Category: Comedy

Book Review: Sisters Before Misters by Amelia Diane Coombs

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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The Finch sisters are back in the second installment of this delightfully chaotic series, Sisters Before Misters.

Maeve has officially had enough murder and mayhem to last a lifetime, so when a call from Eliana pulls the sisters right back into another crime scene, she is less than thrilled. She’s also horrified that somehow poor Leo gets dragged back into the chaos too.

Eliana’s estranged husband Chad has gone missing, and the state of his condo points toward a very messy ending. Unfortunately for Eliana, the evidence also seems to point directly at her. Honestly? Even Maeve and Aunt Lindy aren’t entirely convinced she didn’t do it considering Chad has been dragging out their divorce for ages.

But the deeper Remi digs into Chad’s disappearance, the more tangled everything becomes. One of my favorite parts of this series continues to be Remi’s anxious overthinking brain trying to piece together the mystery in real time. It feels relatable, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once.
I also really love that the sisters are still figuring each other out. Their relationship continues to evolve naturally and watching them slowly learn how to trust and support one another remains the heart of the series for me.

And that ending twist? Absolutely delightful.

This series continues to balance humor, family chaos, mystery, and heart so well. If you enjoy series like Finlay Donovan, Stephanie Plum, Sunshine Vickram, or generally love humorous mysteries with quirky characters and messy family dynamics, you’ll absolutely want to pick this one up.
While this could technically be read as a standalone, I’d definitely recommend starting with book one first so you can fully appreciate the sister dynamics and character growth throughout the series.

I was, however, highly disappointed that there were no magic mushrooms in this book this time around.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

And make sure you check out the book that started it all, Drop Dead Sisters.

Book Review: This Weekend Doesn’t End Well For Anyone by Catherine Mack

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Bestselling novelist Eleanor Dash is expecting a lot of things when she agrees to attend a murder mystery writers conference in the Bahamas. What she isn’t expecting is a dead body in her hotel room.

But honestly… at this point, she probably should.

Once again, what seems like a coincidence quickly starts to feel like something more intentional. Is someone actually targeting Eleanor? Or could it be someone close to her? Connor, Oliver, Harper—and yes, even stalker Karen—are all back in the mix, which makes the suspect pool both familiar and chaotic.

We also get a return of several characters from earlier books, with ongoing storylines tied to past events. This one really builds on the previous books, so I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a standalone. You’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve read the first two.

Without giving too much away, things escalate quickly. There’s a storm warning, the island is evacuated, and our group decides to stay behind after signing away any liability. So now we have a full-on closed-circle mystery, but instead of a single house or mansion, it’s an entire island.

And yes… the bodies do start piling up.

As the group gets smaller, the tension ramps up, and the suspect list becomes more focused. There’s also someone from a previous book who returns with unfinished business, which adds another layer to the mystery and raises the stakes.

I listened to this one on audio and would absolutely recommend that format. The narration works especially well with the author’s style, particularly with the footnotes and moments that break the fourth wall. That kind of storytelling can feel forced if it’s not done well, but here it’s clever and intentional.

This is another twisty, fun installment in the series. It definitely feels like a nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which is one of my favorites. You can really see that influence in the isolated setting and the steadily shrinking cast.

Overall, I love this series for its mix of humor, chaos, and mystery. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers a satisfying twist at the end. This book also ties back nicely to earlier storylines and expands the world in a meaningful way.

If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan series or other lighter, character-driven mysteries, this is definitely worth picking up.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Check out the other titles in The Vacation Mysteries Series:

Book One: Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

Book Two: No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

Thank you to Catherine Mack, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ALC & ARC copy of this book. 

Book Review: Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Diane Coons

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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What do you get when you throw together three sisters who can barely tolerate each other, parents who are perpetually stoned and desperately trying to force family bonding, a handful of kooky side characters, and a dead body?

Pure chaos.

Oh, and add in a hunky park ranger and a nosy detective, and you’ve got Drop Dead Sisters.

What really made this work for me was the family dynamic. I found pieces of myself in all three sisters in different ways: Remy’s people-pleasing tendencies, Eliana’s need to force everything into “fine,” and Maeve’s inability to return a text message to save her life.

