How To Read A Book by Monica Wood

How To Read A Book My Rating: 4.9

Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher.

Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest.

Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed.

When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.

There was a lot of swearing in this book. But let's be real—it’s a story about women in prison; you can't exactly expect them to say "fudge!"

Despite the gritty language, the story managed to feel incredibly sweet and wholesome. I fell in love with all the characters, particularly Frank, Bookie, and Violet. And I can’t forget to mention the precious birds—they were such a highlight for me.

At its heart, this is a story about redemption and new beginnings, navigating difficult life lessons. and that it is never too late to start over.

This was an easy, engaging read that left me feeling full of hope. I’ve read several of Monica Wood’s books now, and after this one, I know it won’t be the last.

The Taming Of The Queen by Philippa Gregory

The Taming of the Queen My Rating: 4.9

Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow secretly in love with another man, has no choice when King Henry VIII—a man old enough to be her father who has already buried four wives—commands her to marry him.

Kateryn understands the danger she faces. The previous queen lasted sixteen months; the one before her barely half a year. Yet Henry adores his new bride, and Kateryn’s trust in him grows as she works to unite the royal family, establishes a radical study circle within the court, and even rules the kingdom as Regent.

But will any of it be enough to keep her safe?

A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn is intelligent, outspoken, and independent—qualities that make her both remarkable and vulnerable. As she fails to protect the Protestants from persecution, Henry’s favor begins to shift. Traditional churchmen and political rivals accuse her of heresy, a crime punishable by death by fire… and the king’s name is already on the warrant.

I am absolutely loving this series, and this book in particular was phenomenal. I felt Kateryn’s emotional journey—from her love for Thomas, to her humiliation at Henry’s hands, to her shock at his willingness to turn against her. I can’t wait to jump right into the next book in the series.

The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister

The Scent Keeper  My Rating: 4.8

Emmeline lives on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in glass bottles that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world--a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination.

The writing in this book was honestly delicious. The way a photograph captures a memory is how Emmeline and her family capture scent — vivid, emotional, and deeply personal. You can almost feel it while you’re reading.

At its core, this is a coming-of-age story about secrets, growing up, grief, love, friendship, and starting over. It’s about what makes a family, how guilt and secrecy shape our lives, and how we find ourselves again after loss.

This book won’t be for everyone. But if it is for you, it’s the kind of story that lets the scents of memory carry you somewhere else entirely — the kind of book that quietly pulls you away from real life for a while.. 

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

Culpability My Rating: 4.9

When the Cassidy-Shaws’ autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver’s seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them all in the tragic accident.

Culpability explores a world newly shaped by chatbots, autonomous cars, drones, and other nonhuman forces in ways that are thrilling, challenging, and unimaginably provocative.

Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, this felt like a light beach read. I was completely immersed in this easy page-turner. I enjoyed both the characters and the storyline. In this new era of AI, the book confronts many of the questions and concerns we are all beginning to face. It’s a suspenseful family drama that explores moral responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.

The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss

The Hearts of Horses My Rating: 4.4

Set in the winter of 1917, The Hearts of Horses follows nineteen-year-old Martha as she saddles up and travels to a remote county in eastern Oregon in search of work gentling wild horses. She comes upon rancher George Bliss, who offers her a job, especially since many of his regular hands have gone off to fight in the war. Beneath Martha’s flashy rodeo outfit, George recognizes a shy yet strong-willed young woman with a deep and serious understanding of horses.

What follows is an irresistible tale of determination and resilience, as Martha tries to carve out a place for herself in a world dominated by men. 

Over the course of the long, unforgiving winter, townsfolk begin to notice something remarkable: Martha speaks to horses in low, gentle tones, calming animals others consider beyond repair—and achieving almost miraculous results. Through this rare gift, she slowly earns the respect of the community and the possibility of making a home for herself..

Perhaps it’s my lifelong love of horses, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It transported me back to the rugged days of settlers struggling to survive through hardship and war. The novel is told not only from Martha’s perspective but also through the voices of her neighbors, giving it a rich and intimate feel.

Overall, this book was charming, heartfelt, and quietly powerful.

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

The Boleyn Inheritance My Rating: 4.6

After the death of his third wife, Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII of England decides to take another bride—but this time, not for love. The Boleyn Inheritance follows three women whose lives are irrevocably changed by the king’s decision, as each must navigate the dangerous and uncertain world of the Tudor court.

Anne of Cleves is brought to England to marry Henry in order to secure a political alliance. Yet from the beginning, her uneasy relationship with the king sets the stage for trouble—not only for Anne, but for the stability of England itself.

Katherine Howard, young and dazzling, quickly captures Henry’s attention even as he prepares to wed Anne. Her spirit is wild and her passions run high, but in a court filled with intrigue, her affection—and fate—may not unfold as she expects.

Jane Rochford, widow of George Boleyn, carries a dark reputation. Her testimony helped send both her husband and her infamous sister-in-law Anne Boleyn to their deaths. Across the realm, she is remembered for jealousy, bitterness, and scandal, yet Gregory offers a fresh and complex portrait of her inner life.

Philippa Gregory once again showcases her remarkable storytelling as she weaves together the voices of these three women. This novel presents a very different portrayal of Jane compared to the previous book, which I found especially intriguing. I also couldn’t help but be entertained by Katherine Howard’s vanity and self-obsession.

What makes Gregory’s novels so compelling is how she fills in the gaps of history. While we know the documented facts—births, marriages, deaths—so much else remains open to interpretation. Gregory connects the dots in a way that feels vivid, dramatic, and utterly riveting.

I can’t wait to dive into the next book in this series.

Great Big Beautiful LIfe by Emily Henry

My Rating: 4.0

Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still chasing her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and a full-on human thundercloud. When both land on balmy Little Crescent Island, it’s for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet the octogenarian who claims to be the infamous Margaret Ives. Once a tragic heiress, former tabloid darling, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandal-ridden) families of the twentieth century, Margaret’s life is as mysterious as it is compelling.

Margaret invites Alice and Hayden to stay for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose who gets to tell her story. Over the course of that month, secrets unravel, histories collide, and both writers find themselves pulled into something far bigger than a simple biography.

I was in the mood for a fluffy palate cleanser, so naturally I turned to Emily Henry. I’ll admit, Imay be showing my age, but I skimmed over some of the more explicit romance scenes (yes, I know rom-com is Henry’s signature). That said, the rest of the story completely engrossed me. I loved the cast of characters and was especially drawn into the slow, layered unfolding of Margaret’s life. Overall, Great Big Beautiful Life was a fun, bubble-gum read—light, engaging, and perfect when you want a story that goes down easy but still has heart.