A Riveting Mystery of Deception, Art Theft, and Unexpected Romance on a Parisian Cruise―Perfect for Summer Reading
Highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman returns with an irresistible mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a former private investigator and middle-aged widow whose vacation on a Parisian river cruise turns into a deadly international mystery…that only she can solve.
Mrs. Blossom has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when she finds a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot, everything changes. She is determined to see the world that she sometimes feels is passing her by.
When Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.
She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.
Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He is convinced that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of art, and Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s death.
Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?
A New York Times “Best Beach Reads of Summer”
One of Washington Post’s “Best Mysteries to Read This Summer”
One of Boston Globe‘s “Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List”
“Witty and propulsive. Lippman’s fans will feel like they hit the jackpot with this warm and cozy romp.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Lippman triumphs with this charming mystery…. By the time the clever conclusion rolls around, readers will be sad to see this trip come to an end.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A rollicking adventure of the highest order.” —New York Times
“Energetically entertaining…. Lippman manages to combine a light amateur sleuth story with a harder-edged thriller, combining both types of mysteries, which seldom intersect, into a cohesive, solid plot.” — South Florida Sun Sentinel
Mrs. Blossom, a widow in her sixties, relocates to Phoenix to help care for her grandchildren. But her plans are upended when her son-in-law announces that the family is moving to Japan—and there won’t be room for her. With no reason to stay, she returns to her hometown of Baltimore. A former private investigator who conducted surveillance work for renowned detective Tess Monaghan—star of Lippman’s popular mystery series, who makes a few cameos here—Mrs. Blossom’s unassuming appearance as an overweight woman in her sixties made her practically invisible during investigations.
Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot. After being told there’s no process for returning found tickets, she suddenly finds herself with more money than she’ll ever need and no family obligations. She decides to fulfill a lifelong dream: her first trip to Europe, booking a week in Paris followed by a river cruise with her oldest friend.
Mrs. Blossom is surprised when her economy seat gets upgraded to business class. Allan, a fellow passenger who overhears her confusion about the upgrade, takes her under his wing. He arranges for them to sit together and offers her a sleep aid for the overseas flight. When she awakens, she’s missed her connecting flight from London to Paris.
Allan convinces her to take the train instead, and they spend a delightful day exploring London together. Once in Paris, she meets Danny, a charming young man who claims to be a stylist and persuades her to go shopping. Their day together is pleasant enough, but things take a dark turn when Allan turns up dead—not in London where he claimed to have business meetings, but in Paris. The French police question Mrs. Blossom, and she discovers that Danny isn’t the stylist he pretended to be.
Her hotel room is thoroughly ransacked with no attempt at concealment, leaving Mrs. Blossom bewildered about what’s happening and why she’s involved. Danny continues appearing wherever she goes, even showing up on her river cruise. While he seems helpful, his constant presence raises questions about his trustworthiness. When her cabin is searched, the pieces begin falling into place as Allan’s death becomes entangled with insurance fraud and a missing bird statue, with a clever nod to The Maltese Falcon.
Through determination and her rusty detective skills, Mrs. Blossom ultimately unravels the mystery. This fast-paced story delivers an entertaining adventure with Mrs. Blossom as a thoroughly likable protagonist, plenty of plot twists, and a satisfying conclusion.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MURDER TAKES A VACATION by Laura Lippman.William Morrow (June 17, 2025). ISBN: 978-0062998101. 272p.
I started this series – which I read in order! – with The Nantucket Inn, and I reviewed that first one here. I was able to find the entire series on Hoopla, through my public library, and listened to them all. These are self-published, and I’m sorry to say it shows.
Since Elin Hilderbrand retired, I was so happy to find this series. Hilderbrand created a world in Nantucket that I loved, and Kelley continues that magical feeling about the place. Not magical like the inexplicable, but magical as in a lovely, peaceful community where friendships are easy and love happens for everyone open to it.
The books revolve around the Beach Plum Cove Inn on Nantucket, which is at the center of the first book in the series. The subsequent books introduce new characters to Nantucket who stay at the inn, and most usually end up moving to the island permanently. It works beautifully. It truly feels like an escape to listen to these books, and I really appreciate that.
There are a few drawbacks to this audiobook series. The original reader, Karissa Vacker, did a terrific job and I really loved the first five books. However, the last four books in the series are read by Leslie Howard, and honestly, if I wasn’t already invested so deeply into the series, I would have stopped with Nantucket Threads. Howard is a breathy whisperer. Every voice she does sounds like they are whispering, and I find it super annoying. It reminded me of Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” which I guess is sexy for a two minute song, but becomes grating many hours in. I haven’t checked to see who is reading other Kelley books, but Leslie Howard is the first performer since I started my audiobook journey that is going on my “do not read” list.
They are self-published and, unfortunately, not carefully edited. One of the things I really like about this series is the constant food references, where the characters are dining, what they order, and what they prepare for dinner at home. I’m a foodie and enjoy this aspect. Except in this series, a character orders one thing at dinner, then a minute later are taking a bite of something else. There are little inconsistencies like that throughout this series, and most are just slightly annoying – they pull me out of the story for a moment. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so obvious if I hadn’t basically binged them all in order, but it became apparent that Kelley did not spring for a line editor. There are different types of editors in publishing, but a line editor is especially important in a series. They are responsible for pointing out repetition and inconsistencies in the story line.
This became a huge issue for me in the last book of the series, Nantucket Summer House. Like most romances, each book centers around one couple finding their happy ending. In the third book, Nantucket White Christmas, the romance centers around Angela and Philippe. Philippe is a minor character throughout the series until the third book when he took center stage. He was mentioned from time to time in all the books that followed until the last book, when inexplicably he became Pierre! I cringed every time I heard it and was thrilled this was the last book of the series. That is a major mistake, and I was shocked that no one pointed this out to the author. Or maybe someone did and she didn’t care? I don’t know, but as far as I’m concerned it is the height of hubris to think no one will notice or care if you change a character’s name after 8 previous books.
I have a few other minor quibbles. All the characters sound like fifty-something-year-olds, even the twenty and thirty-somethings, so the dialogue often feels stilted to me. I do love that there are successful writers living in Kelley’s Nantucket, as well as artists and photographers. I like to think that artists can make a living and afford the Nantucket lifestyle. On the other hand, everyone eats dinner at 6:00 pm and goes to bed early. Kelley has favorite wines that appear in every book, most of which are good (yay!) but I couldn’t help but think product placement?? If not, Kelley should definitely look into that. Everyone has “appetizer parties” on Nantucket, all of which feature cheese & crackers plus some interesting sounding dips and spreads – maybe that is really a thing? I don’t know.
Rant over. Bottom line is I did enjoy this series, and I’m continuing to read more of Kelley’s work – but with a jaded eye on the continuity of the books and making sure any audiobooks are performed by anyone other than the whisperer. I do love the sense of family Kelley creates with all these charaxters, and I couldn’t help but care about them, plus it’s fun to see what they are all up to with each book.
Right now, I’m reading the Kindle version of the first book of a new series, The Nantucket Restaurant (review to follow!) This book (and the sequel) were originally self-published, but the copy I have is published by Sourcebooks, a traditional publisher, so I feel comfortable that I won’t have to deal with any of the consistency issues that cropped up in the Nantucket Beach Plum Cove series.
Lisa Hodges needs to make a decision fast. Thanks to her dead husband’s gambling addiction, their savings is almost gone. In her early 50s with a large, waterfront home on Nantucket to support, Lisa hasn’t worked in over 30 years, has no in-demand skills and is virtually unemployable.
Her only options are to sell the house and move off-island, or, she could use her cooking and entertaining skills and turn her home into a bed and breakfast. She desperately needs it to succeed because she has four grown children with problems of their own and wants to stay close to them. Her oldest daughter, Kate, has a fabulous career in Boston – working as a writer for a popular fashion magazine and engaged to a dangerously handsome, photographer, who none of them have met. Kate’s twin, local artist, Kristen, has been reasonably content with her on-again off-again relationship with an older, separated businessman. Her son, Chase, runs his own construction business and is carefree, happily dating here and there but nothing serious. Youngest daughter, Abby, is happily married to her high school sweetheart, and they’ve been trying to have a baby. But it hasn’t happened yet, and Abby wonders if it’s a sign that maybe their marriage isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks.
Come visit Nantucket and see how Lisa’s new bed and breakfast has an impact on almost everyone in her family. It’s the first book in a new series that will follow the Hodges family, friends, and visitors to Nantucket’s Beach Plum Cove Inn.
Book your visit to the Beach Plum Cove Inn today…meet widow Lisa Hodges and her four adult children, friends, and visitors to the newly opened waterfront bed and breakfast.
In the first book, The Nantucket Inn, Lisa learned that her deceased husband had a hidden gambling addiction and had blown through their retirement savings. Since she’d been raising four children and hadn’t worked in years, she had no employable skills. Her only option if she wanted to stay on the island near her loved ones, was to rent out her second floor rooms. And she’s loving it so far. Lisa’s first guest, restaurant owner Rhett Byrne quickly became a close friend and then something more. In her early fifties, it sounds strange to her to call him her boyfriend, but that’s what he is.
Her daughter Kristen, finally ended things with Sean, the separated man that no one in the family was excited about. It wasn’t until she was beginning to move on, that he filed for divorce, and then begged her for another chance. So she gave him one, much to everyone’s dismay. But then the cottage next door is sold, and she discovers who her new neighbor is. Chase, the only boy in the family, has never been serious about anyone before. But he’s suddenly withdrawn and has been secretive about who he’s seeing, which only makes everyone that much more curious. When they learn who it is, the concern grows as no one wants to see Chase hurt, again. Lisa’s best friend, Paige, has a new neighbor too and it’s one she is most decidedly not enthused about. Violet was one of the women who stood up at town meeting and protested against Lisa’s inn being approved by the selectman. Because the house is right next door, Paige can’t help but notice the steady stream of traffic. Violet seems to be very popular with a lot of people.
The inn is doing well and bookings are up, but then one Friday night, a guest that prepaid for the weekend never shows up. And quite a few people, including the police, come asking questions.
Visit Nantucket’s Beach Plum Cove Inn this Christmas for a feel-good holiday story from the author of The Nantucket Inn and Nantucket Neighbors. Born on Christmas, Angela Stark has always hated the holiday. Bad things always seem to happen and this year is no exception when she is fired and evicted on the first day of December. She was living and working as a maid in San Francisco. Who will hire her at this time of year, especially if they learn why she was fired?
Her only family is Sam, an elderly and quite vocal orange cat. Her only option is to stay temporarily with her best friend Jane, but she is extremely allergic to cats. It’s not ideal, but it doesn’t look like she has a choice, until a certified letter arrives that changes everything. The next thing she knows, she and Sam are flying to Nantucket, a place they’ve never been before. It’s meant to be a temporary visit. But then Angela meets the Hodges family and friends and begins to question where home really is.
Everyone thought they had the perfect marriage. But things are sometimes not what they seem. Lisa Hodges has always thought her best friend Sue had a dream marriage. She’d married Curt, her high school sweetheart and current business partner. After 35 years of marriage, she never doubted him once – until Brandi Morgan joined their thriving insurance company. Brandi is 35, blonde and beautiful, and is also excellent at her account manager job. All the clients love her and business is up. Sue liked her quite a bit too – until the rumors started swirling.
And it all began with A Nantucket Affair, the island’s biggest charity gathering with a catered dinner and dancing on the beach. As usual, Curt is the chairman for the gala, and this year, he has a new second-in-command, Brandi. Sue didn’t give it a second thought, until Curt suddenly dropped the fifteen pounds he’d been whining about wanting to lose and a few well meaning friends started asking her what was going on. Meanwhile, Kristen’s boyfriend, Tyler is dealing with a devastating loss and Kristen wants to be there for him, but isn’t sure how best to support him, especially when she discovers a secret he’s been keeping, one that could have devastating consequences for both of them.
Abby is busy learning how to be a new mother, and Lisa is madly in love with her first grandchild. And Chase and Beth have discovered a new passion project – flipping houses. Beth does the research to find the undervalued homes and Chase works his magic to renovate them. But then they get in over their heads when a project requires more than they could ever have imagined.
Mia Maxwell used to have her dream job. She is a sought after wedding planner on Nantucket, with no shortage of business. But she is struggling a bit to get back to loving her job. It has been bittersweet to plan other people’s weddings – ever since her own fiance died two weeks before their wedding.
That was a year ago and she was just starting to feel better, when she came back from a vacation to find her house burned down. So she will be staying with Lisa at the Beach Plum Cove Inn for a while, until her house is renovated. Mia’s also worried about her younger sister and best friend Izzy – she has a serious boyfriend who has grown more controlling over the past year. As it turns out, there are several member of the Hodges family that may be in need of Mia’s services – she’ll be planning not one but two weddings. There are a few road bumps along the way however.
Lisa has another long-term guest that she eagerly introduces to Mia. She finds this temporary neighbor equally intriguing and frustrating and she makes it clear that she’s not even close to ready to date. She’s not sure if she ever will be.
Izzy’s life is about to change soon in the biggest way possible. She is excited and nervous and torn about whether or not to give her ex, Rick Savage, another chance. Rick has tried to be a better man. He’s gone through anger management classes and really seems to be making an effort. But is that enough? Does she owe it to him, to them, to try one more time? Or is it okay for her to move on and possibly even consider a future with someone else? Not that she is looking to do that, but there is someone else who she has known as a friend for a long time.
He’s a very good friend, and at times, she wonders if there could be something more there. But, she has bigger things to consider first. Someone other than herself, and it’s all new to her. But, her sister Mia is there to help. Izzy is now living with Mia since her condo was renovated. And Mia has a promising new romance. And there’s a lot going on with the Hodges family, too. Kate has a very big announcement, and Lisa learns that she has been violating a major rule for her bed and breakfast. So, changes are coming….
Charleston native, Taylor Abbott, has just relocated to Nantucket for her dream job as a junior news reporter at the local paper. Ten years ago she was Abby Hodges’ college roommate and is looking forward to living near her best friend again. Until her rental cottage is available, she’s going to stay at the Beach Plum Cove Inn, Abby’s mother’s bed and breakfast.
Abby, meanwhile, is dealing with an issue she thought she’d resolved. Rhett discovers someone that works for him is a thief and tries to figure out who it is. Rumor is, there’s a celebrity or two on the island, and the media (including Taylor’s coworker, Victoria), is in hot pursuit to track them down.
It’s Fall on Nantucket—and change is in the air! There’s a new arrival to the island. Kay Johnson, a widow, was a friend of Lisa’s mother and is like an aunt to Lisa. Kay is excited to relax and enjoy Nantucket—she’s already signed up for a Needlepoint class. She’s not at all looking for romance, but she is happy to make a new friend in neighbor Walter Sturgess, a widower.
When the story begins, Walter’s son Travis, CEO of a tech company he founded in Silicon Valley, and his four-year-old daughter, Sophie, are living with Walter until Travis’s new home is ready for them to move in. That new home is being built by Chase Hodges, Lisa’s son, and is located on the ocean, next to the home where Victoria grew up—and is now living temporarily with her parents, since she and Sean—her long-term boyfriend and fiancé, broke up.
When she sees Travis for the first time in many years, Victoria realizes he is in a similar place, since his divorce. She didn’t even recognize Travis at first. He had to remind her that they’d once dated in high school, before she dumped him for Sean, the star quarterback. Travis is all grown-up now, but even if she was interested in dating, Victoria has never been anxious to have children, let alone take on someone else’s.
Lauren is up for the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the lead producer for a new reality show set in Nantucket. Nantucket Influence will follow a group of young influencers as they spend the summer at a gorgeous waterfront home. It is a concept that Lauren has worked on successfully before and the job is hers—as long as she doesn’t mind that one of the influencers is Billy—the ex that she caught cheating on her. Does she really want to spend the summer working with him every day? This is her first chance to run a show, though, and she can’t pass it up.
Hudson, runs a Nantucket based production company, with famous actress and new Nantucket resident, Cami Carmichael. Hudson is good friends with Billy, but Lauren finds herself drawn to him. But she knows they shouldn’t be more than friends since they are working together—and since Lauren will be heading back to LA when filming ends.
Meanwhile Angela is thrilled to see her college friend Lauren and has some exciting news to share. And Lisa discovers that her nemesis, Violet, who runs a competing inn is ready to declare herself as the top lobster quiche maker on the island. But not if Lisa has anything to say about it—she signs up for the local food festival as well and will let the people decide who makes the best quiche.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
Nantucket Beach Plum Cove (9 book series) by Pamela M. Kelley.Audible Audiobook Edition. 2019-2024.
Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.
Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.
Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.
As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.
“Cleverly riffing on “You’ve Got Mail” and “The Little Shop around the Corner”, Brady, the pseudonym for Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey, fashions another fun, flirty, and fiercely romantic love story about a literary-fiction reader and a romance devotee falling in love. This also serves as a beautifully written paean to the magic of bookstores, the power of romance novels, and the joy of reading.” —Booklist (STARRED)
This is a sweet, spicy, and utterly bookish rom-com that gives strong You’ve Got Mail vibes—in the best possible way. When Josie, the manager of a serious literature-focused bookstore, and Ryan, the charming owner of a romance-only bookshop, find themselves competing for the same promotion, sparks fly. Their boss decides to merge their stores, forcing these polar opposites into a rivalry that soon evolves into something much more complicated—and much hotter.
One of my favorite parts of the story is the anonymous forum friendship subplot. Having a secret online confidante to vent about work chaos, especially when your new boss pits you against your rival, adds such a fun twist—and even more tension when identities start to come into focus. At first, I thought the setup was a little far-fetched, but Brady makes it all work with surprising finesse. The story develops with heart, humor, and a deep love for books. The inclusion of real authors, bookish references, review culture, and spicy risqué book nights makes the setting feel rich and fun.
Ryan and Josie both carry emotional weight from their pasts, and their relationship progresses in a believable, rewarding way—from reluctant co-workers to reluctant allies to something deeper. I appreciated how their connection grows through shared work challenges and a mutual passion for reading. Ryan, in particular, is adorable, emotionally in-tune, romance-obsessed, and definitely written to make readers swoon.
While I had a bit of a rocky start getting used to the writing style, the story eventually found its rhythm. Readers less familiar with bookish acronyms might feel a little lost at times, but overall, the pacing and flow work well.
This is a fun, slow-burn, opposites-attract, “he falls first” romance that celebrates books, bookstores, and the people who love them. It’s both sweet and a little steamy, with enough charm to satisfy fans of both romance and women’s fiction.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES by Ali Brady.Berkley (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593640845. 432p.
The Hilarious New Grumpy/Sunshine, Friends-to-Lovers Romantic Comedy―and your New Favorite Summer Romcom
In this delightfully charming and heartfelt debut love story, two lonely and wildly different strangers embark on a short-term friendship over one London summer—only to discover they may be something more by the time the season ends.
No one would ever call Ava Monroe a people person, which isn’t ideal for a barista in a busy London coffee shop. She’s sarcastic, blunt, and cynical, and her relationships are strictly no strings attached. With her best friend Josie soon leaving for a year, Ava knows she’ll be all alone unless she shakes up her routine. But she can’t risk bringing chance back into her carefully controlled life.
Then insufferably cheerful, country-hopping, undeniably gorgeous Finn O’Callaghan rolls into her coffee shop with a horrifying proposal —a strictly friends-only summer fling. Finn needs a local to help him complete his London bucket list, and Ava needs to reassure Josie she won’t be on her own. And it’s only for a few months.
To Ava’s surprise, their mismatched friendship of convenience becomes oddly tolerable, and as they work their way through Finn’s list and around the sun-drenched city, from rooftops and floating bars to nights at the museum, their adventures—and Finn’s company—start to feel . . . nice. Incredibly, terrifyingly, dangerously nice.
Still, rules are rules—Ava has good reasons for them—and as the days get shorter, Finn’s departure gets closer. Because that’s the thing about summer: it always ends. Right?
This debut had a surprising twist in the grumpy/sunshine ouvre – she’s the grump, and he is pure sunshine. Ava works as a barista in a London coffeeshop. She hates her job, but it is also perfect for her; she likes the routine but hates dealing with the customers, and she’s none too subtle about it. Her best friend and roommate, Josie, is concerned about Ava because she has no social life other than her one-night stands. Josie wants Ava to make some friends, and when she pushes her, Ava tells her that Finn is her new friend.
Finn works across the street from the coffee shop, but lingers in the store on the regular. He is in London for the summer, then he’s off to parts unknown. Finn has traveled the world, and starts getting antsy when he’s in one place for too long. In every new city he visits, he creates a bucket list of touristy things to do and see, and his London list is extensive. When cornered about being Ava’s new friend, he agrees to deceive Josie but insists that Ava help him with his London bucket list. And a friendship begins.
As Ava and Finn experience what London has to offer, feelings begin to grow. Ava is determined to quash those feelings and continues with her dating app one-night stands until it just stops working for her. But Finn has a deadline – he has applied to work for the same company his father works for, in San Francisco. He has a complicated relationship with his parents, but he figures his father will be impressed with the new job and will want to spend time with him, something he has felt sorely lacking in his life.
But nothing goes as planned for Ava or for Finn. Complicated doesn’t begin to cover the baggage they are both carrying, but their friendship is real and deep. There is a lot of humor here, and their banter is fabulous. I couldn’t help but root for them to find their happy ending, and for Finn especially to learn how to deal with his family and their fraught relationship. Nothing makes me happier than finding a new author. This was a terrific debut, and I’m looking forward to reading whatever Stone comes up with next.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE FRIENDSHIP FLING by Georgia Stone.Harper Perennial (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063434790. 384p.
A thoroughly uplifting novel about a neurodivergent young man who unexpectedly builds a community and saves a friend in need by following—in a way only he can—his mother’s words of wisdom.
Joe-Nathan likes the two parts of his name separate, just like dinner and dessert. Mean Charlie at work sometimes calls him Joe-Nuthin. But Joe is far from nothing. Joe is a good friend, good at his job, good at making things and at following rules, and he is learning how to do lots of things by himself.
Joe’s mother knows there are a million things he isn’t yet prepared for. While she helps to guide him every day, she is also writing notebooks of advice for Joe, of all the things she hasn’t yet told him about life and things he might forget.
By following her advice, Joe’s life is about to be more of a surprise than he expects. Because he’s about to learn that remarkable things can happen when you leave your comfort zone, and that you can do even the hardest things with a little help from your friends.
“Fisher portrays Joe with tenderness and grace, highlighting his genuine challenges, frustrations, and sparks of joy… Fisher’s latest is an utter delight.” ― Booklist
Joe-Nathan Clarke is a 23-year-old neurodivergent man who lives with his mother. He has a job at The Compass Store, stocking shelves. He’s been there for five years and has made some friends among the staff. Joe-Nathan also has OCD, and he has crafted routines that allow him to navigate both work and home life successfully. His mother, Janet, is an older mom, and he has lost his father. Janet emerges as a thoughtful guide, creating a detailed notebook filled with practical advice to prepare him for eventual independence, with things like recipes, how to light the gas stove, basic home repairs, etc. He refers to the blue notebook regularly, and later on, finds another notebook filled with more esoteric advice.
While he has built meaningful relationships with most colleagues, some still mock him—particularly “Mean Charlie,” who dubbed him “Joe-Nuthin.” Janet has always told Joe-Nathan that he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, and he desperately wants Charlie to see that. Despite warnings from others who have written Charlie off as irredeemable, Joe-Nathan remains determined to befriend this sullen coworker, setting himself on a dangerous path that threatens more than just his own well-being.
Told primarily through Joe-Nathan’s perspective, the narrative reveals a refreshingly simple logic to his thinking that feels both endearing and hopeful. Unlike most people who develop protective cynicism through life’s challenges, Joe-Nathan approaches the world without layers of defensive armor. This openness proves both refreshing and occasionally unwise in difficult situations.
The characterization of Joe-Nathan impressed me most, as his voice maintains dignity without falling into parody. The author skillfully distinguishes secondary characters through their unique voices, demonstrating exceptional storytelling abilities that bring each person to life authentically.
This charming story exceeded my expectations by delivering something profound yet accessible. While those around Joe-Nathan work diligently to prepare him for adult realities, he becomes the one teaching life lessons to everyone in his orbit. He takes their guidance seriously but isn’t afraid to challenge their perceptions when they conflict with his own moral compass.
By refusing to abandon Charlie, Joe-Nathan forces others to confront their hardened assumptions and discover hidden depths in someone they had dismissed. The result is a beautiful message delivered through a young man who defies conventional definitions of “normal” and proves that wisdom often comes from the most unexpected sources.
This book was unputdownable. I loved these characters and didn’t want to leave them. This is sure to make my best books of the year list – don’t miss it!
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
JOE NUTHIN’S GUIDE TO LIFE by Helen Fisher.Gallery Books (May 28, 2024). ISBN: 978-1982142704. 416p.
Since then, Tweetie Sorenson has embraced the professional hockey player bachelor lifestyle—his social media is a highlight reel of clubs, friends, and a never-ending stream of different women.
It’s hard to believe he’s the same man who stole my heart the very night we met. With him, everything felt wild, spontaneous, and absolutely perfect. I thought he was my forever.
Then, he broke my heart. Or maybe we broke each other’s. Either way, it was over.
I’ve moved on—new city, dream job—until my boss throws me back into Tweetie’s world. I’m sent to Chicago to manage the Falcons’ social media, which means working alongside the one man I never truly let go of. FML.
Tedi has finally landed her dream job as the social media manager for the National Hockey League in New York City, but when the Chicago team starts complaining about their social media presence, Tedi is sent there to fix it. The problem? The love of her life, Tweetie Sorensen, is playing for Chicago—and she hasn’t seen him since their breakup.
The story fills in their backstory through journal entries, which I found a bit odd. I think flashbacks would have worked better and felt more natural. From what I gathered by the end of the book, their original breakup happened when Tweetie was traded to Nashville, and Tedi refused to give up her career to follow him. Now, though, he’s in Chicago, playing the best hockey of his career.
To cope with the awkwardness of seeing Tweetie again, Tedi ropes her brother’s best friend, Decker—a pro baseball player for a Chicago team—into pretending to be her boyfriend. She basically blackmails him into it, which felt like a clunky plot device to me. Meanwhile, she does an impressive job revamping the team’s socials… until the team manager accuses her of making Tweetie look too good. His bizarre plan is to cut Tweetie from the team right after he helps them win the Stanley Cup. Honestly, this made no sense to me. I mean, I’ve seen teams pull shady moves like that before (looking at you, Florida Marlins, who sold off two World Series championship teams!), but it still felt forced.
As expected, Tedi and Tweetie’s feelings for each other are still intense, and seeing her with Decker drives Tweetie crazy. They eventually find their way back to each other, but it looks like they’re headed for the same obstacles as before—until Tedi finally decides that her happily ever after has to include Tweetie, even if it means sacrificing her career.
I enjoyed listening to this one, but it was definitely my least favorite book in the series. That said, I’m glad I read it for the closure—and because it introduces Decker, who’s set to be the main character in a new spinoff series, The Chicago Colts. The narrators were excellent, and I really enjoyed the full-cast performance.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MR. CHARMING by Piper Rayne.Narrators: Troy Duran, Christine Lakin, Sean Masters, JF Harding, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom. Piper Rayne Inc.: April 18, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 54 minutes.
Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a delightfully moving new novel about a mother-daughter duo learning to lean on their community of women—and each other—after their world is turned upside down.
When Charlotte Sitterly’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI and—what’s potentially even worse—thrust into the spotlight of @JuniperShoresSocialite, the town’s snarky anonymous Instagram account. Cut off from her bank accounts and feeling desperate, Charlotte takes up an acquaintance’s offer to stay at a beachfront former bed-and-breakfast that’s home to a community of single mothers and draws plenty of gossip in the small coastal North Carolina town.
Charlotte and Iris find solace and are surprised by how much fun they’re having with the other families despite their circumstances. But when the women discover a secret link between them, it changes everything they thought they knew about the unconventional family they’ve created and leaves them wondering whether their coming together was a coincidence at all. Will the skeletons in the mommune closets help Charlotte and Iris reclaim their place in the Juniper Shores community—or shatter the sisterhood forever?
“Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Jennifer Weiner” (Country Living), Beach House Rulesis a charming exploration of the joy of friendship, the true meaning of family, and reclaiming the power to reshape our own destiny.
“Charming and beachy in the best way, Beach House Rules will appeal to those looking for an escape with emotional depth.” ― –Booklist, starred review
Charlotte Sitterly’s comfortable existence in the affluent beachfront town of Juniper Shores, North Carolina, crumbles overnight when her husband Bill is arrested for securities fraud. She and her fourteen-year-old daughter Iris suddenly find themselves homeless and nearly penniless, with their assets seized and bank accounts frozen. In a tight-knit community where news travels fast—amplified by both a persistent journalist and an anonymous gossip Instagram account—everyone knows their business.
When Charlotte discovers she can’t even withdraw money from her account, an unlikely savior appears. Alice Bailey, overhearing Charlotte’s predicament at the bank, extends an invitation to join her unconventional household. Alice owns a former beachfront bed-and-breakfast that she’s transformed into a “mommune”—a shared living space for single mothers and their children. Despite Alice’s whispered reputation as the town’s “Black Widow” (she’s buried three husbands), Charlotte accepts the offer out of desperation.
What Charlotte finds at the mommune is far from what she expected. Living alongside two other displaced mothers and their children, she must navigate new house rules, unfamiliar dynamics, and her own wounded pride. The concept of the mommune really works—these women create a functioning family unit despite their individual struggles, insecurities, and complicated pasts.
As Charlotte adjusts to her new reality, she becomes entangled in a web of small-town gossip, shifting loyalties, and questions about public perception versus private truth. The mystery surrounding Bill’s guilt or innocence adds layers of intrigue, while Charlotte grapples with themes of trust, reputation, and identity. Through moments of both heartbreak and surprising humor—including snarky commentary from the anonymous “Juniper Shores Socialite”—she discovers that friendship, family, and loyalty can emerge from the most unexpected places.
This story explores the delicate balance between judgment and compassion, reminding readers not to rush to conclusions while examining how people rebuild their lives after everything falls apart. Romance and mystery weave through the narrative, but at its heart, this is a tale about women supporting women through life’s most challenging moments. Don’t miss it.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
BEACH HOUSE RULES by Kristy Woodson Harvey.Gallery Books (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-1668074800. 368p.
From the USA Today bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script, a novel about a former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.
Love is a lie. Laughter is the only truth.
Jane Jackson spent her adolescence as “Poor Janey Jakes,” the barbecue-sauce-in-her-braces punch line on America’s fifth-favorite sitcom. Now she’s trying to be taken seriously as a Hollywood studio executive by embracing a new mantra: Fake it till you make it.
Except she might have faked it too far. Desperate to get her first project greenlit and riled up by pompous cinematographer and one-time crush Dan Finnegan, she claimed that she could get mega popstar Jack Quinlan to write a song for the movie. Jack may have been her first kiss—and greatest source of shame—but she hasn’t spoken to him in twenty years.
Now Jane must turn to the last man she’d ever want to owe: Dan Finnegan. Because Jack is playing a festival in Dan’s hometown, and Dan has an in. A week in close quarters with Dan as she faces down her past is Jane’s idea of hell, but he just might surprise her. While covering up her lie, can they find something true?
“[A] bingeable beachy contemporary . . . Monaghan mines a lot of joy out of [a] close-knit family dynamic and the scenic coastal setting, while creating a heroine readers will root for. This is an addictive romp.” —Publishers Weekly (starred)
“[T]here is satisfying depth to the story . . . Monaghan writes another charming rom-com, this time with enemies-to-lovers and forced-proximity tropes. Monaghan fans will not be disappointed.” —Library Journal
A People Romance Book to Read After Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry A Woman’s World New Book from a Bestselling Romance Author A New York Post Most Anticipated Book of the Year A BookBub Most Anticipated Book of the Year A Zibby Owens Most Anticipated Book of the Year A Brit & Co. Most Anticipated Summer Read A GoodReads New Romance Book to Heat Up Summer
Monaghan delivers another heartwarming romance, this time centered on a relatable woman in her thirties navigating a world that doesn’t always play fair. Jane Jackson, once a child star, grew up in front of the camera as the comedic sidekick on the wildly popular sitcom Pop Rocks. She played Janey Jakes, the quirky keyboardist in a teen band known for her signature “Oof” face whenever things went wrong—always good for a laugh.
Now in her thirties, Jane works behind the scenes as a Creative Executive at Clearwater Studios. She’s found what she believes is the perfect script: a tender love story titled True Story. But her enthusiasm isn’t shared by the studio—or by Dan Finnegan, the arrogant but talented cinematographer—who both believe the project isn’t commercial enough.
Determined to get her first project greenlit, Jane makes a bold claim: she says she can secure an original song from Jack Quinlan, today’s hottest pop star. Jane and Jack once performed a duet on Pop Rocks, though neither received credit due to NDAs. The show’s stars lip-synced their vocals, leaving Jane and Jack’s real contributions behind the scenes. Jack was also Jane’s first kiss, though they haven’t spoken in years.
After failing to reach Jack through social media, Dan suggests another route: Jack is set to perform at a music festival in Dan’s hometown on Long Island, where one of Dan’s brothers is involved with the event. Jane agrees to travel to New York and stay with Dan’s family in hopes of making her pitch to Jack in person.
While searching for Jack, Jane finds herself drawn into the warmth and chaos of Dan’s large family, who have gathered to celebrate their parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. Whether or not she gets the song, Jane’s time on Long Island—and her growing connection with Dan—will change her life in ways she never expected.
Monaghan’s stories always shine with lovable characters and a healthy dose of humor, and this one is no exception. This charming romance had me rooting for the characters from the start, and the Long Island setting felt like a sweet trip home—even though I haven’t lived there since the 1970s! Monaghan has become one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend all of her books!
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
IT’S A LOVE STORY by Annabel Monaghan.G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593714102. 368p.
From New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde comes her newest story about three generations of women, an island with an air of mystery and magic, and one summer that changes everything—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.
In the Gulf of Mexico, near South Padre, sits a private island with a bit of a magic about it: the colors are brighter, the food tastes better, and turtles and cranes find sanctuary there. The billionaire heiress who built the thriving resort on Hobby Island exclusively for crafters, Eloisa Hobby, is as much a mystery as she is a mentor. Those with troubles are invited in the aftermath of an emotional turmoil, and with help from the other crafters on the island Eloisa acts as a sounding board while she gently and unobtrusively guides the visitors toward healthy resolutions in their lives. Only a few receive the honor of a golden ticket.
Luna, ever the pragmatist, is reeling in the wake of tragedy: she’s just moved with her fierce, opinionated teenage daughter Artemis to her mother’s house, after they lost their husband and father. But her mother, Jeanie, artistic and sensitive, has faced her own troubles recently, and her home may not be the stable sanctuary the three women so desperately need.
When Jeanie receives one of the coveted tickets, inviting her and her family to Hobby Island, the blessing is one they can’t turn down, though both Luna and Artie remain skeptical of their eccentric host and benefactor. Together, the three of them will have to learn to trust one another again, accept help from those who love them, and embrace life—during a summer they’ll never forget.
“Fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery will relish the complex family relationships Wilde creates.” — Booklist
Jeanie wins a golden ticket to Hobby Island—a two-month, all-expenses-paid getaway. Wanting to share the joy, she invites her daughter Luna and granddaughter Artie to join her. The timing couldn’t be better: the entire family has been through a rough patch. Luna is grieving the tragic murder of her husband, only to discover he had secretly gambled away everything they owned. Forced to leave their home, she and Artie have moved in with Jeanie. Meanwhile, young Artie is struggling with the loss of her father, and Jeanie herself is reeling after falling victim to a scam that’s left her on the brink of losing her house. Added bonus: there is a quilt competition on the island, and the prize is substantial.
Everyone is carrying emotional baggage, but that’s what Hobby Island is for—a place to heal, reconnect, and rediscover joy. Over the course of their stay, the three women must confront their pasts and embrace change in order to emerge stronger. Along the way, new friendships are formed, and even romance—new or rekindled—might be on the horizon.
This heartwarming story follows three generations of women as they navigate personal challenges, family dynamics, and emotional growth. I appreciated how the book wove together themes of forgiveness, coming of age, and second chances. The layered character arcs, combined with a compelling mystery subplot and a touch of second-chance romance, kept the narrative engaging and heartfelt.
Whimsical and dreamy, this is a beautiful tale of self-discovery, community, and learning to let go of what no longer brings joy. If you’re in the mood for something cozy and uplifting, with relatable characters and a soothing, picturesque setting, this story delivers a moving journey of love, healing, and hope.
Just a personal side note: Hobby Island gets its name from the woman who owns it, but also because every type of craft is available here. I am not the least bit crafty; a visit to Michaels make me feel very uncomfortable! But I do appreciate those with the talent and patience to enjoy crafts. My mother-in-law was incredibly crafty – she knitted, crocheted, did macrame, quilting, shell art, needlepoint, sewing (she made my sister-in-law’s wedding gown and all the bridesmaid dresses!) She was amazing and so talented – and also a great cook. She taught my daughter some, but I was hopeless. I just don’t have the patience for it. If you are someone who enjoys crafting, that should be another level of enjoyment here for you in this book.
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE SUMMER THAT SHAPED US by Lori Wilde.Avon (April 22, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063352155. 352p.
The HIGHLY ANTICIPATED adult debut novel from #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING author Renée Ahdieh
Jia Song has always been destined for greatness. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, she promised herself that she would have every Fifth Avenue luxury when she grew up, and it is all finally within reach. She has just made junior partner at her prestigious Manhattan law firm, she can count on her two best friends to have her back, and she is about to score the ultraluxe gold-on-gold Birkin bag of her dreams. So when her boss asks her to sit in on the hush-hush family implosion of a high-level client, she accepts without hesitation―only to find out that it is one of the most famous Korean families in the world.
The Park family’s net worth is estimated at a billion dollars, and their megasuccessful Korean beauty brand has shaped the culture for the past two decades. But the patriarch is filing for divorce while his wife is dying, and their three children can’t stop snapping at one another. With both the family fortune and legacy under threat from the worst kind of scandal, it’s up to Jia to set things right―and she only has a month to do it.
As Jia sorts through the lies and subterfuge, chasing the truth across the globe on private jets, she finds herself falling for this broken, badly-behaving family in ways she can’t quite explain. But it is also becoming clear that the Parks are hiding dark secrets. Can she find the truth in time to protect the Parks’ fortune and secure her success at the firm? And can she hold on to what’s most important, even if it means admitting that what she’s always wanted isn’t what she actually needs?
Ahdieh’s debut adult novel is an enthralling narrative that explores the themes of ambition, family loyalty, and cultural identity. Jia Song, a driven Korean-American lawyer, is the daughter of immigrants who own a bodega. Jia has a deep-seated sense of familial responsibility to achieve success, so when her boss assigns her to a high-profile client – the Park family, owners of a billion-dollar Korean beauty brand, she seizes the opportunity. The family is embroiled in a complex situation: the matriarch is dying, while her husband has abandoned her for a much younger woman. He offers a small divorce settlement, prompting outrage from his three adult children, who don’t agree on anything except this: they know he is concealing assets. Jia is tasked with sorting through the family drama, finding the missing money, and forcing a more equitable divorce settlement. But the Park family and staff are all hiding secrets, and as Jia navigates this intricate web of family dynamics, legal complexities, and hidden agendas, her findings culminate in a shocking ending.
VERDICT A dysfunctional family set against an opulent backdrop makes for an entertaining escape and should appeal to readers who enjoy Min Jin Lee, Jean Kwok, or Jhumpa Lahiri.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
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