The Black Wolf by Louise Penny

THE BLACK WOLF by Louise Penny is the latest in her series about Inspector Gamache and the Canadian village of Three Pines. This novel picks up where The Grey Wolf ended, with a terrorist plot foiled and the instigator jailed, but something does not seem right to Gamache and his trusted team of Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Isabelle Lacoste. Plot points involving immoral officials, climate change, and manipulation of social media make this title very relevant; so much so that Penny includes an introductory Author’s Note about how she finished the draft in September 2024 only to be surprised herself in January 2025 “when I started spotting headlines that could have been ripped right from the book.” THE BLACK WOLF received a starred review from Publishers Weekly who summarized this absolutely excellent book perfectly: “Penny’s talent for nail-biting suspense and quiet character moments fuse with surprisingly topical subject matter to deliver an unputdownable installment of an ever reliable series. Readers will cheer.” It will have you thinking …

She writes, “Three Pines is a state of mind. A place we carry with us always and live in when we see the chance for the clever, often cutting, remark, but choose kindness. When we are forgiving, as we sometimes need to be forgiven. When we choose decency, and acceptance. When we have integrity and the courage to stand up for what we know to be right. Even at some personal cost.”

Best of the Year in Books ...

Here (in no particular order) is a compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists, updated for 2025: 

National Public Radio provides “Books We Love,” 1000s of titles (from 2025 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups. 

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library, Lake Travis Public Library Staff made a video featuring their favorites,  and New York Public Library published the year’s 10 most checked out books. Keep searching – these lists often lead to others with suggestions for all ages. 

Best of 2025 from School Library Journal; including Sisters in the Wind on its Young Adult list. And there are multiple state award lists to consult, too, like the Texas Lariat Reading List, its 2026 suggestions should be coming soon. Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly – I am excited because I am not very familiar with their Top 10 or Mystery choices so plenty of new ideas to explore. Kirkus Reviews also has a variety of lists.  A separate Kirkus list is provided for best young adult books which can be further subdivided by genre. 

And Goodreads has its Choice Awards across several categories for 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2025 With titles like this year’s top fiction choice (My Friends by Bachman), this is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2025, with best seller (and my personal favorite of the year) Heart of a Stranger. LibraryReads: primarily for public libraries, this group has stopped issuing overall favorites, but  has an impressive archive with Top 10 choices by month. 

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists. The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2025 list for books, both from their reviewers and fifty “luminaries.” In addition to an article about Five Breakout Books (that is a gift link) of which Theo of Golden is one I have on hold currently, see 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; there is also a top ten list on their site. Overwhelmed? The blogger at LitHub has compiled a chart which lists the titles that appeared most frequently on recommended lists (Memorial Days is on eight and The Correspondent is on five) … and my “to-be-read” pile grows ever taller… Plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these many lists. … Ah, so many books and so little time. Once again: Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!

Paper Girl by Beth Macy

Geraldine Brooks (Horse and Memorial Days) says, “If you want to know why our nation is so divided read Beth Macy's PAPER GIRL.” This new text is subtitled “A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America.” As such, it is extremely relevant today and while being very informative, is also a difficult read emotionally. Best-selling and award-winning author Macy (Dopesick) returned to Urbana, Ohio where she grew up and attended high school in order to document the changes in the past forty years. Macy returns to familiar themes about drug addiction, decline of unions (“One in three full-time workers carried union cards when I was coming of age, but now that number is one in ten”), and the lack of local journalism. Readers will empathize with a promising student who is motivated to overcome a dysfunctional family situation, but who struggles to attend college on a scholarship which doesn’t cover transport, room or board. Macy is a gifted writer who shares information about her community and her family in a straightforward, insightful manner. She asks, for example, how communities lose faith in their schools; pointing out “the more divided our education levels, the more divided our nation.” There is so much to consider that I read this book over several months. Macy writes, “The more time I spent back in my hometown, the more I recognized the unprecedented forces that were actively turning the community I loved into a poorer, sicker, angrier, and less educated place.” Still, like Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett in Upswing, Macy is hopeful in this recent text (and in real life where she is running for Congress in the 2026 midterms). PAPER GIRL received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“a welcome salve for a festering social wound. It’s a sobering journey into America’s splintered heartland”), is a Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and is one of Barack Obama's favorite books of 2025. 

