BOOK NEWS: April 15, 2025

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


Warm and Fuzzy – Warm is ready to go on an adventure, but Fuzzy has a LOT of questions and anxiety about all of the unknowns. This looks adorable!

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults


On Again, Awkward Again – Like-at-first-sight turns awkward before it can turn into something more. But the universe keeps putting Pacy and Cecil together to see if they can overcome the awkward.
Pride or Die (LGBTQ+) – The kids in an LGBTQ+ club are framed for attempted murder, but they aren’t going down without a fight. Yes, please!

Books for Adults


Bridesmaid by Chance (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Bridesmaid for Hire series. A gig as a substitute bridesmaid turns into a marriage of convenience.
First Love, Second Draft (Trade Paperback) – A divorced couple get a second chance at love when he realizes he never should have let her go and tries to win her back.
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – Lord Nicholas thought the worst thing he would have to endure would be having a former lover serve as the Vowsmith for his arranged marriage. But then they find the first dead body. And then another.
One Death at a Time (Trade Paperback) – Something new from the fantastic Abbi Waxman! A former actress faces another trip to prison when she finds another dead body unless she can clear her name. And her AA sponsor is determined to go with her to help her stay sober while they find a killer. YES!

BOOK NEWS: April 8, 2025

Here are some of the books releasing this week.

Books for Kids


Sky & Ty: Dinomite – Book 2 in the Sky & Ty graphic novel chapter book series about a cowgirl and her TRex friend. This looks adorable!
Stink and the Big Bad Badgers – Book 14 in the Stink Moody series. When Stink and his friends find out that Survival Scouts is just for boys, they make their own nature troop – the Big Bad Badgers.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults


The Double Trouble Puzzle – Book 2 in the MK’s Detective Club series. Minerva was hoping for a new mystery to solve, but she didn’t count on someone trying to take over her detective club just when the mysteries start piling up.
The Trouble with Secrets – A pre-teen starts to feel the pressure as she tries to prepare for her bat mitzvah while also holding not only a big secret of her own, but also holding a secret for her sister.
I Love You S’more (LGBTQ+) – A girl heads to summer camp, hoping to heal from her first breakup but instead she ends up competing with another camper to get to run the summer musical program.

Books for Adults


The Geographer’s Map to Romance (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Love’s Academic series by India Holton. An estranged couple in a marriage of convenience must team up to deal with a magical disaster. Yes, please!
The Maid’s Secret (Hardcover) – Book 3 in the Molly the Maid series. Molly’s fortune has turned as she discovers she has a priceless heirloom, but when the item goes missing, she must dig into her grandmother’s past to find a theif as well as long buried truths. This sounds fantastic!
The Page Turner (Trade Paperback) – A secret romance writer has the chance to save her pretentious family from a secret that could ruin their vanity press.
The Price of Everything (Trade Paperback) – The Couriers Guild makes the US Postal Service delivery promise look like a joke, with their agents carrying attachés connected to titanium cuffs grafted to bone. Their deliveries are a matter of life or death. So when an agent finds his pick up missing, he will do everything in his power to find it.
A Proposal to Die For (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Molly Harper. A marriage propsal planner tries to salvage her trip to an exclusive resort with a bridezilla-to-be by finding a killer.
Save the Date (Trade Paperback) – A woman tries to salvage her reputation as a relationship guru after a big break up by keeping her wedding date and trying to find a new groom to just step into the plans she already made.
The Enneagram of the Soul: A 40-Day Spiritual Companion for the 9 Types (Trade Paperback) – Part one of this new spiritual resource focuses on practices for each type while part two lists 40 practices and how they can be applied to each type.

BOOK NEWS: April 1, 2025

Happy almost-April! Here are some of the books releasing this week – no fooling!

Books for Kids


Dragon Masters: Night of the Dream Dragon – Book 28 in the Dragon Masters series.

