Arrivals and Departures | By Amanda Eyre Ward

 

Publication Date June 16, 2026

Arrivals and Departures follows the Perkins family. Charlotte the matriarch is living in a private community and looking after her daughter, Lee. Lee is battling depression and has lost her will to live. Cord is back to his old ways and drinking. Regan is living in Greece with her two teenage daughters. The family is spread across the world but when Regan goes missing Charlotte sends Lee to Greece to watch the girls and help find Regan. 

There are a lot of character's in this book but they have unique voices. Eyre Ward tackles mental health in a very real way. This is a multigenerational book that is told in alternating chapters. I liked the characters but I struggled to vibe with this book making this an okay read. 

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

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Published April 14, 2026

Cherry has wide hips, a large chest and a double chin. She is  a "fat" girl. Her husband (soon to be ex) is in Hollywood making a movie based on his webcomic. A webcomic neither he or Cherry expected to get popular. A webcomic that is semi-autobiographical in which Cherry is the main character. Cherry is back home in Omaha taking care of the dog and house, working, dealing with fall out of her marriage and the popularity of Tom's comic, soon to be movie.

Cherry never wanted this and the character playing her looks so much like her that she has become recognizable. She's tired of it all. One night Cherry decides to do something for herself and heads out to see her favorite band. Much to her surprise she runs into Russ Sutton her old crush. Sparks fly but when Tom comes home to pack up his belongings Cherry things get complicated. 

I went into this book blind and was pleasantly surprised. It has some SPICE. The character's are realistic. There is family drama, mentions of religion (yawn) and while the ending wasn't what I wanted I understood and respected it. 

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

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

 

A toddler has been murdered. The townspeople are on edge. The police are conducting interviews and most parents are keeping a closer eye on their kids. Eight year old Chrissie continues as usual. She has little parental oversight. She's  stays out late, steals, treats other kids poorly and has a big secret. She is the killer. 

It's been twenty years and Chrissie now goes by the name Julia.  She spent years in a juvenile home, has changed her identity and has a young daughter named Molly. Julia's is trying to be the best mom possible but lives in constant fear that her daughter will be taken from her by the authorities. 

Tucker's debut novel chills you and takes you on a psychological rollercoaster. The story is told from both Chrissie and Julia's point of views flipping back and forth from current to present time. This is a dark intense read that is not for the faint of heart. 

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

 

Published May 5, 2026

The Calamity Club is character driven and full of unforgettable characters.  It explores a variety of themes and takes place in Oxford Mississippi in 1933. The Great Depression and prohibition play a major background role. This is a hefty book at at over 640 pages. Don't let that scare or sway you away because time flies and before you know it the book you don't want to end comes to a conclusion. 

The story is told in dual point of views and alternating storylines. 

Our main characters are Birdie and Meg.  Birdie is only 11 years old and desperately wants out of the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum. Orphans in particularly older ones are treated poorly and the conditions are deplorable.  Birdie is a young, unmarried woman who carries the weight of her family on her shoulders and has come to Mississippi to ask her sister help. Their lives intersect which takes readers on an unforgettable journey. 

There is a wonderful cast of memorable female characters such as Charlie, Flossy and Mrs. Tart. Several other important storylines are explored making this book one you will want to revisit again in the future.

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

The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas

 

Rose Napolitano has always known that she doesn't want kids.  When she meets Luke she makes it clear that she doesn't want children. Luke says he doesn't want them either until a few years into their marriage he changes his mind. Luke starts to pressure Rose for a child and after a fight about Rose not taking prenatal pills Rose the fight starts to repeat in different lives. Over the course of the book Rose lives 9 different lives. Some of those lives explore motherhood while others don't. 

At times it's a bit difficult to figure out which life Rose is on but the what ifs push the story forward and as someone who doesn't want children and has been judged by it this book struck a cord. It made me feel seen and I think it will do that to other readers like me.

The Divorce | by Freida McFadden

 

Typical love story. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl get married. Girl gives up her job to be a stay at home mom. Boy leaves Girl. He kicks her out, closes all their accounts and wants a divorce. 

Naomi isn't going to hin get away with this. She's going after Veronica, the new girl. She hires a Ezra as her lawyer and she is going to fight. 

The Divorce is told from Naomi and Veronica's point of view. This is a fast paced book and the audiobook narrators make this messy divorce story fly by. McFadden's work are quickly becoming one of my favorite guilty pleasure reads.

Worry Doll Laura McPhee-Browne

 

Worry Doll is about two women. Heloise and Lacey. They are unreliable narrators in a book that is already difficult to read. Not difficult because of the subject matter but difficult because it felt as though I was reading someones poorly written diary, I couldn't connect with the storyline or characters.

This book is around 192 pages and not for me. I wish I had never read this book. 

Love You More by Emily Giffin

 

Expected Publication Date: July 7. 2026

Billie grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. She left her family and friends behind to make her dream of becoming a physician come true. She is living in New York with her fiance. She is running a successful fertility clinic with her two friends. Her life is going well but it's about to be turned upside down.

Mick, her ex boyfriend calls with devastating news. Billie hops on a plane back home. Being back home bring back memories from the past. Billie also has to make some major decisions that will affect not only her life but that of others.

Love You More is told  in future and past tense. This is a story about love. Not just romantic love but the love we have for others. Giffin writes well developed characters. Her character's are so real you become fully invested in the story. Put some time aside to read this book because you won't want to put it down.

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