Anyone's Ghost is an angsty love story worthy of its Lambda Literary Award nomination this year, and I am thrilled to introduce you to August's writing process in this week's Book Gang Podcast episode.

It took three car crashes to kill Jake, but it only takes one unforgettable summer to change everything. Fifteen-year-old Theron arrives in rural New Hampshire, anxious and adrift, and meets Jake, who is full of magnetic, untethered, and dangerous energy.

They bond over heavy metal, midnight drives, weed, and that fierce, confusing ache of first desire that insists you feel everything in full color.

Years later, after reunions and heartbreaks, Theron is left only with the relentless memories that haunt him. What was this relationship, what might've been, and the hooks of songs that bind us even when someone fades away.

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Merritt Valentine was once a celebrated singer-songwriter until a mental health collapse derailed her life.

Now living in a quiet Colorado ski town, she's trying to disentangle from her past in music, even as her heart keeps drawing her back, and a local handyman becomes her unexpected companion in recovery.

Their house renovation becomes a metaphor for rebuilding both life and her creative voice in this new book from Wilder known for her celebrity romance stories.

Release Date- 25 October 2025

Evan returns home to care for his mother, June, and in doing so unearths secrets about her past relationship with Bob Dylan.

The novel doesn't just mine celebrity lore, but reflects on what it means to inherit both art and myth, and how being compared to your potential father can shape (and sometimes fracture) a sense of self.

Music, especially Bob Dylan's music, serves as both backdrop and lodestar in Evan's journey in this magical debut.

Luke Randall was once Nashville's brightest rising star until his career narrowed to singing the same old hit he didn't even write.

Determined to claim her own spotlight, August insists they co-write and perform a new song together, even if it means exposing long-kept truths.

Black's sophomore novel hums with second chances and the power of finally owning your voice.

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Before she published Loved One, Aisha Muharrar was a writer-producer for some of your favorite TV comedies, including Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, and Hacks!

Julia, a jewelry designer in her thirties, is jolted by the sudden death of Gabe (her first love and indie musician friend).

On a grief-filled journey from LA to London to Barcelona, she sets out to recover Gabe's belongings like his beloved guitar, sheet music, and other personal pieces that echoed his life on stage and off.

Along the way, she crosses paths with Elizabeth, Gabe's recent partner, entering a tangled new space as she uncovers more behind his life since their split.

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It's 1986, and Rikki Thunder, a 22-year-old drummer in LA, is aching to make it big. When the lead drummer for mega-band Whyte Python breaks both arms, Rikki gets an audition that might change everything.

What follows is a wild, global '80s rock tour steeped in leather, riffs, backstage chaos, and neon lights, but with a twist. The CIA has designs on using Whyte Python as a Cold War pawn- no big deal.

Narrated on audiobook by Wil Wheaton, I'm eager to dive into this book soon.

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Joni Lark is a hit songwriter who’s lost her spark, retreating home to Vienna Shores and her family’s fading music venue.

Then a half-written melody begins haunting her, linking her to Sebastian, a washed-up boy-band star with scars of his own.

Together they must finish the song, confront old grief, and maybe rediscover the music that still binds them.

This book was an incredible escape, according to my fabulous cohost on the FULLY BOOKED Show, where we share our latest reviews every month.

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Avery Fox is a Muscogee pop star whose image took a nosedive when she posed in a feathered war bonnet for Rolling Stone and was accused of cultural appropriation.

To escape the fallout, she retreats to her grandmother's Oklahoma horse ranch, where she meets Lucas, a rugged cowboy who is entirely unlike her usual circle.

Between pop-show scandals, cultural expectations, and the beauty of ranch life, Nava explores the threads between music and identity in this frothy escape.

Cléo Louvent has been passionate about becoming a singer since she was a child. Her journey from working in a bookstore to becoming a global pop star is filled with ambition, cover songs, viral moments (like her rendition of a Billy Joel classic), and the glitter of fame that she aspires to achieve.

Now thirty-something, she retreats to a remote Pacific island to work on her fourth album, trying to understand what she sacrificed, and whether she can ever come back from her own hunger for the spotlight.

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Cassie and Zoe Grossberg are sisters turned pop duo. In the early 2000s, their band, The Griffin Sisters, soared in success until a tragedy shatters everything, and the sisters drift apart.

Fast forward 20 years, and now Zoe is a suburban mom while Cassie has vanished from public life. When Zoe's daughter, Cherry, dreams of her own singing career, she envisions reuniting the fractured legacy.

With faux news articles, social-media footprints, backstage secrets, and the echoes of early pop, this has been a satisfying read for so many readers.

Percy Marks has always lived for music, chasing the thrill of deep tracks and obscure playlists, while her college boyfriend Joe dreams of rock-star fame.

As Joe's career rises from dive bars to the indie-rock spotlight, Percy is left to question her own place as an observer, muse, or artist in her own right.

Steeped in the energy of the early-2000s music scene, this is a coming-of-age laced with the bittersweet cost of ambition.

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In 1989, Suzanne's childhood was scored by the amps and anthems of her father's band, The Kills, teetering on the edge of stardom.

Then came the night that ended everything.

Now, years later, with her father gone, Suzanne abandons her quiet suburban life to retrace those tour-worn roads and begin unearthing long-buried secrets and the music that never let her go.

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Clementine wants nothing to do with the music world after growing up as the daughter of a famous rock star. That changes when she takes a summer job with Theo, a legendary musician in need of help finishing his album.

Studio sessions, songwriting sparks, and tour-level pressure set the stage for a romance filled with rhythm and risk that has satisfied the romance sweet spot even with readers who normally shy away from the genre.

Amber Young has always dreamed of the spotlight, and this debut drops readers right into the late-'90s pop explosion.

With girl group auditions, choreographed routines, and songs destined to top TRL, Amber's journey captures the intoxicating mix of ambition and artifice.

This light novel is pure cotton candy and kept me up until the wee hours of the night. But it also made me think more critically about how I engaged with media and how teen girls were treated in those early days of their careers.

April's small-town life is stifling, but her music is her ticket out. With a borrowed guitar and a voice full of longing, she drifts from one open mic to the next, chasing connection through her songs.

Every performance brings her closer to finding her new family and herself in this tender coming-of-age novel, which is one of my favorites.

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This story spans two generations and stages, tracing Judie Zingerman's rise as one-half of a 1960s folk-rock duo and her daughter Emma's pursuit of alt-rock success in the 1990s.

As Emma pushes forward with her music career, she unearths Judie's private notebooks and lost songs, learning what fame cost her mother.

It's a lyrical, emotionally rich story about songwriting, legacy, and how the songs we inherit can shape us for better and worse.

If you are looking for a soapy Jewish family drama, this is the ticket!

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Billy is a music teacher and single dad whose life is flipped upside down when a rock star moves in next door.

Former band icon Margot Hammer isn't looking for the spotlight, but the rhythms of second chances play loudly between them.

Guitars, Baltimore dive bars, and unexpected harmony make this a story as big-hearted as it is entertaining.

In this quirky story, Prudence was once a piano prodigy, but her career stalled and her love for music faded. Now, decades later, she's given one more shot in a televised piano competition that might reignite her passion.

Music becomes the bridge between past regrets and present circumstances, offering readers a moving encore on reinvention.

This oral-history style novel reimagines the meteoric rise and fall of a '70s Afro-punk duo. With fictional interviews, album notes, and behind-the-scenes drama, it captures the electric energy of rock music colliding with politics and identity.

Opal's bold artistry and Nev's musical genius are best served up on audiobook for an immersive reading experience.

In 1960s New York, Benny Lamento, a talented white pianist, meets Esther Mine, a Black singer navigating a world stacked against her. Their music sparks more than applause. It ignites a forbidden, passionate love that defies racial boundaries, societal expectations, and family pressures.

As Benny and Esther compose songs and dreams together, they confront prejudice, jealousy, and the cost of following the heart.

In this age-gap romance, Solène is a 39-year-old gallery owner and single mother, living a carefully curated life until she meets Hayes Campbell, the 20-year-old lead singer of a wildly popular boy band.

Their attraction is electric, taboo, and undeniable, pushing Solène to question everything she thought she knew about love, desire, and timing. This novel is the perfect reading slump buster!

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In this trans story, Gala, a devoted fan, writes a long letter to her idol of a legendary '60s band. Through this epistolary story, we get peeks behind the myths, obsessions, and hidden truths of pop stardom.

Thornton's experimental novel speaks to fandom, gender, and the stories songs leave behind.