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults


Cartoonists Club (Graphic Novel) – A new graphic novel for middle grade readers from the author of Drama and Smile about a group of kids who form a cartoonists club.
The Dragon’s Apprentice – A girl living in a kingdom where magic is forbidden accidentally summons a dragon!
The Liars Society: A Risky Game – Book 2 in the Liar’s Society series by Alyson Gerber about a secret society.
What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
Who Is Caitlin Clark?
All the Stars Align – A young woman in a family of people who always know their true love upon first meeting has to rely on her former best friend to help her connect with her own true love.
Give Up the Night – The conclusion of the Moonstruck duology after the fantastic Draw Down the Moon. Lee finds himself on the other side of things at Academia de la Luna from his best friend, Wren, as things come to a head.
Huda F Wants to Know (Graphic Novel) – Book 3 in this graphic novel series starring Huda, a Muslim teen. This time, Huda finds out her parents are getting a divorce.
Lady Knight – Book 2 in the Diamonds historical fiction series. A rogue discovers a young woman’s secrets when she participates in a group called the Lady Knights, a group of rebellious young women who do things polite society says they should avoid.
Notorious Virtues – When her mother is killed, a young heiress has to compete with her cousins to see who will take over the family fortune. This sounds amazing!
Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons) (e-book) – In a desperate effort to turn around her fortunes, Sasha steals a priceless jewel of magic from a dying seadragon, and then she must go on the run. Yes, please!

Books for Adults


Any Trope But You (Trade Paperback) – A romance author who doesn’t believe in HEAs finds herself in the middle of a real life romance with every trope imaginable. I cannot wait to read this!
Beast (Charming) (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Charming series. In a gender-flipped Beauty and the Beast, a con-man finds himself trapped in a beautiful castle with a cursed woman.
Flight of the Sparrow (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series.  A young woman is at risk of losing everything she has built for herself when her estranged grandmother – a notorious space pirate who abandoned her – is accused of terrorism. Yes, please!
If Tomorrow Never Comes (Trade Paperback) – A woman facing a serious illness has a life-changing romantic encounter and then walks away. A year later, in better health, she meets the woman whose stem cell donation saved her life, only to meet the woman’s boyfriend – the man from her encounter. Fascinating dilemma!
Say You’ll Remember Me (Hardcover) – Something new from the fantastic Abby Jimenez (The Friend Zone – ♥♥♥♥½, The Happy Ever After Playlist – ♥♥♥♥½).  Despite a fantastic first date, a woman walks away, deciding her life is too chaotic for a relationships, encouraging the man to just forget her.
Smoke and Murders (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Impossible Crimes series after Three Card Murder. A female detective and her con artist sister are asked to help a woman suspected of murder.  I have book 1 on my TBR – this series sounds so fun!
Spilling the Tea (Trade Paperback) – A young woman with no memory of the accident that left her an orphan goes hunting for answers.
Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Vera Wong series. Vera, bored after the excitement of solving a murder at her tea shop, goes looking for another case – and finds one! These books sound amazing.

BOOK NEWS: April 30, 2024

It’s the last release week of April – here are some of the books out this week:

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Cats of Silver Crescent – A girl visiting her great aunt encounters walking and talking cats, and they need her help.
The Ultimate Wizarding World: History of Magic (Older Middle Grade) – From the editors of MuggleNet. A collection of historical moments in the magical world of Harry Potter.
Big Dweeb Energy – A new FoxTrot collection!! I have already preordered this!
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge (LGBTQ+) – Three guys having boyfriend trouble team up for revenge and end up launching a student rebellion against those who would try to silence queer voices. Yes, please!
Not Like Other Girls – A girl ostracized after nude photos are leaked ends up in a fake relationship as she tries to get back into her old clique to find answers when an old friend goes missing.

Books for Adults


Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies (Hardcover) – First in a new series. A mystery writer on a book tour finds herself investigating an attempted murder when the con man she based her main character on is attacked. Yes, please!
Happy Medium (Trade Paperback) – A fake medium is asked to help someone sell a house, but instead of the elderly seller she’s expecting, it’s a hot guy her age, and instead of faking her way through a mystical performance she encounters a very real ghost. This sounds like a hoot!
The Library of Borrowed Hearts (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Lucy Gilmore. A librarian discovers a series of books around town with romantic notes left in the margins, and the books seem connected to her grumpy neighbor. Yes, please!
Murdle Vol. 3 – A new volume of Logic Puzzles.

BOOK NEWS: April 23, 2024

Happy April! No fooling, here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids


Not My Cat – A women “adopted” by a stray cat insists it is not her cat – but when the cat disappears, she worries about what happened to it.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Tree. Table. Book. – Two Sophies. One in elementary school, the other much older. But they are best friends. But when the elder Sophie starts having memory issues, her family plans to move her away – something young Sophie can’t even imagine. Just reading the description of this book made me tear up. I have to read this one.
Harley Quinn: Redemption (LGBTQ+) – The final book in this DC Icons trilogy. Harley is taunted by a criminal who is taking young girls, daring her to come find them.
Kill Her Twice – When they suspect a coverup at work in the case of their murdered childhood friend, the Chow sisters start looking for a killer.
A Whisper in the Walls – Sequel to A Door in the Dark. Theo has been exiled and Ren has been thwarted in her revenge plan, but there are others who would like to see the end of House Brood. This series sounds fascinating!

 

Books for Adults


Earls Trip (Trade Paperback) – Three earls on an annual “boys” trip have their plans upended when one has to ride to the rescue of childhood friends. This sounds SO fun!
Fake Flame (Trade Paperback) – A firefighter offers to help a woman get rid of her ex by posing as her boyfriend. Yes, please!
Funny Story (Hardcover) – Two strangers become roommates when their fiancés dump them to date the other person’s ex. And it doesn’t take long for someone to get the bright idea that they fake a relationship to try to get their exes back. Yep, this is on the list, too.
The Good Ones Are Taken (Trade Paperback) – When Maggie starts dating a great guy from her gym, her longtime friend keeps finding flaws in him until he finally confesses he’s loved her all along and doesn’t want to see her with someone else. How can she be expected to choose?
The Lady Plays With Fire (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Goode’s Guide to Misconduct series. A theatre critic and the playwright she blasted in print meet and discover their secret identities. Will their professional conflict ruin their chance at love? This sounds fun!
Not How I Pictured It (Trade Paperback) – A former star who left her career behind in shame after her father took all of her money finds herself back with her old cast, 20 years later as the studio tries to resurrect the old show. But on their way to filming the group ends up stranded by a storm on a small island – and they are “the most useless survival group in history.” Yes, please!
Star For Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit): Rediscovering the Grace that Sets us Free (Hardcover Nonfiction) – A memoir in essays about faith and grace.

BOOK NEWS: April 16, 2024

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids


My Lost Freedom – Author, actor, and activist George Takei shares his story of being in an incarceration camp as a boy during WWII.

Books for Teens/Young Adults


Dear Wendy (LGBTQ+) – Two college freshmen who identify as aromantic and asexual start to become friends thanks to that shared identity. But neither knows that the other is behind their IG rival’s secret identity. I’m looking forward to reading this one!
The King’s Sword – Book 2 in the League of Rulers series by Jennifer Anne Davis. Sabine finds more than she bargained for when she went looking for her sister’s killer and then became a queen. I already have book 1 on my TBR, and this sounds amazing!
The Lady of Rapture – Book 3 in the Bones of Ruin trilogy. An immortal tightrope walker finds herself in a fight for her life. I have book one of this series on my TBR, too!

Books for Adults


Christa Comes Out of Her Shell (Trade Paperback) – Something new from Abbi Waxman! Christa’s lost and presumed-dead father returns, upending her family, her research, and her personal life. If I see a book is by Abbi Waxman, it’s an automatic purchase for me. I can’t wait to read this one!
The Finders Keepers Library (Trade Paperback) – A young woman lost and looking for any sort of anchor for her life decides to spend the summer with her aunt while trying to put the pieces of her life back together. While there, she finds a community – and the possibility of love.
Nun Too Soon (ebook – April 18) – Book 1 in the Bad Habit Book Club series from the folks with Smartypants Romance. A former nun-turned-librarian and a bounty hunter have a chance at love in this hilarious-sounding story that I have already pre-ordered!
One Last Word (Trade Paperback) – An app creator finds her life turned upside down when her app, which allows users to upload final messages to be released upon their death glitches and she watches her own drunkenly-saved messages get sent when someone else with her name passes away. YES!

BOOK NEWS: April 9, 2024

Here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Kids


Shared Space – From the author of the Wombats! series. An order-loving mouse gets a new neighbor – Pak-rat. I discovered this book after falling in love with the illustrations for the Wombat! series. And now I want all of the author’s picture books too!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


 

Keeping Pace (Older Middle Grade) – A girl who wants to run a half-marathon starts training with her middle school rival.
What Was the Great Molasses Flood of 1919? – I had never heard of the “molasses flood” before I read an I Survived book that talked about it. I think this would be a fascinating title for kids to check out!
Teenage Dirtbags (LGBTQ+) – When Phil gets dumped by “golden boy” Cameron, he seeks out his old best friend Jackson to help him show the world who Cameron really is. I have this one on hold at the library already!

Books for Adults


The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers (Hardcover) – An orphan raised by the Fellowship of Puzzlers is given a final puzzle to solve that is supposed to tell him about who is is and how he came to be with the Fellowship.
How to End a Love Story (Trade Paperback) – Former friends with a complicated past find themselves working together in the writer’s room for a TV adaptation of her work.
The Kiss Countdown (Trade Paperback) – An astronaut and an event planner concoct a fake relationship plan that gives him a girlfriend for the 3 months leading up to his launch so his family will get off his back. In return, she gets a place to live, rent-free, while she tries to launch her own business.

BOOK NEWS: April 2, 2024

Happy April! No fooling, here are some of the new books out this week:

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Mystery of Locked Rooms – A girl whose family is facing foreclosure teams up with her friends to find a rumored treasure in an abandoned fun house.
The Second Favorite Daughters Club: Sister Sabotage – Two girls tired of feeling like second class citizens in their families start a club with the goal of becoming their parents’ favorite children.
Draw Down the Moon – A girl who was never supposed to develop magic and a boy who thought he knew his magical destiny meet up at a magical school where something dark and dangerous is happening.  Yes, please!
The Reappearance of Rachel Price – A family agrees to be part of a true crime documentary about their missing and presumed dead mother – but she reappears during filming with an unbelievable story about where she has been. Fascinating!

Books for Adults


Bridesmaid for Hire (Trade Paperback) – In order to move her event planning business to the next level, Maggie has to not only work during her vacation, but also pretend to be dating her sworn enemy. Sounds fun!
How to Plot a Payback (Trade Paperback) – A screenwriter gets the job of a lifetime, but it puts him back in proximity to the woman who has repeatedly ruined his life over the years. So he decides a little payback is in order as he writes her character into some unexpected plotlines. This sounds cute!
An Inconvenient Wife (Hardcover) – A man’s 6th wife teams up with two of her predecessors when a headless body is found near her new home and she tries to determine who the victim is – and if it has anything to do with another headless body found eight years ago. That sounds amazing!
Just for the Summer (Trade Paperback) – From the fabulous Abby Jimenez. Two people “cursed” to always be the one BEFORE a person finds their perfect match decide to date each other in order to cancel out their curses so they can finally find love. Yes, please!
Marvel What If: What If Loki Was Worthy? (Hardcover) – First in a new trio of stories from Marvel’s What If universe.  Thor is dead, and Loki is a fault, so he is banished to Earth and charged by a Valkyrie to help him deliver Mjolnir to Jane Foster as Thor’s final wish. But when Tony Stark vows revenge on Asgard for all Loki destroyed, can the god of mischief become a hero for his people?
Only and Forever (Trade Paperback) – Book 7 in the Bergman Brothers series. A man with a struggling romance bookstore agrees to help a writer with writer’s block in exchange for her help with the store. I haven’t read any of the earlier books, but this book-based plot caught my attention.
The Rule Book (Trade Paperback) – An NFL tight end has a change for a little revenge on his college ex when she asks to be his agent as she launches her career. Ending up married after a wild night in Vegas wasn’t part of the plan.
What Is Love? (Trade Paperback) – Two trivia fans first meet when she wipes out his streak on the show Answers! But when they reconnect for a competition between the biggest winners of Answers! they decide to team up to prep for the big showdown.
The Unfiltered Enneagram (Trade Paperback) – A new Enneagram resource from the person behind the @RudeAssEnneagram social media account. I’ll post a full review for this one soon, but I will say now that this is OUTSTANDING!
Worth Fighting For: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty Is Trending (Trade Paperback) – From John Pavlovitz. A collection of recent essays as well as new material from the author designed to encourage readers toward hope, courage, and compassion.

BOOK NEWS: April 25, 2023

This is the final release week of April – wow, that month went fast! Here are some of the books releasing this week:

Books for Older Kids/ Teens/Young Adults


What Was the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921? – The Tulsa Race Massacre is also known as the destruction of Black Wall Street. This will likely be a troubling read, but a necessary part of history to face and understand.
Harley Quinn: Ravenous – Sequel to Harley Quinn: Reckoning. Harley starts an internship at Arkham where she works with Talia al Ghūl. This is NOT where I thought this next book was going, but I will definitely be reading this one.
That Self-Same Metal – First in a new series. A craftswoman with power over metal finds herself in a strange situation with the Fae in the time of Shakespeare. This is a fascinating  set up.

Books for Adults


Ashes to Ashes Crust to Crust (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Deep Dish Mystery series after Six Feet Deep Dish. Delilah is hoping to win a Taste of Wisconsin contest which will help her business a lot, but things get complicated when someone dies at her contest – and romantic – rival’s juice bar. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Bear With Me Now (Trade Paperback) – An executive at a wilderness therapy retreat starts to fall for the handywoman who saves him from a bear.
French Holiday (Trade Paperback – April 26) – Merry’s sister has married the only man Merry has ever loved, so she needs an escape plan, and fast. A castle in the French countryside sounds like the perfect solution, except her nemesis is there as well.
Happy Place (Hardcover) – Two exes pretend to still be together for the friend group’s annual vacation since they never told anyone they had broken up. Yes, please! That sounds awesome!
Moorewood Family Rules (Hardcover) – She might have gone to prison to save all of their butts, but now that she’s out, Jillian has some new rules for the con artists and rogues in her family. This sounds amazing!
#TagMe for Murder (e-book) – Book 2 in the Trending Topic Mystery series. New neighbors threaten Coco’s and Jasper’s business empires, and when one of the neighbors is murdered, Jasper becomes the prime suspect.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After (Trade Paperback) – A bookstore owner meets her author-crush – and his grumpy best friend – and soon finds herself in a love triangle with both men. But she’s also certain they are keeping something from her. It seems obvious what the “secret” is going to be, but I don’t even care. This sounds awesome!
The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (Trade Paperback) – The Enneagram meets Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? Yep, I’ll be checking that one out!
Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation (Paperback) – Best practices for reading and studying the Old Testament. During the pandemic, I started watching a teaching series from the author of this book, and I really liked him! I’m eager to try this and see if it’s as engaging as he was in the video series.

BOOK NEWS: April 18, 2023

Here are some of the books out this week – what’s on your wish list?

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Swallowtail Legacy: Betrayal By the Book – Book 2 in the series; from the author of the fantastic Red Blazer Girls. Lark’s favorite author comes to the island, but she’s not at all what Lark expected – and not in a good way. And then the woman’s assistant is killed. I loved the Red Blazer Girls, so I am intrigued about this new middle grade mystery series – especially one with a book focus!
Against the Stars – Two boys find friendship turning into something more as they negotiate a world where people can see a Glimpse of their future. And things take a turn when people realize no one has ever had a Glimpse beyond a certain day on the calendar. The sci-fi tech of this is fascinating! I have to check this one out!
A Hunger of Thorns – Maude’s best friend, always drawn toward dark, powerful magic, has gone missing and Maude seems to be the only one who can figure out where she went – and the only one determined enough to step into the unknown in order to find her.
No Boy Summer – Feeling fed up with relationship drama, two sisters swear off boys for the summer. But when one starts to have feelings for a girl she meets through her summer job. she wonders if it’s breaking her promise to her sister if the relationship is technically not with a boy.
Sunshine (Graphic Novel Memoir) – A follow up to the fantastic Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka. The author turns to his time at Camp Sunshine working with seriously ill children in his second graphic novel memoir.

 

Books for Adults


The Blood Gift (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the duology, the follow up to The Blood Trials. This feels like an IYKYK situation. If you aren’t familiar with book one, start there. It’s on my wishlist!
The Bone Shard War (Hardcover) – The third and final book in the Drowning Empire series. This is another fantasy title on my TBR.
Damsel (Hardcover) – Soon to be on Netflix. A young woman agrees to an arranged marriage in order to save her people, but she discovers they intend to sacrifice her to a dragon. I will be reviewing this one soon.
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Trade Paperback) – Book 3 in the Dangerous Damsels series. Rival spies must pose as husband and wife to infiltrate a pirate house party in search of an assassin. I have this on hold from the library.
365 Gays of the Year: Discover LGBTQ+ History One Day at a Time (Hardcover Nonfiction) – I received a free review copy of this book from Netgalley, and I spent an evening reading through a variety of the short biographies. This was a fascinating read, and I really enjoyed it. (♥♥♥♥)
Sticks AND Stones – Two new Bible studies by Kat Armstrong. I picked up Mountains as well as Valleys when they released earlier this year. I really like the structure and set up of these and I am looking forward to more in this collection.