Awake | by Jen Hatmaker

 

Jen Hatmaker wakes up at 2:30 a.m. to hear her husband whispering on the phone to another woman. Jen's life changes. Her marriage of 26 years ends. Jen is forced to learn how to do things her husband used to handle, while focusing on her career, children and life. It feels impossible and depression peaks its ugly head.

As the book progresses, Jen goes on a journey of self discovery and it's just full of one fancy vacation after another and I became lost and disinterested. I felt that the book became a brag feast. It felt like a story only the rich or those with rich friends could relate to. 

I hate to review memoirs because they are so personal and Hatmakers starts off so painful and personal but I just couldn't connect with her.

 Something  felt a bit off about Hatmakers story as though something was being left out or missing.  Well --- it was. Something major. I googled Jen (I had no idea who she was) and then her ex husband and discovered a few things weren't disclosed which changed my perspective on a few things.

Be warned that there is animal cruelty that is handled with humor which just hits wrong. I do think that Jen made many positive changes in her life and prevailed but this book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with Jen or relate to her simply because her privilege leaks off the pages. 

Lightbreakers | by Aja Gabel

 

Noah has agreed to participate in a private project that essentially deals with time travel. Noah and his wife pack up and moved to the desert where Janus Labs is located at (shout out to Gabel for using Las Cruces, NM as a location). Upon arrival things feel off but they carry on. 

Noah becomes more immersed in his work which is dangerous and ground breaking. His past slowly starts to leak into his current life and Maya his wife feels disconnected and decides to revisit her past and return to Japan to see him family and ex. 

Noah's ex-wife who plays an important role his his past agrees to met up with Noah and join him in the project. 

This book is interesting and fascinating. It's well written and emotional but didn't exactly click for me. I am a fan of time travel but not science fiction which is likely why this wasn't a winner for me. Gabel understands and writes about grief in beautiful way and how it affects people differently. 

I didn't love this book but I have a deep appreciation and like of it. It was most definitely worth my time. 

All the Little Houses | by May Cobb

 

Expected Publication Date: January 20, 2026

It's the mid 1980s and new girl Jane Swift has just moved to Longview, Texas with her family. The Swifts are quite different from other families in Longview. They dress peculiar in homemade clothing, the mom makes potions from herbs and the father is uses his hands to create shelves, tables, etc.  Jane is the one of three daughters. She's strikingly beautiful and a bit wild. 

Nellie Anderson, named after Nellie from Little House in the Prairie is the daughter of one of the riches families in town. Despite her families wealth and her moms popularity, Nellie isn't popular at school. Nellie is a mean girl, she makes Regina George from Mean Girls look like a sweetheart. 

The Swifts capture the attention of many when they move to Longview but the Andersons, in particular Nellie dislike them immediately. It's hate at first sight. This means "war" between the daughters and mothers. 

Both teen and adult characters play major roles in this story and thus we experience All The Little Houses from multiple points of views. The story flows like the waves of the ocean during a storm. Fast and Furious. My attention was drawn from the start and carried the same energy until the end which is a cliffhanger!

If you have enjoyed Cobb's previous books you are going to LOVE this one. If you haven't read her books before pick one up today and read it don't leave it in your TBR pile. 

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

Not You Again | by Erin La Rosa

 

My birthday is April 23rd and when I found out this book took place on April 23rd I HAD to read it. 

The residents of Julian, California are caught in a time loop. Everyday is April 23rd and everyday an eclipse happens. When the day resets everything that took place (except conversations and emotions) resets. 

Everyday Carly is at the funeral home (her dad has died).  Adam the funeral director and his ex-wife are also there. As day after day resets people become frustrated. Adam is an amateur astronomer as has noticed that the eclipse is shortening and has a theory that it has to do with the time loop. 

Carly though resistant teams up with Adam to try to figure out how to get out of the time loop. 

Not You Again is told via multiple points of view. The time loop is one of the most unique ones I have come across and I LOVE time loops.  There is a lot of character development and supporting characters add a lot of this book. The towns people play important and sometimes funny roles.

I wanted to LOVE this book so you can only imagine my disappointment when I just found the book to be just ok.  I do know that this book isn't for me but other readers will love it.

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon

The residents of South England have just received a nuclear bomb alert. They have 59 minutes before the bomb is dropped. Three women Carrie, Frankie and Bunny are trying to make it to their loved ones before total destruction. 

Pandemonium ensues and Seddon's writing builds the fear and intensity in a very realistic manner. You feel pulled into the book and the multiple point of views and plot lines have you turning the pages to see what is going to happen.

As the minutes count down you realize how little time 59 minutes really is especially when chaos surrounds you and cruel people are out for themselves and to take advantage of others. Seddon knows how to build tension and and the twist is clever. 

If you like books with similar premises this book is for you!

Never Over by Clare Gilmore

Paige Lancaster is a song writer. She is close to getting her big break but she needs some more inspiration for her song writing to give in a bigger emotional punch. Paige reaches out to her ex boyfriend. Liam is her biggest love and heartbreak. They haven't spoken in over four year. 

Liam is working at a CMA fest and Paige crashes it. She asks him to break her heart. Liam being an upstanding guy says no but he makes an agreement with her. He will help but she must go on tour with him and they can't be intimate. Paige agrees and they go on tour together. 

Sparks fly and their romance has a slow build.The story is told in multiple timelines. The premise is good but the story didn't hit its mark for me. My mind wondered and I skipped reading lyrics. I should have known better because lyrics in books generally drive me batty. 

There are many portions of the book that I enjoyed and the flashbacks were my favorite part but present day felt a bit contrived. The book sound have been done as a series. The first focusing on  when they fell in love and ending with their break up and the second starting with the aftermath and tour.

This book simply wasn't for me. Overall it was an okay read. 

My Husband's Wife | by Alice Feeney

Expected Publication January 20, 2026

Alice Feeney has written another phenomenal book. 

I was given the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this audio book from NetGalley. The narration was impressive and enhanced the story. 

Eden Fox returns from a run to discover that the key to her house doesn't work. She tries again and again with no luck. Then a woman who looks like her answers the door. This woman and  Eden's own husband claim that it is there home! She is wearing Edens clothing and she claims that she is Eden Fox.  Eden is confused and adamant that the home is her. 

Someone is lying but who is it and why?

Eden decides to figure out what is going but things just get more complicated.

My Husband's Wife is full of twists and the big reveal was unexpected! I love the way Feeney crafts unreliable narrators it makes you question everyone. This book will take you on a ride.

** I received a free audio of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

The Ten Year Affair | by Erin Somers

 

Cora and Sam are married with children but not to each other! The meet in a baby group and have an instant connection. Over the next ten years they live in different timelines. They are attracted to each other in both but only act out the attraction in one. 

Somers does an excellent job at capturing messy emotions, life consequences and the complexity of human emotions. Sometime the timelines get a bit muddy but it felt natural and helped carry the story forward. 

This is a book about the roads taken and the ones not taken. It's a fast read. Don't like the affair sway you away from this book. Remember it's fiction.