First Lines Friday... a Romantasy to swoon over

 

I NEVER WOULD HAVE ENTERED the tunnels if I'd known what was going to happen. But that's the thing about making stupid decisions, they never seem that way at the time.

    ...Creatures of Chaos by Julie Hall

And with those two simple yet ominous lines, starts the story of Creatures of Chaos by Julie Hall, said to be "Perfect for fans of forbidden love, high-stakes games and everything supernatural". And I picked it up because the special edition hardcover is absolutely gorgeous! This is book one of a three book series. The 2nd book is available now, and the third book will be published on May 20th, 2026. So if you do read these and get totally addicted, book 3 isn't far behind. This isn't my typical read, but I really have been doing a lot of reading about these "Romantasy" books and they sound like so much fun. This is on top of my TBR pile and will be next in the reading cue. What's even better... if you want to try the genre, or if you are a fan already and want to read Creatures of Chaos, right now the Kindle version is only $3.99! 

BTW, Julie Hall writes these books and self publishes at Julie Hall Author! (so you are directly supporting the author!)

A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar... A Review

It took me a surprisingly long time to finish this 200(ish)-page novel, and at several points I almost set it aside. I found myself losing interest in the story, even as I was consistently struck by the beauty of Megha Majumdar’s writing. Words arranged so gracefully they seem to float off the page, like music meant to be heard rather than read.

Set in a future India ravaged by brutal heat and widespread food shortages, the novel follows two people and the families they are desperately trying to protect. Ma lives with her aging father and two-year-old daughter while volunteering at a shelter. Her husband has already made it to Michigan, where he has found work as an engineer, and the story unfolds during the tense final week before Ma and her family are scheduled to leave India and join him in the United States.

Then there is Boomba, whom we first meet as the thief who breaks into Ma’s home one night. He steals her carefully hoarded food—and, more devastatingly, her purse containing the immigration documents she needs to escape. From this moment begins the story of the “guardian” and the “thief,” though as the novel progresses, those labels become increasingly unstable. The lines blur until you are left asking yourself a deeply uncomfortable question: what would you do to save your family?

Majumdar’s depiction of the city is stunning. The streets of Kolkata feel vividly alive—the heat, the noise, the relentless pressures of living in that environment. But alongside that beauty is an overwhelming sense of desperation. The suffering of the people is rendered equally vivid, leaving the reader weighed down by sadness.

The plot unfolds as a chain of escalating catastrophes, each one pulling Ma’s family and Boomba’s deeper into crisis. By the time the novel reaches its final pages, everything converges in a way I didn’t expect.

When I closed the book, I was left unsettled and unsure how to feel. I found myself wondering what the novel ultimately wanted to say. Is it that morality collapses under extreme pressure? That “thief” and “guardian” are roles defined by perspective? That desperate times demand desperate—and unforgivable—choices?

This is a beautifully written book that left me emotionally drained and deeply conflicted, asking questions it refuses to answer neatly.

A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Mejumdar was Published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2025. It was a finalist for the National Book Award and was an Oprah's Book Club Pick. 

I'm wavering between 3 stars and 4 stars. So, I think 3.5 stars is the final decision. It's a short read, but not a quick read. An incredibly written book, but a depressing read. I would recommend it, but be prepared...

 

Sisterhood: A Hyde Street Story by Maytal Zchut... A Review

It’s a friendship to die for… or at least everyone else will.

Writer Maytal Zchut delivers a beautifully dark, atmospheric story about toxic friendships, revenge, and pure evil. Add in horror and the supernatural, and you get Sisterhood: A Hyde Street Story. The artwork by Leila Leiz is absolutely gorgeous and perfectly complements the haunting tale of Sophie and Violet—lifelong friends, closer than sisters—until a tragic accident leaves Violet dead.

Sophie is devastated beyond measure. Her life unravels… until she stumbles into the hands of the Sisterhood, who promise to help her heal. But as always, be careful what you wish for.

That’s when the story truly takes off. I was flying through the pages, completely hooked. I loved these girls and their story—dark, tragic, and yes, violent. It begs the question: how far would you go for your BFF?

Sisterhood: A Hyde Street Story collects all five original comics in the series and includes a chilling bonus story, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour, where it’s “get fit or die trying.” It’s an equally twisted tale that tackles body shaming taken to horrifying extremes.

Put this on your TBR list! You'll have to wait a few months though... Image Comics will be releasing this on April 28th, 2026! 

I want to thank Image Comics for the eGalley of Sisterhood: A Hyde Street Story! I really loved it.

Yesteryear by ..... a Review

Wow, my head is spinning a bit after reading the final pages of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Here's the dirt (Literally)...

Meet snarky Natalie Heller Mills, pioneer woman/tradwife, and social media influencer who shows her millions of followers how life is so much better on Yesteryear Ranch, with traditional values, hard work (those cows aren't going to milk themselves) and farm fresh produce. No one need know that the kitchen is actually a top of the line kitchen with all the modern conveniences a girl could want, that she has two nannies for her "perfect" children, and that the crops aren't quite organic. And to top it off, she hires a producer to make all her content absolutely perfect... then one day, Natalie wakes up to find herself pulled back in time to the 1850's, where Yesteryear Ranch is an honest to goodness working farm, with no electricity, no modern plumbing and no modern conveniences. Plus, she has children that call her Mama, but she has no idea who they are. But she remembers children, just not these children. The one constant in all this, is her husband Caleb... who seems the same, but doesn't seem "right". What the heck is going on?! Is this a bad dream? Is she going crazy? You'll be desperate to find out.

Yesteryear is dark, funny at times, and it's also very sad. Want to know the price of fame and an Instagram account with a zillion followers? Ask Natalie. The story goes back and forth between both "worlds", with Natalie as our narrator. As she navigates both stories, we see the struggle she has with being perfect for the camera and for the people around her. As the reader, we get to see the persona behind her mask... and it's a doozy! I found her snarky, judgmental, and conniving. I didn't like her at first because of all those things, but eventually she drew me into her world and I couldn't stop turning the pages. She is a really interesting character! What a story! (BTW, we also get to learn about Natalie before all the fame, and that's a story in itself.)

This is definitely a must read for 2026. The way the story played out, in what seemed like two parallel worlds, was so interesting. And you're going to want to meet Natalie for sure... P.S. Lots of great discussion for any book club. 

Put this on your TBR list! You'll have to wait a few months... 

Yesteryear will be published on April 7th, 2026 by Penguin Random House

Thank you Penguin Random House for the early access and eBook! I really enjoyed it!

#Yesteryear #Netgalley

Memoir Monday... Billy Collins Shares Memories... and I Share a Review for Water, Water

Water, Water poems by Billy Collins

 

Memoirs are basically the memories of someone's life. For Billy Collins, his poems are snippets of observations and memories, which makes me conclude that each one of his books of poetry are like small memoirs. We find him casually looking at a girl at a bus stop, experiencing a spring afternoon, observing that a crow has a birthday. What makes Billy Collins a brilliant poet is that he writes about everyday things. He is accessible... we can read one of his poems and smile at how he points out to us something we've never thought about or seen before. 

In the poem Fire, he reflects on how he's "enjoying reading Lonesome Dove", but he wouldn't be grabbing it if he were running out of the house during a fire. In Ode to Joy, he points out how "she visits him on a regular basis", how it doesn't take much for that to happen, and tells us of some of the simple things that make him happy, like "just eating a banana". And these simple comparisons, and even the not so simple comparisons, will make you think about these things in your life.

In Water, Water, Billy Collins is definitely at his best. His wry humor (about not having any Grannies to write about) or his casual observances (how it takes two hours for a snowflake to fall to the ground and see all the things you can do in that time) make this collection of poems wonderful. I don't want to ruin the experience of reading these poems for the first time and the little surprises you get by doing so, by talking too much about them individually. You'll have to trust me that Billy Collins is brilliant and knows how to take pen to paper.  

If you're not a "poetry person", a person who has been turned off in the past by poetry (Maybe you burned out on Robert Frost?), please ignore all of that and open Water, Water by Billy Collins. You will smile and you will change your mind about poetry too. It's not a book you'll want to rush thru, it's the kind of book where you'll enjoy a poem or two every day, when you first get up in the morning or in the quiet of the evening when the world stands still just for a moment while you read. 

Here is a link to the preview of the book and the poem, Winter Trivia...

Published November 19, 2024 by Random House Publishing. I want to thank the publishers for sending along the eBook of Water, Water! I loved it! 

#NetGalley  

The Sunday Salon... and Books You NEED to Add to Your TBR Pile!

Welcome to The Sunday Salon! It's the place where Book Bloggers from around the world share their bookish finds with one another in a virtual place called The Sunday Salon. Thank you to for Deb at ReaderBuzz keeping us all together on Sundays and hosting The Sunday Salon now! I also visited with Kim at The Caffeinated Reader, another Sunday gathering place for us bookish people called The Sunday Post ! It's a beautiful day in South Carolina and a perfect day to talk books. And talking books is what The Sunday Salon is all about! 

My TBR pile is getting high! There are so many books I just have to read! Today's Sunday Salon is about adding some great books to YOUR TBR pile!

Right now I'm reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (coming April 2026) and I am hooked! I'm living the good life of a modern day influencer (that isn't quite what it seems), and the dirt poor rural life with no indoor plumbing with Nattie Heller Mills in parallel universes. Omg! Keep an eye out for my review. I'm over half way done and so far it's a 5 star read for me. Add this to your TBR list, but you'll have to wait until April 7th to find it at your favorite bookstore...

Here are 3 others I can't wait to read in my TBR list and should be in yours... 

First, Are you a fan of Epistolary novels?

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans... Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter. Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.

Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever find.

This book has been exploding the internet! Like being a voyeur, the book lets us read the letters Sybil Van Antwerp has written to the people in her life and the letters she has received in return.

Published by Crown Publishing last October, I'll be diving into this one soon!

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levin... Questions linger about Theo, a pleasant but mysterious stranger, after his arrival in the southern city of Golden. Who is he, and why is he here? He arrives early one spring and by chance - or is it? - he visits a coffee shop where 92 framed pencil portraits are on display. Inspired, Theo sets out on a mission of purchasing all the portraits one at a time and quietly bestowing them on their 'rightful owners.' Stories are told; friendships are born; and lives are changed. Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the far-reaching possibilities of anonymous kindness.

The first time I noticed this book, I was in Barnes & Noble walking around and stopped in front of a table to look at a book (big surprise, right?!). This one young lady looks at her friend, picks up a copy of Theo of Golden and says, "I've heard really good things about this book". Of course I had to see what book it was. From it's cover, it looked pretty nondescript. When I got home I did some research, and kept finding Theo of Golden on a million (I might be exaggerating a little) best books of the year and my favorite book of the year lists. So I have this waiting in my TBR pile. 

Published by Atria Books in October of 2023 (but it took off in 2025!), It's in my TBR pile, waiting for a window of time where I want to settle down for a leisurely read.

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My Friends by Fredrik Backman... Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

I like Fredrik Backmans' writing. I've read all his books and naturally would pick this one up. This one seems a bit different. More mystery to unveil. AND, My Friends is on a ton of "Best of/Favorite Books" lists too. 

   Published by Atria Books May 2025. In my ever growing TBR pile now.

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Weekly Wrap-up... 

Last Sunday... If you missed last Sunday, there was no Sunday Salon, but there was a review. Read my review of Atmosphere and share your thoughts on Taylor Jenkins Reid's new book.

Monday... Mondays are for Memoirs, and this past Monday we showcase Home Schooled by Stefan Merrill Block, who had an unusual home school experience to say the least. Click on the link to learn more about this memoir published by Hanover Square Press. P.S. I just received an eBook of Home Schooled from the publisher, so look for a review coming soon!

Friday... Fridays are for First Lines! And we take a look at Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. After seeing the preview of the upcoming movie, The Sheep Detectives, I really wanted to see the movie... but I like reading the book first, so I had to pick up a copy. Read about it on First Lines Friday! (and I posted a link to the trailer of The Sheep Detectives too!)

That about does it for this week. Next week, more exciting books that just came in from my library wishlist... and my new obsession with Romantacy! Stop by and check it all out next week.... and until then...

Happy Reading... Suzanne
 

First Lines Friday... It's All About the Sheep!

'He was healthy yesterday', said Maude. Her ears twitched nervously.

'That doesn't mean anything,' pointed out Sir Ritchfield, the oldest ram in the flock. 'He didn't die of an illness. Spades are not an illness.'

The shephard was lying in the green Irish grass beside the hay barn, not far from the path through the fields. He didn't move. A single crow had settled on his woolly Norwegian sweater and was studying his internal arrangements with professional interest. Beside the crow sat a very happy rabbit. Rather farther off, close to the edge of the cliff, the sheep were holding a meeting.

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

A beloved shepherd is found dead by his flock... and the flock decide to solve the murder. Why would a group of sheep decide to solve the murder? Maybe because the shepherd was known to read murder mysteries to them at night...

We probably would never have heard of this book, except for the fact that it's going to be a major motion picture starring Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson. The book was originally published in Germany in 2005, and in the US by a small independent publisher, Allison and Busby, in 2025. The sneak peek of the movie I saw, yes the trailer, made me laugh out loud! 

The movie looks fun (it makes me think this it's along the same lines of Babe). And after reading a small bit of the book, I decided I need to read the whole book! Let's see if the movie is as good as the book (or the book is good at all)! The movie is suppose to come to theaters this coming May. But don't you like reading the book before the movie? I do. So, are you going to take a chance like I am and read it first?

Would you like to see the trailer? Here's a link

Memoir Monday...Home Schooling Gone Wild?

                                                   Home Schooled by Stefan Merrill Block

From Goodreads... A heartbreaking and empowering debut memoir about a mother’s all-consuming love, a son’s perilous quest to discover the world beyond the front door and the unregulated homeschool system that impacts millions like him.

Stefan Merrill Block was nine when his mother pulled him from school, certain that his teachers were “stifling his creativity.” With no background in education and no formal training, she began to instruct Stefan in the family’s living room. Beyond his formal lessons in math, however, Stefan was largely left to his own devices and his mother’s erratic whims. She forced him to bleach his hair and to crawl like a baby in a strange and regressive attempt to recapture his early years. 

Long before homeschooling would become a massive nationwide movement, at a time when it had just become legal in his home state of Texas, Stefan vanished into that unseen space and into his mother’s increasingly eccentric theories and projects. But when, after five years away from the outside world, Stefan reentered the public school system in Plano as a freshman, he was in for a jarring awakening.

At once a novelistic portrait of mother and son, and an illuminating window into an overlooked corner of the American education system, Homeschooled is a moving, funny and ultimately inspiring story of a son’s battle for a life of his own choosing, and the wages of a mother’s all-consuming love.

Lots of buzz about this book and a Read With Jenna pick, Home Schooled looks like an interesting read. I wonder how Stefan dealt with all of this and how his life turned out. On my Wishlist... 

Published by Hanover Square Press on January 6, 2025 and available at your local bookstore! 

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid... A Review

I wasn't sure what to expect in Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. A mix of historical fiction with romance added in. The love of flying? The love of "do great things"? The love of your life?

Right from the start we meet Joan, Donna, Lydia, and Vanessa, all women with diverse backgrounds, all women who qualify to enter the space program at NASA. The year is 1980. Before Sally Ride and before women went to space. These women must prove themselves... to the powers that be in NASA and to the men sitting next to them in the classroom. (It's a familiar story in that way) But what isn't familiar is the NASA program and the training that goes into it. What isn't familiar is a love story that is forbidden in many ways, and especially if you're going up in space. 

Taylor Jenkins Reid does an amazing job creating these complex characters in an equally complex world that she somehow opens up to us so that we are in that world learning what goes into the making of an astronaut. She packs so much information in that I have to look back at the book to remember it's only 337 pages. It's not dry information, it's exciting. She makes you understand why these women want to do this...

And then there are the relationships, because no matter what job you have, if you work alongside people there will always be relationships. We get to know these characters. Really get to know them. Which really makes their lives matter to us, the readers. And then there are a few relationships that really shine in this book, that make this book more than a ride into space.

First, Joan has a niece that she's "basically" raised since birth. Joan's sister is, well, you'll find out. Let's just say she isn't really the best mother. In her defense, she got pregnant at a young age. Joan is her niece's rock. Their story is a special one in the book. 

Then there is the story of Vanessa and Joan. I didn't expect that... 

"Happiness is so hard to come by. I don't understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find it." ...Joan to Vanessa in Atmosphere

Slowly developed in the story is this friendship that changes into something bigger, something amazing, something very special. It's slow and shy at first. Then it evolves into the love story that everyone roots for. But this is 1980 and things aren't as open as they are now. There are stigmas and things that must be kept secret, especially at the white button down shirts office at NASA. So, their forbidden love story takes place behind closed door and out of the way places. It truly is wonderful how Taylor Jenkins Reid develops this love story. It's so touching that you really have to ask yourself, why would anyone object to two people loving each other?

So Atmosphere navigates the story of going into space with the relationships of the people behind it. Joan and Vanessa is one part of the story, Joan and her niece are another part, the NASA program is another story and the other people training to become legitimate astronauts are another part of the story (and believe me there are more people to get to know besides Joan, Vanessa and Joan's niece Frances). The book is good. Taylor Jenkins Reid draws you in with her wonderful writing. The characters are wonderful and so is the plot. Atmosphere isn't a page turner as in a thriller where you desperately have to know what's going to happen next. It's a book that you'll enjoy spending time with, getting to know everyone and maybe even learning something on the way. And the ending... well, the ending... you'll just have to read it to experience that!

It's a book I would definitely recommend. I think it would be an interesting book club read too. Lots of good material to talk about...

Published by Ballentine Books and released on June 3rd, 2025

I give Atmosphere 4 spaceships!