I think I have a great selection of books to share with you this month. I read a total of twelve books, ten of which I enjoyed, two of which were not for me. My eyesight has improved, so I was able to read more books in print this month. I read four books in print, seven books in digital format on my Kindle, and one audiobook. No five-star books this month, but several of them came very close! Let’s go.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon by Lisa See. This author can be relied upon to provide a well-written historical novel that will keep your attention, engage your emotions, and teach you something. This novel takes us back to 1870 to the newly formed town of Los Angeles, population 5000, with 6 policemen and an absence of laws. The book is told from the perspective of three Chinese women: Moon, the wife of a doctor; Petal, sold by her family to become a sex worker; and Dove, a beauty who has been married off to a wealthy merchant as his second wife. The book was fascinating in its depiction of the rampant racism and anti-Chinese sentiment prevalent at the time. I learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was the first major US Federal law to limit the immigration of a specific ethnic group, not repealed until 1943. The book champions the story of Chinese women in a shameful period of American history. 4.5 stars

Such a Nice Girl by Andrea Mara. This author is a popular Irish crime novelist whom I have come to enjoy very much. You may have seen one of her books brought to the screen in the recent Netflix production of All Her Fault. This author reliably sucks you into the story within the first few pages of her books. After a glamorous wedding, lifelong friends Siobhán McKenna and Grace Caine are plunged into every parent’s nightmare when their daughters, Ré and Luna, vanish from a pool house. Blood at the scene and a disturbing voicemail suggest one young woman may have attacked the other. As police investigate, long-buried secrets emerge, exposing jealousy, deception, and fractured relationships hidden beneath the façade of two perfect families. Told from multiple perspectives, this psychological thriller steadily unravels the truth behind the disappearance, delivering unexpected twists while exploring the limits of parental trust, loyalty, and how well we truly know those closest to us. Quite the page-turner! 4.25 stars

Water by John Boyne is a short book, part of his four-volume series The Elements. This book follows Vanessa Carvin, a woman fleeing Ireland after her powerful husband is exposed for horrific crimes. Seeking anonymity on a remote island, she hopes to escape the scandal and her own guilt, but finds that the past cannot be left behind. As she reflects on her marriage, motherhood, and the choices she made, Vanessa confronts difficult questions about complicity, responsibility, and redemption. Quietly powerful and emotionally charged, the novel explores grief, shame, identity, and the moral consequences of looking away from the truth, even when it comes from those we love most. 4.25 stars

Brighter Than Before by Courtney Walsh was a delightful book. After discovering her husband’s infidelity and having a very public meltdown, forty-six-year-old Claire Karadec leaves behind her comfortable but unfulfilling life and moves to Chicago to start over. Armed with a list of goals inspired by her therapist, she sets out to make friends, pursue meaningful work, and rediscover the passions she sacrificed during her marriage. Along the way, she embraces new experiences, survives some hilariously awkward dates, rekindles her love of baking, and finds support in an unexpected community—including a charming neighbor who challenges her guarded heart. This uplifting novel feels very authentic: celebrating second chances, self-discovery, courage, and the joy of creating a life that truly reflects who you are. If you are looking for a fast read that provides great entertainment, pick this one up. 4.5 stars

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout. The author introduces Artie Dam, a respected high school history teacher in coastal Massachusetts who appears to have an enviable life but is quietly overwhelmed by loneliness and despair. After surviving a near-fatal sailing accident, he begins to reassess his relationships, purpose, and future. When his adult son reveals a life-altering family secret, Artie must confront painful truths that threaten his marriage and identity. With Strout’s trademark empathy and insight, the novel explores loneliness, family, forgiveness, and the hidden burdens people carry, revealing how honesty and human connection can offer hope and healing. Excellent writing, but what I did not enjoy about this book was the pervasive injection of the author’s political leanings. I knocked off an entire star due to that. 3 stars

Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens. This book had a very amusing premise. Anna Appleby has gone through a painful divorce and is gamely getting over the experience with her two kids, her cat, and uncontested control of the remote. Her newfound independence and single life seem to be going well until her boss tells her that her job as a columnist may be in jeopardy if she doesn’t find something interesting to write about. She offers to write a series of articles about having seven dates with men all picked by her kids. What follows is a hilarious series of dates with random waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. Seriously, I think anyone would enjoy this book! Great palate cleanser after reading something serious. 4 stars

