A Barbie Movie I Could Get Behind

 

TITLE: Dollface

AUTHOR: Lindy Ryan

PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books

PUBLISHING DATE: February 24, 2026

PAGES: 304   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Horror author Jill has just moved to suburban New Jersey, hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and maybe not weird everyone out with her Final Girl coffee mug. You know. Make some real friends. 

But then a plastic face-masked serial killer begins slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill is slowly wrapped into a killer’s murderous spree, until she might just be the last woman standing. 

A delightfully murderous novel that is equal parts scathing and salacious, Dollface will win you over with its gossip and gore, one body at a time.

MY THOUGHTS: I was worried because this book started out a little off for me.  I don't know how to explain it other than it didn't pull me in the way I expected.  However, it almost had to be me because by the time I hit the third chapter, we were off and running and I was hopeful this would be one I loved!

Jill has recently moved to New Jersey with her young son and husband after he was just transferred to a new military post.  Jill continually describes the house as creaky-not-creepy which threw me off a bit because it sounds like she lives in an upscale suburb but oh well, it was fun. See, Jill is a bestselling horror author who has writer's block and is behind on the development of her second book.  Soon after her move, Jill is befriended by a neighbor, Darla, who is also on the PTA and before Jill knows it, she is the newest PTA member, something she definitely didn't want, and is having brunch with the PTA mean girls. 

The next day, Lindy finds out that the barista who had insulted one of the PTA members at lunch was found dead behind the restaurant. And she is just the first in a string of murders/assaults which makes Jill question if she just might be the next target and hmm, might this be a great concept for her next book.

I loved Jill as a character. She has an affinity for all things horror and loves dressing in black and throwback horror tees.  When she was young, she and her sister experienced a childhood trauma which set the tone for their adulthoods, and this is a big influence on the plot. Darla is a blast and quickly becomes Jill's close friend, but as they get closer, her sister gets more and more peeved. Jill clearly balances a lot of different dynamics throughout the story, and I was really investigated in what was happening.

I only had a few issues with Dollface.  As expected, there were a few twists and reveals at the end and one I had pegged pretty early on. Also, other than this technically featuring a slasher, I fear it is being mismarketed as a horror and totally missing the thriller population who I feel would enjoy this just as much. Being the fourth book, I've read by this author in the past few years, I would definitely give anything she releases a try and she is quickly on the way to becoming a favorite.

Oh, and I forgot, there is an awesome dog named Lugosi who I adored and spoiler alert - who lives and is never in danger!  Props to the author.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The House that Eats the Dead

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

August 18, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible the house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I have always enjoyed haunted house stories and this one sounds great.  Plus the cover is really working for me.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

Feed Your TBR - Only Spell Deep

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

March 17, 2025

FROM GOODREADS: Judeth Cole has always had certain uncanny abilities. But when she arrived at Solidago - her grandfather’s estate by the sea - she was forced to keep them secret. There she lived a harsh life under his rule and the haunting legacy of her late grandmother, Aurelia. Until the fateful day she ignited a fire with her magic. It was the last time she saw her family alive.

Seventeen years later, she’s living in Seattle as Jude Clark, and failing at life, when she makes a last detour through her favorite bookstore, selecting a book to read as she waits to die. But when she pulls it from the shelf, an invitation to her for a clandestine midnight meeting slips out.

Jude is quickly swept up into a world of secrets and magic, discovering a circle of powerful new companions led by the mysterious, enigmatic Arla. The source of their magic, Arla tells her, is a goddess, trapped and bound, that they call The Fathom. But Jude swiftly realizes Arla wants this power all to herself, and that she’s willing to kill for it.

Terrified, Jude turns to Levi Orman, the handsome bookseller who’s seen her at her worst. With his help, she begins a research journey that leads her from the crystal waters of the Mediterranean to the icy waves of the Greenland Sea and back to Solidago, the house she swore to never return to. With the Fathom threatening to break free and Arla on the hunt, Jude must finally face her past to save her future.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  While the synopsis does sound good and this book has been compared to Rebecca meets The Craft, I won't lie.  It is the tentacles on the cover which landed this one on my wish list.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

Another Reason People Should Elope!

 

TITLE: The Body

AUTHOR: Bethany C. Morrow

PUBLISHER: Tor Nightfire

PUBLISHING DATE: February 10, 2026

PAGES: 288   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Mavis broke from her parents’ congregation years ago, but she still hasn’t recovered. Their impossible expectations and soul-shredding critiques have dug deep into her mind, and she’s taunted by the knowledge that even when she’s done nothing wrong, she’ll never be right. 

Now Mavis is afraid she’s about to lose the only thing she has: her husband, Jerrod. The man she’s always known was too good to be true. No one thinks she deserves him—not even after surviving the serial cheater they wanted her to stick by—and soon they’ll all find out they were right. 

Mavis is already unraveling when a brush with death shows her what real fear looks like. Soon, she’s under constant attack from all directions. As the assaults turn increasingly vicious and bizarre, Mavis realizes that Hell isn’t reserved for the afterlife. 

And sinner or not, no one is coming to save her.

MY THOUGHTS: This is one of those books that I would normally say go into it blind and don't really look at reviews. However, this book didn't work for me and I'm not sure who to recommend it to so perhaps you might want to do some research before picking it up. Also, be warned, I almost DNF'ed this one and it honestly felt like it was 500 pages long instead of a rather brief 288 pages.

Mavis and her husband have been married for seven years. Prior to that, Mavis was part of her parents' congregation where they do some weird vow from all members during the marriage ceremony that the church is committed to helping individuals have successful marriages. In fact, they insist on it.

One day Mavis does something which sets this vow in motion.  Stating it would be a big spoiler but let's just say it's a trope I normally don't like.  All of a sudden, something tragic is happening to Marvis and Jerrod and together, they try to figure out how to stop what Marvis knows she has put into motion, and what Jerrod feels he did to put the chaos in motion. Things happen, the whole book feels like a fever dream and yay! it's over. 

You know how some books have characters you love to hate?  Well, not this one. I basically despised them all. I did feel some sympathy toward Jerrod because what he did to deserve Mavis must have been pretty bad. Mavis had absolutely no redeeming qualities and while I believe the book tries to garner some sympathy for her by shedding light on her controlling and overbearing parents, it was too little too late for me.

I read Cherish Farah by this author some time ago and really enjoyed it.  That was a big reason I wanted to grab this one. Plus, I thought it was a good way to read Black authors during Black History Month and combine it with my love of horror.  However, this one clearly didn't work for me. I am sure I will give Morrow another try and am a bit sad I didn't like this one more. I managed not to DNF in the end because there was a part of me that really wanted to know what was going on - a very tiny, small part.

MY RATING: 2 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Christmas in Snowflake Canyon

 

Stormi and I had so much fun last month continuing on with the Hope's Crossing series, that we decided to do the same this month. Actually, I was able to fit this installment in as my last read of January and since it was Christmas themed, I'm glad I did.  It also helped that I was housebound due to a snow/ice storm. Nothing like setting the scene.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's to see what she thought.

 

TITLE: Christmas in Snowflake Canyon (Hope's Crossing # 6)

AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne

PUBLISHER: HQN Books

PUBLISHING DATE: September 01, 2013

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: No one has ever felt sorry for Genevieve Beaumont. After all, she has everything money can buy. That is, until two years ago, she discovered her fiancé had been two-timing her and she fled to Paris. Now, after receiving an ultimatum from her father, she's back in Hope's Crossing and finds herself in a bit of a pickle... 

Genevieve's salvation appears in the most unlikely of prospects: Dylan Caine, a sexy, wounded war vet whose life is as messy as hers. Dylan's struggling to adjust after his time in Afghanistan, and the last thing he needs is a spoiled socialite learning about the real world for the first time. True, she may have unexpected depths and beauty to match. But he knows he could never be the man she needs…and she knows he could never be the man she thinks she wants. So why are they each hoping that a Christmas miracle will prove them both wrong?

MY THOUGHTS: This series has turned into a real comfort read.  I know when I pick one up, I'll end up flying through it which is probably one main reason I decided to quickly work it into my January reads. 

Genevieve Beaumont definitely has a rep in Hope's Crossing.  Not only is her family pretentious and full of themselves, in one of the earlier books Genevieve was the bridezilla from hell. After her engagement fell apart, she ran off to Paris to live the highlife.  However, her parents think she needs to grow up and stop living off her trust fund, so she is summoned back to Hope's Crossing.  After being given yet another ultimatum by her father, she goes to the local bar to let off some stream.  She ends up punching an assistant prosecutor in the face for playing too many Christmas songs.  

It's a rare night out for Dylan Caine.  He prefers to stay holed up in his cabin with his dog ever since getting injured in the Army and coming home.  He is still learning to function well with the loss of an eye and an arm, and he carries the weight of what happened on his shoulders. He intervenes in the barfight and both he and Gen get arrested.  They both manage to get off on community service and are sentenced 100 hours at Warrior's Hope, a new rehab venture run by Dylan's sister and her fiancé.  Exactly where Dylan doesn't want to be.

Although Dylan and Gen are the unlikeliest of couples, I loved seeing their friendship and subsequent feelings for each other develop.  Gen really learns she wants to be different than everyone else sees her and realizes the negative influence her parents have had on her.  In addition, she starts to actually make friends with some individuals in town which I enjoyed seeing because hiding behind her snotty attitude is a lot of self-doubt. Of course, Dylan and his chip are not easy to get close to either so of course, them getting together was inevitable right?

This installment allows some characters from some of the previous books to show up and play small roles which is one of the things I love most about series like this and my favorite small-town romance, Virgin River. And of course, Tucker, Dylan's dog, is the added icing on the cake.  If you love smalltown romances which also have some heavy-hitting plotlines as well, this might be a series you want to consider.

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

    

February Coming Attractions

 

Another new month!  I know I didn't do a Coming Attractions post for January, but I blame holiday recovery mode. I did want to get one out as soon as possible this month though so you can see what I'm reading this month as well as some of the reviews you might find here. Remember, I know I won't possibly get to all of these but want to showcase them either way. Plus, I have found these are good posts for me to look back on to jog my memory of what I am supposed to be focusing on. Oh, the daily perils of a mood reader.

First up are my buddy reads with Stormi for this month. We decided to read Realm of Shadows at the last minute because I was craving some romance for February and it would count for a Retro Romance challenge she is doing.  We are almost at the end of Dresden Files and finally, Shadow of the Mothman is Shea's latest, and she and I always seem to buddy read Shea's books.

Next up I have some ARCs I would love to get to.  I am currently reading The Body and hate to say it isn't going too well.  I'm 25% in and I really hope it picks up for me. This will be my first Matt Dinniman read even though I plan on starting Dungeon Crawler Carl sometime this year.  Temple Fall looks to be an interesting Gothic read.

Here are a few more ARCs mostly in the thriller/horror/fantasy genres.  I LOVE Lindy Ryan and am so excited for Dollface.

And finally, a few odds and ends that are sitting by my couch waiting to be finished and/or picked up.

So what are you plans for February? Have you read any of these?

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Peace Talks (Dresden Files #16)

 

Stormi and I keep moving along on our buddy read of the Dresden Files series and the end is almost in sight!  The newest installment, number 18, recently released so that means two more book and we are current and up to date.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's to see hers. 

 

TITLE: Peace Talks (Dresden Files #16)

AUTHOR: Jim Butcher

PUBLISHER: Ace

PUBLISHING DATE: July 14, 2020

PAGES: 340   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago—and all he holds dear?

MY THOUGHTS: I am still enjoying Harry's world, but sometimes Harry's world is a really wordy one, so I was thrilled this installment clocked in under 350 pages. 

A Supernatural summit is taking place in order to try to garner some kind of peace among all the entities and once again, Harry finds himself in the thick of things.  Because of his role as Mab's right-hand man, the White Council is becoming more distrustful of him.  Since this is book 16 and everything is considered a spoiler, I'll just say we get to see quite a few familiar faces including Molly, Thomas, Maggie, Mouse, Ebenezer and Butters.

There were quite a few things that made me unhappy in this book, especially pertaining to Thomas, but it didn't mean I didn't enjoy it.  I just question a few directions the author is headed toward but hey, he's the boss, right?  

Overall, I'm glad to have gotten this far and Stormi has warned me the next book is really going to tick me off.  I am struggling between a 4/5 or a 5/5 but my rating is reflective of my appreciativeness for a short installment this time around.

MY RATING: 5 Paws 

Feed Your TBR - The Stars Look Like Home

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

January 12, 2027

FROM GOODREADS: From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune comes a heartwarming story about a good boy in search of a great life. The Stars Look Like Home is a funny and moving adventure about finding one’s place in the universe from the perspective of a dog.

Also, the dog does not die in this.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  I just saw this a few days ago and there is no way I can wait a whole year!  I love The House in the Cerulean Sea and its sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea. I vow to read more from Klune this year but man, I wish I had this in my little greedy hands!

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

She Sees Dead People

 

TITLE: Soul Searching (Sweetwater Peak #1)

AUTHOR: Lyla Sage

PUBLISHER: Dial Press Trade Paperback

PUBLISHING DATE: September 30, 2025

PAGES: 368   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Collins Cartwright does not want to go home. Sweetwater Peak, Wyoming, was supposed to be in her rearview mirror, but when she finds out a developer is trying to buy her parents’ antique shop out from under them, she doesn’t have a choice—at least, that’s what she tells her family. They don’t need to know she’s lost her job and is out of money. Or that the ghosts that have always been her companions have recently gone silent. 

But just because she’s returned home doesn’t mean she has to stay with her parents or crash on her twin sister’s couch. Lucky for her, the new-to-town upholsterer has a room for rent above his store. Unluckily, it is absolutely crawling with more ghosts who are freezing her out. And Collins hates being ignored. 

Brady Cooper is absolutely and totally fine. Seriously, there’s no secret reason why he decided to uproot his life and suddenly move to Sweetwater Peak. He just needed a change of pace. At least, that’s what he tells himself. And everyone else. 

When he agrees to let the elusive Collins Cartwright stay in his spare room, he doesn’t know that she’s absolutely bonkers—constantly talking to herself and having conversations with no one—or that she looked like that. But as they begin to get closer, the lines between them start to blur, leaving both of them—and the ghosts that have been pushing them together—wondering whether or not their temporary arrangement could be something more permanent.

MY THOUGHTS: Lyla Sage has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors, so I was thrilled when this one released and had a paranormal twist.

Collins Cartwright is moving back to her very small hometown, something she said she would never do.  Knowing how independent Collins is, her twin sister arranges for her to work at a local upholstery shop and live in an apartment upstairs. Unbeknownst to her family, Collins is out of work and hasn't picked up her camera in months because her other hidden talent, communicating with ghosts, is on the fritz and it was the source of a lot of her inspiration.

Brady Cooper moved to Sweetwater Peak to escape and since arriving, other than making friends with Collin's family, has pretty much remained non-social. He just happens to own the upholstery shop and the apartment upstairs. As time passes, he becomes more curious about Collins and she can't deny she feels an attraction to him. However, Brady doesn't believe in the paranormal, even though there may be a few spirits working to bring him and Collins together. In addition, Brady is more than willing to be flexible if it means spending more time with Collins and eventually helping her unearth her creative block.

I loved everything about this book. Collins is a bit edgy, and Brady is a bit of a cinnamon roll hero. Together they just work.  And for a romance, this book does not suffer from insta-love OR a third act conflict which are always pluses in my book. Also, who can resist a meet-cute that involves pepper spray!  In addition, I loved the sister and family dynamics and look forward to the next book, which focuses on her.

If you love romance with a paranormal twist, this one is for you.  I will devour anything Sage writes as she hasn't disappointed me yet!

MY RATING: 5 PAWS

A Late Christmas Vacation!

 

TITLE: The Dogs of Venice

AUTHOR: Steven Rowley

PUBLISHER: G.P. Punam's Sons

PUBLISHING DATE: October 14, 2025

PAGES: 80   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: A heartbroken Paul takes a solo trip to Venice while his ex-husband moves out of their joint place back home. While on the trip Paul looks for a connection and meaning.

MY THOUGHTS: This is a short novella I grabbed around the holidays because of course, DOGS!  I didn't get to it until January but still wanted to share my thoughts because I feel it needs more notice.

Paul is going through a divorce and although he has a history of not doing anything alone, he decides to go through with the vacation he and his husband had planned for the holidays. While in Venice, Paul notices a stray but confident dog and he spends the majority of his time seeking the dog out because he wants to be more independent-just like the dog appears.  Along the way Paul breaks out of his comfort zone and starts doing more and more on his own, realizing he too can be more dog-like if he wants.

Paul was a nice character to read about and honestly, I think this read is best described by the word "nice."  The fact that it is on the shorter side lends itself to a solid tale that doesn't get weighed down by unnecessary side plots or details.  I loved that I was able to read it all in one sitting as well.  

The dog doesn't play a big part in the story, but he is a major influence so I think animal lovers would still be quite interested.  I know this author has a few other books which have recently been quite popular so I think readers of those should seek this one out as well. And even though it takes place during the holidays, it isn't really a holiday story so it could be read at any time. My rating is only reflective because I wanted more dogs (of course I did), especially with "Dog" on the title. 

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

I'm Expecting Tons of Snow but They Got Tons of Rain!

 

TITLE: The Storm

AUTHOR: Rachel Hawkins

PUBLISHER: St. Martin's Press

PUBLISHING DATE: January 06, 2026

PAGES: 258   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984. 

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores. 

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

MY THOUGHTS: Looking back, I've never really had my socks knocked off by a Hawkins novel.  In fact, I think I've been telling people I've only read two, so I was going to pick this one up to see if I just needed to stop and move on.  However, I looked it up and I've actually read ALL of her adult novels and one of her YA ones, which I loved.  The adult ones have all hit around 3/5 starts except for The Villa, which is the only one I really remember.  Imagine my surprise when this one really hit for me!

In 1984, Hurricane Marie hit St. Medard's Bay leaving death and destruction in its wake.  One death was the Governor's son, who was having a pretty illicit affair with a residence 19-year-old.  Lo Bailey was accused of murdering Landon Fitzroy but was eventually acquitted. However, everyone just assumed she as guilty.  Fast forward to current day.  There is a new hurricane on the horizon and Geneva, who is now running the family business, the Rosalie Inn, is trying to stay afloat (no pun intended).  She ends up renting out some rooms for the summer to both Lo and August, who has chosen to ghost write a book about the whole situation with Lo's help.  Yet there is another hurricane on the horizon, and it might just uncover buried secrets along the way.

This book was a fast-paced read for me. Of course, it also may have been because it is on the shorter side for a thriller.  Nonetheless, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters who all seem to have distinct strong personalities and to learn how they all intertwine both historically and currently.  There were a few major twists, once of which I predicted and one I never saw coming, which made for an interesting read.  And I would say it held a bit of my favorite trope as well - found family.

This is one I'm really glad I picked up.  Although now I'm guess I'm going to have to read her next book to decide if she is an author for me.  Of course, I've read everything else so at this point, why not.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Feed Your TBR - The Only One Who Knows

 

Can't Wait Wednesday, which I have adapted to better suit my blog as "Feed Your TBR" is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

March 3, 2026

FROM GOODREADS: Minnow Greenwood, previously known for stealing her way into the hearts of viewers as Melbourne’s number one morning show host, is now back in her small hometown of Kangaroo Bay. After a horrifying and unexpected episode, she has no choice but to join her estranged brother in their family business of shark fishing. For an insomniac like Minnow, the work is strangely thrilling—there’s something alluring about the dark water at night. Something exciting, grimy… fitting. And maybe it’s not even so bad reconnecting with her brother, who’s the only person who ever saw her for herself. But the last thing she expects to surface on the beach is a human body.

Kangaroo Bay is a town quietly brimming with rage towards invasive tourists and host to a disquieting number of shark attacks—there's no sympathy for the wayward swimmer. Except the media soon uncover that the victim was declared missing weeks before and was long dead before they even entered the water. When the journalist in Minnow kicks back into drive, she discovers something for over forty years, there have been a steady number of missing persons around the area, including her own father’s disappearance ten years ago.

This is her one opportunity to reclaim her career as a journalist, and to learn what really happened to her father, but as Minnow digs deeper into the spate of missing tourists and the mystery of her father, she realizes someone is desperate to keep the secrets buried. . .and then another body washes ashore.

WHY I CAN'T WAIT: I love the fact that this involves water and the MC's name is Minnow.  Too funny.  Besides that, I am fascinated by sharks and wanted to be a marine biologist when I was young for a long time.  Go figure considering I grew up and have always lived in a landlocked state.  

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

A Whole Lot of Issues to Unpack

 

TITLE: The Hitch

AUTHOR: Sara Levine

PUBLISHER: Roxanne Gay Books

PUBLISHING DATE: January 13, 2026

PAGES: 304   

SOURCE: ARC

FROM GOODREADS: Rose Cutler defines herself by her exacting standards. As an anti-racist, Jewish secular feminist eco-warrior, she is convinced she knows the right way to do everything, including parent her six-year-old nephew Nathan. When Rose offers to look after him while his parents visit Mexico for a week, her brother and sister-in-law reluctantly agree, provided she understands the rules—routine, bedtime, homework—and doesn’t overstep. But when Rose’s Newfoundland attacks and kills a corgi at the park, Nathan starts acting barking, overeating, talking to himself. Rose mistakes this behavior as repressed grief over the corgi’s death, but Nathan insists he isn’t grieving, and the dog isn’t dead. Her soul leaped into his body, and now she’s living inside him. Now Rose must banish the corgi from her nephew before the week ends and his parents return to collect their child.

MY THOUGHTS: I really anticipated this to be a DNF when I started.  I wasn't sure I could stomach the dog attack and subsequent death.  However, for those like me who are sensitive to this stuff, it's pretty much one paragraph and the end of a chapter is it isn't overly detailed, bloody or for lack of a better word, savage.  

Rose lives alone and owns a frozen yogurt company.  However, she is averse to all things dairy and is trying to sell it.  She is also obsessed with her six-year-old nephew, Nathan. His parents only allow her two hours a week with him on Saturdays, but a trip to Mexico means Rose will get to watch him for a full week.  She plans everything, right down to the icky food she expects a child that young to eat and the activities they will participate in such as lengthy chess games. All this goes out the window when a trip to the dog park leads to a Corgi named Hazel dying and then her soul inhabiting Nathan's body. Rose goes on a journey to hide what is happening from her brother and his wife all the while trying to convince Nathan he is imagining the whole thing.  When that doesn't work, despite her better judgement, she turns to a spiritual healer and ends up experiencing her own exorcism.