Ray McMillian dreams of becoming a world-class violinist, but his family dismisses his music until he discovers his grandmother's old violin is a priceless Stradivarius.

When it's stolen just before a major competition, Ray must race to recover it while confronting prejudice in the classical music world as a Black musician.

This literary thriller is beloved among many of our readers and I loved this story's concept.

In the 1970s, Jackie spent one unforgettable summer at her uncle's California estate, a retreat for folk musicians.

Decades later, she inherits the house and discovers long-lost tapes that could change everything she thought she knew.

The story moves between past jam sessions and present reckonings, set to a folk soundtrack of secrets.

Jenry Castillo, a musical prodigy from Miami, heads to Brown University to uncover the truth about his late father, a famous ballet dancer.

Along the way, he meets his estranged grandfather and discovers a hidden family web that challenges everything he thought he knew about his identity in this layered family drama.

This was a stellar audiobook experience!

Former metal guitarist Kris Pulaski discovers her band's frontman sold them out for fame, leaving her dreams in ruins.

Years later, she sets out on a cross-country quest to reclaim both her soul and her sound. Hendrix captures the grimy dive bars, riffs, and rebellious energy of heavy metal in this horror-tinged road trip story that cranks the volume all the way up.

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Allison Brinkley moves to New York and unexpectedly becomes the personal assistant to a troubled pop star. Suddenly, she's juggling teen stardom, viral meltdowns, and backstage chaos.

The world of stadium shows and celebrity drama becomes the backdrop for a funny and heartfelt story about family and second acts. I loved this one as a vacation read for a light escape!

Harlan is a gifted Black jazz guitarist who, along with his friend Lizard, travels from Harlem to Paris in the 1930s.

Their music lights up cabarets until the Nazi occupation shatters their world, landing them in a concentration camp.

This moving, unforgettable story, rooted in the rhythms of jazz and history, won an NAACP Award, and it was a sheer delight to spend an afternoon discussing this novel with the author and learning more behind her research process.

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Fourteen-year-old Mary Jane takes a summer nanny job in 1970s Baltimore, only to find herself in the home of a rock star and his famous wife.

Suddenly, her buttoned-up world is filled with jam sessions, groupies, and an entirely new rhythm. Music serves as both backdrop and awakening as Mary Jane learns to question everything she's been taught.

I loved EVERY MINUTE of this story!

Our book club fell in love with this magical story set on a run-down London street in 1988, where Frank owns a record store and has an uncanny gift for matching people with the exact song they need, even if they don't know it yet.

But when Ilse, a mysterious woman, enters his shop, Frank's carefully curated world begins to change. It's a tender, melodic novel about love, healing, and the transformative power of music.

I don't know how else to describe it except that it feels like that joyous scene where everything is coming together in Notting Hill.

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When aspiring singer Enchanted Jones meets legendary R&B artist Korey Fields, she believes her dreams are finally coming true. But the glamorous world of music soon reveals darker truths about exploitation and power.

Told in Jackson's sharp, propulsive style, this is a story about survival in the face of abuse where music is both dream and danger. The novel is heartbreaking, timely, and important!

Concert pianist Richard has built his identity around performance, but ALS begins to silence his music one note at a time. His estranged ex-wife steps in as caregiver, and together they face both the music of the past and the silence of their looming future.

Genova captures the devastating intersection of illness and artistry in this heartbreaking novel that broke my heart in a million pieces.

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Toni Bennett has spent her life on the sidelines of the Philadelphia music scene, hiding her talent and chasing stability.

When her estranged childhood friend drags her into the spotlight of an all-female rock band, she's forced to claim her stage.

Axelrod nails the details of rehearsal rooms, tour buses, and the struggle for respect in a male-dominated industry.

In this steamy historical romance story, Mallory is a single mom whose former high school flame, Monk Adams, has since become a famous singer, but years of silence lie between them.

When her son falls gravely ill, the question of whether Monk could be a biological father—and thus a potential match for a kidney transplant—forces Mallory to confront their past.

Don't be fooled by the light tone of this story; it features an incredible dual timeline initiative that will also transport you to Egypt. Our book club loved it!

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This buzzy oral history follows a fictional '70s rock band through meteoric fame and spectacular collapse. Told in interviews, it captures recording sessions, backstage fights, and the alchemy of songwriting.

Daisy's magnetic voice and Billy's tortured leadership make for irresistible tension that you'll flip for on audiobook.

Egan's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel connects lives across decades through the power of music. From record producers to washed-up musicians, each chapter pulses with the highs and lows of the music industry.

The novel experiments with form—emails, slideshows, fragmented timelines—mirroring the chaos of art itself.

It's a daring, inventive book that so many readers love.

Carter Wills rose to fame as the lead singer of the English alt-rock band Mayluna in the 1990s, his lyrics echoing heartbreak and longing across arenas and radio waves.

Behind the music, though, lies a secret connection to a woman whose love changed everything, yet remains hidden from the world.

Rich with the grit of touring life, the magic of songwriting, and the complexities of fame and desire, I ate this one up with a spoon!

Greta is an indie singer-songwriter who once lit up stages and built her reputation on personal stories and guitar strings, but then tragedy hit when her mother died suddenly.

After a viral breakdown onstage, she retreats from the spotlight, torn between grief, guilt, and the music she still wants to create.

When she joins her estranged father on an Alaskan cruise planned by her late mother, the journey becomes a cathartic chord progression for them both.

Colton Gentry thought he'd left his country-music stardom behind after the industry canceled him. But when he returns to his Kentucky hometown, guitar still in hand, he finds himself pulled back into his hometown through a new role at a restaurant owned by his high school sweetheart.

Old wounds, lost loves, and the tug of songwriting all resurface as he faces what it means to live after loss and begin anew.

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Patti Smith's memoir captures her early years in New York alongside photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, tracing their struggles, collaborations, and the gritty, electric atmosphere of the city's art and music scene in the '60s and '70s.

From flea-market discoveries to crashing at the Chelsea Hotel, Smith's poetic reflections offer a front-row seat to the making of a punk-poet icon.

It's raw, luminous, and brimming with the rhythm of an artist finding her voice.

From drumming in Nirvana to fronting Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl recounts his life in a memoir as energetic and heartfelt as one of his shows.

His stories swing from chance encounters with legends to parenting, from scrappy beginnings to stadium tours.

Filled with warmth, humor, and behind-the-scenes moments, Grohl narrates the audiobook that serves as both a rock history and a deeply personal diary.

Meet one of my favorite books of the year.

The Sideways Life of Denny Voss is a gentle story with a few explosive f-bombs for good measure, exploring the collision of good intentions when Denny, a neurodivergent adult, finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery in which he is the only suspect for a prestigious man in their small town.

What I loved is Kennedy's earnest balance of never making the story saccharine, while acknowledging each of these characters' flaws, especially his complicated relationship with his absentee mother, who abandoned him as a child.

This story indeed insists on showing how messy lives can be full of bright spots.

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One of my favorite thriller writers is back with a brilliantly funny, twisty heist caper novel. This story brings together a washed-up rockstar who reunites his old band for one final gig—and a daring robbery!

Although the plan has a lot of plot holes, this crime may provide Mo with a chance to connect with the daughter he's never known. So he and his gang of middle-aged has-beens dive into what will be the most outrageous heist New Jersey's ever seen, but only if they can pull it off and stay alive.

Packed with astonishing twists, Kardos, known for his comedic thrillers, is back to wow us again in this new novel that you can pre-order for December.

Release Date- 2 December 2025

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There are no heroes to root for in this story, but I loved this biting, darkly funny debut about house-hunting mania in an overheated market with all my heart.

When one woman's quest to win a house becomes a satire of status, Kashino showcases the crazy lengths we'll go to make a front lawn look like a life.

I laughed a lot over Margot's antics, but that's not to say she doesn't layer in a good backstory for the character as we learn more about her father, for whom she learned a few tricks of the trade on how to get what you want out of life.

I'm excited to introduce you to the author on the Book Gang Podcast later this fall.

Release Date- 25 November 2025

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When the family matriarch, Roses Sun, faces an existential crisis to produce a male heir bearing the clan's surname, she fears her generation is the one in which their esteemed lineage ends.

Faced with this terrifying fate, Roses summons her favorite nephew, Wayward. Believing him to possess the "lucky seed," Roses presents a mandatory suggestion: father a baby boy who will inherit everything or else.

Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians in this chaotic, darkly funny romp about the lengths a wealthy family will go to ensure the birth of a male heir from the gay black sheep of their clan.

