Category: Book Reviews

★★★★☆

As a newer Alice Hoffman fan, I really enjoy her storytelling and rich, magical atmospheres. The Witches of Cambridge delivers on that front, being transportive and deeply rooted in its 1950’s Radcliffe setting.

My favorite aspect was how Hoffman wove the historical Mather family into the narrative, cleverly suggesting a witch in their own bloodline to explain their fierce historical crusade. It added a wonderful layer of irony to the lore. The core of the story, the bond between Ave and Lauren, felt genuine. I truly appreciated that when conflicts and grievances arose, these two young women always worked through their issues rather than walking away from each other. The historical backdrop, highlight the societal restrictions placed on women in higher education and the weight of Puritanical expectations was fascinating to read, even when some historical elements were embellished or altered slightly to fit the story line.

That being said, the book did have some structural bumps for me. The perspective shifts between Ava and Lauren often felt disjointed, separated by no more than an extra line space and had me flipping back to figure out who I was reading about when something didn’t make sense. Additionally, the plot itself occasionally took a back seat to the world building. It read more like a history primer or series setup, rather than a self-contained story. I actually found myself more invested in the secondary romance involving Lauren’s brother.

At its core though, this feels like a look at two young women caught between the truth of who they are and the expectation that world put on them. While the pacing and formatting were a bit clumsy to me, Hoffman’s beautiful themes of identity and female solidarity still shone through.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing early access to this publication.

Book releases in September of 2026

★★★★☆

Buckle up, because this one is a total mind-bender….

I’m still reeling a bit after finishing this one. To be honest, You Did Nothing Wrong starts out feeling like a heavy domestic drama, but it morphs into one of the most unsettling psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time.

C.G. Drews has a way of painting a picture with words that is almost too good—the sense of decay in Elodie’s home and the weight of her grief felt incredibly real and claustrophobic. The pacing starts out a little slow, really letting you sit with Elodie’s struggles as a mother, but by the halfway point, the tension starts to crank up. By the final third? I was flying through the pages just trying to keep up.

There is a massive twist in here that I truly did not see coming. It completely reframes the “whirlwind romance” between Elodie and Bren in a way that made my skin crawl. It’s a dark, gritty look at how far someone will go to “fix” the past and the lengths a person will go to when they feel backed into a corner.

Be warned: it gets pretty graphic and the ending is deeply creepy. It’s “fucked up” in the way the best thrillers are—it stays with you and makes you want to lock your doors. If you’re looking for a “happily ever after,” keep walking, but if you want a story that is visceral and unpredictable, this is it.

Book releases in March of 2026

★★★★☆

To be honest, I went into this one expecting the icy, calculated villain we all know from the Disney movies, but what I found in Lady Tremaine was something so much more human. This is a “Cinderella” retelling that truly proves history is written by the winners.

The story follows Tremaine from her childhood through the loss of both her husbands, and I was so refreshed to find a version of her that wasn’t cold or lacking empathy. She doesn’t whine; she survives. I particularly loved the commentary on the “proper” expectations for women of that time. By the end, seeing her realize that being noticed by royalty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and that happiness doesn’t always come from doing what’s expected, felt incredibly relatable and grounded.

What I loved:

The Character Depth: Getting to know Otto was a highlight for me. At first, he comes off as a bit gruff and boarish, but by the end, when you realize the lengths he went to to protect the girls, he completely won me over.
A New Perspective: It took me a few chapters to shake the “Disney version” of the Prince out of my head, but once I did, I was fully swept up in this grittier, more realistic world. This definitely isn’t a “happily ever after” in the traditional sense, and it’s better for it.
The Pacing: The story is a bit of a slow burn. At times, it felt like the plot was taking its time, but looking back, I realize none of it was filler. Every detail had a purpose in building the woman Lady Tremaine became.

If you’re looking for a retelling that actually has something to say about memory, reputation, and the sacrifices mothers make, I can’t recommend this one enough. It’s a haunting, honest look at the “villain” next door.

Book releases in March of 2026

★★★★☆

If you’re a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, you’ll find a lot to love in Crown of War and Shadow, even if the setting is brand new. It’s got that high-stakes fantasy feel, but the heart of the story is really about the characters.

The story follows Sorrel, an outcast who finds herself on a high-stakes journey across the Badlands. I loved that she wasn’t a “whiny” heroine; she starts out terrified—rightfully so—but her growth into a woman who refuses to be stopped was so rewarding to watch. Merc is her broody, mysterious guide, and their chemistry is intense. Also, keep an eye out for Thane, the head of the Southern Outpost. Even though he’s a “bad guy,” he’s got a top hat and a moral code that made him one of my favorite parts of the book. The world moves fast, but if you like a story about finding strength in the shadows, you’ll want to check this one out when it hits the shelves in February!

★★★★☆

Dark Sisters is a dark, unsettling piece of witchy horror, a subgenre I don’t usually enjoy. In DeMeester’s hands, though, I finally understand the appeal. This novel is atmospheric, feminist, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way.

Told across multiple timelines, the novel follows women in different eras as they push back against the lives and expectations imposed on them by men, society, and the church. Woven throughout is the folklore of the Dark Sisters, a story used to instill fear and enforce obedience. The result is atmospheric, feminist, and deeply uncomfortable in the best way.

Each timeline evokes a different emotional response. The historical thread provides rich atmosphere, while the mid-century storyline most clearly illustrates the suffocating limitations placed on women. The modern timeline felt less cohesive for me, particularly in its emphasis on wealth and opulence, which occasionally pulled me out of an otherwise grounded, eerie narrative.