As I said, I liked this book more than I expected to.  Rose was a piece of work though, and I can't find the words to describe her although neurotic came to mind more than once while reading it.  Nathan was a sweetheart and I felt badly for him because he only wants to be a kid.  Also, reading this book felt a little like ADHD.  Rose would be describing something and all of a sudden break into a recipe for some health-related menu planning and then hop back to why Nathan didn't like his antique chess set.

While I would recommend this book, I will say it probably isn't for everyone.  I'm not sure if there really was a Corgi soul inhabiting Nathan or if Rose was just projecting a lot of her own issues on others.  The ending is just rather blunt as well, but I fully understand the decisions that were made.  

MY RATING: 4 PAWS

Wait, Huh?

 

TITLE: I'll Quit When I'm Dead

AUTHOR: Luke Smitherd

PUBLISHER: Mulholland Books

PUBLISHING DATE: October 14, 2025

PAGES: 384   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: Madison has seen better days. Reeling from a bad breakup, self-soothing with junk food, and totally consumed by her lack of direction, she’s in need of a big reset. When she runs into an old acquaintance at the gym, Madison is shocked by how fit they’ve suddenly become. The cause? An all-female fitness boot camp led by ex-military guru Ellie Fellowes. The course is characterized by grueling reps and minimal contact with the outside world, and when Madison signs up to experience it herself, something doesn’t feel right. The other students keep acting strangely; Ellie seems almost superhuman, and her intense motivational methods are becoming bizarre, even dangerous. But Madison is getting results. How can she stop now? 

Musician Johnny Blake has been struggling with a pain pill addiction after a very public, very bad fall. At the encouragement of loved ones, he retreats to a secluded cottage to detox. But Johnny isn’t alone. Something is lurking in the shadows of his new home—a creature unnatural and hungry, one that traps Johnny in a frightening bargain. If Johnny doesn’t stay off his pills and keep his end of the deal, he will be eaten alive. 

As Madison and Johnny’s predicaments spiral into the unthinkable, they will have to look within to find the true and terrifying answer to the age-old How badly do you want it?

MY THOUGHTS: This book managed to take a trope/writing style/whatever you want to call which I do not usually like at all and turned it into something I enjoyed.  Or at least I think that was what the author did, I'm not sure. I'm really confused - can you tell?

I'll Quit When I'm Dead focuses on two distinct characters.  Madison just dumped her boyfriend, dropped out of college, is out of work and is writing a novel she just can't complete.  Oh, and she constantly wants to lose 15 pounds which is an important part of the novel as well.  Johnny is a musician who has a mediocre career which he just made worse through some really stupid moves which landed him with an active drug addiction and a lengthy hospital stay.  Madison decides to sign up for a month-long retreat promising to be intense but which will leave her stronger, skinnier, and more focused.  Johnny has just moved to a rental in the country where he can continue his recovery.  Both have no idea what lies in store for them but given the cover, I was pretty sure they weren't going to like it. 

This book was strange because in the beginning, I was more interested in Johnny's story and about mid-way it shifted, and I became more interested in Madison's tale.  I also wasn't sure how the two were connected or even if they were, so the reading was a bit disjointed throughout at least 80% or maybe even more.  Madison's experiences had me more on edge because I think in her situation, the monster is real and is in the form of a retired military veteran, Ellie who has a lot of baggage of her own. And trust me, I think Ellie is way scarier than most mythological monster. Johnny's monster is in the form of a boggart, which other than a particular series which "won't be named" I've never ran across before.  

Needless to say, this book completely intrigued me, and I devoured it in a few days.  It wasn't on my radar until I stumbled across the cover on the new release shelf of my local library and I am so glad I snatched it up.  If you love horror and psychological drama, with a pretty heavy dose of fantasy during some parts, this is definitely one you will want to grab.

MY RATING: 4 PAWS