Thursday, January 22, 2026

All The Little Houses by May Cobb

 

We meet the powerful Anderson family who always get what they want and the Swifts who are new to the town and a family that is old-fashioned.


Nellie Anderson and Jane Swift immediately form a dislike for each other.


Nellie hates Jane because she is beneath her, but all the guys are attracted to her.


Jane tries to break out from her old-fashioned family.  


These two clash as well as others in this character-driven read that seems like a daytime soap opera.


What happens in this town?  


Well…infidelity, lies, betrayals, jealousy, secrets, a murder and a whole lot more.


Which characters fall under all those categories?


Find out in this detailed, drama-filled read for those who are fans of "people" conflict. 


It actually didn’t catch my interest until around 70% because of all the soap opera feel going on, but WOW on that last scene.


There has to be a sequel, and I will be looking forward to it.

 

The last 30% and especially the ending is raising up my rating from a 3/5 to 4/5.


Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.



Spotlight of Leyla's House by Zülfü Livaneli


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

***********    
LEYLA'S HOUSE
Zülfü Livaneli
************
ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF ANNIE RINALDI | ASSOCIATE PUBLICIST | OTHER PRESS 
*************
Tradition, modernity, displacement, and human connection collide in internationally bestselling author Zülfü Livaneli’s latest.

*************

January 20, 2026 

Other Press Trade Paperback Original

*************

PRAISE FOR LEYLA'S HOUSE:


"An elderly woman is uprooted from her home in this compassionate novel from Livaneli (Disquiet)...Livaneli takes a wide-angle view, showing how Ömer and Necla have betrayed not just Leyla but the mansion’s history as a safe haven for refugees from the Yugoslav Wars. Along the way, he capably explores the meaning of home and the importance of shelter, particularly in Leyla’s deep-seated attachment to the estate and Ömer’s chastising by his devout Muslim father, who views the eviction as a sin. It’s a satisfying morality tale."–PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

*************
ABOUT LEYLA'S HOUSE:

Evicted from her Istanbul mansion, an elderly aristocrat forms surprising new connections across class and culture in this colorful, nuanced novel about old and new money, the Ottoman Empire, and modern Turkey.

The last living member of a great Ottoman family, the refined yet sheltered Leyla finds herself homeless and vulnerable when her house is sold by the bank to a business tycoon and his ambitious wife. Forced out of this historic mansion on the bank of the Bosphorus, Leyla is rescued and taken in by Yusuf, the son of her family’s former gardener who has become a journalist. She follows him to a modern, cosmopolitan district of Istanbul where she discovers a world of artists and outcasts alongside Yusuf’s partner, Roxy, real name Rukiye, a hip-hop singer. Despite initial hostility, a real friendship gradually develops between these two very different women.

When Leyla’s old home is emptied of its furniture, a hidden family history resurfaces thanks to the discovery of a photo revealing the old lady’s uncanny resemblance to a British officer. Could Leyla be the product of an illegitimate union between an Ottoman woman and an Englishman?

With a marked sense of romance, this vibrant novel displays all the layers of a society where social classes as diverse as the former Ottoman aristocracy, the nouveau riche, and the Turks who returned after immigrating to Europe coexist. I hope to stay in touch with you about possibilities for it.
************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND TRANSLATORS:

About the Author:  Zülfü Livaneli is Turkey’s best-selling author and a political activist. Widely considered one of the most important Turkish cultural figures of our time, he is known for his novels that interweave diverse social and historical backgrounds, figures, and incidents, including the critically acclaimed Bliss (winner of the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award), Serenade for Nadia (Other Press, 2020), Disquiet (Other Press, 2021), The Last Island (Other Press, 2022), The Fisherman and His Son (Other Press, 2023), On the Back of the Tiger (Other Press, 2024) and My Brother’s Story, which have been translated into thirty-seven languages, won numerous international literary prizes, and been turned into movies, stage plays, and operas.

About the Translator:  Brendan Freely was born in Princeton in 1959 and studied psychology at Yale University. His translations include Two Girls by Perihan Mağden, The Gaze by Elif Şafak, and, with Yelda Türedi, Like a Sword Wound by Ahmet Altan.

