Truth & Consequences + A Never Shrinking TBR List

Bumpy resets and lots of all kinds of drama in these entertaining and provocative reads.

[8 books, from left to right: Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block, Dolly All the Time, This Song Is About Me, An Ordinary Sort of Evil; 4 stacked trade paperback books, 2 showing only the edges of their pages atop Rani Deshpanda Takes the Wheel, Scandal of the Summer]

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

contemporary fiction

Berkley, April 2026

Mebel Tanadi's hilarious, heartfelt journey starts with an unexpected rejection and concludes with a recommitment to an unapologetic acceptance of self, imperfections included. It's a poignant fish-out-of-the-aquarium-into-the-ocean celebration of leaps of faith, fresh starts, self-love, and friendship.

Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

contemporary romance

G.P. Putnam Sons, May 2026

A little spin on a PG-13 rated version of Pretty Woman (minus any sex workers) with emotive, layered riffs on the gifts and challenges of care-giving for adult family members. Lots of laughs and uncomfortable revelations.

This Song Is About Me by Melissa De La Cruz

contemporary romance

Little A, April 2026

With some recognizable nods to a real-life country music star turned pop princess and recent newlywed, backtracking through the rise and disappearance of Ryan Holding revels in the messiness and high costs of dreams come true.

An Ordinary Sort of Evil (Rip Through Time #5) by Kelley Armstrong

historical mystery with romantic elements

Minotaur Books, May 2026

21st-century homicide detective Mallory Mitchell's Freaky Friday time-travelling body switch adventures continue as she and her 19th-century motley crew of crime-fighting sleuths continue their investigative escapades into murder and mayhem.

And as usual, a trip to the library to return books concluded with my claiming a holds request and an intriguing book from an eye-catching display.

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day

Happy reading (in whatever format/s)!

Comments

Everyday Magic & Genre Mashups

Three outstanding reads by authors who've crafted irresistible tales that defy the confines of the narrow expectations of a single genre. [three books arranged face up, from left to right: Chocolate Chip City, He's To Die For, The Baby Dragon Cafe] Chocolate Chip City by Be Steadwell contemporary speculative fiction with romance Bywater Books, June 2025 In this lyrical, lush composition three sisters, Jasmine, Ella and Layla, embody riffs on power: of the individual, family, community, culture; attraction, repulsion, collaboration. It's anchored in harsh realities while using magical realism and sharp humor to explore the often awkward and discouraging search for purpose, acceptance, and love in the context of life and the socio-economic pyramid scheme of capitalism. Its recurring variations on themes of erasure and reclaiming legacies echo a present-day continuum of The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope and an emotional texture reminiscent of Like ...

Heartthrobs, Zombie Mobs & Hollywood Divas

Laughs, gore and drama galore! [3 trade paperback books from left to right: One Death at a Time, He Falls First, Zom RomCom] One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman contemporary mystery Berkley, April 2025 Sobriety challenges, meetings, an uneasy alliance, a road trip, an assortment of unusual and unlikely allies, betrayals, lots of laugh and profound sentiment make Julia and Natasha's journey an enjoyable ride even as it addresses ageism sexism with organic candor. He Falls First by Jill Shalvis contemporary romance Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2025 This love story focuses on the joy of support offered by biological and found family even as it references the evolution of recovery from past experiences of domestic violence. Zom RomCom by Olivia Dade contemporary speculative adventure romance Berkley Romance, August 2025 A laugh-aloud spoof of manmade horrors with its own unique quirkiness that delivers so ...

Deja Vu, Recalibrating, Pyramid Schemes & Narcissists

More satisfying romances from an array of talented authors who love love to help offset the real-life ethical and moral horrors shared in a riveting memoir. [3 trade paperback books arranged face-up atop a closed piano, from left to right: Pugs & Kisses, When Javi Dumped Mari, All's Fair in Love and Pickleball] Pugs & Kisses by Farrah Rochon contemporary adult romance Hachette Book Group, July 2025 Evie's juggling a lot personally and professionally. Can the man who ghosted her years ago earn her forgiveness and regain her trust enough to work with her to achieve her personal and professional goals? Revealing those answers offers readers a charming tale of wooing. When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa contemporary adult romance G.P. Putnam's Sons, June 2025 In the decade since they became college besties, Mari and Javi have decisions to make. WIll they jeopardize the shaky stability of the status quo or risk their hearts and the futur...

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