Lost in the Summer of '69 by Eliza Knight

Leanne checked on her mother, Eleanor, since she hadn't heard from her for a few days.

She didn't find her mother, but she found a flyer for a music festival in California and a most disturbing a note from her mother's doctor indicating early onset dementia.

Where could Eleanor have gone?  Did she go to California?

Leanne and her daughter who didn't get along both decide to do a road trip to find Eleanor.

They keep missing Eleanor at these festivals, but they find out she has become a singing sensation.

They keep following Eleanor to each festival worrying and wondering but also cheering her on and becoming closer to each other.

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 is heartbreaking, heartwarming, and a book that lets you know you can change things no matter what your age, make changes before you regret it, finding yourself, and is a lovely read about family.

Music fans will really enjoy this book as well as those of us who were around in 1969.​ 😊 5/5

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

Spotlight of Dirty Myrtle by Kennedy Weible

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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DIRTY MYRTLE

KENNEDY WEIBLE

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF KRISTEN LUDWIGSEN OF MINDBUCK MEDIA.

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Dirty Myrtle follows aimless Sailor Cassidy, who is committed to the no shirt, no shoes, no problem mentality, and by-the-book Officer Tusk Knight as they get pulled into a chaotic investigation after two seemingly unrelated incidents collide. As secrets unravel and danger mounts, the unlikely duo must navigate a web of missing persons, shady loyalties, and the ridiculous beach culture on the Carolina coast.

Anyone who likes twisting plots with big personalities, small-town intrigue, or satirical jabs at local politics, crime, or oddball communities will fall in love with this eccentric mystery novel. Dirty Myrtle would make an excellent addition to a 2026 summer/beach read list. 

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June 9, 2026

Apprentice House

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PRAISE FOR DIRTY MYRTLE:

"I've been waiting a long time for someone to explore the enigma that is Myrtle Beach. Kennedy has answered my prayers at last." —Brandon T. Snider, best-selling author of The Dark Knight Manual and writer/actor (Inside Amy Schumer, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Chappelle's Show)

“I’ve been recognized as an actor, director, and producer, but the first thing I identify as in my mind is a late-’90s Myrtle Beach bartender. I swear I’ve poured drinks for every character in Dirty Myrtle. Kennedy Weible nails the peculiar, hilarious chaos of that world in a way I could never describe to people. It’s a thrill ride full of wild, idiotic characters who stumble, trip, and accidentally crash their way toward redemption. That’s exactly how I remember the underbelly of the Grand Strand.” —Kevin Kane, actor, director & producer (Life & Beth, Law and Order: SVU, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman)

“Dirty Myrtle is the kind of novel that settles into your bones without asking permission. Reading it felt less like following a tidy plot and more like stepping into a humid, half-lit corner of Myrtle Beach where everyone is carrying something they don’t quite know how to put down. [...] Overall, Dirty Myrtle is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that rewards patient readers. It’s a story about people caught between who they’ve been and who they might become, set against a backdrop that feels both sun-bleached and bruised. Readers who appreciate literary crime, complex women, and emotionally grounded storytelling will find a lot to admire here.” —Los Angeles Book Review

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ABOUT DIRTY MYRTLE:

A few days before Thanksgiving, Sailor Cassidy is running an amateur stakeout she has no business conducting. She’s nursing a bad breakup, following a plan that’s half-baked in more ways than one, and reckless enough not to care. What could go wrong?

Across town, Officer Tuscaloosa “Tusk” Knight is working an off-the-books job for his captain, tailing a drifter who, it turns out, once sat two rows over from him in high school English. It’s not exactly the glamorous step toward promotion he pictured, but it beats paperwork.

When Sailor’s disaster and Tusk’s assignment collide, the two stumble into a life-or-death mess involving kidnapping, half-wit criminals, and a tangle of small-town secrets longer than the Carolina coast. With the clock ticking, Sailor and Tusk are left trying to separate the truth from the lies, and the lies from the truly stupid decisions.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kennedy Weible was born and raised in Myrtle Beach, SC. His short stories have appeared in Iron Horse Literary Review and Hanging Loose Magazine among others.

He is the author of the novels Number One Loser and Prophet of Loss, the short story collections, How You’re Not Funny and Hello From Out Here, and the children’s book Bed Critters.

His humor essays have appeared in Men’s Health and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.

He lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife and son.

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SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website

Twitter

Instagram

Spotlight of It Came From Neverland by Cynthia Pelayo

PHOTO SOURCE:
TYPORAMA
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IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND

CYNTHIA PELAYO

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS THIS POST IS COURTESY OF KAITLYN KENNEDY | PUBLICITY DIRECTOR | KAYE PUBLICITY INC. AND THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE

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Peter Pan meets Stephen King's It in this twisted horror retelling of a classic childhood fairy tale set during WWI.

 

Cynthia is known for blending genres in her work and has a particular knack for adapting fairy tales and folklore and her latest will not disappoint.

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June 9, 2026 

Crooked Lane Books

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PRAISE FOR IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND:

“A devastating re-imagining of a classic, It Came from Neverland will sweep you off your feet and terrify you in equal measure. A striking achievement, and a book you don’t want to miss.” —Gwendolyn Kiste, Four-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Haunting of Velkwood and Everything Looks Better in Red

“It Came from Neverland is what all the best fairy tales ought to be – bloody, frightening, uncanny, and wild. A perfect reimagining of a classic!”—A. C. Wise, Bram Stoker award-nominated author of Wolf Moon, Antler Moon

“It Came From Neverland is a bone-sharp sequel to Peter Pan, both breathtakingly lovely and spiked with thorns edged in darkness. Don’t fly away with the boy called Peter – he will never, ever let you go.” —Christina Henry, bestselling author of Lost Boy

“I always thought Peter Pan felt more sinister than magical! Thank you, Cynthia Pelayo, for centering Wendy’s story on the other side of Neverland and exploring the nightmare of knowing his legacy of trauma isn’t over. Classic book lovers and horror fans, this is for us.”—Sadie Hartmann, author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You’re Murdered

“Exquisitely written . . . [An] exploration of the lasting impact of childhood trauma.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Like Charlie Manx’s Christmasland in Joe Hill’s NOS42, Pelayo portrays Pan’s Neverland as the horror it truly is.” —Booklist, starred review

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ABOUT IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND:

Peter Pan meets Stephen King's It in this twisted horror retelling of a classic childhood fairy tale set during WWI.

1914, Wendy Darling works by day as a school teacher, and by night, she assists soldiers who have returned home from the Western Front. There is one mysterious patient who, despite all the care they’ve given him, is in a deep sleep, unable to wake up. One night, when he murmurs the words “Peter Pan,” Wendy is thrown back to a darker time, one that she wishes she could forget.

When one of her students goes missing, it brings back memories of when children went missing and were later found murdered in London many years ago. Wendy is convinced that Peter Pan, the entity that she believes killed those children, is back. She and her brothers had a close encounter with Peter Pan, after all. But her brothers only remember Peter Pan and Neverland as a fantasy of childhood games.

When another child goes missing and signs start to point to Wendy, Scotland Yard digs into old reports, finding that Wendy knew the names of all the children who had been killed. As Wendy tries to prove her innocence, she also has to find a way to stop Peter Pan once and for all. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cynthia Pelayo is the Bram Stoker Award–winning author of Forgotten Sisters, Children of Chicago, and The Shoemaker’s Magician.

In addition to writing genre-blending novels that incorporate fairy-tale, mystery, detective, crime, and horror elements, Pelayo has written numerous short stories, including the collection Lotería, and the poetry collection Crime Scene.

The recipient of the 2021 International Latino Book Award, she holds a master of fine arts in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

She lives in Chicago with her family.

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SOCIAL MEDIA: 

 Instagram

 Facebook

 Goodreads

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day

Holly Sinclair has to return to her childhood home with the task of writing another novel and to the house that has been vacant for at least twenty years.

When she arrives, she isn't given the warmest welcome from the town or the house.

The house seems haunted, but she finds a young girl, Jade, hiding in the attic.

Once Holly finds out about Jade's situation, she allows her to stay with her as she fixes up the house.

But...Holly isn't the only one who has come back to town.  She has someone watching her, and the creepy, wealthy Carmichaels who were the cause of her sister's death are still in town. 
 
Will you guess who "The Watcher" is?

Is she being watched because she wants to know the truth about how her sister died in a fire that seemed to have been set on purpose?

Find out if Holly is able to write her novel and what happens with her research about her sister's death.

BEACH THRILLER takes us from present day with Holly to the time of her sister's death/murder.

Another good one by Jamie Day with tension, creepiness, and twists.  5/5

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

Spotlight of The Last Time We Drowned by Saratoga Schaefer

PHOTO SOURCE:

TYPORAMA

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THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED

SARATOGA SCHAEFER

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ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF AN E-MAIL FROM HARTLEY CHRISTENSEN | MARKETING AND PUBLICITY ASSOCIATE, SOURCEBOOKS

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Paradise turns deadly in THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED, AN EERIE psychological thriller about a bookstagrammer who joins a group of elite influencers aboard a luxury yacht, only to uncover clues to a potential murder.

Docked off a secluded island, with a hurricane making escape impossible, she will have to figure out who she can trust…and if the terrifying visions, she’s experiencing are real or reverberations of her own haunted past. 

 

If you love the sinister glamour of Ellery Lloyd’s The Club and the suffocating claustrophobia of Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10, this thriller is for you!

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June 2, 2026

Sourcebooks

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PRAISE FOR THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED:

"Agatha Christie for the Instagram age in this deliciously soapy saga."—Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

"An unputdownable locked room thriller that’s full of mystery, thrills, and just the right amount of horror. Perfect for readers, like me, who like to see vain influencers suffer in entertaining and catastrophic ways."―Liann Zhang, instant international bestselling author of Julie Chan is Dead

"A deliciously twisted tale about all the things people will do for money, power and influence(rs). It may look light and frothy on the surface, but The Last Time We Drowned is a beach read with bite that is all the things I want it to be: compelling, queer, dark-and-deep."―Hayley Scrivenor, internationally best-selling author of Dirt Creek and Girl Falling

“Both a binge-worthy mystery and an insightful exposé of social media and personal branding. Read this novel to see the scaffold of sabotage and deception that holds up even the prettiest of pictures."―Laura Leffler, author of Tell Them You Lied

"Shimmering and sinister. The Last Time We Drowned slowly drags you underwater and keeps you there―even ’til the final page."―Emy McGuire, author of No One Aboard

"The Last Time We Drowned is the perfect summertime read. It's a claustrophobic thriller that will pull you under and leave you gasping for air."―Sara Ochs, author of The Resort

"Addictive, atmospheric, and with a real finger on the pulse of social media culture, The Last Time We Drowned is both a gripping mystery and a chilling dive into toxic, obsessive relationships and theways we drown inside them."―Olivia Worley, author of People to Follow

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ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED:

Bookstagrammer and aspiring author @ChaptersWithCharlie can’t believe her luck when she’s hired to join a crew of influencers aboard the luxury yacht, The Empress, after one of the core members leaves unexpectedly.

She’s barely been able to post—or write—since her best friend stole her book idea and turned it into the global romantasy bestseller A Song of Scales and Salt.

But the job of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare when she begins experiencing vivid hallucinations of a woman, blue and bloated from drowning, dripping water across her cabin. Charlie begins to wonder if the girl she replaced ever left the boat…

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Photo Taken

From 

The Author's Goodreads Page

Saratoga Schaefer is the author of Serial Killer Support Group and Trad Wife. They have a background in marketing, PR, film, and wellness, and spends a great deal of time hiking mountains and climbing rocks.

Originally from Brooklyn, Saratoga now lives upstate with several needy animals and a haunted clown table.

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FIND THE AUTHOR AT THE LINKS BELOW:

Instagram

Website

Twitter

TikTok

Goodreads

It's Monday!! What Are YOU Reading? - 6/8/2026

                                         

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I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOK DATE!

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Books Completed:

THE SINS OF SUMMER DAUGHTERS by Lo Patrick - spotlight will be on July 15, 2026.

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THE HALF LIFE by Rachel Beanland - spotlight will be on July 14, 2026.

Wasn’t working for me.  

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THE WEDDING WEEK by Aisha Saeed - spotlight will be on July 11, 2026.

Wasn’t connecting to the book.  Hope it works for you.

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PRETTY DEAD THINGS by Kelsey Cox - spotlight will be on July 8, 2026.

Very disappointed - I LOVED her first book.  

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MOST ARDENTLY YOURS by Freya Sampson - spotlight will be on July 7, 2026.

I normally LOVE her books.  It just wasn’t working.

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THE HOUSEWIFE by Natalie Barelli - review will be on July 1, 2026.

Ohhhh...what a ride!!  You will LOVE this book if you are a reader of mysteries and love a crazy main character.

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THE NEIGHBORS ARE WATCHING by Aggie Blum Thompson - review will be on June 30, 2026.

A good mystery...nosey neighbors that all have something to hide.

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WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan - review will be on June 24, 2026.

Ohhhh...it's so good!!

Has the signature tension we can expect from Allison Brennan. 

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WORSE THAN STRANGERS by Kyleigh Leddy - spotlight will also be on June 23, 2026.

Love the cover.  Didn't connect with the storyline.

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IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER by Lisa Jewell - spotlight will be on June 23, 2026.

Disappointed - it is very confusing.

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DEATH WAS NOT ON THE GUEST LIST by Jenni L. Walsh - spotlight will be on June 20, 2026.

Not enjoying the read so I will do a spotlight.

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SUMMER'S NEVER OVER by Darby Bozeman - spotlight will be on June 18, 2026.

Not enjoyable for me - doing a spotlight instead of a review.

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LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 by Eliza Knight - review will be on June 11, 2026.

Fun and nostalgic - great characters and storyline.

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BEACH THRILLER by Jamie Day - review will be on June 9, 2026.

Ohhhhh...a good one!!  Not scary, just good.

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THE LAST TIME WE DROWNED by Saratoga Schaefer - spotlight will be on June 8, 2026.

Very intense - thus the spotlight.

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THE RAINY DAY BOOKSHOP by RaeAnne Thayne - review will be on June 6, 2026.

A lovely read.

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THE BRUNSWICK by Callie Murray - review will be on June 6, 2026.

Excellent historical fiction about The Kindertransport.

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SUMMER AT THE FRENCH BAKERY by Jo Thomas - review will be on June 4, 2026.

A lovely, lovely uplifting read.  

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MARION by Leah Rowan - review will be on June 3, 2025.

Oh...this is a good one!!

Marion isn't the "real" you - she comes out at times and does things that shouldn't be done!!

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ROAD TRIP by Mary Kay Anderson - review will be on June 2, 2026.

Another fun read!! 

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THE WINDSOR AFFAIR by Melanie Benjamin - spotlight will be on June 2, 2025.

Too many royal names - too confusing about who was who and what was going on.  

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THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff - review is in the book's title.

I finished this book, but it wasn't a favorite for me.

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A SPRINKLE OF SWEET SEREDIPITY - review is in the book's title.

LOVE her books.  Adorable cover, and the book is simply wonderful - great characters and heartwarming.

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GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer - review is in the book's title.

I enjoyed her other book THE COLLECTED REGRETS OF CLOVER, and this book is just as good.

DO NOT MISS THIS ONE - it is heartwarming and cozy!!

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THE HOPE KEEPER by Heather Webb - review is in the book's title.

Always an enjoyable read by Ms. Webb - and look at that gorgeous cover!!

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THE ANNIVERSARY by Alex Finlay - review is in the book's title.

Oh yes...typical Alex Finlay - tension and fantastic.

Saw him in person at an event in Pittsburgh.

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THE MAY HOUSE by Jillian Cantor - review is in the book's title.

Enjoyable read - sisters making memories!!

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THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles  - spotlight is in the book's title.

Wasn't catching my interest.

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A LITTLE BIT BAD by Cassandra Neyenesch - spotlight is in the book's title.

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Book Currently Reading:

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline - review will be on July 18, 2026.

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Books Up Next:

THE CALAMITY CLUB by Kathryn Stockett - review will be on a future date.

Sounds good, but putting this on hold for now - it is 600+ pages.

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THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer - review will be on July 21, 2026.

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MEET IN PARIS by Kristin Harmel - review will be on July 28, 2028.

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BUYER BEWARE by Catherine Ryan Howard - review will be on July 29, 2026.

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THE MORTAL ENEMY MURDER CLUB by Gloria Chao - review will be on July 30, 2026.

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THE WHISPER by Chelsea Iversen - review will be on July 31, 2026.

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THE WOMEN IN WHITE by Sarah Pekkanen - review will be on August 4, 2026.

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WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston - review will be on August 5, 2026.

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PRETTY AS A PEACH by Grace Helena Walz - review will be on August 10, 2026.

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THE MATCHMAKER'S COTTAGE by Kat Sloane - review will be on August 12, 2026.

LOVE the cover!!

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THE ONE WHO WALKED AWAY by Karen Rose - review will be on August 14, 2026.

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HOW TO FIND ROMANCE IN A BOOKSHOP by Poppy Alexander - review will be on August 18, 2026.

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A FINE LAYER OF DUST by Barbara Conrey - review will be on September 1, 2026.

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THE MYSTIC AND THE MISSING GIRL by Vikki VanSickle - review will be on September 8, 2026.

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A BEAUTIFUL LIE by Tanya Grant - review will be on September 9, 2026.

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I'LL BE WATCHING YOU by Allison Brennan - review will be on September 15, 2026.

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THE BOOKSHOP WOMAN by Nanako Hanada - review will be on September 16, 2026.

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BLUE JEAN SUMMER by Maggie Gates - review will be on September 17, 2026.

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THE MEMORY OF BORROWED BOOKS by Meg Anderson - review will be on October 6, 2026.

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THE UNDERCOVER BOOKSHOP by Katherine Reay - review will be on October 7, 2026.

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RED SEAL by Rosa Kwon Easton - review will be on October 18, 2026.

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THE STORY BAKER by Carsten Henn - review will be on October 13, 2026.

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PEREGRINE HILL by Nina De Gramont - review will be on November 11, 2026.

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THE BUREAU OF UNKNOWN FATES by Gaëlle Nohant - review will be on December 8, 2026.

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MURDER UNABRIDGED by P. J. Nelson - review will be on December 1, 2026.

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