About the Translator:  Yelda Türedi was born in Mersin, Turkey, in 1970 and studied chemical engineering at Boğaziçi University. Türedi has co-translated Ahmet Altan’s Like a Sword Wound and Love in the Days of Rebellion.

************

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Spotlight of Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel


PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

***********    
SUCH SHELTERED LIVES
ALYSSA SHEINMEL
************
ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS TAKEN FROM SIMON AND SCHUSTER'S WEBSITE.
*************
For fans of Nine Perfect Strangers and The Midnigt Feast, a moody, atmospheric psychological suspense set in the secretive world of celebrity rehab centers.

*************

January 20, 2026

Atria/Emily Bestler Books 

*************

PRAISE FOR SUCH SHELTERED LIVES:


“Fast paced and utterly addictive, Such Sheltered Lives pulled me immediately into its world of privilege, pampering, and long-protected secrets.” Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Note


“A searing look at intense wealth and all the things money can’t buy, with characters that didn’t leave my mind and a setting so lush I felt like I could crawl inside it. Truly stunning.” Danielle Valentine, New York Times bestselling author of Delicate Condition


“Atmospheric… employs some shrewd sleight of hand to keep the pages turning.” Publishers Weekly

*************

ABOUT SUCH SHELTERED LIVES:

Rush’s Recovery promises its wealthy guests the utmost discretion. But when a body is discovered, how long can the center’s secrets stay buried?

Tucked among the pristine beaches and lavish manors of the Hamptons sits Rush’s Recovery, a rehabilitation center where ultra-high net worth clients can seek treatment away from prying eyes and paparazzi.

The center’s latest guests have just arrived: Lord Edward of Essex, a British aristocrat fighting his black-sheep status and a painful addiction; Amelia Blue Harris, the daughter of a 90s rock legend struggling with an eating disorder; and Florence Bloom, a pop star trying to lay low after her latest tabloid scandal.

Each has been promised the highest standard of care, from daily therapy and a live-in chef to acupuncture sessions and a personal care manager, available 24/7. Just so long as they stay in their private cottages and never interact with the center’s other guests.

But these three self-destructive B-listers have no intention of playing by the rules. No amount of cold plunges and talk-therapy can prevent Florence’s illicit flirtation with a staff member, or keep Amelia Blue and Lord Edward from sneaking out to wander the snow-covered grounds at night.

Celebrities check in to Rush’s Recovery to protect their privacy, but the darkest secrets may lie in the center’s own history—and not every guest will be checking out alive.

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

PHOTO BY:  JP Gravitt

Alyssa Sheinmel is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels for young adults, including A Danger to Herself and OthersThe Castle School for Troubled Girls, and FacelessSuch Sheltered Lives is her adult debut. Alyssa grew up in Northern California and New York and currently lives and writes in New York. 

Follow her on Instagram @AlyssaSheinmel or visit her online at AlyssaSheinmel.com.

**AUTHOR PHOTO AND BIO TAKEN FROM THE SIMON AND SCHUSTER WEBSITE**
************

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Spotlight of No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA

***********    
NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT 
THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE
SOPHIE HANNAH
************
ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF CRISTINA ARREOLA | SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK | SENIOR MANAGER:  MARKETING & PUBLICITY AND THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE.
*************
The most delightfully bizarre, sinister, and mind-bending mystery yet from international and New York Times bestselling author Sophie Hannah, best known for her Hercule Poirot mysteries.

*************

January 20, 2026

Sourcebooks

*************

PRAISE FOR NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE:


"Hugely entertaining and infectiously funny, this joyous adventure is one of Sophie Hannah's very best books. A delight from start to finish." ―Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

"This is Sophie Hannah at her wry, ingenious best. A super-relatable what-would-you-do, with a sting in the tail on the very last line. Don't miss it." ―Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author

"Funny, clever and audacious. I bloody loved it!" ―Jennie Godfrey, #1 international bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

"I loved this. Such a clever, twisty book with as many layers as a matryoshka doll plus I loved the meta-fictive aspects. Works on so many levels. Bravo!" ―Harriet Tyce, bestselling author

"An utter joy. This is a murder-mystery about the lengths you would go to to protect the person you love. It is a ferocious battle between good and evil, a tense, page-turner of a book with so many clever avenues, plus *the* most enormous plot twist (Agatha would be in awe). As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also incredibly funny, extremely entertaining, and a brilliant study of human behaviour. I would totally, one hundred percent do what the Lamberts have done. Wouldn’t you?" ―Joanna Cannon, bestselling author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

************

ABOUT NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE:

The twistiest murder mystery you are ever likely to read? A story about a family that does the unthinkable?

Both? Or something else altogether?

You think it will never happen to you.

The doorbell. The policeman. The words that turn your world inside out: I'm afraid there's been an incident...

For Sally Lambert, those words mean only one thing—danger. Not just for her family, but for Champ, their loyal and beloved dog. A single accusation, a neighbor's grudge, and suddenly the Lamberts are trapped in a nightmare with no escape.

Unless they make one.

Most people would never run. Most people would never leave behind everything they know to protect an animal who can't defend himself. But for Sally, Champ is more than a dog—he's one of her children. And most people aren't the Lamberts

No one has ever done this before. No one has ever gone this far. But the Lamberts have never been quite like any other family…

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Hannah spins an unexpected tale of suspense in No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done, an unsettling reflection on how far we'll go for those we love.

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sophie Hannah is a Sunday TimesNew York Times and Amazon Kindle UK No. 1 bestselling writer of crime fiction, published in forty-nine languages and fifty-one territories. Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide. She writes contemporary psychological thrillers and, at the request of Agatha Christie’s family and estate, the new series of Hercule Poirot novels.

Sophie’s murder mystery musical, The Mystery of Mr E, was released as a feature film in 2023, directed by Martyn Tott, and is available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ and soon to be on several other platforms too. In 2023, Sophie won the Crime Writers Association’s Dagger in the Library Award for her body of work, and in 2013 her thriller The Carrier won the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards. Sophie is also a poet and has been shortlisted for the TS Eliot Award. Her poetry is studied at GCSE, A Level and degree level across the UK.

In 2018, she created the How to Hold a Grudge podcast, based on her self-help book of the same name. More recently, she has published two other self-help books: Happiness: A Mystery, and her latest, The Double Best Method, which was an Amazon UK Top Ten best-seller and is a guide to making brilliant decisions and avoiding second-guessing and regret.

Sophie is the founder and coach at Dream Author Coaching, a coaching programme for writers and anyone who wants to write. She lives with her husband, children and dog in Cambridge, where she is an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College.

**AUTHOR PHOTO AND BIO TAKEN FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBPAGE.  
************

Monday, January 19, 2026

Spotlight of Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey


PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA

***********

DANDELION IS DEAD

ROSIE STOREY
*************

ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF CHELSEA PASCOE | BERKLEY | SENIOR PUBLICIST AND SOME INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE.
*************

P.S. I Love You meets Fleabag in this witty,

heart-wrenching debut about a woman who steps into her late sister's love life—and must choose between living a lie or risking everything for real love.


Witty, moving, and beautifully written, this story explores grief, sisterhood, and the messy search for authenticity.


Already longlisted for the Bath Novel Award and optioned for TV, this unforgettable novel has sparked fierce international excitement, selling in multiple countries within 24 hours.

With its perfect blend of laugh-out-loud moments and devastating emotional depth, DANDELION IS DEAD is poised to be the breakout debut everyone will be talking about.

 *************

 January 13, 2026

Berkley Hardcover Original

*************

Family Life - Siblings

Coming Of Age

Women’s Fiction

*************

PRAISE FOR DANDELION IS DEAD:

“Dandelion is Dead is breathtakingly original. A brilliant premise, smart, funny and heartbreaking in equal measure. I adored it.”—Clare Leslie HallNew York Times bestselling author of Broken Country


“A funny book about grief, an honest book about lying, and a heartbreaking book about finding love, Dandelion is Dead is captivating, generous, and deeply alive.”Jenny JacksonNew York Times bestselling author of Pineapple Street


“Wildly entertaining and crackling with life. I tore through it; it’s as hilarious as it is heartfelt and sharply captures the chaos of grief.”—Claire Daverley, bestselling author of Talking at Night


“This tale of both romantic and sisterly love seamlessly combines humor and heartbreak.”People


“If you’re a fan of messy, character-driven conflict in contemporary fiction, Dandelion Is Dead is for you… this book read like an indie movie: A little raw, a little quirky, with lots of heart.”Reader’s Digest


“A glittering riot of grief, laughter, missed connections, absurdities, and the joys and pains of life’s many facets. From one unexpected turn to the next, this story will keep readers emotionally engaged and yearning alongside its protagonist. …[An] astonishing first novel.”Shelf Awareness


“Storey handily balances the heavy themes of grief and trauma with snappy wit and intriguing character development. It adds up to a moving and wildly entertaining tale of self-discovery.”Publishers Weekly


“Striking, with staggeringly complex characters and messy situations reminiscent of real life… filled with intimacy and kindness…Fast-paced but never hurried, Dandelion Is Dead will capture readers who enjoy darker, more offbeat literary romances and leave them wanting more from Storey.”Booklist


“From the first sentence, Dandelion is Dead is magic. Storey’s thrilling dialogue and acute observations are punctuated by moments that will crack your heart open. It’s dazzlingly funny and devastating and life-affirming. A story about the turbulence of grief, yes, but also an elegy to love in all its forms.”Ella Berman, author of Before We Were Innocent


“Filled with humor and heartbreak, Dandelion Is Dead is captivating, wise, and messy in the best possible way. With a unique, hilarious voice and characters that leap off the page, Rosie Storey captures love in all of its forms. Fans of Dolly Alderton and Nora Ephron will eat this up.”Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance


“A blazing firework of a novel about sisterly love, bad decisions, and the many surprises life—and our closest loved ones—can throw at us. Tender, wise, and very funny, Storey writes like a lovechild of Nora Ephron and Emily Dickinson. Basically, I’m jealous.”Morgan Dick, author of Favorite Daughter


“…It’s a literary entrance worth noting.”Women.com


“A book as compulsive as Dandelion Is Dead has no business being this psychologically astute, this emotionally complex, this genuinely hot, nor need it glitter with such elegant prose – without these abundant gifts, you’d still be tearing through the pages to see how it all ends.”Emma Forrest, author of Father Figure

**PRAISE TAKEN FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE**

*************

ABOUT DANDELION IS DEAD:

The story: When Poppy discovers unanswered messages from a charming stranger in her late sister's dating app, she makes an impulsive choice: She'll meet him, just once, on what would have been Dandelion's fortieth birthday. It's exactly the kind of wild adventure her vivacious sister would have pushed her toward.

 

Jake is ready to find something real—and not least because his ex-wife's twenty-something boyfriend has moved into their old family home. When he meets the intriguing woman who calls herself Dandelion, their connection is undeniable, and he can think of little else.

 

As their relationship deepens, Poppy finds herself trapped in a double life she never meant to create. Every moment with Jake feels genuine, electric, and totally right—despite the fact they're tangled in deceit. As the lines between grief and love blur, Poppy faces a choice: keep her sister's memory alive through her lies, or risk everything for a chance at her own happiness?

With sparkling wit and aching tenderness, debut author Rosie Storey gives us a modern love story about the courage it takes to live again after loss and finding hope in the most unexpected places.

************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Photo Credit:  

© Photograph by Sophie Davidson


Rosie Storey grew up on a farm in the south of England.


She left her corporate career to finish her debut novel, Dandelion is Dead.


She holds a master’s in creative writing, lives in East London, and works as a writing coach.


**AUTHOR PHOTO TAKEN FROM

THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE**

************
FIND TAYLOR AT THE LINKS BELOW: