Tag: Spring

Book Review:: This Story Might Save Your Life | Tiffany Crum

If you have the chance to read This Story Might Save Your Life, do.not.waste.it. It is frigging phenomenal. I was hooked immediately and giddy the entire way through.

This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum Book Cover

When Benny’s best friend and podcast co-host disappears, he stops at absolutely nothing to find her. She may have been the one that got away, romantically, but she’s still the most important part of his life, despite her overbearing husband, who happens to manage the podcast empire they’ve been building for years.

The tension is fabulous. Not just the present timeline urgency to find Joy, who has severe narcolepsy, but also as we learn the backstory of their friendship and how they ended up in the situation they’re in. The format is absolutely perfect, and I ate up every single word.

It’s really hard to talk about a story that is about the unfolding of it, but I love these characters. I mean, I’d have them over on a weekly basis, best-friend, talking-late-into-the-night, kind of love. I could not stop turning pages to figure out what happened to them. If things resolved, and resolved in a way I could accept, spiritually, you understand.

Though I received a free digital copy through netgalley to review, I pre-ordered my own hardcover copy for my shelves before I was halfway through. Tiffany Crum, you may be my next favorite author to watch!! With a debut like this…I seriously can’t wait to see what you come up with next. Whatever it is…cowboy western, travel diary, space opera…I’m going to read it.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::This Story Might Save Your Life
Author::Tiffany Crum
Genre::Mystery Thriller (Romance)
Publisher:: Flatiron Books
Length:: 357 pages
Published:: March 10th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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All the Missing Pieces | Catherine Cowles
The Storm | Rachel Hawkins
Listen for the Lie | Amy Tintera
All That We See or Seem | Ken Liu
Four Weekends and a Funeral | Ellie Palmer
Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon | Matthew Norman

Book Review:: Once and Again | Rebecca Serle

We’ve all had those moments, those crossroads moments, when we can see two paths stretching out before us, and we have to pick between them. Or something happens that is the furthest thing from our plans we wish we could erase them.

Well—what if you could?

Once and Again by Rebecca Serle Book Cover

This is a family saga that will tug at your heart. There is just a touch of magical realism here, but it’s load bearing. I’m not always the biggest fan of it, and in this case my rational mind wanted to protest in a few places, but I went along for the ride, the emotional experiment of it all, and I came away appreciating it.

Lauren is at one of those crossroads we talked about before. But she has a chance to make one change, thanks to a legacy in the women of her family. But only one, and she’s been saving it to save her father from his health condition. But she realizes she might need it for something else, after all.

This book has plenty to rachet up the tension: choices going forward, choices made in the past, and the kind of soul-searching that makes you think about your life differently.

You know you’re in good hands with Rebecca Serle. This one is no exception. Also, the audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan—the queen—so that’s always an excellent option!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Once and Again
Author:: Rebecca Serle
Genre:: Women’s Fiction
Publisher:: Atria Books
Length:: 256 pages
Published:: March 10th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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If I Were You | Cesca Major
After Life | Gayle Forman
Maybe Next Time | Cesca Major
Ghosted | Sarah Ready
Change of Heart | Falon Ballard

Book Review:: The Gray Sheep | S. M. Somerset

The Gray Sheep by S.M. Somerset is a complex fantastical world with a rich history and plenty of conflict.

The Gray Sheep by S. M. Somerset Book Cover

Cosette is doing her best to continue running her father’s jeweler shop in a war-torn country as he recovers from an illness that isn’t getting any better with her uncle in another part of town. When she gets word of his decline, she decides to risk everything to go see him, even though the space between them is occupied and extremely dangerous.

Resourceful, thoughtful, and quite stubborn, Cosette is a worthy heroine. This story is deeply political, as all the marketing materials promise. To be honest, some of it was a little too much for me, and it tended to linger in sections I felt could do with more urgency. The language was urgent in these spaces, but the actual sentences still took their time leaving a strange feeling of needing to move forward, but not being able to because there were just too many words to get through in the scene.

I really admired Cosette’s bravery and determination, and several of the characters she encounters were interesting, and at times unexpected.

Overall, I think people who enjoy the political side of fantasy will enjoy this, or even sweeping historical epics might try their hand at it and be delightfully surprised.

As a whole, it strikes me mostly as quite an accomplishment!

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::The Gray Sheep (The Lochsmith Book I)
Author::S. M. Somerset
Genre:: Historical Fantasy
Publisher::Indie
Length:: 582 pages
Published::May 5th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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The Cheesemaker’s Daughter | Kristin Vukovic
Daughter of Ruins | Yvette Manassis Corporon
Divine Rivals | Rebecca Ross

Book Review:: Girls Our Age | Pheobe Thompson

This psychologically intense story of female friendship was kind of like a fever dream, if I’m honest. Lily, Ana, and Margot have been friends since they were roommates in college, and now ten years later, things are more complex than ever.

Girls Our Age by Pheobe Thompson Book Cover

Each of the girls is struggling in a different way. One with the resurgence of a mental illness that once consumed her. One with her relationship with her high school sweetheart and coming to terms with her social status. One with her career.

The novel lives inside each of their heads, walking through the state of their thinking and the facts of their lives. The friendship is what ties them together, but, as with many old friendships, the thing itself is hardly ever a priority, and that becomes part of the story too.

I don’t know, maybe this book deserves more than three stars. If I was judging by writing craft alone, I would certainly rate it higher, but all I can do is rate it as an experience as a whole, and there’s something holding me back there for that fourth star.

Perhaps you love reading about the complexities of female friendship and the kind of coming-of-age that comes through dodging psychological shrapnel. In that case, I can recommend this title to you whole-heartedly. But for me, there was a layer of something missing. My feelings about this book probably say more about myself than the book itself.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Girls Our Age
Author:: Phoebe Thompson
Genre:: Literary Fiction
Publisher:: Lake Union Publishing
Length:: 340 pages
Published:: May 5th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 3-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

The Homemade God | Rachel Joyce
The Greatest Possible Good | Ben Brooks
The Goldens | Laura Wilson
Bittersweet | Hattie Williams

Book Review:: Shaolin Spirit | Shi Heng Yi

The Shaolin way is deeply philosophical and self-reflective. While there are several stances and physical practices laid out in this book, I went into it more for the philosophy and mindset discussions, and I found a treasure of value in that way. Are the ideas necessarily new and ground-breaking? No. They’re something far greater. These are ancient wisdoms, and as the author says distinctly in the book several times, they are available to all.

Shaolin Spirit by Shi Heng Yi Book Cover

If you are looking for a way to re-center yourself, look deeply and be honest with yourself, this book is an excellent resource for walking through that process. Shi Heng Yi lists so many questions to ask of ourselves, examining the whys and the hows and the shoulds — but it isn’t a lecture, not at all. It is accepting of our human natures, leaves room for our own individual natures, and encourages us to open up, redirect certain energies, challenge ourselves both mentally and physically, building resilience and personal strength in a way that is all too uncommon these days.

I took PAGES of notes on this one, as I listened to the (excellent) audiobook — little nuggets of profound little teachings that are at once obvious, but so so powerful. This is the kind of book you can return to again and again, literally daily, and it will still serve to guide you in a positive, more contemplative direction.

I recommend the audiobook. It was even calming listening to the author narrate. I think it certainly added something to the experience. Near the end it did seem to tilt toward some kind of advertisement for his establishment, which I could have done without, but overall, this is a very valuable book for anyone looking for a little self-improvement.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Shaolin Spirit: The Way to Self-Mastery
Author:: Shi Heng Yi
Genre:: Personal Development
Publisher:: St. Martin’s Essentials
Length:: 288 pages
Published:: March 3rd, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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Book Review:: Jitterbug | Gareth Powell

I really need to read more science fiction.

This political space adventure was delightful.

Jitterbug by Gareth Powell Book Cover

This is a self-contained propulsive novel that felt like the best episodes of Firefly with maybe a bit of Mass Effect (the game) or Halo (yep, the game) mixed in. (Can you tell most of my sci-fi reference is in video games, not fiction?)

The captain of the Jitterbug is Copernicus Brown — Copernicus! He and his crew survive this futuristic landscape as bounty hunters. They’re scrappy, but legit. Until Amber Roth.

While the prose read sometimes a little distant for my usual tastes, I would have really loved some more interiority, this was still such a worthwhile read. It’s a fun adventure with momentous stakes, but it was the personal stories that really got me, and the journey of the ship itself was genuinely moving.

It also tied in some edge-of-our-understanding science that played a huge role in the plot, and while it got a little confusing (by nature), it added an element that just seemed to fit.

I follow Gareth on Threads and he seems like the chillest most generous dude. I can’t begin to describe the relief I felt that I genuinely enjoyed his writing, as well. If I found out he decided to expand this story into a series, I’d be first in line to buy the sequel.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Jitterbug
Author:: Gareth L. Powell
Genre:: Science Fiction
Publisher:: Titan Books
Length:: 336 pages
Published:: March 3rd, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

The Ministry of Time | Kaliane Bradley
The Book of Lost Hours | Hayley Gelfuso
All That We See or Seem | Ken Liu

Book Review:: Ship of Dreams | Donna Jones Alward

Sometimes I wonder how the next generations will remember the disaster that was The Titanic. Books like this one carry the story forward, to guard against letting it slip into the sands of time.

Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward Book Cover

Hannah is traveling aboard the Titanic with her husband, who must go to America for business. Their marriage is at a breaking point, and she has a secret to tell him if they are ever to repair. For bravery, she invites her best friend Louisa to join her, who will do almost anything to get out from underneath the control of her parents, who want her to marry someone she does not love. Louisa, recklessly, writes to a triste of hers that she will be aboard, and he surprises her once she boards.

Between the marital drama, and Louisa’s reckless but passionate behavior, the early pages of this book are propelled with the need to know what happens next. But we all know what happens eventually in a story like this one.

