The Housewife | By Natalie Barelli

Publication Date: June 30, 2026

Jodie is not the first Mrs. Davies. The house is a shrine to the previous one. Her husband's friends and housekeeper keep her at a distance. They make it clear that they think she married him for money. Jodie doesn't really care what they think she's living her dream of being a housewife. She loves cooking and cleaning. She makes sure she looks her best everyday

Jodie is obsessed with Deborah (the previous Mrs. Davies). She needs to know what happened to her and if she really took her life. This means Jodie has to dig deep and be sneaky. As secrets are revealed, suspense levels increase which keeps you turning the pages. 

The ending wraps things up and leaves you satisfied. 

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

American Fantasy | By Emma Straub

Annie is newly divorced, an empty nester and on a cruise alone after her sister had to back out. 

The cruise will take place over 4 days and features a much loved boy band from the 1990s. She's sharing a cabin with a stranger and while Annie used to be a huge fan of Boy Talk time has changed her tastes but she's in for a surprise. 

Alcoholic drinks are a plenty, fans are decked out, Boy Talk is putting on shows but underneath it all there is drama,  tension and high emotions. Annie is trying to make the best of it while Sarah the bands production manager is doing everything she can to keep the band from falling apart. 

American Fantasy is such a fun read!
It wasn't what I expected. I had it on my TBR pile for a while as I didn't expect to love it. This is a perfect beach or vacation read. Emma quickly becomes the friend you wish you had.

Reached (Matched #3) | By Ally Condie

 

This is my second read of Reached. It's about the rising, which is a rebellion against the society. There is also a plague that is spreading and a search for a cure. This is the most interesting storyline of the book. There is also romance and further exploration into the love triangle. It is disappointingly predictable when the choice is made.

There are multiple points of views and we finally get to learn more about Xander. He is by far the most interesting character and without his point of view the book and the plague this book would have fallen flat. I wish Matched had been a stand alone because Crossed and Reached don't match it's energy or uniqueness. I expected an epic series but it ended up as mediocre at best. 

Crossed (Matched #2) | By Ally Condie

 

Crossed is the second installment in the Matched series. Cassia leaves the society behind despite knowing she might never seen her family or Xander again. She heads out into the outer providences to find Ky. Along the way she discovers more about the society and herself. 

This book feels completely different from Matched. It moves rather slow but action starts to take place in the 2nd half which saves the book. I had high expectations of this book which resulted in me being disappointed. The book is told in dual POV and has much needed new character's. 

This book suffers from the much known second book syndrome and I'm not sure if I like any of the main characters anymore. I was also left wanting to know more about Xander since so much of the focus is on Cassia and Ky. There are quite a few plot twists and while I didn't love this book I am too invested in the series and will have to re-read the third.

I did read this book back in November of 2011 and while looking at that review I discovered that I remain consist on my thoughts regarding this book. I find it interesting that I didn't remember much of this book but I after rereading it I can see why. 

Dawn on the Coast (A Graphic Novel: The Baby-Sitters Club #23) | By Ann M. Martin

 

Another fun installment in the Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novel series. Dawn is the focus of this one. She is going back to California where she is from to visit her dad and brother. California is turning out to better than she remembered. Her friends, the food, the weather and the beaches are calling her name. She's part of baby-sitters club in Cali and it's run with more ease and fun then the one back in Stoneybrook.

Dawn misses her mom and new friends in Stoneybrook but the familiar life in Cali makes her want to live there. Dawn has to make a decision on where she is going to live. This is fairly true to life feeling about being a child of divorce and trying to decide which place feels more like home. 

The pages are beautiful and made me miss my life in So Cal. Excellent read for these hot summer days.

Our Perfect Storm | by Carley Fortune

 

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were 8 years old. They grew up as next door neighbors became roommates and then kept in touch as they went separate ways due to their careers. Recently their friendship has been a bit off and Frankie isn't sure if George will show up but much to her relief he does. 

She doesn't know it yet but this is going to be her saving grace because the next morning her fiance calls off the wedding. Franke is confused and hurt. Her life is falling apart, she moved back in with her parents and is trying to get her life back on track. George convinces Frankie to go on her already paid for honeymoon. 

They both go out of their normal comfort zone and reconnect while rediscovering themselves.  This book is predictable but fun.  Easy read. Perfect for fans of the friends to lovers trope. 

Gone Before Goodbye | By Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

 

Maggie McCabe's medical license has been revoked. She is a retired Army combat surgeon and deep in grief. Maggie's services are requested by an uber wealthy man in Russia. It's an opportunity that Maggie can't bypass but this mission is going to prove to be more complex and dangerous than she ever imagined. 

The characters are well developed. I was impressed with the action and suspense created in the audio version of this book. Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine and the rest of the cast bring this book to life. I could easily imagine it on the big screen.

Expect to be entertained by this book full of twists and turns.

The Wish by Heather Morris

 

First Published: May 5, 2026

Jesse is a 15 year old girl who is battling cancer. Alex is a reclusive game designer. Their worlds collide when Jesse makes a wish and Alex is tasked with making it happen. 

Jesse's wish is rather complex and hasn't been done before. Alex isn't sure he can make it happen or if he wants to but the more he leans about Jesse the more motivation he has to make it come to fruition. Complications arise but Alex is determined to get past them regardless of the cost.

The Wish is emotional and deals with the reality of love and grief. The book feels off and reads more like a movie script which makes it a bit difficult to fully immerse yourself into. I struggled to continue reading it but pushed forward based on Jesse's character. The first and last quarter of the book make the read worth it but the middle is sluggish. 

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

Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

 

I read Matched back in 2011. I recall enjoying the Matched but not caring much for book 2 or 3. I decided to revisit the series and I still like the book.  

Condie creates a world that is seemingly perfect but you just know that underneath it all lays something sinister. As things unfold  and our main character Cassia leans truths about the society she lives in and has to decide how she will handle them.

Matched is about a young girl name Cassia who lives in a society that provides food, shelter, jobs and she is preparing for two major life events. One of these is her matched ceremony. This ceremony will match her with ideal mate. Cassia is not only surprised by her unexpected match but by a glitch in the system that makes her start to doubt the society she thought she loved.

Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #18) Ellen T. Crenshaw (Adapter) , Ann M. Martin

Jessi Ramsey is a member of the Baby-Sitters Club but this baby sitting job doesn't deal with children. She will be watching the Mancusis's pets. They have dogs, hamsters, snakes and so many other types of pets! It's like their own personal zoo! There is chaos at pet sitting gig  and within the baby sitters club. 

The illustrations are adorable and this is a short read that can be done in under a few hours. 

Mallory and the Trouble with Twins: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-sitters Club #17) | By Ann M. Martin (Author)

 

Mallory has been tasked with babysitting the Arnold twins. The twins wear matching outfits, are hard to tell apart and look cute but once they are alone with Mallory they become terrors. Mallory has to figure out how to get past their naughty antics and make her job easier and fun.

The illustrations are beautiful and help tell to tell the story. I am incredibly surprised at how much I am enjoying the graphic novels of a beloved childhood series. I think it's an excellent way to bring books that might be outdated to current day. It might also be a way to encourage reading for younger generations while creating nostalgia for past ones.