Make Your Story Matter by Abbie Emmons

An Interactive Guide to Unlocking Your Brain's Storytelling Power and Writing a Book Readers Love 

You’ve got a story inside you—but writing it feels impossible.

What if writing didn’t have to be a struggle? What if all you had to do was harness your brain's natural storytelling instincts to craft the book you’ve always dreamed of?

If you’re having trouble bringing your story to life, the problem isn’t you. It’s that you’ve been buried under a mountain of rigid rules, theory, and advice that contradicts itself.

In Make Your Story Matter, writing coach and popular YouTuber Abbie Emmons shares a refreshing new method that fuses brain science with storytelling to help you write a book with heart, power, and impact.

With over half a million writers in her online community, Abbie has helped storytellers all over the world craft novels that resonate using the Who, What, Why Method—a simple but powerful 3-step framework rooted in psychology.

With this method, you’ll learn

Break free from rigid writing rules and harness your brain’s natural storytelling instincts Transform raw ideas into emotionally compelling stories Craft complex, magnetic characters that readers connect with and care about Outline gut-gripping plots that hook readers from the opening sentence to the final page Find your unique voice and make it unforgettable Beat creative burnout and reconnect with the joy of writing Featuring templates, guided exercises, and a printable workbook, this book gives you a repeatable method and a reliable way to stay focused and energized, even when the writing gets tough. By the final page, you’ll have a clear roadmap to writing a story that matters—to you, to your readers, and to the world.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Audible Audio, 9 hours 14 minutes

Published August 11, 2026 

by Brilliance Audio

4.5/5 stars

I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Abbie Emmons herself,  I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought the physical copy also. That doesn't happen often, but this is a book I know I'll want on my shelf, pencil in hand to reread at a leisurely pace.

Emmons is a writing coach and popular YouTuber,  in Make Your Story Matter she shares her approach to storytelling.   At the centre is her Who, What, Why Method, a simple three-step framework rooted in psychology that helps understand your characters, what drives them and why readers will care. Rather than handing out a rigid set of rules, she encourages tapping into the storytelling instincts we all already have.

Hearing it in her own voice made it feel less like a textbook and more like sitting down with a mentor who genuinely wants you to succeed. Her enthusiasm comes through, I found myself nodding along and wanting to get back to my own writing. I came away with a fresh way of thinking about my characters and what's at the heart of my story. The book also includes templates, guided exercises and a printable workbook, which is exactly why I wanted the print edition. I'm looking forward to working through those worksheets.

If you're an aspiring writer or you've ever had a story rattling around in your head and didn't know where to start, this is well worth your time. And if you can, try the audio and the print copy together. They make a great pair.

My thanks to NetGalley and BenBella Books for an advance audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name comes a riveting novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner.

On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn’t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters.

Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse—a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis—have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew.

Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

Hardcover, 464 pages

Published September 15, 2026

 by Ballantine Books

5/5 stars

I went into Hollow Bones almost completely blind. All I knew was that it had something to do with 9/11 and that was enough. I've read enough Jodi Picoult over the years to know that her books are twisty, emotional and deals with relevant subject matter.

Hollow Bones centers on Molly Fitzgerald, who was just two months old on September 11, 2001. Her mother went to a meeting at the World Trade Center and never came home. Now an adult, 25 year old Molly has a high paced and high pressure job in Rhode Island's emergency preparedness department, along with her husband Jesse, a police polygraph examiner, face the unexpected and life is shaken up - to put it mildly.

The story is told from two points of view, one in the present day and one in the past, they run together until finally meeting. The many layers to this book and the weaving back and forth is done smoothly. Another reason I love this author's writing.

Picoult is known for you research which yet again shines through.  I came away knowing more about 9/11 than I expected to, and her portrayal of the aftermath is still felt especially with the 25th anniversary on the pages.

This isn't just a story of 9/11 but also motherhood and at the struggles new mothers face in a world that wasn't ready to recognize or talk about them. I really can't say more on this subject (spoilers) suffice to say it was hard to read at times, but it needed to be said.  

Reading as a Canadian, I was struck by how much of that day belongs to all of us. I remember exactly where I was and I think most Canadians my age do. We lost some our own citizens that morning and opened the doors of our communities, like Gander, when the planes came needing to land. This book brought all of that back.

Longtime readers of Jodi Picoult will be surprised (and happy) to see familiar faces from the past.

Hollow Bones is a story of family,  it is an emotional, thoughtful and beautifully researched read. Picoult does it again.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #39

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love in the start of a heartwarming and enchanting new fantasy series.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party--or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones--the most elusive of all faeries--lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all--her own heart.

Paperback, 335 pages

Published October 24, 2023

 by Del Rey

3.75/5 stars

I'm always happy to pick up a book by a fellow Canadian, Heather Fawcett has come up with a premise I haven't seen before. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a clever idea and made for a fun read.

It's 1909 and Emily Wilde is a Cambridge professor who is far more comfortable with faeries than with people. She heads to Hrafnsvik, a remote, snowbound village in the far north to study the local Hidden Ones for the encyclopaedia she's been compiling. The story unfolds through her field journal, which gives a front-row seat to her observations, her frustrations and her very dry sense of humour. Her plans are thrown off when her academic rival, the charming and maddening Wendell Bambleby turns up uninvited.

I really enjoyed the world building. The faeries aren't the sweet, glittery kind. They're actually kinda strange, unpredictable and even downright scary. The cold, isolated setting adds to the atmosphere nicely.

