Review: The Many

The Many by Sylvain Neuvel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Many by Sylvain Neuvel from Rebellion via NetGalley. This book was just published.

Let's face it. If Sylvain Neuvel writes it, I will read it. I was excited to see he had a new book coming. Look at that gorgeous cover! I had to read it and thankfully, I got my hands on a copy early. Whew! This is a standalone novel unlike his other books. The Test is technically a novella I suppose so it doesn't count? The point is, you can read this without worrying that you might be investing in a whole series if your reading time is limited. I love that this book is told through multiple perspectives with each chapter alternating viewpoints. There are also not many books that tell the story from a tick's perspective. As someone with an allergy that may have been tick-induced, I related hard to Carole even though I didn't particularly like her. I also haven't read anything with such a diverse cast of characters in a long time. I'm not sure you could get more diverse than The Many.

I liked the idea that if people could just understand how others think and feel, we might be able to change society for better. There are a host of ethical issues that come up with that. Also, who gets to define what better means. And also, would you want to know what other people really think? While that could of taken us to some deep dark places, Neuvel keeps it fairly light and positive.

Bonus points for the giraffe. I will not say more than to say it was trippy but so fun.



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Review: Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success

Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success by Jeff Hiller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read, rather than listened to, Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success by Jeff Hiller only because it was the version that came off hold from the library first. I think the audiobook version would be great. I don't usually reread books but I would make an exception to listen to this one. If you don't know who Jeff Hiller is, shame on you. You need to get HBO or HBO Max or Max or whatever they call it RIGHT NOW and watch Somebody Somewhere. I will wait...

I love that show so much because I feel like it gets me. I grew up near Lockport, IL where it was filmed. I moved away, saw the world, and now I am back in the Midwest finding my place. It gets me! I wanted to be besties with Joel and now Jeff. I love getting in my steps! But this book is not all about the show or Joel. It is about Jeff and the amazing, hilarious, and delightful person that he is. He should be in all the things because I would watch the hell out of them. When I lived in New York, I went to a debate on Flight vs. Fight specifically because Jeff was on the panel. Can you guess which side he defended? If you read this book, you would know. Have I convinced you yet? Seriously, watch the show, read or listen to the book. You will thank me later.

Bonus points for mentioning my favorite banana pudding place in NYC. And no, it is not Magnolia Bakery!

Extra bonus points for having the same taste in memoirs that I do. Every chapter I was like, I read that one and that one, yep, that one too.

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Review: Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts is a little bit of memoir mixed in with a lot of information about perimenopause and menopause for those who will experience it at some point.  It is never too early to educate yourself because it can happen much younger than you think as Naomi found out.  I read a lot about this topic, so I was familiar with much of the information.  I did jot down some suggestions though, including her own company focused on products for menopausal women.  It was just nice having another source reinforcing that everything you are going through is normal.  While Naomi is not a medical professional, she packs the book with plenty of experts and good resources to get reliable, factual information.  At the same time, it is easy-to-read and gives you good topics to discuss with your doctor.  

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Review: Cher: The Memoir, Part 1

Cher: The Memoir, Part 1 by Cher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always been a big fan of Cher.  In fact, I had a Cher Barbie when I was young.  I also had a Sonny instead of a Ken, but even back then, I knew he was kind of an ass.  Cher: The Memoir, Part 1 by Cher confirms my suspicions of Sonny even if she still found a way to love him and co-parent with him.  I thought I knew a lot about Cher, but I clearly didn't know the half of it.  And now that I have read Part 1, I only know half of it.  I'm eagerly awaiting Part 2.  If you love Cher, you will want to dig into this!

Bonus points for no longer wearing fur!  

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Review: Florida

Florida by Lauren Groff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: The Secret Book Society

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Shadows Tomorrow

The Shadows Tomorrow by Noëlle Michel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Shadows Tomorrow by Noelle Michel from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.  This book will be published around August 4, 2026.

The Shadows Tomorrow by Noelle Michel was translated into English by Frank Wynne.  The story is told across a span of the near future in alternating chapters from different character perspectives.  I won't be giving anything away to say that in this near future, scientists have brought Neanderthals back from extinction much like we have already done with dire wolves.  For research purposes, they are kept in remote sanctuaries and kept from having contact with Homo Sapiens.  They even use the research footage to make a reality TV show called Another Eden so that people can watch them like a virtual zoo.  Ethicists would be losing their minds.  Disturbing premise aside, it is a great book!  

Bonus points for travel bans on meat eaters.  At least, I think that was the proposal.  I'm sure it had to do with carbon footprint or something, but I am all for it!  Would make my travel so much easier!

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Review: Cat Tales

Cat Tales by Herbert S. Rolfes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Cat Tales by Herbert S. Rolfes from the author via NetGalley.  This book has already been published.

Cat Tales by Herbert S. Rolfes is exactly what the title suggests.  It is a collection of short stories told from the perspective of cats.  The book is broken up into different sections including cats of famous people and cats with occupations.  I really liked the pet store cat.  Each story is fairly short.  They appropriate for most ages.  You don't have to read them in order.  You can read whatever tickles your fancy for the moment.  If you like cats and wish they could talk, give this a read.  It was very fun, and the illustrations are super cute.

Bonus points for being about cats.  That's enough to earn extra points.

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Review: The Library After Dark

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego from Bantam via NetGalley.  This book will be published around May 5, 2026.

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego is one of the best books I have read.  If you like Clue or locked room mysteries, you will absolutely want to read this book.  The setting is a spooky, haunted (?) library of death in New York City.  The Daedalus library has sent out invitations to a select few to attend an after hours tour and viewing of an upcoming exhibit.  The exhibit will showcase a supposedly cursed book that is the basis for many myths and fairy tales you might recognize.  Everyone is dying to read it!  Pliego tells the story in alternating character viewpoints as they tour the library and stories from the "cursed" book.  These stories are dark just as the unvarnished fairy tales were.  Putting all the pieces together was so much fun for me!  It was probably less fun for these poor characters.  

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Review: Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller from Tin House via NetGalley.  This book will be published around June 2, 2026.

Hunger and Thirst by Claire Fuller comes across as horror although it may all just be in the mind of the narrator.  Nobody seems to be able to fully corroborate anything she claims happened.  If anything, people appear to believe she is not guilty of the things she said she did.  Is that because people underestimate teenage girls or because she really is innocent but so traumatized that she blames herself?  You'll have to read it to decide for yourself.  Using a documentary to tell the viewpoints of other characters is clever.  I'm not sure I trust what people say when cameras are rolling.  

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