A Book A Week

There are some books on my shelves that have sat unread for so long I’ve forgotten they were even there. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides is one such novel. I picked it up from a used bookstore over ten years ago, drawn in by its Pulitzer win, its pick for Oprah's Book Club, and its unique subject matter. But then—like so many books I fully intend to read—it slipped into the background. It moved with me from apartment to apartment, house to house, until finally, earlier this week, I pulled it off the shelf. And boy, am I kicking myself for waiting so long. Middlesex is a sprawling tour de force, timeless and resonant as ever.

In the opening of the book, we meet Cal/Calliope Stephanides, who “was born twice: first, as a baby girl…and then again as a teenage boy.” The story unfolds like a confession, tracing Cal’s origins from a forbidden love in a tiny Greek village to a turbulent adolescence in 1970s Detroit. Each chapter peels back another layer of the past, revealing the strange inheritance—both genetic and emotional—that quietly shapes Cal’s life long before he understands it himself.

As the narrative expands, we’re given intimate insight into a sprawling family history. Eugenides weaves mythology, immigration, American history, and a deeply personal coming-of-age story into one seamless arc. As Cal digs into the mysteries of his family’s journey to America and the secrets they carried with them, we’re steadily drawn toward the revelation at the core of his identity.

Middlesex is a phenomenal novel. It's epic in scale yet intimate in execution. When it was published in 2002, much ado was made about the story’s exploration of gender identity. It’s a topic that remains fiercely relevant today. And though our understanding of gender has evolved in the years since Eugenides wrote this novel, the prejudice, fear, and demonization of those we deem “other” have tragically persisted.

But to focus solely on that aspect would overlook what makes the bulk of this story so enduring. Eugenides has written a novel that is, at its heart, about family—how it shapes us, changes us, and anchors us to who we become. His characters feel deeply real, the kind of people you might find scattered throughout your own family tree. Their story, full of heart, humor, and yes, tragedy, is impossible to ignore. It’s this emotional richness that makes Middlesex worthy of all the acclaim it has received, and what ultimately left me grateful to have finally pulled it off my shelf after all these years.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2025, 94)

In the early part of 2020, my husband and I decided it was finally time to start looking for a house. We’d been saving for years, and although we were excited at the prospect of becoming homeowners, we were also overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. Fortunately, we ended up with the best-case scenario. We found the perfect place on our very first day of home tours, made an offer the next day, and closed just a few weeks later. The week after we moved in, the entire world shut down for the COVID-19 outbreak. We still can’t believe how lucky we were.

But for many, the journey to homeownership isn’t nearly so smooth. Bidding wars, soaring prices, impossible competition—buying a home has only grown more stressful in recent years. It’s that very pressure that inspired Marisa Kashino’s debut thriller, Best Offer Wins. So when her publisher offered me the chance to read the book, I was far too intrigued by the premise to say no.

Margo Miyake has spent years trying to build the perfect life. She’s got a great job as a publicist, and her husband Ian is smart, kind, and devoted—the perfect partner. But there are still a few pieces missing from the picture she’s trying so hard to complete. One is a child. Despite their best efforts, they haven’t been able to conceive. And of course, a baby won’t matter if they can’t get out of their cramped one-bedroom apartment. Finding the perfect home hasn’t been the challenge, but actually buying one has. After eighteen months and eleven lost bidding wars, the heartbreak feels never-ending.

Then Margo gets a tip about the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, set to hit the market in one month. She drags Ian on a “just to look” drive-by and instantly falls in love. Naturally, she has to see the backyard. The tire swing beckons her closer. And when she’s spotted by one of the homeowners, caught in the act, she offers a harmless excuse and promises Ian she won't cross any more boundaries. Still, Margo can’t let this place go. It’s now or never, and she’s determined to make this house her own.

So what if she starts slipping into the lives of the couple preparing to sell it? Some might call it stalking; others, trespassing. But to Margo, it’s simply the game you have to play in today’s cutthroat housing market. As her obsession deepens, she becomes undeterred by normal boundaries. No act is too bold—or too inappropriate—if it means claiming the life she’s always dreamed of.

Best Offer Wins might just be the most over-the-top, propulsively readable thriller I’ve picked up this year. I alternated between reading the physical book and listening to Cia Court’s excellent audio narration, and I was equally enthralled in both formats. Kashino has written a thriller rooted in the stress and chaos of today’s housing market, pushing her protagonist just past the edge of sanity and polite society. And the remarkable thing is, we’re rooting for her the entire time.

