Tag: netgalley

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: 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: Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play, by Keza MacDonald.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I absolutely loved this book.

As an elder millennial who grew up on Super Mario Bros. 3 and spent countless hours on my Super Nintendo (even if my mom wouldn’t let me play the “grown-up” games like Mortal Kombat), this felt like such a nostalgic and insightful read.

I will say, some parts felt a bit repetitive for me personally, but that’s only because I’ve read similar books like Good Game, No Rematch by Mike Drucker and Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan. If you’re newer to Nintendo history, I don’t think that would stand out at all or get in the way of you enjoying.

What really made this one shine for me was the perspective. I loved getting a female voice in a space that is often very male-dominated, and I also really appreciated the “across the pond” viewpoint. Seeing Nintendo’s evolution and cultural impact through a different lens added something fresh, even to stories I was already familiar with.

I also really enjoyed how much depth MacDonald gives not just to the games themselves, but to the characters. As a Zelda fan, I especially loved that element. It felt like she truly understands the emotional connection players have to these worlds and the characters in them.

Another thing I appreciated is that this book goes further into Nintendo’s more recent history than some others. Jeff Ryan’s book is almost a decade old at this point, so it was nice to have something that extends the timeline and brings things a bit more current.

Overall, this was an engaging and fun read that really felt like a trip down memory lane. It balances behind-the-scenes insight with nostalgia in a way that’s both informative and approachable.

If you grew up with Nintendo, this is such a great read. And if you’re interested in gaming history, it’s an enjoyable and well-rounded look at one of the most influential companies in entertainment.

On sale now, you can get your copy here.

Thank you to the author Keza MacDonald , the publisher Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf 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: 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!

Book Review: Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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This book totally snuck up on me in the best way. It’s fast-paced, funny, and just the right amount of chaotic.

Darby Vaughn is a relationship expert whose entire world implodes after a very public (and very humiliating) breakup. What follows is a wild mix of scandal, reinvention, and the awkward, hilarious, and occasionally sweet road to figuring out what she actually wants.

Darby’s voice was one of my favorite parts…sharp, witty, and totally relatable. I loved watching her try to navigate the mess of public image, heartbreak, and second chances, all while trying to hold it together (and sometimes very much not). There’s a great balance of laugh-out-loud moments and surprisingly tender, introspective ones too.

And yes, the romance subplot is adorable. The banter is top-notch and the chemistry? Definitely there. It hit all the right notes without ever overshadowing Darby’s personal growth, which I really appreciated.

It’s light but empowering, messy in a fun way, and delivers just enough scandal to keep things interesting. A solid pick if you’re in the mood for something that blends humor, heart, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.

Fifteen Minutes of shame is on sale now. You can grab your copy here.

I received this book as an advanced reader copy. Thank you so much to Lisa Daily, Siesta Key House and Netgalley!

Book Review: The Invisible Woman by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I don’t think James Patterson could write something I wouldn’t enjoy, and his newest collab The Invisible Woman definitely didn’t disappoint. It has everything I love in one of his books: short, punchy chapters that keep you turning the pages, memorable characters, and that addictive pacing that pulls you in from the first page to the last.

Elinor’s career at the FBI ended badly—she took the fall for someone else’s mistake. Now she’s middle-aged and, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Turns out that’s exactly what the FBI needs. The catch? She’s undercover as a nanny for a wealthy family with ties to a drug cartel. And no one knows she’s there, except for the jerk who wrecked her career and her best friend (you know, just in case someone has to ID the body).

Watching Elinor handle a baby, a moody teenager, and two unruly dogs while undercover made for the perfect read. She’s sharp, relatable, and honestly, just really fun to root for.

I really hope this is the start of a new series because Elinor is amazing.

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo comes out January 5th, but you can preorder your copy here!

Huge thanks to James Patterson, Susan DiLallo, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: A Short History of Ancient Rome by Pascal Hughes

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you’re a fan of the Short History Of… podcast from Noiser, you’re probably going to enjoy this book quite a bit. Full disclosure right up front: there is a fair amount of crossover between the podcast and the book, particularly in tone and some of the stories. If you’re a longtime listener, some moments will feel familiar, but it never felt repetitive in a way that bothered me. Instead, it felt like a more complete, more polished version of something I already enjoyed.

What Hughes manages to do here is no small thing. While Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire famously stretches into the thousands of pages depending on the edition, Hughes distills roughly 1,000 years of Roman history — from its legendary beginnings to the fall of the Western Empire — into about 350 pages across 18 chapters. That kind of compression could easily feel rushed or shallow, but this book never does.

The writing is clear, confident, and very readable. Hughes blends solid historical research with anecdotal, narrative storytelling that keeps things moving without sacrificing substance. I’m a big fan of narrative history, and this book strikes a nice balance: it’s informative without being dense, and engaging without feeling like it’s oversimplifying the material. You can tell it’s written for curious readers, not academics, but it still respects the history.

