Book Review: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Mad Mabel
Author: Sally Hepworth
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: April 21, 2026
Length: 348 pages
Genre: Thriller
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley (also won a copy in a Goodreads giveaway)
Rating:

From New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth comes a twisty tale of justice, redemption, and one irrepressible woman who’s not done breaking the rules just yet.

Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying.

Because Elsie hasn’t always been Elsie. Once upon a headline, she was Mad Mabel Waller—Australia’s youngest convicted murderer. But was she really mad, or just misunderstood? Either way, she’s kept her secret buried for decades.

Enter seven-year-old Persephone, a relentless little chatterbox who has just moved in across the road (armed with stickers, questions, and no sense of personal boundaries); Joan, who appears to have it in for Elsie; and a healthy dose of public interest—the cops are sniffing around, and the media is circling like seagulls at a picnic.

So Mabel does what she’s always done best—she takes matters into her own hands.

Is she a cantankerous old lady with a shady past? A cold-blooded killer with arthritis? Or just someone who’s finally ready to tell her side of the story?

Sharp, surprising, and wickedly funny, this is the unforgettable story of a woman who’s spent a lifetime being underestimated—and is about to prove everyone wrong. Again.

What a dark, twisted delight it is to have a new book by Sally Hepworth to read! To read? Maybe I should say to devour. I could not put this book down once I started.

As Mad Mabel opens, we meet grouchy 81-year-old Elsie, who lives on Kenny Lane, a quiet Melbourne street close enough to a seedier part of town to have to deal with the occasional miscreants who stumble through. Still, it’s mostly a predictable life, as Elsie spends time with her best friend Daphne, feuds with her neighbor over his yappy dog, and exchanges nasty little notes with the nosy woman across the street. When 7-year-old Persephone decides that Elsie is her new best friend, despite Elsie’s clear resistance, the door is opened to chaos.

First, the dog-owner next door dies and Elsie finds the body. Next, the nosy neighbor lets it be known that she knows the truth about Elsie’s past. Soon, the police want to talk to Elsie about the body, and packs of reporters are staking out her house. Elsie, it turns out, is Mad Mabel, the youngest convicted murderer in Australian history. Has Mad Mabel struck again?

When a pair of persistent podcasters show up on her doorstep, Elsie decides to finally tell her story. After all, she’s 81 years old! What does she have to lose?

The story Elsie tells is dark and tragic, as the truth about her family and her alleged crimes is revealed. The stories of the murders she was rumored to be responsible for as well as the murder for which she was convicted are shared over the course of her interviews with the podcasters, which we see doled out in small doses in “then” chapters interspersed throughout the book. The story of Mabel’s childhood and early teens is shocking and heartbreaking, and we’re fully on Mabel’s side long before the more sordid events come to pass.

The flashback chapters are fascinating; it was jarring to be forced to return to the “now” chapters. And yet, Elsie’s “now” story is also terrific, with much more humor as well as some rising tension. I couldn’t help but laugh at Persephone’s persistence and Elsie’s utter inability to drive her away. Elsie reveals a tender, nurturing heart underneath the cranky exterior as it becomes clear that she does, in fact, care about her neighbors, that they care about her, and that’s she’s more than willing to take action to protect those who need it.

Elsie is a fabulous character, and her story held me tight from start to finish. The balance of now and then is masterfully managed, with just enough revealed chapter by chapter to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I had plenty of guesses about where the story was going — and while some may have been in the general ballpark, I was delighted by just how many twists and surprises the book had in store for me.

Mad Mabel ranks right up at the top of my list of favorite Sally Hepworth books, along with The Good Sister and The Things We Keep — although you really can’t go wrong with any of her books. I have just one of her books yet to read, The Secrets of Midwives (2015), and I’m going to make it a priority to finally pick it up this year.

Mad Mabel is a compelling story that will keep you hooked. Highly recommended — don’t miss it!

*Australia edition – which cover do you prefer?*

Interested in this author? Check out my reviews:
The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
The Mother’s Promise by Sally Hepworth
The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth
The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Purchase links: Amazon – Audible audiobook – Bookshop.org – Libro.fm
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

21Apr2026

Top Ten Tuesday: April Showers

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is April Showers, with the prompt: Interpret this however you’d like: rainy day reads, books that make you cry, books that give you happy tears, books to wash away a bad reading experience, books set in rainy places, books with rain/raindrops/umbrellas on the cover, blue book covers, etc.

I’ve decided to go with the rain theme: “Rain” in the title, or rain on the cover, or a cover/title that’s rain-adjacent (hence the umbrella covers!). Here are my ten:

In Mercy, Rain by Seanan McGuire: Story set in the world of the Wayward Children series
Nothing But the Rain by Naomi Salman: On my TBR
Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie: I have a copy of the paperback on my shelf, but haven’t read it yet
Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes: And yet another owned but not read!
Rainwater by Sandra Brown: A book group book from over five years ago
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer: An umbrella not just on the cover, but important to the plot! (amazing book)
The Umbrella Academy graphic novel series: I’ve read the first volume in this series — this is the image from the Netflix series, but I like the look of it much better than the book cover
Gathering Storm by Maggie Craig: Terrific historical fiction… and storms are rain-adjacent!
Soulless by Gail Carriger: OK, granted, it’s the Parasol Protectorate series… but the cover image looks much more like an umbrella than a parasol to me
Red Earth and Pouring Rain by Vikram Chandra: Read with a book group something like 20 years ago! I don’t think I understood more than half of it… but I do like the title and cover

What April Showers books did you feature this week?

Share your link, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

20Apr2026

The Monday Check-In ~ 4/20/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.

Life.

Happy 4/20 day to all who celebrate. LOL. Not me… but I’m sure the local parks will have plenty of people observing the holiday!

Anyway…

It’s been another busy week, but I did carve out a bit more time for reading, so all in all, I feel good about it! It was a gorgeous sunny weekend and I got outdoors a lot (always a plus), and had a lovely zoom with my book group friends too.

What did I read during the last week?

I made a lot of progress with my April ARCs. Even better, 3 out of 4 were 5-star reads!

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer: Quirky, funny, and utterly delightful. My review is here.

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell: This book’s synopsis was pretty misleading… and the actual story was just so great! My review is here.

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary: I’ve had mixed experiences with this author’s books — a few I’ve loved, and a few… not so much. This one started out in the “meh” category for me, but picked up a lot in the back half. My review is here.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth: Finished late Sunday. Wow! Could not put this book down. Watch for my review later this week.

Pop culture & TV:

We’re down to just three episodes left of Outlander! This past week’s episode was a heartbreaker. Definitely a bit weird for book fans… and generating a lot of rants and controversy! It’s sad to see the show coming to an end, but thank goodness (and thank Diana) there’s still another book to come.

Other than that, I’ve had limited TV time, but I did finally start the most recent season of Dark Winds. I haven’t gotten very far, but it’s such an excellent show that I’m sure I’ll be hooked.

Fresh Catch:

New book!!

I treated myself to a signed hardcover edition of The Book Witch, ordered through the author’s local bookstore. Because it was a preorder with a special offer, it came with a bunch of goodies. I’m so glad I decided to splurge!

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke: I won copies of this book in a Little Free Library giveaway thanks to the Good Morning America book club. Both copies that I added to my LFL were snapped up right away… but I was able to get a copy from the library for my own reading pleasure! I’ve just gotten started — and it has immediately grabbed my attention.

Now playing via audiobook:

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe: This book has been on my TBR for a while now, and since I do want to watch the AppleTV adaptation, it’s about time to start the book.

Ongoing reads:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: My book group’s newest classic read. We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 4%. Coming up this week: Chapters 3 and 4.

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare: I’ll be seeing this play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival this summer, and since I’ve never read it before, I decided now’s the time! I’m trying to read just one scene per day, taking my time with it since I have a few months yet. (I do believe I saw the Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton movie version way back in my high school days… I mainly just remember a close-up of her eyes!)

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

19Apr2026

Audiobook Review: The Name Game by Beth O’Leary

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Name Game
Author: Beth O’Leary
Narrator: Harriet Cains and Arty Froushan
Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Print length: 379 pages
Audio length: 10 hours 55 minutes
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Audible (eARC via NetGalley)
Rating:

A man and a woman with the same name are looking for a fresh start only to discover they have landed the same job in this charming new romance by bestselling author Beth O’Leary.

Charlie couldn’t be happier to take the job of farm-shop manager on the remote, wild Isle of Ormer. She’s grieving, a little lost, and in desperate need of a fresh start.

Jones has come out of a difficult breakup and is looking forward to some peace away from the noise of his city life. Moving to Ormer couldn’t have come at a better time.

But when Charlie Jones and, ahem, Charlie Jones both turn up at Ormer’s one and only farm shop, claiming to have been offered the role of manager, everyone is baffled. How could this have happened? And just who is the real Charlie Jones?

In The Name Game, a seemingly simple mix-up leads to a wild mix of truths, deceptions, accidental discoveries, and found community, all set on a small island in the English Channel that’s known for its farms, wild donkeys, natural beauty, and isolation.

When Charlie Jones and Charlie Jones both turn up for the job of shop manager at Bramblebay Farm on the Isle of Ormer, the farm owners, married couple Rosie and Marley, are perplexed. Yes, they sent a job offer to Charlie Jones — but having conducted the entire process via letters, they have no idea which is the intended Charlie. She (Charlie) is a bubbly woman who seems unprepared for island life; he (Charlie, but prefers to be called Jones) is a bit more taciturn but seems solid enough. There’s only one job, and only one accommodation available. The obvious solution? They’ll need to share — the job and the lodgings — until they can figure out which one is actually right for the job and for the island.

As Charlie and Jones settle in, the mystery of which one the job offer was intended for remains murky, but as both prove they’re capable, a solution of sorts is offered: If they can get the shop to be profitable enough to support co-managers by the time the fall harvest festival rolls around, they can both stay.

At first rivals, Charlie and Jones eventually warm up enough to get past resentment and hostility and achieve the start of a friendship. Forced proximity, grumpy-sunshine tropes anyone? The islanders are a mixed group, with everything run by committee, and the most resistant of all is a super ornery store employee and long-time Ormer resident who seems determined to undermine everything Charlie and Jones set out to do.

As the story progresses, we get flashback chapters showing earlier moments in Charlie and Jones’s lives, explaining the pain and secrets each has brought with them to Ormer and shedding a bit of light on why and how they’ve both arrived at this moment.

I must be honest and say that until somewhere a bit past the midpoint of this book, I would have given The Name Game a 3-star rating at best. Nothing much happens. There are the expected fish-out-of-water moments — such as dealing with an errant pig and getting stuck on a hike after a change in tides — showing how little these people (especially Charlie) are suited for the life they seem to be pursuing. But of course, they settle in, begin to make connections with the islanders, and make a positive difference in the life of the community.

Just when my impatience was really reaching a boiling point, things turn around. Without entering spoiler territory, I can’t say why… but the last third or so of the book kept me pretty enthralled and made the reading experience — even the less interesting parts — worth it in the end.

One aspect I found myself more than a little annoyed by is the characters’ approach to wellness and mental health. While on Ormer, and with prodding from Jones, Charlie acknowledges to herself that she has anxiety. Although she asks the local doctor a question about it, she never seeks treatment, and instead finds ways to self-heal and get to a place where she can manage the anxiety when it spikes. Jones, meanwhile, is an alcoholic whose arrival on Ormer marks day one of sobriety. Like Charlie, he seeks no professional help and does not participate in meetings or counseling, choosing to manage his addiction through his own powers of self-healing and control. Both of these situations disturbed me. It’s nice to think that people could address issues of anxiety or addiction on their own, but a healthier version might have shown them seeking actual help.

I listened to the audiobook of The Name Game, and enjoyed the dual narrators, who alternate as the POV changes between Charlie and Jones. I will say, though, that the story complications late in the book can be a bit challenging to follow via audio — listeners may want to keep a print edition handy as backup!

