When I took high school physics, I never for a moment thought that it would help me to understand life. Yet this is where Cai looked for understanding while in school and business. I was intrigued to see how he could get from a science like physics to a self-help book. Somehow he did it. The result is in the pages of this interesting title.
Cai suggests in the introduction that breaking the big concepts and questions into more manageable bites can be helpful. He thinks that one way to do this is to look on the level of one’s own life. This is just one of many interesting and helpful ideas that he puts forward.
In the chapters that follow, Cai looks at life at different stages. Of course, these overlap so readers may find wisdom in places that do not reflect their chronological age.
This book is written in an accessible style. It left me with much to ponder. While there are many self-help books, this may indeed be another to add to readers’ shelves.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Forbes Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Description:
from the publisher
Why are we here? What makes a life well-lived? And how can we know what matters—truly—for ourselves?
In Making Sense of Life, physics PhD and entrepreneur Dr. Simin Cai presents a rational, structured approach to life’s biggest questions. Drawing from science, philosophy, and personal experience, he helps readers develop their own “theory of life”—a consistent, personal framework for happiness, clarity, and fulfillment.
Instead of offering one-size-fits-all answers, Cai encourages readers to ask better questions: What do I value? What assumptions shape my thinking? How can I define a life worth living for me?
With examples across youth, adulthood, and elderhood, Making Sense of Life is an honest, intelligent alternative to superficial self-help. It’s for readers who want depth over hype, logic over slogans, and a framework that evolves with them. It’s a must-read for anyone who values reason, clarity, and practical insight over feel-good slogans.
From the Publisher:
About the Author
DR. SIMIN CAI is a physics PhD, entrepreneur, and the founder of Go!Foton, a global technology company specializing in optics and photonics. With over thirty years of experience in the field, he has led innovations in commercializing optical communications and medical device technologies while serving leading clients across North America, Asia, and Europe. Prior to launching Go!Foton, he held executive positions at NSG America and contributed to the early formation of Avanex. Dr. Cai had also served in leadership roles at OPTICA (formerly The Optical Society), including on its Board and Finance Council. He holds degrees in Applied Physics, Engineering Optics, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.
I have enjoyed other novels by Eliza Knight including The Mayfair Bookshop and The Queen’s Faithful Companion. So, when I see her name on a book cover, I am excited.
This time, Knight explores the world of publishing in the early 1960s. To say that women were not highly valued for their skills is an understatement.
As this story opens, Bernadette is working on editorial tasks but is not respected for this. Rather, she is asked to bring her boss’s dirty laundry to the cleaner. Understandably, Bernadette does not appreciate this and wants more. Will she succeed? Will friends that she makes at the New York Public Library help her? Find out in this enjoyable read that also features a likeable editor who has fallen for Bernadette. I recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Health, Mind & Body-Home & Garden-Religion & Spirituality
Four stars ****
Pub date: 15 September 2026
Post first published on 10 July 2026
My thoughts:
This is a special book that will appeal to those who cultivate their gardens whether real (ideally), spiritual or, in imagination, from an armchair. While I often visit my local (and gorgeous) botanical garden, I have no garden of my own…and yet, I very much enjoyed this book. I feel that I can take away some of the practices and use them when I visit any garden.
This book offers many things as the author notes that a garden is a reflection of a gardener’s inner journey. Readers learn quite a bit about the author’s own personal story, garden and spiritual practices in these pages.
Here are quotes, recipes, meditations, reflections, advice on gardening, life lessons and more. And…do NOT forget the beautiful photos.
This book would make a wonderful gift for the thoughtful gardener.
Many thanks to NetGalley and The Book Collective for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Description:
from the publisher
Soulful Sanctuaries explores a meditative, mindful approach to the garden, guiding readers on a spiritual journey of reflection, practical wisdom, and inspiring stories.
