Book Review: The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (The Academy #2)

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I read The Academy (the first book in this series) in January 2026. Here was my review at that time –

Tiffin Academy is a boarding school in rural Massachusetts, and the novel follows one year in the students' and faculty members' lives. With all the teenage drama, hook-ups, break-ups, slang, and cultural references, I felt that this book is targeting the YA audience rather than Elin Hilderbrand's typical readers. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the majority of them (faculty included!) are making bad decisions. Unfortunately, there are too many characters and not enough plot and character development for me.

Fast forward to September 2026, when I read the advanced reader’s copy of Thoroughbreds (the second and final book in this series). To be honest, the same review can be used for this book.

The book once again seems to be a YA book, and I’m definitely not that target audience. There is way too much product placement and name dropping, most of which goes right over my head. There are too many characters to keep track of, both faculty and students. And some of the names are so similar – Rhode, Royce, Roy. Predictably, the ending ties up everything in a neat little bow and everyone is a winner. And a note to the authors – when you are “dismissed” from a boarding school prior to graduating, you DO NOT apply to graduate school as your next step; you must first graduate from an undergraduate program!

I understand why the mother /daughter team wrote this book together. Shelby attended St. George’s boarding school in Rhode Island, and now is a student at the University of Miami, which figures prominently in this storyline. I wanted to give both books in this series a better score because typically I really enjoy Elin Hilderbrand’s writing, but that was just too much of a challenge.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced reader copy of this upcoming book, pubished September 15, 2026.

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Book Review: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Artie is a middle-aged high school history teacher.  He and his wife Evie seem to be at odds with one another, and he doesn’t see or talk to his grown son Rob nearly as much as he’d like to.  He wonders why people make small talk but don’t tend to talk about important subjects and speculates frequently about free will.  He realizes that people keep secrets from one another.  He is suffering from depression and isolation, and it’s starting to affect his teaching and his relationships with others.  

This is a very character-driven novel which takes us through a year in Artie’s life – 2024-2025.  The reader gets more than a peak into Artie’s mind and thought processes, interspersing vignettes with his wife, his son, his students, friends and neighbors.  And it shows the impact that Artie had on all of them.  I absolutely loved the relationship that Artie had with his son, and how it developed throughout the book.  This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Strout and it certainly won’t be the last.  Content warnings.

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Book Review: Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (Harlem Trilogy #1)

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ray Carney is the owner of an up-and-coming furniture store in Harlem, married to Elizabeth, with their second child on the way.  His in-laws live on Strivers Row in Harlem where he aspires to live, and his father-in-law is a member of the Dumas Club, a club he would like to join.  His life vacillates between running his furniture store and fencing the stolen goods that his cousin and friends bring to him. 

Whitehead’s writing gives the reader a true sense of place – the Harlem neighborhood of 125^th Street in 1959-1964 – by including real places such as the Apollo Theater and Morningside Park, and real events such as the riots.  There is an overall theme of race, class structure, and how the law can be applied.

I’m anxious to read the second in the series, Crook Manifesto, which covers the 1970’s, and the third and final book in the series, Cool Machine, which covers the 1980’s.

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Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound, Tova is a 70-something woman who works the night shift at the local aquarium.  One of the famous aquarium exhibits is Marcellus, a giant aging octopus with whom Tova develops a friendship.  Cameron is an immature 30-year old who recently relocated to the same small town searching for his long-lost father as well as meaning for his life.
  
The story unfolds from three different points of view – Tova, Cameron and Marcellus.  Tova and Cameron find each other and slowly realize their connection with help from Marcellus.

It’s always a delight when I discover a five star book after reading too many three star fair to middling books recently.  Bonus points because it’s a debut novel!

Suspend your disbelief and immerse yourself in the lives of Tova, Cameron and Marcellus the octopus, along with the other quirky characters in Sowell Bay. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you certainly won’t regret it!  Such a unique magical realism five star read!

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Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who writes letters every day. To the casual observer she has had a very fulfilling life -- a career in law working for a judge, two successful adult children, grandchildren, a wonderful home on the water in Maryland, her expansive garden, and friends and pen pals. However through the letters she writes and receives, we discover more about her -- missed opportunities, loneliness, medical issues, grief, regretted decisions, and much more.

This epistolary debut novel is told entirely through letters from 2012-2022, revealing Sybil's life to the reader little by little. It was a delight to read, one of the best fiction books I've read this year, plus one of the most unique in structure. I am anxiously looking forward to another book by this ingenious author!

July 2026 Update: I read this book again for a summer book club, and enjoyed it even more the second time around! The six of us had such a lively discussion, and this book give us so much to talk about. I have been recommending this book to all my friends, and very highly recommended for book clubs!

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Book Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars)  Katie is a video producer working at a commercial video company, and she gets the opportunity to film a promotional video for the Coast Guard in the Florida Keys.  The video focuses on rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, who happens to be her boss's brother and they are not speaking to one another.  The bad news is that she doesn't know how to swim, and of course this assignment involves a lot of swimming.  

I usually really like Katherine Center's novels, but I almost gave up on this one.  The main character has a horrible self-image and just wallows in it.  The first 25% of the book was very difficult to read because of all of her self-hate.  A "Note from the Author" at the beginning of the book warns the reader about this.

I started reading this book on the flight for my vacation, and finished it the next day.  It was a perfect book to keep my mind occupied but not too deep that I would lose track of the story line.  The characters were all very interesting, and the light romance kept things moving along.  I'm glad I persisted in reading it because it ended up being a lot of fun, even if it was very predictable.  

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Book Review - Update (Re-reading): Funny Story by Emily Henry

Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure -- I love Emily Henry's books. She always manages to come up with very interesting and unique situations, to write believable characters, to have them encounter plausible obstacles, and most of all write incredible dialog! I just immerse myself into the world in each of her books, wanting to be friends with her characters.

Funny Story has everything in my personal reading wheelhouse: a children's librarian, set in Traverse City, Michigan, wine, books, and reading! Daphne is the children's librarian who moved to northern Michigan with her fiance, whose family lives there. At his bachelor party he realizes that he is in love with his childhood platonic friend and breaks up with Daphne. In a twist of fate, she moves in with Miles, the ex-boyfriend of said childhood friend who needs a new roommate. Daphne is an introvert trying to make her way in a relatively new town where all of her friends were actually her fiance's friends. Miles serves as an unofficial area tour guide, and you can predict what happens next.

I just need Emily Henry to write faster! It's difficult to wait for her next book. However, it's gratifying to know that three of her books are in the process of being made into movies! I can't wait!
https://www.today.com/popculture/book...

March 2026 Update -- I just re-read this book for one of my book clubs, and it's just as good the second time around!! The good news is that Netflix has picked this up for their streaming service (film or series...unknown at this time). Emily is writing the screenplay and casting has not yet begun. I can't wait...again!!
https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/m... 

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Book Review: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Harriet M. Welsch is an 11-year old girl in the 6th grade, living on the upper east side in New York City.  She is an aspiring writer and spy, and spends her days carrying around her notebook, making entries about the people she encounters.  Harriet is a unique individual who doesn't worry what other people think of her until one day.  She accidentally drops her notebook while playing with her classmates and they read the snarky and embarrassing entries she has written about them.  What happens next and how Harriet resolves the situation is genius.  

I absolutely love the sketches in the book of the various individuals that are in Harriet's life.  And I really love the sketch on the cover the classic edition (not the subsequent covers).

I was shocked when I recently read that this book has been banned at various times since it was published in the 1960s for promoting bad behavior, back talk and swearing.  In spite of that, it remains a children's classic.  

I originally read this book in 7th grade and absolutely loved it.  My best friend and I formed a spy club, went around spying on neighbors and writing in our notebooks.  That didn't last too long, but my love for Harriet has endured and it's no surprise that my favorite genre of books is mysteries.  I wanted to read this book as an adult to see if it still captured the charm and uniqueness that is Harriet.  And it does!  On to the second entry in this series - The Long Secret.

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Book Review: The Violin Maker's Secret by Evie Woods (Advance Reader Copy)

The Violin Maker's Secret by Evie Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three strangers come together surrounding a violin; they are trying to find out who initially made this violin (the luthier) and its provenance.  Devlin is a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport, Walter is a retired history teacher, and Gabrielle works in the family business of violin appraisal.  Their travels take them from London to Bath, Italy and finally to Dublin to track down the history of this important violin.  

This book has many of the things that I look for in a great book:  found friends, classical music,  musical instruments, and self discovery.  Throw in some magical realism, a little romance, and an encounter with some gangsters and you've got a wonderful, fast-paced story.  Through flashbacks the reader discovers all the individuals that have owned this violin throughout its history ...including Niccolo Paganini!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advance reader copy of this book.

