The Library

Obviously, it is hard to review one of your closest friends’ books in an unbiased way, but this was an absolute home run for me. It was so well-written and fun to read! Katie and her high school boyfriend Drew were once inseparable, but now they’re more or less strangers. When they were younger, Katie dreamed of being an actress, while Drew wanted to go into politics. They spent hours planning the future, planning to be together always. Things didn’t exactly go as planned. Katie is now Blair Banks, a famous Hollywood actress. Drew has moved back home, where he is the local mayor. Katie has done all she can to avoid going home, but when her sister is put on bed rest, she has no choice but to go home for Christmas. And who is the first person she runs into but Drew? The two eventually find their way back to each other, but don’t know how to make room for each other in their lives. Too much has happened; they’ve moved too far apart. (Or have they?) Famous person/non-famous person is my favorite romantic trope, plus this has plenty of insider-feeling Hollywood moments and glamour. I also adore a second-chance romance where childhood sweethearts find each other again. The characters are endearing, the banter is (much like Becca) witty and clever, and it’s just a joy to read. A big, warm, happy hug. I loved it so so much, even more than her first book!

This has been the book that absolutely everyone is talking about and reading, but I put it off as I worried it would be too sad or upsetting. It’s totally manageable, thanks to truly great writing and storytelling. The book opens at the beginning of the pandemic. Belle Burden and her family (her husband and two daughters — their oldest son is away) are quarantining at their vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard. Belle receives a phone call: “Your husband is having an affair with my wife.” At first, Belle’s husband, “James,” says that the affair meant nothing and apologizes. The next day, he announces he is leaving her. And overnight, just like that, the man she thought was so steady and caring becomes a total stranger. We go back and forth between past and present to learn about Burden’s family lore (she’s Babe Paley’s granddaughter!) and how their relationship began. The book is raw and heartfelt, with beautiful writing. But for me it didn’t feel that sad. Shocking, yes. Sad, less so. I appreciated all of the observations (for example, no longer being invited to dinner parties as she wasn’t partnered up), and some of the wild things that people said to her. It’s unflinchingly honest but (IMO) actually quite kind to her husband. You won’t be able to put it down. I read it in two evenings (both of which I stayed up way too late because I felt like I could not stop reading!!!). I really loved it.

I was surprised by how much I loved this. I couldn’t put it down, and I think that it might be my favorite of all of Rachel Hawkins’ books. St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is famous for its beautiful beaches, its deadly hurricanes, and Lo Bailey–the nineteen-year-old accused of murdering her much older lover, Landon Fitzroy, during a 1984 hurricane. Now in modern day, Geneva Corliss owns the Rosalie Inn and learns that a writer (and Lo) is returning to St. Medard’s to tell Lo’s story; she recognizes the financial opportunity for the hotel. Lo claims she’s here to set the record straight, but as time goes on, it becomes clear that Lo’s intentions might be more sinister than they seem. Secrets come out about Lo (some of which affect Geneva), and no one seems to be who they say they are. It’s super twisty and, at times, felt impossible to put down. I really loved it.

This is one of those books that will stick with you for a long time. It’s big-hearted and (extremely!) funny, while also tackling serious issues. Erica Skyberg is 35, recently divorced, and still in love with her ex-wife. She’s also trans–she just hasn’t told anyone yet. In her small South Dakota town, she keeps to herself, teaching at Mitchell High and directing community theater. Then, Abigail Hawkes (the Only Trans Girl at Mitchell) enters her orbit, and everything changes. Erica comes out to Abigail, and the two women begin an unlikely friendship. Abigail is not exactly thrilled about this. She’s busy being a political dissident (and dating the most popular boy at school); she doesn’t have time to guide her teacher through her transition in secret. As their friendship evolves, it comes under scrutiny. Why is “Mr. Skyberg” so friendly with this trans girl!? No one is entirely sure what to make of it. The book has a colorful cast of characters, all very lovable and memorable. There is also a big twist I didn’t see coming. The name “woodworking” comes from the idea that you cannot hide yourself and just disappear into the woodwork. I really loved it. I laughed, I cried, it warmed my heart, and felt like sunshine. I think it would be a great movie!

This book is delightfully unhinged (a compliment, if you weren’t sure). I gobbled it up like candy in just a couple of sittings, and I had to move it off my coffee table while I was working, as its presence was too tempting. . . I wanted to read it! The housing market is crazy (very relatable!), and Margo Miyake is in despair: she and her husband are trying to get pregnant while cohabiting in a too-small one-bedroom apartment. No house = no baby, and Margo’s already 38 years old! When she learns that her dream home is about to be listed, she will do anything to get it. And I mean, anything! A little stalking, some light trespassing… blackmail… becoming so obsessive that she nearly loses her job. It’s worth it, though, for the right house. Right? It has to be. You will cringe a little and feel very anxious (at least I did) as Margo does what it takes. At times, it goes very off the rails, but I loved every minute. I don’t know that I could have read it while I was buying my own house, but now that I’ve done that, I got such a kick out of Margo’s journey. I truly loved this and couldn’t put it down.

This book is a masterpiece, an absolute must-read. Becca recommended it many times, and it took me a little while to read it, but I’m so glad I did. At times, it reads like a fairytale; at others, like science fiction, but it’s completely engrossing and was all I could think about! Caroline was once the fastest woman in the world, holding the world record for the fastest marathon. After an injury leaves her disfigured, she has many surgeries and recovers at a fancy American hospital. There, she meets Finn, the prince of a small nation outside of Italy. But the fairytale is not all she had hoped for; the book opens with her trying to escape (only to land in the arms of her guards). It’s an incredible look at the dark side of royalty, and what it would feel like to be a princess. To not have any control over your body, your schedule, your life. The best part is that it’s inspired by real-life events and princesses who have wanted to escape. I will be thinking about this for a very long time.
 

I absolutely loved this. It helped that I got to meet the author at a dinner and fell in love with her story (publishing her first novel at age 62 after ten years and 180 rejections!). It has very strong Broken Country vibes, beautiful writing, and centers around forgiveness. Lily grew up in the coastal town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island with a close-knit family. As a teenager, she falls madly in love for a boy, identified only as “the boy.” But when something awful happens that pulls them apart, Lily moves on with her life, eventually falling in love for a second time with a renowned ornithologist. Marshall is everything the boy was not: safe and stable, wealthy, older than Lily. When “the boy” appears in her life years later, Lily must confront a traumatic evening in the past (and her lingering feelings for him). Meanwhile, there is a sister story too: Lily’s brilliant sister Jane is a genius with numbers (but struggles with demons and addictions). This is a beautiful book about love, loss, sisterly love, romantic love, and our capacities for love and forgiveness. I could not put it down and thought it was so wonderful. I immediately passed it on to my own mother, who I know will love it too.

This is such a fun and imaginative read–I devoured it! It’s a retelling of Cinderella, through the eyes of her “wicked” stepmother, Ethel. Ethel, aka Lady Tremaine, aka Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley, is twice widowed and lives in a dilapidated old manor. She has her title, but that is about it. Responsible for her two daughters, a stepdaughter who rebuffs her every attempt at closeness, and a prickly old falcon . . . she must work hard to make ends meet (and attempt to keep up appearances). A royal ball offers to change everything for their family. Ethel must first secure an invite for her daughters (requiring a bit of groveling from her old frenemy, the queen). But after the ball, the story gets extra interesting: she discovers a horrible secret within the royal family and must warn her stepdaughter, Elin. I could not put it down. I thought it was so creative and unique and have been telling everyone I know that it is a must-read!

This was more of a “like” vs. “love” thriller, but it’s still worth the read. Fast-paced, twisty, and honestly? A little bit scary. Courtney is on vacation with her family, staying in a couple of cabins at a lakeside resort. She hears a blood-curdling scream across the way and goes to investigate. There, she finds her traumatized niece . . . and the bodies of her brother and sister-in-law, both brutally murdered. Her nephew is still asleep, and her older niece, Reese, is missing. As she works with the police to figure out what happened (and where Reese went), secrets about their town and family come to light. Courtney begins to wonder if she can trust anyone, even her husband. Alternating between Courtney and Reese’s perspectives, we simultaneously cringe at Reese’s rebellious teenage decision-making and wonder whether Courtney will ever figure out what happened!

This book! Unputdownable. It’s my first A+ read of 2026. It was Reese’s Book Club’s February pick (that’s how I found it), and I can see why, as it’s just incredibly written with amazing storytelling. Anna Finbow is a national treasure and beloved TV celebrity. But now she’s in court, battling her daughter Mary’s therapist Jean Guest. Guest has, in Anna’s words, brainwashed her daughter, causing Mary to become estranged from her family. Jean insists that she’s been there to help Mary through the significant trauma that came from her upbringing. Anna maintains that Jean has planted fake memories in Mary’s head. No one can really say who is telling the truth. We meet Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee. Gus may hold the key to the truth, if only she can be brave enough to stand up. The book is set across the English countryside, Rome, and in the courtroom as we get to know a rather tangled cast of characters, lies, and deceit. I loved how transportive it was; I felt like I was visiting Rome. And qualities of the writing (and the scenery, and the suspense) gave it a bit of a Talented Mr. Ripley vibe. Truly such a fantastic read.

I have been a little critical of Freida McFadden’s work in the past, mostly because of the simple writing style that her books tend to follow. There is little character development, and the writing is direct and to the point. But that’s what it is: a writing style. McFadden is an absolute genius with plot (and manages to crank out a couple books each year), and I bow down to that. This one falls somewhere in the middle in terms of her best and worst. I liked it a lot and read it in just a few sittings. Debbie is a middle-aged advice columnist. She loves her teenage daughters, her husband, and her daughters. But when things seemingly stop going her way, she realizes it’s time to take action against those who have wronged her. There will be no more taking the high road. It’s time to get mad and get even. What follows is a very twisty storyline as she learns to take her own advice. I loved it, and there was a twist that stopped me in my tracks (that doesn’t happen very often!). A very fun read that you can gobble up in a weekend.

If you need something charming and escapist, I can’t recommend this enough. Also, it’s absolutely perfect for fans of The Royal We, a book I’ll always love. Lexi Villiers has built a life for herself that she loves. Now in her second year of a medical residency, she finally feels like her life is going where it wants to. But on New Year’s Day (just as she is about to kiss her best friend Jack), a helicopter lands on the island they are camping on. Out steps her grandmother’s right-hand-man Stewart, delivering tragic news: her father and twin brother have both died in a skiing accident. Lexi is not just any regular girl: she is the granddaughter of the queen, and now she is next in line to the throne. The news brings Lexi back home to London, where she is known as Princess Alexandrina. There, she will greet a conniving uncle and a public that no longer trusts her, having defected years ago. We meet the rest of the royal family, including her sister-in-law, Amira, who harbors an explosive secret. As Lexi (Alexandrina?) navigates being back in the spotlight, she’s not sure who to trust or what she wants. This is fast-paced, fun, and heartfelt . . . I gobbled it up in a couple of sittings.

This has already been picked up to be developed into a TV show! Alice Feeney has been a favorite for a while and I love that she’s having such a big moment right now. (If you saw His & Hers on Netflix, that’s also her work). Eden Fox is an artist living in Cornwall. Tonight is going to be her big break, with her first exhibition! She goes out for a run, but when she returns to her home (called Spyglass), her key doesn’t fit in the door. A woman (who looks a lot like her) answers the door, and her husband is confused–insisting that this woman is Eden and that the (real) Eden is a stranger. Eden tries to figure out what is happening, but it seems that the whole village is turned against her. No one seems to know who she is! Meanwhile, six months earlier, a different woman (Birdy) inherits Spyglass from a long-lost grandmother. Birdy is still reeling from a life-changing diagnosis. She’s discovered a clinic in London that claims to accurately predict a person’s date of death. As Birdy realizes she doesn’t have much time left, she becomes determined to right some old wrongs. The stories intersect in a dazzling, twisty way. Nothing is as it seems, and there are countless secrets and twists. I really enjoyed this and found it unputdownable.

I read this because my boyfriend wanted me to (he has two teenage boys). I thought the title sounded dumb and was like, “Seriously? You want me to feel bad for men!?” He continued to urge me to read it, and I reluctantly agreed. I quickly changed my tune and found that I really enjoyed this book, taking away not only great advice for raising boys but for my own life and career. The premise is that young men in America are in crisis. They’re less likely to graduate from high school, one in seven report having no friends, and often live at home and find themselves exposed and vulnerable to a more toxic version of masculinity. This is obviously terrible for men, but also for women: we can’t flourish if men aren’t doing well, and we certainly don’t need anymore insurrectionists. As Galloway says, “as we know from spates of violence, there is nothing more dangerous than a lonely, broke young man.: He draws from lessons from his own life and the young men he mentors, passing along vulnerable life lessons, stories that are funny and poignant, and tons of great advice. I learned a lot from it and found myself really enjoying the book. I would highly recommend that everyone listen to this; men and women alike.