The characters are easy to like, the townsfolk with their little quirks and the banter between Emily and Wendell was genuinely witty.  The story itself had that folklore feel, which I love.

This is the first book in a series, so far 4 books.  If you enjoy fantasy with a bit of academic flavour, a slow-burn dynamic between its leads, and a heroine who'd rather be left alone with her notes, I recommend giving this a go.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #37

Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

A novel in verse in which a lost dog helps a lonely girl find a way home to her family . . . only for them to find family in each other along the way.

Titi Silvia leaves me by myself to unpack,
but it’s not like I brought a bunch of stuff.
How do you prepare for the unpreparable?
How do you fit your whole life in one bag?
And how am I supposed to trust social services
when they won’t trust me back?

Laura Rodríguez Colón has a plan: no matter what the grown-ups say, she will live with her parents again. Can you blame her? It’s tough to make friends as the new kid at school. And while staying at her aunt’s house is okay, it just isn’t the same as being in her own space.

So when Laura finds a puppy, it seems like fate. If she can train the puppy to become a therapy dog, then maybe she’ll be allowed to visit her parents. Maybe the dog will help them get better and things will finally go back to the way they should be.

After all, how do you explain to others that you’re technically a foster kid, even though you live with your aunt? And most importantly . . . how do you explain that you’re not where you belong, and you just want to go home?

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published September 12, 2023

 by Random House Books for Young Readers

4.5/5 stars

The more I read books in verse I shouldn't be surprised with how much they can say in so few words, Something Like Home is a great example. It's a middle grade book, that deals with some very grown-up realities, Andrea Beatriz Arango handles them with real care.

Eleven-year-old Laura is living with an aunt she barely knows. Her parents are in rehab, and Laura is convinced it's all her fault. And now if she can just make the right choices, she can fix everything and get her family back. When she finds a lost dog, it becomes part of her plan to do exactly that. 

The guilt Laura feels is woven through letters she writes to her parents, they are full of hope one moment and desperation the next. The author herself was a teacher and it shows that she can clearly understands kids as it shines through on the pages.

Something Like Homes is a book that opens up conversations that don't come up often enough in children's fiction: what it's like to have a parent struggling with addiction, when sometimes you have to rely on yourself at such a young age and even how a therapy dog can help a child who can't find the words for what she's feeling. 

This would be a wonderful choice for a young reader, a classroom, or anyone who works with kids going through upheaval at home. And for adults like me, it's a gentle reminder that children often carry far more than we realize.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #38

The Undercover Bookshop by Katherine Reay

Newly-moved to the English Cotswolds, Gemma Brown finds a job at the village’s general store and acceptance into a community she soon considers family. With a sharp eye and lively mind, molded by her insatiable love for detective novels, Gemma quickly catches the eye of the local police constable, Harry Charles, and helps him solve cases over pints or sherries at the local pub.

But when Gemma, determined to learn all the “skills” she missed out during a childhood ravaged by WWII, asks the village’s star baker, Ursula Beurton, to give her baking lessons, she starts to notice things that belie the woman’s image as a typical housewife. Is Ursula hiding something or is Gemma’s imagination running away with her?

Yet Gemma knows she does not imagine the two-way radio, uncommon in 1950 and very rare outside military offices, nor she does imagine all the strange places Ursula goes, or the fact that Ursula drops encrypted notes in a tree trunk and pulls envelopes from the same hole. And what about those men she’s seen walking with out the in countryside? Pulling along her new best friend, Peggy, as her faithful sidekick, Gemma begins an investigation of her own to answer a single Is Ursula Beurton a spy?

Following her instincts, and a few skills learned through fiction, Gemma and Peggy soon get on the wrong side of the local constabulary, putting Gemma’s budding romance with P.C. Charles at risk, and become embroiled in an international intrigue involving the village’s mysterious benefactor, Lady Beatrice, British Secret Intelligence Services, and the Soviet KGB.

In an unexpected twist, however, Ursula Kuczynski Beurton, KGB codename AGENT SONYA, turns the tables on Gemma and slips through MI5’s fingers, escaping to East Germany on February 27, 1950. But before leaving, she asks Gemma for a favor which may endanger all their lives.

Kindle Edition, 315 pages

Expected publication October 6, 2026

 by Harper Muse

4/5 stars

You know by now that I'm drawn to bookish books, The Undercover Bookshop is my latest bookish read.  Katherine Reay has a knack for building stories around books and people who love them. This time she pairs that with a slice of real Cold War history and the combination makes for a charming and clever read.

It's the winter of 1950, Gemma Brown has recently moved to a Cotswold village. She's read enough mystery novels to know exactly what kind of idyllic village life she wants. The trouble is, she's far better at spotting clues and setting up the village's first bookstore than she is at baking cakes or navigating small-town social rules. When she befriends Ursula Beurton, the village's best baker and a favourite topic of local gossip, Gemma starts to wonder if Ursula might actually be a Soviet spy or if all those novels have gone to her head.

Gemma is an easy character to root for. She's a bit awkward, very determined and her love of mysteries shapes how she sees everything around her. The cozy village setting, complete with nosy neighbours and a brand-new bookshop, balances nicely against the very possibility of real danger simmering beneath the surface.

The Undercover Bookshop has a cozy mystery vibe with a bookish heroine.  There is real historical events taking place, I didn't need to google anything afterwards, the author notes completed this book nicely.

My thanks to Haroer Muse for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

She loves her husband.
But she might love their house more.

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.

As long as they trust each other.

And as long as there are no surprises . . .

Paperback, 368 pages

Published July 28, 2026

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

Shari Lapena is an auto-read for me, a Canadian author, I always love seeing her name pop up with something new. 

Getting Away with Murder follows Jill and Ted, a couple whose devotion to their perfectly styled New York brownstone runs a little too deep. When financial problems can no longer be hidden Ted and Jill need a plan for a big influx of cash, that's how obsessed they are with this brownstone.  The steps they take are chilling and what sounds like a good, if not great plan doesn't always go as planned.

What makes this one work is that Lapena doesn't play coy about who's behind the scheme. Instead of building toward a whodunnit, she flips the formula and lets us watch Jill and Ted plan and execute their plot in real time, which somehow makes it more unsettling, not less. Watching two people talk themselves into justifying something so awful and then having to trust each other completely to pull it off, adds a different kind of tension than her usual mystery setup.

This was a twisty story with some genuinely unlikeable characters, but that's part of what made it work. Neither Jill nor Ted is particularly sympathetic and I found myself rooting against them just as much as I was watching to see how far they'd go. I felt like a deer in headlights the whole way through- I struggled to put it down.

Though a reverse of Lapena's usual writing style, this was equalling captivating with its unique story and characters that lack feeling.  

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #32

Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon

From bestselling author of Children on the Hill comes a queer folk horror in which a woman must confront decades of secrecy and superstition to learn the truth about her mother’s death.

Some towns stay isolated for a reason.

1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.

2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.

Kobo Edition, 400 pages

Audiobook, 13 hours, 11 minutes

Published August 11, 2026

 by Gallery Books

3/5 stars

I was lucky enough to grab this one through CloudLibrary the day it was released. Jennifer McMahon is an author I keep coming back to, I like the way she always weaves in that slight supernatural, almost ghostly undercurrent to her stories. It's become something of a signature for her and Stay Buried is no exception.

This story moves between two timelines. In 1919, taking place in the isolated town of Boone's Ferry, Vermont. Frankie O'Massey works alongside her uncle, a doctor, as a mysterious illness sweeps through the town. One the townspeople are quick to blame on supernatural forces rather than anything medical. 

Nearly a century later, in 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm inherit a property in that same town after their grandmother's death, a place she'd always refused to talk about. What starts as a quaint, fall visit quickly reveals unsettling traditions the locals have kept alive for generations.

My feelings on this one are mixed.  The opening chapters hooked me right away, it had that creepy, small-town atmosphere vibe.  But the supernatural element itself felt different from what I've come to expect from McMahon, and the book grew repetitive in parts as it went on. There were a few twists and spooky moments but by the end I was left wanting more closure than I got, with some questions still unanswered.

Not my favorite Jennifer McMahon read, but not a read that will stop me reading more of her books.  

My copy was obtain through my local library (cloudlibrary) and the audio through Spodify.

The House with No Keys by Lindsay Currie

This the to The Mystery of Locked Rooms follows the famous Deltas as they race to complete the most challenging escape room they've ever faced...and confront their fears in order to save their friendship.

It's been just over a year since Sarah, Hannah, and West made it through the epic funhouse that changed their lives forever. Since then, the three best friends have been working for Mr. William Taters, the owner of that very funhouse, renamed The Delta Game, and completing every challenging escape room they can.

But then a strange invitation shows up from the ominous and cryptic owner of a new funhouse—The Mystery Mansion.

The Mystery Mansion claims to be the biggest and best escape house ever, and it's opening just miles away from The Delta Game. The mysterious owner has invited the trio to come test it on opening day, offering a ten-thousand-dollar prize if they successfully escape. The prize is exciting, but the three friends don't want to be a walking advertisement for a competitor to their beloved The Delta Game.

But maybe the only way to keep their funhouse in business is to accept the invite, escape the mansion in record time, and show just how boring and easy it is by comparison. The trio arrive on opening day, armed with their "fortune favors the bold" attitude. 

Unfortunately, their plan quickly goes awry. Secrets threaten their friend group, nothing in the house is as it seems, and this time, not everyone is playing fair…

Kindle edition, 250 pages

Published September 30, 2025 

by Sourcebooks Young Readers

3/5 stars

I'll admit up front, this one's been sitting in my queue for a while. It published back in September 2025, and I'm just now getting to it, so consider this fashionably late. Sometimes the back-list wins.

It's been just over a year since Sarah, West and Hannah escaped the funhouse that changed their lives in book one, The Mystery of Locked Rooms. Since then, the trio has been working for William Taters, owner of that same fun house, now branded as The Delta Game.  They tackle every escape room challenge they can find. 

In this sequel, a mysterious invitation pulls them into testing a brand-new escape house nearby, one that claims to be the biggest and best in the business.

This time around, we get a lot more insight into West and Hannah, to what's  actually going on in their lives and why the cash prize for beating this new escape house matters so much to them. Without giving too much away, it adds a layer beyond "can they solve the puzzles."

Overall, The House with No Keys is a solid follow-up that gives its sequel the room to breathe rather than just retreading the first book's formula.  It's a quick read, but not a shallow one, and it left me curious about where the Deltas go next.

My thank you to Sourcebooks Kids for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," 

announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. 

He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published March 18, 2014

 by Clarion Books

5/5 stars

I don't reach for verse novels very often, the ones I have read, I have enjoyed.  Such is the case with The Crossover. 

Kwame Alexander tells the story of 12-year-old Josh Bell, aka "Filthy McNasty" to his teammates and his twin brother Jordan. Two basketball phenoms following in the footsteps of their former-pro-player father. On the surface it's a sports story, full of rhythm and swagger on the court. But underneath it's really about family, sibling rivalry with first crushes pulling the twins in different directions. Add in a father whose health is quietly unraveling in the background and you've got a powerful story packed in.

It did't take long to get drawn into this story and I can see why it was the John Newbery Medal winner for 2015.  The short, punchy lines still produced depth and emotions as the story progressed. It's a fast read on paper, but it doesn't feel slight, there's real weight packed into those verses.

It's easy to see why this one took the 2015 Newbery Medal. It's the kind of book that works for reluctant readers and poetry lovers alike and it earns every bit of its reputation as a modern classic in middle-grade fiction.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #31

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing by Harlan Coben

Bestselling author Harlan Coben offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process in an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques.

 With 100 million books in print world-wide and over a dozen blockbuster television and film adapations of his work, Harlan Coben has much to teach us about the creative process. Part deeply personal memoir, part masterclass in storytelling, Plot Twist is a refreshingly honest look at the life of a writer whose stories have thrilled us for decades.

Plumbing memories from his suburban childhood and his early years trying to break into publishing, Coben tells his own story for the first time, revealing the real-world inspirations for some of his most beloved characters as well as the innovative plots that drive his propulsive novels. 

Filled with useful tips and techniques on the creative process, Coben does away with the traditional "categories" of writing—characters, plot, setting, etc—and looks at the process holistically. Plot Twist is a masterclass on the act of being a writer, and everything that comes with it: the self‑doubt, the hubris, the contradictions, the passion and dedication. 

At the end of the day, his calculus is a simple one: “If it helps me produce pages, good. If it doesn’t, bad.” This book will help every aspiring writer produce pages. Honest, funny, insightful, and at times deeply moving, this is both a captivating memoir and an essential guide for anyone looking to master the art of storytelling from one of our most beloved authors.

Kindle Edition,312 pages

Published September 8, 2026 

by Grand Central Publishing

4.5/5 stars

I have been a fan of Harlan Coben ever since reading The Boy From the Woods, and have slowly been making my way through both his current releases and his backlist ever since. So getting a look behind the curtain at how he actually writes felt like a real treat.

This is part memoir and part masterclass on writing, and Coben blends the two seamlessly. He talks about his life, how he got started, and where his ideas actually come from, offering real insight into a career that has spanned decades and dozens of bestsellers. There was something genuinely relatable about reading his reflections on certain books, recognizing titles I had already read and getting the backstory behind them added a whole other layer to the experience.

He does away with the idea that there is one correct way to write a book. He rejects the traditional categories some writers try to follow - characters first, then plot, then setting, and instead shows that the process can be messy, nonlinear and different for everyone.

It was such an enjoyable read from start to finish, full of ideas, honest reflection, and a genuine sense of what it takes to build a writing life. This is a book I can absolutely see myself purchasing and reading again.

Whether you are an aspiring writer or simply a longtime fan of Coben's novels, this memoir is entertaining.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

Spotlight: Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Welcome to Peachtree a sweet, cozy small town where family is everything. 

The “go-to for elevated beach reads,”

Kristy Woodson Harvey, returns just in time for pumpkin spice season.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Expected publication September 15, 2026 

by Gallery Books

The air is crisper, the water is calmer, but, when it comes to the Murphy family, nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems.

Youngest sister Emerson is busy planning her dream wedding to Kyle. But her difficulty expanding her family is overshadowing her joy. Pregnant middle sister Sloane and her husband Adam’s dream house has turned into a nightmare. Everything is over time, over budget, and Sloane is over it. Eldest sister Caroline, as always, is there to swoop in and get her sisters’ lives under control. Until her focus is more than a little shifted by Emerson’s hunky costar who manages to sweep her right off her feet—just as her not-quite-ex-husband decides it’s high time he begged Caroline for a second chance.

Matriarch Ansley and her new husband Jack have finally hit their stride. But when a scandal that would affect every single Peachtree Bluff citizen comes to light—and it seems like Jack just might be at the center of it—Ansley questions whether he is actually the man she thought he was.

Through it all, these women must rely on their powerful family bonds, and the quirky characters and small-town charm of the place that, no matter what, always calls them home.

Spotlight: The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells

Set against the backdrop of mid-century Parisian glamour and the timeless art of perfumery, a captivating tale of resilience, love, and the intoxicating pursuit of passion.

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication September 8, 2026

 by William Morrow

Élodie Limeaux's beloved mother, Aurore, was the most legendary perfumer in France before World War II, renowned for the exquisite fragrances she created for the family company, the House of Limeaux. Now in her twenties, Élodie longs to join the family business. Her father, however, has refused to let her follow in her late mother's footsteps and Élodie has had to fight to become a mere lab assistant at Limeaux. But Élodie plans to enter the Essence of Paris contest run by the French Perfume Institute, hoping that a win will secure investment from Swiss banker Monsieur Caspari, who is looking to launch a new scent for women—and possibly to buy the House of Limeaux. Impressed with Élodie's drive and talent, Caspari agrees to back her, provided that she collaborates with his son, Marcelo. Élodie is forced to agree, although Marcelo strikes her as a wealthy dilettante—albeit an extremely charming one.

When they join forces, though, Élodie is surprised to discover Marcelo's passion for perfume is genuine, his obsession as deep as hers. With Marcelo by her side, Élodie battles family betrayals and corporate sabotage, searching for that elusive essence of Paris that will launch her career...and possibly the love of a lifetime.

Spotlight: Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie?

Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly.

Two sisters. One secret.

And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

 

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication September 1, 2026

by Minotaur Books

The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh anniversary of the tragedy, Bea fails to retrieve her pre-teen daughter from a sleepover at Eliza’s.

