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The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey: Book Review

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Jane Healey’s The Women of Arlington Hall took me into a part of history that I knew very little about, and that is why I enjoyed this book so much. Set during the Cold War, the story follows a group of women code breakers working to uncover Soviet spies in America.

Book cover of The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey, featuring a woman in a teal coat and hat walking near a government building.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Click to read the book summary or to buy it on Amazon!

From the publisher: A female codebreaker puts her future and her heart on the line in a stirring novel about love, loyalty, betrayal, and Cold War spy games by the bestselling author of The Secret Stealers.

Genre: Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction, Fiction

Pages: 335

Publication Date: August 1, 2025

My Thoughts on The Women of Arlington Hall

Breaking Codes and Catching Spies:

I especially loved the character Cat Killeen, who is hired to help break Soviet codes and track down spies operating in the United States. After becoming a runaway bride, Cat begins working as a cryptologist and codebreaker. I found this fascinating because I knew very little about the role women played in intelligence and code breaking during the early Cold War. I definitely don’t remember learning about these women in my history classes! It sent me down a fun historical rabbit hole and made me want to learn more. I had no idea women were doing this kind of work during the Cold War.

A Romance That Felt Just Right:

The Women of Arlington Hall is listed as a historical romance, and I thought the romance was very well done. It never felt over the top or like it took away from the historical part of the story.

Instead, it felt realistic for the time period and fit naturally into Cat’s life. There was enough romance to make me care about the relationship without letting it take over the entire story. For some reason, I kept picturing the main characters from the movie Grease as the four women in this book. The story lines are totally different, of course, but some of their personalities and group dynamics reminded me of them.

My Favorite Part: The Friendships:

My favorite part of the book was the friendship between the four women in this story. I’m always a sucker for a good found-family storyline, and this one worked especially well.

Because these women had to keep their jobs secret from almost everyone in their lives—even their own families—they depended on one another in a way that made their friendship feel even more meaningful. They were some of the only people who could truly understand what the others were going through.

For me, their friendship was really the heart of the story.

A Strong Finish:

The book is well written, and the story kept me interested throughout. I also thought the ending was strong. It wrapped everything up without feeling rushed and gave the story a satisfying conclusion. I especially appreciated that I finished the book feeling like I had learned something while still getting an entertaining story filled with friendship, romance, suspense, secrets, and characters I cared about.

If you enjoy historical fiction, found-family stories, a little romance, and learning about women whose contributions to history deserve more attention, The Women of Arlington Hall is definitely worth picking up.

📝 Extra Credit Reading:

If you enjoyed the women-centered history in The Women of Arlington Hall, these three historical fiction novels are worth adding to your list. Each one shines a light on women doing remarkable work during important moments in history—often in roles that didn’t get nearly enough attention.

  1. Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If you liked discovering the story of the women code breakers in The Women of Arlington Hall, this is another great choice. I love historical fiction that shines a light on the important work women were doing behind the scenes, especially when it’s something I never learned about in school.
  2. The Last Assignment by Erika Robuck | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? This one is perfect if you enjoy learning about women who broke barriers in professions dominated by men. Like The Women of Arlington Hall, it introduced me to a woman and a part of history I knew very little about, which is one of my favorite things about reading historical fiction.
  3. The Stars Are Our Witness by Siobhan Curham | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here (You’ll have to scroll down a little)
    • Why? If you enjoy historical fiction that shines a light on the brave work women did during wartime, this is another powerful read. I loved learning about the women who risked their lives working with the resistance and secretly helping the rebellion. Like The Women of Arlington Hall, it introduced me to an important part of women’s history I knew very little about.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Jane Healey for my advance copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Click here to learn more about Jane Healey!

Let’s Chat:

What’s a piece of women’s history you first learned about through historical fiction?

The Wonder of One by Suzanne Redfearn: A Moving 5-Star Book Review

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Suzanne Redfearn’s The Wonder of One is the kind of book that makes you care about a character almost immediately. Vivien Kendall got under my skin and stayed there. She’s a character I’ll remember for a long time, and that’s when I know I’ve read a really good book!

Born with a large birthmark on her face, Vivien grows up in a world that can be unbelievably cruel to anyone who looks different. But The Wonder of One isn’t just a story about cruelty. It’s about resilience, found family, friendship, competition, prejudice, and the people who love us enough to help shape who we become.

The Wonder of One by Suzanne Redfearn book cover featuring a woman’s silhouette against an orange and gold background.

5/5 Stars ★★★★★

Click to read the summary or to buy it on Amazon!

From the publisher: “From the #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant comes an inspirational coming-of-age story about one extraordinary girl’s determination to chase a dream.“

Genre: Coming-of-Age, Women’s Fiction

Pages: 381

Publication Date: September 15, 2026

My Thoughts on The Wonder of One:

⛸️ Growing Up With Vivien

One of my favorite things about The Wonder of One was that it was truly a coming-of-age story, but not one confined to a small period of Vivien Kendall’s life. We get to follow her through the decades, seeing how the experiences of her younger years continue to shape the woman she becomes.

Vivien was such an easy character for me to care about. She is born with a large birthmark covering part of her face, and because of it, she experiences an incredible amount of cruelty and prejudice. So many people have a hard time seeing beyond her birthmark to the person she actually is.

That part of the story broke my heart. But it was also probably my favorite part of the book.

Vivien could have allowed the way people treated her to define her. Instead, those experiences helped make her stronger, more compassionate, and more determined. I loved watching her become the person she was meant to be despite all the people who tried to make her feel like she was somehow less.

As for the bully in the story? I wanted to punch him!

❤️ The Family You Find

This book is very much about found family. Vivien may experience plenty of cruelty, but she also has people in her life who show up for her, love her, and give her a place to belong.

I loved those relationships.

The characters surrounding Vivien were one of the strongest parts of the story for me because they reminded me that family isn’t always about who you’re related to. Sometimes it’s about the people who choose you and never stop!

🧊 The Competitive World of Figure Skating

I also really enjoyed the figure skating story line. I found the competitive side of figure skating fascinating, especially as Vivien tried to find her place in a world where appearance and perfection mattered so much. I love books with a sports element, so the fact that figure skating was such an important part of the story made me very happy.

🔎 A Little Mystery Makes Everything Better

As if Vivien’s story weren’t interesting enough on its own, Redfearn adds a murder mystery. That gave the book an entirely different kind of tension and kept me wondering how everything would eventually connect.

I thought the mystery blended really well with the coming-of-age portion of the story rather than feeling like two completely different books mashed together. The mystery and dual timelines also helped keep the pacing strong throughout the book.

🎧 Read It or Listen to It?

I did both! I read about half of The Wonder of One and listened to the other half, and the audio was extremely well done.

I love being able to switch back and forth between a physical or digital book and the audiobook when the narration works, and this was definitely one where it did.

If you’re an audiobook reader, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend listening to this one. If you have Kindle Unlimited, the audiobook is included.

🎀 What About the Ending?

The ending was incredibly well done. Everything came together at exactly the right time, and all of the loose ends were tied up without the conclusion feeling rushed or too perfectly packaged.

I especially appreciated the timing of the reveals. Redfearn didn’t give things away too early, but she also didn’t drag everything out simply for the sake of keeping the reader guessing. By the time I reached the final pages, I felt like Vivien’s story had been given the ending it deserved.

📝 Extra Credit Reading

If you loved The Wonder of One like I did, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:

  1. Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann  |  Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If you loved watching Vivien grow up and become the person she was meant to be, Catch the Sun is another emotional coming-of-age story with characters you become completely invested in.
  2. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston |  Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If the found-family aspect of The Wonder of One was one of your favorite parts, this is another story about the people who come into our lives, choose to love us, and eventually become family.
  3. Liberty Street by Heather Marshall  |  Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If you liked the dual timelines and mystery woven through Vivien’s story, Liberty Street combines both while exploring how prejudice and society’s expectations can shape a woman’s life.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Suzanne Redfearn for my advance copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Click to learn more about Suzanne Redfearn!

Let’s Chat:

Have you ever read a book where you became so attached to the main character that you felt personally offended when someone treated them badly?

Because apparently I was ready to climb right into The Wonder of One and deal with Vivien’s bully myself. 😂

Let me know in the comments!

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury

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The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury immediately caught my attention because, as a teacher, I’m always looking for books set in schools and universities. There’s just something about an academic setting that pulls me in. Add Oxford University, spies, espionage, murder, and a little romance, and this sounded like exactly my kind of book.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury book cover, an Oxford-set mystery featuring espionage, murder, and romance.

Click to read the summary or buy it on Amazon!

From the publisher: Set against the backdrop of post-WWII Oxford University, The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is the irresistible debut from Kate Westbury that seamlessly layers mystery, romance, and a dash of academia to introduce the Crown’s newest undercover operatives.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Published: September 1, 2026

📚 Judi’s Report Card:

🎓 Premise & Setting: A-

Oxford University, spies, espionage, murder, and romance? The premise immediately grabbed my attention. I loved the idea of all that secrecy and scandal playing out against the backdrop of Oxford. One day, I would love to visit Oxford just to see some of the places mentioned in this book.

👩‍❤️‍👨 Main Characters: B+

Gin and Sidney were easily my favorite part of the book. I liked both of them and enjoyed their relationship and the scenes they shared. I actually wished they were together more throughout the story. You could tell right from the start that there was going to be some type of relationship between them. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel nearly as connected to the rest of the characters.

🔎 Mystery & Suspense: C

This is going to be controversial because so many other readers loved the mystery and suspense of this story. It really does have an Agatha Christie feel to it. For me, however, it fell a little flat. There wasn’t much of a lead-in to the librarian before he was murdered (this happens at the very beginning), so I never felt very invested in finding out what happened to him. I wanted the mystery to pull me in more than it did.

🐢 Pacing: C

The beginning caught my attention, but the middle struggled to hold it. There were stretches where I just wasn’t that anxious to get back to the story. Thankfully, the ending picked up and added some much-needed tension. I found myself much more interested in what was happening the last few chapters. I just wish that same energy had been there throughout more of the story.

🎧 Audiobook Performance: A-

The audio performance by Ell Potter saved the story for me. It was very well done. It took me a little while to adjust to the British accent, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. Since the story takes place at Oxford University, the accent actually added to the atmosphere and gave the book more character. I found myself wanting to listen to the book more often than read it, and that doesn’t happen very often for me.

⭐ Overall Grade: C+ (3/5 Stars ★★★☆☆)

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies had so many ingredients that should have worked for me. It had Oxford University, espionage, murder, romance, and two main characters I genuinely liked. Unfortunately, it lost my interest through much of the middle, and I never became invested enough in the murder mystery. The stronger ending and enjoyable audiobook helped, but overall, this one landed right in the middle for me.

📝 Extra Credit Reading:

If the Oxford setting was what first pulled you into The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, here are three more books from my bookshelf that offer interesting settings, suspense, secrets, or a little espionage of their own.

  1. The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, this one takes place in a school setting, which I always like after spending more than thirty years in education. It also has secrets from the past and a mystery at the center of the story. I gave this one three stars too, but the familiar school setting kept me interested.
  2.  A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If you wanted more suspense and tension from The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies, this is a good one to try next. A Dead Draw has a much stronger cat-and-mouse feel, characters I became invested in right away, and a second half that really picks up the pace.
  3. Hold Strong by Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? If the espionage side of The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies interested you, Hold Strong takes that element in a very different direction. Set during World War II, it includes a highly classified U.S. code-breaking team along with a powerful historical fiction story. This was a five-star read for me.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, Kate Westbury, and Ell Potter for my advance copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Click to learn more about Kate Westbury!

Let’s Chat:

Are you more likely to pick up a book because of its setting? I’m always drawn to stories set in schools or universities. What kind of setting grabs your attention?

The Heart Trials by J. Elle Book Review: A Five-Star Dystopian Surprise

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I honestly didn’t expect to give The Heart Trials by J. Elle 5 stars!

As a language arts teacher, I read and taught so many dystopian novels when the genre was at its peak that I eventually grew tired of them. I started avoiding them on purpose. When I realized The Heart Trials was a dystopian novel, I wondered whether it would feel too familiar.

Instead, I loved it from beginning to end. I couldn’t wait to get back to the story each night. I’m so glad that there is going to be a sequel!

Book cover of The Heart Trials by J. Elle, a young adult dystopian romantasy novel.

Click to read the summary or to buy it on Amazon

Genre: Dystopian, Romantasy

Pages: 400

Published on: September 1, 2026

From the publisher: In a world where love is forbidden, one girl must fight for her heart and freedom through deadly trials in the first book of a new dystopian romantasy duology from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J. Elle.

Welcome to The Heart Trials.
The prize is love.
The cost is everything.

📚 Judi’s Report Card for The Heart Trials:

👩 Main Characters: A+
The main female character, Axira, is smart, capable, determined, and completely badass. She doesn’t sit around waiting for someone else to rescue her. She makes difficult decisions, takes risks, and fights for what she believes in. I was cheering her on every step of the way.

Prince Caelus, well, he is not what I expected, and I’m happy about that.

🎭 Characterization: A+
The characterization is extremely well done. The characters have distinct personalities, motivations, strengths, and vulnerabilities. I cared about what happened to them…well, most of them anyway. Others I wanted to punch! I’m looking at you, the Benevolent!

❤️ Romance: A
The love interest is handled very well. The romance adds emotion and tension to the story without taking over the entire plot. I mean who doesn’t love “love”? I’m glad J. Elle kept the romance tame enough for the book to remain appropriate for its young adult audience. (The publisher recommends it for ages 14 and up.)

🔥 Plot & Pacing: A+
From the beginning to the end, I was never bored. Something was always happening, but the book still allowed enough time for the characters and relationships to develop.

🌎 Dystopian World: A
Although the story reminded me at times of The Hunger Games, the author added enough original ideas to make the world feel fresh. That is not easy to do in a genre that has already been explored so many times. If The Hunger Games had a more hopeful twin, this book would be it.

🎬 Movie and/or Book Club Potential: A+
This book would make a great movie. The trials, action, emotional moments, romance, and strong characters would all translate well to the screen.

It would also make an excellent book-club choice for eighth-grade readers and older students, with plenty to discuss about freedom, power, loyalty, sacrifice, found families, and whether emotions should ever be controlled.

⭐ Overall Grade: A+

I gave The Heart Trials an A+ because it surprised me in the best possible way. I went into it thinking I was tired of dystopian novels, but J. Elle made the genre feel fresh again. The storyline kept me interested from beginning to end, the characters were well developed, and the romance added emotion without taking over the plot. Axira was exactly the kind of strong female character I love reading about. I could not wait to get back to the book each night, which is always a sign of a five-star read for me.

Who Do I Recommend The Heart Trials To?

I recommend The Heart Trials to readers who enjoy:

  • Strong female characters
  • Dystopian worlds
  • Dangerous competitions
  • Well-developed characters
  • Romance that does not overpower the plot
  • Fast-paced stories
  • Books similar to The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner but with a different twist

Where to Buy The Heart Trials and More:

Buy The Heart Trials on Amazon!

Extra Credit Reading:

If The Heart Trials earned an A+ from you, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:

  1. Target Acquired by Lynette Eason | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? This is another action-filled story featuring a strong, capable female character. It also includes suspense and romance, making it a good choice for you if you enjoyed the way The Heart Trials balanced Axira’s strength with romance.
  2.  The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? This young adult thriller also features a fast-moving plot, danger, secrets, and a teenage girl trying to determine whom she can trust. It does not have the fantasy world or romance of The Heart Trials, but if you enjoy suspenseful pacing and high stakes, you should find plenty to like. I compared it to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Black Mirror.
  3. Beach Thriller by Jamie Day | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Holly and Jade, are very different from Axira, but they are also strong female underdogs with complicated pasts who must face danger rather than wait to be rescued. The story combines suspense, emotional relationships, and well-developed female characters, making it a good choice if you were most drawn to the characterization in The Heart Trials.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and J. Elle for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Visit J. Elle’s website to learn more about the author and her books.

Let’s Chat:

Would you enter a dangerous competition for the chance to change your life? Why or why not?

The Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica: Book Review

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I’m a fan of both James Patterson and Mike Lupica since thrillers and sports are two of my favorite genres. Surprisingly, what stood out most to me in The Country Road Murders was the main character, Silas. Athletic, thoughtful and caring despite a difficult upbringing, he reminded me of some of my former students. He is the kind of young person whose toughness is easy to see, but whose heart is what you remember.

Book cover of The Country Road Murders, a thriller by James Patterson and Mike Lupica, featuring a lonely rural road beneath a dark, stormy sky.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Click to read the summary or to buy on Amazon

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Sports / Fiction

Pages: 416

Published on: July 13, 2026

From the publisher: Instant New York Times Bestseller!

“Fascinating … deeply American … the story of a town that needs a different kind of hero. The plot is so propulsive, it blows you away. This is a great one.” —Morning Joe

After a shocking accident, Silas Tucker’s legendary football career is suddenly over in this action-packed sports thriller powered by loyalty, competition, and family. 

📚 Judi’s Report Card on The Country Road Murders:

Main Character: A ❤️🏈
Silas was the strongest part of the book for me. I love how he treated his grandmother and best friends.

Supporting Characters: B+ 👥
The supporting cast added heart and helped show different sides of Silas, although a few characters could have been developed more.

Writing: A- ✍️📖
Patterson and Lupica kept the story readable and engaging, with clear writing, natural dialogue, and short chapters that moved quickly.

Mystery & Suspense: B 🔍🚨
There wasn’t a lot of mystery to the story. The characters were ultimately more memorable to me than the investigation itself.

Pacing: B ⏱️
Most of the story moved along quickly. I especially liked the football parts of the storyline.

Overall Grade: B ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I enjoyed the story, especially the characterization. There wasn’t enough mystery/thriller for me, but it was still a fun read.

My Thoughts on The Country Road Murders:

Blend of Genres:

One of the reasons that I like when Patterson teams up with Lupica is because there is always a blend of genres. With Lupica, you know you are going to get a strong sports background to the story. The football element felt realistic and added to the story.

With Patterson, you know you are going to get shorter chapters with some mystery. There was also the small-town feeling, family secrets, romance, friendship, and organized crime.

Characterization:

The characterization was the strength of the book. I like that there were so many sides to Silas. His character was well-developed, and I never stopped cheering him on. His relationship with Taylor, his best friend since elementary school, and his grandmother, EJ, showed Silas’ soft, caring side. His drive to take out his opponents on the field and the Southern Mafia off the field showed his grit and determination. Since EJ raised Silas since he was fourteen, you can tell where he got his determination from throughout the years.

There were a lot of supporting characters, so you couldn’t dive into them as much, but EJ and Taylor were my two favorites. Their love for Silas showed no boundaries, especially while he was struggling.

My Rating:

Overall, The Country Road Murders is worth reading, as long as you do not expect an intense mystery or thriller. If you like small-town stories, sports, and a cast that includes loyal friends, strong family figures, and determined underdogs, then you will enjoy this book.

Where to Buy The Country Road Murders and More:

Buy this book on Amazon!

📝 Extra Credit Reading:

If The Country Road Murders earned a passing grade from you, add these three books to your extra-credit reading list:

  1. A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like The Country Road Murders, this book combines a compelling mystery with characters you genuinely care about. Both stories feature thoughtful, capable characters who are driven by loyalty and a strong sense of justice.
  2.  Beach Thriller by Jamie Day | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Although the setting and main characters are very different, Beach Thriller is another character-driven mystery in which grief, family history, and old secrets are just as important as the suspense.
  3. Lies He Told Me by James Patterson and David Ellis | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why? Like The Country Road Murders, it features Patterson’s fast pace and the characters are forced to uncover painful truths about the people closest to them.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Co, James Patterson and Mike Lupica for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

 💬 Let’s Chat:

Have you ever read a character who reminded you of someone you once taught, worked with, or knew in real life?

Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer | Book Review

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Rule #1 of senior citizen rebellion: No one ever suspects the sweet little old lady. In Mikki Brammer’s brilliant new novel, Good Joy, Bad Joy, you are taken on the coming-of-age voyage full of beautiful life lessons. The funniest, however, is that it’s never too late to break a few rules (and maybe a few laws) to find out who you really are.

Book cover of Good Joy, Bad Joy by Mikki Brammer.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

To read the summary of the book

📍 The Setting

  • 🏡 Small-Town Hudson Valley, NY

📚 Book Tropes to Expect

  • 👵🏼 Senior Coming-of-Age (Late-in-Life Bloom):
  • 👯‍♀️ Soulmates in Friendship
  • ⏳ Carpe Diem (Bucket List With a Twist)
  • 🎭 Dual Timelines: A beautiful blend of present-day reality mixed with vibrant 1940s schoolgirl flashbacks.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

From the publisher: From the bestselling author of The Collected Regrets of Clover comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived.

Break the rules. Find your joy.

Published on: May 5, 2026

Pages: 304

My Thoughts on Good Joy, Bad Joy:

Characterization:

Mikki Brammer’s characterization is spot on once again (Have you read The Collected Regrets of Clover?). Joy might be 89 years old, but her struggle to figure herself out is universally relatable. If you’ve ever played the “good girl,” followed every rule, and secretly wondered what it would feel like to completely shatter society’s expectations for a change, then you are going to fall in love with Joy.

My favorite character, though, is Hazel, Joy’s best friend since they were in second grade. In the dual timelines, going back to the 1940s, we get to experience Hazel’s wit, vibrant personality, and her carefree way of living. Joy and Hazel are opposites who have stayed best friends almost all of their lives. She is also the reason Joy had a change of heart of how she wanted to live out the rest of her life.

It is their friendship that drives this story. I, too, have a best friend who has been a major driving force in my life since kindergarten. A deep bond like that is hard to find. I think it’s why I loved this story so much. Brammer does a wonderful job of celebrating female friendship without going overboard.

Pacing:

At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to love this book. But once I settled in and embraced the humor and antics, I didn’t want it to end. Joy, Hazel, and Joy’s grandson, Finn, deserve the time it took to really flesh out their characters and witness their growth. It wasn’t slow, I’d say it was cozy.

The Controversy:

After looking at some reviews, I was surprised to see how they took this book apart because of some of the crimes committed by Joy. Personally, they made me laugh. In my opinion, this author is not perpetuating crime. She seemed to be making the point of how senior women tend to become “invisible” in their old age. No one notices them anymore. I kept picturing my little, old grandmother reading this story, and we would have had a great time discussing it.

Book Club?

I believe this would make a great read for your book club, especially if you are an “older crowd.” As a I said earlier, this book is full of life lessons. They would make great discussion points for a group of women.

Where to Buy Good Joy, Bad Joy and More:

Purchase Good Joy, Bad Joy here

What to Read Next!

If you enjoyed Good Joy, Bad Joy, I would add these three incredible books to your TBR list next:

  1. Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: It centers on 81-year-old Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick who is a fiercely independent, hilariously blunt elder woman who refuses to act the way society expects her to. Like Joy Bridport, Mabel utilizes the “no one suspects the sweet old lady” card to her extreme advantage, frequently pretending to be “confused” or “hard of hearing” when it suits her. It balances the exact same mix of a touching dual-timeline history with laugh-out-loud senior citizens breaking the rules.
  2. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: It follows an elderly man who stumbles into an accidental identity mix-up, allowing him to taste a completely different kind of life. If the part of Good Joy, Bad Joy you love most is an aging protagonist realizing it is never too late to reinvent yourself and find joy, my recommendation of Frederick Fife fits the bill.
  3. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: While Good Joy, Bad Joy plays out its rebellion through real-world petty crime, both books share a common theme: a character reckoning with a lifetime of playing it too safe and realizing they desperately want to change the narrative before their time runs out.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Mikki Brammer for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Mikki Brammer, visit her website.

 Let’s Chat!

Have you ever read a book where an older protagonist completely stole your heart? Or even better – what’s the wildest “rule” you’ve ever broken? Let me know in the comments below!

Does Katherine Center’s The Shippers Sink or Swim?

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The banter? Incredible. The hero? I would totally hang out with him. The main character’s decision-making? Yikes. Today I’m reviewing The Shippers by Katherine Center. I am a fan of Katherine Center, but this high-seas rom-com proved to be a bit of a bumpy ride for me. Here’s why it didn’t quite live up to her previous books that I loved, and why I’m still going to buy her next book anyway.

Book cover of The Shippers by Katherine Center. The design features a sun-soaked, cruise ship-themed illustration with a bright sky-blue background, bold typography, and a modern romantic comedy aesthetic.

3/5 stars ★★★☆☆

To read the summary of details of the book

🌊 The Setting

  • 🛳️ A Destination Wedding Cruise (An 8-day luxury cruise ship voyage out at sea)

🗺️ The Tropes

  • 👫 Childhood Friends-to-Lovers
  • 💁‍♂️ The “Wingman”

Genre: Romance / Women’s Fiction

From the publisher: NO ONE DOES SUMMER ROMANCE LIKE KATHERINE CENTER.

She wants him to help her woo someone else.
Genius. Foolproof. Can’t go wrong.

Published on: May 19, 2026

Pages: 336

Audio Time: 11 hours, 8 minutes

My Thoughts on The Shippers:

I tried something a little different this time. I read half of the book and listened to half of the book. I kept switching back and forth, depending on what I was doing. This review will be about both.

The Author’s Note:

I enjoyed the “Author’s Note” in the beginning. It lets us see a part of Center that isn’t always shared. She let us know that the couple will definitely get together in the end. Now, as someone who doesn’t even read the back covers of books to avoid spoilers, I was at first alarmed by her bluntness. Then I remembered that happily-ever-afters are the golden rule of the genre. It’s the comfort of a guaranteed happy ending, and I ultimately really appreciated her honesty about it.

The Setting:

I have only been on one cruise ship before, but it was a fun setting for this book. The characters couldn’t run away, and close proximity is a main player in the story. This added to the humor of the story.

The Characters:

This is where the book sort of lost me. I like that the main character was highly intelligent. JoJo, the main character, is a math genius. She was also entirely irritating to me. I love when authors makes female characters strong, independent women. JoJo, however, seemed way too dependent and made one wrong decision after another. It’s hard for me to like a rom-com when I don’t like the main character. I just wanted to keep shaking some sense into her.

Cooper, on the other hand, was adorable. There is nothing like having a best friend that will be there for you at all costs. I almost wished that he was the main character, instead of the other way around.

The Tropes:

This is just a “me thing,” but I am getting tired of the friends-to-lovers trope. It just seems overdone lately. I enjoy it more when it comes with more substance to the back story. I wish this had been built up a little more. I like rom-coms that aren’t entirely predictable from the very beginning. Yes, as Center herself reminds us in the intro, we always know how these books will end. But I just wanted a bit more dramatic substance while building up to that inevitable conclusion.

The Audio Performance:

The narrator, Patti Murin, is animated throughout the story. In my head, JoJo’s voice was a little softer, but that’s where audio can make things interesting. She does a superb job of making JoJo sound so frantic at times that it makes you laugh. She does a nice job of switching to the male voice, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there were two people doing the audio. I tried speeding up the audio while reading along, but it made JoJo sound uncharacteristically angry. I would recommend listening to it at normal speed. The audio is produced well, and I think I enjoyed listening to it more than just reading at times.

My Rating of The Shippers:

I gave this three stars because I didn’t love or dislike the book. It was enjoyable, but not one of my favorite books by Center. It is a cozy read, and I was fine when it ended. There are some books where I’m incredibly sad to say goodbye to the characters, but this was not one of them. I will continue reading all of Katherine Center’s new releases, and I hope you will as well.

Where to Buy and Read More:

Purchase The Shippers here:

Hardcover

Kindle

Looking for more rom-com recommendations based on The Shippers?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other books:

  1. An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister | Buy on Amazon
    • Ready my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: I loved that the witty banter is backed up by a strong, realistic storyline showing just how cutthroat the academic world can be. Plus, Jonah has secretly loved Sadie from the very beginning, making for a beautifully satisfying, slow-burn romance.
  2. The Love Haters by Katherine Center | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: The Love Haters completely delivered. It is incredibly heartwarming and true to Center’s signature style, the characters are deeply relatable and you can’t help but cheer them on.
  3. Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why I recommend it: I loved the laugh-out-loud humor and the back-and-forth banter between Naomi and the small-town characters. It’s the absolute perfect vacation/beach read and comparable to the fun vibe of books like The Rom-Commers (another favorite by Katherine Center)

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Katherine Center for my free copy and audio of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Katherine Center

Leave a Comment:

Have you read The Shippers yet? Do you also struggle with books when you don’t love the main character, or can a dreamy hero like Cooper save the story for you? Let’s chat in the comments!

Why The Anniversary by Alex Finlay Captivates Readers

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For most of us, an anniversary is something to celebrate. A special moment in time each year. But for Jules and Quinn in The Anniversary by Alex Finlay, May 1st is an anniversary date that is stamped in trauma. By having the reader check in on them every May 1st for ten years, Finlay turns the concept of “anniversary” into a haunting, psychological thriller.

The book cover of 'The Anniversary' by Alex Finlay. The design features a moody, shadowed background hinting at a small-town Midwestern setting at dusk. The title 'The Anniversary' is displayed in stark, prominent lettering, conveying a tense and mysterious psychological thriller vibe.

5/5 stars ★★★★★

To read the summary and details of the book

📍 The Setting

  • Small-Town Nebraska 🌽🏘️ (A fictional, isolated rural community)
  • The 1990s to Early 2000s 📼☎️ (A nostalgic, pre-smartphone era spanning from 1992 to 2002)

🕵️‍♂️ The Tropes

  • “One Day a Year” Timeline 🗓️⏱️ (The story uniquely checks in on the characters only on May 1st across ten years)
  • Cold Case Reopened 📂❄️ (A decade-long hunt to unmask a killer who strikes in plain sight but disappears completely)
  • Interconnected Fates / Shared Trauma 🤝💔 (Two different tragedies on the same night bind the main characters together for life)
  • Ticking Clock Dread ⏰😱 (The literal calendar date approaching creates a countdown of terror for the characters)

Genre: Psychological Thriller

From the publisher: From the national bestselling author of Parents Weekend, comes one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year.

“Everything I want in a thriller!”―Ashley Elston
“I could not put it down!”―Angie Kim
“Nonstop twists!”—Jason Rekulak
“A master of his craft.”―Jeneva Rose

Every May 1st, a serial killer stalks a small town. Every year he comes for them . . .

Published on: May 12, 2026 (I wonder if the author was hoping for a May 1st publication date?)

Pages: 317

My Thoughts on The Anniversary:

Flashback in Time:

If you grew up in the 1990’s, this will be a fun flashback in time. There are some parts that I wonder if readers in their 20s and 30s will understand, but it made me love this book even more. Think pre-smartphones, collect calls, pre-DNA forensics, paper maps and MapQuest, siblings listening in on the other “line,” and answering machines.

The Characters and Pacing:

I read through this book quickly because I loved the story and the characters so much. I cheered on Quinn and Jules throughout the whole story. I like how Finlay switched back and forth throughout their lives. The chapters were short for each character, and this made the pacing more enjoyable.

Since we check in with the two main characters once a year for ten years, there isn’t a lot of unneeded information. I appreciate this in a book. That being said, Finlay does a wonderful job of character development. You feel like you really know these two people by the end of the book. In many thrillers, you don’t get to know the characters well, but in The Anniversary, you get to watch them grow from teenagers into young adults while each dealing with their own tragedy. This was my favorite part of the book. It felt like a coming-of-age story mixed with a thriller.

My Rating:

I gave this 5 stars because of the storyline. It had its twists and turns, great character development, and fun nostalgic moments along the way.

Where to Buy The Anniversary and More:

Purchase The Anniversary by Alex Finlay here!

📚 What to Read Next!

If The Anniversary left you craving another puzzle, add these three incredible thrillers to your TBR list next:

  1. The Fall of Iris Henley by Jennifer Graham | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: This thriller hits on several identical tropes and narrative structures. It features “small-town secrets” and “hazy/unreliable memories,” just like how Jules and Quinn have to slowly piece together the truths of what happened in their small Midwestern town on May 1, 1992.
  2. The Profiler by Helen Fields | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: If the aspect of The Anniversary that grabbed you most was the terrifying, calculating nature of the “May Day Killer,” The Profiler is a highly recommended match. It combines a dark serial killer storyline with intense profiling technology. The book doesn’t hold back on the chilling details of the crimes, keeping you completely on the edge of your seat, much like Alex Finlay’s predator.
  3. Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden | Buy on Amazon
    • Read my full review here
    • Why it’s similar: If you loved the aspect of ordinary, everyday people forced into chaotic, dangerous survival scenarios, I recommend this psychological thriller. It shares that gritty, unsettling reality of a monster hiding in plain sight in a seemingly normal community.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Alex Finlay for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Alex Finlay. visit his official website.

💬 Let’s Chat!

Have you read anything by Alex Finlay before (like Parents Weekend)? Or do you have a favorite thriller that uses a unique timeline structure? Let me know in the comments below!

This is my 300th review! Time to celebrate!

Why Kate Quinn’s The Astral Library Smells Like Nostalgia (and 4-Star Magic)

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How many of you can still recall the smell of the library you went to when you were young? I can picture the whole place, and I would know the smell in a heartbeat. It’s the place that helped to create my love of reading. What if that library could help you live in the books that you are reading? Which book would you visit? The Astral Library by Kate Quinn makes you think this could actually be a possibility.

Book cover of 'The Astral Library' by Kate Quinn, featuring colorful spines of books with a cosmic background.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

Quick Take: 3 Reasons to Visit the Astral Library

  1. The Classic Book-Hopping: If you’ve ever wanted to walk through Pride & Prejudice, this is your ticket in.
  2. A Heroine You’ll Actually Like: Alix is witty, sarcastic, and refreshingly real.
  3. The “What If” Factor: It will make you rethink every book on your shelf—would you actually want to live there?

To read the summary

Genre: Magical Realism / Historical fiction (because of time periods) / Romance

From the publisher: This stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION is only available on the first printing while supplies last! The collector’s hardcover features stenciled edges, illustrated endpapers, and jacket effects.

From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn comes a gorgeously written fantastical adventure which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.

Published on: February 17, 2026

Pages: 304

My Thoughts on The Astral Library:

There are some books that you don’t want to end. Maybe it’s a book that you wish you could live in for awhile. If you are a lover of books, especially the classics, then you will enjoy The Astral Library.

When Alix enters the Astral Library, she was struggling in her life. She was raised as a foster child and had less than 100 dollars to her name. She wasn’t sure where to turn. What she didn’t expect was to enter a world that was in chaos because “the board” wanted to shut down the library. Both Alix and the library needed each other.

Favorite Aspects:

My favorite character was Alix. I like that she wasn’t your normal “heroine” in the story. She struggled with weight issues, confidence, and found peace of mind by reading. If I’m going to read any fantasy or magical book, the main character needs to still seem realistic for me to enjoy the book. She is witty and sarcastic; these are two of my favorite characteristics in a character!

I love when Alix jumps into the different classical books. There were one or two that I hadn’t read yet, but it was fun to picture her in the books that were familiar to me. The library had three rules if someone was sent to live in a book:

“You can only enter books in the public domain.

You cannot take the place of a named character.

You cannot change the plot of the story.”

Just those rules made me want to keep reading.

Pacing:

I absolutely loved the first half of this journey, and the sense of wonder is infectious. However, the middle is where things got a bit rocky for me. The story’s momentum slowed significantly when the author began to heavily politicize the library’s conflict. While the ‘Board’ and their oversight provided a clear antagonist, it occasionally felt a bit preachy, and I found myself wishing for more adventure and romance and less of a lecture. While the themes of book-banning are timely, they felt a bit heavy-handed compared to the escapism of the first half of the book.

Just as I was losing steam, though, a dragon entered the chat. That shift back into high-stakes magical realism completely recaptured my attention and pushed me through to the end. If you’re a fan of lightning-fast thrillers, the middle might test your patience, but the payoff for book lovers is worth the detour.

Favorite Quotes from The Astral Library:

  1. “Would I be bumping into everyone else who decided to come live in Pride and Prejudice?’ Seemed to me like an Austen novel could get crowded pretty fast. ‘No. You’re all in your own version. Every reader’s experience of a book is different.”

It’s why I love to read and discuss a book with someone else. It’s why I loved doing book clubs with my middle school classes. The conversations and takeaways were always interesting. Everyone has different thoughts/experiences when they read the exact same book.

2. “You don’t get to change the course of the story as it’s been written. And for gods’ sake, don’t assume the book will mirror the movie,” the Librarian added. “Head off to Pride and Prejudice all you want, but do not come crying to me when Mr. Darcy looks nothing like Colin Firth or Matthew Macfayden.”

This just made me laugh. It shows the humor in the story.

3. “What book would you choose? Because you’ve thought about it, right? Everyone with a library card has daydreamed along those lines at some point. Except when it becomes real, something you can do and not just daydream about, you realize the catch: most of the books you love aren’t peaceful places. You love them because of the drama, the gore, the heartbreak…But how many of us want to live with that kind of drama, gore, and heartbreak?”

This quote really made me think. She’s right! It made me rethink the books I would actually want to live in now. How about you?

Where to Buy The Astral Library and More:

Purchase The Astral Library

Looking for more book recommendations?

If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other “magical” books:

  1. Twice by Mitch Albom | Buy on Amazon
  2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig | Buy on Amazon
  3. In the Veins of the Drowning by Kalie Cassidy | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Kate Quinn for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

To learn more about Kate Quinn

Leave a Comment:

If you could walk into any book on your shelf right now, which one would it be? (And be honest, could you handle the drama, or would you be headed straight for a cozy romance?)

Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode I, Bad Boy By Chris Orcutt

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Dust off your Walkman, grab your Trapper Keeper, and race home to watch MTV. If you know what I’m talking about, then you are going to love the first installment of a 9 book series by Chris Orcutt titled Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode 1, Bad Boy. This trip down memory lane to 1986 is totally righteous and anything but bogus.

Book cover of 'Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode 1, Bad Boy' by Chris Orcutt, featuring a vintage cassette tape with the title prominently displayed.

4/5 stars ★★★★☆

From the publisher: “Coming-of-age and teen romance collide in a bodacious and authentic journey through the 1980s…”

Published on: January 20, 2026

Pages: 386

Genres: Coming-of-age, historical fiction, romance

If you would like to read more about this book: https://amzn.to/4b8BXKv

What I Liked About Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome:

Nostalgia:

I can’t think of a better time to be a teenager than in the 80s (other than the 50s maybe), and this book brings back all of the nostalgia from that time period. This is the first book of nine installments that brings back the memories of making mixtapes for your friends, and living with parents who smoked all of the time.

I laughed at the memory of answering the home rotary phone in one room, running to your bedroom to lift the receiver in your room, and then running back to the other room to hang up the other receiver. It brought back memories of my sister listening in on my phone calls, my mom getting on the line to tell me to go to bed, and then screening my calls once we got an answering machine.If you can’t relate to any of this, then this probably isn’t the book for you. If these moments ring true for you, Orcutt’s novel will be a total blast!

A vintage rotary phone on a white background.
A classic rotary phone, reminiscent of the 1980s.

Playlist:

One of the book’s most brilliant features is the music playlist built right into the story. Orcutt scores each chapter with iconic 80s hits that serve as a clever ‘soundtrack’ for the plot. Instead of just reading the lyrics, I actually sang them to the tune in my head! It was so much fun to treat each song like a puzzle, hunting for hints about what would happen next. Tell me, which 80s song always gets you singing along?

A vibrant pink cassette tape labeled 'Madonna' from the 1980s, resting on a wooden surface with blurred vintage audio equipment in the background.

The Characters:

Avery “Ace” Craig is your normal teenage boy. What I enjoy about his character is that he smart and respectful. He may be “hunky,” but his newfound status of “good-looking” among the girls happens almost overnight. I remember when I came back to school in the 10th grade and all of a sudden, the guys were taller than me and had muscles! It was the strangest thing. Avery is shocked by all of the girls’ attention, as well.

Since this is a coming-of-age story, you get the down and dirty mind of a teenage boy also. This is definitely not a young adult book that I would recommend to my students. This book is SPICY! I actually had to ask my husband if this is truly how a teenage boy’s mind works. I’ll let you guess what he said.

There is a wide range of female characters also. They are pretty common of what you would see in any normal high school. The sweet, the slutty, the smart, the shy, and the scrupulous. I wonder which character you are going to cheer for when it comes to who is best for Avery?

The Parts of Bodaciously True…That Made Me Laugh:

** “He stuffed his sweater in his bag and walked into her tiny classroom. Across the room, Miss Shipley sat on her desk with her legs crossed. She was correcting a stack of papers with a red pen.”

Why did this make me laugh? After teaching for 32 years, I can honestly say that I never sat on my desk to grade papers. It also cracked me up because at that time, everything was graded with a red pen. It was about the 2000s when it also became “outlawed” to grade with a red pen. We didn’t want to hurt the students’ feelings. 😉

** “Avery checked the mailbox, hoping the tapes he’d ordered from the Columbia House Record and Tape Club had arrived, but the box was empty.”

I can almost smell the cardboard box that those tapes came in. The exhilaration you felt when you saw the box in the mail was like no other. Oh, and in the book, Avery uses that company to get back at someone else. So funny, but you are going to have to read the book to find out what happened.

My Rating:

I enjoyed reading this book. I can’t wait to read the next installment when it comes out in April. It’s a lot of spice (if that bothers you, don’t read it), a lot of humor, and very relatable. I wish the first book had ended in a different way, but it helps to know the next one will be out soon. This is why I gave it four out of five stars.

Where to Buy This Book and More

Purchase Bodaciously True & Totally Awesome: Episode I, Bad Boy

Looking for more coming-of-age stories?

If you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, I highly recommend these titles:

  1. Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann | Buy on Amazon
  2. Influenced by Sara Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis | Buy on Amazon
  3. The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham | Buy on Amazon

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Chris Orcutt for providing a free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. To learn more about the author (who is a great communicator!), visit his official website.

Leave a Comment:

What is your favorite 80s song or a specific memory from that era? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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