Book Review: Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line by Elle Cosimano

Title: Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

Author: Elle Cosimano

Series/Standalone: Finlay Donovan Series (Book #6)

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Cozy, Adult Fiction

Pages: 368

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Year Published: 2026

Format: Audiobook

"Life hasn't been easy for Finlay Donovan lately, but it just got a whole lot harder. Her nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland, where she's facing criminal charges for a theft she swears she didn't commit. A prisoner to an ankle bracelet as she awaits her trial, Vero is forced to live with her overbearing mother and nosy aunt. Threatening messages keep arriving on her mother's door, demanding Vero "turn over the money... or else."  And if she doesn't figure out who really stole her former sorority's treasury funds, her next home might be a prison cell.

But proving her innocence might be an impossible feat. Vero was the treasurer of her sorority when the money went missing- one of the only people who had access to the cash. And her alibi is a date who ghosted her. With her court date quickly approaching, and her mysterious stalker on her tail, Vero needs to clear her name fast. 

Finlay decides a trip to Maryland is in order. After all, Vero stood by her through her darkest moments, and Finlay will be damned if she lets her best friend and children's nanny be convicted for something she didn't do. She sets off on a mission to sus out the real thief and bring Vero home."

My Rating: 4.25/5

While reading this book, I found out that this series is being continued for at least another 4 books (at least, rumour has it). This made me concerned, but as I read the book, I enjoyed the cozy way it's written. The plot of this one was different in the sense that our main characters were solving a mystery, not covering themselves only. I also thought it was fun to have a book with newer characters (Vero's family, her past sorority crew, etc.). Some of the "twists" were pretty predictable, but that being said, isn't that why I'm reading this brand of mystery? That and for the characters whom I've grown to love (go Vero go). 

Sidny

Book Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Title: Parable of the Sower

Author: Octavia E. Butler

Series/Standalone: Earthseed Duology (Book #1)

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Pages:  345

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Year Published: 1993

Format: Paperback Copy (Library Copy)

"In 2024, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.

Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren's father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinary sensitve to the pain of others.

When fire destroys their compound, Lauren's family is killed, and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind."

My Rating: 2.5/5

I was interested in this book as it was a book that came recommended after The Handmaid's Tale. I can see why people recommend it, it has similar narration styles, the dystopian aspects etc. That being said, this book wasn't what I expected. It spent a lot of time setting up the world, and then the end of the book felt a little rushed to me. That being said, I do plan to try the next book on audio. 

Sidny

Book Review: 107 Days by Kamala Harris

Title: 107 Days

Author: Kamala Harris

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, Adult
Pages: 304

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2025

Format: Audiobook

"For the first time, and with surprising and revealing insights, Kamala Harris tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history.

Your Secret Service code name is Pioneer.

You are the first woman in history to be elected vice president of the United States. 

On July 21st, 2024, youre running mate, Joe Biden, announces that he will not be seeking reelection. 

The presidential election will occur on November 5th, 2024.

You have 107 days.

Written with candor, a unique perspective, and the pace of a page-turning novel, 107 Days takes you inside the race for the presidency as no one has ever done before."

My Rating: 5/5

As a Canadian, I am always interested when I hear about American politics, as a close neighbour AND A SEPARATE COUNTRY (no 51st state here), I wonder how a two-party political system benefits people. How do you decide who you stand with. What if the right, as it is now, is too far right, and the left is learning a way you maybe also don't agree with? Where is the middle ground? And how in the world did Americans not turn out for a vote that will have a forever impact on their country, their homes, their lives and the lives of their children? I can't claim to understand. But seeing some of the behind-the-scenes sparked my curiosity.  A reminder to Americans that we are not your enemy, we are your neighbours, your allies, but don't poke the bear. 

SIdny

Book Review: Over the Influence by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque

Title: Over the Influence

Author: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Biography, Nonfiction, Adult

Pages: 341

Publisher: Da Capo

Year Published: 2024

Format: Audiobook

"Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder What happened to JoJo?

In OVER THE INFLUENCE, JoJo holds nothing back as she brings her against-the-odds story of adversity and triumph to center stage. From being raised by parents who were both battling addiction and depression, to emerging victorious in a never ending lawsuit with her record lable, to putting the fragmented pieces of herself together after a maddening period of rebellion and self-betrayal, she takes the reader through turbulent years that led her to where she is releasing new music under her own imprint, pperforming in shows and festivals around the world, headlining a Broadway show, and beyond. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at her life, both personal and professional, JoJo's unflinching vulnerability allows readers to connect with her on a whole new level through stories of success, heartbreak, redemption and resilience."