The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

THE FROZEN PEOPLE by Elly Griffiths is the start of a new mystery series which features Ali Dawson who has the extraordinary capability to travel in time. She leaves the modern day to go to 1850 London in an attempt to find out whether the ancestor of a government official is guilty of murder. But, something goes wrong, and she is trapped there while a modern-day murder results in her son being arrested. Ali’s colleagues frantically try to return her so that she can apply her crime-solving skills to her son’s case. This series is quite different from the historical mysteries and police procedurals that Griffiths’ fans have come to enjoy, but it does convey a dark feeling of menace and readers will be engaged. Kirkus says, “Murder on several time planes is a fascinating premise enhanced by an enthralling look at Victorian London.” Griffiths herself notes, “Even though the plot is somewhat fantastical, I wanted to make the details as convincing as possible.” Her research and clever writing shine through.

Winning the Earthquake by Lorissa Rinehart

WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE by Lorissa Rinehart is about “How Jeannette Rankin Defied All Odds to Become the First Woman in Congress.” Rinehart, described as a women’s historian, author, speaker and regular Substack contributor, is clearly enthusiastic about Rankin and her accomplishments. The text presents Rankin in a very favorable light while providing details about her 1880’s childhood in rural Montana and her subsequent work with the poor in New York and San Francisco. Rinehart makes a convincing argument that Rankin’s “formative years in Montana taught her that society functioned best when men and women participated equally. Her work in San Francisco proved that women led the way when it came to grassroots enactment of Progressive reform. [And] Her education … underscored the necessity of government regulation in bringing about holistic change on a large scale.” I already knew that Rankin was a pacifist and had served in Congress, but I did not realize that she was first elected to Congress in 1916, four years before the right to vote was granted to women nationwide. I also did not realize that she had voted against US involvement in both World Wars (believing that “you can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake”) and that she was active (while in her nineties) in protesting the Vietnam War. This is a very accessible text brimming with details; with roughly a fourth of the book devoted to Notes. WINNING THE EARTHQUAKE received a starred review from Library Journal which said, “This superb biography of the first woman elected to Congress deserves a place on every public and academic library bookshelf.”

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

ARSENIC AND ADOBO by Mia P. Manansala was a LibraryReads selection in May 2021 and a GoodReads Nominee for best mystery/thriller that year.  Honestly, it has been on my “to-be-read” pile for quite a while, especially since it had received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal and Publishers Weekly.  The first in a series (Tia Rosie’s Kitchen) of what is now six books, I just finished it over the holidays. The main character is named Lila Macapagal and she is devoted to her Filipino family and their restaurant. The story is cute (Lila owns a “chubby” dachshund called Longganisa, a type of sausage) and reminded me of Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes (although the later has a Chicago location versus being located two hours outside the city in fictional Shady Palms), particularly since the livelihood of each restaurant is threatened after an unexpected death. I was grateful for the glossary and pronunciation guide which the author included, although I still struggled to differentiate some of Lila’s family members, especially the older generation, like Tia Rosa and Lila’s grandmother. I clearly enjoy a cozy culinary, often with  enclosed recipes like those found in ARSENIC AND ADOBO, but my favorites in that category remain the Goldy Bear ones by Diane Mott Davidson.

The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan

THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY by Jenny Colgan has such a beautiful, festive cover that I was immediately drawn to it. Other readers in my book group have recommended titles by her, too, and this was a wonderful cozy holiday read with a great setting – castle in Scotland filled with hundreds, no, thousands, of books. The castle is home to Jamie McKinnon, a kind, young (and attractive) laird who is trying to save the estate. His plan is to find a special book which his puzzle-loving grandfather apparently hid before his death. As a result, Jaime invites experienced “book hunters” Mirren Sutherland and Theo Palliser (attracted to each other in a past adventure) to join him in the quest. Jaime’s sister, Esme, turns up as well, joining the group and housekeeper Bonnie as they each contribute to solving a rather involved riddle. I loved the description of the snow-bound, chilly castle and couldn’t wait to get under the covers and read each night. THE SECRET CHRISTMAS LIBRARY, which the author calls a “fairy tale of sorts,” is that as well as a fun mystery with a touch of romance. Enjoy!

