Now Then

"Love is freedom...And love is finding home. Again." ~89%

Now Then is a debut novel by NBC News Anchor Morgan Radford. It follows two timelines. Now—1991 Cambridge, MA. Lily is an 18-year-old freshman at Harvard University on a path to self-discovery. She feels out of place having come from humble beginnings with a Cuban immigrant mother and Black American father. Through a budding romance with Vikram and a friendship with her roommate Hana, she navigates college life and adult years.

Then—1957 Havana, Cuba. Marisol is a young woman with dreams of becoming a journalist. One tragic night forces her to flee the Cuban Revolution, leaving her homeland behind with plenty scars. She never revealed what happened until she started writing letters to her daughter, Lily. The written words deliver secrets and help both women discover their identities.  

This novel is clearly written by a journalist at heart. The tone is heavy on factual events, history and social justice. Romance is thrown in to give it a fictional feel. The theme that stands out is the mother-daughter relationship. It is very heartfelt.

A letter written by the mother to her daughter set the mood for the novel. I settled in with an iced tumbler of fresh strawberry lemonade and cold Thin Mints straight from the freezer. Over the course of three days, I read a tale of two very different women that seamlessly weaved together. Until the confusing end. It was a lot of events packed into almost 400 pages and still the author felt the need to wrap it up so tightly that the time jump made no sense. Almost as if the author suddenly remembered the romance trope. It was jarring to the point I thought my ARC was missing a chapter, or at the very least, missing a few pages. But nope, I compared to the official copy and the ending stayed as is. 

Nevertheless, I believe Now Then will appeal to most readers. The mix of journalistic Cuban history and fiction will keep readers engaged.

Happy Pub Day to Morgan Radford! Now Then is officially on shelves.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Now Then
Author: Morgan Radford
Published: May 2026
Pages: 349
Edition: Galley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Good Joy, Bad Joy

"Who says your greatest love has to be a romantic one?" ~ 96%

As Joy nears 90 years old, she cannot help but realize the people she has outlived: her husband, family and friends. The only one left standing is her best friend Hazel. That changes when Hazel reveals she only has a few months to live. But she's at peace with the diagnosis knowing she has lived an adventurous, exciting life. It gets Joy to thinking. So many years following the rules, being the good girl and nothing to show for it. And so begins her foray into breaking the rules.

Good Joy, Bad Joy had good lessons about living life to the fullest, appreciating friendships and self-discovery. But in getting to the lessons, it didn't quite deliver a liking to the character. I could not connect with Joy; not because of her mature age but because of her actions. Maybe it's me but an 89-year-old driving way over the speed limit for fun is irresponsible. So is committing a petty crime. You wait until damn near 90 years old to act like an unsupervised teenager? And was it purposeful irony that her name is Joy? Seemed like it based on her little joy, vast regrets. I would have rather read about Joy and Hazel reliving memories of their friendship dating back to eight years old. 

Considering the average rating is 4.3, I am in the minority so don't let my review deter you. What is an okay read for me, may be a good read for you.

Happy Pub Day to Mikki Brammer! Good Joy, Bad Joy is officially on shelves.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Good Joy, Bad Joy
Author: Mikki Brammer
Published: May 2026
Pages: 294
Edition: Galley
Genre: Grown Chick Lit
Rating: 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Delusional

(Michael Bennett #18) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"You don't ever mess with family." ~ 86%

My Series Sunday pick is Delusional, the 18th book in the Michael Bennett series by James Patterson and James O. Born. NYPD Detective Michael Bennett and his new-ish partner Rob Trilling investigate a case that crosses state borders. In New York, there is a series of deadly bombs. In New Jersey, a military base is burglarized for explosives. In Montana, violence and arson take over a small town. There is also an anti-government group that keeps popping up in unexpected places. Oh, and Mary Catherine is expecting their 11th child! Whew—there is a lot going on in this new installment.

Why does it feel like I've read this before? I could easily guess the detectives and killers next steps. I could predict what would happen in the Bennett household, even with ten kids running around and a pregnant wife. The entire time reading Delusional felt like déjà vu. Am I over this series?

"Do you know how hard it is to get people to listen to hard truths?" ~ 91%

Maybe it is time for Patterson to wrap this series up. It is not thrilling as it used to be. Or perhaps it was too many cases to fully develop each storyline so they all lacked in interest. If you are a follower of the Michael Bennett series, then read it for continuity purposes. But if you are new to these authors and this once great character, I recommend you do not start with this one.

Happy Early Pub Day to James Patterson and James O. Born! Delusional will be available August 27, 2026.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Delusional

Author: James Patterson and James O. Born

Expected Publication: August 2026

Pages: 448

Edition: Galley

Genre: Thriller

Challenge: Keeping Up With Patterson

Rating: 🖤 🖤

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

The Graphic Novel

"I want life to start happening. I want to fall in love and I want a boy to fall in love with me back." ~ 93%

The Time Best YA Book of All Time has a new graphic novel adaptation! To All the Boys I've Loved Before is the first book in the beloved series by Jenny Han. Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox. One for every boy she has ever loved (five in all). She pours her heart out in these letters with all the things she would never say in real life. You can probably guess what happens next. The secret letters are mailed and suddenly her love life is very complicated. Can you imagine?!

