Sylvia's Second Act

Let’s start with this: I finished this book this morning, and I am still smiling! This is that kind of book, and Sylvia is that kind of character. Sixty-three years old and living in Boca Raton, Sylvia is a former stay-at-home mom who dabbled in hobbies she started but never finished. Now she is a grandmother to darling twins and wife of forty years to Louis. As her husband dashes around the tennis courts in their retirement community, Sylvia finds herself bored to death. Her constant companion, Evie, is a lovable, feisty character and just about Boca’s only saving grace. When Sylvia thinks things cannot get any worse, she walks in on her husband and neighbor Belinda in flagrante. Admittedly, Sylvia has not been happy for a while, and she is more upset with Louis about the lying — and the missing money story — than she is about the woman. So she packs a bag and heads to New York City to start a new life. Maybe she has watched one too many episodes of Sex and the City, but she does not feel old and has always been an optimist. Evie joins her, and together they take Manhattan. This laugh-out-loud, adorable, heartwarming story is over the top in every good way. I could not have had more fun reading this book. Doubly funny: this book was recommended to me by a fictional character in another book — Once and Again by Rebecca Serle! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Once and Again

Lauren grew up in Malibu. She surfed with her dad, lived on the beach, and was in love with Stone for over a decade. Now she is in her thirties, and that life is behind her. Lauren is married to Leo, and they are happily living in West Hollywood. But lately, things have been hard. Lauren is struggling to get pregnant, and it is taking a real toll on both of them. Instead of an easy, carefree summer, the young couple are facing months of IUI, medications, and procedures. At the same time, Leo is offered an incredible work opportunity in New York. But money is tight, and so is time — especially with Lauren’s dwindling number of viable eggs. In a bit of a sliding doors scenario, Lauren can stay with her parents in Malibu, surrounded by surf, sand, and Stone, or she can follow Leo to New York and try to rebuild the romance in their marriage. And here is where the magic comes in. Since she was a teenager, Lauren has known that the women in her family possess a kind of superpower: a special one-time ticket that offers a do-over. Lauren has never used hers. But now, with so much at stake, the ticket — and her future — suddenly feels more important than ever. I read mixed reviews on this one — thank G-d I did not listen! This is classic Rebecca Serle romance, which for me means a little magic, a little humor, and a whole lot of heart. The perfect beach read for summer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Down with the Ship

Growing up, Stella and her sister Jules only had each other. There is nothing in the world Stella wouldn’t do for her. But now Jules is engaged to Harry, and his family belongs to another world entirely — one filled with private jets, mega-yachts, and none of the warmth their father showered on them as children. When Stella is invited to join them on a family cruise, she really has no excuse not to go. With her PhD on the line and her teaching job on an involuntary hiatus, the timing is as good as it’s going to get. From the moment she meets Captain Caleb, Stella knows she’s in trouble. He is the hottest, most arrogant man she has ever met, with a New Zealand accent to die for. Determined to keep her distance from Captain Cool, Stella focuses on helping Jules make a good impression on Harry’s intimidating family. But whether he’s saving her from sharks or plucking barnacles out of her foot, Caleb always seems to come to the rescue. Their chemistry is electric, and really, when was the last time Stella had a real vacation? The problem is, dating a crew member is completely off-limits — and although the yacht is ridiculously large, Stella somehow ends up falling into his arms, literally, at every turn. An adorable, laugh-out-loud, below-deck romance! Consider me fully on board with this swoony sea-com. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Available May 7.

Good People

The Sharaf family live in a small Afghan community in northern Virginia. When they fled their home during the Russian invasion and came to America all they wanted was a better life for their children. The father, Rahmat, felt he had missed the boat but would do anything to ensure his four children went to the best schools and had prestigious futures. Their home is filled with love and laughter while Rahmat works multiple jobs to make ends meet. He eventually stumbles upon some luck with his cleaning business. As he begins to surpass his wildest dreams and become financially stable, he moves his family to the biggest, fanciest house he can afford. The eldest son, Omer, only gets by in school, so Rahmat pins his hopes and dreams and identity on Zorah. She is an excellent student, well-liked and beautiful. As Zorah struggles with her father’s strict expectations, she begins to spiral. Zorah is surrounded by American teenagers who sneak around, do as they please and have little regard for rules. Unexpectedly, when tragedy befalls the Sharaf family, the world is watching. A culture clash between traditions, money, and vile gossip — everyone has something to say. Narrated in a series of very short chapters structured as interviews after the fact, this story shares voices from every possible angle. I felt this unique structure and empathized with the underlying push and pull of starting over in a new country where everyone loves to criticize anything that is different. At the same time, I felt like the novel dragged and was very repetitive. Like, not love for me. But I must say the consensus and reviews are favorable and I may be an outlier on this one. ⭐⭐⭐

In the Great Quiet

Minnie Hoopes and her trusty horse, Cricket are among the homesteaders racing from Kansas toward Oklahoma in the 1893 land rush. After losing her childhood sweetheart, this capable schoolteacher wants nothing more than to have a plot of land she can call her very own. It is unusual for a woman to be traveling alone; these hills are full of gunslingers, bandits, and renegades. Riding far ahead of her two brothers, no sooner does Minnie stake her claim than she is attacked by two outlaws. So begins life in the Wild West. Her neighbor, “The Lawman,” is probably the most handsome man she has ever known, and the two form a unique bond as they endure the harsh, isolated winter. Minnie and The Lawman assist each other with the physical challenges including building a home, a barn, and digging a well. As Minnie finally opens up to friendship with a nearby family and a Native American neighbor, she continues to be tormented by her past and the crushing disappointment she thought she left behind. Loosely based on the author’s great-great-grandmother, this beautifully written pioneer story is filled with ingenuity, determination, and even a little romance. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Good Animal

In a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Everett Lindt works on his father’s sheep farm. A senior in high school, Everett is unlike most of his classmates, who are counting the days until they can leave Sault Ste. Marie. He is devoted to his animals and life on the farm. There is a new girl in town named Mary. When Everett meets Mary, it is love at first sight. He has never felt this way before, but he is sure this is the real thing. They are inseparable for the next nine months, but there is one problem: Mary wants to go to art school in California. It has been her dream and Everett is desperate to change her mind. Young love and family obligation give this quiet, beautifully rendered novel a category all its own. The reader can see the land, feel the chill of winter, and the heartbeat of young love. There are detailed, sometimes graphic depictions of farm life, but they are handled sensitively, even in the harshest moments. What does it mean when a week after finishing this novel, I am still thinking about Everett and Mary? This well-written, debut, coming-of-age novel is simply outstanding! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Enormous Wings

It was just a little fender bender. Father Frank had no need to destroy Pepper’s driver’s license, and no one forced her daughter to move her into Vista View Retirement Community in Austin. Pepper, a retired teacher and only seventy-seven years young, had no desire to lose her independence and start over in a strange place. Ever the optimist, she decides to make the best of it and settle in without fighting her three grown children, who worry far too much. Pepper makes friends and even meets a special someone. She is doing just dandy until a strange exhaustion washes over her. Could it be the flu, dementia, a stroke? Considering the average age of her new community is eighty, no one considers that Pepper could be pregnant. It seems ridiculous, especially after having sex for the first time in decades. But the tests are repeated, and they are positive. Overnight, Pepper becomes a miracle. Move over, Virgin Mary — Austin has a pregnant seventy-seven-year-old. Between the paparazzi, Pepper’s very new relationship, and her three determined adult children, her world will never be the same. Add in recent changes in Texas abortion laws and restrictions on women’s rights, and you have what the talking heads call breaking news. Exploring motherhood, friendship, later-in-life love, and the right to choose, Laurie Frankel tells this story with heart, humor, and a glimmer of hope. Releases in May and absolutely worth reading!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Founding Mother

In October 1764 Abigail Smith married country lawyer John Adams. Both born and bred in Massachusetts, John was a little older, but Abigail descended from a well known political family in the colony and they were an excellent match. Both hardworking and practical, the Adams family built a life on their small farm in Quincy (originally called Braintree). Abigail gave birth to six children with only four surviving past childhood. The couple struggled through many years of separation when John was sent to Philadelphia to serve on the Continental Congress and later as a diplomat to Europe. John Adams’s belief and loyalty to the Revolution were unwavering in his search to find balance in a new democracy. Abigail found herself in the center of it all. Close allies with Washington, Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, John Adams was a major figure in the creation of our nation. With Abigail as his trusted keeper of ideas, philosophies, and strategy, she was without a doubt the woman behind the man before the phrase existed. Abigail argued her strong opinions about ending slavery and rights for women until her last breath. The sacrifices she made as a wife, mother daughter, and neighbor were endless. Similar to the fabulous HBO series John Adams (2008), this novel brings to life the fascinating details of their marriage and unyielding dedication to our nation. A gifted and eloquent letter writer, Abigail left us a remarkable record: more than 1,100 of their letters survive, capturing both the social and political issues of the time. For Women’s History Month, Abigail Adams feels like exactly what she was: a founding mother, in every sense of the word. Releases May 5, 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