Holly

I am so glad Holly Gibney is back. She is one of my favorite Stephen King characters and I love that she has a whole book of her own to shine in. This was trippy to read as it was very much a pandemic book and covid (and politics) plays a huge part in it. Stephen King was definitely on his soapbox about mask mandates, vaccinations, and Trump fanatics. I didn't disagree with him, but it was weird reading it in a novel. Holly Gibney's mother has just died and rather than focusing on her grief and anger she decides to take on a missing person's case. Chapters and timelines alternate between Holly and the victims. She soon discovers that her missing person could uncover something greater and much more sinister. I liked this book, but it was weird because you know who the villains are the whole time. You are just waiting for Holly to pick up all the pieces and take the trail as far as she can. Creepy and great. Love me some Stephen King!

Sonny Boy

An extraordinary memoir by one of the Hollywood elite, Sonny Boy is an enthralling biography from octogenarian, Al Pacino as he reflects on his life and his award-winning career. From the streets of the South Bronx to the Godfather and Scarface, Pacino's life story is enthralling. It's a peak behind the curtain behind his long and storied career. Sonny Boy covers growing up with a single mother, childhood friendships, collaborations, romances, films, and theater; it is an endearingly honest and open recounting of a life lived to the fullest. He is open about his struggles with alcohol, disappointments in his life and career, bad performances on the stage and the screen, and the sheer good luck he was blessed with. Pacino gives an impassioned and enthusiastic narration filled with singing, laughter, and so much emotion. He is a gifted storyteller and orator; this biography makes the listener feel as if they are sitting down with an old friend. His intelligence, wit, compassion, and self-deprecation shine throughout. A life well lived, with an absolutely beautiful ending. Pacino still seems stunned and humbled at all he’s accomplished in his life and career. Verdict - a must listen and not just for movie fans. – Erin Cataldi

Mad Honey

MY HEART! This book was amazing. Christmas card worthy. I devoured it in two days. I had magically glossed over the synopsis and not heard and spoilers and ..... I'm glad I didn't it was so damn good and heartbreaking. Jodi Picoult always does an amazing job bringing important and "divisive" topics and humanizing them. I don't want to give any spoilers, just suffice it to say that this is a must read book that will pull at your heartstrings. Told in dual storylines Mad Honey is about what we leave in the past and how we face the future. Olivia was a battered wife but now she is an independent woman, a single mother, and a beekeeper. She is proud of her son Asher and she adores his girlfriend Lily. Lily is a talented young woman who has been on the move a lot with her mother. She is excited for a fresh chance and can't wait to go to a new school and make new friends. Chapters alternate between Olivia and Lily and.... AH THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Just read it. And read the afterward as well!

What Does it Feel Like?

A heartbreaking and deeply personal book by Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series about what it really means to live in the moment. Eve is a bestselling novelist, with five beautiful children, a doting husband, and a book that's getting turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. She has all the luck in the world, that is, until she wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. She is told she has just undergone brain surgery and they've removed a large tumor from her brain. She’ll need to relearn how to walk, regain her balance, and try to stay calm and collected in the face of the unknowable. Her faithful husband never leaves her side as she struggles to come to term with her diagnosis and what that means for her and her family. Radiantly narrated by Sally Phillips and Sophie Kinsella herself; Sally effuses emotion, heartbreak, and hope into every syllable. What Does it Feel Like? mirrors Sophie Kinsella’s experience battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Although heartbreaking, the way that this short novel is told through anecdotes and vignettes is extremely powerful and hopeful; listeners will ride a rollercoaster of emotions. A must listen. 

Mothballs

A coming of age graphic novel that explores family trauma and the legacy it leaves on it. It also bravely explores, forgiveness, sexual identity, jealousy, and forging your own path. Set in Argentina in the early 2000's, Mothballs follows nineteen year old Rocio as she moves into her estranged grandmother's house following her death. She has been feeling suffocated by her family's insistence she do well on her upcoming exams and just needs space. While wallowing around she starts to understand her family and her complicated history. Interesting and heartbreaking. 

Phantasma

A spicy romantasy set at the the turn of the century in New Orleans. When Ophelia's younger sister runs away after their mother's sudden death - it's up to Ophelia to find her and keep her safe. When she discovers that Genevieve has entered the deadly Phantasma contest, she has no choice but to go in after her. Phantasma is a travelling nightmare; contestants have to endure ten nights of competition, each level more deadly than the last. The whole thing is run be devils, ghosts, and phantoms. The sole winner is granted whatever their wish. Ophelia has a slight edge being a necromancer but Genevieve is just a mortal. With death on the line you wouldn't think there would be time for romance or sex, but the heart could also be easily lost. Despite it's large size this was quite a quick read. A little repetitive at times and I spotted the twist right at the beginning but it was still enjoyable. I will definitely read the next installment. 

Best Hex Ever

Deliciously cozy and spicy, this romantic comedy by debut author, Nadia El-Fassi, is a triumph. Dina Whitlock delights in running her London café, whipping up magic infused tea blends, coffees, and pastries for unassuming customers. Dina is a kitchen witch with a lot on her plate, she’s got a business to run, a needy cat, and wonderful friends, one of whom is about to get married; what more could a witch want? When curator, Scott Mason, stumbles into her café and bumps an evil eye off the wall she knows she is in trouble. He’s handsome and charming, and little does she know that she is about to be spending a lot more time with him (who knew he would be the best man at her best friend’s wedding?). There is only one problem, and it’s a doozy. The hex. Years prior, Dina was hexed by an ex so that anytime she started to fall for someone, her lover would constantly be in harm’s way, it would be a never-ending streak of bad luck. Should she push Scott away to keep him safe or can she find a way to break the hex? Narrated brilliantly by Ferne Marks and Owen Hall; their chemistry makes this book a scorching hot listen. Verdict: steamy, delightful and perfectly cozy, this debut romance is definitely worth a listen. Anxiously looking forward to the next in the series. – Erin Cataldi