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Book Review: The Art of the English Murder: From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock

The Art of the English Murder: From Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes to Agatha Christie and Alfred Hitchcock by Lucy Worsley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very comprehensive book about the true crimes in England.  I was expecting more about the authors of mysteries and detective, but unfortunately that information was contained in the last 10-15% of the book.  The subtitle of the book is definitely a little misleading!

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Book Review: Wreck by Catherine Newman (Rocky #2)

Wreck by Catherine Newman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars upgraded to 4 stars.  This is the second book by Catherine Newman focusing on Rocky (Rachel) and her family.  Once again we are immersed in her family drama -- her father and daughter are both living with she and her husband, and her son and his wife visit often.  She is still full of anxiety, inner dialogues which often get spoken out loud, medical issues, and her obsession about people and events that are just tangentially connected to her.  

For some reason, this one just didn't resonate with me as much as her first book, Sandwich, which I gave 5 stars.  I didn't really like the focus on the two aspects of the titular 'wreck.'  To be honest, the part I enjoyed the most was one of the final chapters when Rocky was in the kitchen with the extended family making Thanksgiving dinner.  Everyone is there, there's witty conversation, cooking, humor, and just a family enjoying a holiday.  This chapter alone reminded me of what I loved about her first book.  

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Book Review: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A charming, "meet-cute" story about two best friends (female/male) who take an annual vacation together. The book follows them over 12 years and 12 vacations. I'm usually not a fan of non-linear novels but I can see how it works in this case, interspersing the back story vacations with present day. Incredibly smart, witty dialogue. It should be made into a movie. Where is Nora Ephron when we need her?!? 

Re-read 2/2026 - I upgraded the rating to 5 stars this time!

This was the first book by Emily Henry that I read -- five years ago. I was absolutely charmed by her writing, the characters, the story, and her dialog. After reading all of her other books, I wanted to revisit it to see if it held up. It certainly did...and much more! I really appreciated it the second time through, especially the structure of the book with the non-linear timeline.

Because I read the hardcover book the first time, I wasn't aware of the Reader's Guide / Behind the Book, where Emily compares her book to a flipped version of the movie When Harry Met Sally... (which incidentally is one of my all-time favorite movies). And of course, I'm now looking forward to viewing the Netflix movie based on this book. Overall, a really wonderful reading experience!

In case anyone is interested, here's the list of vacations:

12 summers ago - University of Chicago orientation where Poppy meets Alex
11 - The drive together from U Chicago to Linfield, Ohio
10 - Victoria, Canada
9 - Nashville
8 - San Francisco
7 - New Orleans
6 - Vail, Colorado
5 - Sanibel Island, Florida
4 - Sweden / Norway
3 - Tuscany
2 - Croatia
1 - No Summer Trip
This summer - Palm Springs, California

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Book Review: The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand

The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tiffin Academy is a boarding school in rural Massachusetts, and the novel follows one year in the students' and faculty members' lives.

With all the teenage drama, hook-ups, break-ups, slang, and cultural references, I felt that this book is targeting the YA audience rather than Elin Hilderbrand's typical readers.  There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the majority of them (faculty included!) are making bad decisions.  Unfortunately, there are too many characters and not enough plot and character development for me.

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Book Review: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The basis for this book is a fable, written by Antonius Diogenes in the 2nd century.  It is woven within stories of five different individuals from various points in time and place.  Anna and her sister Maria live in Constantinople in the 14th century.  Omeir is a young boy born with a cleft palate, living with his farming family also in Constantinople.  Zeno lives in Idaho in the 20th century, but also spent time in a POW camp during the Korean War.  Seymour is a young boy on the autism spectrum and lives with his single mother, also in Idaho.  Finally, Konstance is a 12-year old living with her mother and father aboard the Argus starship heading for a distant planet.  

Wow - what a wild ride I went on while reading this book!!  The book jumps back and forth between each of the five main characters, with a portion of the Diogenes fable interspersed at the beginning of each section.  

I really struggled with the first 40% of the book, trying to figure out how the characters all fit together and what was happening.  It finally started to make sense and then I literally flew through the remainder of the book.  I typically don't like non-linear books with diverse storylines, but this one worked.  I would like to read it again with the knowledge I now have about the structure of the book.  

I thoroughly enjoyed discussing it with my book club and came away with a much greater appreciation and knowledge of this book.  

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Book Review: The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani

The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars.  Giuseppina Capodimonte Baratta (Jess) lives with her Italian American family in Lake Como, New Jersey.  All of her relatives live within a two-block area, and the family is incredibly close.  She currently works for her favorite uncle in the family business – Italian marble.  Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, she is a 30-something adult who has not achieved her goals or dreams, which prompts her to seek therapy through the online Thera-Me. 

