Christmas Mysteries at The Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

Christmas Mysteries at The Mysterious Bookshop by Otto Penzler (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) I requested this book on NetGalley for kindle and the formatting was so bad it was barely readable. I relayed it to tech support who notified the publisher and they removed the kindle option but didn’t resolve it. I was stuck reading it on my computer - I would not have requested the ARC if it had not been available for kindle and this affected my reading experience. I enjoyed the variety of settings/characters for these stories, some of which had more prominent Christmas themes than others and of course being centered around a mystery bookshop was fun. I liked the concept but the execution was hit or miss, as happens with short story collections. Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC.

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 I definitely would not have grabbed this based on the title or description, but when I read the preview in the Minotaur sampler I liked it and am glad I requested the book. This story is set outside of Toronto and has cozy autumn vibes without being cheesy. The characters are likeable although could use some more maturity, and there are interesting elements around tarot and I would pick up the next book if this was turned into a series.

The Art of Fighting by Priya Parker (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8)

The Art of Fighting by Priya Parker (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/8) ⭐⭐⭐⭐  There is a lot of conflict at work, so this book was often hard to read since it reminded me of those complexities and how many approaches are strategies could be tried. It also made me reflect on when or whether to have an intentional end to a collaboration. I liked this overall but it was really dense and sometimes felt like an overwhelming onslaught of information without enough road markers to help ensure the reader is tracking. Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead Books for the ARC.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/1)

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies by Kate Westbury (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/1) ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 This had a bit of a slow start but I liked the setting (post-war Oxford University) and the characters, and they quickly won me over. I read the second half in one sitting and enjoyed the twists and turns and hope that this becomes a series. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 22 (NetGalley ARC, pub 8/25)

The Minotaur Sampler, Volume 22 by K. Westbury; HP Ryan; V. VanSickle; M. Fredericks; R. Wilding; S. Paretsky with K. Holt (Editor) (NetGalley ARC, pub 8/25) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This included the first few chapters of 6 books: The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies - I already had an ARC so this preview confirmed that I’m looking forward to reading it. Mother Daughter Sister Stranger - too much thriller/suspense vibes for my preference, but an interesting setup. Mystic and the Missing Girl - not something that would have interested me from the description, but I liked the preview enough that I requested a copy. Murder on 34th Street - historical mystery but make it holiday-themed too, yep I grabbed a copy of this one too. Cherry - three women trapped in obsession and infatuation. The opener was too graphic, the story is trying to do too much, the vibe did not feel right for my taste. Bad Company - I am a fan of the retired ex-spy gets pulled back in for one last job genre, but I’m mixed on whether to request an ARC since the opening chapters didn’t grab me as much as I’d like. TBD whether I’ll pursue this one. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/14)

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/14) ⭐⭐⭐ My feelings were mixed about this book. The storyline picked up around midway and was engaging, but I could not connect with the main character. Some of the descriptions were crude and/or gory. I get that the character was a stoner, but I didn't want to read over and over about each new blunt he rolled. The writing was generally good, but it felt like the author wanted to hammer the same themes over and over in lieu of actual character development. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Fundamentals of Flavor by Nik Sharma (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/22)

Fundamentals of Flavor by Nik Sharma (NetGalley ARC, pub 9/22) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I knew a bit about Sharma but I actually found his backstory at the start of the book quite fascinating. The book is organized around the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. While a lot of the scientific explanations went over my head, the ingredient combinations look delicious (a combination of classic and original pairings), and the recipes are more accessible than I expected. Some of the recipes that caught my eye included: Caramelized Shallot + Feta-Labneh Dip; Grilled Sweet Potato, Red Onion + Halloumi Salad; Grilled Nectarines with Bulgur Salad + Hazelnut Aillade; Yellow Curry Pork Chops with Citrus; Basque Cheesecake with Salted Date Caramel Sauce; Baked Beet + Sweet Potato Chips with Za’atar; Roasted Asparagus with Orange-Miso Dressing; Tomato Couscous Soup; and Salmon with Buttermilk-Dressed Apple-Pecan Salad. This book offers a wide range of techniques and layers of flavor. Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC.

Beatrix Potter’s Botanical The Art of Flowers and Fungi by Marta McDowell (NetGalley ARC, pub date 10/13/26)

Beatrix Potter’s Botanical The Art of Flowers and Fungi by Marta McDowell (NetGalley ARC, pub date 10/13/26) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had no idea Beatrix Potter's artistic range, as shown by the variety of sketches and paintings in this collection. The animals, of course, are the best known and so darling, but I really enjoyed seeing all of the botanicals and backstories featured in this book. How lovely to have sprawling gardens for inspiration. But always, Peter Rabbit has my heart. Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC.

Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7)

Tsubaki Stationery Store by Ito Ogawa (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a story about found family, the art of letter-writing, and stationery supplies. The book is not very plot-driven and very slow moving - it focused more on characters and a sense of place, with seasonal rituals and traditions and odd townspeople. It was a contemplative, soothing read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7)

Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7) ⭐⭐⭐💫This was both beautiful and painful to read. The formatting of the dialogue was unfortunately very frustrating, and in some ways the stories felt repetitive. I ended up skimming some sections since I couldn’t commit to reading the full book closely. I did read the note at the end and appreciated the life-affirming message. Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the ARC.