In the book The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic by Daniel de Vise, the reader learns how both men became iconic comedy stars and how certain events contributed to the making of the Blues Brothers characters. Attention is given to the creation of “Saturday Night Live” and the actors who launched the TV phenomena (which recently celebrated 50 years). My favorite parts were the behind-the-scenes tales of making the movie from writing the script to filming it in Chicago and the surrounding area (one iconic scene was made minutes from my childhood home!). The book also explores other personal tragedies surrounding the actors, and though I knew what was coming at the end, I still found myself tearing up a little. 

TV and movie aficionados will definitely enjoy this thorough stroll down memory lane. De Vise has done his research and weaves together stories and interviews to create a worthy addition to your reading list. The audiobook is expertly narrated by Johnny Heller.

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Other Birds is the kind of story you can spend a day reading (and I did). It’s a lovely escape read which I enjoyed very much. Sarah Addison Allen took a hiatus from writing years ago when some personal tragedies happened all at the same time, but she is back with this lovely tale, which she dedicates to the women she lost. Part mystery, part love story, part coming of age, Other Birds is a pleasure to recommend for those looking for something uplifting and different.

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I was immediately drawn into the story of Sam and Sadie, two friends who had experienced separation before coming back together to do something incredibly epic – design a video game together that would change the world. With a story reaching back into the 1980s and lasting through more recent history (yet not necessarily labeled by an exact date), the reader enjoys a nostalgic trip down pop culture memory lane as the story bounces from one time to another and back again in a conversational style not unlike talking to an old friend. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow was a story told from multiple points of view and in unique ways, with section titles to form the storyline. Though there was foreshadowing throughout the narrative, this book did not feel predictable and often took me by surprise.

What is it about, though? Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is about friendship, love, competition, discrimination, business, pain, grief, adventure, communication, political topics, and, yes, video game design. I particularly found the last point extremely interesting as my daughter recently graduated college with her degree in video game art. Often, while reading the design process of Sam and Sadie, I came to a new understanding of what my daughter will someday be able to do, making a more personal connection to the story.

At just under 400 pages, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is a longer story, but one that I will someday read again. There is so much to take in that I even went back and reread the last section a week after finishing it, partially to come to a decision about how I felt about the ending and partially to be able to enjoy these characters one more time before I put it on the shelf. (My decision was that I loved it– I had originally tried to finish the book too late at night and missed some of the connections so I didn’t like it at first.) A final word about content: I read a lot of different genres and subject matters. This book includes situations which may make you uncomfortable or possibly be triggering, depending on your sensitivity to language, sex, death, and other topics. If this is a concern for you, I urge you to do an online search for trigger warnings (or message me and I will tell you about them) so you can decide if it’s a book you want to read or skip. They are key to the story, and therefore I choose not to put them into the review as spoilers.

All of this to say, check out Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow if you’re in the mood for something a little different from your regular read. I think you’ll be glad you did. Also check out my bookshelf of recommended reads here. This is an affiliate link. Thank you for your support of my writing.

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The book is divided into eleven chapters, each telling the story of Michael, one of his guide dogs (or his wife’s companion dog), and the lesson learned from the dog. I found this format to be a great way to write a memoir (though I found myself wishing the chapters were a bit shorter while we listened to find easy pausing points on the road trip). Stories of friendship, bravery, and love enthralled us. We were encouraged by the obstacles Michael overcame and astonished at the incredible things he would accomplish, despite what many would consider a disability.

Live Like a Guide Dog was a great change of pace from my regular reading. The narration was pleasant, and Mom and I enjoyed half of the book together. When I returned home, she asked for updates about the other dogs, so I had to recap stories as I listened to them. I loved being able to share this book with my mom. I think it would make a great book club discussion book as well. I recommend it as a feel-good read that all ages can enjoy.

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This simple, yet incredible and mostly untold tale introduces readers to the creators of Barbie, the women and men behind the toy that changed the world in countless ways. First there’s Ruth, the mother of two and co-owner of Mattel who wishes for girls to have other ambitions beyond becoming a mother. Next, her head engineer Jack Ryan, a troubled genius living an unbelievable lifestyle, begins the lengthy process necessary to create the doll. Charlotte Johnson, a woman whose dreams of participating in the fashion world have left her teaching at a local art school, is tasked with creating a wardrobe for Barbie unlike the toy world has ever seen. Based on these three real people, the reader engages with the story from their varying points of view. Additionally, the fictional but fascinating Stevie Klein, one of Charlotte’s former design students who joins the team early in the process, gives readers a glimpse into the incredible Barbie story.

Don’t let the almost 400 pages of the novel deter you. With cleverly titled chapters that don’t drag on for pages and pages, the book is a breeze to read. Let’s Call Her Barbie is a book I did not want to put down. The narrative flowed beautifully, starting with that first meeting in 1956 through the next twenty years. This is a great book for discussion, including questions in the back to use if at your book club. In fact, if you contact the author and she’s able to fit it into her schedule, she may even meet with your group virtually. Then, you may even want to watch (or rewatch) The Barbie Movie after reading it (as I did); I guarantee you will never look at Barbie in the same way!

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Author Renee Rosen spoke with a book club at a local bookstore and signed books afterwards. She is always a pleasure to listen to as she describes her research and writing process, shares a laugh, and tells about her current work-in-progress.

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The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is a decades-spanning family drama of two sisters, Zoe and Cassie Grossberg, born in the early 80s, each following a different musical path and dream until fame suddenly finds them at their Philadelphia home. The novel takes many twists and turns, and is told from multiple points of view, including Zoe’s own teenage daughter Cherry in the present day storyline. Readers who want complicated, hard-to-love women in their novels will find Zoe to be just the main character they’ve been looking for. Music lovers of the early 2000s will appreciate the many references, and there’s even a little steam for those who enjoy that in their books. 

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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The setting for most of the novel is not actually Greenwood but instead the Threatt family’s filling station, which becomes a safe haven for these sisters, as well as others needing groceries, gasoline, or some hope along the highway in Jim Crow America. This setting and the family who owned it provided inspiration for the true parts of this fictional tale. Most chapters of The Filling Station begin with a related quote from the Red Cross relief report, which I found to be interesting.

A very sad story, this novel also provides some hope and healing as the sisters and their beloved neighbors rise from the destruction to rebuild their community. Overall, I found parts of the narrative a bit repetitive and the pacing of the story to be uneven. Much of the story was predictable, but it still provides good narrative insight into an often-overlooked part of American history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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If you enjoy historical mystery with a strong female lead and a bit of romance, this book is for you. It’s also a wonderful family-centered, women’s fiction drama. This lyrical novel takes place in the first half of the 20th Century. I loved that it was not war-centered, as so many seem to be these days. Patti Callahan Henry, a fabulous storyteller and one of my favorite authors, has created another lovely tale, following on the heels of 2023’s The Secret Book of Flora Lea.

The audiobook is a narrative duet between Theo Solomon and my favorite female narrator, Julia Whalen, so that is worth checking out if you prefer audiobooks.

Thank you to NetGalleyand Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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This book is women’s fiction with a sweet and funny story and a side of clean romance.The banter is fun and believable. The seniors in the retirement community add a layer to the story which I really enjoyed. Theater lovers especially will enjoy many of the references and situations in this novel. Last year I read one of author Courtney Walsh’s other books,The Summer of Yes, and found it inspirational and amusing. She has definitely found her sweet spot in writing these kinds of stories. 

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Jorjeana Marie’s narration. This book is set to release June 10, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley, as well as Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio, for the ARC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

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Told chronologically in chapters for each woman’s story, Propaganda Girls jumps right into the action with Betty MacDonald’s experience as a resident of Oahu on December 7, 1941 (Japan attacks Pearl Harbor). Zuzksa Lauwers’ story starts in Czechoslovakia with her fleeing the homeland for America after Hitler’s invasion in March 1939— after a quickie marriage to a Belgian-American makes it possible for her to leave. The wife of a naval attache at the American embassy in Tokyo, Jane Smith-Hutton loved learning the Japanese culture and being in foreign land —until the attack on Pearl Harbor made the family captives in enemy territory. Finally we are introduced to our fourth, and most famous, woman in this book: Marlene Dietrich. The German actress was living in America when Hitler and the Nazis came to power in her homeland where her family still lived and sought to distance herself from their “disgusting” ways. 

The first quarter of the book tells the stories behind their why, followed by how these women became involved in the secret work of black propaganda for the Allied Forces. Their unique tales are told in an engaging way that almost makes you forget you’re reading non-fiction. The book ends with a chapter on what each woman did after the war and a brief wrap-up of her life. Propaganda Girls is a great way to learn more about women’s history and World War II. It is a rather quick read, too. (If you’re reading on kindle, the final fifth of the book is actually notes and sources.) 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

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