I loved watching the sisters slowly reconnect and grow together throughout the story, especially seeing Remy learn to love her family for exactly who they are instead of who she wishes they’d be.

This was funny, heartfelt, weird in the best way, and such an entertaining read. I absolutely cannot wait to dive into book two. If you love Finley Donovan, Stephanie Plum or Riley Thorn, you’ll love the Finch Sisters.

Also… as a Phan, I loved the subtle Phish reference. I won’t spoil it, but definitely keep your eyes peeled 👀

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Book Review: A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas Didomizio

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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OMG. This book! Love, love, love.

Not only is it set in an area that is literally in my back yard, (I went to Lake George almost every summer growing up and still go as an adult), but my current city even gets a shout out! A Murder Most Camp has all the makings of a classic whodunit. It’s packed with campy clichés, millennial pop culture references, and just the right amount of sass and snark. The Clueless references are great.

Mikey Hartford IV is a spoiled playboy who loves yachts, good food, and a good time. When he makes one too many reckless decisions—this time trying to buy his best friend Jamie’s affection, his father finally steps in and changes the terms of his trust. Now, in order to receive his full inheritance, Mikey has to prove he can actually do something good for the world.

Enter his step-grandmother Sierra, who is a few years younger than him, (married to his 80-year-old grandfather) and tasked with turning Mikey into a decent human. Her solution? Send him to Camp Lore, her former summer camp in upstate New York, where he’ll work as the oldest and least-qualified staff member alongside his twelve-year-old aunt, Annabelle.

And let’s just say… Mikey is wildly unprepared.

The camp itself is clearly struggling, the facilities are double accommodations (cue Mikey’s oh the horror face!), and instead of embracing summer camp activities, the kids assigned to Mikey’s “special activities committee” have zero interest in traditional camp fun. Instead, they become obsessed with a local legend tied to an abandoned cabin on the property and decide they’re going to solve a possible murder. Mikey convinces them to turn their summer project into a documentary about the mysterious disappearance, all while dreaming of his own fame surely to come from a true crime documentary.

From there, things spiral quickly, and nothing is quite what it seems.

I won’t spoil anything, but if you love a twisty mystery with an ending that completely sneaks up on you, this one is absolutely for you! I did not see it coming until it basically smacked me in the face.

There’s also a touch of romance, with the very hunky lifeguard Jackson, who is surprisingly into Mikey… despite Mikey doing everything in his power to come across as a complete jerk. Oh, any maybe he’s a murderer?

The characters really shine here. Even the side characters, like Raymond and Mikey’s dad, had me laughing. The writing is sharp, quick, and incredibly engaging. And I especially loved Mikey’s character arc. He doesn’t completely change who he is, but he grows in a way that feels realistic. Still very much himself, just… slightly less of a disaster.

One of my favorite dynamics was between Mikey and Annabelle. He thinks everyone else is helping her come out of her shell, but it’s really him who starts that process. There’s a really sweet moment where he offers to pretend he’s her uncle to make her feel more comfortable about their unconventional family situation, and it just worked so well.

All in all, this was an absolute delight. I binge-read it and could not put it down. If you’re a fan of Finlay Donovan, The Guncle or Stephanie Plum, you’ll love this book. This is my first book by the author but won’t be my last.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here!

Thank you to Nicolas Didomizio, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As always, I encourage you to read this for yourself and form your own opinion.

🎧 Audio Book Review: Thinky Thoughts by Gwenna Laithland

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“You have children of your own and who the hell let you take this thing home? You can’t remember to eat lunch at a reasonable time and now you’re responsible for a whole fucking person? This feels like a terrible idea.”

And that quote basically sets the tone for the entire book.

If you’re at all familiar with Gwenna Laithland, whether from following her online as Momma Cusses or from her first book then you already know her storytelling style. It’s honest, chaotic, hilarious, and deeply relatable… and it absolutely delivers here.

As you all know, I’m a sucker for author-narrated audiobooks, and in this case, I truly can’t imagine anyone else telling these stories. Gwenna narrating her own work is exactly what makes this hit the way it does. Anyone else’s voice wouldn’t feel right. She brings the humor, the emotion, and the timing in a way that only she can.

This book is a collection of personal stories, random thoughts, and bits of advice—basically a full compilation of “thinky thoughts.” And I found myself identifying with so much of it. Like her first book, this one somehow manages to make you feel both called out and completely seen at the same time.

