Always have Enough by Maria Melchor

ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH by Maria Melchor, founder of FirstGenLiving, covers “How to Build Wealth When You Don't Come from Money.”  Melchor writes in a very accessible, understandable tone and offers numerous insights, including a 6-Week Kickstart Plan, to her readers. She focuses on habits to develop like savings goals and smart borrowing. I found this book to be quite helpful, especially for younger people who are struggling to understand the world of finance. Melchor writes about the AHEM (Always have Enough Money) system and encourages budgeting and planning. She frequently references her own experience as an immigrant and writes with empathy for those who are seeking to balance their personal needs and those of cultural, familial obligations. This text is designed to improve understanding and encourage reflection; for example, several chapters include homework exercises (e.g., creating a financial toolbox with simple steps related to banking and credit cards or strengthening one’s safety net). It might take someone who is less familiar with the system longer than her six-week program goal, but the checklists are very useful and a great first step towards more financial stability. 

The Woman Who Wouldn't Die Quietly by Bivald

THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY by Katarina Bivald (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and more ) is the third book in Bivald’s series about Berit Gardner and her friend, DCI Ian Ahmed. I have developed real affection and even affinity for Berit’s character who loves her time alone: “she could have been fond of cities if it weren't for all the people in them.” In this cozy mystery, she is in Sweden at her grandmother’s cottage on an archipelago near Stockholm where she spent many happy summers. It’s late fall and winter, though, so the environment is cold and dark and Bivald deftly employs descriptions of the physical environment to add to the sense of menace and reflection. Berit and Ian are invited to a nearby island to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Margrethe Cullberg-Franzen, an especially abrasive woman who still leads her family’s art gallery business. That celebration ends in a tragic death leaving behind many family suspects and motives (revenge, greed, fear). More adventures - and another death - follow, as Berit and Ian and local police try to solve this puzzle. Publishers Weekly gave THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN'T DIE QUIETLY a starred review (“Bivald excels at surprise and misdirection, and she buttresses those mystery fundamentals with a psychologically complex lead and intoxicating Scandinavian atmosphere.”). A Reading Group Guide and Conversation with the Author are included. Enjoy!

Just sharing quotes from the preview, part of Berit’s rather comforting outlook:
“Even the most difficult things became more manageable if you faced up to them. Apprehension and unease only grew if you tried to escape them.”

“If nothing lasted forever, then that was part of what made having lived and existed so wonderful: the fact that the people she loved had lived, and that nature and the world around her would continue to do so even after she was gone.”

Golden Boy by A. J. Symon

GOLDEN BOY by A. J. Symon is a young adult novel with a strange supposition. It has a wonderful cover which mirrors the story of a dog (Hudson) being turned into a high school boy (Bud Golden). Emma Branch is a lonely high school student who ended up taking care of her brothers (Chip and Buckhead – who act like their names) and her rather obnoxious, opinionated, and prejudiced father, Wayman, after her mother dies. Emma’s dream is to study science, and she has developed an injection to prolong the life of fruit flies. No one is really interested, though, until in desperation she injects her dog. Suddenly there’s a star player for the football team that Wayman coaches, and the adventure (filled with deception) begins. There is some suspense and high school relationship drama which could appeal to readers. As all gets resolved, the author is not afraid of explicitly highlighting the value of scientific experimentation (“Flying machines. The telephone. Landing on the moon. All crazy ideas until they weren't. Magic is just science no one can explain yet.”) and quality parenting (“It's amazing what a kind word from a parent will do.”). Thankfully, the father character does mature, but it’s not a subtle transformation. School Library Journal (starred review) and Booklist suggest GOLDEN BOY for grades 6 thru 10, and these less mature students may appreciate the hijinks, although the animal experimentation could be triggering for some. I am more apt to agree with Kirkus: “An interesting premise that suffers from clumsy execution.”

Breathing Under Water by Jacqueline Friedland

BREATHING UNDER WATER by Jacqueline Friedland received a starred review from Booklist and Kirkus called it “a touching novel about unexpected connections and found family.”  It is the first book in a while to really grab my attention, and I can readily see book groups finding so much to discuss. Chapter narration alternates between Berry Selinger and McKenna Jamison, two caring women from different generations with a host of issues to face. Berry is an assistant principal hoping for a promotion and trying to balance her career with supporting her sixteen-year-old son, Leo, who is autistic. McKenna is a scholarship college student who relies on her coach and swim team as her grandmother’s dementia worsens. Readers will be surprised by the workplace sabotage, marital strife, anger management issues, and homelessness which also feature in the plot. Yes, it is a lot for either one to handle and the stories intersect when McKenna begins teaching Leo to swim. He really is the pivotal character and obviously dear to Friedland who says her own mother taught her that “every child deserves to be seen, to be challenged, and most of all, to be respected and understood.” BREATHING UNDER WATER is about perseverance, self-reflection, and acceptance, as Berry says, “I don't see the trials and tribulations only as hardships. I can now see the ways they've led to profound growth, making us stronger, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.” 

Weeknight Winners, Family Dinners

WEEKNIGHT WINNERS, FAMILY DINNERS by Jack (a former chef) and Emmy (child development expert) Zhang offers “Kid-Approved, Adult-Loved Recipes” in an interactive, appealing format. Sample recipes include “Spinach Egg Drop Soup,” “Easy Peasy Chicken,” and “Chinese-Style Baked Fish.” The cookbook is divided into sections on Mains, Noodles, Soups & Stews, Salads & Sides, Snacks, and Sweets. Booklist comments, “The Zhang's family-friendly book is designed with recipes that are quick to get on the table… They aim to help readers tap into the curiosity of children and help their families connect.” The Zhangs do seem to put kids front and center, sharing conversation starters and often highlighting steps that younger family members can contribute (e.g., line the pan with foil) as a recipe is prepared. Aside from recipes, they also include very helpful sections on “Language and Curiosity in the Kitchen” and on “Ten Ways to Get Your Kids Excited about Food.” This seems like a wonderful resource for young families (especially those who enjoy Asian ingredients) although the photos in the preview are black and white and nutrition information is not included. More ideas are available on the Zhangs’ YouTube channel, Cooking with Levi.

My Sister is Going to Kill Me

MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME by Nina Simon (Mother-Daughter Murder Night) is a closed room mystery of sorts. Two very different sisters, a rule-follower and State Department employee named Liv and an impulsive elementary school art teacher named Mandy, are setting off on their annual sister trip. This year they are rafting on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. It turns out their fellow adventures are all associated with a wellness company called Babette Botanique. The CEO misses the kickoff of the trip and disagreements amongst the leadership become apparent, especially when threats start appearing. Soon, there is a dead body with Liv, Mandy, and their companions in growing danger, not just from the challenging physical environment, but also from an increasingly daring killer amongst them. Honestly, it took me a little while to get over being annoyed by both sisters, but I soon found myself coming to care for them, much as they begrudgingly began to acknowledge their complementary skills and affection for each other. The mystery is suspenseful and full of details in a fabulous setting.

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston

A LibraryReads selection for August, WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife) is the story of an older man, named Griff, who was a Michelin star chef but now lives (according to the author) in “the most negligent nursing home imaginable.” That low quality of care was a big obstacle for me when I started reading about Griff, his estranged sister, Lisa, and his partner, Beau. The author jumps around in time and shares stories from the childhood of Griff and Lisa, (thirteen years apart in age with different fathers) as well as from their adult lives. WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE is very cleverly written (“odd that we fear ageing, forgetting how lucky we are to even get the chance”). Booklist says, “Johnston thoughtfully explores grief, loneliness, aging, and sibling relationships while leavening with warmth and humor.” Indeed, Johnston comments movingly on “the invisibility cloak of age and dementia,” while also promoting laughter with some madcap adventures. I found myself coming to care for the characters more and more and particularly enjoyed the last third of the book as conflicts were resolved and reconciliations occurred. One more quote: “What matters – what lasts – is how you love people. How you treat them when no one’s watching. That’s the only legacy worth leaving.”

Your Fellow Americans by Peter Santenello

YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS by Peter Santenello is a wonderful collection of “Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home.” Santenello has a YouTube channel with over four million followers and pulled many of these stories from those encounters. He divides the book into four broad sections. In the first, he looks at “groups of people living in the modern world and yet almost alongside the modern world,” travelling to an Amish outpost in northern Florida, to East LA, and to Alaska. Santenello comments on “the thing that keeps hitting me each and every time I find myself somewhere new is how much people here care -- about their families, their towns, their little corners on the map.” Next, he writes about “The Underdogs” with interviews in Central Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta. That is followed by a section with stories about endurance and overcoming obstacles from the Pacific coast of northern California and on to an island in the Chesapeake Bay. The final section, “Pioneering Spirit,” veers towards stories of exploration and adventure; here, Santenello provides insight into one of his first travel experiences, a post high school road trip on a tight budget (in a repurposed van named Vandura) with his best friend Steve. Santenello clearly has a passion for travel and for learning about people and his essays are well presented and generally optimistic. He writes, “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary I think we could all use some stories that leave us feeling good about our country.” Interested readers may also want to pursue Judy Woodruff’s America at a Crossroads, or the Make America Dinner Again movement, or even expand upon the idea of creating connections with titles like David Brooks’ How to Know a Person or Nicholas Epley’s A Little More Social.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House

THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE by Jaleigh Johnson is an absolutely delightful fantasy debut. The author says that “this book turned out to be a strange alchemy of things I needed to write to comfort myself during hard times, and gifts I wanted to give to other people.” The gentle story about a young witch, Evie, and her adopted daughter (also with magical abilities), Ruby, is indeed a gift. The two stake their future together on a new posting to a sentient house in a rural area, only to find upon their arrival that the house has run away. Together with their neighbor, Gil, and many of the other villagers, Evie and Ruby gradually repair the house and slowly gain its trust. “You nurture it, allow it to grieve, and, when it's ready, help it to reimagine itself and what it's going to be moving forward. It won't be the same as it was, but it can still be something amazing.” Nature – there is a lovely Mood Garden and Star Oak tree – plays a key role. But there is danger about and a mystery to solve before the house can be fully restored. This is a hopeful story and is highly recommended, especially for readers who enjoyed the cozy fantasy titled The Teller of Small Fortunes. Another gentle story involving “found families” is Loon Point, although it has a contemporary setting without magic. I am also going to look for the author's middle grade series (published about a decade ago) about The Mark of the Dragonfly. 

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan (North of Nowhere) is a thriller whose relentless pace will keep readers enthralled. Set in rural Texas during a dangerous rainstorm, this novel relates the story of Ellie McKenna and her four children (high schoolers Jake and Avery, plus tween Lyla and eight-year-old Bobby) who are trying to hold onto the family farm after the recent death of Ellie’s husband, John. It is a daunting task made much more difficult by threats and sabotage from a corporate entity intent on taking over the farm. Mother Nature’s hailstorms and rain add even more obstacles like washed out or flooded roadways, disrupted communications, and power outages. Adding to Ellie’s worries are a heavily pregnant neighbor, her elderly grandmother, and a series of local robberies, one of which resulted in the serious wounding of a neighbor. Danger increases hourly as the storm continues and those criminals threaten both Ellie’s ranch and her family. This stand-alone mystery is full of twists and highly recommended for its action-packed adventure.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

It was just announced that Ann Patchett won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, to be officially awarded at the National Book Festival in Washington on Aug. 22. Her latest novel is titled WHISTLER and Booklist (“tale of complicated marriages, secret love, fear, fury, courage, and reconciliation”), Kirkus (“evocative and moving”), and Publishers Weekly (“one of her best”) all gave WHISTLER starred reviews. This book tells the story of Daphne, now 53, meeting her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett (now 76), by chance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eddie and Daphne had both wanted to be writers – he edited books for years and years and she teaches literature at a girl’s school. It takes a while for Patchett to explain the background to their surprisingly deep and affectionate relationship that was suddenly severed by Daphne’s mother after Eddie and Daphne were in a serious car accident when she was nine years old. Daphne’s Mom remarried for a third time long ago and Daphne and her sister, Leda (a psychiatrist), have two adult half-brothers. Patchett herself had an “abundance” of fathers (also three) as she wrote several years ago in The New Yorker and her collection of essays, These Precious Days.

Book groups will adore WHISTLER, filled as it is with reflections, “There is so much randomness to youth. The person assigned to share your room becomes your friend, the girl you pass on your way out the door becomes your wife, and from these random encounters our entire lives are built, four beautiful children come into the world, and they, in turn, found the people they were meant to spend their lives with.” 

Or, contemplating death: “‘It's okay,’ her father said. ‘You'll be back later.’ ‘We'll still be here,’ Jeffrey said. ‘You won't believe how fast it goes. Might as well be a minute.’ ‘You'll look after everyone?’ she asked her son. ‘No,’ he said. ‘We'll look after you.’”  And Robert Frost’s Wild Grapes: “And the life I live now’s an extra life / I can waste as I please on whom I please.”

Or, simply Patchett’s wry wit: “We write each other notes, back and forth, back and forth. It's like texting for people with large collections of stationery.” Ann Patchett is the narrator for the audio book version of WHISTLER and she does an excellent job, gently evoking the characters and their complex emotions.

Dad Brain by Darby Saxbe

DAD BRAIN by Darby Saxbe describes “The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives.” Saxbe, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, splits her book into two sections: the Science of Fatherhood and the Practice of Fatherhood. It’s truly interesting to realize that Saxbe is “one of the only researchers in the world to have collected longitudinal neuroimaging research on men as they become fathers,” due in large part to the limited research on men as parents. Still, she points out how fatherhood can benefit society, partners, children, and the men themselves, thanks especially to greater social connection and opportunities for improved mental health. Frequently showcasing a collection of related facts, Saxbe points, for example, to research that shows younger-looking brains for both fathers and mothers and describes some theories as to why this greater cognitive functioning occurs. She offers suggestions for several areas of additional research, and I look forward to seeing more from her. An Appendix with suggested resources, plus an Index and Notes comprise close to twenty percent of the text. 

Read an excellent overview of Saxbe’s thinking in her recent opinion piece at The New York Times: “Ultimately, the traits of a good dad are also the traits of a good man: strength coupled with a willingness to look out for the young and vulnerable, to teach but also listen, to lead by example, to tackle daunting challenges and to persevere with grit.” Happy Father's Day to all!!

Mom Needs A Moment by Cassidy Freitas

MOM NEEDS A MOMENT by Cassidy Freitas explores “How to Stop Your Reaction Before It Starts... and Become a Calmer, Happier, More Connected Parent.” Dr. Freitas is a licensed family and marriage counselor and host of the weekly Holding Space podcast. In chapters titled Traumas and Triggers, All the Feelings, Being in the Moment, etc., she writes here about emotions related to being a parent, especially a Mom. Freitas is excellent at describing the range of reactions: “A hypervigilant part trying to anticipate every need before it exploded into chaos; A perfectionist part desperate to keep it all together; A wounded part still aching from past moments when asking for help led to disappointment or shame. ... All I knew was that I felt broken. And alone.” Admitting her own concerns and needs regarding motherhood, she writes about magic in the margins: “These are the spaces where your body can exhale and you can come back to yourself, where you can remember that you don't have to live in constant reaction mode, that you have choices. … They allow me to slow down, to notice, to be present.” In a calm and helpful way, she offers insights regarding the difficulty of changing patterns based on generational cycles that show up in everyday parenting. Understanding her audience, she provides notes at the end of each chapter, with “major themes, tools, and actionable next steps described.” Reading MOM NEEDS A MOMENT will benefit Moms, caregivers, and grandparents alike. 

Everything Changes Everything by Lauren Kessler

EVERYTHING CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lauren Kessler is a memoir which covers “Love, Loss, and a Really Long Walk.” Kessler, an award-winning author and teacher, shares the emotional story of the assisted suicide death of her husband and the overdose of her daughter a few months later. These heavy topics are treated reverently and insights conveyed poignantly through beautiful writing:

“I can, ever so hesitantly, every once in a while, sit across from a friend and let them in on a sliver of my life. But I can't turn my head on the pillow at night and talk to the person who knows me as much as I have ever let anyone know me.”

“WIDOW. WINDOW. I am not trying to be clever. I'm saying that widowhood is a window. Looking through it, you can view, assess, learn from, cry over, laugh about, regret, celebrate - everything - a marriage that was, the relationship that helped define you for decades. Falling in love is easy. A long marriage is hard.”

Referring to her husband and their children: “I have a past that does not include him. They do not.”

“…so much a part of who I am, and who I will ever be. I am walking through the world with them and without them. There is no denouement. The story continues.”

Kessler intersperses flashbacks about her family and feelings with the story of her walk along the Camino Francés, an ancient 500-mile pilgrimage route between Spain and France. At times a physically challenging route, this endeavor (requiring about a month to complete) allowed her to spend time alone, to observe nature, visit picturesque villages, and meet new people – essentially an opportunity to reflect on her life before and in the future. Kessler writes about “a lesson of the Camino that translates directly to life: that occasionally and gloriously, there are true aha moments, but mostly there is the long slog toward making sense of who you are.”  Along the way, she quotes Mary Oliver (“When Death Comes…”) and comedian George Carlin (“I want to live my life backwards…”).

I would also highly recommend The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks; these, too, deal with time spent in nature and self-reflection while facing the loss of a spouse.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY is the latest novel by award-winning author Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton, and more). Once again, Strout offers readers insight into the thoughts and feelings of a “regular” person: in this case, fifty-seven-year-old Artie Dam who is married to Evie with one son, Rob and teaches high school history classes where he impacts the lives of students like Danny Marino and Rhonda Lazarre. Strout writes, “all of us live with a huge blind spot before our eyes, meaning that no matter what we think we know we can never fully understand how we appear to others.” This is a bittersweet story which explores themes of loneliness, sadness, compassion, perspective, inter-connectedness, and, overall, the secrets we keep. There are several upheavals in Artie’s life and one in particular leaves him feeling “as though he had lived these many years looking at things from one angle, and now it was as though someone had turned him partly in a different direction and everything - everything - looked different.” Both melancholy and hopeful (“it was a private thing to be alive”), THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY received a starred review from Booklist.

Big Time by Laura Vanderkam

BIG TIME by Laura Vanderkam is subtitled “A Simple Path to Time Abundance” and compliments the other texts (e.g., Tranquility by Tuesday or Juliet's School of Possibilities) that she has written regarding time management. In this case, Vanderkam asks readers to take more of a big picture approach and to think in terms of 8,760 hours (an entire year).  Her first chapter discusses the benefits of time tracking – learning about patterns of how one’s time is spent. From there, she advocates for readers to “become the ringmaster,” balancing career, relationships, and self. For example, she describes the Better Workday Challenge where she advocates for people to pursue three strategies: find meaning by spending an extra hour per week on the work you like best; increase belonging by giving fifteen more minutes to deepening a work friendship; and reinforce a feeling of autonomy by taking two, short intentional breaks per day. Subsequent chapters are labeled “Embrace Your Golden Hours” and “Be Open to Serendipity” and contain ideas for evening hours, weekends and vacations. Throughout, Vanderkam points to examples from her own life or the survey research which has conducted with others who tracked their time. The text is written in an accessible manner and concludes with a brief case study. Publishers Weekly describes BIG TIME as an “upbeat guide” that “will resonate most with readers juggling family and career demands.”

