Dèy

"Dèy pa kon jou fèt. Grief takes no holidays." ~ 94%

Dèy is a slow burn with themes of fear, grief, and surviving trauma. It is an exploration of Haitian culture, mass shootings in America, and events that shape our before/after. I resonated with the duty of daughters to take care of their parents. Summer reads don't have to be light and beachy. Step away from the chick lit and get into this literary fiction.

Magnolia is a successful Haitian American real estate agent in Miami, Florida. When shopping at the mall for her daughter's birthday present, she is caught in a random act of violence. She hears gunfire and takes shelter in a nearby restaurant with fellow shoppers and diners. The minutes are tense. Once she's safely home, Magnolia keeps the traumatic event to herself. Instead she is hyperfocused on her life: the bond with her daughter Zoë, her recent relationship break with Zoë's father, the challenges of her mentally ill mother, being a sister to the result of her father's affair, and the threat of gangs where her parents live in Haiti. 

Edwidge Danticat is an author on my watch list. I see her name and it's an automatic read. Her writing is impressive, inspiring, vivid and deep. Danticat took it a step further in Dèy and introduced me to a different language, culture and customs. The story transports us to Florida and Haiti with fresh eyes. It gives us something to think about. Beautifully written!

Happy Pub Day to Edwidge Danticat! Dèy 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: Dèy
Author: Edwidge Danticat
Published: August 2026
Pages: 256
Edition: Galley
Genre: Lit Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Just as Long as We're Together / Here's to You, Rachel Robinson

"You mean you never had more than one best friend at a time?" ~ 29%

Bookhearts far and wide know that I grew up on Judy Blume. Her books contributed to my love of reading. No matter the stage of adolescence, there is a Judy Blume book that covers it. I vividly remember reading Just as Long as We're Together for the first time. I was in the 4th grade starting a new school for the gifted and talented. I was among other math nerds and kids with their nose stuck in a book. I was welcomed into a friendship clique, connected with more than one best friend, and immediately knew this is where I belonged. 

Just as Long as We're Together was the Judy Blume book for this stage of my life. And here I am 39 years after it's original publication re-reading it for a new release. It has a new look for middle grade readers. The new cover is simple with a bright teal background and a friendship bracelet. Remember those?! But the story within is the same. Stephanie and Rachel have been inseparable. But everything changes when Alison moves in next door. Stephanie clicks with her instantly and wants to form the perfect trio. But Rachel drifts away not wanting to make room for someone new. The story answers a common question: can you have more than one best friend?

Re-reading this book proved why it was a childhood favorite. Blume knows how to reel young girls in, teach a lesson and apply it to real life.

"Life is an obstacle course." ~ 42%

The companion book titled Here's to You, Rachel Robinson is a heartfelt story about shifting friendships, messy families and perfectionism. From the outside, Rachel is perfect. She is a straight-A student, excels at music, and is the best friend everyone counts on. But the pressure to be perfect builds while life at home is a disaster. It's hard to hold it together. Again, Judy Blume writes with her trademark way of connecting with young readers at the right time in their lives. Even though I did not enjoy Here's to You, Rachel Robinson as much back then, I now appreciate the deep message it provides: check on your strong friend.

Just as Long as We're Together and Here's to You, Rachel Robinson are best read as companion novels. I recommend it as a buddy read with the young reader(s) in your life. It will spark conversations, open dialogue and strengthen friendships. I am so delighted they are being re-released and celebrated!

Happy Early Pub Day to Judy Blume! Just as Long as We're Together and Here's to You, Rachel Robinson will be re-published next Tuesday, August 25.

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: Just as Long as We're Together

Author: Judy Blume
Re-Published: August 2026
Pages: 272
Edition: Galley
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Title: Here's to You, Rachel Robinson
Author: Judy Blume
Re-Published: August 2026
Pages: 272
Edition: Galley
Genre: Children's Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

You'll Love It Here

"Of course, I normally avoid my neighbors. I'm not about to engage in small talk with the people stuck living here alongside me." ~ 6%

It only takes one day for Mona's life to implode. After years of climbing the corporate ladder, she is expecting a promotion and finally moving out of her crumbling apartment building. Instead, she is jobless and stuck in a space barely big enough for a yoga mat. To make matters worse, her landlady takes a tumble and asks Mona to be the substitute super. She gets pulled deeper into the building's chaos and closer to her neighbors: a shouting couple, mysterious shut-ins, panty thief and more. Sometimes life gives us what we don't expect!

Was it heartfelt? You bet. Was it LOL-funny? A couple times. Was it fun to read? Oh yeah. Do I recommend it? Sure. If you like reading eccentric characters and was a fan of the TV show Good Trouble, then add You'll Love It Here to your TBR. It is predictable but entertaining with a heavy dose of character growth.

Happy Pub Day to Natalie Sue! You'll Love It Here 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: You'll Love It Here
Author: Natalie Sue
Published: August 2026
Pages: 320
Edition: Galley
Genre: Humor Fiction
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Daggermouth

(The Heart #1) 

My Series Sunday pick is Daggermouth, the first book in The Heart duology by H. M. Wolfe. This review is very difficult to write. I struggled with updating it due to recent developments. I could not let it go without praising the novel but expressing my disappointment in the author's actions. Let's start with the positives, shall we?

"You may still have a heart, but you lack emotion." ~ pg. 34

I absolutely loved the characters, enemies-to-lover arc, twists and emotional turns. The main character is a beautiful woman of color (per the written description and sketches drawn by the author herself). Shadera Kael is a mercenary raised to kill. She is strong-minded, determined, physically fit and a lethal assassin living in a dystopian world. The city is divided into rings of privilege and poverty, ruled by the masked elite. Shadera, backed by the Rebellion, is hired to kill the president's son, Greyson Serel. But the bullet misses the mark and they are forced to marry. Their union is a battlefield surrounded by secrets, betrayals, passion and a revolution.

Daggermouth was a true page-turner that I stayed up late reading, throwing responsibility on the back burner. The twists on twists with perfect pacing had me frantically turning the pages. The true enemies-to-lovers dark dystopian romance was like nothing I had read before. I told anyone who would listen to read it. I recommended it to Bookhearts in their dark romance era. I selected it for Sistahs Be Readin' Book Club, excited to discuss it with others. Even though I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, I wanted to spend my hard-earned coins to purchase the hardcover so it could sit prominently on my physical bookshelves as a thick ass 6-heart read. That's how much I enjoyed Daggermouth! 

"Beautiful things are often built on ugly foundations." ~ pg. 206

Until the book cover controversy. Until the very Black Shadera was whitewashed. Until the author started gaslighting readers. Until the AI allegations. I was one of the few readers with an opportunity to read Daggermouth back in March before it was officially published. Before all of the drama. So for purposes of this review, I am going to stick with the story itself and not delve into all the negative details. But for the record, it tainted my experience with Daggermouth. I still plan to read Python when it releases in March 2027 because I can't let these characters go just yet. But best believe, it is with a strong side-eye and pending the author's actions.

Happy Early Pub Day to H.M. Wolfe! Daggermouth will be available Tuesday, July 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: Daggermouth
Author: H. M. Wolfe
Published: July 2026
Pages: 544
Edition: Galley
Genre: Dystopian Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

Series Sunday: Murder at First Slice

(Baker Street #5)

"This is war, and I intend to win." ~ 42%

My Series Sunday pick is Murder at First Slice, the fifth book in the Baker Street mystery series by Valerie Burns. Social media influencer turned bakery owner Maddy Montgomery is back with her inherited 250-pound English mastiff, Baby. Friends and family have taken over the little town of New Bison, Michigan, to celebrate her nuptials to the handsome veterinarian Michael. 

Drama reaches new levels with love in the air, feuding cousins on the guest list and rehearsal dinner crashers. Then sweet 'ole Miss Hannah is found standing over a dead body with a bloody rolling pin in hand. Now the bride-to-be has to catch a killer before she cuts the wedding cake.

Murder at First Sight brings the familiar characters back: Maddy, her widowed father, fiancé Michael, innkeeper Mrs. Law, memory-challenged Miss Hannah and the Baker Street Irregulars. They sleuth their way around the small town murder. As usual, Valerie Burns knows how to pen a good cozy mystery: recipes for the foodies, characters of color, smallish town and a big 'ole adorable dog.

I have a dog bone to pick with this fifth book though. It took way too long to get to the cozy mystery part. Most of it read like a novella centered on Maddy and Michael's wedding preparations. It should have been 100 pages shorter and considered #4.5 in the series. Nevertheless, I still recommend it to followers of the Baker Street mystery series and look forward to the next installment.

Happy Early Pub Day, Valerie Burns! Murder at First Slice will be available Tuesday, July 28, 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: Murder at First Slice

Author: Valerie Burns

Published: July 2026

Pages: 249

Edition: Galley

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤

Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays

I am seen. I am really her. I Black Girl. (Yes, Black Girl is a verb here.)

Amena Brown's new nonfiction book, Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl, flawlessly blends true storytelling, humor and culture. She shares the wisdom gained from being raised by Southern Black women and supported by a community of Black women that hold her down to this day. There are stories about natural hair, attending an HBCU, meeting iconic celebrities, boob sweat, life lessons learned from RHOA and more. 

Trust when I say you will relate! Just look at the cover and you can tell from the recognizable box braids that this book is for you. I am an annotation girlie and my advance readers' copy is full of highlighted passages, funny quotes and scenarios that I added my own commentary to in the margins. For example, I noted that I make the mac and cheese in my family too. This is an honor, y'all! I still use Queen Helene facial scrubs and masks. No other product leaves my skin glowing and pores unblocked. I could practically smell the Pink Oil Moisturizer through the page as I read along.

Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays are joyful, reaffirming and so Black-ass. *in my Jill Scott voice* Amena Brown did an excellent job writing about Black girls in a celebratory fashion. We are a whole world with unspoken understandings. 

Happy Pub Day to Amena Brown! Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays 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: Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl: Essays
Author: Amena Brown
Published: June 2026
Pages: 317
Edition: Galley
Genre: Cultural Essays
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

The Missed Connection

"In such bizarre, fractured times, the world needed a romance epidemic." ~ 99%

And did! Bestselling author Tia Williams does not miss when it comes to Black fiction romance and a book cover that draws attention. The Missed Connection is a new release just in time for the summer. This intensely romantic tale is about a woman searching for her handsome seatmate on a European flight.

Sasha Cruz is a booked-and-busy casting agent. She is always on the job by scoping out the perfect person to place in the perfect role. It doesn't matter where she is—happy hour, the grocery store or walking through the airport. She knows types and a good face. Sasha has the pleasure of sitting next to an attractive man that is just her type on a flight to Paris. Sparks fly, conversation flows, but they don't exchange contact information. Hence, the title: missed connection!

Sasha writes a pleading email to a colleague asking for help to find her soulmate, but accidentally sends it to the entire company. EEK! Now tons of people are invested in her love life and an international manhunt to find Seat F begins. Embarrassing but with so many people helping to make the connection, love just might take flight.

The romance in The Missed Connection has me looking up flight deals! Maybe I can luck up and make a connection on my next flight out of DTW. I enjoyed the entire exchange between Sasha and Mystery Man in Seat F. I crossed my fingers hoping someone would recognize his description and found the multitude of emails flooding Sasha's inbox to be too funny. I am typically not a romance girlie and find that most romance storylines drag. This was no different with the slow pace, but I still recommend it for light summer reading. Take it to the beach. Carry it on your next flight. Listen during your commute. Fly through this romcom! 

Happy Pub Day to Tia Williams! The Missed Connection 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 Missed Connection
Author: Tia Williams
Published: June 2026
Pages: 330
Edition: Galley
Genre: Romance
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