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.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12)

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (NetGalley ARC, pub 5/12) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I took a chance on this book after reading a Minotaur sampler preview. I am usually wary of anything labeled thriller, but this one focused more on character development than gory details. I appreciated getting to see the two main characters mature over time as their lives intersected and the book created a strong sense of place. I read half the book in one sitting, and finished it on May 1, the anniversary day. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC.