It has been a long time since I talked about new books to look forward to but I’m glad to be back to report on some recent ARCs I’ve received. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for these advance review copies:

Isola by Allegra Goodman. Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. That journey takes an unexpected turn when Marguerite, accused of betrayal, is brutally punished and abandoned on a small island. A story of survival. On sale 2/4/25.

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass. When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it. Fifteen months later, with the help of her best friend she finally feels safe again in the snowy Minnesota town she calls home. But when an anonymous note appears on her windshield bearing the same threats her attacker made, Shelby realizes that her nightmare has only just begun. On sale 2/11/25.

Rio Muerto by Ricardo Silva Romero; translated by Victor Meadowcroft. On the outskirts of Belen del Chami, a town that has yet to appear on any map of Colombia, the mute Salomón Palacios is murdered a few steps away from his home. His widow, the courageous and foul-mouthed Hipolita Arenas, completely loses her sanity and confronts the paramilitaries and local politicians, challenging them to also kill her and her two fatherless sons. On sale 2/18/25.

Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi. A novel about a tight-knit Pakistani family. The Ibrahim family is facing a crucial moment after having lost their fortune. At the family’s core is Asma—successful doctor and the long-suffering middle daughter. Despite what the prying aunties think, Asma is living the life she has always wanted, fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a doctor . . . or so she thinks. On sale 2/18/25.

The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay. Two unlikely friends hatch an extraordinary scheme to expose the theater world. Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo, or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright dreams of making it big in London’s theater world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem. On sale 2/25/25.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her. Treating Alice Webber a young girl who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. On sale 2/25/25.

What do you think, which one sounds good to you?

Doesn’t January always seem like such a long month? But here we are about to welcome a new month and how is everyone? I have been doing well and just trying to escape into books as much as possible especially when the news (natural disasters, political, etc.) sometimes becomes a bit too much to take. Thank goodness for books, right?

I’m finishing up this month having read four books. Almost done with another but I’m so tired this evening that I don’t think I’ll be able to read more than a page or two before falling asleep.

The books I finished were A Christmas in the Alps by Melody Carlson, Your Driver is Waiting by Priya Guns, Dearly by Margaret Atwood and Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.

Dearly was a poetry collection I picked up last year but put down and so started re-reading it again this year. While not my favorite work by Atwood there were still some powerful poems especially some about the environment which really made me want to re-read them again.

My favorite read was Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano and it’s about a plane disaster where a young boy survives. Unfortunately the last chapters I read the same day of the recent American Airlines Flight disaster and let me tell you, it was hard to read those last few chapters, especially the ones that describe the last moments of the flight. It was a very good book and despite the sadness at the heart of it there was also a bit of hope shining through.

Anyway I do have a couple of other books I’m reading and eagerly looking at my stacks because I want to add some more books to my current pile.

I hope you’ve had a great reading month and read some good books. Take care of each other and hope you have a great reading weekend ahead!