As Margo buckles under the pressure of trying to conceive, trying to find the perfect house, and coping with that stress in increasingly disturbing ways, we can’t help but think, yeah… I get it. Good for her. Sure, there were a few moments when I had to roll my eyes at her choices, but even as the story shifts from clever satire to something darker and more twisted, I couldn’t look away. Best Offer Wins is a must-read thriller for our times and absolutely one of the best of the year.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2025, 93)

In the never-ending list of great authors I keep meaning to read, Walter Mosley has been near the top for years. I’m a crime-fiction lover at heart, and he’s one of the most celebrated voices in the genre. But for whatever reason, I never actually delved into his work—until now. And oddly enough, it wasn’t one of his crime novels that finally pulled me in, but a more philosophical tale that caught my eye. When I read the synopsis for The Man in My Basement, I knew I had to read it. 

Charles Blakey is nearing his breaking point. He’s lost his job. He’s drinking too much. He’s behind on his mortgage payments and on the verge of losing the house that’s been in his family for generations. Then, one day, there’s a knock at the door. Standing on the other side is a man—a white man—with a strange, unnerving request. He wants to spend the summer living in Charles’s basement.

Why on earth would this stranger want to rent his basement? Charles doesn’t even want to imagine the possibilities, but the truth is, the money would help. And when he learns that Anniston Bennet is willing to pay him nearly $50,000 for the privilege, desperation wins out. Charles does what any down-on-his-luck man might do. He lets Anniston stay. But as the boarder begins transforming the basement into what looks alarmingly like a prison cell, Charles realizes he’s stepped into something far stranger and darker than he could have anticipated.

The Man in My Basement reads like a fable, one grounded by Walter Mosley's matter-of-fact approach to his writing. The scenario itself veers into the surreal, yet in Mosley’s capable hands, it all feels disarmingly real. And that makes it all the more unsettling. Mosley layers in contemplations on race, class, and atonement. It’s all quite heady and philosophical. But don’t let that fool you. The Man in My Basement is still a page-turner, even if the thrills are those of the mind. Life rarely provides neat answers, and Mosley’s story doesn’t either. Instead, it asks us to think, reflect, and draw our own conclusions. It makes for a memorable read and an excellent first impression of Mosley’s work.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 92)

There’s a certain sense of nostalgia I get every time I pick up a new Alex Cross book. I was first introduced to James Patterson’s bestselling series back in 2005 when my mom handed me a paperback copy of Mary, Mary. I devoured it in a single weekend and immediately began working my way backward, starting with the first book, Along Came a Spider. I’ve been a fan ever since. I’ve read all thirty-three novels, watched the various attempts at film adaptations, and recently enjoyed the latest effort to bring Patterson’s hero to life in the Amazon Prime TV series. Every time I return to the series, I’m greeted by the familiar blend of heart, suspense, and Patterson’s signature breakneck pace. The newest novel, Return of the Spider, feels especially nostalgic as it resurrects Gary Soneji—the villain who started it all in those early Cross stories. But would this long-awaited return mark a fresh new chapter for Alex Cross, or simply revisit old ground?

The novel is unique in that it serves as a kind of prequel to the series opener. In the present day, Alex Cross and his longtime partner John Sampson are called to a remote cabin in the woods, where the human remains buried around the property aren’t the most disturbing thing discovered on the scene. That honor belongs to a hidden journal titled Profiles in Human Genius. Strange enough on its own, but it’s the contents of the journal that truly bring Cross to his knees. Inside are detailed accounts of murders committed by none other than Gary Soneji.

The name catapults Alex back decades, to the days when Soneji terrorized the city with a string of abductions and murders. But as Alex reads, he comes to a chilling realization: his connection to Soneji began much earlier than he ever imagined. Back when he was a young detective with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, the seeds of this nightmare were already being sown. As he reads on, Alex becomes ensnared in a web of evil Soneji seems to have spun just for him. Plunging into the past, he must retrace the steps of an old investigation and face the truth about the monster who’s been haunting him from the very start.

With Return of the Spider, James Patterson proves he’s far from done finding new ways to thrill readers with his Alex Cross series. The last book, The House of Cross, brought a long-running thread to its climax, leaving me wondering where Patterson could possibly take the story next. It turns out, he’s taken it all the way back to the beginning. Gary Soneji was one of the most terrifying and relentless foes Alex ever faced, so it was thrilling to see his origins finally revealed.