My Rating: 5/5

As someone who was growing up in JoJo's era of music, I was always curious what happened to her, but I figured that maybe the spotlight was not what she wanted, and I hoped that if that was the case, she was happy just being a normal teen/ adult later in her life. Learning that that was far from the case came as a surprise to me. This book really covers the inner workings of the music industry, a look at the 2000s teen fame industry and what it means to really work through our parents' demons. Being able to break generational curses/traumas is a big theme in this novel, so if you're not on board with that, I wouldn't recommend it, but as someone who understands that on another level, it felt like I was seen. JoJo manages to do all this, but still keeps humour in the story. Truly remarkable, and I look forward to seeing what comes next from her. 

Sidny

Book Review: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee

Title: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 304

Publisher: MIRA

Year Published: 2025

Format: Ebook (Kindle Unlimited)

"Cora Zeng is a crime scene cleaner, washing away the remains of brutal murders and suicides in Chinatown. The bloody messes don't bother her, not when she's already witnessed the most horrific thing possible: her sister being pushed in front of a train.

Before fleeing the scene, the murderer whispered two words: bat eater.

Months pass, the killer is never caught, and Cora can barely keep herself together. She pushes away all feelings, disregards the bite marks that appear on her coffee table, and won't take her aunt's advice to prepare for the Hungry Ghost Festival, when the gates of hell open.

Cora tries to ignore the rising dread in her stomach, even when she and her weird coworkers begin finding bat carcasses at their crime scene clean-ups. But Cora can't ignore the fact that all their recent clean-ups have been the bodies of East Asian women.

Soon Cora will learn: you can't just ignore hungry ghosts."

My Rating: 4/5

I'm not sure exactly what I just read, but I liked it. I think the author did a great job of combining mystery, folklore and the everyday horror that were present during Covid. The racism, the hate crimes, and the death that surrounded New York (as someone who wasn't there and only saw the news). That being said, I didn't expect many of the twists, which were great, but also felt unsettling in a way that took me out of the story at some points. I would be curious to learn more about the folklore and beliefs in hungry ghosts in the future if anyone has recommendations for nonfiction works surrounding these beliefs. 

Thank you for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: All Together Now by Alan Doyle

Title: All Together Now

Author: Alan Doyle

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Adult

Pages: 200

Publisher: Doubleday Canada

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"One of Newfoundland's funniest and most beloved storytellers offers his cure for the Covid blues.

Is there a more sociable province than Newfoundland and Labrador? Or anywhere in Canada with a greater reputation for coming to the rescue of those in need?

At this time of Covid, singer, songwriter and bestselling author Alan Doyle is feeling everyone's pain. off the road and spending more days at home than he has since he was a child hawking cod tongues on the wharfs of Petty Harbour, he misses the crowds and companionship of performing across the country and beyond. But most of all, he misses the cheery clamour of pubs in his hometown, where one yarn follows another so quickly you have to be as ready as an Olympian at the start line to get your tale in before someone is well into theirs already. We're all experiencing our own version of that deprivation, and Alan, one of Newfoundland's finest storytellers, wants to offer a little balm. 

All Together Now is a gathering book form- a virtual Newfoundland pub. There are adventures in foreign lands, including an apparently filthy singalong in Polish (well, he would have sung along if he'd understood the language), a real-life ghost story involving an elderly neighbour, a red convertible and a clown horn, a potted history of his social drinking and heartwarming reminiscences from another past world, childhood- all designed to put a smile on the faces of the isolated-addled."

My Rating: 5/5

I think that even years after Covid has left us less isolated but still changed as a society, this book still reads perfectly. This brought many laughs, smiles and just general giggles. I would highly recommend Alan Doyle's books to everyone. If you're looking for great storytelling, a laugh and just a general good outlook, you've found the author for you.

Sidny

Book Review: The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott

Title: The Secrets We Kept

Author: Lara Prescott

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction

Pages: 368

Publisher: Knopf

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook (Own It)

"A thrilling tale of secretaries turned spies, of love and duty, and of sacrifice- the real-life story of the CIA plot to infiltrate the hearts and minds of Soviet Russia, not with propaganda, but with the greatest love story of the twentieth Doctor Zhivago. 

At the height of the Cold War, two secretaries are pulled out of the typing pool at the CIA and given the assignment of a lifetime. Their to smuggle Doctor Zhivago out of the USSR, where no one dares publish it, and help Pasternak's magnum opus make its way into print around the world. Glamorous and sophisticated Sally Forrester is a seasoned spy who has honed her gift for deceit all over the world- using her magnetism and charm to pry secrets out of powerful men. Irina is a complete novice, and under Sally's tutelage quickly learns how to blend in, make drops and invisibly ferry classified documents.

The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story- the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who was sent to the Gulag and inspired Zhivago's heroine, Lara- with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk. From Pasternak's country estate outside Moscow to the brutalities of the Gulag, from Washington, DC, to Paris and Milan, The Secrets We Kept captures a watershed moment in the history of literature- told with soaring emotional intensity and captivating historical detail. And at the centre of this unforgettable debut is the powerful belief that a piece of art can change the world."

My Rating: 2/5

I didn't hate this book, but I didn't love it. It was so middle of the line. I found parts of it intriguing, but it never really went as far as I hoped it would. It touched on so many things, but then left so much to be desired. I really wish that it had been more nitty-gritty in some areas and less about the mistress's perspective. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing

Title: My Lovely Wife

Author: Samantha Downing

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 390

Publisher: Berkley Books

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"A couple's fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting...

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder."

My Rating: 3.5/5

This is the story of a couple, a romantic, terrifying, confusing couple. Our main characters are dark, twisted and a stereotype that we see in the suburban family life. They are even more than meets the eye, or meets the reader. The setting was basic, but with the background context, creepy. I did enjoy the fact that we as readers seemed in the know for much longer than some of our other characters. That being said, it did remind me a bit too much of some other psychological thrillers I've read and/or watched. 

Sidny

Book Review: Just Between Us by Adeline Kon

Title: Just Between Us

Author: Adeline Kon

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Graphic Novels, Sports, Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 320

Publisher: Dial Books

Year Published: 2026

Format: Paperback (Library Copy)

"In this gorgeous debut graphic novel, Lydia tries to fall back in love with figure skating without falling for her competition.

Lydia Chen knows how good she is on the ice. Technically perfect, she's been the one to beat since her debut years ago.

Except now, something is missing in her performances- a spark that's been gone for a while. Between the constant training, appealing to sponsors to fund her, and the pressure to perform, Lydia's passion for skating has disappeared.

When her rival Elaine Yee starts training at the same rink, Lydia's struck by the emotion in Elaine's routines and unwillingly finds herself getting closer to her as they compete for a spot in the Olympics.

As the tension between them comes to a head, Lydia's about to find out how a competitor can become an ally and figure out how to feel alive on the ice again."

My Rating: 3/5

This was a fun YA take on sports romance, but it felt a little disjointed. The characters were very clearly stereotypes, and while we started to see growth and changes, I wish that it had been more direct. It was hard to like Lydia throughout, and while she made an effort to change by the end, it wasn't enough for me. The art was gorgeous but it was maybe just a bit young for me.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: RE: Trailer Trash Vol. 1

Title: RE: Trailer Trash Vol. 1

Author: Alyssa Villaire & Yishan Li

Series/Standalone: RE:Trailer Trash (Book #1)

Genre: Graphic Novel, Adult Fiction

Publisher: Vault Comics

Pages: 256

Year Published: 2026

Format: Paperback Copy (Library) 

"DO OVER. DO BETTER.

Tabitah Moore has lived a miserable life and being treated as "Trailer Trash Tabitha." But, after a mishap with an MRI, her mind is sent back to 1998 and into her 16-year-old-body. With her life now in front of her, maybe this is the chance to redo her life!

But is it so easy to change what you already lived through?

From the bestselling Webtoon Original, RE: Trailer Trash!

Sometimes all you need is a second chance."

My Rating: 5/5

This was a really great graphic novel to read in one sitting. I didn't realize at first it was a webtoon comic at all but it makes alot of sense. I look forward to reading the next installment. I also enjoyed the art style, the premise, etc. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny