All of this year, I've been eagerly anticipating Dances, the debut novel by Nicole Cuffy. It follows Cece, a young Black woman who has just been promoted to principal within the New York City Ballet. Over the course of a few months, we get a glimpse of the pressure she feels and the passion that... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved reading Jenn McKinlay's 2020 novel, Paris Is Always a Good Idea. Now she has a brand new book, Summer Reading, and I was thrilled to be included in the book tour for it. With a neurodivergent heroine, a librarian hero, and a focus on family, this is a sweet and inclusive romance.... Continue Reading →
Last year, Claudia Gray began a new Regency mystery series with The Murder of Mr. Wickham. As you may have surmised from that title, the story is inspired by Jane Austen and indeed features characters from all six of her novels. It also introduced several new characters, including our sleuthing protagonists, the respective children the Darcys... Continue Reading →
Several months ago, I was excited to get an early copy of The Collected Regrets of Clover, the debut novel by Mikki Brammer. Admittedly, I was initially drawn to the cover and the unusual first name of Clover, but as someone who has experienced quite a bit of loss and grief in the past decade,... Continue Reading →
Last year, I loved Carley Fortune's debut novel, Every Summer After. Now she's back with another atmospheric romance, Meet Me at the Lake. Ten years ago, Fern and Will spent 24 incredible hours together, and they vowed to meet up again at the same place exactly one year later. Only Fern showed up. Now 32,... Continue Reading →
Laura Hankin is an author whose books all appeal to me, and it's about time I actually read one of them! Her latest release is The Daydreams, about the cast a popular teen show from the early 2000s getting a chance at a reunion special. But the four stars of the show are very different... Continue Reading →
In the past several years, I've been particularly drawn to stories by and about Somali people. Admittedly, part of this has been inspired by the singer K'naan, whose music I enjoy. Whether reading memoirs or novels or shorter fiction, there is a growing number of authors with roots in Somalia. This week, Idman Nur Omar... Continue Reading →
A fantasy book I was super excited for last year was The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah. Her debut novel, it's also the first in the Sandsea Trilogy. In all honesty, I was first drawn to the cover and the Aladdin vibes I got from it. Even so, this book is all its own, an... Continue Reading →
Do you enjoy reading historical fiction about real-life people? Do you have an affinity for fashion and cosmetics? If so, you'll definitely want to read Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renée Rosen. Set in New York City in 1938, it follows Gloria Downing as she tries to disappear and reinvent herself. She meets another young... Continue Reading →
In the past few years, I've becoming increasingly drawn to collections of short stories, especially when they center on a topic or culture I know little about. One such book that caught my interest is I Am My Country: And Other Stories by Kenan Orhan. This collection features 10 short stories, all set in Turkey... Continue Reading →
After enjoying a couple of romance novellas in February, I was in the mood for another quick and cute love story. I picked out For Love or Music by Julie Lipson, in part because of my deep love for music. It's such a different romance than I'm used to reading, and I really enjoyed the... Continue Reading →
While perusing NetGalley last summer, I came across The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro. The cover was stunning and the summary captured my interest, and I was so happy to be given an ARC of it. I read it last October, both in honor of Latinx Heritage Month and to celebrate Spooky Season. I... Continue Reading →
Susan Meissner is an author I've been planning to start reading, and now that she has a new book out, that urge is even stronger. Today, her novel Only the Beautiful hits shelves. It follows two timelines: In 1938, newly orphaned Rosanne moves in with the owners of a California vineyard. When she becomes pregnant,... Continue Reading →
Last year, I greatly enjoyed Brendan Slocumb's debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy. As soon as I heard about his second book, I could hardly wait. I was overjoyed to get an ARC of his new novel, Symphony of Secrets, which comes out tomorrow, April 18th. His sophomore release is even more impressive and impactful than his... Continue Reading →
In the past four years, Silvia Moreno-Garcia has become one of my favorite authors. She has quite a few books already, and I'm still working my through her catalogue. One of the three novels left on my list was Untamed Shore, her noir thriller from early 2020. Set against a 1970s summer in Mexico, a... Continue Reading →
Today, one of my most anticipated books this April comes out: Life and Other Love Songs by Anissa Gray. It follows a Black American family in the wake of a father and husband's disappearance. What happened to him? How will his wife and daughter carry on in the years that follow? Life and Other Love... Continue Reading →
In the past couple of years, I've been loving Martha Waters's Regency Vows series. Following To Have and to Hoax, To Love and to Loathe, and To Marry and to Meddle, the newest book is To Swoon and to Spar. It follows our beloved Penvale and a new character, Jane. They're pushed into a marriage neither... Continue Reading →
A new book that's on my radar this month is When Tomorrow Came by Hannah Linder. It follows two siblings, Nan and Heath, who've been abandoned by their father and end up in the streets. Nan is rescued by a kind gentleman and lives in luxury; Heath must fend for himself. Years later, both siblings... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books out this month is Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman. It walks the line of women's fiction and suspense, starting when three best friends enjoy a summer in Greece. But their vacation ended in tragedy, and only two of the girls made it home. Now, ten years after... Continue Reading →
For at least six months, one of my most highly anticipated books has been Ana María and The Fox by Liana De La Rosa. The first in her Luna Sisters series, this historical romance is set in the 1860s and follows three Mexican heiresses fleeing their home country for England. The eldest sister, Ana María,... Continue Reading →
I've always loved mysteries and anything with gothic vibes, so I was excited to read The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright. This novel follows a few different timelines, spanning the 1800s to present day, as two women work through a decades-old mystery surrounding a Wisconsin castle. With both suspense and romance, this... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, I reread my favorite classic novel, Jane Eyre. It's as perfect as I'd remembered, and I wanted to then explore some retellings of it. One such reimagining I was eager to read is Jane & Edward, the debut novel by Melodie Edwards. This book had been on my radar since last... Continue Reading →
Yesterday saw the release of Diana Biller's third novel, Hotel of Secrets, one of my most anticipated books this month. Set in Vienna in 1878, this historical romance combines a love story with mystery, danger, and action, all set against a season of balls and celebrations. It's an original and engrossing novel for anyone who... Continue Reading →
Today, Stephanie Marie Thornton releases her stunning new book, Her Lost Words: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley. This historical fiction novel follows two famous figures, a mother and daughter, who both left their mark on the world. I find both Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley to be fascinating and inspiring women. The... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 