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.

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 May House by Jillian Cantor

THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor (The Hours Count) is a book about sisters and the week they spend together each year (“‘It’s my favorite day of the year,’ she called out. ‘May day!’”) at their Grandmother Vera’s house on the beach at Coronado Island near San Diego. The story is sometimes confusing because it skips around in time and shifts focus between Julia (the eldest, obsessing over rules and scheduling), Emily (big-hearted middle sister struggling to find a purpose in life) and Nora, (the youngest, pursuing an acting career despite opposition from their widowed father). Over thirty years, they experience personal and professional upheaval, including marital problems, parenthood for some, and an unrequited crush on next door neighbor, Nate, a local surfer. Given the sisters’ lack of contact during the year, THE MAY HOUSE is somewhat like the Alan Alda rom-com, “Same Time, Next Year,” providing opportunity for readers to judge the choices being made and to observe the characters’ growth. Still, they do care about each other: Julia muses, “Her sisters. She would never love anyone in quite the same frustratingly wonderful way that she loved Emily and Nora. They'd bickered their whole lives. But being sisters always transcended everything else. Their shared history, their shared trauma, their shared DNA. It was all irreplaceable.” Cantor drops plenty of hints about a not-so-secret secret that eventually emerges and propels the sisters forward, embracing the many blessings they have.

Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

CHANGE OF PLANS by Sarah Dessen (Lock & Key; Just Listen; The Truth about Forever and more) is her first novel in seven years and offers the chance for new readers to sample Dessen’s expressive writing. Booklist says, “Dessen’s greatest strength is her creation of vivid atmosphere, which enhances both her characters' personalities and their conflicts.” Here, the award-winning young adult author introduces readers to Finley, a graduating high school senior who lives with her stepmom, dad, and their young family. Finley has a strong, two-year relationship with Colin, but must decline his family’s invite to a cruise because her career-oriented and distant mother, Catherine (Cat) has plans for the two of them to travel together. Quite a bit does change when Colin meets another girl on the cruise and Finley’s Mom chauffeurs Finley to The Woods, a family home on a rural lake, instead of heading to New York City. Finley meets new friends (Clark, Ben, and Lana) and aunts (Liz and Kasey) as she begins to learn more about her Mom – and herself. CHANGE OF PLANS received starred reviews from Kirkus (“she discovers strength, independence, and the transformative power of being fully present …. A sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story filled with moments of true beauty between family and friends”) and Publishers Weekly (“delightfully layered, bighearted novel”). As Clark says, “Everything changes. You have a choice: make it hard or make it work. And there's enough hard shit already.”

What We Ask Google by Simon Rogers

WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE by Simon Rogers is subtitled “A Surprisingly Hopeful History of Humankind.” Rogers, Google’s data editor, does tend to adopt a more positive perspective in recounting examples of questions sent to Google. In particular, he points to patterns – whether daily (like getting a baby to sleep at 2am) or more seasonally (search for “comfort food” in October and other recipe requests around Thanksgiving and December holidays). Many of his comments are extolling the Google Trends dataset; being curious, I tired looking at Google Trends, but most of the current queries were related to sports scores or another aspect of popular culture. Publishers Weekly called WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE “a fun if shallow tour of the modern world’s most burning questions.” That is a fair assessment, but there are some surprising anecdotes and memorable graphs included in WHAT WE ASK GOOGLE. For example, Rogers says that half of the top “how to learn …” searches in the US are about language and the most often translated word across all languages is “beautiful.” In another chapter, he notes that “one in every twenty Google searches is for health-related information.” And he stresses repeatedly how search seems to show our need to help others, such as in the chapter on grief where people ask what to say to someone who is grieving. There is an opportunity to dig deeper: a little over fifteen percent of the text is devoted to notes and sources.

Save the Date by Mallory Kass

SAVE THE DATE by Mallory Kass is, as several members of my book club would say, “a palate cleanser.” Kass, who has written previous bestsellers as Kass Morgan, offers a romantic comedy set at a wedding in Maine as her adult fiction debut. The action revolves around three women: bride-to-be Marigold who discovers she still has feelings for an ex-husband; Matron of Honor Natalie who is suppressing long held feelings for the groom; and lawyer Olivia who is Marigold’s sister and out to find her own perfect match. It is all a bit ridiculous and fairly predictable, but as Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of romantic comedies with a Hallmark Channel vibe will enjoy this heartwarming tale.” Cute and undemanding, if a bit slow paced and full of fluff, SAVE THE DATE will leave readers smiling. Below is a great graphic summarizing all of the confusion; the fact that none of the characters are shown with faces simply confirms how little they know themselves and their feelings. 

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Dixon

THE INFINITE SADNESS OF SMALL APPLIANCES by Glenn Dixon is a relatively short (224 pages) but impactful tale that will make readers think, particularly about artificial intelligence and humankind’s relationships with machines. Set in the future, much of the story is told from the perspective of Scout, a young, but advanced model of a vacuum cleaner (like Roomba) who resides at the home of an older couple, Harold and Edie Winters. Scout is a curious and courageous soul (if machines can be said to have souls) who has chosen her name because of listening to Harold read To Kill a Mockingbird to Edie who has a terminal illness. As with any death, changes are necessary and painful. Scout appears to develop empathy for Harold, his daughter Kate, and the young neighbor boy, Adrian, who was a piano student of Edie’s. They all must learn to trust each other and the other sentient machines like Auto, Fridge, Clock and Watch. It is not easy to battle the overarching and controlling Grid which appears to have no feelings at all. Booklist sums it up well: “The plot is tender and suspenseful as Scout begins to grasp love, grief, and resistance.” Definitely Recommended. Book groups, too, would enjoy discussing THE INFINITE SADNESS OF SMALL APPLIANCES.

Confident by Choice by Juan Bendaña

CONFIDENT BY CHOICE by Juan Bendaña is a very energizing text. Bendaña writes with verve and enthusiasm. His main message centers around the idea that confidence can be built. He starts out by noting four confidence myths regarding being an extrovert; absence of insecurity; having the “right” genetics; and needing competence first. I particularly liked his point that “1. You're going to fail. 2. But that's OK because failure is the path to success.” At the end of each chapter, Bendaña suggests an action item, a micro-step, often designed to help his readers further clarify their goals. Many of his ideas (“change your posture, skip around, do a little dance”) are small actions which can really have a big impact as they help improve attitude and overcome fears.  CONFIDENT BY CHOICE, published in August 2025, made me think of earlier titles like Be Fearless by Jean Case or Resilient by Rick Hanson.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

THE FUTURE SAINTS by Ashley Winstead was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for January and deservedly so. This is a novel which deals with strong emotions shared through the actions of appealing characters. Hannah Cortland is the lead singer whose band is on its way down, due in part to the death a few months ago of their manager and in part to Hannah’s alcohol use and self-destructive behavior. In steps a new manager, Theo Ford, and the dynamics change rapidly as the band’s new and darker songs, along with some spectacular antics, build awareness and interest through social media. United in devastating grief, Hannah and the other band members (handsome bassist "Ripper" Ravishankar and gentle drummer Kenny Lovins) gradually accept Theo into their “found family.” Together, they push back against the pressures of sudden fame and corporate balance sheets, but not without some ruptures along the way. THE FUTURE SAINTS received starred reviews from Booklist (“emotional, unflinching story of grief and fame”) and Publishers Weekly (“readers will fly through the pages to find out whether Hannah will manage to tame her demons in time”). Highly recommended. 

The Queen of Wishful Thinking by Milly Johnson

THE QUEEN OF WISHFUL THINKING by Milly Johnson is a feel-good novel about friendship, resilience, and the antique trade. Bonnie Brookland is a young woman who has lost her father, her faithful dog, and her independence. She’s trapped in a loveless marriage and a thankless job. Things change, however, as she dares to take a risk and apply for a position at The Pot of Gold, a newer antique store run by Lewis Harley. He is already pursuing a second chance at life after suffering a heart attack. They gradually come to depend on each other and share stories about their lives and relationships. Both of their spouses (Stephen and Charlotte) are controlling and deceitful, but readers will not be surprised that all works out in the end as they follow the advice of Bonnie’s mother: “First wish it. Then think of yourself doing it. Then do it.” I was surprised to learn that this is the author’s twenty-second novel, although it certainly fits with her publisher’s characterization of her writing as “highlight[ing] the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness” – something we all need these days. THE QUEEN OF WISHFUL THINKING is an upbeat book as the characters grow and discover “the greater your storm, the brighter your rainbow.” A series of book group discussion questions are included.

The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar

THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE by Maya Shankar is about “Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans.” Shankar is a cognitive scientist and neuroscience expert who describes the life altering changes faced by guests on her podcast. She notes that the book is “part narrative, and part practical guide, rooted in the latest scientific research.” Her first example (“Locked In”) involves Olivia Lewis who becomes paralyzed; it is reminiscent (as Shankar also notes) of events which impacted Jean-Dominique Bauby, author of Diving Bell and the Butterfly, as well as of Allison Pataki’s Beauty in the Broken Places about her husband’s unexpected health scare. Shankar notes how these individuals must confront what they have lost and then “experience an internal transformation that allows them to imagine new and freeing possibilities for themselves.” She also “shows how that sense of possibility can ripple outward” and includes an Appendix titled “Getting to the other side of Change: Your Change Survival Kit” where she summarizes key concepts (e.g., self-identity) from each chapter. Her bibliographic notes and references comprise an additional ten percent or so of the text. Shankar does an excellent job of weaving examples and research, but this is based on numerous conversations, sometimes covering years. I wonder how well a person in the midst of devastating change would be able to comprehend, digest, and implement (without professional guidance) the ideas from this book. THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE received a starred review from Booklist.

On a related note, I recently attended a conversation between Kelly Corrigan and Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Wallace's new book titled MATTERING. The event was sponsored by Family Action Network and a recording is available:

According to the publisher: Wallace argues that mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have the chance to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. ... MATTERING shows how lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small but intentional ways, that we are seen, valued, and needed. Wallace identifies the essential components of what she calls a “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. ... Wallace shows how to strengthen our own sense of mattering—and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities—at a moment when it has never been more urgent.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

DETOUR by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart (The Warehouse) is about a space mission to Titan, one of the moons near Saturn. There are six astronauts who travel together for two years: family man and cop Ryan Crane; artist and lottery winner Stitch Smith, scientist Padma Singh (whose ex-boyfriend Brett also works for NASA), and three astronauts who all have personal issues to deal with: Mike Seaver (an alcoholic), Della Jameson (mother of twins, but separated from her husband), and Alonso Cardona (closeted bisexual). It already strains credibility to think that NASA would agree to send a crew with three relatively inexperienced and untrained civilians, but using limited payload to send wine and beer into space? There are many more questions that arise, particularly when the crew eventually returns to Earth. That is where the writing really takes off (almost like the first half of the book, including the space flight, was just introducing characters, including a rich businessman and possibly corrupt politician, John Ward). The story is told from different perspectives and locations so there is quite a bit to track. I also admit that I missed where the publisher described DETOUR as “the FIRST book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series.” I agree that it is mind-bending, but I was disappointed in the abruptness of the ending and having to wait for a sequel. 

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

MEET THE NEWMANS by Jennifer Niven is an adult debut for the author of some truly memorable young adult titles like All the Bright Places or Holding Up the Universe or, more recently, Breathless. Like her earlier work, this newest title probes feelings and emotions as the main characters struggle to define their own identities. In MEET THE NEWMANS it is 1964, and Del and Dinah along with their two sons, Guy (the steady, older one) and Shep (the rebellious and very popular musician) have been America’s TV family for well over a decade. Recently, though they are falling behind shows like “Flipper, Lassie, and My Favorite Martian.” The country, too, is rapidly changing, and these family members are very unhappy behind the scenes (“when you grew up in front of thirty million people, it was hard to have and keep something of your own.”). A serious accident sidelines Del who has been the leader while writing scripts and negotiating with the network and sponsors. The need to keep the show going and afloat prompts Dinah (having recently read The Feminine Mystique) to start writing and to change her character’s attitudes and actions. Guy wants to develop directing abilities and strives to acknowledge a relationship with a fellow actor while “bad boy” Shep (only 17) acts out. Although a bit slow at spots, MEET THE NEWMANS is an interesting look back at a time of transition for the country, the influential role of network television (The Dick Van Dyke Show ran That’s My Boy? Episode in 1963), and impact on the roles within a family. 

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

THE STORM by Rachel Hawkins is full of suspense as the best-selling author uses multiple viewpoints to share events that takes place over several decades. A central theme is the physical and emotional damage which hurricanes can leave behind. In 1984, Landon Fitzroy, considered an heir apparent in Alabama politics, died during Hurricane Marie. His teenage mistress, Lo Bailey, was acquitted of the murder, but returns 40 years later with a young author, August Fletcher, to write a book about her experiences. Another strong storm starts brewing during their stay where the innkeeper of the Rosalie Inn, Geneva Corliss, is their hostess. Geneva also has a box which her Mom (Ellen, now residing at a memory care unit) filled with old clippings about the 1984 storm. So, what, if anything, is the connection? Slowly, Hawkins brings these pieces of a puzzle and the consequences of another fictional hurricane together. There is quite a bit for readers to track and they will likely be surprised by some of the twists. The audiobook of THE STORM is narrated by a cast of characters, providing a creative way of differentiating who is speaking and when. Library Journal said that readers will enjoy this “fast-paced, atmospheric suspense novel” which is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for January. 

Eat Your Ice Cream by Ezekiel J. Emanuel

EAT YOUR ICE CREAM by Ezekiel J. Emanuel offers “Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.” Emanuel, a bioethicist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, focuses on avoiding self-destructive risks; developing and valuing relationships; staying sharp mentally; eating in a healthy manner; exercising (including grip strength and yoga); and sleeping well. Those categories are probably not a surprise to anyone who picks up this text, although specific findings of the many studies he cites might be. What is refreshing is Emanuel’s encouragement to do one’s best which is not always the best, as he freely admits by including several self-deprecating anecdotes. He further states, “Our goal should not be to “outlive” as many people as possible. Instead, the goal should be to live a healthy and fulfilling life” and hence his emphasis on the “more important” social and psychological components as well as physical ones. Emanual touches on topics like the importance of willpower, lifestyles in the Blue Zones, and “intentionally trying new things that use different mental functions.” These could include trying new recipes or writing an autobiography for your grandchildren. He writes, “My suggestion is to be like Ben Franklin. Ask yourself: what can I do that will be useful, engaging, mind expanding, and helpful to the lives of others?” Hopefully, the overlapping nature of these wellness aspects is becoming clearer, too. Interested? The Wall Street Journal recently published a short excerpt from EAT YOUR ICE CREAM. The text itself could benefit from some brief chapter summaries, but the research is significant; approximately twenty-five percent of the book is devoted to bibliographic notes and references.

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.

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.

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.