In May of 2014, I read the book We Were Liars by E Lockhart, and it blew me away. CRAZY good book! I raved about it in my review at that time, and well…
A lot has happened in my life personally since 2014, as well as a WHOLE LOTTA BOOKS… so, as I suspect most readers do as well… I forgot about it.
Over the recent holiday weeks, I had a little extra time and noticed that We Were Liars was a mini-series on Prime Video. I thought I had read the book, didn’t check here to verify, and actually, I am so glad I didn’t. 🙂 I remembered very little other than that our teenage protagonist, Cadence, had returned to the Island near Martha Stewart’s Vineyard for the summer as she had done every summer since she was young, but this time was different, as something had happened the previous year. There was an accident, and Cadence could not remember the details other than that she was found in the water and sent to the hospital. Now, back to where it all happened, spending time with her cousins and friends who were there every summer as well, and holding some secrets to what went down… Cadence is slowly piecing it together.
Crazy what you can forget. I was blown away as this came together, and two MEGA recommendations for you.
1) If you have not read this book – We Were Liars, get it. Read it. Do it now. I’ll wait. 2) If you have read this book, ABSOLUTELY watch the Prime Video series under the same title.
SO SO GOOD. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
I didn’t know until recently that there was a second book, written as a prequel – Family Of Liars, which I just started listening to on audio yesterday.
House hunting wars go to a new level in the suburbs of Washington DC for Margo and Ian Miyake. After 18 months of house searching and 11 failed bidding wars, Margo is feeling her dreams of the white picket fence and the tire swing in the back yard to raise their future children slipping from her grasp. Will they ever catch a break?
Then, just as she is about to give up, Margo gets a hot tip about a house that will be listed in the upcoming weeks… sworn to secrecy, Margo can not believe her luck – this house checks off all the boxes (including the tire swing!). But how will they beat out the other interested buyers… what can be done differently than what they have done before?
While Ian, an EPA Lawyer, is more level-headed and realistic, Margo has become obsessed with the house – HER HOUSE, and will stop at quite literally nothing to be sure that when the dust clears, it is her… err… their name on the title. After all, what’s too much when it comes to your dreams?
Honestly, you are getting a mixed bag of nuts on this one. When the book started – I loved it. It was just fun to watch Margo slowly lose it over the pressures of securing a home and then finding the holy grail. Months of trying and failing will do that to a person, and in the start, Margo’s wild antics are humorous, and for most of the book, I am all in.
Deeper in – the book takes a pretty dark turn – totally changing the feel of the book for me. Maybe it was because it was unexpected (I mean – I’ve read some pretty creepy psychological thrillers), maybe I was looking for something lighter – but it left things a little wonky in the end. Some things in the book felt unnecessary and did not add to the book; in fact, IMO, took away. I’m a little sad about this, as 3/4 of the way through the book, I thought I had hit on another 5-star read.
And the moral of this story – be careful what you wish for.
Rated: 3.5 out of 5 Read Author Before: No – this is a debut author Read Author Again: unsure
Themes: unhinged, infidelity, Going TOO FAR
Book Club Worthy – As much as I have mixed feelings about this, I think a good book club discussion could happen. Who hasn’t gone to great measures to get something they really wanted – even to the point of being a big unhinged ;P
What an absolutely beautiful book that will stay with me forever~ Sheila
When a mysterious older gentleman moves to Golden, Georgia, little is known about him other than that he goes by the name Theo. When in a coffee shop one morning, where 92 framed sketches of various residents are on display, Theo comes up with the idea to purchase each of these portraits and gift them to their “rightful owners” – the person in the frame. And what a wide variety of people! An accountant, a custodian, a landlord, a bookstore owner, a street musician, a one armed mixolist, a young girl, and a homeless woman, just to name a few. As Theo sets out on his mission, each sketched person is invited to meet. All Theo asks in return is that they sit with him and tell him about themselves… stories are told, long-lasting hurts are shared, treasured memories revealed, and in the process, lives are changed.
This is my planned first book of 2026. Only recently did this book draw my attention – and in an even shorter time, when a friend posted about this book on social media, the deal was sealed. Not only did I need to read this, but the timing, the beginning of a New Year, seemed to be perfect.
Having just finished this book yesterday afternoon, I am fresh from the words and all the feels. As I think about this today, I honestly don’t know if I can name another recent book that I have read that left me feeling this emotional, inspired, and with chills.
What a perfect book to start the year with. Beautifully and thoughtfully written. May we all take each day as a gift and a chance to quietly make a difference in a positive way. May we all long for Heaven the way that Theo does – and may we be the type of people that bring a little bit of Heaven to earth.