Petra Rose is a world-famous author whose star has fallen somewhat after viral backlash over her latest film adaptation. Struck with a horrible case of writers block, she heads to a secluded lakeside cabin to find inspiration and reset. Her savings are running out, and she will be in serious trouble if she can’t finish this novel. All seems lost when something disturbing happens in her neighborhood, bringing a handsome detective her way. Nathaniel Saint is exactly who Petra had envisioned as the male lead in her newest book. Her creative juices return, and she finds herself more inspired than she’s been in years. Petra lets Saint in on this, and he offers to help. Their “research sessions” start to get steamy, and Petra finds herself feeling more alive than ever before. But when Saint begins to take his role in Petra’s career a little bit too seriously, Petra starts to get scared. A lot is on the line. I will say no more but this was just okay for me. It started out very slow and got nice and twisty, but I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped!

This was utterly, completely, unputdownable. The story grabbed me from the first page and I didn’t want to put it down! Effie grew up in the New Zealand bush with her beloved parents and three siblings. Throughout her childhood, she believed that her parents left civilization to be with nature and give their children a better upbringing. When she witnesses her father behaving violently, she escapes, fleeing halfway around the world to Scotland. In modern day, Effie’s still in Scotland, working as a police officer. But when a horrible murder takes place and the only witness is a little girl who looks just like her, the past comes hurdling back, and Effie heads back to New Zealand to face her past, what has become of her family, and the identity of this mysterious little girl. This is fast-paced with unforgettable characters and a few twists I didn’t see coming. I loved it so much and would highly, highly recommend it!

It’s hard to believe this book was written 40 years ago! I had never read it (though I realized quickly that I’d seen the film a few years ago) and picked it up as a quick read for my flight home from LA. It’s a thinly veiled account of Ephron’s own divorce (Everything is copy, after all!) and honestly, quite hilarious. It clocks in at just under 200 pages, but you will want to savor it as the writing is so good! Our protagonist Rachel is seven months pregnant when she learns that her husband Mark is in love with another woman, Thelma. What is a woman to do!? The book takes us back to her first marriage, tells us about her food career (it’s interspersed with recipes) as Rachel simultaneously tries to win her husband back while also wishing him dead. I really enjoyed it.

This might seem like a semi-random choice (it was published back in 1936!) but Leland Vittert referenced it in Born Lucky, and I remembered how much I loved it when I read it in high school. I’m so glad I re-read it! It’s obviously a classic but I think it’s very evergreen and timeless: a book you can read and re-read and it will always be relevant and teach you something new. It’s full of astute and very practical/useful advice–especially around managing people, handling conflict and criticism, being well-regarded and not only being good at your job and getting ahead, but also being a quality person and good human being. I think that if everyone read this book, the world would be a much better place. Highly recommend!

After reading Never Let Me Go last year, so many of you had suggested this, saying that it was even better. I loved it. It’s such a special book. I don’t want to tell you very much because it’s one of those books where the less you know, the better. Similar to Never Let Me Go, it is set in the not-so-distant future. Klara is an AF (artificial friend), for sale at a shop on a city block. Her favorite times are those when she is placed near the front of the store and can feel the sun’s warmth on her body. Klara’s biggest hope is to be chosen by a child. Her odds decrease as more and more high-tech versions of the AF are released. When she meets Josie, she is certain she’s found her child and that her life is about to change. I won’t say anything else but I adored this book. The writing is beautiful, and the choice to tell the story through the limited perspective of artificial intelligence is brilliant. I’ve never read anything like it!

Good grief, where has Lily King been all of my life!? Somehow, she was not really on my radar until Heart the Lover, and now even having read only two of her books, she is becoming one of my favorite authors. The writing is so gorgeous that I felt jealous at times. The characters are just wonderful. Casey, bereft and still reeling from the death of her mother (and then a subsequent heartbreak), is struggling. It is the nineties. She’s drowning in debt, living in a moldy room off of her brother’s friend’s garage, and cannot seem to finish her novel. She works at a restaurant in Boston where the brunch chef regularly harasses her. She cannot seem to get a break. She’s thirty-one, has very few friends (though Muriel and Harry are two A++ characters who always have Casey’s back), and so many things (bills, medical advice, her job) just feel insurmountable. Still, she has one thing that so many of her former friends and peers have given up on: a determination to live a creative life, no matter the cost. When she finds herself dating two very different men (a successful author 15 years her senior and a young writer her own age), she finds herself flailing yet again. This is a story of triumph against the odds and believing in your craft. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Casey (and felt like I already knew her, as I’d read Heart the Lover first.

