Yulin Kuang has written a romance novel that goes so much deeper than your typical fare. She has taken the enemies to lovers trope and built a story that hits the reader emotionally, intellectually and romantically of course. Delving into serious issues like mental health, suicide, and trauma, Kuang is able to take these difficult issues and give us something that feels modern, true and thoughtful.

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, this book serves as a window into the beginnings of her reign as well as the turmoil preceding it. Seeing everything leading up to her coronation laid out, the reader is able to see how much pressure she was under to bring constancy back to the monarchy. Her father's dedication to his role that ended up killing him, her mother's guidance, and Philip's love all allowed her to become that beloved figure.

I have am a huge fan of the Crave series so I knew I wanted to pick this one up. What I loved about Crave was the way the characters and their backstories were built prior to the action and drama and I felt Sweet Nightmare didn't deliver in the same way. I didn't feel an attachment to the characters because of it. While the action and turmoil is definitely on point and over the top, it almost overwhelmed the characters and the storyline.

Under The Bridge, now a series on Hulu, is a must read for any true crime fan. I had never heard of this case prior to the book and series, and once I read the book, I was completely wrapped up in it. The tragedy of it, the warped mentality that caused it, along with the effects on the families and the community as a whole makes for a true story like no other. I found the in depth research and interviews extremely compelling.

The tension and anxiety of the setting and the people affected hits you right from the get-go. You see how society can both work together and collapse at the same time in the face of disaster. Let's delve into the characters because they really drive the story. These are not the heroic and good people that many of these type novels revolve around. They are selfish and make really bad decisions, making the situation worse.

Alternating betweenqq 1969 and 2016, author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai explores, family, love, country, and how the past can alter our present. The new novel The Women is getting a lot of attention right now due to its Vietnam setting, and this novel really takes you into the heart of the conflict and how it affected the Vietnamese specifically. Deeply emotional and heart wrenching.

Ruth Ware is such a great thriller writer and this one did not disappoint. This is a modern take on the locked room mystery trope. Using reality tv as a backdrop and social media elements to make the characters relatable, the author takes a trope we all know and gives it fresh life. With "And Then There Were None", "Lord of the Flies", and "Animal Farm" vibes throughout, Ware weaves together a story that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Isn't there a little explorer in all of us? The idea of seeing a place that has been visited by so few calls to that adventurous spirit. For some, that place is the literal top of the world, Everest. "Everest, Inc." takes us into the Himalayan climbing world, shedding light on its humble beginnings and the brave people who conquer the highest peaks in the world. .

I love presidential history, no matter the political party, and have been collecting signed presidential biographies for years. I find the thought processes and decision making skills of the most powerful people in the world fascinating and this book made me feel like I had a front row seat to those moments. I loved how Stephanopoulos crafted the story of the POTUS right alongside the staffers who kept this nerve center running 24/7.

I have greatly enjoyed Ali Hazelwood's STEM romance books. With this being her first paranormal romance, I was definitely intrigued and I can say that I was not disappointed. What I love most about Hazelwood's writing is how well (and how smart) she writes her characters. While romance is obviously at the heart of this book, Hazelwood gives us a mystery and political intrigue that gives the plot a realistic feel in this shifter novel.

Second chance romance is my favorite and I loved this! Is it because I related to this story? Absolutely! I married my high school sweetheart 20 years after we graduated and this book went through all the same issues we had. The struggles, the miscommunications, the long distance aspect, and that fear of not destroying the friendship, are all perfectly written by the author. I received this in both physical and audio and loved the audio so much.

How fun was this book? While this is obviously written for children, I learned so much from author Erin Spencer, who is a marine biologist. Filled with gorgeous pictures, fun facts, and activity suggestions, readers have a chance to learn about not only the different species of octopuses, but also learn about the scientists who study and help us understand them better. Definitely an excellent volume to have for animal lovers of all ages.

Amor Towles became one of my favorite authors with "A Gentleman in Moscow" so I knew that this book would capture my heart in the same way. The strength of Towles writing is simply the power of character. He creates characters that you feel like you have known your entire life, filled with heart, depth, emotion and flaws that very few writers today can create this well. The Lincoln Highway is a love letter to youth and the joys of adventure.

This is a fantastic take on Norse mythology! I loved the forbidden romance and the slow burn definitely paid off. I especially enjoyed Freya as her character grew throughout the story. She is an excellent example of a strong female main character done well. And how can you resist the force that is Bjorn. Filled with lots of adventure, battles, and backstabbing (along with a twist that leaves the reader with an exciting cliffhanger)!

Happy Indie Bookstore Day!

Las Vegas might not be a literary town but The Writer‘s Block proves that readers rock! Love this place!!

Salman Rushdie is one of my all-time favorite authors, so when I turned on the news that morning in August of 2022, my heart sank to the floor. To see a voice like his attacked in that way was horrifying and I am thankful for his recovery and for his continued literary contributions. This was an incredibly powerful recounting of the event, and I was struck by how close he brought us into his emotional and physical states along the way.

This book is epic in both page count and its sheer literary scale. This examination of a family at literal crossroads in their own lives as well as in the culture of America at that time is like no other book I have ever read. Franzen explores themes of family, fidelity, coming of age, and religion just to name a few and he does this by weaving together a story about people who belong to each other but want to belong to themselves as well.

Charles Spencer pulls back the curtains on the boarding school experience with his new book "A Very Private School". Recalling his own story along with his classmates‘, he starts with his early years as a child, one where he was very happy being with his family every day. But the tradition of sending your children away for school impacts him and at age 8, he is sent to Maidwell. Using his own memories, he shows us the horrors he had to face.

Living in Las Vegas, I seek to escape the high rolling city as much as possible. The Sierra Nevadas calm my soul and appeal to me like no other place on Earth. Brent Underwood truly captures the lore, soul and call of this area. It might not be an easy place to live, but it sure as hell is worth it.

This is an intense debut novel, not just because of the mystery intruder aspect, but because of the way the mother is treated by the authorities, the public, and her own family after it is all over. You get the high tension of the actual event, occurring second by second within that small space, but then you get the second act that actually felt more terrifying to me as a woman.

A fun summer romance that I highly recommend! Some of my fav tropes - fake relationship, second chance, slow burn! The Christina Lauren writing duo always deliver great romances that are fun and have something to say at the same time. I loved the family nature of this book, showing both the good and bad sides of families, something that all readers can relate to. The book is funny, touching, sweet, and filled with the intelligent banter.

Here is a romance for all my fellow outdoorsy girls! You‘ve got the unique birding angle (which I loved), a cinnamon roll in the form of John, fake dating, and spicy fun times. Plus, as a middle aged reader, seeing someone close to my own age was fabulous!! This book will be the perfect addition to your summer reading list. Bring your binoculars and fly away with this fun romance.

Mary Austin was an American writer and one of the early nature writers of the American Southwest. Her book, The Land of Little Rain, written in 1903, describes the fauna, flora, and people of the region between the High Sierra and the Mojave Desert of southern California. As this area of the country is not far from where we live in Vegas, I decided I would like to go and see these areas and visit her home in Independence, CA.

This might be the weirdest book I have ever read and I could not put it down! This book was disturbing, funny and thought provoking all at the same time - a unique work of social commentary for sure! Scott Guild takes on corporate overreach, corrupt governments, and both the upside and downside of the online world in such a singular way that the reader cannot help to see our own current state of affairs reflected right back at us.

I loved every character in this book! I felt like I not only had a wonderful reading experience, but that I learned so much about the world of adoption, through the eyes of the birth parents, adoptive parents and the children. By giving the reader multiple timelines as well as allowing us to understand each character, Laurie Frankel really knocks this novel out of the park! Family is truly the center of this story.

I absolutely adore P. Djèlí Clark and this book did not disappoint! It's full of adventure, great characters, awesome world building, and lots of humor. What I love about Clark is that he can pack a lot into a shorter story. If you read Ring Shout, Master of Djinn, or any of his short stories, you know this is true. Thank you to Tor for an early copy of this book!

How can you describe this book as anything more than a masterpiece? Nearly 55 years after it was first published, Morrison's story of Pecola is unforgettable and tragic, one that everyone should experience at least once. Everytime I read a Morrison book, I come away with a different perspective, insight, another "aha" moment, and The Bluest Eye is one that hits me that way with each rereading.

This is a uniquely written book, told in the form of letters, notes, journal entries and cell phone recordings, some of which end quite abruptly. Filled with twists, turns and secrets, this is a slow building story, but as the mystery and tension piques, the reader will be quickly turning the pages to find out more. I loved how the author uses the multiple POVs and the unreliable narrator trope to deftly keep you guessing.

The story of these two families is one I will not soon forget. This book is a wonderful example of how historical fiction can be when it is done well. Spence-Ash weaves a story using real events with one that reflects on family, love, grief and compassion. I fell in love with the characters in this book as they grew in their stories. The multiple POVs and the over 3 decades long story really allows the reader to become a part of both families.

Percival Everett takes the story of Huck Finn and rewrites it from Jim‘s perspective. James is not the illiterate slave in Twain's book, but an educated, intelligent, and complicated man. James is given a complete backstory, showing us a man who feels and loves deeply, who struggles with his lot in life, the joy and the anger he feels, often at the same time. I know it is only March, but I am comfortable saying that this is my book of the year.

What a smart work of historical fiction! Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, based this on an actual relative of hers, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott. Ferguson worked on this for nearly two decades, doing research, digging into that time period, and you can hear Sarah's voice in the character. Margaret is such an inspiration. She is not afraid to speak up even if it costs her dearly, as she will never compromise what she wants.

For all the lovers of K-Pop and K-Dramas and if you read Chu's previous novel "The Stand In", you will find this one to be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the build up, the drama, and the sweetness of this story. Ari is a fabulous strong FMC character and Jihoon is literally the personification of a cinnamon roll. Getting an inside look at what it takes to be a pop idol was an added bonus.

We all know her as "The Mistress of the Dark", but what about the woman behind the persona. Peterson takes us all the way back. From a terrible burn incident at 18 months old that nearly cost her her life, to being a 17 year old showgirl in Vegas, to a stint making films in Europe, to learning the ropes of comedy as a part of The Groundlings, she never let fear or doubt get in her way even though success was just out of her reach.

On 90210 in the 90s, we got the full spectrum of teenage stereotypes. Were you a Kelly, Brenda, Brandon or Dylan? Who would you want to date? While the good guy/girl was the right choice, that "bad boy/girl" was always a temptation. The character of Dylan was that "bad boy". But if you looked deeper at the character, Perry was able to perfectly toe the line of raging rebel and sad boy, making a mark on the viewers who fell in love with him.

Chita Rivera is an American treasure, having won 3 Tony Awards, received the Kennedy Centers honor and was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her career spans decades, starring in some of the most memorable shows of all time - West Side Story, Chicago, and Bye, Bye Birdie. Chita holds nothing back as she talks about her childhood, career, lovers and family, and she does this with the wit, humor, and charm that she is known for.

I love a good small town romance and this one uses the "fake dating" trope so well. Sage is a wonderful character and how can you resist Fisher. Both characters have in-depth backstories, are highly relatable, and the side characters in the book, especially Sage's brothers, really make you feel like you are a resident of Spunes. Filled with fun and sexy scenes, lots of food references, and some of the sweetest farm animals in the world.

This was a powerful look at the sin of slavery and how communities are still affected by it today. McGill uses his nights in those cabins to show the impact to the story of the people who suffered under slavery, but also to help the reader understand the bond that the enslaved people had to each other. I really enjoyed when he discusses the meetings he had with historians and preservationists, seeing how each group tells the story.

I keep going back to the significance of the cover. This is not RuPaul the Drag Queen or RuPaul the Pop Star or RuPaul the Model. This is RuPaul in his own skin, his own story, his own soul. I was not expecting the amount of introspection this memoir contained, but I loved how it was mixed with the humor and wit that RuPaul is known for. The book is a message of how self-acceptance and love can bring you everything you ever dreamed of.

I know many of us still struggle with the initial days of COVID, and while very few novels have successfully navigated this time, Fourteen Days is one that definitely does. By bringing together all of these powerful authors, Atwood and Preston put together a story that brings us back to not only that time of uncertainty, but to that time where the world was asked to slow down and take care of each other.

Mel Brooks is an American treasure. He is the mastermind behind some of the funniest films, television, and Broadway productions of all time. "All About Me!" chronicles his life, from his childhood in Brooklyn to the heights of success in entertainment. What appealed to me most about this book was his work ethic. He may be one of the hardest working entertainers in history.

Hardin shows us how her life completely fell apart, but then shows us how she was able to claw her way back. Her addiction literally cost her everything: her home, her credibility, her freedom and her children. She was in the pit of despair, but her desire to get her children back and win their forgiveness was her driving force. Everything she did was for that one goal: being a dependable and loving mother to her boys.

This is probably one of the most original stories I have read in a long time. What a genre mash-up: romance, time travel, spec fic, historical fiction just to name a few! And it shouldn't work, but it totally does. It does so well. I am smitten with all the characters in this novel, especially Graham Gore. Your heart will swoon, you will laugh from the fish out of water moments, and you will cry from the pain the characters experience.

With the #MeToo movement, women are feeling empowered to speak out against men who have harassed or been violent to them. Careers, relationships and reputations destroyed for bad behavior that has finally come back on the perpetrators. This book is written from both perspectives, allowing the reader to get inside each of their mindsets as the situation plays out. You get an up close and personal view of the damage done.

I have been a fan of magic since I was a little girl, and living here in Las Vegas has given me the chance to see some of the best magicians in the world. And in Valentine‘s Day, my husband took me to see Piff the Magic Dragon. You may know Piff from America‘s Got Talent or Penn and Teller‘s Fool Us. He has a fabulous show at The Flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip AND he has an equally fabulous book of magic.

While this is being comped to Daisy Jones and the Six, I also would use this as a readalike for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This had more of a mystery feel as opposed to a dishy tell-all story, and I actually really liked that! I also enjoyed how the author builds the relationships with the characters slows, just as Mari had to build her relationships with Anke and the other players in the story to gain their trust.

Holy forkballs this book was so disturbing and so good! If you are squeamish, you may find it difficult to get past the idea of cannibalism, but if you can, the message of this book comes through loud and clear. The dehumanization of certain individuals, the blight of factory farming, capitalism coming above everything else, and the fragile state of the world due to our own gross abuse of our environment.

Wow, wow, wow!!! This is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have ever read. Kristin Hannah expertly takes the reader into a tumultuous and dangerous time, putting us directly into the heart of the war. It is also deeply intimate and personal, allowing us to see examples of the friendships formed and the love affairs that happen while under such intense conditions.

I am embarrassed to say that I bought this book when it first came out and never got around to reading it until now, having viewed the film adaptation of this a week ago. What an incredible story! I actually preferred the way the book was set up, as it allowed me to better understand all the characters and the conspiracy itself. David Grann is a master storyteller, and has the ability to discuss history in a way that keeps the pages turning.

Key goes in depth into the affair itself, his own failures as a husband, and his struggle with his faith, and he does this with introspection and humor. As someone who went through a devastating end to my first marriage, I appreciated seeing my own feelings reflected by the author. Modern marriage along with the temptations of the world is an increasingly difficult thing, and Key's acknowledgement of these issues is what resounded most with me.

I love a messy family story and this one hit all the right notes for me! Using the story of Cain and Abel to create a realistic portrayal of family, Adrienne Brodeur builds a complete portrait of a family that is flawed yet strong at the same time. I loved the multiple POVs from each main character as it let me see their own internal monologues, justifications and thought processes.