The Shippers | By Katherine Center

 

Audio Book

Expected Publication Date: May 19, 2026

The Shippers is such a fun book. The narration brings the story to life and exceeded my expectations for this book. They bring the characters to life and make the chemistry sizzle! 

JoJo Burton is unlucky in love. She plans to fix this while on a cruise for her sisters destination wedding. She had this notion in her head her problems are rooted in her first kiss. If she can kiss him again it will give her closure. 

She teams up with her childhood bestie Cooper to make this happen but his disappearance four years ago keeps creeping up and thus creating issues. As they spend more time together the quickly fall into old habits and some new ones - especially when they start to fake date. 

Cooper is a lovable character and Center writes a story that keeps you turning the pages and laughing. The romance is sweet and if you need some happiness in your life listen to this audiobook or pick up a copy of this book to read.

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

Her One Regret Donna Freitas

Lucy Mendoza has vanished. Her baby was left behind in the grocery store parking lot. Her phone is under her car. Her disappearance has made national news.

Her best friend, Michelle knows Lucy's secret and if she lets it be known it could change the direction of the investigation. 

Lucy's secret is - she regrets becoming a mother and fantasizes about her own kidnapping. Michelle knows in her heart that Lucy did not go missing on her own accord but what IF Michelle is wrong?

Her One Regret is about the challenges of motherhood, the stigma of postpartum depressing on how women are expected to lose themselves in motherhood. It's also about friendships and romantic relationships. 

Her One Regret is interesting, entertaining and if you are looking for a good mystery/thriller pick this book up. 

You with the Sad Eyes: A Memoir Book by Christina Applegate

 

Christina Applegate's memoir gives you insight into the person Christina is. Not the actor who plays roles but who she is. 

She takes you through her childhood up to current day. Her childhood was fraught with confusion, pain and circumstances that caused her to grow up way too fast.

I feel that Christina has been a rather private person. I knew very little about her other than her work as an actor. I know that she had a mastectomy and that she has been diagnosed with MS but I didn't know the other harrowing parts of her life. 

This is a raw and unforgettable look into her life. Prepare yourself as her candidness will bring you down and can be triggering for some. 

If you are a fan or would like to know more about her this book is worth your time. 

First and Forever Book by Lynn Painter

 

Expected Publication Date:  May 26 2026

I love Lynn Painter. I have been pretty depressed lately and this book gave me much needed moments of laughter and some tears.

This book is cute and fun. 

It has fake dating and romance. It also has some really dark moments that that hit too close to home. Expect too feel some sadness. 

The plot is predictable but I loved seeing it come to fruition. Dialogue flows off the pages and you are left wanting more after you finish this book. 

Duffy and her family are massive football fans! They got to all the games and have fun, fun fun but when Duffy takes down the mascot she becomes a person non grata. She is dubbed football Karen and goes viral. In an attempt to repair her public image she goes on a local new show to tell her side of the story. To her shock there is a surprise guest. The one and only Connor - the star of the Coyotes football team. 

They have onset chemistry. At the urging of Connor, his PR team takes Duffy out on a date (she is hesitant). Much to their surprise they click and have a good time. A relationship builds but Connor's secret could blow it all up. 

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

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle

Expected Publication Date: March 10, 2026

The Novak women have a once in a lifetime gift. They are each born with it. They can turn back time. This gift sounds ideal but it can be a burden. When do you use it? How do you know if you wasted the gift. It could have been used for something bigger, something more important for something else. What if...What if ...

Lauren knows her mother used her gift to save her father's life. It's caused her mom to live in constant fear and be over protective of her father. Her grandmother is care free and won't share what she used her gift for. Lauren's gift sits waiting for the day she needs it.

Lauren's husband has an opportunity to take a career changing job in New York. He takes it. Lauren heads back to her hometown and they rent there home out to earn some much needed cash. 

Broad Beach Road in home and Lauren plans to spend time with her dad, mom and grandmother. Surfing and the beach will keep her company but the unexpected happens. Her childhood friend, boyfriend and boy next door who she hasn't seen or heard from in years returns home. Stone was her first love and broke her heart. She quickly finds herself spending time with him. This awakens old feeling causing Lauren to wonder how her life would have been with Stone. 

Once and Again it told in present and past time.  It is full of complex relationships. I wanted Serle to explore the relationships between Lauren, her mother and grandmother more. I feel that there is much more to that story. 

Be prepared to revisit your past memories along with Lauren. You might find yourself angry with Lauren (I did). The ending didn't pan out the way I would have liked but I appreciate what Serle did with it. 

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

JFK Jr. An Intimate Oral Biography | By RoseMarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil

 

This biography on JFK Jr is told via personal stories from a variety of people in his life. We hear from friends, family and acquaintances.

The books spans from his childhood to his death. We get to read about the good, the bad and the in between. There is a bit of new information in this book but remember that memories fade over time and sometimes we rewrite them so I wouldn't take everything at it's word.  This doesn't meant I didn't enjoy the stories because I did and it's worth the read.

