Emily Dickinson made my English teacher’s heart happy.

I think this will be a book that you keep hearing about this year. I hope you love it as much as I did.

A horse-drawn Amish buggy traveling along a rural road, with a scenic landscape of fields and clouds in the background. This could be in Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo.

My Favorite Quote From Life, and Death, and Giants:

The writing in this book is well-done. Although this quote isn’t a major part of the story, I appreciated the imagery of this paragraph.

“He looked a little chunkier than I’d remembered. I think every man’s front porch gets a little bigger with age. His beard was streaked with gray, with bits of sawdust clinging to it near the bottom and dusting the hair on his arms. He sat slumped over, elbows on the bar, staring down at his hands.”

In Rindo’s Acknowledgments section, this sentence made me smile. Hopefully, someday one of my students will feel the same way.

“Thank you to all of the teachers and professors I’ve had over the years who inspired with their passion for books and writing.”

Where To Buy Life, and Giants, and Death and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Ron Rindo for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: Do you think that a community defines the person? Or does a person define himself? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

How Girls Are Made by Mandy McGinnis: Secrets, Scandals, and Sex Ed.

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Do you remember taking sex ed in school? When I was growing up, they would pull the girls into a separate trailer to talk about a girl’s body. When I started as a middle school teacher, I taught sex ed for four years. This was the reason that I chose this book. How Girls Are Made by Mandy McGinnis definitely pinpoints what it is like for teenager’s today.

Book cover of 'How Girls Are Made' by Mindy McGinnis, featuring a silhouette of a girl and colorful text on a dark background.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

You can read the synopsis here: https://amzn.to/3IKxRfr

Published on: November 18, 2025

From the publisher: Sex Education meets Euphoria in this dark contemporary novel that tackles perfectionism, emotional abuse, and the dark side of social media.

What I Liked About How Girls Are Made:

As a teacher of teenagers, I feel like this would really appeal to my students. Would I recommend it to them? Yes, but not all of them. If I was a teenager, I would have eaten this book right up. It has secrets, scandals, and sex ed. I liked that McGinnis put a lot of needed information for teenagers about the world (sex ed, social media, bullying, domestic violence), without dummying it down for them. They will appreciate that also.

It also tore at my heart strings as a teacher of teenagers. I actually think this book would make teenagers think twice about their actions. That’s a good thing. I could picture my students as the main characters, and McGinnis did a nice job of portraying different types of kids that could be sitting right in my classroom.

What I Would Change:

The beginning definitely pulled me in. The last 40 pages or so were a jaw dropper. Even though I enjoyed the ending, I felt that it was abrupt. It was like I walked up to a tree, admired it, shook it, and then all of the apples hit me on the head.

I’m glad that I read the book. Even though it is a YA book, I still think adults would enjoy it.

A student with pink hair holds a sign that reads 'SECRETS. SCANDAL. SEX ED.' in a school hallway in the book How Girls Are Made.

Where To Buy How Girls Are Made and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Mindy McGinnis for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: Did you have sex ed in school? Do you feel it was effective? Do you feel social media is a positive or negative in a teenager’s life? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

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Michael Connelly is one of my favorite authors, and I’m always excited when a new Lincoln Lawyer book is published. The Proving Ground didn’t disappoint. It plunges Mickey Haller into a terrifying case where a mother is suing a tech company, alleging their AI companion essentially programmed a teenage boy to commit murder. If you are fascinated by the whole concept of AI and the negative impact it might have on the young people of today, then you will love this book!

Cover of 'The Proving Ground' by Michael Connelly, featuring a silhouette of a man walking through a modern corridor, with the title and author's name prominently displayed.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

To read more about the book: https://amzn.to/47NAA0m

Published on: October 21, 2025

From the publisher: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly, the Lincoln Lawyer is back with a case against an AI company whose product may have been responsible for the murder of a young girl.

What I Liked About The Proving Ground:

Mickey Haller returns once again to the courtroom, but this time he is in civil court. Michael Connelly definitely knows how to write an intense courtroom drama and relate it to today’s problems. Artificial Intelligence is such a timely topic, and as a teacher, I truly worry about how it is affecting the youth of today. Sure it is great for research, but as shown in this story, can kids differentiate between what is real and what is AI? I even struggle with it at times. Who is being held responsible for AI anyway?

In the story, a mother takes on a billion-dollar tech company that created an AI companion for a teenage boy. This boy murdered her daughter because the AI companion supposedly told him to. Intrigued yet? I always love how Mickey always finds a way to get to the bottom of what really happened in a court case. The other characters in the story add drama to the book, and that is why I love Connelly books. It’s fun to see Cisco, Lorna, and Maggie reappear and how they add to his character-driven books.

Quotes That Made Me Think From The Proving Ground:

** “Are you saying that an AI program like Wren will carry the biases of those who feed it data and train it? That is absolutely what I’m saying.”

It’s interesting to think that any biases that appear in AI are based on those that have inputted the data. It’s also scary to think about how ideas can be misconstrued but taken as the truth.

** “What is the Eliza effect? In short, it is people’s tendency to attribute human thoughts and emotions to machines.”

I mean, look at how many people have conversations with Alexa? Or Siri? I used to say thank you to Siri for answering my questions.

This, my friends, is why this is such a timely topic and book. Although fiction, it truly makes you think about AI in today’s world.

Where To Buy The Proving Ground and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown, & CO, and Michael Connelly for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: What are your thoughts about AI in today’s world?

Living Proof by Tiffany Graham Charkosky: Living With Lynch Syndrome

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Living Proof is a beautiful memoir that reflects on what it’s like to live with the genetic disorder Lynch Syndrome. For those unfamiliar, Lynch Syndrome means one or more of your genes are mutated, compromising your body’s ability to repair DNA. This puts you at a significantly higher risk for developing cancers such as colon, ovarian, stomach, pancreas, and more. I also have Lynch Syndrome, which is why this book resonated with me on a profound, personal level.

Book cover of 'Living Proof: How Love Defied Genetic Legacy' by Tiffany Graham Charkosky, featuring an illustration of a woman in a red top against a textured background. It's about a woman with lynch syndrome.

5/5 stars ★★★★★

To read more about the book: https://amzn.to/4nbDwtu

Published on: October 21, 2025

From the publisher: When a hereditary cancer threat echoes her mother’s journey, one woman chooses to rewrite her story―crafting a radiant memoir about embracing life’s precious moments and finding strength in the infinite power of family love.

What I Liked About Living Proof:

My favorite part of Charkosky’s book is her honesty! I related to so much of her book that I found myself constantly highlighting sections and saying in my head, “Yes, that is so true.” When she found out that her mom had colon cancer, her life turned upside down. She was only 11, and she went from having her mom be a total participant in her and her sibling’s lives to watching her struggle through the stages of cancer.

What makes this memoir so compelling is how Charkosky structures it, alternating between her childhood, spent watching her mother struggle with cancer, and her adult life as a mother herself living with the same genetic disorder. This dual perspective is incredibly effective. She shares her worries, joys, and fears with such honesty that anyone who has dealt with illness, loss, or a chronic health condition will instantly relate.

Favorite Quotes About Living With a Parent Who Has Lynch Syndrome:

  • “I became afraid to ask my mom for anything, of doing something wrong, making her worse, of having any needs at all.”
    • If you have ever had someone sick in your household, you will be able to relate.
  • “A sick mother changes the entire biome of her family, with everyone around her adapting in their own ways to a new environment.”
    • I was 13 when my mom had colon cancer. It was one of my biggest life-changing events. Throughout her chemotherapy, she was sick after each treatment and then lost her hair. She truly tried to make things normal for her kids, and looking back, I am thankful and realize how strong she really was during that time.

Favorite Quotes About Living With Lynch Syndrome:

  • “It was lonely having a mutation I’d never heard of and, it seemed, hardly anyone else had either.”
    • Even though statistics show that one in 300 people have it, most people don’t know that they carry this gene mutation. It is hereditary, but generations can pass before the mutation is discovered through genetic testing.
  • “I didn’t want the people I knew in real life to associate me with this mutation.”
    • I don’t speak about having Lynch Syndrome very often. I picture myself like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle when I talk about my gene mutation. I’m starting to realize, though, that I should. The more people that have genetic testing done, the more people that can be saved with their new knowledge.
  • “I didn’t comprehend until that day that cancer isn’t just one disease, nor is cancer of a certain organ one disease. Cancer is a collection of thousands of different diseases, each operating in its own way to edge out a body’s healthy cells.”
    • My doctor explained that having Lynch Syndrome is like missing the “spell check” on a word document. I liked that analogy.
  • “These annual appointments were part of the Plan and they put me on edge, making me question every twinge.” “…the reality was that a lot of my plan was about finding cancer early, not stopping it altogether…” “…we didn’t talk about the ongoing emotional toll this information might have one us.”
    • If you have Lynch Syndrome, you know the amount of yearly tests to screen for cancer is exhausting. However, I feel so fortunate to have this knowledge. I feel blessed that my doctors get me in right away with something seems “off” on my skin or how I’m feeling. I agree with Charkoski when she talks about the anxiety that leads up to these tests and how it has almost turned her into a hypochondriac when almost anything seems wrong.
  • “…we want to remain healthy for ourselves and we need to respect the fear and anxiety our cancer risks instill in the people we love, particularly our spouses, who have chosen to love and build futures with us.”
    • Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our life and health, that we forget what it also does to our family members. My husband is incredibly supportive, but I know it takes a toll on him as well. I did laugh at her experiences with her husband after each colonoscopy.
  • “It was living your life with the clear acceptance of what it was and not being destroyed by what it wasn’t.”
    • I want to remember this quote. I think it’s impactful advice for everyone. Live your life and try not to worry about what hasn’t happened yet.

Final Thoughts on Living Proof:

As you can see, I really enjoyed this memoir. It will speak to so many people. Even if you don’t know anyone with Lynch Syndrome or you haven’t had someone die that is close to you, you will still appreciate this memoir. The writing is honest and it pulls at your heartstrings. It also gives you hope!

Where To Buy Living Proof and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Little A Publishing, and Tiffany Graham Charkosky for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: What inspires you to live each day to the fullest?

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

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As a teacher, each school year brings about hope. There is nothing like meeting your students for the first time. What you don’t picture is a mixture of Mean Girls and Gossip Girl all rolled into one. The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham, takes a fun look at not only working at a boarding school, but the chaos that can happen as a student.

Book cover of 'The Academy' by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, featuring a young woman sitting on a lawn in front of a boarding school during autumn.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Published on: September 16, 2025

From the publisher: From #1 bestselling author of The Perfect Couple Elin Hilderbrand, and her daughter, Shelby Cunningham: the irresistible, deliciously scandalous story of one drama-filled year at a New England boarding school.

To read more about the book: https://amzn.to/4h8KDBm

What I Liked About The Academy:

The mixture of a mother/daughter writer is genius. I felt that both authors could do a great job of bringing their own expertise into this novel based on where they are in life: one offering the authentic teen perspective, the other, the mature, adult faculty perspective.

As a teacher, I could just feel those feelings of a new school year. Simone is a new, young teacher who wants to take on the world and relate to her students. Audre is the head of the school and you could feel the pressure that she was under throughout the book. “Audre thinks of each new school year as a blank composition book, a fresh box of sharpened pencils – but this reveals her age. To these kids, it’s…what? An empty Google doc, the cursor blinking at the top of a laptop screen?”

Charley, a student, reminded me of so many of my past students that loved to read and was every teacher’s dream. Andrew “East” Eastmen reminded me of John Bender in The Breakfast Club, who defied authority, but had a soft side as well. Davi is the “queen bee” on campus, but there is more to her than just her beauty. All of the characters seemed true to life, and this is why I enjoyed the book so much.

It made my heart happy, as an English teacher, that great vocabulary words were introduced, but then there were explanations to go along with them. Just think of the vocabulary that young adults could learn if this was included in all of their books.

I also had to laugh about all of the food that is mentioned in this book. It constantly made me hungry, and it made me wish I could go back to college and eat whatever, whenever I wanted.

Themes Dealt With In The Book:

There are issues introduced in this book that you might want to be aware of ahead of time: bulimia, teacher/student sex, bullying, suicide, and romance. Of course, these issues makes me hope that there is a sequel; I would definitely sign up for next semester!

Final Thoughts on The Academy:

This is an easy read, and the book keeps your attention throughout the story. I found the newly developed app in the story called, “Zip Zap” downright frightening. It exposes the dark secrets of the staff and students on campus. Can you imagine learning THAT lesson? My favorite part was the setting and characters. I think boarding schools are intriguing, and I would love to visit one someday. I’m a big fan of Elin Hildebrand and this book did not disappoint!

Where To Buy The Academy and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co, Elin Hildebrand, and Shelby Cunningham for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: Would you or have you ever attended a boarding school? What was your experience?

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

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Imagine meeting for dinner with 6 of your friends twenty plus years after seeing each other. Sounds like a fun reunion, right? Well, it would be unless you are one of the guests in The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards. Lies. Secrets. Deception. It all comes out. Knowing this, would you still want to attend this little party?

Cover of 'The Wasp Trap' by Mark Edwards featuring an elegantly set dining table and splattered wine, implying tension and secrets.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Published on: September 16, 2025

From the publisher: “A dinner party in a beautiful Notting Hill townhouse turns into a sinister game, as six old friends are forced to spill their darkest secrets…or else.“

What I Liked About The Wasp Trap:

In a dual timeline with different point of views, the reader is drawn into the inner workings of the friendship that were brought together by their employer, Sebastian. In 1999, Sebastian wanted to be one of the first to create an online dating app. It is now 2024, and Sebastian is dead. I loved how the book went back and forth between the friendship of these six people (and brought back memories for me), and the tense moments of 2024 where they are forced into playing a game at the dinner party. Is there a psychopath among them?

The Wasp Trap reminded me a little of an Agatha Christie book where you are trying to guess what is actually going to happen at the dinner party. This sense of not knowing whom to trust is exactly what makes the book so enjoyable.

The perfect title, The Wasp Trap, baffled me initially, only to reveal its powerful meaning about halfway through the story. It creates an eerie feeling for the reader. You realize becoming trapped isn’t the worst that can happen to you.

A close-up of a yellow wasp trap filled with captured wasps, set against a blurred background. This reminded me of the book The Wasp Trap.

Where To Buy As A Last Resort and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Mark Edwards for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: What’s the worst party you’ve ever been to?

Kristin Wollett’s Debut: As a Last Resort

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If you are looking for a slow-flow romance, that isn’t cutesy, then you will enjoy Kristin Wollett’s debut novel, As a Last Resort. The story follows a career-driven woman whose perfect future boyfriend might not be who she expects in a partner, all set against the backdrop of a charming Florida coastal town. It’s the very town that Samantha wanted to run away from.

Book cover for Kristin Wollett's novel 'As a Last Resort'. The illustration features a woman walking along a beach with palm trees, chairs, and a sunset in the background.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

You can read more about the book at: https://amzn.to/4pjaTwK

Published on: September 2, 2025

From the publisher: “Opposites attract when a real estate developer’s quest for a promotion returns her to the coastal hometown she loathes—where she’s reunited with her teenage crush turned town golden boy.“

What I Liked About As a Last Resort:

Every good rom-com book has entertaining banter between the main characters, and I appreciated this part of the story between Samantha and Austin. It made the story more realistic as two people, who knew each other growing up, would use teasing (and yes, flirting) to get the other person’s attention.

An interesting part of the book deals with the relationship between Samantha and her mother, who is an alcoholic. Samantha didn’t have an easy childhood because of it, but I was still cheering on that relationship as well.

I enjoy books that are relatable and funny but also contain deeper life issues. This book has all three. Although it is somewhat predictable (what rom-com book isn’t?), I enjoyed the storyline. It helped me to forget about life for a while, and that is exactly what I was hoping for while reading.

Favorite Quotes:

  1. “Sometimes life tips the bucket list over and dumps it all on your head, leaving you standing there soaked in all the things that didn’t go as planned.”

This first quote perfectly captures my own philosophy on life, and it made me laugh. One of the things you learn in life is that your plan should be to have no plan. Life has a way of taking your plans and messing with them. Cynical, I know, but that comes from experience. I have never created a bucket list for this reason. Sure, there are things I would still like to do during my lifetime, and I will be just as surprised when they happen.

2. “Family ain’t who you choose…They’re who God gave you to love. There’s a big difference.”

I am close to my family. I really like the thought that they are the people that God chose for me to love.

Where To Buy As A Last Resort and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Kristin Wollett for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: If you moved away from your hometown, would you ever want to move back?

The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck

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I love reading books about strong, independent women in history. The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck is the true story of Dickey Chapelle, a war correspondent and photojournalist who started her career during WWII. The book follows her exciting adventures, which spanned from WWII through the Vietnam War.

Book cover of 'The Last Assignment' by Erika Robuck, featuring helicopters and tropical foliage, with the subtitle 'A Novel of Dickey Chapelle' and a gold foil background.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Read more about the premise: https://amzn.to/47RF0Fb

Published on: August 19, 2025

From the publisher: “From bestselling author Erika Robuck comes the perilous and awe-inspiring true story of award-winning photojournalist Dickey Chapelle as she risks everything to show the American people the price of war through the lens of her camera.”

What I Liked About The Last Assignment:

I found Dickey Chapelle’s life fascinating. She was one of the first female war correspondents in US history. The Last Assignment reads like fiction, and yet, you know that the story is all true. It’s the best way, in my opinion, to learn about history. I used to teach US History in the beginning of my teaching career. Now, I can see that I didn’t cover much about the heroics of women during WWII. I would change that if I could.

Chapelle could not only fly a plane, she also jumped out of them to land in some of the different nations’ military units. She was determined to always be “first” to get the best shot. You can find many of her photographs here.

I liked that the book wasn’t especially sad. Robuck did an outstanding job of research, and then wove the story to make it an interesting book. Although much of the subject matter is dark, I mean Chapelle DID photograph wars, Robuck presented the story in a way that you are constantly cheering for Chapelle. She always wanted to find a place to belong, and it wasn’t easy in a male-dominated profession.

As quoted in the book, “I used to think of myself as a girl reporter, then a war correspondent. Now, however, I see I have to serve as an interpreter of violence. Find it, expose it, name it, exorcise it. That is my task, and I’m ready for my next mission.”

If you like reading about women who defied barriers, you will enjoy The Last Assignment. Her photos became an important part of history.

This was four out of five stars for me. The only reason it wasn’t a five-star read for me was the author’s decision to fictionalize certain events or when people appeared in the story to better fit the narrative, although she did disclose them at the end.

Where To Buy The Last Assignment and More:

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Erika Robuck for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Now, I’d love to hear from you: What is your favorite historical fiction book? I’d love more recommendations.

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