Absolutely read this book.
Rated: 5 out of 5 Read Author Before: No Read Author Again: Maybe – this feels so good I kind of don’t want to touch it 🙂
Book Club Worthy – YES, and if I have anything to say about it – it absolutely will be. There is so, so much that would make for great discussion here.
Happy New Year! It’s snowing here in Central Minnesota. I’m at my kitchen table with my COFFEE looking out the glass sliding door to the deck. This morning, I have spent time putting together this annual post. Thank you, friends, fellow book lovers, and Authors who sent me what book you are starting the New Year with. It’s so fun to see the variety – both new and old titles… hopefully some will get added to your TBR pile (mountain). Be sure to watch for the authors – Thank you to PJ Tracy, Cary Griffith, William Kent Krueger, Jill Hannah Anderson, Allen Eskens, Randy Sue Meyers, Lorna Landvik, Kao Kalia Yang, Barbara Claypole White, Heather Gudenkauf, Joshilyn Jackson, Adriana Trigiana, Julie Schumacher, Laurie Frankel, Nadia Hashimi, Erin Soderberg Downing, and Jenna Blum. So fun to see you in the mix and what you are reading 😀 If I missed anyone, please let me know.. pictures come to me by text, email, Facebook, PMs…. I can easily miss someone, so please resend, and I will get you added.
And with no further babbling from me – here are this year’s wide variety of First Books (titles linked below for easy access.
Note about my pick: Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. As usual, I was back and forth on my choice… for a while there I felt certain I was going to go with a re-read (#comfort read) and then I recently was reunited with a book that I thought was a standalone and found out there are more and that this would be a great time to dig back in ( more about this later), there was also one I am intrigued by that a friend is also reading and I could not decide if it was for me now- or better to read once we travel to Florida when I can be all in when I have nothing but time over that three days of travel… – and then finally, Theo Of Golden caught my attention. This book was already in my peripheral vision as a “I need to read this,” and a recent post by a friend sharing her experience with this book sealed the deal.
If you missed this year’s participation deadline, feel free to send it today. I almost always have a few trickling in on New Years and I am happy to update to include your First Read.
Happy Happy New Year to you all! May 2026 bring JOY and Peace.
The age old adage with a knife twist …trying to have your cake… and eating it too. `Sheila
Wes Drake does not like to do anything small. As a wealthy Wyoming rancher and horse breeder at his and his wife Madeline’s sprawling ranch called Lone Tree, he is all about being seen, and of course, others want to be seen with them. When the couple hosts the party of the year, Pistols and Pearls, a gender reveal party so sensational that every A-lister wants to be invited, it makes headlines, not only before the party, but (in unfortunate ways) after the party as well.
When the vintage truck filled with colorful explosive powder blows up when shot, it leaves behind far more than the sex of the baby – it leaves several guests injured, and a good friend of Madeline’s dead.
As the police get involved to get to the bottom of what happened, things are revealed that make it clear that this was no random accident, but a premeditated plan… intended to keep some people quiet… But who was the intended target? And what are they hiding?
It’s no secret that I love me some Heather Gudenkauf. Known for engaging discussion-worthy thrillers, when this one popped up on my radar, it was a no-brainer to dig in. Heather did not disappoint. What a fun subject to plan a crime around – a Gender reveal? Excellent.
In her usual style, Heather brings us delightful, well-developed characters that make you feel like you were also a guest at this party-gone-wrong.
And trust me you are in for a treat as all is not as it appears, and when you think you know you know….
you don’t know… But you will 🙂
Rated: 3.5 out of 5 Read Author Before: Yes Read Author Again: Yes
Triggers: Marital abuse
Book Club Worthy – Yes! What a fun discussion to have around the whole gender reveal party trends – yay or nay – have you been to one? What was cool about it ( or not cool)? Would you do one/host one? In the book, they had some ideas for the catering team for after the reveal. If money were no objecy how would you plan a reveal? The history some of the characters have with one another – good/bad/indifferent
True Crime Podcaster, Harley Granger, shows up at Madeline Martin’s bookstore unannounced and apparently intent on digging up Madeline’s past – a decade-old past that Madeline would very much prefer remain buried.
Granger is known for some unethical practices to get the story, a style that has served him well in making his name, as well as his podcast, quite famous. And Granger is coming in fully loaded with questions for Madeline, with questions about the night that Madeline survived, and her best friend was killed by Evan Handy.
While Handy has been behind bars for a decade for this murder, as well as suspected to be involved in the disappearance of two young girls around that same time frame, more recently, three other young women have disappeared in similar circumstances… causing questions if Handy worked alone.
As Christmas nears, and a blizzard traps the town, another young woman goes missing…. and Madeline feels she must reopen the doors to the past if she wants to have any peace in her future.
Long-time fan of Author Lisa Unger, I was excited to pick up this book and see what she has been up to. And… with less than a week to Christmas, it seemed timely for this title.
I really do enjoy Lisa’s writing, and found this one to be no exception… well written – if anything, I would say it felt a little compact as there is much to unpack here with Madelyn’s back story creeping into her present… the missing girls of the past and the present… Yet a worthy little read for a cold winter night/weekend… curled up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a taser.
Enjoy!
Rated: 3 out of 5 Read Author Before: Yes, many times Read Author Again: Most likely
Book Club Worthy – Good question. I can pretty much make a discussion out of any book, so yes – topics such as trust, young infatuation, disobeying parents ( what insane things did you do as a teenager), and friendships could all be part of that discussion as well.
First Book is a long tradition that I have had long before I started sharing it with others to join in.
For me, there was always something fun about choosing the first book I would read in the New Year. It could be an old favorite I have been hoping to re-read, it could be a long awaited read that has been on my shelf or on my radar for far too long…. it could be just released…. or hundreds of years old…
You may ask – “Why is that a big deal, Sheila? I mean, it’s just another book. It’s just another day.”
Is it? IS IT?
The why is… I like traditions. I like having something special to look forward to and over the holiday weeks – even more so because, honestly, it keeps my mind busy during what for many of us can be harder days. And ( yes, there is more…) I enjoy seeing what others choose for their first book, and from what I hear, a lot of you like to see the books as well. For some, this becomes a reading list of sorts… it may remind you of a book you meant to read, and forgot about, or introduce you to a new book you were unaware of. I enjoy seeing the variety as well if there is a title or two that many have on their list to kick off 2026.
Does it mean you are reading through the night, crossing over from 2025 to 2026? Cool – but no… only if you want to 🙂 It means that you are reading this between the years, or it is the first book you are picking up in 2026. Refer to the rules above.
b) email me ( Put 1st Book in the subject line so I don’t miss it)
c) Text me if you have my number
d) Private Message me on Facebook
And – please, when you send in, send a picture of you with the book. It’s fun, and it makes for a great collage of readers all over the world 🙂 Here are some (not all) from last year to give you the idea:
Hope to see what YOU are planning for your first book of 2026 😀
Hannah Martin’s twenty-nine years have not been without bumps. After living in many cities (and many jobs), Hannah moves back to her hometown to stay in her best friend Gabby’s guest room. In celebration of Hannah’s return, a fun evening out leads to an encounter with her ex-boyfriend Ethan. When Gabby says it is time to go, minutes later, Ethan offers to drive Hannah home as well… And…
I’m sure you know the name Taylor Jenkins Reid…I mean, she’s like another great Taylor – like Taylor Swift- hit after hit after hit. Her books, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is Back, and of course, the newest one, Atmosphere, have been some heavy hitters… and as I have said before – I started reading her when her books were more chick lit… so this makes this review interesting…
First, I must have had some sort of brain malfunction, as for some reason, when looking for my next listen, this popped on my radar, and I thought it was a new book by Reid. Fun, I thought it looked like she was going back to her writing roots….And… honestly did not catch it was an older title until I went on Goodreads this morning and see that I had already marked this as read in 2015. *sigh* In my defense… I’m sure I do not recall a lot from 2015, so let’s just call this a new read to me, as I recall nothing. That true confession of a forgetful reader out of the way, listening to this book was unique and interesting. In alternating chapters, Hannah’s story continues with her going home with Gabby AND – going home with Ethan. The books split into two very different story lines, continuing what would have happened in both choices.
Do you recall those old choose-your-adventure books where you decided what choice was made before you turned the page and then followed that outcome? Kinda like that.
Honestly, it’s hard to explain how I felt about this book other than agreeing a little less than my 4-star review of 2015. While definite points for uniqueness, on audio, some of the chapters felt a little repetitive… and admittedly, as there are big outcomes due to each choice, I found that at times I was a bit confused (could have been audio vs book). In the end, I liked it.
