Secrets Never Die | by Vincent Ralph

Publish Date: August 29, 2023

Secrets Never Die is out on bookshelves today. Sam and his friends have a tradition of visiting the Dark Place every year on Halloween. They take turns in the Dark Place and reveal their secrets. Secrets they haven't shared with one another or anyone for that matter. This year is about to be different. They are attacked at the Dark Place and then they start to receive texts from an anonymous source. 

The source knows their secrets and is using them to blackmail them however there is a lot more than meets the eye. This is told it some fairly short chapters and you will find yourself sucked into it. 

My favorite character is Molly. Who is a minor yet important character. Who is yours?

Prom Mom by | Laura Lippman

It's been over 20 years since Amber Glass lived in her hometown. A hometown in which she became known as "Prom Mom' - the girl who was accused and served time for the murder of her newborn on prom night. A child she claims was dead. Popular, Joe Simpson was the father to the child. In the 22 years since the incident Joe Simpson has moved on. He is successful and married to Meredith who is not only beautiful but has found success as a plastic surgeon. 

Amber returns to her hometown after inhering her step-fathers estate. She uses this as an opportunity to open an art gallery and come face to face with Joe who she has not talked to since prom. Prom Mom is told from Amber, Joe and Meredith's points of views. There are a lot of curve balls and things get rather juicy and then explode. Sometimes you're not sure who to trust or if you should or shouldn't like a character! 

Wait For You | by Lianne La Borde

 

Published August 2, 2023

Dylan and April broke up three years ago. Dylan is finally moving on and moving in with his fiancé. Then April shows up in his driveway. They have a tense conversation and an exchange of heated words. April speeds away and then Dylan receives a phone call that April was in a car crash and in the hospital. 

Dylan filled with guilt rushes to be by her side. April is in a coma and over the course of her coma Dylan and April move back and forth in time in an effort to change their time line and right what was/is wrong.  Readers get to experience their love story and discover what they have especially April has help back.

I enjoyed the read but I loathed April. She's not a likable character but that doesn't take away from what a page turner this book is.  Sometimes book with terrible characters make excellent reads because it shows human faults and gives us an insiders look at them. This book of what could have been is an easy read and perfect for the upcoming long holiday weekend. 

* I have been provided a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Hello Stranger | by Katherine Center

 Sadie Montgomery's life was starting to look up. She had just been invited to participate in a portrait  contest that has a cash prize. Portraits are her speciality and she's feeling confident about it. She's going about her day and then she wakes up in a hospital bed. She's been diagnosed with face blindness. She can no longer recognize people she knows and facial features are mixed up. This does not bode well for Sadie and she can't paint a face she can't see.

Sadie's beloved pup, Peanut gets ill and she has to take him to the vet. She finds herself falling for the Vet despite not being able to make out his features. She also decides not to let him know she is suffering from face blindness. 

Hello Stranger is a cute romcom full of interesting characters. You'll fall in love with Peanut! There is a twist and while it's easy to figure it out it makes things more interesting as you discover how it unravels. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover | by Mikki Brammer

 

Unlike all the other kindergartener's in her class Clover Brooks was not frightened when her teacher died during story time. It connected her to death which became amplified when her beloved Grandfather (who raised) her died alone while she was traveling.  This left her with a calling to be with others and give them solace as they die giving her a career as a death doula. 

Clover helps others and their family as they make their journey to death. She also helps those who would have otherwise died alone. Clover has spent decades helping others, listening to them and collecting their regrets. Clover has her own regrets as she's put her life hold and needs to create her own path. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover is a slow build but once it builds it's a beautiful and emotional read. 

My Murder | by Katie Williams

My Murder is a rather unique read. I am not sure if I like it. I am still on the fence however I did not expect the events to unfold the way they did. 

Lou is the 5th victim of serial killer, Edward Early. Lou and the other 4 victims have been brought back to life via a government commission that clones people. The 5 victims get together weekly to meet at a support group. Lou is adjusting to her "new' life while dealing with memories and the lack of memories from her old life. Lou starts to investigate things and learns things are not what they seem. 

It took me a bit to get into this book and when I finally did I was intrigued especially as more was revealed. I could see this being made into a series to stream with some changes made to it since the premise isn't something I have come across before. 

Through the Snow Globe | by Annie Rains

 

Expected Publication Date: August 22, 2023

Diana lives in a small town. She works as a physical therapist and is engaged to Linus. Diana is good a her job but she isn't good at opening up to people. She fears getting close to her future mother-in-law.

She is hesitant to set a wedding date. She doesn't get a promotion at work and then Linus is in a tragic accident. There isn't much hope for his recovery but maybe, just maybe  a wish can change it all. The wish causes a ground hound day reaction forcing Diana to live each day over and attempt to change the course of her and Linus's life. 

I absolutely LOVED this book.  I fell in love with the characters. It might only be August but this put me in the Christmas spirit! Can we also talk about how perfect this cover is?

** I have been provided a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review 

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 Book | by Garrett Graff

 The Only Plane in the Sky explains, educates and remembers the events that took place on and after 9/11.

Graff fills all 512 pages of his novel with haunting visions and details that look into the chaos, panic, horror and confusion of 9/11 and the days after. The narrative is emotional and provides a lot of information that I had either forgotten or did not have knowledge of. 

The collection of stories from will stay with you. Many times I found myself living that day again despite being on the other side of the country as the personal stories from fire fighters, police officers, politicians and others unfolded. 

This is a book that anyone who wants to learn more about 9/11 should pick up. It will be a book that will become permanent
in my book collection. 

Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

A kiss at a bar with a stranger leaves single mom Louise smitten. She can 't stop thinking about him. the kiss and the connection.  Much to her surprise and dismay she finds out that her new boss is the man from the bar and he is married. If things weren't awkward enough, Louise runs (literally) into his wife, Adele hours later. 

Adele and Louise become fast friends while  Louise and David continue their affair. Adele and David's marriage is peculiar making Louise suspicious of David. Adele is a strange and full of secrets. The only one trustworthy is Louise but is she being blinded by love?

I don't want to give anything away as I don't want to ruin any moments so I won't divulge any more information
. 

When people call at book a psychological thriller - they are talking about books like this one.  That doesn't mean one can't figure out what is going on. I did when there was about 20 pages left in the book but I didn't quite catch it all until the conclusion!  This is one of those books that you wish you could read again for the first time in order to feel the build up and excitement that comes with it. 

Life As We Knew It | by Susan Beth Pfeffer

There are some books and series you revisit every few years. Life As We Knew It is one of those for me. I am not sure what attracts me to it. It's a bit depressing and I am not even sure if the cataclysmic event that occurs could happen. I do know that I like the characters and the writing style.

Miranda is a teen age girl living with her mom and little brother when an astroid his the moon, damaging it, pushing it closer to earth and causing catastrophic events to occur all over earth. Miranda uses her journal to keep track of what is happening in her life and to the life of others. The descriptions of what is occurring are chilling. The race to collect supplies remind me slightly of the first few weeks of Covid when there was chaos and people were in a rush to get food and cleaning supplies before going into lockdown. 

Miranda's journaling is her outlet and her friend. She lays it all out even the ugly parts as her and her family struggle to survive. This is a coming of age book that will keep you engrossed. 

I listened to the audiobook this time and the narrator is engrossing. Book or audio will keep you engrossed. The ending leaves you wanting more. 

It All Comes Back to You Melissa Wiesner

Expected Publication Date: August 22, 2023

Gabe has a privileged life. He is intelligent, educated and good looking. He has a happy and positive relationship with his siblings and parents. Anna at age 16 has experienced more hardships then people twice her age.  Her family relationships are nearly nonexistent. She is alone. She works two jobs in order survive while attending high school and college. 

Anna and Gabe are paired together in class to work on a project. During this time their friendship blossoms and Anna becomes a treasured part of Gabe's family.  

Over the following 15 years Gabe and Anna remain in one another's live and when Anna returns back "home" the secrets they keep build between them. Secrets that can make or break them as their friendship turns into romantic love. 

Anna and Gabe are characters you cheer for and adore. Characters you want the best especially since you get to know them well as the story unfolds from their point of views. This book has made me a fan of Wiesner and I'll be reading more of her books! 

**  I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey

Natalie hasn't seen or talked to her siblings in 15 years nor  has she talked to or seen her mother in just as many years. She receives notice that her mother is deceased and has left a will however the will has a caveat. Natalie and her siblings, Jake and Lynn must all met up together in person at their family home in order to get their inheritance. 

Natalie embarks on a cross country trip from Boston to Santa Cruz, CA with her cat Penguin at her side. Giving her time to think about her job,  boyfriend and her life. Natalie is anxious about the reunion and isn't sure if her siblings will show up. She is surprised when she arrives and her sister is already there. She meets her nephew and takes a liking to him.

Jake is no where to be found and Natalie makes is her mission to find him as she has to return back to work and her life in Boston in a few weeks. Finding Jake proves to be difficult however a run in with his colleague might make finding Jake possible.

A Very Typical Family explores family trauma, loss and abuse. The characters are beautifully damaged and flawed. The underlying stories such as Natalies artistic abilities are intriguing as are the brief backstories of the characters. I wanted to know more about Jake, Lynn and Natalies past 15 years. The book cover does not do the book justice. I almost skipped on it due to the cover don't let it keep you from reading it.