I am familiar with this series, thanks to my 16-year-old niece that recommended it. So I was excited for the opportunity to review this edition early. I was especially curious on how it would compare to the novel and the movie. Now it is expected that scenes are cut to fit into a graphic novel. However, it seems so much was removed that the story did not flow and seemed abrupt. Majority of the text bubbles were blank so I had to rely on the art for context. Still it felt like a lot was missing, which is unfortunate.

As for the art, the Illustrator did her thang! It was cute, clear, colorful and charming. TATBILB was the first graphic novel that I had the pleasure of reading on my new Kindle ColorSoft. What a treat! The pastel tones fit the vibe perfectly. Lots of soft pinks, baby blues, dreamy teals and muted yellows. A visual reminder this graphic novel is intended for a younger audience.

 

Now is as good a time as any to watch the movie and spin-off series XO, Kitty streaming on Netflix. Gift this graphic novel adaptation to your daughters, nieces or little cousins. 

Happy Early Pub Day to Jenny Han, Barbara Perez Marquez and Akimaro! To All the Boys I've Loved Before: The Graphic Novel will be available Tuesday, May 5.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before: The Graphic Novel
Author: Jenny Han; Barbara Perez Marquez (Adapter); Akimaro (Illustrator)
Published: May 2026
Pages: 168
Edition: Graphic Novel Galley
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Landon & Shay

(Chances #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

"Don't throw away your story before you reach your happily ever after." ~ 92%

My Series Sunday pick is Landon & Shay, the second book in the Chances series by Brittainy C. Cherry. Landon doesn't believe in love. Shay likes a challenge. What began as a bet of who can fall in love first, turned into something neither of them expected.

While I enjoyed the return of these two characters in their own love story, it was just okay. Perhaps it is better suited for a young adult audience. I would have been satisfied with a cameo mention of their relationship but after finishing the novel, I understand why it was best told from their point of view. It is a journey of first love, second chances. I recommend Landon & Shay to the hopeless romantics and the Bookhearts that love to carry a pretty book around.

Happy Pub Day to Brittainy C. Cherry! Landon & Shay is officially on shelves.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Landon & Shay
Author: Brittainy C. Cherry
Published: April 2026
Pages: 411
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block

"I don't know if I like spotted dick, is sounding quite unhygienic." ~ 39%

A funny cozy mystery by Jesse Q. Sutanto? Sign me up! 

In this new fiction novel from the bestselling author of the Vera Wong series, we are introduced to a nearly divorced housewife who enrolls in cooking school to win back her husband. Mebel is 63 years old. Retirement should be long-awaited trips, not a husband of more than forty years announcing he's leaving for their 20-something-year-old private chef. But Mebel has the perfect plan to win him back: learn how to cook!

Oh, you want a chef, not a trophy wife? Bet, Mebel said! So she enrolls at the renowned Saint Honoré School of Culinary Arts in France. Then realizes it is really in a small village outside of Oxford. Mebel adjusts and befriends a much younger classmate named Gemma. When Gemma stops showing up for class, Mebel's goal turns into finding out what—or who—caused her friend's sudden disappearance. 

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block has a clever title and unique premise. I love a good found family trope. The jokes were there, true to Sutanto's writing style. Let this be exhibit fittylem that Sutanto can write the hell out of an older Chinese woman character. I always learn tidbits about Chinese-Indonesian culture while reading her books. Even though this one seemed a bit over the top, it was an enjoyable read.

Happy Early Pub Day to Jesse Q. Sutanto! Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block will be available Tuesday, April 28.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Published: April 2026
Pages: 304
Edition: Galley
Genre: Cozy Mystery Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤

The Rough Side of the Mountain

"Self-awareness is saving grace." ~ 76% 

Before Keisha Lance Bottoms rose to prominence in politics, she was a daddy's girl from the Westside of Atlanta. Beginning with the memory of her father being arrested and taken to prison, going through law school, serving as a judge, elected to City Council and eventually becoming Mayor of Atlanta is quite the story to tell. She could have easily fallen victim to unfortunate circumstances. Instead she held true to self, pursued higher education and excelled. Who knew that little girl sitting on a couch afraid would be appointed to advise the former President of the United States? 

"Whatever anybody else thought of me, I had shared my fullest truth and I was good with it." ~ 65% 

This memoir is not all about her professional success. After stepping away from politics, she faced the details of a campaign-ready life. Addressed what the public didn't see: her dad's drug abuse, the sexual abuse she endured, an eating disorder she developed and an unpolished Southern family. Keisha took the mask off!

The Rough Side of the Mountain is an inspiration to young girls and professional women. Pursue your dream. Stand firm. Do not let your surroundings dictate your future. The rough side of the mountain leads to an authentic life. The originator of "One Atlanta" is proof.

Happy Pub Day to Keisha Lance Bottoms! The Rough Side of the Mountain is officially on shelves.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Rough Side of the Mountain
Author: Keisha Lance Bottoms
Published: April 2026
Pages: 288
Edition: Galley
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