The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC, pub 6/30)

The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (NetGalley ARC, pub 6/30) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I finished this a couple days after the publication date because I needed to take my time with it. If you can embrace the sadness, it is a really beautiful story. But yes, it made me cry multiple times. It is the kind of book that makes you reflect on the goodness and beauty in life, and that you want to hug at the end.

Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts (Marlow #5) by Robert Thorogood (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7)

 Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts (Marlow #5) by Robert Thorogood (NetGalley ARC, pub 7/7) ⭐⭐⭐💫 It was fun to be reunited with these characters, but the storyline confused me for a chunk of the book. It felt a bit more campy than mysterious at times, but I liked how things tied together at the end of the book. I saw some pieces coming, and some surprised me. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

Echoes of Infamy (Bishop & Gallagher #3) by Shana Steinberg (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26)

Echoes of Infamy (Bishop & Gallagher #3) by Shana Steinberg (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I just discovered this series and eagerly read the first two books before starting the ARC of this book. I think these are a great example of the historical mystery genre and I have enjoyed getting to know the characters and the way the author juxtaposes historical events and social issues. This book was no exception, picking up on the lives of Evelyn and Nick as newlyweds tackling a new case and challenges at Bishop Aeronautics. This book explored the experiences of veterans, the treatment of Japanese Americans during and after the war, Hoover's FBI and the Lavender scare, and the challenges of poverty and family cycles of violence. While these themes may sound grim, I found their treatment and the gentle and multifaceted treatment of characters to be quite uplifting. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26)

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was a little unsure about this book at first but I really appreciated getting to see the growth of the two main characters as well as that of those around them. I enjoyed the setting (the flowers, the gardens, the fancy dresses) and the effervescent summer romance vibes. It felt like a good balance of light and heavy themes and offered more depth than the typical summer romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC.

The Chowder House Murder by Lee Hollis (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26)

The Chowder House Murder by Lee Hollis (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/26) 3.5 stars. This book struck a nice balance between lighthearted cozy and characters with a little substance. Since it's the first in the series, the number of characters that were being introduced felt a little overwhelming and sometimes spread the stories a little thin. It initially read as very fluffy but then the storyline deepened and was quite enjoyable. I have been craving a bowl of clam chowder since I started the book, and would very much like to plan a visit to Maine! Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

Food is a Feeling by Carla Lalli

Food is a Feeling by Carla Lalli ⭐⭐⭐ This book started with an emotional wallop of the author describing her first night alone during a divorce. And as I kept reading, I realized this book couldn’t device if it was a divorce memoir or a cookbook. I guess I went into this expecting more of a cookbook as I own and enjoy one of her earlier books, but the narrative sections caught me by surprise and was trying hard for resilience but often felt like a bummer. Some of the recipes looked appealing, but some felt more like just vibes (e.g. cereal and milk, seltzer and fresca, etc.). Thank you to NetGalley and Clarkson Potter for the ARC.

The Shippers by Katherine Center (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/19)

The Shippers by Katherine Center (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/19) ⭐⭐⭐ This was my fifth Katherine Center novel, and unfortunately not my one of my favorites. The writing for the first half of the book felt rather manic and wacky. It had that jubilant bouncy style, but cranked up a few too many notches for my taste. I found the female main character annoying and was unconvinced by the repeated statements that she was brilliant. For the last third of the book, the story hit its stride and had more of the elements I’ve enjoyed in her other books, but this one felt more cloying than sweet.