Rated: 3 out of 5 Read Author Before: yes Read Author Again: Yes she has quite a few of the newer titles that I have not read yet
Book Club Worthy – mmm… I think so. A big discussion could be about choices we make and paths not taken ( we enjoyed this very much in Summer House) … and of course… There would be cinnamon rolls 🙂
How do you not read this book? Two fan favorites in one! ~Sheila
Maggie McCabe has been to the top of the mountain with an incredible career as a highly skilled surgeon – living by her rules … Until one day, she wasn’t. When life takes a turn, Maggie’s time on the mountain is now a landslide of having her medical license revoked, more debt than she can dig herself out of, and a low that she has never experienced before. When a plastic surgeon/old colleague connects her to an elite group who value her skills, offering Maggie a chance to not only clear all her debt, but have more money than she has ever had, it is impossible to pass on the offer. This is her olive branch, and she has to take it. All she has to do is keep everything quiet – she can not tell friends or family where she is going or what she is doing. Halfway across the globe, Maggie enters a state-of-the-art personal hospital room for her to use and a world of insane luxury she could have only imagined. Maggie fully plans to uphold her end of the agreement – but when the patient she is working on disappears, and Maggie finds things are not adding up and she is now on the run.
Photo from the Book Expo In New York You all know I have a soft spot for Harlan… for that matter, Reese as well. Finding these two writing a book together… BRILLIANT.
I listened to this one on audio and enjoyed a different spin on a thriller that had a medical background. I enjoyed Reese’s narration and found the storyline to be unlike anything I have read/listened to. I was engaged all the way through – admittedly not my favorite ending nor my favorite setting … but again… It’s Harlan and it’s Reese!!!!
Little background if you are not familiar with Harlan Coben – first, he usually writes alone. I have been reading him since my 20s, and one of the few authors I can say that I have always enjoyed. I refer to him as a lighter version of Dean Koontz. What I love about this author is that I have read him for 3 decades, and to see his Netflix movies based on his books is so exciting – AND a True Crime CBS Series that will launch on January 7th called Final Twist.
Hana lives a quiet life in Minnesota and likes it that way.
Yet when she becomes aware that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows her past has come to pay an unwanted visit.
Thirty years ago, Hana was someone completely different. She was a teenager growing up in war-torn Bosnia, and her name was Nura Divjak. When her entire family was murdered before her eyes, Nura was thrown into a war she did not want, and a side of her emerged in ways no one could foresee. Now her past is coming, and the only way to survive is to bring Nura back. No matter what the cost.
A long-time fan of Allen’s books, I was excited to get my hands on this book and purchased it this past May at the Words by the Water author event I helped the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library with. Of course, as it often happens, the book went to my TBR stack and hung out there until this past month when the Bookies Book Club chose it for their November read. I have to say, I am glad I waited – reading this with a group of 17 ladies made for a much richer experience.
Admittedly, for myself, it was a heavier read than I was planning on. I’m used to a different style from Author Allen Eskens, and at first, I personally struggled engaging with the book. Let’s just say – Bookies to the rescue. After talking with a few of our members over the past few weeks and hearing things such as “I can’t put it down,” “I can’t wait to get back to it!_, “Usually when a book goes back and forth, I like one storyline better than the other, but in this case – I love both!”, as well as “The book is making me think of my own life and where I was at in the early to mid 1990’s and how different my life was…” And a personal favorite comment, “This is why I joined this book club. To read books like this that I would have never picked up on my own.”
Last night (November 11th, 2025), 15 of us sat in the front room of my house to enjoy a glass or two of wine, delicious food ( we had both Sarma ( a Bosnian dish of cabbage leaves stuffed with beef and spices in a tomato sauce) and Burek ( Hana’s favorite dish – a dough filled patry with beef, potato, onion and spices) as well as so mnay other delicious dishes. The Burek was my attempt, and while it says to roll it in a pastry in a tube shape and then roll up, my dough did not bend well, so tube Burek it was 🙂
Overall – great discussion – very high ratings from the group – on a scale of 1 to 5, the average rating out of the 15 present was 4.75. A crazy high overall rating, and it honestly speaks volumes of positivity about this book. It’s nice to have an engaging read that is not necessarily the easiest, but is definitely a book to consider. And yes, eventually, I too fell into the rhythm of the read and ended with a personal rating of a 3.75… it was very different than what I was expecting and took me a bit to get into (busy time of year for me too, and I know that contributes) – I am glad I read it.
Rated: 3.75 out of 5 Read Author Before: Yes, and I recommend! Read Author Again: Yes Book Club Worthy: Yes! This is an excellent discussion book. Most of us were alive during the Bosnia war ( I was a young mom at the time) – it hits a little different when it is during your lifetime and you can recall where you were during that period of your life, as well as admittedly how little ( we anyway) knew about this war or how little we followed it.
Book Journey 