Readers get the full sweep of Rome’s story, starting with the mythical founding of the city through Romulus and Remus, moving through the Republic, and into the drama, ambition, and excess of the Imperial period. Along the way, Hughes highlights familiar figures and moments — Hannibal crossing the Alps, Julius Caesar’s rise and fall, and all the intrigue surrounding Cleopatra — grounding big historical shifts in human stories. Even if Roman history isn’t something you’ve studied deeply, you’ll recognize plenty here and never feel lost.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is that it avoids feeling like a textbook. This isn’t one of those history books you were forced to read in school and promptly forgot. The pacing is strong, the chapters are manageable, and the storytelling keeps you engaged even when covering complex political or social changes. It’s the kind of history book that makes you want to keep reading rather than checking how many pages are left in the chapter.

I also listened to the audiobook version, which I highly recommend. The narration leans into the storytelling aspect, making it feel less like a lecture and more like someone walking you through the story of Rome. For a book like this — broad in scope but focused on narrative — the audio format works especially well.

Overall, A Short History of Ancient Rome is an accessible, engaging introduction to one of the most influential civilizations in history. It’s a great choice for readers who enjoy history told as a story, and especially for fans of the Short History Of… podcast who want a deeper, more sustained dive into ancient Rome.

Thank you so much to the author, Pascal Hughes, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for the ARC copy of this book.

A Short History of Ancient Rome by Pascal Hughes is out now! You can grab your copy here.

Book Review: By Time You Read This by Brianna Labuskes

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I usually try to keep my book reviews spoiler-free, but that’s going to be difficult with this one—especially if you haven’t read the first two books in the Raisa Susanto series. So if you’re new to the series, pause here, go read The Lies You Wrote and The Truth You Told, and then come back. I’ll wait.

You’ve been warned: this review contains info from earlier books, and this is not a series where each book stands alone.

This is book three in the series, which follows Raisa Susanto, an FBI forensic linguist who also happens to be the sister of one of the most infamous serial killers. FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto thinks she’s through with the past now that her psychopathic serial killer sister, Isabel, is locked away forever. Then Raisa receives a letter from Isabel. It isn’t much, but it pushes Raisa back into what she thought she had already finished. Now, Isabel is dead, and their other sister, Delaney, is has vanished. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes disturbingly clear that Isabel had a protégé, even while behind bars.

Raisa is manipulated into solving Isabel’s murder, and the deeper she digs, the more evident it becomes that Isabel’s influence hasn’t died with her. She also worries that Delaney is somehow involved. From beyond the grave, Isabel still manages to pull strings—controlling and warping the lives of both of her sisters.

Told through multiple points of view—including Raisa and Delaney’s perspectives, as well as blog transcripts and diary entries—this book is packed with twists and tension that absolutely deliver, just like the previous two installments.

By the end, it feels like Raisa has completed a compelling character arc: she’s come to terms with who she is, who Delaney has become, and who Isabel truly was. Still, I really hope the series continues. The unique blend of police procedural and thriller, told through the lens of forensic linguistics, keeps the narrative fresh, intellectually engaging, and emotionally layered.

📌 Final Thoughts:

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with complex sibling dynamics, forensic detail, and emotional depth, this series is a must-read. Just be sure to start at the beginning to truly appreciate the journey. As always, I recommend reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here! Bonus, the whole series in available in KU for both ebook AND audio!

Many thanks to Brianna Labuskes, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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As an older millennial, The Golden Girls was just one of those shows that was always on. You know what I mean—flipping channels after school or on a lazy Sunday, and there they were: Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia, living their pastel-hued, sass-soaked lives in that iconic Miami house. I can’t even count how many times I’ve fallen asleep to their comforting banter—only to wake up to one of those cheesy “Greatest Hits of the ‘70s” CD collection infomercials playing on loop. That was peak background TV, and honestly? It lives rent-free in my heart.

So when I saw Murder by Cheesecake on NetGalley, promising a Golden Girls–themed cozy mystery, I downloaded it faster than Sophia can deliver a one-liner.

Let me tell you—it delivers.

Author Rachel Ekstrom Courage doesn’t just slap some wigs on a generic mystery plot and call it homage. She gets these women. The voices are spot-on—Dorothy’s dry sarcasm, Blanche’s theatrical flirtiness, Rose’s sweet but slightly unhinged St. Olaf stories, and Sophia’s savage little roasts. You can tell this was written by someone who genuinely loves the show and wanted to bring these characters to life in a fun new way.

The plot? Dorothy is accused of murder, there’s a suspicious cheesecake involved (of course), and suddenly our favorite four are knee-deep in a Miami mystery. It’s a whodunit with bingo halls, bad dates, high-stakes wedding drama, and of course, plenty of snacks. The story moves fast, the dialogue is sharp, and the clues are sprinkled in just enough to keep you guessing without feeling too twisty for the cozy genre.

If you love cozy mysteries, crave some comfort reading, or just miss watching reruns with a bowl of cereal at 11 p.m., this book is for you. It’s like a warm hug from your favorite TV aunties—with a steak knife hidden under the pie plate.

I’ll be first in line for book two. Here’s hoping Blanche gets a steamy love triangle, Rose accidentally solves a crime with a duck, and Sophia ends up running the investigation because let’s be real—she’s already the queen.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Thank you to the author Rachel Ekstrom Courage, the publisher Hyperion Avenue, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.