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff is a beautifully written, character-driven story set in Texas and a LibraryReads selection for May 2026. The focus is on April and Leo whose house burns down and whose marriage is falling apart. They have two young children, Sadie and Otto, and move in temporarily with April’s parents, Deb and Billy. The narrative jumps around in time and there are many sad moments and missed opportunities for clearer communication in this book, only intensifying the “feels” and affection for these characters. Deb and Billy have their own poignant story as they adjust to the impact of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, reflecting throughout on their long, not always happy marriage. April and her siblings, Josie (dramatic middle child involved in theater) and Cameron (with girlfriend Rachel) also need to cope with selling the family home (“We live in homes until we leave them, and then they live in us. … I miss it. But we can only return to a place, not a time.”) and decisions about their own Alzheimer testing. There are plenty of issues and shifts in the characters’ reality, but that contributes to the realistic feeling of family life: “It doesn’t go fast, but it will have gone fast.” Having myself just returned from a memorial service for a dear Aunt who loved to read, Deb’s musings resonated: “In a flash, I'll be gone, my own children recalling their favorite things about me in some new house at some new table with some new iteration of family. So I dance now as if time is the music. This, I know, is how you dream. This is how you live forever.”

The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett (The Help) is set in 1930s Oxford, Mississippi and the beginning is quite disheartening as Stockett describes life in an orphanage for Margot Louise (Meg) LeFleur, an eleven-year-old whose asides to the reader are reminiscent of those from Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce. Meg is intelligent, but scarred by being abandoned by her mother, called Charlie. And Meg struggles to cope with the abusive treatment at the orphanage. Things are a bit brighter (literally) when she meets Birdie Calhoun, poor sister to Francis Tartt, one of the local volunteers. Birdie is in town in hopes of much needed funds from her sister and the wealthier family into which she married. Sadly, it is the Depression Era, and no one is spared the ravages of poverty; that means Birdie eventually meets Charlie and, in an act of desperation, the two form a business venture. A LibraryReads Selection, THE CALAMITY CLUB is a tale of betrayal and also of loyalty; of strict social standards and also of acceptance due mainly to necessity; of sexual mores and women’s health. Book clubs will find much to discuss from this lengthy (656 pages) historical fiction novel which does drag in parts. Readers will develop affection and concern for Meg as well as Birdie - who is an especially likeable character - but their circumstances and the “calamities” they face are not.

Our Story by Rachel Seidman

OUR STORY by Rachel Seidman is subtitled “A Guide to Recording and Sharing Your Family History.” Seidman, a curator at the Smithsonian’s American Women’s History Museum and previously director of the Southern Oral History Program at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, places the focus squarely on establishing an oral history, devoting the majority of the book to three parts that deal with Before the Interviews, The Interviews themselves, and After the Interviews. As a professional historian herself, she advocates for significant preparation (e.g., background research) prior to beginning interviews. In addition, she offers some practical advice (e.g., what (if any) recording devices to use) although I wish there were simpler prompts (e.g., instead of asking about gender roles in your family) for questions and topics to explore. Her suggestions for follow-up questions are constructive and informative. There are many books available about collecting family stories and Seidman’s attention to options for organizing, publishing and saving the research makes this one a bit unique. Overall, OUR STORY was a useful resource, but its emphasis on producing a quasi-professional product may be intimidating to many potential readers. Still, she makes it inspiring: “In a world where we can easily feel disconnected from one another, where we hear more sound bites than stories, where we post quick, selectively shiny updates about ourselves online, it is deeply rewarding to slow down, dig deeper, and draw closer to one another by listening more carefully and sharing memories.”

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Set on the water in Rhode Island, DOLLY ALL THE TIME by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect beach read escape. In an almost too good to be true romance, we meet Dolly Brick (now in her 30s) who used to tease her sister with tales of becoming a princess and riding off on a horse with a gentle man. After helping a local (and wealthy) businessman, Stewart Whitfield, fix a tire on his car, Dolly is offered a platonic contract to act as his girlfriend for the summer. As a single Mom (and underpaid teacher who helps at the family fish store), she agrees. Of course, Dolly and Steward develop feelings for each other, and he even takes her thirteen-year-old son, Gus, under his wing. No relationship is totally “smooth sailing,” though, and the appealing characters struggle a bit with expectations from themselves and well-meaning friends and family. DOLLY ALL THE TIME is a Hall of Fame LibraryReads selection for May 2026 and received a starred review from Kirkus (“a charming love story that absolutely radiates warmth”), plus praise from authors Catherine Newman and Beth O’Leary. Enjoy!