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson. You may have read and enjoyed the previous book by this author, Pineapple Street. This novel is a story of Carolyn Lash, who arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, for a writing residency. She soon falls for local outdoorsman Van Whittaker and becomes entangled with his circle of affluent friends. Beneath the idyllic beaches, summer parties, and easy camaraderie lie tangled relationships, old resentments, and carefully guarded secrets. When Van’s attentions turn elsewhere, Carolyn is cast out of the circle and does something irrevocable. This book was a slow burn, and I found the ending a bit of a letdown. Unlikable characters. 3.5 stars

Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea. This author of mysteries and thrillers is a new discovery for me, and I will definitely be reading more of his work. This was a well-thought-out and page-turning story that gripped me from the first chapter. Here is the setup: Dr. Sloan Hastings has begun a fellowship to finalize her training as a Forensic Medical Examiner. As part of a research study, she submits her DNA for genetic analysis. The results come back showing that her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, an infant who disappeared with her parents in a sensational case back in 1995. Determined to uncover the truth, Sloan investigates the disappearance of her biological family and a decades-old murder that has never been solved. As she pieces together buried evidence, she uncovers shocking betrayals, hidden identities, and dangerous secrets that place her own life at risk. This was so good! Free on Kindle Unlimited right now. 4.25 stars

The May House by Jillian Cantor. If you enjoy family dramas, you may like this book. The story is about three sisters who return each year at the end of May to a family beach house they inherited from their grandmother. The stipulation in the grandmother’s will was that the sisters must get together at least once a year at the family home. The author clearly intended the book to be an emotionally engaging family drama that blends mystery, romance, and sisterhood against the evocative backdrop of Coronado Island. It fell short for me because of the disjointed timeline and shifts in point of view. The timeline jumps between 1999, 2009, 2015, 2019, and so on, and it’s not chronological, so it got confusing and hard to follow. The book really dragged for me and ultimately did not fulfill its promise. 3 stars, barely

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. This author has written a number of thrillers that I have enjoyed previously, particularly Wrong Place, Wrong Time. Here’s the setup in her latest book: We meet our main character, Cam, who drops her infant off for the first time at daycare and returns to work after maternity leave. Oddly, she woke up that morning to an empty place next to her in bed, and a cryptic note from her husband Luke saying, “It’s been lovely with you both.” Then the police show up at her work saying that her husband is involved in a hostage situation, not as the victim but as the perpetrator. This all happens right at the start of the book, and what follows is a very wild ride. We get varying perspectives from both Cam and a hostage negotiator named Niall. It was another page turner that I flew through. 4 stars

The following two books were not for me, but I will describe them here, and you can decide if they may be something you might enjoy more than I did. I am definitely an outlier, as both books have decent reviews but were not my cup of tea. If you have read them, let us know in the comments what you thought.

Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart. Set in 1940s North Carolina, the story follows Ruth Foster, an independent young woman unjustly imprisoned under the real-life American Plan, which targeted women suspected of sexual immorality. Inside the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women, she endures forced medical treatments, brutal discipline, and degrading conditions alongside other women condemned by prejudice rather than proof. As Ruth, vulnerable teenager Stella, and superintendent Dorothy Baker’s lives intersect, the novel exposes a shameful institution while celebrating the resilience, solidarity, and resistance of the incarcerated women. The author blends historical research with compelling storytelling to illuminate a disturbing, often-overlooked chapter of American history. I just found the whole thing too sordid and awful. I did finish the book, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. 2.5 stars

The Last to Drown by Noelle Ihli. This book has a high rating on Goodreads, but I just couldn’t finish it. Five days, twenty strangers, and eighty-four miles of remote whitewater set the stage for this survival thriller. Kaia joins a rafting expedition only to learn that the river was the site of a notorious massacre seven years earlier. As mysterious accidents mount—a flipped raft, missing supplies, and eerie nighttime disturbances—she suspects someone in the group is recreating the deadly events from the past. Trapped deep within an unforgiving canyon with no way to call for help, Kaia must uncover the truth before history repeats itself in a relentless, adrenaline-fueled fight for survival. This book was super graphic in its description of injury and mayhem. Not for me at all. DNF’d about halfway through. 2 stars

Hope you enjoyed my reviews and found one or two books to add to your reading list! As always, please let me know what sounds good to you and if you have read any of these. Happy reading.