How can a garden become a place of peace and reflection? How can you create an outdoor space that feels meaningful and restorative? Janaki Sandy Gaal explores these questions with her unique blend of thoughtful reflection, commentary, and practical advice. From simple meditative practices to the guiding principles of organic gardening, Janaki’s experience in all aspects of gardening shines through.
Viewing gardening as both a meditation practice and a metaphor for life, readers are invited on a journey to cultivate their own inner and outer sanctuaries, bringing new depth to the time-honored art of tending the land. Taking a non-denominational approach to spirituality, Janaki also explores such subjects as mantra, yoga, and even how to build an altar in your garden. The result is a deeply personal exploration where spirituality and the natural world come together in the creation of beautiful, soulful spaces.
Featuring photos from Rebecca Gaal, this richly produced book will hold a place of honor in any collection. Whether it’s examples from Janaki’s own intriguing life story, inspiring quotes, or even some fun recipes to try, readers will find inspiration for creating beautiful sanctuaries that nurture peace, reflection, and connection to the natural world.
From the Publisher:
COMBINES SPIRITUALITY AND GARDENING IN A UNIQUE BLEND
How can a garden become a place of peace and reflection? How can you create an outdoor space that feels meaningful and restorative?
FEATURES ORGANIC GARDENING METHODS
Tricks of the trade for successful organic gardening for a happy, healthy home that works to benefit the environment.
MEDITATION AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES IN EVERY CHAPTER
The meditative practice of gardening is combined with commentary on gardening as a metaphor for life to add new depth to a popular hobby.
YEAR-ROUND GARDENING EXPLORATION
Think gardening is just for spring? Think again! Summer and winter offer their own unique experiences, while autumn is just as busy as spring with harvesting and fall planting! This book covers it all.
Recently I have read a number of books about books, bookstores and readers. This may become one of my favorite sub genres. This novel, The Door-to-Door Bookstore, is a a love song to those who care about books, reading and friendship.
Carl, who is in his early seventies, has worked in a bookshop for many years. In addition to his daily job, Carl delivers beautifully wrapped books to a number of customers. He knows what kind of book each of these customers craves. Carl also thinks of each as a fictional character and book lovers will very much enjoy this aspect of the novel. For example, one is Mr. Darcy.
Carl has led a somewhat solitary life. Watch what happens when a precocious nine year old, inserts herself in his life.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own. This book really felt special to me and I highly recommend it.
Historical fiction-Sci Fi & Fantasy-Women’s fiction
Pub date: 07 July 2026
My thoughts:
I have previously read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere and also the non-fiction title The Astronaut’s Wives Club. I found both of these well worth reading so was intrigued to be offered an early galley of this book.
Kudos to Chanel Cleeton who, in this title, moves away from some of her Cuba influenced fiction to tell this story. It is her own tale with its characters, plot and emotions so well drawn; although it may recall the titles mentioned above, it in no way replicates those books.
This book offers an emotional read in its dual time line story. I am so glad to have spent time with An Infinite Love.
Many thanks to Berkley for the offer of this Spotlight Tour. All thoughts are my own.
From the publisher:
Florida, 1968: When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. The country waits for another successful NASA mission as America looks toward the Moon. No one is more invested in Joe’s safe return than his young wife, Vivian… until a knock at the door changes everything.
Joe’s spacecraft has vanished. He and his crew mates are feared to be dead. As the nation mourns, Vivian refuses to accept the official explanation, determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover what truly happened.
In her quiet moments, Vivian relives her life’s greatest love story, unable to accept that this is the end to a fateful love that felt written in the stars. When mysterious messages begin to appear—messages Vivian believes only Joe could send—she starts to wonder whether love might reach beyond the boundaries of Earth itself.
Cleeton masterfully weaves together two different timelines in this novel that’s perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere. Readers be warned: keep a box of tissues nearby, as this intensely passionate story is sure to leave you teary-eyed.
More from the publisher:
This summer, New York Times bestselling author Cleeton delivers her most sweeping and emotionally resonant novel yet, drawing on her origins in romance while offering readers a story rooted in a vivid moment in American history. AN INFINITE LOVE STORY (Berkley Trade Original; on sale July 7, 2026) can be described as Interstellar meets Daisy Jones & the Six: a sweeping dual-timeline novel set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race.
At the height of NASA’s Apollo era, the astronaut wives were the most public miliary spouses in America—watched by millions, bound by confidentiality, and carrying the weight of missions that could end in triumph or tragedy.
Cleeton’s personal experience as the wife of a fighter pilot brings emotional depth to AN INFINITE LOVE STORY. Inspired after watching the film The Right Stuff, she set out to write from the perspective of an astronaut’s wife. As she explains in her author’s note: “I was moved by how much I identified with the stories of those early astronaut wives. … Many of the challenges and frustrations they faced are similar to ones military spouses face today. And still, these women did so on the world’s stage, as global celebrities, the pressures and stakes immensely high, distinguishing their experience as something rather singular and extraordinary. I was in awe of their ability to navigate all that they did in the face of the additional pressures they faced.”
In AN INFINITE LOVE STORY, an astronaut has lost contact with ground control, and his distraught wife must unravel what truly happened to him, reliving their epic love story to cope with her grief. Cleeton delivers a poignant, heartfelt, and tear-jerking novel, exploring the strength of love and how far our bonds stretch across time and space.
Description:
from the publisher
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FOR SUMMER BY NPR*, WOMAN’S WORLD, PARADE, AND BOOKBUB
“A sweeping romantic drama with a touch of magical realism. …Cleeton’s ability to pull readers in quickly and deeply through her storytelling makes her a go-to author for an immersive reading experience. …Vivian and Joe’s love is unforgettable, and so is Cleeton’s writing.”*
When an astronaut is lost in space, his wife relives their epic love as she attempts to unravel what truly happened to him, in this sweeping love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes.
When Joe Mitchell launches into space, the world is watching. It’s 1968, and the country waits with anticipation and excitement for another successful mission, another celebration as America sets its sights on the Moon. And then comes the knock at the door.
Joe Mitchell’s spacecraft has lost contact. He and his fellow astronauts onboard are feared to be dead. It’s his wife Vivian’s worst nightmare come to life, her grief suddenly taking center stage as the nation waits and mourns. In her quiet moments, Vivian relives their memorable story, unable to accept that this is the end to a love that felt as though it was written in the stars.
As the investigation surrounding Joe’s lost spacecraft intensifies and the mishap is written off as an operator error, Vivian is determined to clear her husband’s name and uncover the mystery of what happened in space. When someone starts sending Vivian messages—messages she believes only Joe could send—she begins to wonder if their love is stronger than space and time, and she’ll do whatever it takes to bring her husband back to her.
About the Author:
Chanel Cleeton is the Cuban-American New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many novels including Reese’s Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel studied in London where she earned degrees in International Relations and Global Politics. In law school, Chanel discovered her passion writing novels and embarked on a new adventure following her lifelong love of books.
Editorial Reviews:
“Cleeton’s deft storytelling shows all the tangible and emotional sacrifices the astronauts and their families make….For readers looking for a good romance tested by daunting circumstances, this fits the bill. Historical fiction aficionados will appreciate Cleeton’s exploration of a segment of history that hasn’t yet been mined too often.”—Library Journal
“One of those books that stays in the minds of readers long after the last page. The story itself is a beautiful one to experience. Its reminder to readers that life is unpredictable and terrifying, yet still worth it, is what makes the novel so compelling. An Infinite Love Story is absolutely breathtaking, and most importantly, it’s timeless.”—The Harvard Crimson
“[A] charming exploration of romantic entanglements during the Space Race…richly appealing.”—Booklist
Loretta lives a carefully controlled and planned life. She has a fiance with whom she shares a measured relationship. Surprises are not her thing. Loretta works hard, wants a promotion and is trying her best to fit in at work, even if this has her doing things that she does not enjoy. Loretta is traveling abroad to meet with a client when…she meets Phoebe at the airport and her life changes.