I’ve loved some of Beth O’Leary’s books more than others, and have found my opinions of some changing once I have more time to think and digest. For example, I was surprised to look back and discover that I gave her previous book, Swept Away, four stars! In retrospect, I have a LOT of issues with the plot, but I suppose in the moment, I was caught up in the story enough to go high on the rating. Regardless, I had to chuckle while listening to The Name Game and coming across this line, which just has to be a wink at the previous book:

“Being stranded together in the sea sounds romantic but is actually just quite inconvenient, surely?”

Overall, my early frustration with the story was redeemed by the fun of the confusion and resolution closer to the end. I wouldn’t say this is the best of Beth O’Leary’s books, but it’s a good one! Be patient with it, and you’ll get to a good payoff. Silliness mixed with more serious emotional moments and a highly unusual and quirky setup make The Name Game an entertaining read/listen.

For more by Beth O’Leary:
The Road Trip
The Flatshare
The Switch
The No-Show
The Wake-Up Call
Swept Away

18Apr2026

Book Review: Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Cherry Baby
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication date: April 14, 2026
Length: 416 pages
Genre: Contemporary fiction / romance
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Rating:

Everybody knows that Cherry’s husband, Tom, is in Hollywood making a movie . . .

Almost nobody knows that he isn’t coming home.

Tom is the creator of Thursday—a semi-autobiographical webcomic that’s become an international phenomenon.

Semi-autobiographical. That means there’s a character in this movie based on Cherry . . . “Baby.”

Wide-hipped, heavy-chested, double-chinned Baby.

Cherry never wanted this. No fat girl wants to see herself caricatured on the page—let alone on the big screen. But there’s no getting away from it. Baby looks so much like Cherry that strangers recognize her at the grocery store.

While her soon-to-be ex-husband is in Los Angeles getting rich and famous and being the internet’s latest boyfriend, Cherry is stuck in Omaha taking care of the dog he always wanted and the house they were going to raise a family in . . . and wondering who she’s supposed to be without him.

Cherry had promised to love Tom through thick and thin.

She’d meant it.

One night, Cherry decides to leave all her problems, including Tom’s overgrown puppy, at home. She ventures out to see her favorite band play her favorite album . . . and someone recognizes her from across the room.

Russ Sutton knew Cherry when she was a young art student with a fondness for pin-up dresses and patent leather heels. Before Tom.

Russ knows Cherry. He likes Cherry.

And best of all . . . he’s never heard of Thursday.

Tender, funny, and utterly human, Cherry Baby is Rainbow Rowell’s richest, most surprising—sexiest—novel yet.

Cherry Baby is a beautiful depiction of the stages of love — beginnings and endings, and all the messy stuff in between. Main character Cherry is a delight — the middle of five sisters from a devout yet raucous family, Cherry knows she’s gorgeous, accepts that she’ll always be fat, and knows she deserves to be happy… although getting there seems almost impossible.

As Cherry Baby opens, Cherry lives alone in the Omaha home she once shared with her husband Tom. Well, alone except for their outrageously large dog Stevie (as in Stevie Nicks), who really was Tom’s dog before he headed to LA and left Cherry to deal with the aftermath. Cherry and Tom met as art students, and while she went on to have a successful career in marketing, he unexpectedly found fame and fortune when Thursday, the webcomic he’d created as his own little creative outlet, suddenly became a huge sensation.

And now, Cherry is alone, because Tom left for Hollywood to work on the movie version of Thursday and never came back. Making matters worse all these months later is that the trailer for Thursday has dropped, and once again, Tom’s version of Cherry, via the character Baby, is everywhere. Cherry can’t avoid the exaggeratedly fat depiction of herself that apparently shows how Tom truly sees her.

When Cherry decides to treat herself to a night out listening to a favorite nostalgia band, she runs into someone she once had a crush on during college, and learns that he had a crush on her as well. As they begin to date, Cherry wonders if she has a new chance at happiness. But then Tom comes back to Omaha to pack up his belongings, and the more time he spends at their house, working with Cherry to dismantle the physical remnants of their lives together, the more their unfinished business looms over them both.

There’s a beauty in seeing the past and present unfold through the chapters of this book. We’re firmly rooted in Cherry’s present, as she deals with the men in her life and struggles to hold onto her sense of self — yet we also see flashbacks to the start of Tom and Cherry’s love story, from their first meeting through their early relationship and into the years of their marriage. It’s not sugar-coated, and yet it’s incredibly touching. Rainbow Rowell’s depiction of marriage is gritty and real. Love is wonderful, but it doesn’t fix everything, and we see time and again all the ways in which Tom and Cherry get derailed from the life they thought they were working toward.

Cherry Baby surprised me in all sorts of ways. Based on the synopsis, I expected a certain basic story arc, but in fact, that’s not what the book ended up being at all… and honestly, I loved it. I think Cherry Baby is best experienced without a lot of foreknowledge — not because there are dramatic reveals or shocking plot twists, but because its focus on people figuring things out is just such a powerful journey.

Cherry is a fantastic, funny, complex character, and I loved seeing all the ways in which she believes in herself, and all the ways in which doubt and pain creep in. She’s realistic and strong and vulnerable, and an utter delight.

A minor quibble for me is the overly graphic sex scenes — which, on the one hand, show the intricate levels of intimacy involved and also illustrate Cherry’s ease/discomfort dynamic with her own body… yet on the other hand, I think the point could have been made even without the close-up-and-personal details. Then again, I recognize that each reader has their own preferences when it comes to spicy scenes — your mileage may vary.

I can’t say I’ve ever been disappointed by a Rainbow Rowell book, and Cherry Baby is no exception. The banter between Cherry and her sisters is absolutely delicious, and even the more serious scenes include clever quips and dialogue. At the same time, this book is a heartfelt look at love and trust and commitment, and includes a powerful mix of heartbreak and joy. Highly recommended.

17Apr2026

First Lines Friday 4/17/2026

Posted in Fun and Whimsy by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page.
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first.
Finally… reveal the book!

This week, I’m featuring lines from a book I just spotted at the library and added to my holds list:

When the letter arrives, Harriet Lockhart assumes it’s another death threat, and leaves it on the mantelpiece with the others, unopened, for six days.

Hmmmm… why is she getting death threats? Why is she leaving them unopened? Why have there been so many?

So many questions…

So what’s the book?

Lady Like by Mackenzi Lee
Release date: September 9, 2025
371 pages

Synopsis:

Harriet Lockhart never planned to marry. She has spent her life defying expectations, playing male roles on London’s seediest stages, and doing whatever she pleases. When Harry is contacted by her hitherto anonymous father, she finds herself at risk of losing the trust fund that’s subsidized her lifestyle—unless she begins to lead a more respectable life, starting with finding a husband.

Emily Sergeant, the picture of modesty, has only ever wanted to marry. And were it not for one mistake in her youth that rendered her a social pariah, she would be appropriately betrothed. Instead, she’s due to wed the only willing—and most abominable—man in her small town. Desperate for an alternative, Emily flees to London to snag a less lecherous fiancé.

Worlds collide, dramatically and hilariously, when both women decide on the very same duke as their best possible chance at a tolerable husband and a secure future. A tongue-in-cheek romp through London’s summer season, from balls to brothels, horseraces to duels, Harry and Emily compete for the duke’s favor, only to find their true hearts’ desires may be more compatible than they could have ever predicted.

Sound like something you’d enjoy?

Happy Friday! Wishing everyone a great weekend!

15Apr2026

Book Review: The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: The Book Witch
Author: Meg Shaffer
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication date: April 7, 2026
Length: 320 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Rating:

She can hop into any novel, she just can’t stay there. Come along with the book witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew.

Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Great Gatsby, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

We all know that books are magic, right? In the world of The Book Witch, it’s the job of the local coven to make sure that fictional characters stay where they’re supposed to and to fight the malicious intentions of Burners, the book witches’ arch-enemies who seek to destroy stories from within. What’s at stake? Why, only the very existence of books that we know and love. A real-world book burner might burn copies of a book, but the book itself still exists. When a Burner destroys a book from the inside, it’s as if it’s wiped from existence: all copies, everywhere, are erased, and all memory or knowledge of the book is gone too.

Shudder.

That may make The Book Witch sound like a grim tale, and it’s anything but. In this quirky, whimsical novel, Rainy March is a lovely, bubbly book witch who has swooped to the rescue over and over again, landing inside a story thanks to her magical umbrella, accompanied by her cat familiar Koshka, and making sure the story and characters remain true to themselves.

All stories are love stories if you love stories. And I do love stories. As a Book Witch, you kind of have to love them. It’s on our recruitment posters, after all.

Rainy knows the rules — the eight Black and Whites — as well as anyone… but when she enters the noir fiction world of the Duke of Chicago in order to save him and his book series, she can’t help wobbling from the straight and narrow. Duke is a dashing, suave, sexy detective who always solves his cases, and Rainy has had a crush on him since she read the very first book in his series. When she meets him inside his story, things go a bit sideways, and before she can prevent it, he’s became self- aware — meaning, he knows he’s fictional — and they’ve fallen into a secret relationship that isn’t allowed to have a happily ever after.

Duke said that once he learned he was a fictional character, he became subtly aware of his readers. He felt their watchful eyes and sensed their quiet, gentle presence. He knew his stories were being read when the light had a certain warmer quality to it. And when the lights dimmed, he longed to be read again.

When Rainy’s prize edition of a special book — all she has left of her late mother — goes missing, she’s faced with a confusing array of clues. Who better to assist than her favorite fictional detective? Once on the trail, Rainy and Duke jump in and out of various storylands, desperately seeking elusive answers that seem always just out of reach.

There’s so much to love about The Book Witch. First and foremost, this is a book for booklovers. It speaks to the heart of anyone who’s fallen in love with fictional characters, anyone whose life has been changed because of the right book at the right time, anyone who’s ever found themselves inspired or empowered by a book, or even just gotten a reason to smile during dark times thanks to stories on a page.

An unread book is a caged animal, trapped between paper walls. They want reading, need it. To open a book is to set a story free.

The writing here is clever and funny, with banter that fits the various fictional characters who cross Rainy’s path — and yet, it’s not a silly book. Rainy’s feelings are deep and genuine, and the connections she forges are quite special. I won’t give anything away, but there’s a section toward the end that had me wiping away a few awkward tears. The Book Witch beautifully shows the delicate threads binding readers, writers, books, and characters.

I’ve been a fan of Meg Shaffer’s since picking up The Lost Story on a whim (and then immediately feeling the need to dive into her previous novel, The Wishing Game). Her stories are full of heart, and explore all the various and intricate ways that fiction changes lives.

The Book Witch is another stellar example of Meg Shaffer’s creativity. While the plot gets so meta by the end that it made my head spin, I love it in all its (occasionally) baffling glory. Rainy is a fabulous character, and The Book Witch made me really wish that the two key book series so central to the plot were in fact real books I could pick up and read. Even without being able to read those, I loved how The Book Witch shows how real lives are changed by books. Just lovely.

For more by this author:
The Wishing Game
The Lost Story

14Apr2026

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life

Posted in Top Ten Tuesday by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Book Titles That Describe Me/My Life, with the prompt: Example titles: Well Traveled could describe you if you like to travel, Hotshot Doc could describe you if you’re an awesome doctor, Falling into Place could describe a life where things are starting to work out, An Infinite Love Story could describe your relationship, It Could Have Been Her could describe a thing you’re happy you avoided or a path you could have taken but didn’t. You can explain your choices or not, and they can be as specific or as abstract as you’d like.

Fun challenge! I searched my bookshelves, and here’s what I’ve come up with:

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree: Coffee and books sum up my life pretty accurately!
The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan: My husband is the family cook… and yes, I know how lucky I am!
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune: I love planning vacations, and try to find something new to explore each summer.
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire: Fields, trails, paths by the beach… get me outside with space to walk and appreciate the views, and I’m happy.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain: I haven’t made it to Camelot, but I’m originally from Connecticut, and even though it still feels like home, I’ve lived far away from there most of my adult life.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell: My fandoms bring me joy! It’s the little pop culture moments that add a bit of zing.
Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan: Sweets are my weakness, and I will never say no to meeting a friend at a bakery
Finding Fraser by KC Dyer: Reading Outlander for the first time, over 15 years ago, not only introduced me to a favorite series and characters but also led me to my book group, which brings me so much joy.
Chaos Choreography by Seanan McGuire: Dancing has been a big part of my life since childhood! Not in a polished performance — but in the chaotic way that recreational dancing brings people together and provides endless enjoyment and fresh challenges
A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi: Being a mom — even now that my kids are grown — means the world to me.

Do you have book titles that describe your life?

Share your link, and I’ll come check out your top 10!

13Apr2026

The Monday Check-In ~ 4/13/2026

Posted in The Monday Check-In by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Life.

I felt silly last year when I bought myself rain gear (pants and top)… but this weekend I was so happy that I had them! I was not about to let a little rain (OK, a lot of rain) keep me from the walks I’d been dying for all week! Despite the gusty winds, I stayed dry, got in a couple of good beach and park walks, and felt super satisfied by the time I got home.

Other than that, it’s been an intense work week, but I managed to squeeze in a little dancing, a jigsaw puzzle, and time for some phone catch-ups with long-distance friends.

Unfortunately, my reading time has been really limited apart from a few scattered hours over the weekend. Here’s hoping for a mellower week with a lot more book time ahead!

What did I read during the last week?

A Deadly Inheritance by Kelley Armstrong: Dark, twisty YA thriller. My review is here.

Just Kiss Already by Lily Chu: Really enjoyable audiobook romance. My review is here.

The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien: My book group’s journey through the LOTR books wrapped up this past week! I loved revisiting the books with my group… and may continue delving into the related stories and lore on my own in weeks to come.

Book news:

I was delighted to see a cover reveal from Jen DeLuca, announcing the upcoming release of a 5th Ren Faire book! Well Versed will be published in September 2026. Can’t wait!

Puzzle of the week:

When I saw an ad for this puzzle pop up on my social feeds, I was drawn to the image and the gorgeous colors. The puzzle company isn’t one I’d tried before, and I’m often wary about unknown (to me) puzzle makers, since materials and quality can vary so much.

Still, the puzzle looked so pretty that I decided to give it a chance, and I’m glad I did! The pieces are sturdy and well cut, and while it doesn’t have quite the snap/click that makers like Ravensburger have, I was pleased with the overall piece design (and only ran into a few issues with pieces seeming like they could fit in more than one place).

The puzzle make is Playview, and this puzzle is part of their Cities at Midnight series. You can find it on Amazon, here.

Pop culture & TV:

I finished season 3 of XO Kitty on Netflix. I’m not sure why I find it so charming… but I just do! I hope another season is in the works.

I loved the season finale of Shrinking! What an amazing show.

I find myself in between once again, debating various options for what to watch next… but I’m leaning toward the most recent season of Dark Winds, which is just a consistently excellent series.

Fresh Catch:

One of my recent Goodreads giveaway wins arrived this week!

Also new this week: I received two copies of the Good Morning America book club pick for April, thanks to a Little Free Library giveaway for stewards. Exciting! The books will be going into my LFL once the rain stops… meanwhile, I may need to try to sneak in a read before they both find new homes.

What will I be reading during the coming week?

Currently in my hands:

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer: I’m really enjoying this book… and I’m frustrated that I didn’t have as much time for reading over the weekend as I wanted! I hope to finish in the next day or two.

Now playing via audiobook:

The Name Game by Beth O’Leary: I’m always up for trying a new release from Beth O’Leary! I’ve just barely gotten started, but I like the premise so far.

Ongoing reads:

My book group is kicking off a new classic read this week — and this one looks like it’ll be a doozy:

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe: After reading Northanger Abbey as a group, we’ve decided to read one of the books that Catherine Morland was obsessed with. Coming up this week: Chapters 1 and 2.

What will you be reading this week?

So many books, so little time…

11Apr2026

Audiobook Review: Just Kiss Already by Lily Chu

Posted in Book Reviews by Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies

Title: Just Kiss Already
Author: Lily Chu
Narrators: Phillipa Soo & Simu Liu
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication date: March 12, 2026
Print length: n/a
Audio length: 9 hours 30 minutes
Genre: Contemporary fiction
Source: Audible download
Rating:

Enemies. Coworkers. Accidental Icons.