Slow-burning but captivating, Dark Sisters offers more than a typical spooky read. It’s thoughtful, unsettling, and rooted in women’s lived experiences across generations. This is an author I’ll continue to watch and one I’d confidently recommend to readers who enjoy horror told from a female perspective.

★★★★☆

The Exes is a tense, emotionally messy romantic suspense that understands one essential truth: past relationships don’t stay in the past, especially when there’s unfinished business and questionable judgment involved.

Darlington handles complicated dynamics well. The characters feel flawed in believable ways, and the history between them adds real weight to the tension rather than just fueling cheap drama. I appreciated that the suspense didn’t rely solely on romantic angst. The stakes felt genuine, and actions had consequences.

The pacing is solid, particularly in the back half, where twists unfold quickly without losing clarity. While some familiar genre elements appear, strong character work keeps the story engaging and grounded.

A good pick for readers who enjoy emotionally charged romance with suspense, morally gray characters, and relationships that are anything but simple.

*This book releases in February 2026

★★★★☆

Blackthorn is a fever dream masquerading as a romance novel. It’s dark, lush, and soaked in legacy, lust, and layered betrayals. Geissinger delivers a genre-blending experience that moves from second-chance enemies-to-lovers into gothic horror and full-blown paranormal prophecy without missing a beat.

Maven is everything I love in a protagonist: sharp, skeptical, and unapologetically powerful, even when the world gaslights her into doubting her own senses. When she returns to her cursed hometown with a child in tow and trauma barely packed away, she collides with Ronan, her wealthy, possessive ex who broke her heart once and seems dangerously eager to do it again. The chemistry is volcanic. The history is bloody. And the nickname “little witch”? Absolutely devastating in all the right ways.

What starts as small-town intrigue quickly spirals into something mythic: ancestral sins, bloodline curses, missing corpses, generational matriarchal magic, and a heroine caught between reclaiming her power and resisting the man fate won’t let her forget. There’s a supernatural element that unveils itself slowly, but when it hits, it hits hard. Fallen angel vibes, monster lore, and seven nights a month of dark, carnal consequences? Yes, this book takes bold risks, and for the most part, they pay off.

One scene did push into my personal ick zone. Particularly a hyper-explicit sex scene with detail that felt less erotic and more extreme than necessary. While some readers may enjoy its transgressive audacity, others (like me) may flinch. That said, it didn’t detract from the overall power of the story or the emotional depth between the characters. Consent and emotional clarity eventually ground even the most intense moments.

Geissinger’s writing remains sharp, cinematic, and emotionally charged. Blackthorn is an ambitious, genre-blending, morally tangled tale about fate, fire, and finding truth in the monsters we both fear and crave. If you like your romance with a side of ancestral reckoning and literal wings? This one’s for you.

★★★☆☆

A Land So Wide is dripping with the atmospheric charm Erin A. Craig does so well—fog-drenched cliffs, crumbling estates, and a touch of the eerie that makes you second-guess the edges of reality. But while the setting lured me in, the pacing and character work didn’t hold me quite as tightly as I hoped.

Greer, the main character, often felt more like a love-struck teen than a woman in her late twenties. Her voice came off as a bit whiny at times, which made it harder to fully root for her, though I did appreciate the deeper emotional struggles she faced beneath the surface. The internal conflict gave her some dimension, even when her outward choices felt frustrating.

The story unfolds slowly—almost too slowly—and while there are twists, most of them felt easy to see coming. I kept hoping for one truly shocking moment, but it never arrived. And the ending? Abrupt. I turned the last page feeling a bit unsatisfied, like there was more story to tell or more emotional payoff to earn.

All that said, fans of Craig’s previous books or readers who enjoy slow-burn gothic tales might still find something to enjoy here. It just wasn’t quite the haunting, immersive experience I was hoping for.

Note: This book does not release until September 2025

★★★☆☆

Preserving the Seasons is a visually appealing and accessible guide for beginners or casual home preservers. It covers a wide range of methods—canning, freezing, drying, infusions, and even freeze-drying—with a friendly, encouraging tone.

The section on drying flowers stood out as a highlight. It’s not something you typically find in preservation books, and it added a thoughtful, almost whimsical layer to the usual techniques. I also appreciated the inclusion of some less-expected fruits and vegetables—things many people might not think to freeze, dry, or can.

That said, the canning section felt a bit light. It covered the basics well enough, but didn’t go much deeper than simple water bath recipes. The freeze-drying content seemed tacked on, possibly because the equipment is still cost-prohibitive for many households. A little more detail or clarity on its use would’ve helped.

Some of the recipes leaned toward the niche side, like plum and black pepper jam or lilac sugar. While interesting, they might not appeal to a broad audience and may leave newer preservers unsure of where to start.

Overall, this is a solid entry-level resource with a few unique touches. I’ll be adding it to our library collection—it’s a good fit for those curious about seasonal preserving but not yet ready to dive too deep.

★★★★☆

Not quite as good as Lights Out, but damn—the spice was just as satisfying. Allen shines when it comes to character development, and I loved watching Junior and Lauren’s dynamic unfold. Their chemistry? On point. Their growth? Even better.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: I have thoughts about the people who dismissed this book just because Lauren is a cam girl. Funny how that wasn’t a problem in Lights Out when it was Josh, right? That double standard says more about them than it does about the story.

Sure, the storyline could’ve been stronger in places, but I loved how sex-positive this book was. Exploring kinks wasn’t something to tiptoe around—it was embraced, celebrated. That alone has me ready to pick up book three the moment it drops.