Eliza knows her sister would never leave her precious Piper behind, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?

The Ramsey’s lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.

A missing mother. Her frightened daughter. And a sister on a desperate search for a happy ending. But someone knows the deadly key to their shared past, and won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Kobo Edition, 380 pages

Expected publication September 1, 2026 

by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

Madeline Martin steps away from her usual World War II historical fiction with A Time of Witches,  trading the battlefields of the war for the witch hunts of 1645 in Suffolk, England. It is a big departure and for the most part it works.

The story moves between present day Lilith Legare and Sybil Brantham in the 1600s, two women connected across centuries by legacy neither of them chose. I enjoyed the present day storyline and how the links between Lilith and Sybil slowly came together. 

That said, something felt like it was missing for me, though I cannot quite put my finger on what.  Maybe I wanted more time with Sybil before her arrest. We meet her already caught up in accusation and suspicion, and I would have liked the chance to know her as a person first - an educated widow living her life before everything changes for her. That groundwork felt a little thin.

Still, this was an enjoyable read overall. Martin clearly did her research into the witch hunts and the atmosphere she builds is good throughout. 

My thanks to Hanover Press for a digital ARc in exchange for a honest review.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair by C.C. Humphreys

The Alice Network meets The Nightingale in this romantic and suspenseful novel about a female spy who must push herself to her very limits to save herself and everything she holds dear.

It’s 1939, and Stockholm is a sea of spies. Yet Eve Sinclair couldn’t care less. Nineteen years old, beautiful, born in Montreal into privilege and educated to do little more than make a good marriage, she appears to have succeeded when she weds handsome diplomat Richard Spence and follows him to Stockholm. But, like so much in this city, Eve will discover that her marriage is not what it seems. Raised to expect only one life, she soon finds herself thrust into another one entirely—dark, corrupt and very, very dangerous.

If Eve is going to survive her newly perilous life in a world at war, she must learn certain skills—and swiftly. Discovering a core of steel buried deep within her, she will forge that steel into a career . . . as a spy. Her talents, and her need to fight evil, will take her from luxurious Sweden to the foulest tenements of Lisbon, onto the highlands of Scotland and finally to a bridge in Norway, a detonator and an inconceivable choice.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair is much more than a war story; it’s a tale of love, passion, grit and the resilience of the human spirit. And it’s the story of one woman who discovers she has more strength than she ever could have imagined.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published June 2, 2026 

by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

I had the privilege of attending an author talk when this book was released,  C.C. Humphreys spoke about his own personal connection to this story. His father was from England and his mother was a spy during the war. Knowing that going in made reading this all the more interesting, there is something different about experiencing a book when you know it is rooted in the author's own family history.

Set in 1939, the story follows Eve Sinclair, a young Montreal socialite who marries a handsome diplomat and moves to Stockholm, only to discover her marriage is not what it appears to be. Raised to expect one kind of life, she is thrust into another entirely, one that pulls her into the dangerous world of espionage during the Second World War. Watching her transformation and all the obstacles she endured gave rise to how much strength she didn't realize she had.  

World War II fiction set in Stockholm is well off the beaten path, and it was refreshing to get a view of the war from that side of things. So much WWII historical fiction covers familiar ground, France, Britain, Germany, so setting the story in neutral Sweden gave a different perspective on how the war touched even those countries trying to stay out of it.

This book was part of  my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #28

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast for the summer, she’s shocked to find it run down rather than cosy. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundkeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B and B―and its residents. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is hiding a magical secret―but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .

Hardcover, 373 pages

Published April 9, 2026

 by First Ink

4/5 stars

Sarah Beth Durst is one of my auto read authors, so I went into this one with high expectations, once again she delivered a cozy, charming read. Along with a cozy and charming cover.

The story follows sixteen year old Calisa, who after a devastating heartbreak, arrives at her great aunt's rundown inn in Vermont for the summer, only to be told she is not welcome and should leave. Rather than turning back, Calisa sets out to win her great aunt over, what starts as that uphill battle quickly turns into something more. The Inn itself reveals it is hiding a magical secret of its own.

Calisa is a persitant character, pushing for what she wants and she does not want to go home.  I found her to appear much older then her 16 years. Between her mannerisms, the way she carries her heartbreak and the fact that she travels to her great aunt's inn entirely on her own, she read more like a young adult navigating real independence than a typical sixteen year old.  But aside from that I found this to be a unique story with great characters and again great storytelling.  Is there a sequel?  I sure hope so.

This book was part of the 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #27

The Ghost Road by Charis Cotter

Ghosts, a family curse, buried secrets -- and two girls who have to figure it all out. 

For the first time, Ruth is heading to Newfoundland to stay with family she's never met instead of spending the summer traveling with her dad. When she arrives, she finds Newfoundland is very different from her life in Toronto--people there are much more friendly, but also superstitious, believing in ghosts and The Sight and family curses. Ruth's cousin Ruby is also staying for the summer, and the two discover they have a lot in common: they both lost their moms when they were two years old, they're the same age and they even like the same food. But while Ruby believes in spirits and fairies, Ruth believes in science and cold, hard facts.

When they find ominous information on some tombstones in the local cemetery, Ruth and Ruby start investigating their family's past and discover that twin girls are born in every generation, and every set of twins dies young, leaving their children without mothers. What's more, one of the twins always has The Sight and can see the Ghost Road that leads to the mysterious lost settlement of Slippers Cove. What happened there? What does it have to do with their family? And who is the ghostly presence that keeps visiting Ruth late at night?

The answers lie somewhere along the Ghost Road . . . if they can only find it.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 4, 2018 

by Tundra Books

3.5/5 stars

I love a Canadian setting, add in some ghosty vibes and I'm there.  This is my first time reading anything by Charis Cotter.

The Ghost Road follows Ruth and her cousin Ruby, two girls who have never met and now they are spending the summer together for the first time. They could not be more different in personality, which makes for an interesting dynamic as they're thrown together and slowly uncover a family history neither of them expected. Set in 1978, this is a time period I don't see very often in middle grade fiction.

For a middle grade book there is a surprising amount of depth here. Cotter weaves in generations of family history, centering on the fact that twin girls are born in every generation and the story unpacks what that has meant for the women who came before Ruth and Ruby. I will admit there were moments I felt a bit lost trying to keep track of all the names and how everyone was connected across generations. It took some concentration to keep it all straight.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but this was a fun read overall. Two cousins with opposite personalities, a rich family mystery and a setting steeped in Newfoundland history and folklore made for an engaging and entertaining story. 

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #29

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn't expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn't just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn't want to take anything for granted.

But after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from "daily adventure" to "next-level bad" (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she'd be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.

Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published April 6, 2021

 by Forever

4/5 stars

This is the third book in Abby Jimenez's trilogy, The Friend's Zone, my favourite of the three. I came to this one as a hybrid read - splitting my time between the book and the audiobook - a great way to read.

The first 2 books leaned heavily on miscommunication, a trope that is not my favourite.  One discussion would have cleared everything up.  This being the author's debut series, I felt she was finding her groove in those earlier titles. Most readers absolutely loved them and I get it, but they just weren't quite there for me.

This one, though? Different story entirely. Life is Too Short has many layers, which is exactly what I look for. Like her previous books, Jimenez tackles a serious theme, but this time around the story felt less repetitive and had a much better flow. The dual POVs gave real depth to both main characters - I genuinely felt like I got to know them better, which made all the difference.

Add in witty banter, a baby and a gloriously ugly dog and you have a book that balances heart and humour beautifully.

Abby Jimenez has become an auto-read author for me. It's like she gets better with each release.  

This book was #14 in my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

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.

Alexandria “Alix” Watson has learned one lesson from her barren childhood in the foster-care system: unlike people, books will never let you down. Working three dead-end jobs to make ends meet and knowing college is a pipe dream, Alix takes nightly refuge in the high-vaulted reading room at the Boston Public Library, escaping into her favorite fantasy novels and dreaming of far-off lands. Until the day she stumbles through a hidden door and meets the Librarian: the ageless, acerbic guardian of a hidden library where the desperate and the lost escape to new lives...inside their favorite books.

The Librarian takes a dazzled Alix under her wing, but before she can escape into the pages of her new life, a shadowy enemy emerges to threaten everyone the Astral Library has ever helped protect. Aided by a dashing costume-shop owner, Alix and the Librarian flee through the Regency drawing rooms of Jane Austen to the back alleys of Sherlock Holmes and the champagne-soaked parties of The Great Gatsby as danger draws inexorably closer. 

But who does their enemy really wish to destroy—Alix, the Librarian, or the Library itself?

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published February 17, 2026

 by William Morrow

4/5 stars

And now for something completely different... known for her historical fiction stories this is a big departure for Kate Quinn. Her first venture into magical realism and fantasy.

The story centers on Alix Watson, a young women who spends her nights taking refuge in the Boston Public Library. That is until she meets the Librarian and what starts out as a simple escape into a book quickly turns into a full blown book hopping adventure, weaving through different literary worlds in ways I didn't expect going in.

The book droppings throughout are a real treat for anyone who loves books about books. Quinn clearly had fun building out different literary settings and it shows in how rich and layered the world feels. There was a stretch in the middle that felt a little off balance compared to the rest of the story, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.

I have to confess, I'm a mood reader through and through and this book proved it. I first picked this one up back in February when it released - I mean look at the cover! - and could not get into it at all. I set it aside. Last week I picked it back up and could not put it down, finishing it in just a few days. Same book, completely different experience, which says more about timing and mood than anything about the writing itself.

If you love stories about libraries, books within books and a dose of adventure, plus if you're willing to let Kate Quinn take you somewhere totally different from her usual historical fiction, this is worth the trip.

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #30

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

The provocative and hilarious summer read that will have book lovers cheering and everyone talking! Kirsten Miller,  brings us a bracing, wildly entertaining satire about a small Southern town, a pitched battle over banned books, and a little lending library that changes everything.

Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic” books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.

Paperback, 304 pages

Published June 18, 2024

 by William Morrow Paperbacks

3.5/5 stars

I picked this one up because I loved Kirsten Miller's previous book, The Change , when I saw what she had coming next I didn't hesitate. A book about books? I'm always in.

The premise is wonderfully clever - what starts as a seemingly innocent joke takes on a life of its own. As the struggle over banned books ripples through the community, it brings out the best and worst in the people who live there. There are many layers to this story and a large cast of characters to keep track of, but Miller weaves it all together with sharp wit and a lot of heart.

I read this back in April and here we are in mid August and I can still remember it clearly. That's not nothing.

 

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge. #19

The Lion’s Tusk by Robert Jackson Bennett

An eccentric detective turns to the fantastical to solve a cold case in this short story.

On a long carriage journey with her assistant Din, brilliant investigator Ana Dolabra ponders a solution to an impossible crime that has remained unsolved for centuries. A lavish wedding for two noble scions of the Empire descended into chaos when the newlyweds were found murdered in their marriage bed. But Ana—an expert in ancient myths, awakened beasts, and magic—knows that nothing is impossible, only unimaginable.

Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Lion’s Tusk is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Kindle Edition, 38 pages

Published July 28, 2026

 by Amazon Original Stories

3/5 stars

This was my first time reading Robert Jackson Bennett, reading a short story is a great way to discover new authors. 

The Lion's Tusk is part of the Ana & Din Mysteries, this worked fine on its own.

On a long carriage journey, investigator Ana recounts an unsolved case to her assistant Din, a case that is tied to a wedding gone horribly wrong.

This was a weird one. Interesting enough to hold my attention, but definitely on the gory side, more than I was expecting going in. At only 38 pages it was enough to get the gist of what was going on without overstaying its welcome.

Since this was my introduction to the author and the series, I imagine longtime fans of Ana and Din would get more out of the references and dynamic between the characters than I did coming in cold. As a standalone taste of Bennett's style, it was a decent enough read, but not one that is pulling me to immediately continue with the series.

My thanks to Amazon Original for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

Heat Trap: A Short Story by Ellery Lloyd

A vacation in the French countryside turns sinister in a twisty short story of manipulation and revenge among friends.

Yet again, Lizzie has taken on the task of organising the annual summer getaway in France for her longtime friend group. After all, she’s got the time: The others are married, with families and high-powered jobs, while Lizzie is a perpetually single personal assistant. This year, though, she’s excited to show off her charming new boyfriend, Mal. While the holiday group chat buzzes with questions for Lizzie, Mal stays quiet, but once they gather at the château, he’s all charisma—even as dangerous mishaps begin to mount. The guests begin to realise that one of their number has his or her own sinister reasons for joining this year’s trip.

Kindle Edition, 96 pages

First published July 14, 2026

by Amazon Original Stories

3.5/5

Coming in at 96 pages, this is another quick read that packs a fair bit into a short space. Ellery Lloyd, the pen name for husband and wife duo Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos, is a new to me author.  Which is why I grabbed this Read Now from netgalley.

As with anything this short, there usually isn't a lot of time to get to know each character in great depth. But in this case, I did get to know them fairly well and feel this could have made a great full length novel.  Told from a couple pov's there was secrets, suspense and twists I genuinely did not see coming. There is the mystery running throughout that built tension as this group dynamic starts to unravel.

The conclusion felt fitting, wrapping things up in a way that suited the length and tone of the story without feeling rushed. A solid pick if you want a quick, twisty read that delivers some good surprises along the way.

My thanks to Amazon Original for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Wednesday Witches Book Club by Sarah Beth Durst

A book-loving witch finds magic and mystery in a whimsical short story about the transformative power of friendship and community.

After a challenging divorce, Ashley joins a witchy book club in search of a new social life. But when members start being transformed one by one, Ashley and the remaining book club members must uncover the culprit behind these sinister spells. With time running out until she’s the next target, she turns to her grimoire for answers. Because what better way to catch a magical culprit than through stories?

Sarah Beth Durst’s The Wednesday Witches Book Club is part of the Magic & Mystery collection, puzzle-box mysteries from top fantasy authors. They can be read or listened to in one enchanting sitting.

Kindle Edition, 49 pages 

Expected publication July 28, 2026 

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

This reader loves stories with a bookish theme.  Welcome to The Wednesday Witches Book Club! 

Sarah Beth Durst brings her signature cozy fantasy warmth to this short story about Ashley.  Hoping to find new friends she joins a witchy book club after a rough divorce.

What she finds is a lot more complicated. Members of the club start getting transformed one by one, and nobody knows who's behind it or why. Ashley has to dig through her grimoire for answers before she becomes the next target.

This is a quick read, more short story than novella, so I didn't expect deep world building or a slow burn. What I got instead was a charming read with a great cat, witchy details and more.

An entertaining and quick read.

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories for a digital ARC (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

From Sarah Pekkanen, comes a stunning new novel of buried secrets, mind-bending history, and one woman’s search for the truth . . .

Decades ago, four women at prestigious Marquis University were the focus of parapsychology experiments led by a pioneering researcher. Just as they seemed on the verge of a real breakthrough, the four women vanished and the program was abruptly shut down.

In the present day, Riley Bell is desperate for a new life when she lands a caretaker job for Betty Sadler—an elderly, wheelchair bound woman whose house seems suspended in time. No television. No microwave. And Betty has never even heard of a cell phone.

Newly widowed, Betty discovers notes in her late husband’s papers that spark her quest to answer one final unanswered mystery that has shadowed her for six what happened to her three best friends who disappeared on the same day?

Told in dual timelines, as Betty’s world of 5 o’clock martinis and increasingly rigorous experiments converges with Riley’s present-day search for the other three women, the danger and intensity grow white hot.

Because whatever was swirling around these four exceptional young women is rising again.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication August 4, 2026

 by St. Martin's Press

4/5 stars

This was my first time reading Sarah Pekkanen, I enjoyed the experience enough that I will be looking into more of her work. 

This unique premise story moved between two timelines. In 1964, four young women become the subjects of parapsychology experiments.  It's part of a program that mysteriously vanishes from history along with the women themselves. In the present day there is Riley Bell,  newly divorced and looking for a fresh start.  She takes a caretaker job for an elderly widow named Betty.  Betty has lived in near total isolation for decades.  Red flags right there!

Blending a decades old mystery with paranormal elements is not something I come across often and Pekkanen pulls it off well. The dual timeline is one of my favorites and this one kept me engaged as I slowly connected the dots between what happened to those women in the sixties and why Betty has spent so many years hidden away from the world.