All of this changes when she makes a life-changing decision to move to Cararra, Italy to pursue her dream of learning more about the marble business.  Jess learns the marble business from Italian artisans, travels to Milan and the Italian Lake Como, makes new friends, finds a family, encounters love and loss, and most of all discovers herself.

It’s fun to follow Jess on her adventures in self-discovery, and her Italian American family provides quite a bit humor.  The part of the book set in Italy is incredibly descriptive, and made me want to jump on a plane immediately!  As with all the Adriana Trigiani books that I have read, I absolutely loved it and fell in love immediately with the main character.  

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Book Review: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sayuri Komachi is a librarian working in Tokyo at a small community center library. She has the innate ability to translate what library customers are asking for and discover what information they really need in their lives. "What are you looking for?"

This novella is divided into five sections, each describing an individual who seeks out information at the library, meets Sayuri, and ends up with a life-changing book (plus a bonus gift of a small felted figure with each book list recommendation!). There are characters in each of the sections which then appear in other individual's narratives.

This is a charming, feel-good book was just the thing that I needed to read after a couple of tough reads. And being a librarian, I love the fact that a librarian is the hero of this book! Highly recommended, especially for those who love books about book and librarians!

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Book Review: Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The entire world  is totally covered with giant smog blocking all sunlight which started in the central portion of the United States.  No food can be grown and the main character, a chef, moves from California to Europe in hopes of finding jobs and sources of food.  She applies for a job on the top of a mountain in Italy, lies on the application about her experience as a French chef, and is offered the job.  She is expected to create lavish multi-course meals for incredibly rich and pretentious individuals. 

I read this for one of my book clubs.  I really enjoyed the story lines about the main character's work as a chef and all the food preparation.  However, dystopic novels are definitely  not my cup of tea.  It took me almost three weeks to finish the book; I kept picking it up and then putting it down again, finding it challenging reading especially in the Thanksgiving season.

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Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who writes letters every day.  To the casual observer she has had a very fulfilling life -- a career in law working for a judge, two successful adult children, grandchildren, a wonderful home on the water in Maryland, her expansive garden, and friends and pen pals.  However through the letters she writes and receives, we discover more about her -- missed opportunities, loneliness, medical issues, grief, regretted decisions, and much more.  

This epistolary debut novel is told entirely through letters from 2012-2022, revealing Sybil's life to the reader little by little.  It was a delight to read, one of the best fiction books I've read this year, plus one of the most unique in structure.  I am anxiously looking forward to another book by this ingenious author!

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Book Review: Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Due to an inadvertent gym bag mix-up in the locker room, Sam and Nisha no longer have their own belongings.  The sensible black pumps that Sam needs for her morning business meeting are not in her bag; instead she has a pair of 6-inch Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes.  Hilarity...and heartbreak ensue for both of them.

The book alternates chapters between Sam and Nisha's worlds and both are experiencing a lot of drama -- loss of a job, depression, a sick best friend, impending divorce, frozen bank accounts and credit cards, and much more.  

JoJo Moyes has written two incredible characters, and we are rooting for their best outcomes.  The character I loved the most was hard-working, funny and generous Jasmine who gets Nisha a job, a place to stay and the friendship and support she needs at this time.  It's a page turner with a lot of action, and we are racing for the finish and hoping for the best.  There's both laugh-out-loud humor and tear-jerking drama contained in this book.  I'm definitely going to seek out more of her books in the near future.  

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Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The shy and unassuming young woman, hired to be a personal companion to a boisterous and snobbish American, meets the brooding widower Maxim de Winter in Monte Carlo.  He impulsively proposes to her and they return to his opulent mansion, Manderly, on the Cornwall coast.  She immediately realizes that the house is inhabited by the ghost of his first wife, Rebecca, who is the polar opposite of the second Mrs. de Winter.  

I have been wanting to read this classic gothic novel for years, and I'm glad I finally got around to it this summer.  What an immersive and enjoyable reading experience it was!  I was immediately drawn into the haunting tale, especially the descriptions of the house and grounds.  Throw in a costume ball, the creepy maid Mrs. Danvers, and a shocking mystery, and you've got a wonderful five star read!  Highly recommended, and I'm sorry that I waited so long.  I'll definitely be reading more by Daphne du Maurier in the near future.

As a bonus, we watched the Criterion Collection restored version of the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film, Rebecca, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.  An incredible film, particularly when paired with reading the book!

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