title: Best Laid Plans author: Mallory McKenna publisher: indie/self publication date: July 15, 2025 pages: 308 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: none summary: When Elle’s life implodes, she goes to her brother’s apartment to hide away and plan for what’s next. It’s perfect timing, because he’s going to be away at the football camp…
“Why”…Wednesdays
NetGalley Review of Pugs and Kisses
title: Pugs and Kisses author: Farrah Rochon publisher: Forever publication date: July 15, 2025 pages: 352 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: pet death summary: Finding her fiancé cheating on her is problematic for Evie Williams because she works at his clinic. After leaving her job, she goes to volunteer at the animal sanctuary she…
341. Why I Shouldn’t Have Assumed
When this post goes live, it’s probably very hot in New England, so I posted this photo to remind us that most things are cyclical…including my term as a dean. A month ago, my first class to shepherd through Hotchkiss graduated. In a little over a month, I’ll join my next class on campus and…
NetGalley Review of The Odds of Getting Even
title: The Odds of Getting Even author: Amanda Sellet publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin publication date: July 15, 2025 pages: 320 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: none summary: Working her job at a Hawaiian resort, Jean brings extra towels to awkward Charlie, who’s staying at one of the private cabins. Though they spark an immediate…
340. Why I Ride (Guest Post)
When I recently got an email titled “Why I Ride” from a friend, I had the idea to ask her if I could post her missive as a Why Wednesday. Suzanne and I met at eighteen years old, thirty-eight years ago, when we were assigned to live in the same college dorm. In the fall…
NetGalley Review of These Summer Storms
title: These Summer Storms author: Sarah MacLean publisher: Random House publication date: July 8, 2025 pages: 640 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: parental death, manipulation, alcohol/drunkenness, bad parenting summary: Alice Storm managed to break away from her controlling, billionaire father and family (picture Succession) five years ago, but when her father dies and she heads…
NetGalley Review of Destination Weddings and Other Disasters
title: Destination Weddings and Other Disasters author: M. C. Vaughan publisher: Afterglow Books by Harlequin publication date: July 1, 2025 pages: 288 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: bullying, deceased parent (past) summary: After Julia earns her graduate degree in hospitality but before she finds a job, her flighty mother announces her plan to get…
339. Why Pan
As is often the case (since I discovered that many photos on the internet are copyright-protected), the photo above has nothing to do with my topic today. It’s a picture I took of a flower I saw in California. I’ve been thinking about sleep, something many people struggle with. Little kids fight going to sleep…
NetGalley Review of The Summer You Were Mine
title: The Summer You Were Mine author: Jill Francis publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin publication date: July 1, 2025 pages: 352 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: parental death in distant past summary: Just before Emmie will leave NYC for Italy to attend her grandmother’s wedding, she accidentally tells the brutal truth on the air at…
338. Why Find Your People
I haven’t read the book pictured above, but it’s probably very helpful. It gets 3.96 stars on Goodreads and 4.6 on Amazon.com. Plus, it’s about an important goal that many of us in today’s world struggle to accomplish. Science shows that to lead happy, healthy lives, we need human interaction. If you want to read…