Annie Hartnett’s The Road to Tender Hearts is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you—in the best way possible. It’s quirky, warm, unexpectedly moving, and just the type of story I didn’t know I needed. At the center of this delightfully oddball road trip is PJ Halliday, a sixty-something lottery winner with a… Continue reading The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett
Genre: Fiction / Literary
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
“𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴.”—Marcellus, Giant Pacific Octopus Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of those books that sneaks up on you. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did—but once I started, I couldn’t stop. Heartfelt,… Continue reading Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
Clove has gone to extremes to keep her past a secret. Thanks to her lies, she’s landed the life of her dreams, complete with a safe husband and two adoring children who will never know the terror that was routine in her own childhood. If her buried anxiety threatens to breach the surface, Clove (if that… Continue reading Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad is a haunting, imaginative, and unflinching reimagining of American slavery. Though it didn’t fully meet my expectations, I’m still glad I finally read this long-standing title from my TBR—especially as part of a book club discussion, where the weight of its themes could be explored with others. Set in the… Continue reading The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Martha Hall Kelly has delivered another captivating historical fiction gem—this time set against the windswept shores of Martha’s Vineyard during World War II. The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club blends dual timelines, rich characters, and the enduring power of books in a way that’s both engaging and deeply heartfelt. It’s the kind of story… Continue reading The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman does it again with My Friends—a deeply moving, sharply funny, and profoundly human novel about the enduring bonds of friendship and the quiet, powerful ways art can hold us together across time. At the heart of the story is Louisa, an almost-eighteen-year-old aspiring artist who becomes obsessed with a painting that has long… Continue reading My Friends by Fredrik Backman
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
Laila Lalami’s The Dream Hotel offers a chilling and thought-provoking glimpse into a near-future society where dreams are no longer private—and freedom is conditional. When Sara returns to Los Angeles from a work trip, she’s stopped at the airport by a shadowy government agency and told she’s a risk. Not because of something she’s done,… Continue reading The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
Janelle Brown’s What Kind of Paradise is a haunting, propulsive coming-of-age novel that explores the tension between isolation and connection, truth and belief, and the perils of blind trust. It’s one of those books that grabs hold early and doesn’t let go—I tore through the pages, desperate to know what would become of Jane, the… Continue reading What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
Run For The Hills by Kevin Wilson
Run For The Hills by Kevin Wilson
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
“I don't want to answer so I wait. Because sometimes if you don't answer then someone will answer for you or someone will say something else to help you know what to say.” Ginny Moon is exceptional. Everyone knows it—her friends at school, teammates on the basketball team, and especially her new adoptive parents. They… Continue reading Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig


