These past reading weeks have seen both ends of the spectrum on quality. Too many of them have been just so-so. But there were a couple of really fantastic reads that you just have to get on your library list for. Let’s start with the “not so much” and move up from there. Amazon links provided if you’d like to read more about the synopsis, and Audible links for the recommended books.

Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson – A woman who is hard of hearing makes a mistake and is demoted from her high paying job to a tiny charity office in her small home town. The large corporation she works for had a major disaster there some years ago, and the charity office is meant to be a public relations fix for the bad feelings left behind. Lauryn’s high school friend wants to bring back the apple festival to try to raise money for the community center. The novel is mostly about making that festival happen, along with helping the employees exiled there to find confidence again. Sounds like an OK plot, but as sometimes happens, there is problem after problem after problem. It might do as a summer beach read, but for me it gets tedious after a bit. It seems the author was just trying a bit too hard. Overall, meh.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop and More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa – Two shorter novelettes about a woman who loses her boyfriend and goes to work in her uncle’s bookshop. The first part of the first book is the only really interesting part, dealing with the bookshop and its customers. Then it goes off the rails with focus on her aunt returning to her uncle after many years away. The second book, picked up when I had forgotten how marginal the first one was, is much the same. The characters seem flat, the situations somewhat forced. Overall, both books are meh.

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen – This novel is a bit of a conundrum as it doesn’t have the charming magical realism of Allen’s previous books like Garden Spells or Peach Keepers. The story is darker in tone, a novel of control and power over others with violent elements. The magic element is centered on one woman, and her ability to listen to ghosts and know things about people in town, which she uses to blackmail them into doing what she wants. The first part of the book is about Willamena as a young woman, under the control of her grandmother with the same ability. She tries to break free with tragic results. The middle section deals with Willamena as a grandmother, exerting the same control over people around her and her family. The final section centers on her granddaughter Bailey. There is another magic element in the story of Tasha who associates emotion with particular scents that only she can smell. But this is more of an extraneous element thrown into the story that doesn’t seem to fit, or have any purpose other than to make her the object of bullying. Secrets and misunderstandings that motivate the characters are well written. But there are questions not answered in the mind of the reader regarding this ability. Can Willamena see more than one ghost? Or does she listen to any ghost who haunts an area of town? If Bailey can see ghosts, then why does she only see one? How does sending her away keep her from developing this ability? Paper Ghosts refers to pictures of people who have passed away, but is only referred to in one scene in the book. How that relates to the ability is not known. The novel reads well, but know going in that it isn’t the sweet and charming story that we have come to associate with this author. Overall, I was disappointed, but it may be because of my expectations of a charming story were not met. Had I known going in that the story was more sinister, I might have reacted differently. Publication date September 1, 2026.

By Its Cover by Donna Leon – In a word, boring. Apparently a critically acclaimed series, it is apparent by this, the 23rd book in the series, that the author is just going through the motions. I have not read the previous books, and picked this one up without any research based solely on the idea that it was a mystery involving theft of rare books and pages out of rare books. But, it was poorly written and formulaic. It also turned into a murder mystery about halfway in, which was also disappointing. Too bad, as the premise was interesting. Not worth the time.

Now, here are the must reads for this month!

The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson – I read on another blog that book 3 in the Book Woman of Troublesome Creek series was just published , and realized I had not read book 2. I went to the library to get on the list for book 3 (The Mountains We Call Home), and checked out Book 2. In this novel, Cussy Lovett and her husband are jailed for interracial marriage, and her daughter, Honey, is left in the care of an elderly Loretta. When Loretta passes away, Honey must find a way to defend herself from the evil around her, care for herself and evade capture by the state authorities who want to put her in a children’s prison. When she is hired to once again provide library books to remote rural homesteads, she finds hope for her future. But the hills are dangerous and dark at times, and the law is not on her side. Five Stars again, for an engrossing read, that will make you angry on one page and have you cheering on the next. Book Woman’s Daughter on Audible. – The Mountains We Call Home on Audible.

Driven by Susie Wolff – I’ve talked about this book in a previous post, but I wanted to put it here with other book reviews. This book should be required reading for every young girl, whether or not they enjoy racing. Susie Wolff began her racing career at a young age, facing obstacle after obstacle yet never giving up. As she moved from karting into the world of Formula cars, she was constantly fighting to be seen as a racing car driver, not a woman driver, able to compete with anyone else on the track. This eventually led to her being hired as a Formula 1 test driver. When her racing career came to an abrupt end with the realization that she would never be able to break the final glass ceiling of Formula 1, she pivoted to redefining herself in motorsports management. She took the reins of a Formula E team and turned it from a back of the pack team to a top contender. Always looking to advance the role of women in motorsports, she founded the F1 Academy, a training ground for aspiring women racing drivers for the highest level of Formula 1 racing. Determination, persistence, and action in the face of obstacles defines this extraordinary woman. She is an inspiration for women in all careers. The narrative is compelling and difficult to put down, and the themes will resonate with the reader long after reading. Driven on Audible read by the author with an afterward by Toto Wolff.

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin – Two women meet in medical school and forge a lifelong friendship through internships and residencies, marriage and children. Emma becomes a trauma surgeon and Zadie becomes a pediatric cardiologist. But one holds a secret that could destroy their relationship with each other. When their former chief resident reappears in their lives, both women begin to reexamine their choices early in their careers and the tragedy that occurred. Then, a child dies in surgery, and this man takes a role in the aftermath, leading to startling revelations. The book is well written with interesting characters. The author is an emergency medicine physician, adding authenticity to the narrative. Four stars. Queen of Hearts on Audible with two narrators.

The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer – Brilliantly plotted with well rounded characters, the story begins slowly, gathering momentum with each chapter. A woman loses her job, her husband, her best friend and her home all in one fell swoop. Moving to a childhood home, she begins to rebuild her life. This book had me hooked by the second chapter, building in suspense until it became almost impossible to put down. This book within a book storyline is the most imaginative use of that plot device I’ve ever read. I rarely give a book five stars, but this one is one of those exceptional stories that demands the highest rating available. Run to your library and get on the wait list for this one!! Publication date is July 21, 2026. If they don’t have it yet, put in a request for them to purchase. I may have to buy a hardcover of this one for my permanent collection, and I do not do that very often. The Story Keeper on Audible.

Which of these books sound interesting to you? Have you read any of these? What are you reading?