www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/01/books/review/world-changing-books.html
An e book bargain-There are a few ways to be: Swept Away
by Beth O’Leary
#SweptAway #NetGalley
Romance-Women’s Fiction 384 pages
Beth O’Leary definitely has her fans. Her earlier books include The Wake Up Call, The Road Trip, and The No Show. Here she again offers a novel that her fans may want to read. At close to 400 pages it will offer escape for a bit.
Take two people who meet and don’t really expect to spend a lot of time together. They have their differences, starting with their ages as Zeke is almost ten years younger than Lexi. However, what is likely to have been one night together transforms when the houseboat they are on (readers will find out why) goes out to sea. Uh-oh. What will happen as they wait/hope for rescue? That’s the premise here.
Follow Zeke and Lexi over the next twelve days. Imagine what it would be like to spend that amount of time in a confined space with a person that you don’t really know. Will they be swept away both on the boat and by falling in love?
Readers will hope that everything works out for these two. Read the book to find out what happens.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 01 April 2025
From the Publisher
It’s time for some: History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook
An e book bargain
#HistoryLessons #NetGalley
My thoughts:
Daphne Overture is a professor at a fictional, very selective institution of higher learning where she studies and teaches French Colonial history. Daphne has been highly successful but keeps her head down at her college; she is just one of a handful of Black professors and is even sometimes called by the first name of one of the other ones!
Luckily for both Daphne and the reader, she has strong (if sometimes annoying to her) family connections and good friends. Readers will enjoy getting to know all of them.
Daphne had a paperback book, Papillon. Readers learn early on that it was taken from her, most likely by a professor named Sam who has been murdered. How? Why? What is the connection between this book and a murder? Is the book related to Sam’s work on prison conditions?
Along with getting involved herself, Daphne gets to know a former police officer who is now a bookstore owner. Readers will hope that they find romance, I think.
Along with the characters and the plot, I loved the academic setting. The ins and outs, the competitiveness, the appearance of the physical college , the threats by some in the hierarchy against others, plagiarism, students taken advantage of by professors and more all make for compelling reading.
This book also highlights the experiences Daphne has regarding race on her campus. It offers a reminder of a need to do better.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press-Soho Crime for this title. All opinions are my own. I truly hope that this title is the first in a series.
Pub date: 01 July 2025D
From the publisher:
A college history professor must solve her superstar colleague’s murder before she becomes the next target in this funny, romantic debut mystery, perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich, Kellye Garrett, and Ali Hazelwood.
As a newly minted junior professor, Daphne Ouverture spends her days giving lectures on French colonialism, working on her next academic book, and going on atrocious dates. Her small world suits her just fine. Until Sam Taylor dies.
The rising star of Harrison University’s anthropology department was never one of Daphne’s favorites, despite his popularity. But that doesn’t prevent Sam’s killer from believing Daphne has something that belonged to Sam—something the killer will stop at nothing to get.
Between grading papers and navigating her disastrous love life, Daphne embarks on her own investigation to find out what connects her to Sam’s murder. With the help of an alluring former-detective-turned-bookseller, she unravels a deadly cover-up on campus.
This well-crafted, voice-driven mystery introduces an unforgettable crime fiction heroine.
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for History Lessons
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
A Library Journal Mystery Debut of the Month
“History professor Daphne Ouverture might be your next favorite unsuspecting sleuth.”
—USA Today
“History Lessons brilliantly mixes pointed satire, fabulous characters (especially Daphne’s two besties) and a thoughtful meditation on whose fortunes get to rise, and whose are ground down on the altar of power.”
—Sarah Weinman, The New York Times Book Review
“Wallbrook has crafted a campus mystery that’s both propulsive and cerebral. The book blends classic whodunit pleasures with a reflective exploration of race, power and who gets believed. Also: ‘Drag Race’ jokes, squirrel riots and a simmering romance with a bookish ex-cop. Top marks.”
—The Seattle Times
“Clever, quirky, and full of heart, History Lessons is a cozy mystery for the academics and romantics among us.”
—Shondaland
A Bookshop Summer by Stephanie Butland
NOTE: AS OF THE TIME OF THIS POSTING, THIS BOOK IS AN E BOOK BARGAIN AT JUST NINETY-NINE CENTS.
#ABookshopSummer #NetGalley
Women’s fiction
350 pages
Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pub date: 12 February 2026
Description:
from the publisher
📚 An intriguing, twisting and heart-warming novel set in a bookshop that has an unexpected impact on people’s lives. From the author of The Second Chance Book Club and Found in a Bookshop 📚
When the Lost for Words bookshop in York hosts an event for a new reading project, four strangers’ lives will change in ways they could never have expected . . .
Trixie is hosting the event. She loves her job at Lost for Words, and she’s feeling grounded and calm – until a phone call from her ex throws everything off course.
Cherry only goes to the event because she needs to get out. Caring for her grandmother without any help is exhausting – and lonely. Maybe things will be different if her long-lost sister finally comes home.
Rhiannon and Guy really hit it off at the bookshop; it feels like the start of something special. And Guy is fantastic with Rhiannon’s baby. But Rhiannon is keeping quite a big secret . . .
When you spend time with people who love books, you’re sure to learn something about yourself – and maybe see a way to start in a different direction. As each of them is about to find out . . .
My thoughts:
The first book by this author that I read was The Lost for Words Bookshop. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and how much I cared for the protagonist. Since then, I have always looked forward to this author’s new books.
It was delightful to discover that this story takes place at The Lost for Words where Trixie has a project about which she is excited. She wants to bring together a group that will want to read aloud at each meeting. The first book she chooses is Virginia Woolf’s, The Waves. I find this to be a charming premise as it is very far from living life on a screen-the participants will meet at the shop for the readings.
There are a few characters who are important in addition to Trixie. Cherry is the focus of much of the story. She is the twin who remained home when her sister went off to have adventures. Cherry is really missing her as the novel opens and she is feeling the weight of caring for her grandmother. How will Cherry grow over the course of these pages?
There are others who are important as well including mother to a young child, Rhiannon. What is she keeping private and not telling the others? Rhiannon gets along well with Guy. Will they become more than friends?
Those who enjoy a book about books, people who care for one another, and stories in which characters grow, will want to give this title a look. Readers will also enjoy the many book titles that are sprinkled throughout the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All thoughts are my own.
From the Publisher:
A wonderful biography with loads of Photos: Clementine Churchill, A Life in Pictures (Purnell)-an e book bargain
I admired both Sonia Purnell and Clementine Churchill even before I was (fortunately) approved by NetGalley for this book on Clementine Churchill . I learned so much from the biography written by Ms. Purnell. This book reiterates many important elements of this fascinating woman’s biography, from her troubled childhood throughout two World Wars and her life beyond. What makes this book different and special, at least to me, are the photographs. They are fascinating both in terms of Clementine and Winston’s lives and as illustrations of the lives of people who lived throughout the 1900s. The text and photos are perfect complements to one another and add to the depth of experience for the reader.
I am savoring this book as I read it. I highly recommend it and give it five stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this magnificent book.
#ClementineChurchill #NetGalley
Forthcoming I will have a review of Lady Clementine, a fictional account of Clementine’s life. I seem to be reading lots on her but have no Clemmie fatigue.
The earlier biography by Ms. Purnell
Editorial Reviews
Review
“An astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician’s wife. . . that shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage.”–The Wall Street Journal
“An acute and sympathetic biography which brings Clementine Churchill out of the shade into which her illustrious and domineering husband has cast her and shows how key she was to his success. Sonia Purnell makes us ask how Clementine endured life with Winston, and provides the answers.” –Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris 1919 and The War that Ended Peace “Thorough and engaging. . . Purnell’s extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband.” —Washington Post
“An acute and sympathetic biography which brings Clementine Churchill out of the shade into which her illustrious and domineering husband has cast her and shows how key she was to his success. Sonia Purnell makes us ask how Clementine endured life with Winston, and provides the answers.” –Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris 1919 and The War that Ended Peace “Thorough and engaging. . . Purnell’s extensive and insightful biography offers a much welcome portrait of Clementine Churchill, a woman whose remarkable life has long been overshadowed by her famous husband.” —Washington Post
She is quite the character: Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)-an e book bargain
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
#VeraWongsGuidetoSnoopingonaDeadMan #NetGalley
Take a look at the cover. What you will see is Vera Wong; she is in some ways like a modern day Emma, always sure that she is right and interfering in the lives of others but, at the same time, doing some good detective work. And please don’t forget feeding others; a reader will feel hunger pangs every time that they read a chapter.
I did not read the first book in the series. There are characters from that first book here but this can be read on its own. Readers who enjoy this title will probably want to read the first book however.
The story opens with Vera being scammed. This is a cautionary tale as, in real life, this is all too common an occurrence. As is typical, Vera feels that she handled this perfectly, only to find that she was wrong.
Vera connects with a young woman whose friend, Thomas, is missing. This leads to Vera’s sleuthing about this man who went by many names and had connections to people Vera knew or gets to know in this title.
Readers can feel pretty certain that the intrepid Vera will solve the case. The fun is in getting there.
In many ways, Vera is a delightful character. For example, she helps a teen without a mom to buy her first bra. This is quite sweet and an example of how Vera will do anything for those in her circle. Readers should be aware that Vera speaks in English that reflects this not being her first language. She now lives in San Francisco.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a fun read. I look forward to the next book by this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 01 April 2025
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“A warmhearted valentine to the families built by the heroine—and an exposé of the costs of false families everywhere.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Like its predecessor, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (2023), it’s a fun mystery with heart.”—AARP
Milk & Mocha-Our Little Moments by Melani Sie is an e book bargain
#MilkMochaComicsCollection #NetGalley
The author states that this book is about “tiny, everyday moments,” recognizing the importance of these times. That is an apt description for the comics here, most of which are quite sweet. The artwork is appealing as readers watch Milk and Mocha over the course of their days. They so clearly care for one another.
This is a book that will bring a smile to reader’s faces. In a world that can be turbulent, these comics were a nice antidote.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 23 June 2026
Description
Your favorite internet duo, @milkmochabear, is back with even more cozy and charming comics to brighten your day! Cozy up with a blanket and join Milk and Mocha in their sweet little moments.
With even more never-before-seen comics—and two pages of exclusive stickers—Milk & Mocha continue to delight readers worldwide with their newest comic collection: Our Little Moments. Sweet Milk and stoic Mocha prove the old adage that opposites really do attract. Dedicated to all the little daily interactions, big and small, Milk & Mocha is perfect for anyone who has ever been in love.
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult-an e book bargain
This time the background (and foreground) issue is the Covid epidemic. For some readers, it might still feel too close and they might want to skip reading this title. I would argue against that. In addition to re-experiencing some of the trauma, I was also reminded of how far life has come (at least for those who have been vaccinated). This, of course, does not mitigate the deep losses that so many experienced in the real world.
The protagonist of this novel is Diana. When the story opens, she is working for Sotheby’s and is in a relationship with a surgical resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Diana is working with a client who seems to be based upon Yoko Ono. Due to Diana’s work, readers are treated to some interesting art and music history. I enjoyably learned a lot about Toulouse Lautrec.
Diana and Finn are planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Finn cannot/chooses not to go because of the emerging pandemic and his need to be at work. He encourages Diana to go on the trip and she does. Finn’s emails to Diana offer all of the horror of Covid, especially the early impotence that medical professionals felt in the wake of this tsunami of an epidemic.
Diana makes it to the Galapagos but is stranded there because travel is cut off. She manages to get settled, leading her to meet with a troubled adolescent, her father and her grandmother. They open Diana up to a new world. It is most likely no coincidence that our main character is living where theories of evolution were formed as she may be adapting and changing too.