The Women in White is  a twisty, original read that stood out from the usual dual timeline books I've read.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press (via Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Destination Funeral by Paige Harbison

A fresh take on Groundhog Day in this heartfelt and hilarious novel following a friend group so damaged that only a funeral could bring them back together. 

When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.

Didion arrives at the timeworn pink house to find the friends she never thought she’d see again—along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and broke them apart.

What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover...it’s Saturday. Again. And again. And again.

Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they’re forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press

 Audiobook, 10 hours, 18 minutes

Published July 21, 2026 

by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

Destination Funeral, out since July 21, was my second read by Paige Harbison, I really enjoying her debut, The Other Side of Now. I listened to this one as an audiobook ARC.

When Babe dies, four estranged friends are pulled back to Mercy Island for the reading of her will.  They find themselves stuck in a Groundhog Day style time loop the night before her funeral.

A time loop naturally means covering similar ground on repeat. That said, Harbison does it well, letting small shifts show up in each loop as the group slowly catches on. Each friend brings a distinct personality to the group  with the story weaving back in time to show how their friendship formed and the moments over the years that shaped who they became.  It gave the present day tension more weight and I was able to grasp exactly what each was carrying into that pink house.

Destination Funeral is a story about family,  sisters specifically and a group of friends finding their way back to each other. A warm, bittersweet read that asked for a little patience, but worth it in the end.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews is back with her first novel in two years!

Maeve and Therese Dunigan are sisters—but the two have been estranged for years. They could not be more Maeve, a rule-follower and Therese, a rebel. But when their mother's death brings the family back together, the two find that they have inherited a painting—one that could be worth millions and could save each of them from their respective wolves at the door. 

The only issue is, the painting might be a fake and the only way the can solve the problem is to find the original. This means a road trip—to Ireland, to their family roots, and to a mysterious crime that occurred years ago. 

With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. 

Can Maeve and Therese find the real painting, remove a family curse, solve a cold case, and actually survive without killing each other? 

Join Mary Kay Andrews on a road trip that will entertain you for miles.

Audiobook, 14 hours, 57 minutes

Published June 2, 2026

 by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

This is my second time reading Mary Kay Andrews,  she delivers another warm, character-driven story that hits all the right notes for a lovely beach read. Or listen, since I went the audiobook route.

Road Trip follows two estranged sisters brought together following the death of their mother. One stayed close to home, caring for their mother through her final days. The other was off chasing her dreams. Circumstance throws them together for a trip to Ireland and what unfolds is equal parts grief, humour and some long-overdue honest conversations.

At the heart of the story is a painting that has been in the family for generations, one their mother refused to sell just never said why. As the sisters travel, the history behind that painting slowly reveals itself, adding an intriguing layer to what is already a compelling family story.

Road Trip is a story about family, relationships and the complicated history that exists between some siblings. The trip to Ireland itself brings adventure, new friends and self-discovery as the sisters work to unravel this mystery. It's about resolving differences and coming to understand that every person - including the mother at the centre of it all - has their own story to tell. And true to the author's style, there is also a touch of romance woven in. 

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Captain's Clue by Brock Eastman & Shaun Stevenson

A hilarious action-adventure series for Christian kids set in a town where the parables of Jesus literally come to life.

Anthony and his friends have barely caught their breath after escaping wild vines and dive-bombing birds when Parable Port is hit with the storm of the century. The rain won’t stop. The waters are rising. And something about it feels… biblical.

Turns out, the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders has gone haywire—and the whole town is in danger of being washed away. Teaming up with Grace and Duck, Anthony sets out to track down the mysterious lighthouse keeper, Captain David, who just might hold the key to saving Parable Port.

Meanwhile, budding podcaster J.R. is starstruck by a quirky new celebrity journalist in town. But when chasing a big story starts costing her real friendships, J.R. must decide what matters likes and listeners, or truth and loyalty.

As electric eels zap through flooded streets and homes crumble like sandcastles, the gang must decode clues, face tough choices, and learn what it really means to build your life on a solid foundation.

Can they reach Captain David before the storm destroys everything—or will Parable Port be lost beneath the waves?

This Christian book series A map of Parable Port―Follow along as the kids run around town to solve the mystery Chapter opener illustrations―Comedic and engaging artwork brings the story to life Spiritual lessons―At the back of the book, enjoy a kid-friendly devotional that explains the Parable of the Wise & Foolish Builder Penguin cast podcast―QR code for J.R.’s boots-on-the-ground interviews and analysis A fast-paced story line filled with suspense that makes it perfect for reluctant readers Hilarious antics Perfect for boys and girls ages 8-12.

Kindle Edition, 210 pages

Audiobook, 4 hours, 19 minutes

Published June 9, 2026

 by Tyndale Kids

3.5/5 stars

The Captain's Clue is the second book in a Christian fiction middle grade series built around the theme of parables, it released last month. If you have a middle grade reader in your life who enjoys adventure with a faith-based message woven through, this one is worth the read.

Though I am not the targeted audience it was an enjoyable read. And I do recommend reading book 1, The Sower's Seed, first.  Just as a nice introduction to the characters.

The Captain's Clue is loosely based on the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders, there is lots of adventure and layers going on. It's a story of friendship and mystery.

 I appreciated the discussion notes included at the end of the story. They open the door for  conversation between young readers and the adults in their lives, which is always a welcome addition to books in this category.

My thanks to Tyndale Kids (via NetGalley) for both the digital ARC and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.