title: The Book Witch author: Meg Shaffer publisher: Ballantine Books publication date: April 7, 2026 pages: 320 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: dead parents and scary moments/potential kidnapping summary: Rainy March’s job as a book witch is to enter fictional books and fix problems when the characters go off-script. Though she tries to follow…
“Why”…Wednesdays
377. Why Octopus and Snail
You might not guess from the totes adorbs photo above that these two are “one of each,” but in so many ways, they are. I always thought it was funny when other people with two children said they had “one of each.” They always seemed to mean that they had one who came out with…
NetGalley Review of In Time with You
title: In Time with You author: Kristin Dwyer publisher: Wednesday Books publication date: March 24, 2026 pages: 384 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: death by drowning near death by drowning funerals alcohol use death of an animal summary: It’s hard for me to tell too much about this one without giving it away, but…
NetGalley Review of Cross My Heart
title: Cross My Heart author: Esha Patel publisher: Avon publication date: March 24, 2026 pages: 320 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: injury, alcohol use summary: Even though her Junior lacrosse season went sideways, May is not amused when Colt comes back to help coach her team for her Senior year. After he left her…
376. Why You Don’t Have to Brush Your Teeth
I took the above selfie (ussie?) at a stunning wedding my husband and I went to last fall in Vermont. (Hi JL/STM!) I thought it was a good photo for this post because we’re both flashing big smiles, not because we’re trying to show off our teeth, but because we were happy to get to…
NetGalley Review of Where the Wildflowers Grow
title: Where the Wildflowers Grow author: Terah Shelton Harris publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark publication date: February 17, 2026 pages: 496 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: death (before) violence abuse and neglect (before) rape (before) summary: When Leandra/Leigh Wildes’ transport bus goes off the road, she sees the opportunity to walk away from her incarceration into…
375. Why Flashlight and Floodlight
I took the photo above during a tent-covered dance at my school. The DJs, who were students, projected this fun light show onto the tent. The lights added a festive element to the event, and since I was already thinking about what different kinds of light add to our experiences, I spent more time enjoying…
NetGalley Review of Toe to Toe
title: Toe to Toe author: Falon Ballard publisher: G.P.Putnam’s Sons publication date: March 10, 2026 pages: 336 peppers: (on this scale) warnings: workplace sexual harassment mentions of disordered eating summary: When ballerina Allegra’s creative director tells her that she needs to have more sexuality in her dancing, she hires exotic dancer Cord to teach her…
NetGalley Review of Second Chance Duet
title: Second Chance Duet author: Ana Holguin publisher: Forever publication date: March 10, 2026 pages: 384 peppers: 3 (on this scale) warnings: mean parents alcohol use mention of vomit summary: Celia Garcia has been trying to make it in the music industry for the more than a dozen years since she graduated from Juilliard, but…
NetGalley Review of Lady Tremaine
title: Lady Tremaine author: Rachel Hochhauser publisher: St. Martin’s Press publication date: March 3, 2026 pages: 352 peppers: 2 (on this scale) warnings: discussion of incest violence death cruelty summary: Every version of Cinderella you’ve ever heard centers Ella, canonizes Ella, shows Ella in the best light. This version gives Elin’s stepmother voice, and she’s…