Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

 I don't understand why this book is getting rave reviews. The New York Times calls it the "Best book of the year (so far)," which is what enticed me to read it. It's not a bad book, it's just not great, and it makes me wonder what other books the New York Times is reading.

Natalie has over 8 million Instagram followers who are enthralled by her living a throwback to a "traditional" lifestyle patterned after life in the 1800s. She, her husband, and numerous children live on a farm in Idaho and, as far as her followers know, she has eschewed modern conveniences. That's the first lie. She not only has the latest appliances, which her followers cannot see, but also has two nannies and a producer to help with her online content. 

Natalie's whole life is a lie until one morning, when she wakes up in an actual 1800s farmhouse with no electricity or running water. Her husband and children, while similar, are unfamiliar to her. The story then shifts to Natalie's attempts to flee her circumstances and, failing that, to accept her role as a traditional 1800s wife and mother and the hardships that entails. 

The story follows two timelines: one of her life in the 1800s and another explaining how she became a social media sensation. It leaves not only Natalie scratching her head about how she ended up in the past, but also the reader. No explanation is given for how her new circumstances occurred until the end. Additionally, Natalie is not a likable character, nor, for that matter, are any of the other characters: her children are whiny, and her marriage is a sham. 

There was enough story substance to keep me reading — mostly to find out how Natalie ended up where she did, even though I thought she deserved what she got. The writing and pacing are good, but there was no way to sugarcoat the vapid characters. 

3/5 stars.

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Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood

I admit it: I'm a Michael Wood fan — I love both his DCI Matilda Darke and Dr. Olivia Winter murder-mystery series. They feature strong women and are dark and gripping, with interesting plots. In this standalone, Wood outdoes himself in creating an atmospheric thriller filled with good and ruthless characters that examines a flawed justice system.

When Alice, a young woman with Down syndrome, is found raped and murdered in the woods after a violent storm, police are under intense pressure to find her killer. With no leads and no clues, they are stumped until they focus on Anthony, a man with learning disabilities, who was among the last to see her alive. When he confesses to the crime, the case is closed. But not everyone is convinced of Anthony's guilt--including his lawyer and two police officers. They are determined to prove his innocence, at great personal cost.

This is a compelling read that I couldn't put down. It shines an unkind light on the British penal and justice systems, both of which failed Anthony and Alice. It is fast-paced and suspenseful with excellent characters. If you have not yet discovered this author, this book is a good introduction to his dark world. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 31, 2026.

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Whistler by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett always does a good job of creating memorable characters and interesting situations. In Whistler, she also pulled off the feat of making the story memorable. I won't forget Daphne, Jonathan, and Eddie any time soon.

It's been over 40 years since Daphne has seen her former stepfather, Eddie, but when she and her husband, Jonathan, encounter him in a museum, the past falls away as they become reacquainted. Eddie was in Daphne's life for a little more than a year, but it was a memorable one: an instant bonding and an accident that tore them apart. Now they have a second chance, and they both intend to make up for lost years.

This is a moving story about choices made and the unforeseen situations that sever relationships. It is full of hope as Daphne begins to overcome the past and integrate Eddie into her life. There are flashbacks to the accident that changed both of their lives. Beautifully written, Whistler is a book I couldn't put down. 

5/5 stars.

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A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

In this, the third of his books in the Shadow of the Leviathan series (The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption being the first and second), Robert Jackson Bennett serves up his best Ana and Din mystery yet.

Detectives Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol are called to investigate the grisly death of a young woman in a small farming Empire canton. What should be an open-and-shut-case, with the accused covered in the victim's blood, turns into a bigger mystery when Ana discovers a clue that may prove the accused, scion to a powerful family, is innocent. That clue leads to a wider case of greed, power, and perhaps murder among two ruling families. It's up to Ana and Din to uncover the family secrets and reveal the motives behind the killings.

I love these two characters and the world in which they reside. With each book, the author reveals more about the special bond between Ana and Din and how their abilities complement each other. In this book, the two are even more dependent on each other and their special skills in their quest to resolve the mysteries behind the murders. The plot is ingenious, and the way Ana and Din uncover who and what are behind the deaths makes for a page-turning read. I highly recommend this fantasy-mystery series. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Ray, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 4, 2026. 

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Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard

 

Catherine Ryan Howard already has a following, with one of her earlier books, 56 Days, being adapted by Prime Video. Buyer Beware is the first book from a major publishing house so that it will give her broader exposure. I'm sure her fan base will increase because of this book.

The story is told by Ellie, Hannah, and Erin, spanning three timelines. It begins in the present with Ellie moving into a house in Dundrum, Ireland. She has secrets she wishes to withhold from her neighbors, including her true name. When someone breaks into her house and vandalizes it, Ellie must find out who is targeting her and why. Hannah is a successful businesswoman whose life changed when she, unwittingly, had an affair with a married man. Erin has put her own dreams aside when she married a man who can't hold a job. How these three women are tied together, and their connection to the house, forms the basis of the novel.

I couldn't put this book down at first because I was trying to figure out what was going on. Later, I had a hard time staying connected to it because I kept waiting for something creepy to happen in the house — it didn't. It wasn't until the rushed, final chapter that the secrets of the house were revealed, and by then, I'd lost interest. I liked how the author explored the lives of Hannah and Erin through earlier timelines; each revelation was a surprise. I think many will enjoy this thriller more than I did, and I think the author will gain fans as a result. I plan to read Howard's 56 Days because this book piqued my interest. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 28, 2026.

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The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks

 

In this final book in the Culture series, Banks explores the beginning of the Culture alliance and the ending of the Glitz civilization. It's too bad the author died shortly after this book's publication, because I believe there are stories to tell.

The Glitz civilization helped found Culture and has now decided to Sublime, the final level of existence. Before this happens, Vyr Cossant is tasked with finding Ngaroe QiRia, a semi-mythical man who claimed to be there when the Culture began. Only he may know if the Book of Truth, the Glitz spiritual guide, is based on fact, the outcome of which may affect the Glitz decision to Sublime. Racing against the countdown to Sublime, Cossant's life is endangered by those who do not want the truth to be uncovered.

This book has too many subplots to outline, and as is his style, Banks jumps into the story, leaving the reader to catch up and connect the dots. There is tension in Cossant's quest to recover QiRia's memories and solve the mystery of the Book of Truth. Banks does seem a bit obsessed with aliens' sexual activities, creating a character whose enhanced body is built for multiple orgasms. Overall, this is another excellent addition to the Culture series. Banks was an amazing storyteller who created worlds and civilizations that captured the imagination; he died too young. 

4/5 stars.

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Land by Maggie O'Farrell

What a fantastic book! I loved Hamnet, but wasn't that enthralled with The Marriage Portrait, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I think I like Land even better than Hamnet — it's that good.

Beginning on an Irish peninsula in the 1860's, Land follows the lives of cartographer Tomas and his son, Liam, as they map Ireland for the British. Tomas is affected by a mysterious incident while mapping, and the local priest, who thinks he is possessed, performs an exorcism, changing the lives of Tomas and his family. 

This is a saga that maps not only Ireland, but the lives of Tomas and his family. The book is character-rich and atmospheric, as it recounts the Great Hunger that transformed Ireland and the impact of British rule on it. Beautifully written, Land is an absorbing and ambitious family saga that transports the reader back in time. 

5/5 stars.  

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