Occasionaly, I read pre-publication/ARC copies of soon-to-be-published books that I receive in exchange for my fair and honest reviews. I write reviews for every book I read, and publish them on Goodreads (you can find me here on Goodreads). In addition to Goodreads, I’ll also be posting my ARC book reviews here in the Field Notes section of my blog.

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Title: Switzy

Author: Emma Cline

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: September 8, 2026

My review:

Emma Cline’s new novel, Switzy, is an unexpected and rather unsettling peek into the mind of David Hastings, a man with Alzheimer’s who is approaching the end of his life journey. In my opinion, Switzy is best experienced by readers who understand what they’re getting themselves into before beginning the book. For those in the proper “headspace,” Switzy is a masterpiece. (And for those who are not? Perhaps a little too . . . jarringly real.)

Although I can’t really say I enjoyed reading Switzy, I certainly appreciate the art and the craft of Cline’s writing. It’s quite brilliant, actually, what she’s done here with this novel. Her writing is chilling and visceral – and absolutely immersive. (I could not look away!) Cline gives her readers a clear picture of David’s state of mind and his rapidly dissolving memory by allowing his stream-of-conscious thoughts to serve as the sole perspective and voice of the novel.

Haunting and tender, Switzy will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published on September 8, 2026.

5 stars

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Title: Our Noble Selves

Author: Kate Atkinson

Publisher: Doubleday Books

Publication date: September 14, 2026

My review:

I recently read an ARC edition of Kate Atkinson’s upcoming novel, Our Noble Selves, provided to me by NetGalley and Doubleday Books. This novel, which will be published on September 15, 2026, is set in 1951 London as plans for The Festival of Britain are gearing up. (The Festival of Britain was a historic celebration intended to bolster the spirits of Britain’s people after WWII; kind of like a national “world’s fair.”)

Part historical fiction and part murder mystery/spy thriller, Our Noble Selves features the elements of Kate Atkinson’s signature style: graceful writing, colorful dialogue, quirky characters, and a clear sense of time and place. The choice of setting (1951 London) and topic (The Festival of Britain) are interesting and well-researched, and will undoubtedly inform many readers. That said, the pace is quite uneven, especially for the first half (or perhaps even more) of the novel. It took me a long time to warm up to the characters and their backgrounds, as well as keep track of the ins and outs of the Festival plans and goings-on.

Our Noble Selves is, overall, a pleasant read, although light on mystery and intrigue and rather heavy on festival history. Although I enjoyed the concept and the writing, I did find it a slow-going read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published on September 15, 2026.

3.5 stars

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Title: Story Telling: A Writing Life

Author: Isabel Allende

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publication date: September 15, 2026

My review:

Providing more than just a glimpse behind the scenes of her long writing career, author Isabel Allende offers valuable advice, practical tips, and fascinating personal anecdotes about her writing process in her soon-to-be-released memoir Story Telling: A Writing Life.

Conversational in style and tone, readers almost feel like they’re in conversation with Allende as she shares her personal approach to story telling. Broken down by chapters discussing various elements of story-writing, the book also includes summary notes at the end of each chapter to reinforce main ideas.

I very much enjoyed reading what goes on beneath the surface of Isabel Allende’s writing process. This is a lovely companion piece to her novels, and will offer her fans a greater understanding of her work.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on September 15, 2026.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

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Title: Swimming With Turtles

Author: Susan Baur

Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press

Publication date: September 8, 2026

My review:

What a lovely, inspiring memoir . . . about finding turtles (and so much more) . . . in the midst of all the “muck” of grief and aging. Author Susan Baur takes readers along with her on the adventure of her lifetime as she seeks out and studies the turtles in the ponds of Cape Cod. Along the way, Susan also discovers her own path forward after the death of her partner and comes to grips with her personal aging journey. Susan’s writing is gentle and soothing, informative and fascinating. She paints a clear picture of her life both under the water (with her turtle friends ) and outside her beloved ponds as she processes and learns and teaches others to care for pond environments and the creatures who live there.

An inspiring story! I thank Susan Baur for her heartfelt words and inspiration. What a gift for all who continue searching for themselves as they grow older.

Thank you to NetGalley and the University of Massachusetts Press for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published on September 8, 2026.

4 stars

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Title: Life of M

Author: Rachel Cusk

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Publication date: August 25, 2026

My review:

I was pleased to read an ARC of Rachel Cusk’s newest novel, Life of M, which will be published in late August 2026. I’ve read and enjoyed several of Cusk’s earlier works – The Outline Trilogy and her novel Second Place. I always appreciate her spare, smart writing style – somewhat detached from her characters and storyline, but fresh and interesting nonetheless. I usually have to put in some work when I read a Cusk novel – but I’ve always been rewarded as the hidden depths of her work are revealed.

But this time around, as I read Life of M, I felt more distanced than usual from Cusk’s characters and storyline. I’m sure this was the author’s intent, of course, as this novel focuses on M, a famous actress with a highly recognizable face and a well-known life. It is natural that a character like M would hold everyone (including readers) at arm’s length! M moves through her days like a cut-out doll, always placed (or placing herself) in perfectly designed and carefully curated “sets,” and acting just as she might be expected to act in every situation. (Another reviewer called this “artistic self-construction,” which is a perfectly apt description.) As is perhaps the case with very famous celebrities, M seems to struggle with her inner life, overthinking who she really is and how others perceive her.

I was intrigued by Life of M. I found it thoughtful, unsettling, and ambiguous. Cusk’s writing was, as usual, stark and effective, but this time I also found it a bit tedious and somewhat repetitious. I wasn’t always eager to pick the book up again once I’d put it aside. There was something that didn’t quite resonate with me.

And just today, I’ve read that Cusk may have patterned her character, M, after real-life actress and celebrity Natalie Portman. Somehow, I find this off-putting in a way. Perhaps that was the reason for my lack of connection? That she was writing about a real person she knew and had interacted with? (Although I will admit that as I read, and before I knew this bit of “gossip,” I actually pictured Natalie Portman as the face of M. While I don’t know much about the actress, even I recognized similarities.) (Okay. It was the ballerina movie . . . ) Anyway. That’s just my reaction to what feels like an intrusion.

Life of M was certainly a chewy read for me, and the ending really does beg for a re-read. Maybe someday. . .

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published August 25, 2026.

3 stars.

Title: Sunrise

Author: Téa Obreht

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: August 11, 2026

My review:

Based on the book description alone, Sunrise is not a book that would normally warrant a second glance from me. Survival tale? Western? Ummmm . . . not so much. But then I noticed the author’s name – Téa Obreht – and that changed everything for me. As an Obreht fan, I have learned to trust her writing and storytelling ability, and was pleased to receive an advance copy of Sunrise, her newest novel, due to be published on August 11 by Random House.

While the novel is definitely part survival tale and part Western, that’s not the whole of it. In typical Téa Obreht style, the novel is rather . . . beyond genre definition. In addition to the earlier-mentioned survival and Western themes, you’ll also find some mystery and a little magic; family drama and coming-of-age self-discovery worked in – all cleverly packaged to come together and make sense in a deliciously surprising finale.

As with the author’s earlier works, Sunrise unfolds in multiple layers; there are stories within stories. And while there are 3 disparate timelines and sets of characters to track, Obreht builds in easy-to-follow guidelines through clear chapter titles (complete with timeline information), and distinct voices and writing styles to keep her readers on track. (She also leaves plenty of “breadcrumbs” for clever readers to follow, which helps tie the layered stories together before the “big finish” makes everything clear.)

Sure, I didn’t think everything about this novel was perfect. There are some pacing issues here and there, and a few superfluous scenes that could probably have been cut, but overall, Téa Ohbreht has done it again – she’s created an intriguing, multi-layered story that just begs you to keep turning the pages.

I love that Obreht trusts her readers to figure things out without having to spoon feed them. It’s always a joy to read a novel from an author who expects her readers to think for themselves and pull the pieces of the story together on their own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published on August 11, 2026.

4 stars

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Title: Unsayable: A Life in Writing

Author: Michael Cunningham

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: July 21, 2026

My review:

As a fan of Michael Cunningham’s work, I was pleased to read an advance copy of his memoir, Unsayable: A Life in Writing, due to be published later this month (July 2026) by Random House.

Unsayable comprises chronological “tidbits” (I hesitate to call them “essays” because they are much more personal than “essays”) detailing his unfolding life as a writer, beginning with language acquisition and moving on through major educational and career developments. It’s an altogether lovely collection of charming tales that may (or may not be!) autobiographical.

As always, Cunningham’s writing is crisp and fresh, and a joy to read. I very much appreciated the fascinating exploration of, and the author’s back-and-forth wrestling with, the issue of “writing truth” in memoir.

For readers particularly interested in the writing process, Cunningham generously shares his advice, writing tips, and “samples” (both his own and those written by other authors), which provides a brilliant opportunity to learn from a master (who also happens to be a Yale professor).

It was a pleasure to read what goes on beneath the surface of Michael Cunningham’s writing process. This is a lovely companion piece to his novels, and will offer his fans a greater insight to his work.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on July 21, 2026.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5

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Title: Otherwhere: New and Selected Poems 1976 – 2026

Author: Carolyn Forché

Publisher: Scribner

Publication date: September 8, 2026

My review:

I was especially pleased to receive an advance copy of Otherwhere, Carolyn Forché’s upcoming poetry collection, featuring several new poems alongside selections from her earlier published works. Although I have some familiarity with the Forché’s work, it has been many years since I spent concentrated time reading her poetry. This advance copy was a real treat for me.

Carolyn Forché writes powerful, courageous poems that implore us to pay attention to what’s happening in the world around us. Not to be read quickly, her collection is meaty and serious, and requires a level of immersion and attention for full impact. Her newest poems, gathered in a short collection titled “If there is ink,” feel particularly poignant and resonant in our current times. Carolyn Forché’s work is, indeed, “poetry of witness.”

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The collection will be published September 8, 2026.

4 stars.

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Title: Beginning Middle End

Author: Valerie Luiselli

Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor

Publication date: July 28, 2026

My review:

I very much enjoyed reading Valeria Luiselli’s Lost Children Archive last year, so I was eager to read an ARC edition of her upcoming novel, Beginning Middle End, due to be published in late July 2026 by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor.

In trying to piece together a new life and new direction following a divorce, a mother and her young daughter trek through Sicily, the land of their forebears, looking for answers and connection. Through a carefully woven tale of exploration, the mother-daughter duo ultimately make peace with their pasts and set forth into a new future. Using “The Classics” as a framework – and especially leaning in on the writings of Pliny the Younger – Beginning Middle Endis a beautifully written, tenderly told story of a mother-daughter road trip . . . across Sicily, across generations, across time.

I especially enjoyed the almost Rachel Cusk-like cadence of Luiselli’s writing, and the incredible sense of place and mood she created throughout. I was particularly surprised and delighted by the change in narrators in the last third of the novel. This technique worked very well to round out the story and bring the various pieces together in a most satisfying way.

I found the book compelling and quite thought-provoking. I highlighted so many phrases during my reading of this ARC that I look forward to having a copy of my own once it is released.

(Note 1: Although I wasn’t really fond of the cover art, I loved finding the Polaroid photos at the end of the book; such a lovely touch.)

(Note 2: If you’re intimidated to pick this book up because very phrase “The Classics” freaks you out, leave that worry safely behind. You don’t need a background in such literature to enjoy this novel, although some curiosity and an openness to being exposed to those classics will certainly enhance your experience.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published July 28, 2026.

5 stars.

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Title: Country People

Author: Daniel Mason

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: July 7, 2026

My review: I very much enjoyed reading Daniel Mason’s North Woods last year, so I was eager to read an ARC edition of his upcoming novel, Country People, due to be published in early July 2026 by Random House.

I was charmed by the first two-thirds of Country People, but then the story went (ahem) underground and it lost some of its earlier appeal and charm. I think the problem was . . . pacing, perhaps? Or maybe there were just too many threads to follow in the storyline? Regardless of the why, something happened with the structure of the novel, and the story lost steam and essentially . . . fizzled out.

Still, Country People is a pleasant story and an engaging read. Bolstered by quirky characters and an idyllic setting, it’s wonderfully written, clever, and rather unexpected – a kind of modern fairy tale. I enjoyed my reading while I was in the midst of it, but wasn’t quite sure about the point of it all by the time I finished. A bit of a let down after North Woods, but definitely still worth reading.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published July 7, 2026.

3 stars.

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Title: Contrapposto

Author: Dave Eggers

Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor

Publication date: June 9, 2026

My review:

Having read and enjoyed many of Dave Eggers’s early novels (and his memoir), I was pleased to read an advance copy of his latest book, Contrapposto, scheduled to be released in early June by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor.

Contrappposto is billed as a “moving and very funny novel about allies and art, and what it means to be an artist.” I think that’s a pretty accurate description of the novel (although I don’t think I would call it a “very funny” novel, but that might just be me). I especially appreciate that very specific language . . . “allies and art.” Because being an ally isn’t necessarily the same as being a friend. While many reviewers are calling this a novel of “friendship,” I think I’d call it more a novel of lifelong “ally-ship.” (With benefits, to be sure.) And, in the end, there is a deep friendship, too. But I might argue that oftentimes, Olympia (the female lead) does not model “friendship” with our protagonist, Cricket. (In fact, I can’t imagine having a more frustrating kind of friend.) But . . . she always, always models her “ally-ship.”

Overall, the novel is engaging, compelling, and interesting. I loved the way Eggers wove Art (with a capital A) into the narrative. Yes, at times it was somewhat preachy, but I really enjoyed what Eggers had to say, and it made for a unique frame for the novel. I very much enjoyed watching the main character, Cricket, grow up and unfold into himself; he was a very consistent character and true to himself throughout the entirety of his life. Olympia? Not so much. But she was consistently devoted to Cricket and his art . . . in her way.

Contrapposto is refreshing and enjoyable. I loved the ending. I loved Dave Eggers’s sketches. (What a brilliant touch.)

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published June 9, 2026.

4.5 stars (but I’m not rounding up because . . . I found Olympia just a bit too over the top.)

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Title: Hunger & Thirst

Author: Claire Fuller

Publisher: Zando/Tin House

Publication date: June 2, 2026

My review:

I’ve read a couple of Claire Fuller’s novels in the past: Unsettled Ground, which I read and enjoyed several years ago, and more recently The Memory of Animals, which I felt . . . fair-to-middling about. I was eager to read an ARC copy of her newest and soon-to-be-published novel, Hunger & Thirst(Zando/Tin House; June 2, 2026) to break my “tie.”

Hunger & Thirst, I’m afraid, won’t put me in the full-on Claire Fuller fan club. The novel can’t quite decide what genre it wants to fall into. It’s part coming-of-age, part horror/thriller, part friendship/belonging. Or maybe literary fiction? There’s a bit of romance and some bits about art thrown in. And did I mention that it’s all told through the voice of a very unreliable narrator? Yeah. It’s a lot. And it doesn’t really pull together as well as you hope it might.

That said, Claire Fuller writes beautifully, and even though this novel is a bit of a muddle, she still compelled me to continue reading. She is a master at developing misfit characters and unreliable narrators. I think, for me, the novel broke down with too many loose ends and side stories that really didn’t go anywhere (example: the body hair?). And although billed as a horror/thriller story, it really wasn’t that . . . horrific or thrilling, actually. Sure, the house was in serious disrepair, and the former owners had a mysterious backstory. There were creepy flies in the bathroom. And the best friend character was controlling . . . but really not that extreme. There was a sense of foreboding – always – but never over the top. Also, there were very obvious mentions of various characters being “hungry” and “thirsty,” but it always felt forced and a bit gratuitous – kind of like an afterthought aside rather than a meaningful part of the story.

Bottom line, for me, Hunger & Thirst is well-written, compelling, creepy, but unsatisfying in the number of loose ends that just hang at the end. I’m sure Claire Fuller fans will enjoy this new novel, but it might disappoint horror fans as not quite creepy enough, with no real answers in the end.

Thank you to Zando/Tin House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published June 2, 2026.

2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.

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Title: Uno Momento | One Moment: Poems

Author: Luis Muñoz

Publisher: Atria Publishing – Washington Square Press

Publication date: May 12, 2026

My review:

Having never read the poetry of Luis Muñoz, I was drawn to this particular collection because of Garth Greenwell – one of my favorite writers and one of the translators of this collection. I was pleased to receive an ARC edition of Muñoz’s newest collection, Uno Momento|One Moment: Poems (Atria Publishing – Washington Square Press, expected May 12, 2026).

I very much appreciated the side-by-side presentation of Muñoz’s poems in both their original Spanish and English translations. Although my Spanish is extremely limited, I loved being able to go back and forth between the Spanish and English versions, which gave the poems extra extra depth for me as I read. I am always awed by translations that preserve the original meaning and beauty of the writing – and especially of poetry.

As with most poetry collections, I enjoyed some poems more than others. That always has to do with my state of mind, as a reader. I find that poems I particularly relate to one day may not even be on my radar another. For me, that is the gift of a poetry collection! You never quite read the same collection twice – even if you are reading the same collection twice. My favorite poems in this collection (for today, at least) were included in Section II, Model.

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read a new-to-me poet during National Poetry Month.

Thank you to Atria | Washington Square Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The collection will be published on May 12, 2026.

4 stars

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Title: Villa Coco

Author: Andrew Sean Greer

Publisher: Doubleday Books

Publication date: June 9, 2026

My review:

Title: In a World of Sunrises

Author: Cleo Wade

Publisher: Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster

Publication date: April 7, 2026

My review:

I was pleased to read an advanced copy of Cleo Wade’s charming new book, In a World of Sunrises, due to be published in early April by Avid Reader Press.

This lovely volume includes quotes, mantras, original poetry, and brief essays each designed to bring hope and joy to its readers. Best enjoyed in small bites, the book is designed to be read one-entry-per-day, and would make a lovely gift for a friend – especially if that friend could use a cheering boost.

The cover art is charming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for providing me with an advance copy of Cleo Wade’s In a World of Sunrises in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on April 7, 2026.

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Title: True Color

Author: Kory Stamper

Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Viking, and Anchor

Publication date: March 31, 2026

My review:

As a (mostly) self-taught artist, I’ve always been intrigued by color – in theory, in practice, and just playing around with it. So I was eager to read Kory Stamper’s True Color, her soon-to-be-published (March 31, 2026; Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor) deep dive into . . . color.

But – surprise – that’s not really what it is.

It IS a deep dive, surely — a dense and detailed deep dive into the naming of color and the making/editing of dictionaries, with quite a bit of (maybe too much?) behind-the-scenes 1940s Merriam-Webster employment drama. Interesting. Certainly very well researched. But just . . . not what I was expecting. The minutiae wore me down, actually, and I needed to do a lot of skimming for final half of the book. (The epilogue is wonderful, though.)

I’m afraid I was not the “right” reader for this book. I appreciate the research and effort Kory Stamper put into this volume, and for readers interested in lexicography (but not necessarily color theory), this book will be your nirvana.

The cover is really wonderful.

Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Kory Stamper’s True Color in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on March 31, 2026.

3 stars.

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Title: Life In Progress

Author: Hans Ulrich Obrist

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Publication date: April 14, 2026

My Review:

As an untrained-but-always-learning “hobby art historian,” I was eager to read an ARC edition of Hans Ulrich Obrist’s soon-to-be-published (April 14, 2026; Crown Publishing) memoir Life in Progress to learn more about his life story and curatorial processes. Although I found this memoir an enjoyable read, I also found it . . . challenging. Not because of the writing, the style, or the subject matter – but because I lacked the background to fully grasp and appreciate many of the artists and other curators in Obrist’s world. As I read, I spent considerable time researching artists, galleries, curators, geography . . . but ultimately, it overwhelmed me.

I’m afraid I was not the “right” reader for this memoir, although I am pleased to have added so much information to my “hobby art historian” repertoire, and I do appreciate Obrist’s work and world much more now that I’ve read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of Hans Ulrich Obrist’s new memoir in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on April 14, 2026.

3 stars.

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Title: Light and Thread

Author: Han Kang

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: March 24, 2026

My Review:

Having read three of Han Kang’s previous novels, I was eager to read an advance copy of Light and Thread, her memoir/essay collection set to be published in the United States by Random House in March 2026.

The memoir threads together fragments of Han Kang’s essays, speeches, and poetry in a compact volume sharing her thought processes as she researches and writes her novels, descriptions of her ordinary days, and pieces of her gardening journal (which I found particularly fascinating). The writing, of course, is lovely, lyrical – and compelling.

I enjoyed reading what goes on beneath the surface of Han Kang’s writing process. This is a lovely companion piece to her novels, and will offer her fans a greater understanding of her work.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on March 24, 2026.

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Title: Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry

Author: Ada Límon

Publisher: Scribner

Publication date: April 7, 2026

My Review:

In these dark and muddled times, I frequently find myself turning to the words of my favorite poets for comfort, refuge, and sanctuary. What a gift, then, to receive an advance copy of Ada Límon’s slim volume Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry, due to be published in early April 2026.

Lately, I find my emotions live very close to the surface. It doesn’t take much these days, it seems, to reach my tender heart and bring tears to my eyes. Such was the case as I read Ada Límon’s heartfelt words in this, her closing lecture to the Library of Congress as she ended her term as the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. What a beautiful case she makes . . . for poetry! Right now. For all of us. As the world we know shifts under our feet, Ada Límon reminds us that poetry can save us with its offer of hope and connection and possibility.

I cannot wait to have a copy of this wonderful volume for my own poetry library. I will read it again and again. And probably cry every time I do.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with an advance copy of Ada Límon’s Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on April 7, 2026.

5 stars

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Title: Tata

Author: Valérie Perrin

Publisher: Europa Editions

Publication date: June 23, 2026

My Review:

This review is based on my reading of an advance copy of the coming Europa Editions version of Tata by Valérie Perrin, to be released in the US in late June 2026. I loved reading Valérie Perrin’s Fresh Water for Flowers a few years ago, so I was eager to read this ARC copy of her newest novel, Tata.

Like Perrin’s earlier novels, Tata is a gentle, comfortable novel of friendship, family, and loss – but there is a darker side to Tata, with secrets revealed slowly over the course of the book. I didn’t find this new novel as compelling or charming as I did Perrin’s earlier Fresh Water for Flowers. Although the story is well-told and carefully structured, I had a tough time getting into this novel, and needed to push myself to continue reading. It may be the translation, which felt somewhat stiff and detached, or it may be that it is so long (600 pages) as to feel bloated. There are many characters to keep track of – spanning multiple generations and locations. (I recommend keeping a list as you read.)

Although I’m sure fans of Perrin’s earlier books will love Tata, I just didn’t find that it flowed as easily or as comfortably as Fresh Water for Flowers did.

Thank you to Europa Editions and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on June 23, 2026.

3 stars

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Title: John of John

Author: Douglas Stuart

Publisher: Grove Atlantic

Publication date: May 5, 2026

My review:

As a big fan of Douglas Stuart’s first two novels (Shuggie Bainand Young Mundo), I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of his newest work, John of John (to be published in early May 2026). And now that I have read it, I’ve been agonizing for weeks over how to do this stunning novel justice with my review. Because Douglas Stuart has absolutely done it again! He has reached right in and stolen my heart with his incredible story of community and family and belonging, and the ties – and secrets – that bind us.

As always, Stuart’s writing is sublime. His dialog sparkles and his narrative flows surely and easily. When it comes to characters, Stuart is a master. I don’t think anyone writes better “messy” characters than Douglas Stuart, each so fully alive and bursting with humanity that they all make my heart ache. And, of course, his remote Scottish island setting is the perfect moody-broody background for all that transpires. John of John is an immersive, compelling read, and will likely end up as one of my 2026 top reads.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be published May 5, 2026.

5 stars.

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Title: Joyful, Anyway

Author: Kate Bowler

Publisher: Random House

Publication date: April 7, 2026

My review:

“You will never be cured of this grief, it’s true. But you will be joyful, anyway. I swear.”

Big fan of Kate Bowler here, so I was thrilled to receive an ARC edition of her upcoming book Joyful, Anyway, due to be published in early April 2026.

Part memoir, part “self-help” (I don’t like that term, especially in describing this particular book, because it’s more . . . “self-understanding,” really) Joyful, Anyway is just Great Storytelling . . . with a real-life slant. Kate Bowler writes like . . . she’s writing to you, personally. Like she’s a good friend just talking with you over a glass of wine. Totally accessible, completely relatable (even when she’s running off a cliff to try para-sailing), and always tender, Kate’s new book is the perfect book to take you through the aftermath of any of life’s (many) disappointments. And she’ll make you laugh while she’s doing it.

I can’t wait to buy a copy for my personal library.
Highly recommended.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Joyful, Anyway will be published April 7, 2026.

5 stars.

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Title: Wellwater

Author: Karen Solie

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Publication date: May 5, 2026

My Review:

I hadn’t yet been introduced to the work of Canadian poet Karen Solie, so I was especially pleased to receive an advance copy of Wellwater, Solie’s newest poetry collection, due to be published in the US in early May 2026.

Karen Solie writes powerful, lyrical poems about environmental, cultural, and economic issues and how they influence . . . where we live, how we live. Not to be read quickly, her collection is meaty and requires a level of immersion and attention for full impact. I was especially taken with The Grasslands. In fact, I will look forward to purchasing my own copy of this collection when it comes out in May just to have that particular poem in my personal library.
Thank you to Farrar, Strauss and Giraux and to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The collection will be published May 5, 2026.

4.5 stars, rounded to 5