Readers get to know Loretta and Phoebe well. Their relationship will change both of them in ways that they were not expecting or prepared for.
Those who enjoy warmhearted stories with quirky protagonists, this novel is for you. The last heroine I enjoyed who reminded me of Loretta was in Lessons in Chemistry. Both of these women have their unique style and ways of living their lives.
I very much enjoyed this book and am delighted to recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for this title. All opinions are my own.
A beloved middle-grade fantasy classic returns in a new edition, as eight-year-old Sally steps through an attic mirror into another time to search for a long-lost doll, now featuring beautiful new full-color illustrations.
When Sally is sent to spend the summer in a creaky old house with her elderly Aunt Sarah and a decidedly unfriendly cat, she expects weeks of boredom and loneliness. Everything changes when she discovers a mysterious painting of a little girl holding a doll and learns that the doll vanished long ago. Drawn by curiosity, Sally ventures into the attic, where an old mirror seems to open a doorway into another time and a story waiting to be finished.
First published in 1966, Magic Elizabeth quickly became a treasured favorite, earning a place in The New York Times Parent’s Guide to the Best Books for Children and selling nearly one million copies in its Scholastic edition. Readers have cherished the novel for generations for its gentle magic, emotional warmth, and the way it blends mystery and fantasy with themes of friendship, empathy, and care.
Now available in a beautifully refreshed edition, this classic story is enhanced with exquisite new full-color illustrations, inviting a new generation of readers into its timeless world of wonder. Perfect for independent reading or sharing aloud, Magic Elizabeth remains a moving reminder that imagination, kindness, and love can travel across time.
My thoughts:
It is lovely to see that this children’s classic has been refreshed and reissued. It offers an engaging read.
Young story lovers will be drawn right in with the trope of the “dark and stormy night.” Elizabeth’s adventures begin as she is sent to temporarily live with a relative. What will happen when she discovers an old mirror? Will Sally get along with a certain cat? What will she learn about a doll from long ago?
Readers will encounter magic and adventure in these pages. The color illustrations are evocative and enhance the written words.
I hope that kids will pick this one up. They might initially find it “old fashioned” but I think that given a chance they will be engaged. In some instances, there may be a family member who remembers the original and will enjoy rediscovering it with a child.
Many thanks to NetGalley and The Collective Book Studio for this title. All opinions are my own.
What could be better than sitting down with a new Marie Benedict novel? I have read nearly all of her books and admire her wide ranging subjects and the ways in which she brings the past to life. That is certainly true in this new novel.
This is a dual timeline story, something that is popular in historical fiction. What makes this one unique is that it is about Hatshepsut in ancient Egypt. Some readers may indeed know her name but they will get to go so much deeper as they read this novel. Truly the parts of the book about her and life in her time were very interesting.
I also enjoyed spending time with Evelyn (Eve) Herbert in the story that took place in the 1900s. It was fun to experience Highclere Castle (of later Downton Abby) fame and to spend time with Eve’s family and, of course, Howard Carter (he of the momentous discoveries). Of course, being on a dig was fascinating too.
Readers will see that Hatshepsut and Eve were both women of their time and women who wanted more than traditional roles. Readers will not forget either of them.
This is a novel that will be welcomed by fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction and the author. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 24 March 2026
Post first published on 18 January 2026
Description:
from the publisher
Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense” (People), New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict, returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh—rewriting both of their legacies forever.
In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.
Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.
When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.
Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.
From the Publisher:
“Immersive … Benedict evokes the excitement of archaeology in colonial Egypt with an abundance of lush details. There’s plenty to enjoy in this story of two women defying expectations.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Benedict’s flair for bringing the past to life draws in readers, providing not only lessons in history but an engrossing and entertaining tale. The complex issues of exploration and the collection of antiquities add resonance to the story.” ―Library Journal
Note:
There are a number of reviews of other Benedict books on my site. They have all offered good reads. Are you a fan?
