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Spotlight Review: THE PECULIAR GIFT OF JULY by Ashley Ream

July 4, 2025

From the publisher:

With a dash of magic and a cast of oddball, small-town characters, this feel-good novel explores forgiveness, family, and the sense of humor it takes to live with the ones we love the most.

Ebey’s End is a small town on an island off the Pacific coast, reachable only by ferry (assuming the gods are with you and it’s not a Tuesday). It’s a comfortable, familiar (but okay, fine, sometimes lonely) life for its resident grocer Anita Odom. That is, until fourteen-year-old July shows up on her doorstep.

Taking in the recently orphaned daughter of an estranged cousin had not been on Anita’s to-do list. In fact, it’s a terrible idea. Anita is ill-suited, ill-prepared, and absolutely certain the entire enterprise will end in disaster—for both of them.

From the moment she arrives, July seems to “know” what each customer at the Island Grocery needs. They’re small things: a housekeeping magazine slipped into old Mr. Daly’s basket or a coconut cream pie pressed into the hands of Pastor Chet. But one by one, these gifts start to change the lives of nearly everyone in town in ways much larger than they—or July—could have imagined.

It’s not long before secrets are exposed and questions emerge, and everyone in Ebey’s End has to open their hearts a little wider to make room for it all.
https://amzn.to/4j5KK0s

Ream (Before We Were Innocent) pens an engaging family tale tinged with magical realism. Set on Ebey’s End, a fictional small island off the coast of Washington State, it is home to quirky characters who love to gossip. Anita, the never-married owner of a local grocery store, becomes the unexpected guardian to July, a 14-year-old orphaned relative she never knew about. Anita is extremely observant; she parses out her customers’ lives based on how they shop and what they buy. July helps out in the store after school, and Anita quickly realizes that July has a remarkable gift: an intuition for providing customers with ordinary items, like magazines or pies, that somehow transform their lives. On her first day of school, July meets Malcolm, the pastor’s introverted son, and they form a friendship that helps her adjust to her new life on the island. July’s search for her birth mother leads her to take a DNA test with unexpected results and leads to a beautiful ending, while the undercurrent of humor lends lightness to the story.

VERDICT This poignant novel with fantastical elements should appeal to readers and book groups who enjoy Maria Semple, Anne Tyler, or Rachel Linden.

This is sure to make my best books of the year list. Don’t miss it!

©Library Journal, 2025

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PECULIAR GIFT OF JULY by Ashley Ream. Dutton (July 1, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593853726. 416p.

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Spotlight Review: CRUEL SUMMER by Maisey Yates

June 24, 2025

From the publisher:

A Contemporary Opposites Attract, Forced Proximity Romance of a Life-Changing Road Trip

There are no rules this cruel summer…

Samantha Parker has the perfect life—a loving husband, three wonderful kids and a comfortable suburban lifestyle. But on the brink of their long-awaited empty-nest chapter, Will asks Samantha for something she never dreamed of: an open marriage. Desperate to keep her husband happy, Samantha proposes a summerlong separation with no contact. She knows she has to use the opportunity to find herself, but she also has no interest in being with anyone but Will. She’s confident when the season is over, they’ll get back together like this time never happened.

Then Sam gets an adventurous offer from Will’s best friend, Logan Martin, a classic-car restorer. Logan and Sam haven’t had an easy relationship, but prickly Logan needs help driving across North America making deliveries. Among the winding roads and breathtaking backdrops, everything Sam thought about life is challenged—even her new connection with Logan.

But when summer closes, Sam has to decide: Will she go home to the familiar stability of her past…or choose the thrilling uncertainty of her future?
https://amzn.to/4j5KK0s

Samantha and Will were married young, high school sweethearts who found themselves expecting a baby before they even graduated. What started as teenage love endured for twenty years, through three children and a looming empty nest. Will had built a successful real estate business, and Sam created a successful work-from-home journalism career. Sam believed they were both happy with their life together. She was wrong.

When Will announces he wants an open marriage, Sam’s world crumbles. He confesses that he feels cheated out of the dating and sexual exploration that typically happens in one’s twenties, and he wants to experience that freedom now. Devastated but determined to maintain some control, Sam establishes firm boundaries: they will separate for the summer, neither will stay in their family home, and there will be no contact until fall. With their children already settled into summer plans, the stage is set for a season of reckoning.

Will leaves, and Sam is surprised to find Will’s best friend, Logan, at her door. Initially, she resents him—Logan lost his wife years ago and has been cycling through casual relationships ever since. In Sam’s mind, his lifestyle influenced Will’s sudden desire for an open marriage. But Logan surprises her by expressing his anger at Will’s decision.

Logan offers Sam an escape: a summer job helping him deliver restored classic cars across the country. His daughter usually accompanies him on these trips, but she’s staying at college for the summer. With nowhere else to turn, Sam accepts, despite their historically prickly relationship. After all, Logan is Will’s friend, not hers. She clings to the hope that once Will experiences his newfound freedom, he’ll realize what he’s lost and want her back. The question that haunts her is whether she will be able to take him back after knowing he’s been with other women.

As their road trip unfolds, Logan challenges Sam to examine her life with brutal honesty. Her world has been shattered, and she’s not even sure what to think about the pieces. Through Logan’s unwavering support and his insistence on complete transparency, Sam begins a transformative summer of personal growth.

But honesty works both ways. When Logan admits he’s harbored feelings for her since high school, everything shifts. Sam has always found him attractive—there was even a charged moment during a family vacation years earlier when she almost kissed him. But her commitment to her marriage vows held her back, and she deliberately maintained distance from Logan. Until now.

As Sam reflects on her past, patterns emerge. Logan has been present for her most difficult moments—her mother’s death from cancer, her decision to undergo preventative surgery—while Will was notably absent. On this road trip, she realizes she’s never been as authentic with Will as she is with Logan. Part of this stems from her upbringing in their small, Christian community, where her mother taught her to prioritize everyone else’s needs above her own—a lesson that has served her poorly.

This story resonated deeply with me. I experienced my own midlife crisis of sorts when I was around Sam’s age. While my situation differed—my husband was stalwart—I discovered important truths about myself when I took a part-time job at a bookstore after my daughter started kindergarten. I had been a stay-at-home mom for twelve years, so this was a major life change. I loved the work and realized I hadn’t been as fulfilled as I’d believed. My husband’s support throughout my journey of self-discovery actually strengthened our marriage, making us fall more deeply in love with one another. Sam’s path to her own happily ever after felt familiar and genuine. In fact, Sam writes a book about her experience, and this quote hit home:

Indeed.

I’ve enjoyed several of Yates’s previous novels, but this one struck a particularly personal chord. While it was emotionally challenging at times, I found it deeply satisfying. The story captures the complexity of marriage, friendship, and self-discovery with remarkable honesty. I loved it.

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CRUEL SUMMER by Maisey Yates. Canary Street Press (June 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335471451. 320p.

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Spotlight Review: MURDER TAKES A VACATION by Laura Lippman

June 17, 2025

From the publisher:

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
https://amzn.to/3SH5DnA

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.

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THE FRIENDSHIP FLING by Georgia Stone

June 13, 2025

From the publisher:

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?
https://amzn.to/3F3l7ih

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.

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Spotlight Review: JOE NUTHIN’S GUIDE TO LIFE by Helen Fisher

June 10, 2025

From the publisher:

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
https://amzn.to/4j5KK0s

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.

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Spotlight Review: PARK AVENUE by Renée Ahdieh

June 3, 2025

From the publisher:

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?
https://amzn.to/3F3l7ih

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.

©Library Journal, 2025

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PARK AVENUE by Renée Ahdieh. Flatiron Books (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 978-1250897954. 320p.

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Spotlight Review: WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK? by Sara Hamdan

May 27, 2025

From the publisher:

Mia’s secret comedy career, forbidden office crush, and a long-guarded family secret take center stage, threatening her newfound confidence and her one shot at fame in this hilarious, heartfelt coming-of-age story perfect for fans of Curtis Sittenfeld and Etaf Rum.

Mia Almas has a secret. By day, she works at a respectable job as a media fact checker―a position her conservative, Arab grandparents approve of―and, by night, she takes to the stages of New York City comedy clubs. She holds herself back in a lot of ways, especially in the romance department, but being on stage lights her up and makes being a wallflower the rest of the time more bearable. That is, until Phaedra, her stylish and bold new neighbor, inspires Mia to take a few risks.

As Mia pursues a forbidden romance with her boss, her standup gets better and bolder, leading to a surprise spotlight that exposes her secret gig. Horrified and worried that her rebellious act could mean big consequences for her reserved Palestinian-American family, Mia frantically dives into damage control. But all of her efforts to pull back from the spotlight expose a family scandal from the 1940s that could change everything…

Equal parts funny and tender, What Will People Think? is a heart-bursting exploration of what it means to discover and embrace the hidden parts of yourself, and how love in all forms can make you whole.
https://amzn.to/3OiELYI

This beautifully written debut novel tackles some serious issues like immigration, bigotry, and cultural identity, using standup comedy as the frame. Mia is a second-generation Palestinian-American and has lived with her very traditional grandparents since she lost her parents. She shared a love of standup comedy with her father and has been working on her own comedy act in secret, not wanting to disappoint her grandparents. Her heritage is great fodder for her comedy, but it’s her day job as a magazine fact checker that helps pay the bills. She has had a crush on her boss since he hired her, and when a reporting job opens up, he urges her to submit something. Instead, her best friend submits a piece about Mia’s standup, along with some video, and it goes viral. Mia’s grandparents are in the US illegally, and she is terrified that her success may lead to their deportation. When a new Arab neighbor moves into their building, she mentions knowing a family with the same last name that owned some very successful jewelry stores in Dubai. Mia’s grandmother refuses to talk about her family and ends up giving Mia a journal to read to gain some insight. The journal creates a second storyline that starts in the 1940s in Palestine, and both stories are woven together until all the family secrets are revealed.

Verdict: This compelling read should make for an interesting discussion, like James McBride’s The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store or Evil Eye by Etaf Rum.

©Library Journal, 2025

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK? by Sara Hamdan. Henry Holt and Co. (May 20, 2025). ISBN: 978-1250329813. 336p.

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THE INFLUENCERS by Anna-Marie McLemore

April 18, 2025

From the publisher:

A social media influencer’s empire is burned to the ground—literally. The top suspects? The five daughters who made her famous.

What do you really know about the people you’ve made famous?

“Mother May I” Iverson has spent the past twenty-five years building a massively successful influencer empire with endearing videos featuring her five mixed-race daughters. But the girls are all grown up now, and the ramifications of having their entire childhoods commodified start to spill over into public view, especially in light of the pivotal question: Who killed May’s newlywed husband and then torched her mansion to cover it up?

April is a businesswoman feuding with her mother over intellectual property; twins June and July are influencers themselves, threatening to overtake May’s spotlight; January is a theater tech who steers clear of her mother and the limelight; and the youngest . . . well, March has somehow completely disappeared. As the days pass post-murder, everyone has an opinion—the sisters, May, a mysterious “friend of the family,” and the collective voice of the online audience watching the family’s every move—with suspicion flying every direction.

A campy and escapist exploration of race, gender, sexuality, and class, The Influencers is an evisceration of influencer culture and how alienating traditional expectations can be, ripe for the current moment when the first generation of children made famous by their parents are, now, all grown up—and looking for retribution.
https://amzn.to/4feobEH

Anna-Marie McLemore, an award-winning young adult author (Flawless Girls,) pens The Influencers, their stellar debut novel for adults. May Iverson has been a social media influencer since her five children were babies, and they all grew up on camera. This dysfunctional family lives a life of extreme wealth and privilege, but that doesn’t seem to be enough for May. Her children are of mixed race and decidedly mixed feelings about living their lives in public. All are grown, the youngest has disappeared, and May has remarried. Told through various points of view, including each of the family members and their followers, the story opens with May’s husband found dead and a fire raging through the enormous house. This is a gimlet-eyed look at how social media has infiltrated our culture and society, with the murder mystery as the fulcrum. Everyone is a suspect, everyone has a theory, and May’s life will never be the same again.

Verdict: A compelling read, rather like watching a train wreck. Recommend to fans of the Kardashians and books like Kevin Wilson’s The Family Fang.

4/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE INFLUENCERS by Anna-Marie McLemore. The Dial Press (April 15, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593729175. 448p.

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Spotlight Review: THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner

April 15, 2025

From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, a deeply moving novel set against the glitz and chaos of early 2000s pop stardom. Equal parts heartfelt family saga and behind-the-scenes look at fame, this is a story about sisters, secrets, and the power of second chances.

Cassie and Zoe Grossberg were thrust into the spotlight as The Griffin Sisters, a pop duo that defined the aughts. Together, they skyrocketed to the top, gracing MTV, SNL, and the cover of Rolling Stone. Cassie, a musical genius who never felt at ease in her own skin, preferred to stay in the shadows. Zoe, full of confidence and craving fame, lived for the stage. But fame has a price, and after one turbulent year, the band abruptly broke up.

Now, two decades later, the sisters couldn’t be further apart. Zoe is a suburban mom warning her daughter Cherry to avoid the spotlight, while Cassie has disappeared from public life entirely. But when Cherry begins unearthing the truth behind their breathtaking rise and infamous breakup, long-buried secrets surface, forcing all three women to confront their choices, their desires, and their complicated bonds.

With richly developed characters, a nostalgic nod to the pop culture of the 2000s, and a resonant tale of ambition, forgiveness, and family, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits will captivate readers from the first note to the final encore. Whether you’ve followed Jennifer Weiner for years or are discovering her for the first time, this book is a must-read for music lovers, fans of sisterly dramas, and anyone who cherishes a great story of second chances.

“Weiner is at her best when she’s writing about sisters, and her latest (after The Breakaway, 2023) features a memorable pair. A story about the ways those closest to us can hurt us the most deeply, the destructive power of guilt, and the rough road to forgiveness. This is an irresistible, multigenerational tale from a master of her craft. A compelling family drama [that] fans will gobble up.” — Booklist (starred review)

“Irresistible. [Weiner] breathes new life into the love triangle trope and offers a nuanced view of sisterhood’s complexities. [Her] fans will be delighted.” — Publishers Weekly

“Weiner excels at capturing the complex relationships among sisters, mothers, and daughters, and the novel’s nonlinear structure and multiple viewpoints add both nuance and interest. An excellent addition to the current crop of Y2K pop culture–themed novels; this will satisfy Weiner’s many fans.” — Library Journal

“Weiner deftly explores the pop landscape of the early 2000s. Zoe and Cassie are both realistic and flawed characters, each with their own challenges. There’s a compelling and dramatic love triangle here, too, but the true love story is between two sisters and their music. A heartfelt look at sisterhood, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to follow your dreams.” — Kirkus Reviews

Pre-order now to receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION—only available on the first printing while supplies last! This collector’s hardcover features unique stenciled edges, specially illustrated endpapers, and a shiny stamped case.

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I love Jennifer Weiner! I would read her grocery list should she choose to share it. She has this way of drawing the reader into her stories, her worlds, and it’s just magical.

This is ostensibly a story about two sisters who join a band, reach the pinnacle of success, and have a falling out, each going their own way. But it is about so much more than that.