The Galapagos are beautifully described and form a contrast to life in New York. Which place is right for Diana? Which relationship? What plot twists will Ms. Picoult bring to this, her latest novel? Read the book to find out. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
https://randomhouse.box.com/s/t3sgfg7hpaurx0fuaomq9xjwllafeswy
The above should link to a book club kit for this title.
An e book bargain-What will happen when:Carrie Soto Is Back
A Novel
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
An e book bargain
I started reading this novel soon after Serena Williams retired and when I had tennis on my brain. Carrie is not Serena but there is no doubt that tennis has defined her life. As the story opens, Carrie is at the U.S. Open waiting to see if her long held record for most wins will be shattered. From here the book moves back in time to when she first began playing and goes forward to the time of the book’s title.
I understand the basics of tennis but don’t have the knowledge base to know how accurate the descriptions in the matches played were. I know that they were deeply involving and that I always wondered how Carrie would do.
This novel, however, is not just about Carrie’s tennis but is also about Carrie. She has a rather hard and brittle shell and most although most everything about her has been about tennis, she has things to figure out. Readers get to know the people around her; there are those that she lets in to some degree. The most important one is her father who has shared Carrie’s dream. Another is a player on the male circuit named Bowe and, of course, many of the women players.
Along with a page turning story, this novel offers some food for thought. Are we our accomplishments? Does winning mean everything? How is it to have to deal with being in a constant limelight? What happens when a game that one started to play out of love becomes so dominant? No spoilers for the end of the book. Find out for yourself what happens to Carrie.
I recommend this title to tennis lovers, Taylor Jenkins Reid’s fan base and those who enjoy an involving story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 30 August 2022
From the Publisher
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“The books in Reid’s famous women quartet stand alone. . . . But each of the books centers a vibrant protagonist managing the tensions between her glamorous life in the public eye and the pressures she feels in private . . . with Reid meticulously collecting minute yet meaningful details to help build immersive worlds”—TIME
“Carrie Soto [Is Back] . . . is like other sports novels in which underdogs punch, volley, bat and birdie their way to victory or additional defeat, but it goes beyond this to explore sexism and racism in the tennis world in the 1990s. . . . This novel will grab you. You’ll tear through blow-by-blow descriptions of championship matches on some of the most famous tennis courts in the world. . . .”—The Washington Post
“An epic story about bravery, endurance, but also the power of vulnerability.”—BuzzFeed
“Reid . . . draws on the lives of actual tennis pros (think Serena, Sharapova) to build a world of believable rivalries and intrigue infused with the whiplash suspense of a nail-biting tennis match.”—People (Book of the Week)
“Nearly every Taylor Jenkins Reid novel reads like a survey course in some flagrantly glamorous specialty and era. . . . Come for the King Richard–level attention to the art of the game; stay for the more personal soap operas unfolding off the court, and the final score.”—Entertainment Weekly
An e book bargain
The Kennedy Debutante by Maher
by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews
This novel is a richly imagined, evocative and detailed portrait of life in England, Europe and the U.S. in the years surrounding WW II. The book focuses on the Kennedys and their circle.
Readers will spend time with staunchly Catholic parents, Joe and Rose, who have many aspirations for their children. Joe Jr. and JFK are portrayed as they fall in love and commit to service in the war. Rosemary and her emotional struggles are described and the younger Kennedy children also have a place. The book though is most especially the story of Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy and her friends, colleague, romances and search for meaning.
Kick falls in love with England where she strives to find a worthwhile life while also enjoying a busy social life with her friends, including Deborah Mitford and her circle. Kick is always aware of what is expected of her as a Kennedy but struggles with this.
Nowadays when marriages are not universally expected to take place between people who are the same (the same race, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.), it is hard to recall that this was not always the case. However, when Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy, of Irish background and Catholic, falls in love with Billy, an aristocratic British, Protestant, her parents clearly do not approve. How Kick chooses to live her life forms the core of the novel. I do not want to put in any spoilers so will stop here.
I found The Kennedy Debutante to be an excellent historical novel. I hope that you will too!
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 