Release Date- 11 November 2025

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Harkin's bawdy, brilliant dive into one of history's most audacious identity swaps spins fact and fiction into a raucous tale.

Reimagining the little-known story of a 15th-century farm boy thrown into royalty, Harkin delivers a hero who shape-shifts his way through courtly intrigue, rebellion, and betrayal with cunningness and surprising heart.

Laced with wickedly profane and period-perfect language, readers follow this would-be Earl of Warwick as he navigates a life that was never meant to be his.

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This new novel delivers a glam-metal, '80s-tinged romp that offers readers part rock saga and part absurdist caper.

Drummer Rikki Thunder dreams of rock stardom in ’80s L.A., but his band’s world tour turns into Cold War chaos when they’re caught up in espionage and revolution. Kennedy blends satire, music-scene absurdity, and political farce into a laugh-out-loud romp that’s as over the top as a drum solo in leather pants.

If you like your humor loud, raucous, and stage-diving, this book delivers on audiobook format narrated by the incomparable Wil Wheaton.

This book has been described by many fellow readers as weird, darkly funny, and unignorably. unusual story,

Linda spends her days moderating toxic internet comments and her nights sneaking off to airports to admire airplanes. It's a hobby that turns into a full-blown romantic fixation that is as intriguing as she is.

Folk imagines a protagonist whose obsession with airplanes becomes a surreal lens on our desires, loneliness, and internet-era strangeness.

Percival Everett takes a bold swing at Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and delivers something blisteringly clever and wildly entertaining.

By shifting the focus to Jim, Everett not only restores him to the role of hero but also gives him wit, voice, and the sly ability to turn the tables on every assumption made about him.

There’s biting social commentary here, but also laugh-out-loud moments as Jim punctures the pretensions of the world around him with sarcasm, cunning, and a storyteller’s sense of timing.

I can't wait to discuss this with my book club this year.

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In this speculative fiction book, Lily wakes up in a chic desert compound alongside nine other women, who are contestants in a brutal reality show where they must couple up and complete hilariously inane tasks to survive.

Rawle's opener tosses contestants around on the floor like debris. These women are easy to confuse, but this appears to be intentional, from one blonde looking at another and believing it to be a mirror of herself, to a male castmate who loved to throw around big words that he did not understand, the author's cheeky humor plays into some "Barbie & Ken" themes that made me laugh.

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I have this razor-smart novel on my book stack right now and can't wait to dive into Walter's sharp social observation with satirical flourishes. Walter uses wry, comic touches amid a story about disconnection and redemption.

Not knock-down slapstick, but sly and frequently hilarious, according to my incredible cohost on the FULLY BOOKED Show, where we share our latest reviews every month.

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Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this YA debut takes on endometriosis and medical gaslighting with a protagonist who refuses to downplay her pain.

Delia's sharp, witty voice makes the story as entertaining as it is eye-opening, offering a much-needed, unflinchingly honest look at what it means to fight for your health when no one believes you.

I gave this moving, funny, and beautifully layered sibling story five stars.

Smith embeds flashbacks to their childhood road trips to add bittersweet nostalgia while keeping the story brisk and engaging throughout.

I laughed, teared up, and didn't want the story to end. These siblings feel like real people you root for, even when they're a mess.

Wood’s novel may sound saccharine, but I promise it’s anything but, and it’s genuinely funny. Some of the best laughs come from inmates filling out book club feedback forms, all under the watchful eye of Harriet, a retired English teacher who kicks off this story with gusto.

Then comes Violet, newly released from prison after a tragic mistake, whose path collides with Frank, a widower still reeling from the loss of his wife. With Harriet’s steady guidance, their three lives begin to tangle together in surprising ways.

Wise, witty, and deeply compassionate, this is a novel about the power of stories, the grace of second chances, and how laughter can carry us through even the hardest chapters. This was a book club hit!

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Two rival bookshops, one irresistible rom-com. Josie, the meticulous literary-fiction devotee, and Ryan, the free-spirited romance-only seller, are forced into competition when their shared owner dangles one manager's job between them. The twist? They've been anonymous confidants in an online book forum all along.

If you loved You've Got Mail, this book is perfect for you.

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Annie Hartnett delivered another zany and big-hearted tale, kicking off this literary fiction story with a death-predicting nursing home cat named Pancakes and only getting wilder from there.

When broke, sixty-something lottery winner PJ Halliday inherits his late brother's grandkids, he reluctantly includes them, his adult daughter, and the morbidly magical cat, heading west on a misguided mission to win back his high school sweetheart.

Your heart will be pulled in all different directions, especially as the story concludes with a gorgeous twist.

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Blending memoir and cultural critique, Amanda Hess takes on the strange terrain of parenting in the algorithm age. Beginning with a complicated pregnancy, she traces how technology—fertility apps, genetic tests, influencer culture, even baby monitors—shapes not only how we parent but how we think about parenthood itself.

Smart, funny, and piercingly observant, Hess captures the absurdities and anxieties of raising kids while everything is made clickable, trackable, and marketable.

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This biting, satirical domestic suspense story features a mother who believes that her son may be involved in the disappearance of his childhood bully and is determined to get to the bottom of it come hell or high water.

This novel offers some surprising and laugh-out-loud twists as they get to the bottom of the mystery. It kept me guessing, but more importantly, I felt highly entertained.

Florence is the kind of unlikable protagonist I love—insufferable, messy, and unapologetically flawed. I indulged in her antics, and Harman's writing made the experience deliciously fun.

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In the overlooked Tuscan village of Lazzarini Boscarino, a prized six-pound truffle is discovered, giving the eccentric townspeople a chance to outshine their pretentious neighbors.

Mayor Delizia rallies a colorful misfit cast to guard the treasure and revive the town's fortunes. But with rivals and secrets piling up, small-town chaos is never far behind.

This over-the-top truffle farce from the author of Hollow Kingdom had me belly-laughing through much of her cinematic storytelling, and it reminded me of Jamie (Colin Firth) and his Portuguese housekeeper, Aurelia (Lúcia Moniz), in Love Actually, as the town comes together for some adorable reasons.

Professor Daphne Ouverture's brilliant yet insufferable colleague is murdered, and she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game. Wallbrook presents a campus crime caper with a wink that had me laughing hysterically through its dialogue.

Cozy, clever, and frequently funny in a literary way. It was one of my favorite books of the summer, and I'm eager to explore the subsequent adventures in this cozy series.

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What happens when a woman who once dabbled in a "love elixir" is suddenly face-to-face with the boy it backfired on... seventy years later?

Augusta Stern may be retired, but her wit is as sharp as ever, especially when sparring with Irving Rivkin, the one who got away (and isn't about to let her forget it).

Full of zippy banter, second-chance sparks, and just a hint of old-world magic, this novel proves it's never too late to fall in love or trade barbs with the only person who can keep up with you. It was a massive hit with my book club!

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Julie Chan has spent most of her life overlooked until she stumbles upon her influencer twin's body and slips into her perfectly filtered world.

Suddenly, she's juggling skincare sponsorships, curated brunches, and a dangerously exclusive clique of Instagram-famous besties.

Darkly funny and razor-sharp, this debut skewers influencer culture while unraveling a mystery that proves sometimes the scariest thing isn't murder, but it is going viral. This thriller will check the boxes for horror enthusiasts.

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When the apocalypse hits, it's not humans but a foul-mouthed crow named S.T. who steals the show. Buxton's debut is irreverent, surprisingly tender, and full of laugh-out-loud animal commentary about what happens when the pets outlive their masters.

I laughed uncontrollably through this one, and it was worthy of loud and obnoxious laughter. I can't rave enough about what a treat this book was and a perfect Halloween read for those seeking that in their reading life.

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She’s a bodyguard, and he’s America’s most wholesome movie star. Center flips the protective bodyguard trope on its head with a rom-com that’s equal parts tenderhearted and laugh-out-loud funny.

Between the swoony moments, absurd situations, and genuine heart, this is Katherine Center at her best, and I grinned so hard my face hurt.

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What if your harshest critic turned out to be your perfect match? That's the setup for this smart, snarky rom-com about Natalie, a debut author still stung by a brutal one-star review, and Rob, the grumpy academic who wrote it.

When weddings and life events keep throwing them together, the banter turns sharp, the sparks undeniable, and the line between hate and something sweeter begins to blur.

Hankin nails the humor of book culture while serving up a romance that's both witty and winning.

This book had When Harry Met Sally vibes, and I loved it more than the recent Emily Henry novels Get it!