Also, some may want to look for Gill Paul’s novel, The Collector’s Daughter, which also features Evelyn Herbert. See review on my blog.
The U.S. will note 250 years as a country soon. I imagine this means that there will be many new books published that look back at the country’s early years. I was intrigued to read this one, in particular, because I very much enjoyed an earlier book by Dray (Becoming Madam Secretary).
Here Dray and her co-author look at the U.S., beginning before the Revolution, through the eyes of Abigail Adams. She is portrayed as forthright, intelligent, an able manager of her family, a woman willing to move out of her small community for the sake of the country (of course, she enjoyed some of these travels), a wife, a daughter, a sister, a mother (one who faced losses), both the wife and mother of a president. Her roles were many and varied. All come to life in these pages.
One thing that readers might look out for as they read is the ways in which Abigail’s past and our present resonate with each other. To give one example, Abigail lived during the time of smallpox and decided to inoculate her family and herself. More recently many faced Covid and decisions about that vaccine, and others are again arousing some controversy. Another to ponder is how Boston was treated in terms of issues that seem similar to some with ICE in the present. For example, soldiers entering homes without permission. These connections made reading this book feel immediate even though the time was many years past.
The authors of this title tell their story well. Even those who have read other books about Abigail Adams will, I think, enjoy this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 05 May 2026
Post first published on 23 February 2026
Description:
from the publisher
In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.
In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.
When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.
From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.
This book has gotten a tremendous number of good reviews and I was quite excited to receive an early copy of it from NetGalley and William Morrow. Thanks to both.
Here is a story about the difference between how life might be portrayed and what it is/was really like. It is about the difference for two children between their actual early years and their fictional portrayal in their author mother’s books.
Now as adults, one sibling is publishing a memoir while the other is planning an exhibit. Much will be revealed because of these decisions.
While I wanted to love this book and know that many others have, it was not the right book for me at this moment. It was a little too bleak or dark for me. It is described as Gothic so if that appeals to a reader, they will find much to love here.
All opinions here are my own.
Description:
from the publisher
A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK
“An extraordinary book. It’s a page-turner, full of mystery, but that’s the least of it. The language is dusted with magic. The Children reminded me of Ray Bradbury at his best.” —Stephen King
The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic.
Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.
In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family’s isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere’s childhood isn’t the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine: she and Ennis are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the wild woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.
Now an adult coasting on her mother’s name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family’s legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she’s spent the last twenty years running from: What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s fantasy world?
The Children is wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, and the way our most beloved stories grow up with us. It’s for anyone who’s ever revisited an old favorite and found its pages cast in a darker light, the line separating magic from reality blurring as we discover the books that once comforted us carry shadows of their own.
Editorial reviews:
Recommended by the New York Times • Los Angeles Times • People • New York Magazine • the Chicago Tribune • Forbes • Cosmopolitan • Oprah Daily • New York Post • Goodreads • Literary Hub • Good Housekeeping • Buzzfeed • Red • Page Six • Book Riot • AARP • Publishers Weekly • The Millions • She Reads . . . and more!
From Kirkus Reviews:
Albert balances traditional storytelling, fairy-tale elements, and inventive narrative structures like museum labels to create a novel way of looking at the places where the past and the present—both real and imagined—meet. Once it’s revealed, the truth—of the farmhouse, their mother, and Ennis’ reason for leaving—is darker and stranger than Guin could have imagined. Though the novel effectively maintains a sense of suspense and dread, it sometimes struggles under the weight of multiple nonlinear timelines. Regardless, Albert’s prose is undeniably beautiful as she contemplates memory, family lore, and the ways that art can both save and destroy people.
From Library Journal:
VERDICT- YA author Albert’s (The Bad Ones) adult debut is an atmospheric gothic fantasy that sees an eccentric set of siblings reframing their troubled childhoods, the legacy of their mother’s book series, and their present lives. A great addition to every collection.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 