Dr. Ben Song likes his life orderly, predictable, and blissfully private. By day, he’s a forensic anthropologist running a controversial research project. By night, he’s the anonymous author of a bestselling cozy mystery series. What he absolutely doesn’t need? One viral moment turning him into the internet’s new favorite grumpy heartthrob.

Lauren Wei has built her career in the spotlight—and paid for it. A former teen star turned serious filmmaker, she’s determined to prove she’s more than her past persona. With her first feature film about to premiere and a press tour that could make or break her future, she can’t afford distractions. Especially not the brilliant, infuriating author whose book she adapted…and whose visibly unimpressed reaction to her movie just made him a viral meme.

When the studio forces Ben and Lauren to share the press circuit to capitalize on the moment, sparks fly. But between industry politics, public scrutiny, and a growing sense they might actually be perfectly imperfect for each other after all, their reluctant partnership soon turns into something far more complicated….

Lily Chu’s audiobooks are always a treat, and Just Kiss Already is no exception! This clever story about a film star and a scientist (who’s secretly a bestselling author) hits familiar beats of the celebrity romance and enemies-to-lovers tropes, but keeps things fresh with engaging characters and interesting dilemmas.

Lauren Wei is a former teen star, known for playing a chaotic character on a popular TV show until her reputation took a hit. Now, Lauren is reestablishing herself by directing and starring in a movie adaptation of the first book in the popular Lady Petronella mystery series. The success of the film will help her make sure the world sees her as a serious talent.

Dr. Ben Song is a forensic anthropologist who runs a lab devoted to studying the decomposition of bodies… and is also the secret author of the Lady Petronella books. When he attends the advance press screening of the movie, he’s annoyed by what he sees as some factual errors — and when his sour expression is caught on camera and turned into a meme, it could spell disaster for the movie’s success and Lauren’s future.

Desperate to capitalize on Ben’s viral moment and turn it into social media gold, the studio strong-arms Ben and Lauren into doing a press tour together leading up to the film’s premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. Ben is opposed at first, but is won over by both his lingering crush on Lauren’s TV character and by Lauren herself, who is smart, funny, and not at all the Hollywood snob Ben had expected. Naturally, they get past their initial hostilities and discover both friendship and chemistry, but challenges in their respective careers seem to put up roadblocks before their relationship can really get started.

Just Kiss Already sets up the connection between Lauren and Ben really well, quickly moving past their grumpy/sunshine, enemies-to-lovers dynamic and focusing on the deeper ways they communicate and understand one another, offering support to each other in a way that’s refreshing to see. Their careers seemingly couldn’t be more different, yet each faces professional hurdles that an outsider’s perspective helps them to overcome. Ben and Lauren work as a couple because they take the difficult steps needed to establish trust and friendship first, and even when they have the inevitable misunderstandings so typical of the romance trope, they’re able to quickly clear things up through open communication. Honestly, I wish more third-act break-ups/fights could be resolved so maturely!

The Lady Petronella books sound like they’d be so much fun to actually read (and it’s a nice little treat that each chapter opens with a line from Lady P). Likewise, I’d love to see Lauren’s movie! Just Kiss Already establishes these fictional elements so well that they seem believable, and Ben’s work sounds both fascinating and important. A side plot about a community trying to undermine his research site is also interesting, and gives Ben professional challenges to overcome that balance his parts of the story nicely against Lauren’s.

As always, Phillipa Soo is an amazing narrator (she’s narrated all of Lily Chu’s audiobooks so far), and the pairing here with actor Simu Liu for the Ben chapters offers great listening entertainment,

I really enjoyed Just Kiss Already (despite being annoyed by the title, which has nothing to do with the story). It’s currently available only through Audible. Lily Chu’s previous novels were released the same way, and then released in paperback about a year later. As I’ve said in previous reviews, I always look forward to a new Lily Chu audiobook! The Comeback and The Stand-In remain my favorites, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Purchase links: Amazon
Disclaimer: When you make a purchase through one of these affiliate links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you.