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend

THE BOTANIST'S ASSISTANT by Peggy Townsend is a fun mystery in a university setting. The main character, Margaret Finch, is clearly neurodivergent so this is a bit reminiscent of The Maid or Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder. Initially, Margaret is so regimented that it is difficult to develop empathy, but it is wonderful to watch her grow (adopting a cat) and develop a sense trust with other people. She finds Professor Deaver (her boss whom she idolizes) dead and then struggles to convince school authorities that he has been poisoned. Her snooping is sometimes comical, but often effective, and whenever she thinks she clearly has a suspect identified, something happens to change that calculus. Deftly presenting interesting facts about botany and poisonous plants, THE BOTANIST'S ASSISTANT is an entertaining read with plenty of twists and surprises. Library Journal gave it a starred review while Publishers Weekly said, “sweet enough to charm cozy fans.”  Enjoy!!

A Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn

A FAMILY OF SPIES by Christine Kuehn is a significant work of non-fiction that reads like a fictional story. Readers will be enthralled and surprised at the real-life twists in this “World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret History Behind Pearl Harbor.” In 1994, Christine receives a letter from a screenwriter asking about her paternal grandfather, Otto Kuehn, implying that he had been a Nazi agent stationed in Hawaii just prior to the attacks in Pearl Harbor. What follows is Christine’s account of her research, including a confrontation with her own father, and subsequent discoveries about her own family history. She learns about her father’s older stepsiblings: Leopold, who worked in Germany as a deputy to Hitler’s propaganda minister and Ruth, who had an affair with Goebbels until (the author believes) he found out that she was Jewish and arranged for the family to emigrate to Hawaii where Ruth and her parents acted as spies, eventually appearing on an FBI watch list. It is a truly fascinating account.

I listened to portions of the audiobook which is narrated by Erin Bennett and very well presented. Recommend this unusual, but engrossing, title to WWII history buffs.

Consider the Birds edited by Callie Smith Grant

CONSIDER THE BIRDS contains a series of essays about human interaction with birds, sometimes with them as pets, sometimes observing them in nature. The collection is edited by Callie Smith Grant and the audiobook is narrated by Siiri Scott. Together with the contributing authors they do indeed share “Heartwarming True Stories of Our Feathered Friends.”  There are some religious references, but overall, CONSIDER THE BIRDS contains gentle stories and offers pleasant listening.  It was informative to hear about wildlife rehabilitation and the special connection, like knowing when backyard birds were in distress, that an author developed. This recording is full of facts, too; did you know that swallows who can fly and eat at the same time? There are tales about a pet crow, about hummingbirds, and a seagull (coincidentally, the state bird of Utah) named Coco who was adept at asking for food from a restaurant waiter. The antics are often fun and generally informative, describing actions, diet, and even parenting styles for these amazing creatures.

Deeper than the Ocean by Mirta Ojito

DEEPER THAN THE OCEAN by award winning author Mirta Ojito is beautifully written. The story takes place in two time periods, contrasting a tale that is set in the modern day with one that begins in the early years of the twentieth century. It is a story of family, of secrets, and of thwarted love. In 2019, Mara Santander, an investigative journalist, is mourning her husband: “What I needed, what I wanted was life assurance, the guarantee, in writing, if possible, that he would live as long as I did, that his side of the bed would never be pristine and that my hand would always find his in the dark. He laughed off my fears and hugged my worries away. Now, of course, I'm grateful for his foresight.” She eventually travels to the Canary Islands in search of information about her great grandmother, Catalina. Married to one man and in love with another (“my love for you is higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean”), Catalina experiences the heartbreak and trauma of an ocean storm and eventually rebuilds her life in Cuba which is where, many years later,  Mara emigrated from (“What do you do when you can’t stay, and you can’t go back?”). DEEPER THAN THE OCEAN is a very moving debut novel, where “hope … could be even more heartbreaking than grief,” and is recommended by USA Today for “fans of Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, and Kristin Hannah.” The settings are beautiful, the culture is exquisitely shared, and the emotions are complex. 

