Month: January 2026

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

The Larkin family is a typical three-kids, working dad, stay-at-home mom, Jane, in the 1970s. But when the youngest child, Miranda, comes home and finds her mom missing, the family is at a loss as to what could have happened. Jane’s husband is the primary suspect, but there really is no evidence.

Jane’s bones are discovered when the children are adults, which sets off a chain of events that the family was never expecting. Did their father actually murder their mother? Or are Miranda and her brother, Jeff, just turning a blind eye to who their mom was? Maybe she had secrets? Maybe she left the home willingly? And maybe their father is innocent.

This book was an excellent story of a family in turmoil. Their mother’s absence was keenly felt by Miranda and Jeff, who never fully understood who they were and received very little parental guidance, even with a remaining parent. Each chapter reveals more of the mystery, even until the last page. Really loved this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I read Devil is Fine last year and was blown away. After reading this, I cannot understand why John Vercher isn’t better known. This book packs a punch and will stick with me for a long time. The main character, Xavier, is an MMA fighter and suffers from CTE. The trauma he suffers in this book is tough to read.

Xavier tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and has been suspended for a year. That year is almost up, and Xavier wants to enter the ring again. However, his brain fog, memory loss, and inability to self-regulate are getting the best of him. His white father is dying, has dementia, and his racist true self is attacking Xavier. He’s estranged from his Black mother and only has his sketchy MMA trainer/manager cousin in his corner. When a new fight lands in his lap, he can’t pass up the opportunity.

However, his cousin has gotten them into hot water and asks Xavier to do the unthinkable. As the book progresses, the reader is led down an emotional journey with Xavier as he comes to terms with his current life. This book just blew me away. I have no interest in MMA fighting, but that didn’t matter. The characters were so dynamic and engaging. I loved this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This standalone book by the author of the Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series follows six teenage friends trapped in an RV by a sniper. One of them has a secret. When that secret is revealed, that person will be killed, and the rest can leave.

But it turns out they all have secrets, so knowing which one is worth being killed over is a mystery. The hostages slowly reveal their issues, but also try to come up with escape plans. As those secrets are revealed, unexpected betrayals are exposed.

This book was good, but I was hoping for more. There were just too many convenient plot points rather than events unfolding in a unique or organic way. But most young adults (the target audience) will probably love this one.