By taking the series back in time, Patterson adds new depth to both his hero and his villain, breathing fresh life into the world of Alex Cross while still honoring the familiar beats longtime readers have come to love. The ending jumps back to the present day, forcing Alex to face a moral reckoning—about his past, the truths he’s built his life upon, and what the future might hold. I, for one, can’t wait to see where Patterson takes him next. It proves that even after three decades, James Patterson still knows how to keep us turning the pages.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel to review. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 91)

"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

In the summer of 1985, a little movie called Back to the Future hit theaters and instantly became a phenomenon. It shattered box office records, captivated audiences, and cemented itself as one of the most beloved films of all time. Forty years later, it remains a timeless classic that generations continue to revisit. But for Michael J. Fox—the fresh-faced actor who brought Marty McFly to life—the role that defined his career almost never happened. In Future Boy, Fox blends his own memories with those of the film’s cast and crew to deliver a behind-the-scenes look at how Back to the Future went from a risky concept to an enduring part of pop culture.

There were dozens of “no’s” before the script that would eventually become Back to the Future finally got a “yes.” It helped that director Steven Spielberg and his production company, Amblin, were in the film’s corner. Writer-director Robert Zemeckis could hardly believe his luck. He and writing partner Bob Gale had their eyes on a young actor, Michael J. Fox, for the lead, but there was one major problem.  Filming would directly conflict with Fox’s day job as the star of the hit sitcom Family Ties. He simply wasn’t available.

Instead, the production cast Eric Stoltz as Marty McFly, and filming began. Six weeks later, Fox—who hadn’t even known he was considered for the role—was called into the office of Family Ties producer Gary David Goldberg. There, Goldberg revealed that Spielberg and Zemeckis had sent him the Back to the Future script months earlier, hoping Fox could read it. Goldberg had kept it under wraps, worried that the show would suffer if Fox took on a movie role. But Stoltz wasn’t working out, and now Zemeckis and Spielberg were desperate to replace him. Goldberg finally agreed on one condition. Fox had to keep his full commitment to Family Ties.

And so began a whirlwind schedule that sounds exhausting just to read about. By day, Fox filmed Family Ties as Alex P. Keaton. By night, he was whisked to the Back to the Future set to play Marty McFly. He’d wrap production in the early hours of the morning, grab a couple of hours of sleep, and then start it all over again.

In Future Boy, Michael J. Fox recounts this incredibly demanding time with honesty, humor, and gratitude. He credits his youthful naivety with helping him survive the grueling pace and looks back fondly on the experience of letting his comedic instincts shine on set. He also supplements his memories with perspectives from cast and crew. These voices come alive in the audiobook version, which features actual interview clips.

While I can’t say I learned much that I didn’t already know about the film’s production, Future Boy is still a fascinating listen. It’s a reminder of just how many things had to go right for this lightning-in-a-bottle movie to exist. As someone who grew up rewatching Back to the Future countless times, hearing Fox reflect on its creation was like stepping back into my own memories. It’s proof that some stories—and some performances—never lose their spark, no matter how many times you revisit them.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 90)

I was first introduced to Phillip Margolin’s legal thrillers with last year’s An Insignificant Case. That novel—about an unlikely duo, a quirky artist and a struggling lawyer—pulled me into a courtroom drama so gripping that I was left hungry for more. Lucky for me, Margolin’s publisher graciously provided the audiobook of his latest release, False Witness. It’s another stellar legal mystery that hooked me from the start.

Defense attorney Karen Wyatt has built her reputation on getting clients out of impossible situations. It’s all part of the job, after all. But she never expected that exposing a corrupt police force would land her behind bars herself. After being framed on bogus drug charges, imprisoned, and disbarred, Wyatt eventually clears her name and wins back the right to practice law. Still, one question remains. Who was truly behind the setup?

As she digs for answers with the help of her private investigator, Morris, Wyatt takes on a new case, one that might be even more dangerous. Her client has been accused of a brutal murder, but the evidence doesn’t quite add up. Was he framed, too? Balancing her personal vendetta with her professional duty, Wyatt finds herself entangled in two mysteries that will have her questioning everything she's ever believed about justice and truth.

With False Witness, Phillip Margolin delivers a compelling legal thriller packed with corruption, conspiracy, wrongful convictions, and even a surprising touch of the extraterrestrial. The story moves briskly, propelled by tight plotting and a large but clearly drawn cast of characters. Thérèse Plummer’s narration brings warmth and texture to every scene, grounding the twists in emotional reality. Morris may steal the spotlight at times, but this is firmly Wyatt’s story—and it’s refreshing to see Margolin spotlight a female lead in a genre so often dominated by men. False Witness is smart, fast-paced, and endlessly entertaining. It's the kind of legal thriller that proves that Margolin is one of the best in the business.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 89)

It’s hard to believe I’ve never read a book by Taylor Jenkins Reid. She’s one of today’s most celebrated authors, a fixture on bestseller lists, and a favorite among my book blogging friends. But for whatever reason, I’d just never gotten around to her work—until now. My sister-in-law called me recently, absolutely raving about Atmosphere. “You have to read it!” she insisted. Normally, our reading tastes couldn’t be more different—she loves romance and fantasy, while I tend to reach for thrillers—but I decided to give it a shot. A couple of days later, I closed the book and realized she was right. Atmosphere completely won me over, and I’m officially wondering what took me so long to read Taylor Jenkins Reid.

"Though I'd like to look down at the Earth from above, I would miss all the places and people I love." — I Don't Want to Live on the Moon, sung by Ernie on Sesame Street, written by Jeff Moss

Joan Goodwin works as CAPCOM at Mission Control, her voice calm and steady as she guides her colleagues through each careful step of their mission. She’s spent her life devoted to space. Once a professor of astronomy and physics at Rice University, Joan’s path changed in 1980 when she saw an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s shuttle program. From that moment on, she was determined to make it.

And make it, she did. Joan navigated the politics of the program, the egos, and her own quiet doubts to earn her place among the stars. But once she was up there, she realized that the wonder of space came at a cost. Like the Muppet in her favorite song about the moon, Joan missed the people she loved—the family waiting back on Earth, and Vanessa, the fellow astronaut who had captured her heart.

Now it’s 1984, and Joan is back where she feels most at home, on the ground, in Mission Control. But when disaster strikes aboard the shuttle carrying her friends—and Vanessa—Joan must draw on every ounce of composure and courage to bring them home. In a moment where every second counts, love and duty collide, and Joan must confront what it truly means to reach for the stars.

In Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid immediately places readers in the middle of a space disaster. It’s tense, cinematic, and the perfect opening for this story. We meet the characters amid the chaos, even learning some of their tragic fates before we truly get to know them. Then, Reid transports us back in time to the moment they all first came together.

The novel unfolds as part historical fiction, part queer romance, made all the more emotional because we already know where these people will end up. Some of the middle sections land more effectively than others, but it all builds to a conclusion that’s as thrilling as it is gut-wrenching. Atmosphere is a bold novel, confident in the story it’s telling, and you can’t help but be pulled along for the ride.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 88)

Have you ever had a premonition? That strange feeling that something is about to happen—a ripple in the fabric of the day that only makes sense once the moment arrives. For most of us, it’s fleeting, a quiet echo we don’t fully understand until much later. But for a small handful, it can be something much more profound. Federal agent Grant Lukather knows this better than most. As part of Homeland Security’s secretive Predictive Analytics branch, he’s spent his career tracking subtle patterns and statistical anomalies to prevent the unthinkable before it happens. But when a call comes in about a possible explosion in New Mexico, Grant finds himself caught in an event that will shatter everything he thought he knew about premonitions, and about fate itself.

That investigation leads him to Sarah Newcomb, a therapist who practices past-life hypnosis and has recently stumbled onto something that defies logic. Soon, Grant finds himself drawn into a web of murders spanning multiple states and timelines, where memory, identity, and consciousness begin to blur. With Sarah and one of her patients by his side, Grant races against time to stop a threat unlike anything he’s ever encountered. 

When I heard that Eric Heisserer, screenwriter of the hit film Arrival, had written a novel, I knew I was in for a treat. Simultaneous proves that instinct was correct. Heisserer blends high-concept science fiction with deeply human characters, delivering a tightly paced thriller that hooked me from start to finish. In Grant Lukather, Heisserer creates a skeptic whose doubts mirror our own. We experience discovery alongside him, watching disbelief shift into wonder. It’s a smart, cinematic read that delivers both heart and high stakes without ever overstaying its welcome. For fans of grounded sci-fi with big ideas and emotional depth, this one’s not to be missed.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2025, 87)