A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith

A CASE OF LIFE AND LIMB by Sally Smith is the second volume in The Trials of Gabriel Ward series (after A Case of Mice and Murder) and was recently reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, referring to “its lawyerly shenanigans and emotional poignancy.” This is a delightful series written by a lawyer and resident of the Inner Temple so the affection which Ward feels for his surroundings seems genuinely based on Smith’s own feelings. Set at Christmas time 1901, this puzzle concerns some rather gruesome body parts delivered as gifts and containing indirect threats to leaders of the community. Gabriel Ward grows as a character while continuing to battle some of his reservations about getting involved in investigations and also arguing a libel case involving a young actress. A CASE OF LIFE AND LIMB received starred reviews from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly ([with] “Elegant prose, expert pacing, and a well-drawn protagonist …. This series deserves a long life.”).

Writing Creativity and Soul by Sue Monk Kidd

WRITING CREATIVITY AND SOUL by Sue Monk Kidd is, according to the author, “Part memoir, part guidebook, and part reflection on the writing life.” She begins by quoting Maya Angelou about “Three things you need in order to write. First, you need something to say. Second, you need the ability to say it. Finally, you need the courage to say it at all.” Later sections of the book talk about playing with images, possible beginnings of a story, and references a Zen adage: “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; In the expert's mind there are few.” I also liked the chapter where Monk Kidd wrote about character development (“Love them, empathize with them, participate deeply in their inner lives.”) and four questions that she asks: Who is my Character? (followed by many sub-questions about her relationships, likes and dislikes, emotions). What does my Character want? Who and what thwarts my Character? How will my Character be different in the end? As Monk Kidd develops these ideas, she gives examples from her writing, such as Lily from The Secret Life of Bees or Ana from The Book of Longings; readers will have a richer experience if they have read her other works. I agree with her assessment that this text is more memoir and reflection than it is a manual for new writers, but it is interesting to share in her comments about the writing process which she has honed over decades.

Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum

EVERY DAY I READ by Hwang Bo-reum contains a series of essays which describe “53 Ways to Get Closer to Books.” There is room for disagreement (the author even advocates both Read Bestsellers and Read Beyond Bestsellers). Throughout, there are many, many suggestions of book titles and authors and I found myself highlighting several to consider, although some are not as readily available here as they would be in Asia. I also highlighted and starred several passages; here are just a few: “by insisting on finishing a book you no longer want to read, you're taking time away from the books you're truly interested in.” OR “We change as we read books. We just don't realize it. And this change may have an impact on the course of our lives.” Publishers Weekly reviewed EVERY DAY I READ and concluded, “Dedicated bibliophiles and casual readers alike will adore this.” I concur. So do the voters at LibraryReads: EVERY DAY I READ was a December 2025 selection.

As a related aside, The New York Times just published an article called, “Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.” It refers to a forthcoming study by Jonna Perrillo and Andrew Newman; Uncensored will be published in March, 2026.

A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen

A FIELD GUIDE TO MURDER by Michelle L. Cullen is described as “perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson” so naturally I rushed to read a preview of this debut which is scheduled for a January publication. The main character, Harry Lancaster, is indeed a bit of an older curmudgeon but he bonds with Emma Stockton, his caretaker, and together they set out to solve what could be a murder mystery while simultaneously distracting each other from some sad thoughts. Harry is concerned about growing less independent and Emma has to make an uncomfortable decision about her upcoming wedding. A FIELD GUIDE TO MURDER is a cute, entertaining story which Kirkus describes as “[A] neighborhood cozy that ticks all the boxes.” Enjoy! And consider tuning into Netflix’s “A Man on the Inside,” also featuring an older sleuth.

Falling Apart and Other Gifts from the Universe

FALLING APART AND OTHER GIFTS FROM THE UNIVERSE by New York Times best-selling author Catherine Ryan Hyde offers a story of found family. It centers on Addie, a former soldier and law enforcement official who has been sober for close to eight years but still struggles with finding a purpose in her life. That changes when (while working as a night security guard) she meets Jonathan, a young homeless man who is squatting at an abandoned warehouse. This is a powerful book with both Addie and Jonathan dealing with trauma and eventually finding solace in the grandmother-grandson type relationship they form. As their journeys progress, Hyde forces her readers to consider their own prejudices, especially regarding addicts, mental health, and the unhoused. A couple of key insights: “Resistance is always a red flag. When you resist going somewhere, you know it's a place you need to go.” And “You can waste your whole damn life sitting in your room waiting to feel like you can do better. But the actions change the feelings, not the other way around.”

100 Rules for Living to 100 by Dick Van Dyke

100 RULES FOR LIVING TO 100 by Dick Van Dyke is subtitled “An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life.” I particularly enjoyed listening to the audiobook where narrator Tom Bergeron does an excellent job of channeling Van Dyke. The tone is reflective and friendly, and Van Dyke readily admits that there may not be exactly 100 rules, but he offers many funny stories and valuable insight. These tales span eight or nine decades and center on family members as well as acting and musical colleagues. I truly enjoyed and would definitely recommend. In fact, I plan to listen a second time!

From Cradle to Grave by Rhys Bowen

FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE by Rhys Bowen is the latest (19th) mystery story in Bowen’s Royal Spyness series featuring Lady Georgiana. Although these cozy tales have a loyal and enthusiastic readership, I have found the last few (see The Proof of the Pudding and Peril in Paris) to offer a less positive picture of the heroine. Similarly, in this case, she needs to hire a nanny and stand up for herself against interfering relatives. Given that Lady Georgiana and her friend Belinda have shown themselves as more than capable in solving murders, those tasks should not seem to be so daunting although they help move the story forward. Once again, I would recommend reading earlier entries in this light and entertaining series. FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE eventually develops into a fine mystery (multiple young aristocratic men are dying without any apparent link) but hopefully Lady Georgiana will channel her grandmother and show a stronger spirit in future outings.

The American Revolution and The Great Contradiction

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns is subtitled “An Intimate History” and it is certainly a detailed one. The series which is airing on PBS is roughly twelve hours long and the companion book is itself just over 600 pages. That means many, many people are mentioned, and I found it interesting to learn about them, like Capt. Isaac Davis who led his neighbors and fellow minutemen at Lexington Green. The research is impeccable, if overwhelming at times. I am grateful to all involved for trying to present as much factual information as possible, particularly, the firsthand accounts, but I miss some of the myths (e.g., Nathan Hale and the only one life to give quote), too. The bibliography is almost a dozen pages, each single spaced and with three columns of sources; plus, there is another similarly formatted five pages of illustration credits. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION received a starred review from Booklist.  

According to the publisher’s summary, THE GREAT CONTRADICTION by Joseph J. Ellis “reckons with the two great failures of America’s founding: the failure to end slavery and the failure to avoid Indian removal.” Ellis is a widely recognized authority on the Revolutionary Era, having won both the Pulitzer Prize (Founding Brothers) and the National Book Award (American Sphinx). In his latest work, he discusses, for example, how a majority of signers of the Declaration owned slaves. Honestly, I was shocked at some of the quotes which were shared; like Ben Franklin (who subsequently changed his views) writing in 1751 “… in America, where we have so fair an opportunity, by excluding all blacks and tawneys, of increasing the lovely white and red? But perhaps I am partial to the complexion of my country, for such kind of partiality is natural to Mankind.” Commentary and analysis in THE GREAT CONTRADICTION is based on significant research (approximately twenty percent of the book comprises Notes and bibliographical references) and the tone is rather scholarly throughout. However, Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal (calling it an “important and necessary perspective”), and Publishers Weekly all gave this text a starred review. Ellis provides a unique and fascinating look into contemporary perspective on these crucial issues during the nation’s formation.

Heart of a Stranger by Angela Buchdahl

HEART OF A STRANGER by Angela Buchdahl is certainly in contention for my favorite book of the year. That is a surprise because this is the story of an Asian American female Rabbi. Other than female, I don’t check any of those boxes, but I truly loved her “Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.” At the end of each section, she offers a mini-sermon of sorts, exploring a concept, like this: “Faith is a noun, something you can have or possess, as ‘I have faith in God.’ Trust, on the other hand, is a verb. It is something you do or act upon. It is a choice and a deliberate response as in ‘I trusted, so I followed.’” HEART OF A STRANGER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The Washington Post review says, [our] “nation … has long rewarded those who chase opportunity and embrace pluralism. Today those ideals are more fragile than ever, and Buchdahl’s story now feels like an example of what once worked in America but may soon be lost.” This is an amazing, inspiring story for people of all faiths. Highly recommended.

What Matters Most by Diane Button

WHAT MATTERS MOST by Diane Button probes “Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living.” I have a very kind friend interested in becoming a death doula and I think that is probably why I originally requested this text. However, a dear aunt was just diagnosed with cancer last week and is already in hospice, so this book feels even more poignant as I watch the grace and stoicism with which she is approaching death. Button has been acting as a death doula for a couple of decades and each chapter in WHAT MATTERS MOST shares a story of one of her patients. near the end, she provides a list of six questions designed to help take steps towards a meaningful life: (1) Who matters most? (2) What matters most? (3) What worries you most when lying awake in bed at night? (4) What brings you joy when you are awake in the daytime? (5) What is left unsaid? And (6) What is left undone? Readers will clearly be moved by the readings and by the reflection on a meaningful life which this compelling book prompts. Each chapter end a with a “lesson” like “Don’t forget to count your joys” or “There is power in an intentional pause or “We don’t Have to wait for a special moment to celebrate. Find the moment in the present.”  This is a beautiful book.

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent

GUILTY BY DEFINITION is the first novel offered by Susie Dent, a renowned British etymologist, and I originally requested a preview because of a recommendation from Ron Charles, the Washington Post book reviewer. Dent utilizes her expertise regarding words and their history to craft a tale full of clues which are puzzled over by a team of linguists who are working on dictionary definitions and are based in Oxford. It is from there that Charlie, the sister of one of them, went missing several years ago. To me, this is a story that starts slowly and gradually builds empathy with the main characters, Martha, Alex, Safi, and Simon. As the team investigates, readers learn some troubling background about Charlie, but the momentum grows and the quirky definitions add further highlights to a unique and, ultimately, engaging quest. Even commonplace activities are an educational opportunity in Dent’s capable hands: “Salary, salad, silt, sausage, salsa, sauce … the lexicon of salt whirred through her brain as she turned the stew down to a simmer.” Or, if you hate Sundays, consider “‘mubble-fubbles’ -- 17th century speak for a heavy, eve-of-something-unpleasant dose of the blues -- as proof that no sane person has ever liked them.” GUILTY BY DEFINITION received a starred review from Booklist and Library Journal recommends it for fans of The Dictionary of Lost Words and By Any Other Name. A Reading Group Guide and A Conversation with the Author are included. 

Twice by Mitch Albom

TWICE by Mitch Albom (Tuesdays with Morrie and The Stranger in the Lifeboat) is his latest take on the choices we make. This story asks, “what if you got to do everything in your life – again?” The main character, Alfie Logan, has the inherited ability to transport himself back in time and therefore change most future events. It is a tempting proposition and one which takes time and development of some self-restraint to use wisely. Overall, the story opened quite slowly as readers are introduced to the concept and learn more about its nuances. These happenings are contrasted with a police investigation of a possible casino swindle which is not resolved until the final pages. Despite his unique abilities, Alfie is not a particularly likeable character and he has many regrets, especially regarding the woman he loves. He says, “The truth is, you never do as much good as you could.” She says, “I figure every little thing that happens is part of life or fate or God or whatever leading me to where I'm supposed to be.” Albom will once again have readers examining their own life decisions. TWICE received a starred review from Booklist who recommended it for “fans of Matt Haig and Nikki Erlick.”