Tag: Five Star Book Reviews

January 2026–Part Two:

February 1, 2026

Book #5:

One Yellow Eye by Leigh Radford (352 pages).  I learned about this science fiction novel from the Currently Reading podcast. (If you’re not already listening this amazing podcast, you need to start!) This is a horror/sci-fi novel about a zombie apocalypse that is geographically limited to London. Kesta is a scientist/histologist whose husband was one of the infected earlier in the apocalypse, so Kesta has a vested interest in finding a cure. This is very well-written, the plot is obviously propulsive (ie, will Kesta find a cure in time to save her husband?) and is a very stressful read. This novel was a bit slow to start for me, but I’m glad I hung in there as the rest of the ride was a lot of fun. 4 stars from me.

Book #6:

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio (Length: 370 pages). My daughter, who is a big fan of Shakespeare, loves this novel and urged me to pick it up. This is a coming-of-age mystery novel set in a small liberal arts private college and features seven Shakespearean actors in their senior year. Something dramatic happens to one of them and the majority of the novel deals with the aftermath of one violent act. This is told partially in flashbacks, is really beautifully written with a LOT of Shakespeare references. It’s been over 30 years since I studied Shakespeare in college so some of these went over my head, but I did appreciate this literary fiction angle, as it stands out from the run of the mill mysteries I typically read. This darkly atmospheric novel is memorable, and while none of the characters are likeable, their interactions with one another and their journeys through this traumatic act are fascinating and I’m glad I read it. 4.5 stars from me.

Book #7:

These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (Length: 385pages).  I really enjoyed this women’s fiction/mystery novel! I do wish I had read it in the summer as it’s a quintessential summer read. Featuring the uber-wealthy and very dysfunctional Storm family, this is like the TV series Succession with an Elin Hilderbrand atmospheric island romance mixed in. The protagonist is Alice Storm, the black sheep returning home to Storm Island after her father dies. Post-death, there’s one last family game to “win” their inheritance, which is how the family patriarch liked to run the family. This had entirely more depth than I expected, with a sidebar romance that is well-drawn with believable chemistry. I enjoyed every minute of this fun book and couldn’t wait to pick it up each time. 5 stars from me.

Book #8:

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (Length: 359 pages). I really enjoyed this author’s previous mystery (The Last Flight–reviewed here) so I was excited to pick up this suspense thriller. The protagonist, Olivia Dumont, is hired to ghostwrite her estranged father’s memoir as he’s dying of dementia. He tells her he will finally reveal what really happened when his brother and sister were murdered in the 1970s. This plot is so well-constructed and very propulsive, the writing quality is strong and there are a few twists that really make this one stand out from the pack. The author’s ability to put the reader into another era is pretty masterful here and makes for an unforgettable read, which is difficult to achieve in this packed genre space. 5 solid stars from me.

Book #9:

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The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender (306 pages).  I have had this backlist title on my shelves for YEARS, and in the spirit of clearing out my bookshelves this year (one of my New Year’s resolutions), I finally picked it up. This is magical realism, so if you’re not willing to suspend your disbelief and go along with the ride, you will NOT enjoy this book. I knew this going in and I was able to appreciate this novel for what the author was going for. This is about a young girl, Rose Edelstein, who realizes at a young age that she can taste the emotions of the people who grow, harvest and cook the food she eats. Her brother Joseph also has an odd gift (revealed much later in the book) that causes him a similar stress. This novel features strange characters, many family secrets and strong and lyrical writing. I ultimately enjoyed reading this and it’s absolutely memorable. I see it referenced here and there and I’m glad I can finally be a part of this novel’s audience. 4 stars from me.

January 2026–Part One:

January 15, 2026

Book #1:

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (307 pages).  WOW. This is an amazing book! Set on an island near Antartica which contains the world’s last seed bank sometime in the future, this climate-fiction novel is about a woman who washes ashore, half dead from the cold, and meets the island caretaker and his three children. The mystery at the heart of this slim novel is where did this woman come from (as no boats would just be traveling by this remote area), and who and what is the caretaker hiding. The plot is absolutely propulsive, the writing is spare and beautiful, and I could not put this down. I cried at the end and I rarely cry, so the writing is perfectly executed in this perfect novel. A must read. 5 stars.

Book #2:

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol 8 by Beth Brower (Length: 353 pages). I’m not sure how, but this series just gets better and better with each volume. This is the last volume that’s been published in this series so far and I was so sad to finish it because I know it may be a while before we get more Emma Lion in our lives. In this volume, Emma and her three male friends visit Stonecrop, the Duke of Islington’s family estate just a few hours outside London (by horse and carriage of course). For the entire month of June, Emma is free of societal constraints and is able to roam the countryside (often in a ridiculous pith helmet she purchased in London) as well as to further bond with her friends. This is laugh-out-loud funny, just like the other volumes, with beautifully drawn characters and the entire reading experience is a total delight. Remember, all of these are currently available on Kindle Unlimited, and your local bookstore is sure to have these in stock now given the series’ popularity. 5 full stars.

Book #3:

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams (Length: 358 pages).  This rom-com is #4 and the last book in the Rome, Kentucky series. I listened to this one and the audio production is fantastic, with dual narrators-male and female-for the featured romantic couple in the novel. Maddie who believes her identity to now be a “failed chef” from New York City, returns to Rome (and her siblings–all of whom are featured in books #1-3) to help her childhood friend James open a farm to table restaurant on his family farm. Of course, James only created this restaurant idea to lure Maddie back to Rome, as he’s long had a crush on her. I enjoyed the restaurant aspect and all of the ancillary characters (from previous books) but I found Maddie to be too insecure and whiny for what the reader actually sees here. A fun reading experience overall, but it’s definitely time for this series to be put to bed. 3 stars.

Book #4:

Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo (Length: 324 pages). This literary fiction novel was on many Best of lists from 2025 so I couldn’t wait to pick this one up. The story is about Gabriel Fisher, a “giant” raised by his Amish grandparents after his birth family is unable to raise him. Set in a small town, Lakota, Wisconsin, the story is told from four POVs, separated by chapter–we have the local bar owner, the local football coach, the local vet, and Gabriel’s grandmother. I could not WAIT to go back to this book if I was interrupted by reading it, which is always a sign to me that this is a special book. There are a few chapters involving sportsball (what I call any sport as I’m not a person who is into football, etc) and even those chapters are riveting in this writer’s hands. The characters are so richly drawn, and the reader gets to know Gabriel from the viewpoints of others in his community, even though we don’t ever hear from Gabriel himself. This is a one-of-a-kind novel that I will remember forever. (Think Owen Meany vibes–if you know, you know). FIVE SOLID STARS from me. I love being a reader!