While tragic, this is a story about survivorship, about confronting things even when they’re hard. About acceptance, and being accepted. About the friendships that sustain us through the most difficult times of our lives. And about love, how it moves through us, and the scars it leaves behind.

I personally feel like the feminist angle was forced maybe a little too hard, though of course this was a major issue being examined at the time. At times it just felt forced, if you know what I mean.

Overall, though, this was an emotional book, and I really enjoyed reading it.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Ship of Dreams
Author:: Donna Jones Alward
Genre:: Historical Fiction
Publisher:: One More Chapter
Length:: 384 pages
Published:: March 31st, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 4-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Rules of the Heart | Janice Hadlow
Buckeye | Patrick Ryan
The Cheesemaker’s Daughter | Kristin Vukovic

Book Review:: Handle With Care | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

This book is like, if locked-room mystery was a thriller, and the psychology of everyone in the room is the story. In other words: excellent.

Handle With Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen Book Cover

This is my second title by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, and I already knew after Every Moment Since that I’d read everything she put out. This one is a very different vibe, but still under the same sort of suspense umbrella. (Also, LOOK at that cover! *drools*)

This is a story about an impromptu hostage situation at the united states postal service. It’s told by an omniscient, present-tense narrator that give the entire thing a very unique vibe, and it is organized into the parts of a letter.

If you read the ‘header’ you won’t be able to stop. It’s too good. It’s stunningly good. I’d even say an intro like that is a masterwork. It got me, hook, line, and sinker.

In a thriller, it’s especially important to avoid any spoilers. Discovering the story is the joy of it. So I won’t. Maybe I’ll just stop here, actually. The shortest review ever written! But if you do read it, and I really think you should, just don’t forget…

This is a story of hope.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Handle With Care
Author:: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Genre:: Suspense Thriller
Publisher:: Thomas Nelson
Length:: 288 pages
Published::April 14th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
The Unraveling of Julia | Lisa Scottoline
The Night We Lost Him | Laura Dave

Book Review:: Caller Unknown | Gillian McAllister

Love makes fools of us all, and we all know nothing is stronger than a mother’s love. Simone and Lucy just wanted to have a nice mother-daughter holiday camping in the west Texas desert.

Note to self: never book a holiday in west Texas.

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister Book Cover

Lucy is snatched from her bed in the middle of the night, with nothing but an outdated flip phone in her place. When it rings, it’s an unknown caller, and they’ve ransomed her daughter. Simone and Lucy are in a time of transition. Lucy is preparing to go off to college, and Simone is feeling the absence of her more than ever, making the ache of intense love only a mother can understand more tender than ever. Perhaps it is this specific texture of feeling that leads to what happens next.

What would you do, when pressed into a corner, to recover one you love?

Gillian McAllister is so good at what she does. Her thrillers have an atmosphere and a desperation and a logic that propels you through the pages relentlessly. It’s a story about familial love, it’s a story of desperation, it’s a story about having to move without knowing if it’s safe, where it’s safe, or who is safe.

Don’t miss it.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title::Caller Unknown
Author::Gillian McAllister
Genre:: Thriller
Publisher:: Willam Morrow
Length:: 336 pages
Published::May 5th, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Wrong Place Wrong Time | Gillian McAllister
Every Moment Since | Marybeth Mayhew Whelan
Beautiful Ugly | Alice Feeney
The House in the Pines | Ana Reyes
Nobody’s Fool | Harlan Coben

Book Review:: Maybe It’s Fate | Heidi McLaughlin

Oh, how I adored every single minute of this book, with tears in my eyes the entire time. My heart was in my hands through the whole unfolding of this story, and it hurt so dang good.

Maybe It's Fate by Heidi McLaughlin Book Cover

Toni and Miri have been friends forever. Not just friends — sisters. Miri hasn’t had the easiest ride through life, and when she calls Toni with her latest crisis, she drops everything and goes to her, like any sister would.

Miri has two kids, great, wonderful, beautiful kids, and she has cancer. The bad kind (as if any could be good). As the entire family, including Toni and her mother, who also love Miri, and the community of the little town she lives in, adjusts to this new reality, emotions are flying all over the place. Well, they were for me.

I had to pause and set down this book, kind of frequently, because my heart just hurt too much. When I say I was on the edge of tears the whole time, I mean it. As a mother myself, this was hard to fathom…but I promise you, it’s worth all the heartache.

This is an uplifting, positive book. It’s about hope and the beauty of love as much as it is about loss and acceptance. It’s about finding your path, even when it looks entirely different than what you always imagined it to be. It’s about community and support and the most beautiful parts of humanity.

It’s really quite stunning.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Details

Title:: Maybe It’s Fate
Author:: Heidi McLaughlin
Genre:: Contemporary Romance
Publisher:: Montlake
Length:: 306 pages
Published:: April 1st, 2026
The Litertarian Rating:: 5-Stars

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If you liked this book, check out…

Colton Gentry’s Third Act | Jeff Zentner
Promise Me Sunshine | Cara Bastone
32 Days in May | Betty Corrello
Swept Away | Beth O’Leary