Review: Obstetrix

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer is a novella-length page turner! A radical religious group goes to extreme lengths to get care for their community, especially the population of pregnant women. The story is told from the point of view of the OB/GYN forced to help them. It's very tense. I also appreciated having a menopausal main character who is dealing with hot flashes in a crisis situation. Been there, done that, have the soaked nightgown. Very relatable! I won't give any more away but to say that if you like a thriller with religious cults, you should read this.

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Review: Paradox Inc.

Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. This book will be published January 5, 2027.

I wasn't sure what I would get when I agreed to read Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal. First books can be a crap shoot. In this case, it was a good bet. First, there is a tiny flamingo on the cover. You have my attention. Next, this is written in an epistolary fashion. That is by far my favorite style of writing. I can't read my email inbox with any joy but give me a book written in any combination of emails, letters, news articles, blog posts, journal entries (you get the idea) and I will not be able to put it down. Then, tell me a story of how Tech Bros are going to ruin time travel for everyone. Make it a super dark story that is also absolutely hilarious so that I am not sure how to describe it to you without saying you will be thoroughly disturbed and also laugh out loud. Because while this is fiction, I feel like it could be true in the not-so-distant future. I also believe that Tech Bros will figure out a way to make it terrible just like they have done with the Internet and AI. Yes, I have strong opinions. Finally, I had to look up where Forrest Brazeal is from/lives. Not in a creepy stalker way, but as someone who grew up smack dab between Joliet and Kankakee, IL, I was momentarily unsettled when those places were mentioned. That doesn't happen often. Now that I live not too far from Madison, the mention of it as well made me wonder if my reading of this book was more than coincidental. Not to get all woo-woo, but it is a book about time travel. Highly recommend!

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Review: Everything Happens So Much: A Novel

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley.  This book will be published around November 10, 2026.

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray is quite fun.  It takes place in a world that feels familiar but is definitely not ours.  In it, people have the opportunity to experience one of their many parallel lives in 15 minute increments by taking a potion, like a 5 hour energy drink, but not.  You can already see how this could become addictive.  The thing is, that isn't even the craziest part of this story.  I think it is best read if you don't know much more than that, but it is a real RIDE.  I felt like I was running through the book to find out how it ended.  I also laughed a lot because there are things included that are truly hilarious and also tip the cap to readers.  Read it for the fun of it.

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Review: The Cure's Disintegration

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman from Bloomsbury Academic via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 15, 2026.

The Cure's Disintegration by Andi Harriman is part of the 33 1/3 series.  It focuses on one album and its place in music history.  In this case, Harriman chose to look at Disintegration through the lens of Charles Baudelaire's "Spleen."  I hadn't read Baudelaire, but I understand the sentiment.  I think of Disintegration like upbeat melancholy if you can have such a thing.  You might be sad, but you still want to dance around the room. Fans of The Cure will understand what I mean.  I find learning more about the behind-the-scenes of the album gives me an even greater appreciation of the music.  If you are a fan, you will want to read this when it comes out.  And then listen to Disintegration on repeat.

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Review: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Backyard Bird Chronicles is a compilation of excerpts from Amy Tan's nature journals over a six year period documenting the wild birds that turn up in her backyard.  It is written in journal form and includes the drawings she has done of her birds.  I absolutely loved this book!  As someone who also enjoys watching the birds that show up in her backyard, I could appreciate Tan's enthusiasm for her visitors.  I wish I had the money to maintain the level of dedication she has to hers.  She has so many feeders and what sounds like the coolest bird-friendly house.  She also buys my weight in mealworms every day.  I'm not quite there yet, but I could see how it would be easy to become the crazy bird lady.  She is not claiming to be an expert on birds, and I can also appreciate that.  I didn't even think about modifying my bird feeders for ground feeders because they all seemed to adapt.  She seemed to have a similar epiphany when the bird snobs told her ground feeders would never eat on an elevated feeder and vice versa.  I am hoping there will be another book that includes more of the journals.  The drawings are beautiful, and I love the humor!  I too give my birds back stories while watching them.  I haven't named them, but I recognize my regulars.  If you like birds, you will want to read this.

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Review: Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures

Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures by Nick Pyenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have mixed feelings about Spying on Whales: The Past, Present, and Future of Earth's Most Awesome Creatures by Nick Pyenson.  I love learning about whales, but there was a lot of death in here that I had a difficult time reading.  Understandably, Nick is a paleontologist, so he is into bones.  I don't have a problem with that.  I do have a problem with reading about going whaling to collect specimens.  It is hard to think that the ends justify those means.  Sure, I want to know more about the history of whales but not by killing the current ones.  I guess you could say that they were going to die anyway, so better they be of scientific value.  It was still tough to read.  It is amazing when you realize how long they live and the cultures they develop.  I don't think many people realize some whale species are second in intelligence to humans and at one time were actually smarter than humans.  They might still be and just don't want us to know it.  I pushed through in order to learn more and maybe find hope for the future.  I'm not sure I found hope, but I did learn.  If you aren't squeamish about whale death, but want to learn more about those fantastic mammals, check this out.

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Review: 26 Beauties

26 Beauties by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

26 Beauties is the 26th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson.  You could read this as a standalone.  I enjoy this series and think each book is a fast read, so it is worth it to start at the beginning in my opinion if you haven't read any others.  I read this series for the characters.  I am invested in what happens to each of them.  This time we are dealing with human trafficking.  I don't know if people realize how prevalent it can be in the U.S.  or how easy it is for any young person to get caught up in it, especially in a world where so many young people dream of being influencers.  While low income or unhoused youth might be easy targets, they aren't the only ones.  It is an eye-opening case.

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