Senior editor of The Oracle, Penny Ayala is too serious for dating! Lynne Henry who found love through letters starts an anonymous personals section & Liz encourages Penny to write an ad. When she gets an especially fun response, romance could finally be in the air for her! Or not, when Kirk the Jerk is involved! The best part is the Fowler vs Wakefield bet using the new column! The beach party reveal is downright hilarious! Liz gets sneaky too!

With multiple perspectives across 3 timelines, plus an intriguing premise, I must admit to harboring high hopes for this one as I waited to see how these women would connect with one another— along with the mysterious tree & hints of an old legend. But the pacing dragged for me, the supernatural elements weren‘t adequately explained & the gory plague was so repulsive! The epic scope made the book feel shallowly developed & historically inaccurate.

Though this wasn‘t exactly the book I hoped for, I can see why this was a #BOTM pick for Nov., as I think it will serve well as a discussion starter! It opens with a mother‘s disappearance from a grocery store parking lot before shifting to multiple perspectives— the best friend, another new mother obsessed with following the case & a retired detective who also can‘t let it go. Less mystery & more of an exploration of the hardships of mothering.

When Regina passes a pamphlet on a Swiss boarding school to Liz, she creates a monster. Newly obsessed with a yearlong creative writing program, Liz starts annoying friends & family with her one-track mind. But when she is up for a scholarship seeming tailor-made for her, Jessica starts plotting on how best to spoil the chance Liz has to take her away from #SweetValley. Her plans are hilarious—but effective as she puts their twinship to ill-use!

I loved this! Cricket‘s 26 but has floundered since high school & has avoided her beloved Adirondack family cabin while her older sister has moved in to care for their father. As Cricket steps into her sister‘s role, Hoen manages to keep the pacing up without getting bogged down in the difficulties of day-to-day caregiving while still acknowledging those challenges. When their dad‘s predictions come true, Cricket grapples with the future & past.

With a great performance & some dogs, this made #AudioWrapping fun! Though it‘s a ghost story as Tess renovates her grandparents‘ home to turn it into a B&B, it‘s not as spooky as I‘d hoped. A dash of romance & plenty of family secrets made this easy to listen to in one sitting but the climax is just too much of an explanation to be feel satisfying. I didn‘t hate it, but I just had higher hopes. I wanted it to commit more fully to one genre!

The main plot here revolves around the mysterious Susan Stewart, who makes an accidental enemy of Lila when she asks the dateless wealthy girl twice who is taking her to the Bridgewater Ball. Lila starts a vicious rumor that Susan‘s mother is actually “in a hospital for the criminally insane” & everyone starts canceling on her! The real highlight is the #SVK plot recycled here where Jessica is certain Alice is pregnant & schemes with her siblings!

Our book club picked this one by a landslide to close out the year & it was certainly a fun time & a lively discussion! Books written in the second-person are never my favorite & the main character consistent bad choices are head-shake inducing! The main twist surprised some but not all & the end felt a bit too abrupt with several unresolved threads left hanging.

This #YAThriller moves at a fast pace! Maggie & 6 other 6 year olds were held captive in a Scottish Highlander cave, & a decade later, they are not close & avoid mentioning the traumatic incident— until a survival class trip reunites them. Great audio performance, a twisting plot & a higher body count than I expected had me listening to this in just about a single listen! I wish the ending‘s reveal had been more fulfilling, but still a fun one!

Johanna Porter‘s the star here— the 17 year old dropout has decided to return to SVH after finding a diary entry of her dead mother‘s lamenting Johanna‘s exit from school. Julie & her dad have always bonded over music (I guess Johanna isn‘t into singing post-junior high & her days of being the voice behind Lila!) but now she wants to graduate. Her longtime crush, Peter DeHaven, sends mixed signals as he‘s also dating Amy! Jessica stirs up chaos!

My #bookclub had a fun time discussing this one (though we will have to have the popcorn fish at our next meeting!), and I had fun listening to this while #AudioDecorating! It‘s a holiday rom-com with some genuinely funny parts— though the overall consensus was that it‘s a better listen than read because of how great the performances are! It‘s not unpredictable, plus Grace‘s discovery about the past felt unnecessary, but it‘s a fun holiday story!

I really wanted to love this! I used to fall asleep to whale songs in 1st grade, & have always been fascinated by them! The focus here is more on the author arguing that the dominant hypothesis for why humpbacks sing (for attracting mates) is wrong & posits instead that this is long-distance echolocation. The author performs this one himself (which is distracting as his speech cadence isn‘t always natural) but suffers from constant side notes!

It‘s the 3rd #SVHSpringBreak & this time, the twins are headed to Walkersville, KS for an 11-day stay with Alice‘s aunt & uncle, Shirley & Herman. Descended from the town‘s founder & the current mayor, Herman & his wife are concerned with propriety… & an early curfew. They warn the twins off the “carnies” but Jessica (& even Liz) are drawn to Alex who runs the horses there— luckily he has an identical twin so there‘s no need to fight over him! ⬇️

I‘m bummed I wasted my birthday #BOTM credit on this…despite its lovely cover. Like a romance series, this one shifts focus from Ophelia to her younger, single sister, Genevieve. Following clues to dig into their mother‘s past, Vivi winds up at a mysterious Italian manor— one with its own family curse & rounds of games. I love forced proximity/fake relationships but the central romance here isn‘t compelling. Not as steamy but just as repetitive!

I‘m not sure if I‘ll complete #BOTM‘s #PagePulverizerChallenge, but I‘m trying— this was a #LollyFinalist2024 & the beautiful cover set some high hopes for me…but, the 9 levels of Hell in this haunted house/deadly game show frankly got repetitive. The family secrets failed to shock & mostly this felt like it was steam without substance to the central romance… the OCD added a modern twist but I just wanted something more from this chunkster!

The championship soccer game is coming up against Big Mesa, but co-captain Aaron Dallas‘ temper may mean he‘s off team! Lately, he‘s off the handle at the slightest provocation & now that he starts hitting, Liz can‘t help but report the facts…but Jeffrey‘s loyally standing by his friend, knowing he‘s lashing out because of his family‘s situation. Aaron‘s girlfriend, Heather, uses baby talk to calm him & Liz mocks her. Jess becomes a Tofu-Glo Girl!

What a fun book to do some #AudioDecorating with! Though I grew up more on the Disney Winnie the Pooh (from the movies, to the animated & the live-action TV show), I was curious to learn more about the man (& boy) behind the bear. This well-performed #audiobook offers more detail about not only A. A. Milne‘s family, but his other writings. Some of the transitions & excerpts were a little abrupt in the audio, but otherwise, an informative listen!

I‘m surprised this was a #BOTM offering, because it‘s a strange story…entrancing, but a weird genre blend. The Haddesley family keeps to themselves on their WV land, inside their crumbling manor bordering the cranberry bog (no mention of the spiders, the one bit of creepiness I was prepared for!). When the patriarch lays dying, his estranged daughter returns after a decade. These 5 adult children flounder in this fresh but grimily beautiful book.

Cheerleader Maria Santelli is secretly engaged to senior, Michael Harris. The whole school buzzes about their romance—the 2 families had been close until a client destroyed their business & friendship 4 years earlier. There‘s also a 2-week seminar on marriage with randomly assigned spouses, highlighting how ill-prepared Maria & Michael really are. Jessica‘s assigned to Winston who also loves Maria while Liz & Bruce relive the assignment from #SVT!

Though I‘ve read Shapiro‘s fiction, this is my 1st foray into her memoirs, & I absolutely loved listening to her narrate her story. I found myself totally absorbed, listening at every opportunity. This transfixing tale opens when, at 54, after rather thoughtlessly submitting an ancestry DNA sample, she learns that her beloved father was not her biological father. With both of her parents gone, & only a few elderly relatives available to speak.

I really enjoy Wilson‘s writing & was excited this was one of the options for the #BiteSizedBooks portion of the #GoodreadsChallenge! This quick family drama starts with Mad in TN, who is shocked to have a half-brother show up in a PT Cruiser—& news that their dad has more children & is in CA. A sibling road trip ensues with the climax proving that it‘s not so much the destination as the journey. Funny moments, big secrets & room to define family!

Dana‘s cousin, Sally, moves to #SweetValley & is desperate to finally have the home she‘s always wanted since her mom abandoned her at age 4 after remarrying. Dana wants Sally to keep her real age (she had to repeat a grade from shuffling through foster homes) & her past a secret while her older brother resents her before she even arrives! Sally confides in Liz & eventually wins her spot in their hearts. Also Prince Albert joins the Wakefields!

This fun & fast-paced thriller reunites four college friends five years after the New Year‘s Eve that changed their lives. Back in the opulent Monroe “lake house”— a Lake Como villa— Harper, Luca, Sirina & David find the past weighing heavily at their friend‘s memorial celebration. Multiple perspectives & a dual timeline keep the pages turning fast— even if none of these folks are the kind of friends anyone wants to call their own!

I think I would have enjoyed this one more had I not so recently listened to & loved a somewhat similar conservation story about Amur tigers. This one, focused on the jaguar, was certainly interesting but lacked the same infectious passion & a more centralized focus. It had a less optimistic feel for the future of the jaguar (particularly those intrepid males who have been spotted in North America as far as the US) & a bigger focus on politics.

Not an official holiday break, it‘s the midwinter carnival for juniors, seniors & alumni an hour & a half away at a ski resort. Liz has the winter blues, feeling uncharacteristically jealous of Jessica & her careless attitude. Jess steals (& wins) a trivia contest, strands her sister & isn‘t holding up her end of the chores. Todd‘s coming & she‘s nervous for Jeffrey to meet her 1st love. After listening to Jess, she ends up worse off than before!

This debut novel received a lot of pre-publication attention & I was excited for the start to check it out… & now only 5 years later, did it finally come off my listening TBR thanks to the #FictionFaves #GoodreadsChallenge! With a great audio performance by Meryl Streep‘s daughter, Grace Gummer, this tackles statutory abuse & the MeToo movement, making it ripe for discussion. Captures adolescence in 2000 vividly & completely hooked my attention!

Just a few days before listening to this one, we watched I LIKE ME, the documentary about John Candy, & so this felt something like the extended cut. Obviously, the focus is the same for both & it‘s clear that overlapping sources were used, but there‘s even more detail here as Myers chronicles Candy‘s life both onscreen & off. It‘s an engaging listen & perfect for this time of the year as this is when we annually watch our favorites of his films!

This is one of my favorites! Jessica has an identity crisis & is fed up with being mistaken for Liz. So she flatters Lila out of her Parisian wardrobe & dyes her hair black & speaking with a vague accent, causing quite the stir! Liz is miserable & feels like she lost her best friend & then loses her diary on top of it! Liz & Jeffrey fight too (Liz thinks he likes Jess & her new look more than her), but lands a mall modeling job that Jess wanted!

I just didn‘t enjoy this sequel quite as much as I‘d hoped to— it picks up just over a year after NORTHWOODS ends & while Eli‘s in a better place, a missing woman brings FBI agent Alyssa back to the small WI town. More of her backstory emerges but it sort of slows down the larger drug/health insurance plot down— there are some surprises here but some implausibilities left me with some questions in the end. Not sure where the series will go next!

Set in WI, this mystery starts off a bit slowly, despite its strong initial hook with a dead teen found. Shaky Lake, with its woefully underfunded police department welcomes assistance on the case from the Chicago FBI field office. Meanwhile, the sheriff is as concerned with the case as her own son‘s (& deputy‘s) well-being as he flounders with his own PTSD. When a drug connection emerges, an even larger plot unfolds. A bit predictable but solid.

Straight from an OR tree farm, Jeffrey French causes quite the stir when he moves to #SweetValley! Enid immediately has a crush on him, but almost as quickly backs off when it‘s clear that Lila has her sights set on him! But the twins get involved in some the matchmaking, each supporting their bestie. Also, cousin Jenny from Houston is in town, spilling secrets & snatching Jess‘s latest crush! Jenny‘s a mystery cousin though-who are her parents?

Such a fun debut!! Narrator Margo may not be a good person (her house hunting has really brought out the worst in her), but she‘s a pretty funny dog lover who will stop at literally nothing to get the dream home she desires. For the last 18 months, she & her equally not-so perfect husband, Ian, have been trying for a baby & to lock in their perfect house. But after 10 times being outbid, Margo‘s ready to go all in on a tip about a new listing!

I didn‘t expect to listen to this in one day, but I was totally hooked! Taking place over 1955, the book opens just before the Mayfields host their annual New Year‘s party. Lulu spends most of her time imagining how she would decorate the empty house across the street rather than stick to the Good Housekeeping schedule like the rest of the neighborhood wives. Lulu‘s obsession with the house across the street increases when a few family moves in.

Pi Beta Alpha is accepting new pledges (again!) & while Jessica‘s excited for Amy Sutton to join, Sandra Bacon is less excited for her best friend, Jean West to join. Though the two are as close as sisters, lately Sandra feels like Jean is always showing her up & she likes having the sorority as just hers… so while she does nominate her, she then does everything she can to sabotage her pledge tasks! Jean manages to find love & friendship!

I enjoyed the premise of this CA mystery, but wish I had DNF‘ed this… The dialogue is entirely implausible and it felt like it was a midstream series novel rather than a standalone. I absolutely hated the female detective‘s completely unnecessary plot— her character development was nonexistent to support the disgusting storyline & the MC could have been more interesting than re-using PTSD tropes of former soldiers. The historic parts were best.

I‘m drawn to nonfiction books about animals & this one, performed by the author, nicely conveys the author‘s own enthusiasm for this research & conservation project that spanned decades, tracking hundreds of tigers utilizing a variety of technology & techniques. The title is a little misleading because though obviously tigers don‘t care about borders, the main focus here is a Russian project in the Amur River Basin area with some collaboration.

It‘s the second #SweetValleyHighSummer & George Fowler‘s forcing Lila to get a summer job to “build character” by being a mother‘s helper in Malibu. Jess convinces her twin to set aside her plans for an internship at the paper to join her— Jess even comes off as selfless giving Liz the job with the older child & the mansion while she shares a room in a small house six whole blocks from the beach with an infant— cousin to the new teen sensation!

Happy Publication Week! With multiple perspectives, this fast-paced book is impossible to put down! On an evening commute, a text alert announces that a nuclear missile is approaching South England within an hour. Thrust into this scenario, some chaos is unavoidable, but overall this plot surprised me more than expected. Such a pageturner with a steady level of tension, lots of cliffhangers & brief chapters making it easy to read “just one more!”

I love #FairyTaleRetellings & this #BOTM pick is just plain fun to read! Full of action, adventure & stories-within-stories, Herman mashes together “The Twelve Huntsmen,” “How Six Men Got On In The World,” “Rapunzel,” & “The Six Servants” with some nods to Disney specific fairy tales as well. It‘s funny & fresh, with likable characters & a fast pace! All in all enjoyable with some silliness & touches on serious themes as all good fairytales do!

Amy Sutton‘s back from CT! And Liz is so ecstatic to have her childhood friend back… Enid, though, is less enthusiastic. She‘s looking forward to skiing with Liz at her Aunt Nancy‘s place in Lake Tahoe but gamely includes Amy—though her arrival changes the date & Liz keeps standing Enid up for Amy. Amy‘s tomboy klutziness is replaced with a more glamorous & boy-crazy attitude & she‘s suddenly spending more time with Jessica! True friendship wins!

This compilation of thirty short anecdotes is great for any dog lover! Covering a variety of breeds—purebred, mixes and rescues & trained professionally & not so much, Cochran explores the extraordinary bond between dogs & their people. Some are more dramatic than others, but many will bring tears to a listener‘s eye! Heartwarming and entertaining, my only complaint about the audio was that I was left wondering if a physical copy had any pictures!

Louis quickly became one of my favorite authors with her US debut, DEAR EMMIE BLUE. Her latest (available now in the UK, but not until August 2026 in the US!), is a romance spanning a two years after an ornithologist swaps phones on a plane with a rising film star. Allie has her own struggles, still grieving for her mum & desperately needing funding for her birds while Milo‘s juggling his own problems & never expecting to be wowed over the phone!

To raise money for new cheer outfits, Jessica comes up with a Rock Around The Clock Relay with the cheerleaders sponsored for time spent rocking in a rocking chair with an all-night party in the gym surrounding them! Meanwhile, the Droids sponsor a songwriting contest & tall, shy Lynne Henry dares to anonymously submit her song, knowing she‘s not the “Linda Ronstadt” type her crush Guy Chesney may be expecting. Liz helps this new couple form!

I love Meyer‘s fairy tale retellings! This twist on #Bluebeard is set in the same universe as the #GildedDuology but works as a standalone (my fingers are crossed for a sequel of Mallory‘s sister‘s adventures!). Mallory & her sister have taken up their mother‘s mantle as best they can— reading fortunes & Mallory‘s talent for seeing ghosts has helped improve her illicit tours of the infamous LeBleu mansion. But can they actually lay LeBleu to rest?

While my husband greatly enjoyed mocking the synopsis, I greatly enjoyed reading this one! Sadie‘s story drew me in immediately. Finding love later in life, both Sadie & her astronomy loving husband both bear wounds from their upbringings. When these professors take their sabbatical to return to Felix‘s remote WA homestead, the distance between them has never felt so pronounced— especially when Felix fails to come home! Exciting & unexpected!

It‘s the second #SweetValleySpringBreak for these juniors & the Wakefield twins join in a 10-day exchange program! They head to Cannes to stay with Avery Glize & her American-hating (but handsome) son, René. Ferney Glize (a Tricia Martin lookalike!) arrives in #SweetValley, haunting Steven. In France, Jess falls in love with a boy who thinks she‘s Liz & Liz fixes not only René‘s prejudice, but his drowning trauma & relationship with his father!

Since her amazing debut, I‘ve eagerly picked up each of her books. Sir Una Everlasting & Owen‘s story is an adventurous, time-traveling love story that I couldn‘t put down (I did listen to some on audio, too— the female performer is great!). With any cyclical tale, there‘s some repetition out of necessity but it doesn‘t slow the pacing too much. With shocks to the plot, & some messages for readers today— plus a scene stealing horse, it‘s great!

Happy Publication Day! Holland kicks off a new series with a story full of adventure— curses, finfolk, whaling magical whales & romance, too! Savannah Fairfax inherited the family whaling business— along with a terrible curse— when her parents died. Now 19, she‘s taking her first leadership role, but an enemy warns her that fiancé may have his own agenda. Fast-paced with an interesting backdrop, this #YAFantasy leaves me eager for the next book!

#SweetValley‘s Centennial Celebration is finally here & Jessica‘s in charge of the picnic, but the whole town is worried that if football quarterback star Ken Matthews doesn‘t get his English grade up, the exhibition game against Palisades will end in defeat. Liz offers Ken help with a short story by giving him her notes & outline for a story she wrote just for herself. Ken dates snooty Suzanne Hanlon who wants to change him, leading him to cheat!

The second book in the #MelodyBittersweetSeries is almost as fun as the first! Melody‘s second ghostbusting clients are Americans who bought a castle online. Eager to use it for film, they need the literal menagerie of ghosts out before the stars arrive. Once again, the fun cast is all there— though Melody‘s rival & ex is certainly less fun here. With more romance in the air overall, the circus mystery here isn‘t quite as exciting as the first!