This is a heavy book at over 400 pages but the way it's done in snippets make the read super easy. There are a few "friends' that make you question their true intentions. 

The Housemaid Is Watching (The Housemaid #3)| By Freida McFadden

Millie and Enzo are married with kids. They are moving into a house in a beautiful neighborhood and thrilled to finally have a home of their own. Millie is a social worker and Enzo has his own landscaping company. 

Millie, Enzo and their two children have dinner with their neighbor Mrs. Lowell but their is something off with their maid. She makes Millie uncomfortable. The maid isn't the only strange person in the neighborhood. There is a woman who lives across the street  that knows everything going on. Mille tries to befriend her but finds it's not exactly an easy task. 

Millie starts to question if buying the house is a mistake. She's been warned about the neighbors by other neighbors, Enzo is acting strange and something just feels off ---- then a crime happens that can unravel all of their lives. 

This book will keep you on your toes. It's a slow burn that turns into an explosion. 

Forever, Interrupted | By Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

It was a rainy new years day when Elsie and Ben meet my chance at a pizza place. Their connection and chemistry is instant. Ben gets Elsie's number and calls her the next day. The quickly fall in love and by May they are married. Nine days after they have been married, Ben leaves their apartment to go pick up cereal. Ben never comes home. He is hit and killed. 

At the hospital Elsie meets Ben's mother Susan. Susan didn't know about Elise much less than her son was married to her causing issues. Both women are consumed by their grief but perhaps if they come together they can help each other heal.

Forever, Interrupted is told in current day and flashback scenes. The flashbacks to Ben give an emotional punch. Prepare yourself for some heart-wrenching moments while reading this book. This book makes you want to hold your loved ones tighter. The characters feel real and this story is beautiful yet so so sad. 

The Housemaid's Secret (The Housemaid #2) by Freida McFadden

 

McFadden writes excellent psychological thrillers. The Housemaid's Secret follows Millie the housemaid from the first book. It's been five years and Mille is nannying, clean homes and going to school to become a social worker.  Enzo her partner is no longer around and Millie is dating a man named Brock. 

Mille is hired to clean penthouse for the wealthy Garrick family. Douglas Garrick has given Millie a rule - she is to leave his wife alone. She is not to disturb his wife who has a health condition and prefers to be secluded. Millie finds is an odd rule but the pay is too good to refuse the job.

Millie comes across bloodstains while cleaning this causes her to break the rule and knock on the wife's door. Millie isn't prepared for what she discovers - Wendy's face is battered and bruised. Millie feels the need to help her but things are much more complicated that she knows.

This book is an amazing second installment not something we see much in series. McFadden pulls out twist and turns. Be prepared to do nothing but read once you start this book.

Fake Skating | By Lynn Painter

 

Dani and Alec were childhood friends. They spent summers playing together when Dani and her mom would come visit her grandfather. They wrote to one another and then it stopped. No more words exchanged and no more visits but things are about to change. Dani's parents are getting divorced and this means that Dani and her mom will be moving back. 

Dani and Alec are both hurt with one another and neither are looking forward to Dani being back. They are seniors in high school and Dani just wants to focus on school and get into the university of her dreams.

Alec has big dreams too. He is the hockey star of his high school team and is hoping hockey will be his big break and make it possible for him and his family to have more financial security. 

Alec and Dani find there way back into a friendship of sorts. They have a lot to learn about one another as time has changed who they are but deep down they know each others true self they just have to discover it.

Fake Skating is super cute and an easy read. If you like Lynn Painter's other books you will enjoy this one. 

The Housemaid (The Housemaid Book 1) | By Freida McFadden

 

Millie is working for the Winchesters. They have a beautiful home and Mille cleans, cooks and picks up the Winchesters daughter. Mille is a live in housemaid and is given a tiny room on the top floor of the home. The room is plain but for Millie it is like paradise because up until she got this job she had been living in her car. 

Millie quickly learns that something is amiss in the Winchester home. Nina the wife only wears white (and so does the young daughter). Nina makes messes on purpose and takes pleasure in watching Millie clean them up. Nina also does and says things to make Millie doubt herself. Nina goes from friendly to unfriendly back and forth causing much confusion.

Andrew the husband is handsome, rich and kind. Him and Nina don't quite seem to fit together. The daughter is peculiar, spoiled and a bit spooky. Despite misgivings, Millie continues to work for the Winchesters because the pay is good and she is a recently released convict which makes finding a job difficult. 

Mille discovers a huge secret that Nina is keeping and that mixed with warnings from the landscaper has her questioning more than the door to her room that only locks from the outside. 

The Housemaid is told in a diary type form and the audiobook keeps you captivated and makes you feel personally involved in the story. This story is binge worthy and I am excited to read more books in the series. I was entertained the ending was satisfying.