There were so many moments where I thought, yes, this is exactly how my brain works.

One that really stood out to me was her take on grocery store chaos. I vividly remember when my ShopRite completely reorganized everything (back when I actually went in person instead of delivery), and the panic I felt was very real. It was oddly comforting to see that I’m not the only one who has had a full meltdown over something like that.

Books like this are such a good reminder that on the days when you feel like you’re failing—whether as a mom, an employee, a partner, or just a human—you’re really just… being human. We’re all doing the best we can, even when it doesn’t feel like enough.

If you love authors like Jenny Lawson, or if you already follow Gwenna online and haven’t picked this up yet, I would absolutely recommend it. And I highly suggest the audiobook. It’s 100% the way to experience this one.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here!

Thank you to Gwenna Laithland, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As always, I encourage you to read this for yourself and form your own opinion.

Book Review: The Honeymoon Phase by Amy Daws

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️/5

🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/5

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Listen. If you love a “he’s always loved her” romance, this one is going to hit you right in the feelings.

Luke has been in love with his best friend Addison “Roe” for years. He’s just never said anything because he’s convinced she doesn’t feel the same way. So when Roe finds herself in a situation where she has to get married in order to inherit her family’s lumber business, Luke does what any secretly-in-love best friend would do… he offers himself up as the solution.

What starts as a marriage of convenience turns into something so much messier and sweeter than either of them expected.

This book is full of longing. The quiet kind. The “I’ve loved you forever but I don’t want to lose you” kind. Watching Luke try to protect his heart while also stepping up for Roe was everything. And Roe’s journey? She’s carrying her own emotional baggage and grief, and seeing her slowly realize that the love she’s been looking for has been standing right in front of her was just chef’s kiss.

Their shared history made every small moment feel bigger. Every touch meant something. Every misunderstanding hurt a little more because you know how much they care about each other.

The pacing at the very beginning felt a little choppy during the lumberjack competition setup, but once the story settled in, it absolutely found its rhythm. From there on out, I was hooked.

The small mountain town setting, the found family vibes, the healing from grief, the way their fake marriage slowly turns into something very real… it was all so satisfying.

If you love slow-burn tension, emotional payoff, and a hero who has been quietly in love for years, this book delivers in the best way. It’s tender, angsty, heartfelt, and deeply romantic without feeling over-the-top.

And if you loved Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score or The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker, you will absolutely fall for Honeymoon Phase. It has that same small-town warmth, emotional depth, and swoony-but-grounded romance.

Oh and don’t let the cute cover fool you, this one is a slow burn scorcher!

On sale now, you can get your copy here!

You can also check out the other books in the Mountain Men Matchmaker Series:

Book One: Nine Month Contract

Book Two: Seven Year Itch

Book Four: Coming May 2026 Bad Boy Era!

Huge thanks to Amy Daws, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

Good Game, No Rematch by Mike Drucker

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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As an older millennial, I vividly remember receiving my first Nintendo NES system. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my parents were secretly taking the console—and Super Mario Bros.—out every night to play, then hiding it back in the closet until Christmas morning.

My mother jokingly calls herself an vid-diot and loves games of all kinds. Card games, board games, video games, she’s down to play. She was the kind of mom who, if you said, “Hey Mom, I’m on level eight. I’m almost at Bowser’s castle. I have 99 lives and a full inventory—can you please leave the TV on for me?”—there was a 50/50 chance that you’d either wake up to find she’d beaten the game, or that the TV was still on, patiently waiting for you to finish.
If you asked my dad the same thing, he’d likely get confused and accidentally turn the TV off. It was never malicious—he just never really got video games the way my mom did.

Good Game, No Rematch is both a history of video games and a subtle, hilarious biography of every awkward millennial adult trying to navigate modern life. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “Try being a people-pleaser who doesn’t understand how to people”—a line that perfectly encapsulates my life.
The book traces the evolution of video games from the perspective of the millennial generation, for whom the NES was a defining piece of childhood. Many books on video game history attempt to cram too much into one volume. While that can be ambitious, it often makes the narrative overwhelming or dry. This book smartly narrows its focus, making the material engaging and accessible throughout.

Before reading this, I didn’t know much about Mike Drucker. I’m not a huge TV person, so I hadn’t connected his name to the well-known shows he’s written for. But now, I’m off to explore his body of work. His writing is sharp, witty, and genuinely funny—it makes you feel like you want to hang out with him. (Well, sort of—I’m kind of agoraphobic and not particularly fond of leaving the house.)

In any case, if you grew up playing video games, love reading, and find comfort in shared nostalgia—or you’re just trying to survive adulthood as an elder millennial—this book is absolutely for you.

On sale now, you can get your copy here.

Thank you to the author Mike Drucker, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book!

P.S.- if you’re an audiobook girlie like me, this one is author narrated and excellent!!

As always, I encourage you to read this one for yourself and formulate your own opinion.

Book Review: One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you’re ready for some great Christmas vibes and family drama, look no further than One Big Happy Family by Susan Mallery. Normally, this time of year, I’m all about cozy mysteries, witchy romances, and everything fall-themed. However, I love Susan Mallery’s books, and I needed a break from my usual reads, so I figured it was the perfect time to get into the Christmas spirit🎄plus I’m all about the family drama.  

Julie is a badass mom and business owner who’s looking forward to a quiet Christmas at her family’s cabin—aka mansion in the woods—with her younger boyfriend, Heath. Her kids all have their own plans, and his ex-wife has the kids for the holiday. But as we know, life doesn’t always go as planned. The cabin ends up packed with more people, secrets, and drama than anyone could’ve imagined.

I saw so much of myself in Julie that it was hard not to root for her. She cares deeply about everyone else and making them happy. It’s so evident in her detailed plans to ensure everyone has the most amazing Christmas ever. And while Julie might seem like the perfect mom and girlfriend, we also get to see her unravel and expose all her flaws as the story unfolds.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here!

Thank you to the author Susan Mallery, the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Where to start, where to start…

So, initially, I grabbed this book because the cover led me to believe it was a rom-com. Wrong! Insert buzzer sound here.

You could call it a modern-day Lord of the Flies, and you wouldn’t be far off, but there’s so much more to this book. It’s got a mix of romance, mystery, sci-fi, thriller, and satire. Like Lord of the Flies, it forces us to consider what would happen if the worst-case scenario became reality. What would society look like if our systems of law and order collapsed and we were left to fend for ourselves?

Who among us, male or female, hasn’t felt like Dan at some point in our lives? That kid in school who was told they could be anything they wanted but ended up only achieving mediocrity? And who doesn’t wrestle with the question of what it means to be a man or a woman and the stereotypes that go along with that? Mara is amazing in this story, loving Dan for who he is rather than who she could mold him into. She’s a total badass.

The writing is sharp; it’s funny while tackling some terrifying ideas and notions. The one-liners are hysterical, and the relationship between Dan and Mara is delightful to read. And who would ever expect a Bible-thumping preacher’s wife, who also happens to be an MLM creator, to be the one who stages a coup and steals all the food and power? But, as with all stories, not everything is as it seems, and there’s more going on at the resort than meets the eye.

I’d describe this as a “soft” thriller, not because it’s overly scary, but because it still gives you that anxious, “OMG, what’s going to happen next?” feeling that thrillers do. If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan or Riley Thorn books, I think you’ll really enjoy Zero Stars Do Not Recommend. As always, read it yourself and see what you think. I went in expecting a rom-com, but it turned out to be so much better!

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and the publisher Sourcebooks for giving me this opportunity to read an ARC copy.

Zero Stars Do Not Reccommend is out now and you can grab your copy here.

The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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GUP is back and he’s abroad! Patrick, Maisie, and Grant are bouncing around Europe as their dad prepares to remarry.

Set five years after the events of The Guncle, Patrick is trying to teach the kids about love as they struggle to accept their dad’s new soon-to-be wife.

The Guncle Abroad is chock-full of everything that I loved about the first book and more. The Guncle Rules are back, along with Guncle Love Languages.

Once again, I laughed, I teared up, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The Guncle Abroad captures the essence of what it means to be a family, with all its imperfections and beauty.

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley and the publisher Putnam Books for giving me this opportunity to read an ARC copy, especially because I loved The Guncle so much.

The Guncle is out now and you can grab your copy here.