Cassie is a musical prodigy, born to a lower-middle-class family who just doesn’t know what to do with her. She has the voice of an angel and can play anything on the piano. But she’s also painfully shy, and understands that she is different from everyone else, especially her younger sister. Zoe is the pretty one, the “normal” child, but the sisters are close and Zoe makes sure Cassie is included and berates anyone who offends her.

As they get older, Zoe longs for attention and joins a band despite not having much in the way of musical talent. When the band kicks her out on the eve of a “battle of the bands” competition, she is incensed and wants to get even. She persuades Cassie to join her on stage, and with her piano skills and her unbearably beautiful voice, they win the competition. Someone in the audience that night has a relative in the music business, and the next thing you know, they are signed to a record label and are in the studio. The record label hooks them up with a songwriter/guitarist, Russell, and they form a new band. Russell and Cassie are a perfect match, creating beautiful songs together, but Zoe thinks he’s cute and seduces him. Russell is torn between the beautiful Zoe and the immensely talented Cassie, and they all make some bad decisions along the way.

The band breaks up, and Cassie takes off, leaving her family and her career behind. She goes into hiding in the wilds of Alaska, living the spartan life she feels she deserves. Zoe tries to make a solo career with her music, but eventually ends up married and living the suburban mom life. The two sisters don’t talk for twenty years or more. Zoe’s eldest daughter, Cherry, inherited some musical talent and wants to pursue it as a career, but Zoe is adamantly against it. Eventually, Cherry runs away to California and lands a spot on a musical competition reality show. She decides to try to find the aunt she’s never met and manipulate her into helping with her music career.

The story moves back and forth in time and alternates viewpoints between the characters, so we really get to know them and can’t help but root for them. The family dynamics between sisters, then mother and daughter, a love triangle, the music business, and dealing with fame all make for a truly compelling read, and I couldn’t put it down. If you love family sagas, pop culture, or Daisy Jones and the Six, you won’t want to miss this book. I loved it.

4/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE GRIFFIN SISTERS’ GREATEST HITS by Jennifer Weiner. William Morrow (April 8, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063342446. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight

March 4, 2025

From the publisher:

A witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly told novel that offers compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family

Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time . . .

As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.

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“Knight’s gorgeously intimate, cleverly insightful wordsmithing will certainly impress and entertain.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/42fXg8H

Two friends from Toronto, Pen and Alice, begin their first year at the University of Edinburgh. Over the course of the year, the novel explores their journey as they grow both together and apart, forming new friendships and navigating romantic relationships. Pen also delves into her family’s past by tracing one of her father’s old university friends in Scotland from the 1980s, seeking answers about her parents’ divorce and her unusual middle name.

This book is a nostalgic read, filled with themes of female friendship, empowerment, first love, and family secrets. Both Pen and Alice’s storylines showcase their development as young women in the early 2000s. The author tackles complex issues such as sexual misconduct through a student-professor affair, infidelity, single motherhood, and more, weaving these narratives into a rich tapestry of life and relationships.

Unfortunately, the book really dragged for me. I kept picking it up and putting it down, and that’s never a good sign. It was very slow, but because it was a book recommended by Jenna Bush and was published by Pamela Dorman, whose books I usually adore, I plodded on, but it wasn’t worth it.

Finally, the title kinda pissed me off – it made me think of the fabulous Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which I’m sure was a deliberate choice, and trust me, it had nothing in common with that book. The octopus doesn’t even show up until almost the end, and it is no Marcellus! The octopus is used as a metaphor over the course of a page or two, and that’s it. So, if you are looking for charm, look elsewhere.

Normally, I wouldn’t even have finished this book and I should have trusted my instincts. I really hate to pan a first novel, but with all the marketing and buzz this book has gotten, I’m going to live with it. I know some people love it, but I am not one of them.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight. Pamela Dorman Books (January 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593830451. 384p.

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