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Kuang's razor-sharp satire aims at the publishing industry with a story that's as uncomfortable as it is hilarious.

When a struggling white writer steals her late friend's manuscript and rebrands herself as "Juniper Song," she's suddenly a literary darling, but at what cost?

With biting humor, cringeworthy Instagram posts, and a pitch-perfect takedown of ambition run amok, this novel skewers cultural appropriation, envy, and the messy underbelly of book culture.

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Inspired by Lane's years as Carrie Fisher's assistant, this novel is sharp, hilarious, and oddly heartwarming.

Charlie, a disillusioned writer's assistant, lands a job with the eccentric, larger-than-life Kathi Kannon, a Hollywood icon who's equal parts glamorous diva and fragile human being. What begins as an exhausting ride through celebrity chaos transforms into a strangely beautiful friendship.

Equal parts gossip-sparkly and heart-squeezing, this novel is Hollywood satire with a soul.

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Marcy Dermansky's my go-to choice for deadpan, absurd, and deliciously weird storytelling.

Allison Brody escapes an abusive boyfriend and buys a small house by the ocean, only to be concussed by a falling coconut. From there, her life spirals into a series of bizarre, bleakly funny misadventures involving brain injuries, strange men, and a struggle to reclaim her sense of self.

Brisk and compulsively readable, this short read delivered on audible chuckles as this story of survival turned into a dark comedy of resilience.

When two children literally burst into flames whenever they get upset, their new caretaker, Lillian, is tasked with keeping them safe and unscorched.

What could have been pure farce instead becomes a hilarious and unexpectedly tender meditation on belonging in messy families.

Wilson has a gift for making the surreal feel ordinary, turning spontaneous combustion into a heartwarming (and hilarious) parenting metaphor.

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Patrick, once a beloved sitcom star and now a semi-reclusive Palm Springs icon, isn't exactly parenting material.

But when tragedy leaves him in charge of his niece and nephew for the summer, "GUP" (Gay Uncle Patrick) must swap martinis for macaroni and learn that grief and kids don't come with a script.

Witty, warm, and endlessly quotable, The Guncle is a comedy about love, loss, and the unexpected ways family saves us.

If Jane Austen had written a sitcom, it would look a lot like Emma.

The novel follows well-meaning but hopelessly meddlesome Emma Woodhouse, who’s convinced she has a talent for matchmaking, despite every single one of her schemes going hilariously wrong.

Between her misplaced confidence, witty sparring with Mr. Knightley, and the endless social blunders of her neighbors, Emma delivers some of Austen’s sharpest comedic moments. 

This science fiction book is filled with laughs and "boy humor" that I couldn't wait to share with my husband, from hilarious mating rituals to heart-pounding danger in this fast-paced adventure through an alternate dimension where Godzilla-sized creatures roam.

Scalzi loads the story with pop culture jokes, workplace satire, and just enough heart to balance the chaos of saving monsters the size of skyscrapers.

I love that Scalzi never takes things too seriously, and if you want to go on a bender with a funny writer, this one is the perfect anecdote.

Two radio colleagues fake a breakup podcast as cohosts, but the twist is that they were never together. Their on-air bickering is pure screwball comedy, and the fake-it-til-you-make-it tension off the air is just as fun.

The inclusion of podcast scripts only ups the delight factor, making this rom-com as bingeable as your favorite show.

Jen Dixon never signed up to be the perfect kindergarten class mom, and thank goodness, because her unfiltered emails to parents are what make her unforgettable.

Armed with sarcasm, a knack for wine-fueled honesty, and zero tolerance for sanctimommies, Jen turns school politics into pure comedy.

Laurie Gelman nails the chaos of modern parenting in a satire that's both wickedly funny and a little too real.

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From lutefisk dinners to chocolate-drenched county fair bars, Stradal spins a story as quirky and satisfying as a Midwestern potluck.

The novel follows Eva Thorvald, a gifted chef whose life is revealed through a series of interconnected food-obsessed tales, from her chili contest beginnings to her rise as a culinary star.

Equal parts tender, funny, and flavorful, this is a love letter to eccentric families, Midwest traditions, and the meals that shape us.

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Small-town drama meets ghostly commentary in this quirky, big-hearted novel that I count as my favorite audiobook experience.

Emma Starling returns home to care for her dying father, only to get swept into the mystery of a missing friend told through the gossip of a cemetery full of chatty spirits.

With wit, warmth, and a touch of the absurd, Hartnett spins a story about family and the unlikely places where hope hides.

Ember is in her twenties and struggling financially. Now rejected for her 37th time for a job, she decides to fabricate her education and race to land a corporate position.

On her way to her promising job interview, she encounters a handsome man named Danuwoa, who works at the same corporation, and their relationship blossoms into romantic shenanigans, despite the strict corporate policy.

This novel offers many laugh-out-loud moments as she navigates the weird corporate culture, from not understanding "all hands on deck" to never knowing what they do in the company due to their vague website description. I laughed so hard through these scenes.

I don't know how Moyes does it, but this book made me laugh, cry, and connect with every character.

A struggling single mom with a math-prodigy daughter is offered the chance of a lifetime to enter a math contest happening in Scotland that provides a cash prize that could cover her daughter's education.

Determined to seize this chance, she does everything possible to get her daughter there, including hitching a ride with an unlikely man who may ultimately change their lives forever.

Moyes proves she can deliver both romantic feels and laugh-out-loud detours.

This laugh-out-loud romance combines the excitement of 90 Day Fiancé with the thrill of The Amazing Race, as two women who've never met before must convince their families that they're in love and getting married within six weeks to win a cash prize on the reality show, Instant I Do.

Prepare for fast-paced drama, steamy open-door scenes, and thought-provoking exploration of family, identity, and faith, all accompanied by a Real World-inspired confessional cam.

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For Graham, a private introvert, social situations can be quite exhausting.

Audra, his new wife, often puts him in circumstances where he must interact with unusual people, such as the eccentric members of his son’s origami club. This leads him from one hilariously awkward moment to another.

When Audra decides it is time to be friends with his ex-wife, Elspeth, she throws Graham's world into a total tailspin as he begins to acknowledge the contrasts between these two women and wonder why he let his first wife go.

It is in these moments that he must face his own choices and whether he made the right ones.

Heiny's comedy of manners is sharp, laugh-out-loud funny, and sneakily profound.

A chaotic road trip, a reluctant travel partner, and a box of cremains riding shotgun. What could possibly go right?

Adler had me cackling from the start, especially when the couple crashes at a bed-and-breakfast adorned with paint-by-number Jesuses. With banter as quick as the mile markers flying past, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious.

For historical fiction fans, the dual timeline offers incredible insights into women's history and a snapshot of women's rights in the past.

Two childhood best friends turned bitter rivals reluctantly reunite in their thirties when asked to grant their beloved English teacher one last wish: the road trip of a lifetime. The catch? He’s terminally ill, and they’ll need a van loaded with medical equipment to make it happen.

Cochrun infuses even the heaviest moments with warmth and humor, delivering a zany, heartfelt ride where old grudges, unresolved feelings, and laugh-out-loud mishaps all collide.

Nobody writes banter like Emily Henry, and Book Lovers might be her sharpest yet.

Narrator Julia Whelan nails every one-liner as Nora, the ruthless literary agent, and Charlie, the broody editor, toss verbal grenades that slowly turn into flirting.

This rom-com book is a love letter to publishing and rom-com tropes, delivering ample laughs alongside a swoony, surprising romance.

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David Sedaris has a knack for turning his own awkwardness into comedy gold.

In this memorable essay collection, he wax's poetically on everything from his oddball childhood in North Carolina to his doomed attempts at mastering the French language. This book made us laugh until we cried, as all of his books do. 

Sedaris certainly reminds us that life’s cringiest moments are also the funniest, if you know how to tell the story.

Roseanne Barr's daughter pulls back the curtain on her surreal Hollywood childhood, complete with fat camps, psychiatric hospitals, and growing up in the shadow of fame.

Pentland writes with sharp wit and surprising vulnerability, showing that sometimes the punchline is simply about survival. I consider my interview with the memoirist on Book Gang to be one of my favorites; being entrusted with her story was an incredible gift.

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From Spanx to wedding planning to the indignities of adulthood, Klein's essays are brutally honest and hilariously self-deprecating. She mines everyday embarrassments for comedy while sneaking in sharp truths about our gender and identity.

There are a couple of raunchy chapters I could have done without, but the majority of the book was just sincere and hilarious. I'm so glad I read this one!

When Meddelin Chan accidentally kills her blind date, her well-meaning but wildly overbearing aunties swoop in to “help” with the cleanup, and chaos ensues.

Sutanto blends rom-com, mystery, and family farce into a madcap caper where homicide is somehow both hilarious and heartwarming.

The rapid-fire banter between the aunties steals every scene, making this book a laugh-out-loud delight.

Jeff Lindsay narrates his own book, and it is perfect. In this first book in the series, Dexter is a blood-spatter analyst by day, meticulous serial killer by night.

The twist? He only hunts the truly guilty.

With sardonic wit and macabre charm, Lindsay's debut introduced readers to crime fiction's most unlikely antihero.

Equal parts chilling and laugh-out-loud twisted, this dark comedy of murder launched a cult phenomenon.

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A disabled man with a sharp sense of humor may have witnessed a kidnapping from his porch in this hilarious mystery.  Leitch keeps the tension high but filters it through witty, observant narration that makes this thriller unexpectedly funny and profoundly moving.

Daniel remains one of the most memorable protagonists I've had the pleasure of reading.

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Struggling novelist, single mom, and possible hitwoman? Finlay Donovan stumbles into a murder-for-hire scheme with a comic flair that makes her the patron saint of chaotic women everywhere.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny with incredibly witty dialogue best served up as an audiobook experience.

Finlay's unlikely accomplice and love interests just add more and more fun to the plot and showcase why this series has staying power.

Online dating is rough enough without a body count. After a brutal breakup, Gwen reluctantly turns to a dating app, only to discover her matches are winding up dead, and she's the common denominator.

Half rom-com, half murder mystery, this sharp debut skewers swipe culture with biting wit, equal parts cringe and comedy. I loved every minute of it.

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An elderly tea shop owner finds a dead body in her shop and decides she's a better detective than the police. Vera's nosiness, meddling, and unshakable confidence make this mystery equal parts cozy and hilarious as we dig into this case.

As she investigates, Vera unexpectedly finds herself forming deep connections with her customers, forcing her to juggle detective work with her growing friendships.

If you’re craving a charming and cozy mystery, the audiobook of this novel is delightful.

Lavelle's speculative fiction debut was one of my favorites of the year.

In this story, Kostya discovers that he has a unique talent for experiencing the aftertastes of favorite foods from those who have passed away. Although he cannot see the ghosts that surround him, he can create a special connection for diners that leads to a fascinating culinary career.

Flavor profiles develop a bit differently in this world, where bitter can be the taste of coffee but also the taste of the last conversation shared with a dad who never understood you. As the ghosts come to life,

Lavelle imagines an environment where these worlds merge, a concept I thoroughly enjoyed.

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In this Chocolat pequel, the long-awaited story of Vianne Rocher unfolds six years before she opens her scandalous chocolaterie in the small French village of Lansquenet.

At just twenty-one years old, Sylviane arrives in Marseille to start a new life and quickly charms her way into a job as a waitress at a run-down bistro. Under the guidance of the eccentric Guy Lacarrière, she discovers the joy of cooking, indulges in a secret love affair, and, for the first time, uncovers the true magic of chocolate.

This prequel has been extremely well-received by fans of Harris's writing, who also serves as the narrator for the audiobook version.

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If you are familiar with Buxton's writing, you know you're in for a quirky adventure, and this story is no exception to her career.

A dying Italian village is upended by the discovery of a colossal truffle, sending townspeople (and truffle hounds) into a zany, heartfelt scramble for reinvention under its celebrity. Buxton leans heavily into this culinary caper with truffle mania, kitchen set-pieces, and omniscient humor abound.

This novel's prose has so much flipping flourish that I felt all the pathways in my brain light up like a runway, so I recommend it to our maximalist readers who love descriptive stories.

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Larkin is no stranger to books about food, as she has chosen a restaurant setting for this novel and The People We Keep, describing them as bookends to each other.

After a financial emergency, Freya reluctantly returns to the home she inherited and must find her footing again with her family and friends while navigating a troubling secret from her past that unspools slowly for the reader.

Now settling into a job at a cozy restaurant where unlikely people and food pairings find each other, shenanigans ensue when an ambitious chef's culinary delights aren't a hit with patrons who prefer the straightforward dishes of the past.

As a new romance blossoms and a found family emerges, readers have much to love in this ambitious novel that is among my favorites of the year.

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I fell head over heels for Chong's character, Jack Jr., who suffered a coma for two years and missed the pandemic entirely.

Upon his hospital discharge, he returns to his childhood home and discovers a new sense of purpose at the family restaurant. There, his father, Appa, has mastered the art of sushi in a zany but harmonious hybrid of Korean-Japanese food experiences.

This career path marks a new beginning as Jack mends his past relationships and unexpectedly develops a love affair with his nurse. Don't sleep on this under-the-radar gem.

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Hai is trying to turn his life around by taking a job at a local chain restaurant while taking on an unexpected position as a caregiver. There, he learns that the franchise promotes the idea of delivering the American dream by offering a Thanksgiving meal to every customer, every day of the week.

But, much like America, the dream is manufactured- frozen food reheated, a crumbling infrastructure of franchise overlords, and each struggling to pay their bills.

Somehow, that doesn't overshadow the way these workers take pride in what they are selling, whether it is the addition of cake mix to the corporate cornbread or the delicate carving of the chicken; Vuong shows the bonds and pride found in restaurant settings through this unusual found family.

As a former waitress, I felt at home in his microwaved food setting. This story was impeccable.

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I knew nothing about the process of olive oil making before reading this, but Hilje did, and it shows on the page.

When Ivona's father's health fails him, she is charged with settling his estate, which includes the olive grove trees that reside on the property.

As a new prospective buyer moves in, we learn more about the making and production of this oil, the rich history of this land, and watch her navigate the heart wrenching decision on whether or not to say goodbye to her family legacy.

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Twenty-something Frida lands in Paris in 1991, enchanted by butter-soaked cafés and dreaming of a future as a war correspondent. She writes to a Seattle bookshop and in return, sparks an unexpected friendship with Kate, the perky bookseller who's quietly aching to be a writer.

Through letters, they trade recipes and heartbreak, and vivid descriptions of a world in upheaval. Fay is best known for her epistolary novel, Love & Saffron, drawing on her culinary expertise and years as a food and travel editor to bring kitchens, flavors, and culture vividly to life in her stories.

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Rawle's novel centers a Love Island meets Hunger Games experience where contestants must participate in a chore system that's prize-driven to unlock food and water or risk being returned to the burning world filled with its own dystopian disasters.

Task by task, intimacy, desperation, and power dynamics escalate until the race for achieving the final goal becomes a fight for survival and a growing paranoia as they fear how far the network will go.

Perhaps, like me, you'll find yourself reflecting on the toilet paper shortage during the pandemic and how animalistic we can become when faced with scarcity, much like this story's shockingly diabolical third act.

All of Stradal's books have food themes, but this is the one that captured my heart the most.

When a father dies and does not split the inheritance evenly between his daughters, family drama ensues.

Helen, meanwhile, has used her inheritance to open one of the most successful light breweries in the country. She has been doing well with her business for many years, but as the craft beer industry moves in, she finds that she is desperate for help.

When Edith's granddaughter, Diana, decides to learn the IPA business, Diana's path crosses with Helen's. Diana is determined to forge the same path, and her new business might be the glue needed to bring these two sisters back together again. This story is exquisite.

In Peters's beloved story, the Mi'kmaq family travels from Nova Scotia to Maine every summer to pick berries.

But one August day in 1962, four-year-old Ruthie disappears forever, and her brother Joe is left carrying a grief that spans decades.

Amanda Peters's debut, a Carnegie Medal winner, not only unearths the personal trauma but stirs a haunting examination of the colonial fault lines that fracture families and communities.

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Zara, facing financial demise, cobbles her way to freedom through ghostwriting gigs. Now successfully sought after, she acquires a lucrative opportunity to ghostwrite a celebrity chef's memoir.

The fact that Zara's never heard of Jane's Food Television career seems fine with them both, especially as this job comes with a sumptuous work-at-home stay equipped with all the modern amenities.

As the women begin to collaborate on unearthing Jane's troubled past, the project pulls her into her orbit in other ways that surprise her. But none is quite as startling as the unsettling clicking of a security camera as she nestles into her bed on that first night.

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When Hope shows up at her estranged aunt Peg’s cherry orchard in Northern Michigan with her traumatized ten-year-old daughter in tow, she’s carrying a secret heavier than her suitcase.

Peg agrees to take them in, but only on two conditions. Hope must help with the cherry harvest and she must keep her distance. As the season shifts and cherries ripen, Hope and her daughter begin to rediscover roots and the gentlest kind of redemption.

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Sloan's magical realism story follows a woman working in the tech field who receives a sourdough starter that changes her life.

When Lois inherits a sourdough starter from two eccentric brothers, she has no idea her life is about to ferment into something entirely new. As she feeds and tends to the starter, it begins to behave… oddly.

Soon, she finds herself pulled from her sterile world of coding into underground food markets and secret societies that change her life entirely. I was transfixed by this story!

Baldree's descriptions of the bakery treats, cobbled streets, and the scent of the air create an immersive experience in this cozy fantasy story.

She finds an unexpected partner in her quest to establish the coffeehouse in Tandri, a succubus, who has come to work at the cafe and helps Viv as she makes the necessary changes to lure in customers and turn her space into a community hub.

As discoveries about coffee habits are made, the coffee shop updates its chalkboard to reflect these changes, making it a delightful ritualistic reading choice to end your day well.

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If you're looking for a cozy murder mystery series, A Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series is a perfect fit. In this first book, a notoriously nasty food critic comes in to do his usual complaining and critiquing of a restaurant, but ends up dead on the floor instead.

Lila has been tasked with saving the failing family restaurant, but finds herself as the number one suspect when investigating this murder, tarnishing the restaurant's reputation further.

Intent on saving her family's legacy, she becomes her own detective and decides to run an informal investigation to clear her family's name.

This novel includes fun recipes at the end, for replicating a few of these great dishes that you are reading about.

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Lange's Irish family drama bursts with juicy family secrets told through shifting viewpoints. Speaking stylistically, her choice to end one perspective with a sentence and then repeat with the next family member with a different perspective showed why this debut has stuck like superglue in my brain.

After a car crash sends Sunday Brennan home, long-buried family secrets threaten the future of their family pub. The mystery is, why did she go, and what relationships will she disrupt by returning?

I loved how their Irish heritage is a prominent element of this story, offering readers equal parts heart and humor. In one passage, Lange declares, "Shame and guilt are like plagues. And we Irish wield them like weapons and wear them like medals."

Yasmen and Josiah own a family restaurant together and are navigating the complexities of co-parenting and the dissolution of their marriage partnership after a profound loss. But as they begin to navigate the dating world, they end up discovering a renewed passion for one another.

This steamy, rekindled romance is fraught with urgency, uncovering tragic family secrets, and steamy open-door moments set in their family-owned restaurant world.

Please check the trigger warnings for this novel to see if it is a good fit for your reading life.

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Pepper and Jack both have parents who own family restaurants. When the two end up getting in a Twitter war, over a grilled cheese recipe, the sparks don't just fly online, but IRL, too.

If you are a fan of Wendy's savage tweets, you will appreciate how perfectly Lord captures the meme generation. The back-and-forth in their Twitter streams is perfection and builds into an adorably awkward love story for these teens, delightfully narrated on audiobook for a light reading escape.

More important than that, though, it is the self-discoveries that they each make about how they see their roles playing out in these family restaurants.

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This novel was the book that made me an Allegra Goodman fan. Two very different sisters—one a tech CEO in the dot-com boom and another a philosophy grad who works at a used bookstore—find their worlds colliding when a trove of antique cookbooks surfaces.

The true appeal of the book for me was how vividly she was able to capture this time period and the significance of the dot-com bubble's rise and fall. It really brought back so many memories of the start-ups that my husband & I both ventured into when we first were married and I admired the scope that Goodman tackled from this era.

This book will be an excellent fit for our literary fiction enthusiasts!

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This evocative sapphic story starts as two separate threads. Sara ran away from home at sixteen and, years later, is now one of the most sought-after bartenders in Los Angeles, while Emilie works as a florist at Yerba Buena, where she arranges the centerpieces for the restaurant.

As Emilie engages in a messy affair with the married owner, Lacour takes us on a beautiful, winding journey as the women discover themselves before they can find each other.

Be warned, you will crave a well-made drink and a delicious meal, as this 5-star story encompasses all your senses.

Miles runs the Empire Grill in a fading Maine mill town. Divorced and feeling tethered by his business, his life takes a detour as he finally finds the courage to confront the past in this moving small-town story.

Russo was recently named an Oprah's Book Club author for his novel, Bridge of Sighs, which makes me excited to explore this backlist gem from 2005 as I become more acquainted with his work.

Colton, navigating a media circus after a drunken rant, finds his music career canceled and returns home to recover.

Unexpectedly eating a meal in the restaurant of his old girlfriend, Luann, he discovers she's now the proud owner of a local farm-to-table restaurant, who, ultimately, decides to set aside her own misgivings to allow Colton to work as a sous chef for the restaurant.

It's no surprise that this slow-burning romance is best captured during the flashback to their childhood, thanks to his confidence as a young adult writer.

Zentner also explores unknown writing terrain by navigating themes of divorce, parenting, and sobriety in their adult moments.

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In this young adult novel, Penelope knows the kitchen is her sanctuary, and dreaming of opening a pastelería beside her dad's taco stand isn't just ambition- it's her destiny.

But when family pressure fractures that dream, everything falls apart in her life until Xander arrives at Nacho's Tacos and asks the questions she's too afraid to ask herself.

As their connection deepens, Pen must choose between following her own path and preserving the community and traditions she loves in this mouth-watering debut.

This debut will tick the boxes for my Hallmark movie fans. Two small-town fried chicken restaurants, two feuding families, and one reality TV competition to decide whose recipe rules the roost. What could go wrong?

When sisters Mae and Amanda face off, they discover that rivalry isn't just about food, but about discovering their individual identities, sorting through family baggage, and finding the courage to claim what truly matters.

Dell'Antonia mixes humor and heartache into a story as crispy as its Southern setting.

You know that magical question you get asked about who you would pick, living or dead, to share a dream dinner with? Serle decides actually to explore that in her charming novel.

Sabrina arrives for her thirtieth birthday dinner and is greeted by her dream dinner attendees, all arranged by her best friend.  Sabrina's list includes several important people from her past and Audrey Hepburn (because why not?).

When considering who to invite to our table, we often overlook the dynamic that may arise between guests and the tension that individuals from different parts of our past can bring with them.

This story illuminates those divides through its alternating chapters where we gain a deeper understanding of Sabrina's life and relationship in this heartfelt story.

In this spectacular audiobook performance, siblings Byron and Benny inherit a frozen Black Cake and their mother's recorded voice. They also inherit the story of a past they never knew, complete with secrets, betrayals, and second chances.

Moving from the Caribbean to London to California, Wilkerson blends food and family into a sweeping story about what we pass down and what we leave behind. Every slice of this literary cake is rich, layered, and unforgettable.

Sabrina knows she's different—she can see ghosts, and not just any ghosts, but ones with unfinished business who show up at mealtimes.

When she returns to Wisconsin and stumbles into a supper club with its own brand of magic, she discovers love, community, and maybe a little forgiveness.

Reichert serves up romance and heart with a side of fried fish and brandy drinks like a bit of comfort food in book form. As a Midwestern woman with a food obsession, I adored this story.

In Ryan's memorable historical fiction novel, readers head to WWII England, where four women compete on a BBC cooking show to become the program's first female co-host, inventing dishes to help show viewers how they can use their rations.

As someone who is fascinated by Depression-era cooking, I loved uncovering the resourcefulness that was required to feed a family in this unique friendship story. If you loved The Gown, this is your next best bet!

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In Kingfisher's tale, fourteen-year-old Mona's magical talent lies in dough, where her sourdough starter brings gingerbread men that come alive.

When she stumbles over a body in her aunt's bakery, her cozy life becomes a battle zone, and she's swept into palace intrigue and more than a few fantastical defense strategies.

Equal parts quirky, clever, and wildly imaginative, this is a fantastic option to stop the doomscroll in the evenings.

Joella's Delaware beach setting brings readers to a local restaurant owner at a pivotal turning point in his personal and business life.

Jack, the heart and soul of his busy family restaurant, is at a crossroads. Tempted by an offer to purchase his bustling restaurant, he must decide if he wants to leave the family business behind and finally pursue new adventures in his midlife years.

But life takes unexpected turns with the arrival of an old flame in his life, workplace drama, and shocking news from his past collide amidst this life-changing deal.

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Anna returns to rural Alabama to settle her grandmother's affairs, expecting a quick goodbye.

Instead, she finds herself pulled into a small town's secrets, a magical café renowned for pies that connect the living to the dead, and a sense of belonging she never knew she'd missed.

Webber weaves together Southern charm, a gentle romance, and a whisper of the supernatural so tenderly that you'll find yourself hoping to taste that mysterious Blackbird pie and, maybe, believe in a little magic.

In early 20th-century Mexico, young Tita pours her longing into the kitchen quite literally. Bound by family tradition to remain unmarried and care for her mother, she channels forbidden desire, rebellion, and sorrow into the dishes she prepares.

Each chapter in this story opens with a recipe, and every bite carries emotions so potent that it moves those who taste it in this magical realism classic.

Hassouri's debut novel pulled me in from page one.

When Farah was a child in Iran, she dared her cousin to take off her hijab, which led to tragedy, but her involvement was a deeply held secret kept from her family.

Now, forty years later, she serves as the first female chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai, continually challenged in her professional environment and caught between two worlds with her Iranian-American identity.

As she navigates divorce, raising a trans child, and her career, the Women's Life, Freedom movement forces a reckoning on healing her past.

Don't miss this moving indie-published debut and meet her on Book Gang this fall.

Release Date- 21 August 2025

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In the stillness of one fateful night, Jen wakes to the collapse of a 26-year marriage, her world forged in her religious faith, shatters.

What follows is a midlife reckoning unlike any other, told in tender, vivid vignettes across four decades.

From the sacred structures that defined her to the fierce, trembling freedom of finding her own voice again, Hatmaker takes readers on her unexpected awakening.

Release Date- 23 August 2025

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Adora is a divorcée, living a contented life while relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being solo, and her job as a tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family.

But her carefully curated life is upended when she meets a handsome stranger.

Soon, her ordered world is filled with black-market art deals, a secret rendezvous, and international intrigue. Yet, it's her past that suddenly comes to the forefront in this midlife awakening.

Release Date- 21 April 2026

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A shimmering college love triangle brings a gifted young woman into the orbit of two English majors, where their relationship is laced with frenetic electricity and rivalry.  

Decades later, Jordan’s life looks settled until a single visit yanks the past into the present and forces her to reckon with choices she thought long buried.

Unfolding with lyrical precision, this story asks how first love lingers, how decisions echo, and how forgiveness becomes its own kind of love.

Release Date- 30 September 2025

What happens when the great love of your life walks back in… thirty years too late?

Sarah and Warren shared an intense, all-consuming college romance that ended in one shattering moment.

Decades later, they lock eyes at an opera in New York, and the chemistry is instant, undeniable, and completely disruptive. Passion reignites, threatening the carefully built lives, families, and identities they've created since.

Gorgeously written and emotionally charged, this is a story about second chances, the pull of unfinished business, and what we risk when we follow our hearts in midlife.

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Bestselling novelist Anna Quindlen steps out of fiction and into your heart with this slim but powerful meditation on what it means to "get a life."

Drawing from her own experiences, including losing her mother at 19, she explores how facing our mortality can be a gift, nudging us to savor the days we have and live with intention.

It's a perfect book you can read in a sitting, but carry with you for years.

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Long before Practical Magic, Alice Hoffman delivered this haunting, Oprah-endorsed tale about the messiness of coming home.

After twenty years in California, March Murray returns to her small Massachusetts hometown with her teenage daughter for the funeral of the beloved housekeeper who raised her.

But stepping back into her past means confronting family grief, a brother numbed by alcohol, and Hollis — the boy she once loved and the man she can't seem to resist.

Hoffman doesn't give us a perfectly polished heroine here; March is complicated, sometimes frustrating, and utterly human, making this a rich read for anyone who knows that midlife is rarely neat.

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Midlife love stories rarely play it safe, and Minot's latest dives headfirst into the messy, intoxicating kind.

Ivy Cooper, 52 and divorced, meets Ansel Fleming at a literary party. He's a musician, twenty years her junior, fresh out of prison, and impossible to ignore. What begins as a torrid, weeks-long affair feels like something she can control, until it starts to seep into every corner of her life.

With a third grader still at home and a co-parenting ex in the mix, Ivy's careful balance teeters under the weight of obsession and desire.

This novel is about what happens when passion doesn't play nicely with the rest of your responsibilities.

Vanessa Carvin arrives on a remote island and does one shocking thing right away. She changes her name. Why? Because scandals have a way of following, and Vanessa has questions she needs to answer about her past, including her role in her ex-husband's crimes.

As she builds a new life on the island, she's forced to reckon with the consequences of decisions she made long ago.

Boyne's reflective, philosophical prose makes Vanessa's midlife reckoning compelling, while the slow reveal of past events keeps you hooked.

This novel is a story about flawed people, the weight of choice, and the courage it takes to confront the life you've lived.

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It's no secret that this is one of my favorite books of the year.

Ivona, 38, divorced the love of her life, Vlaho, a decade ago, for a reason she still can’t say out loud. Back in her childhood room, caring for her father after a stroke, she doom-scrolls Vlaho’s family photos while his warm, unnervingly gracious wife, Marina, keeps welcoming her in.

When a new man enters the picture, the delicate triangle tips, forcing Ivona to choose between the ghost of her first love and the fresh life she can still make along the Croatian coast.

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Imagine hitting rock bottom at forty, checking into a swanky Rhode Island inn to escape it all, and accidentally crashing a wedding instead of your own plans.

What follows? An uproarious, bittersweet ballet of honesty, unexpected friendships, and the moment you realize you're not at the end, but at the start of something wildly new.

If this sounds like the book for you, please join us for this month's book club discussion.

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Maddy was the glue holding her family together, until she wasn’t. After her sudden death, her teenage daughter and grieving husband are left to piece together who she really was.

As her family searches for answers, what they uncover might heal them—or shatter them for good.

Narrated in part by Maddy herself, this tender and surprising debut examines the hidden corners of marriage, motherhood, and the quiet sacrifices women must make.

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A year after Billie Flanagan vanishes on a solo hike, her husband and teenage daughter are still adrift in grief... until the daughter begins seeing visions of her mother, alive.

The more they dig into Billie’s past, the more they realize they never truly knew her. This twisty literary suspense novel peels back the layers of a seemingly picture-perfect wife and mother, blurring the line between reinvention and deception.

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It's hard to describe Hill's book as it pulls in so many elements to its meandering story, but when I finished it, I wished I could read it all over again.

A midlife marriage is brought to life, but not before we get a peek at Jack and Elizabeth, who fell in love in their 20s, when they were wild, passionate, and convinced the world was theirs.

Now, they're married with a kid, a mortgage, and a shared Google calendar that feels more intimate than their actual relationship.

This sharp, funny, and surprisingly tender novel digs into the messy business of long-term love and whether we can still surprise the person who knows us best. It was an unforgettable reading experience.

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Sometimes it is hard to confront the friendships we have lost, and while Lombardo's debut holds the sweetest spot in my heart, I appreciated the introspection this book requires.

Life has been rolling along for Julia Ames with midlife milestones like marriage, motherhood, and all the well-worn rhythms in between until a sudden loss of a friendship shakes her world.

Readers are offered a timeless portal to her young and floundering relationships, but also Julia now, a woman who feels not at home at either stage in her life.

With wit and warmth, Lombardo captures that midlife cocktail of grief, gratitude, and that unshakable urge to stir things up again in your life when you thought you'd settled in for good.

Emma is a literary agent in her late 30s, buried in deadlines, distracted texts, and the constant churn of family life. On what feels like an ordinary Monday, she fights with her husband, and then tragedy strikes.

But instead of ending, the day restarts. Again. And again. Each loop forces her to relive the same 24 hours, picking apart the small choices that snowballed into heartbreak.

Midlife urgency drives Emma's story, which isn’t just about trying to save the people she loves. She’s finally seeing what she’s been missing while life raced by. This reading experience was so cathartic.

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What happens when an entire town agrees to pretend a widow's late husband is still alive? Welcome to Frick Island, a quirky Chesapeake Bay community where small-town bonds create their own suspended reality.

Piper's holding on to her husband in the only way she knows how, and Anders, a journalist-turned-podcaster, can't look away, even when his career ambitions clash with his heart.

This book's a warm, escapist romp perfect for anyone who loves the idea that midlife is still full of surprises.

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Once a rising country star, Colton's career derails after an unfiltered, grief-fueled onstage rant gets him blacklisted by the music industry.

Back in his hometown, he crosses paths with Luann, the one who got away, as she now runs her own restaurant. As Colton finds a role in her kitchen and back in her heart, this slow-burning, small-town romance embraces second chances in your midlife years.

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If you prefer midlife reflections with a coming-of-age slant, this book is for you.

There once was a Playboy resort in small-town Wisconsin, and Sherri Taylor wore the ears. At nineteen, she chased glamour and independence, but decades later, she's looking back with the kind of raw honesty only time can give.

This novel is a beautiful pick for anyone who's ever wondered how youthful risks shape the person staring back in the mirror. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I read it and how it challenged my perceptions on feminism.

Yardley brilliantly captures the humor, heart, and awkward sweetness of a midlife romance.

Maggie, a freelance writer and newly empty-nested mom, is coaxed into leaving her introverted routines behind by a pact with her son- if she becomes more social, he will, too.

Her first "outings" led her to a local online gaming guild, where she became the fierce and funny Bogwitch, laying down the rules and charming the group, especially Aiden, the guild leader, with his own complicated family past.

The chemistry between Maggie and Aiden feels entirely age-appropriate, celebrating the cozy joys of companionship where shared meals, binge-watching TV, and navigating life's daily minutiae together are bliss.

Alice wakes up after a fall at the gym, thinking she's 29, in love with her husband, and expecting her first child. In reality? She's 39, her marriage is on the rocks, and life looks nothing like she remembers.

Watching her piece together the "lost decade" is a delicious deep dive into what we keep, what we lose, and what we might choose differently if given the chance. Despite Moriarty's fame for books like Big Little Lies, this is my favorite of her works.

Jack has poured his life into the family's bustling Delaware beach restaurant, but an irresistible offer to sell leaves him questioning everything.

Add in an old flame, workplace drama, and a few life-changing revelations, and you've got a tender, coastal escape about deciding whether to keep carrying the torch or finally pass it on.

Joella's stories are always sweetly satisfying and deeply human.

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After losing her factory job in the Great Recession, fifty-something Cara Romero is sent to a job counselor, but instead of résumés, she delivers her life story.

Across twelve sessions, she spills on love, money woes, family rifts, and the stubborn hope that still fuels her.

Fierce, funny, and full of fight, Cara's voice is unforgettable on audiobook, and the sound effects (something that can be cumbersome in some cases) bring her sessions with a job counselor to life.

In this steamy second-chance romance, authors Eva and Shane only spent one week together as teens, but those seven days left such an impact that they’re still including references to each other in their books 15 years later. 

When they meet at a New York literary event, it’s the first time they’ve seen each other since their teenage romance ended, and readers are enveloped in their love story as they reconnect and confront their past traumas. It is my all-time favorite romance!

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Harvard linguistics professor Alice Howland is at the peak of her career when she begins forgetting words and getting lost on her daily runs. The diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer's forces her and her family to navigate a devastating shift.

Midlife here is the cruel irony of losing the identity you’ve spent decades building, and the fight to preserve love and dignity as your memory fades. As someone who navigates life with a chronic illness, this book resonated with me.

Greta, in her forties, transcribes therapy sessions for a sex coach in a Hudson Valley town.

It's through these sessions that she becomes obsessed with (and then starts a torrid affair with) one of the clients she nicknames “Big Swiss."

As a warning, the story is quite graphic, but I couldn't stop listening to this romp of a book on audio. It offers a multi-cast narration experience with five distinct character voices, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in Greta's unusual job and messy chaotic life.

If you love gossip, this hits those same juicy brain receptors.

Sophie's 42nd birthday goes from celebration to total implosion when a scandalous dinner conversation reveals her husband's name on the Ashley Madison list, and an even more profound betrayal from her closest friend.

Packing up her heartbreak, she heads to France for a full-throttle reinvention to make art, reacquaint herself with self-care, and engage in sexy romps.

If Emily in Paris is your favorite show, this is your perfect backlist book pick.

Identical twins Stella and Desiree grow up in a tiny, segregated Southern town. One runs away to live as a Black woman while the other passes as white, hiding her past from her wealthy husband.

Decades later, their grown daughters’ lives intersect, forcing old truths into the open. Midlife is the collision point here, when long-held lies meet the next generation’s need for answers.

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A breast cancer diagnosis forces a successful businesswoman into an unwanted midlife sabbatical, only to find herself sleuthing with her daughter and mother.

The murder is the hook in this book, but the real story is how reinvention can sneak up on you, even when you think you’re already set in your ways.

This satisfies slow-burn mystery readers who appreciate the setting as much as they do their characters. Simon writes the characters distinctly and depicts a beautiful ending for these three women. 

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When Amy's estranged husband suddenly offers to take the kids for the summer, this newly single mom grabs the chance for her own version of a "Momspringa," taking a solo escape to New York City.

What starts as a quick trip becomes a fresh makeover, a flirtation with dating, and a rediscovery of everything she loves about herself beyond her role as "mom."

Witty, charming, and full of bookish asides, this is the ultimate midlife self-care fantasy. I devoured it.

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Midlife, menopause, and family secrets are all wrapped up in a week at Cape Cod. Rocky is navigating her sandwich season between kids and frail parents, as her hormones revolt, leading her to confront truths about her body and aging.

I am promised that Newman tackles it with her signature humor, and I have this next up on my book stack after enjoying her debut immensely.

On a sweltering London afternoon, Grace Adams abandons her traffic-stalled car, a forgotten birthday cake on the passenger seat, and sets off on foot to find her estranged teenage daughter.

Once “Amazing Grace” to everyone who knew her, she now feels invisible—her marriage crumbling, her friendships fading, and menopause intensifying the noise in her head.

Over the course of one extraordinary day, Grace will confront the choices that unraveled her life and the courage it takes to stitch herself back together.

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In this revenge thriller, three women, each facing her own midlife upheaval, discover they've developed strange new powers in menopause.

Teaming up, they turn their focus toward taking down predatory men in their community. Fierce, funny, and full of righteous fire, this has been a massive hit with many midlife women in my life.

One caveat, you do need to be on board with the idea that almost all men are evil to fully appreciate this story. Maybe you are?

Mary is a middle-aged woman stuck in a dead-end job, plagued by mysterious health issues, and haunted by strange visions. When she returns to her hometown to care for her dying aunt, she discovers the town has a bloody history... and she may be at the center of it.

Nat Cassidy shares on GoodReads, "If you like things like serial killers, ghosts, the desert, unreliable narrators, and metaphysics I think you will enjoy it."

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Newly divorced, forty-something hepatologist Toby Fleishman is juggling online dating, hospital shifts, and single fatherhood—until his ex-wife Rachel disappears.

As he scrambles to care for his kids and track her down, the story widens to reveal Rachel’s side, turning a sharp, satirical lens on ambition, gender roles, and the invisible labor that makes midlife marriages implode.

After a divorce and a career dead end, 40-year-old Jessie moves to a mysterious estate in a small town, only to discover it’s her inheritance and that she’s a caretaker for magical beings.

Between fighting monsters, navigating quirky neighbors, and rediscovering her confidence, midlife is reimagined as the moment you finally get to unleash your inner power—literally.

Bernadette Fox is a one-woman tornado of genius, sarcasm, and social awkwardness, so naturally, she vanishes right before a family trip to Antarctica.

Her teenage daughter, Bee, pieces together emails, memos, and all manner of chaotic clues to track her down.This story is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, and a reminder that midlife reinvention doesn't always come in a tidy package.

Semple's book started a quirky midlife story trend in publishing and I loved every minute of it.

Tom's midlife crisis isn't a red sports car. It's a phone call that his twin sister has attempted suicide again. Returning to New York from South Carolina, he's drawn into her psychiatrist's orbit, unraveling a childhood marked by violence, and secrets.

This sweeping saga's heart is in watching a man in his forties finally excavate the trauma that's shaped his marriage, his fatherhood, and his own self-worth.

Paul Sheldon is a bestselling novelist who’s just killed off his most famous heroine.

After a car accident in rural Colorado, he wakes up in the home of Annie Wilkes, his “number one fan”, who isn’t ready to let that character die.

Trapped in her care, Paul faces a brutal fight for survival, haunted by questions about his legacy, relevance, and the stories that will outlive him.

This weird and raunchy romp of a book offers readers a 45-year-old woman on a road trip with her midlife flaring like the fluorescent motel lights overhead.

July's book appeals to a certain style of reader who is unafraid to not just explore identity, but their own desires during perimenopause.

You'll either love it or hate this polarizing read- I'm eager to see if you connect with this one!