Simply put, this book is a joy to read. It’s hilarious in a satirical sort of way and surprising, with gorgeous writing and characters you root for. Alan is a successful advertising executive, on the verge of securing a big bonus. Soon, he’ll be able to give his wife, Vivian, what she’s been dreaming of: a swimming pool. The two live in an idyllic Connecticut suburb, and all that Vivian wants is to be accepted by the other women as an “Anne” (their secret club). Everything goes belly up when a rogue dairy farm ruins Alan’s big pitch, and Alan has a crisis of confidence: he is tired of convincing people to buy things they don’t need. Alan takes to the little playhouse outside. He stops showering, stops wearing shoes, and gives up modern plumbing. His daughters seem to love it. Meanwhile, Vivian, who grew up with very little, realizes that she isn’t making her daughters happy by giving them more stuff: one wants to act, and the other is convinced she can talk to animals. Everything culminates with a mid-summer dinner party that Vivian is hosting (her final test in the competition to become an Anne). I just loved this. It was fun to read, the writing is incredible, just an absolute treat. I highly recommend pre-ordering!

This book is so powerful and hopeful. I wasn’t familiar with Leland Vittert, but he is a pretty well-known journalist on NewsNation (prior to that, he was at Fox News). What I didn’t know is his life story and how hard he (and his father) have worked to get to that point. Leland grew up socially awkward, always different from other kids. His classmates (and teachers) labeled him weird, and he was bullied wherever he went. Even the teachers bullied him. His parents didn’t know what to do. Leland showed the signs of being autistic, but back then (the eighties and nineties), the diagnosis was rare. His father knew that the world wouldn’t change and that Leland would have to adapt. He devoted his life to coaching Leland, giving him the skills he would need to thrive later on and always telling him that the things that made him different and weird as a kid would benefit him as an adult. This is one of those books that will make you laugh and cry, but it made me feel very hopeful. It’s inspiring and a joy to read. I loved it so much. I listened to the audiobook and would recommend it, as Leland narrates!

I could not put this down. I’ve never read anything like it! It’s a hybrid of a crime thriller and deeper exploration of something super taboo: a mother who regrets having her child. I will say that there is a CW for post-partum depression, so if that is you, you might want to skip it. Lucy Mendoza is a successful real estate agent who disappears from a grocery store parking lot, leaving her baby (and her car and phone) behind. A search for Lucy immediately begins, and her best friend Michelle is devastated. But Michelle knows a secret, something Lucy has only confided in her. Lucy regrets being a mother so much that she wishes she could fake her own kidnapping. Michelle knows in her heart that foul play is at stake and Lucy would never abandon her sweet daughter. Or is she so desperate that she’d leave her own family? The story is told from three different women’s perspectives: Michelle, Julia (a struggling new mother), and Diana (a retired detective who takes an interest in the case). I think a lot of women may struggle with this book as no one ever really talks about the possibility that some women might find motherhood to be an unfixable mistake. It’s certainly taboo, but as a woman who has never wanted her own children, I found it really thoughtful and insightful!

Ooh I loved this book. If you are a fan of Jessica Knoll, I think you will really love it. Catharine West grew up on an idyllic farm, away from the rest of the world in Florida. Some of her earliest memories involve eating sun-ripened tomatoes off the vine, running through her family’s gardens, and reading in her treehouse with her sister Linna. Her life was simple, but lovely . . . the farm was a magical place for her family and countless others. Away from the rest of the world, living off of the land. She never felt as though she needed to leave; why would she? She had everything she could ever need: community, food, her magnetic father. But there was a darker side: her handsome and charming father had a temper and could be extremely controlling and manipulative. Years later, Catharine has left the farm, but the memories still linger. Meanwhile, she’s carefully constructed a new life for in New York. It is a life with strict discipline and walls: even her best friend has no idea about her past. But when a journalist emails her (and seems to know much more than he lets on), all bets are off as Catharine wonders if he can lead her to the one person she’s truly loved (Linna). I couldn’t put this down and actually gasped at the final chapter!