Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields

Shields reads her own book and you get to hear the woman herself talk about aging in Hollywood, especially as someone who was known for her beauty. She discusses a range of topics including learning to stand up for herself (against Tom Cruise, against bad contracts, against the tropes of aging), raising children, and her various roles, including just being herself. 

Four stars

This book came out 

Borrowed as audibook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

I listened to a podcast and the speakers were enthusiatic about the book. I have enjoyed most of the books recommended by All the Books. 

Emory is one of the generations following a catastrophe that has destroyed the Earth. Well, all but the people living on the island. They are led by three of the elders, the three people who were alive when the fog came tearing out of the earth. The Elders are Niema, her son Hephaestus, and Thea. 

The island holds a village where everyone works to serve each other. It is a balance that is strictly maintained. When one of the villagers broke the balance by attacking Niema, he was sent away. Everyone is generally content although Emory does have a lot of questions. Sometimes, she even questions the Elders which has caused a rift between Emory and her father. Even her grandfather's death hasn't brough them together. 

Then, there's a murder on the island. The unthinkable has happened. And Emory's questioning nature is pushed forward by Abi (a being not seen on page until the end of the story; most like Jiminy Cricket giving helpful advice and pushing the villagers to behave morally.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out March 28, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper

Jessamine "Jess" Bricker specializes in personalized proposals. When the book opens, she's orchestrating one involving a shark whale and scuba diving. While that's happening, she gets several phone calls. It seems a girl (now woman) she went to school with was just proposed to. According to Diana, the effort was underwhelming. Now her maybe-to-be fiance is putting out a lot of money to pay for Jess to help with a new proposal. He's also paying for a wedding planner, Aubrey. Right now, the ladies, along with Diana's cousin Kiki are at a week-long resort retreat to start planning for the wdding. But it's not running smoothly. Diana is entitled, Aubrey seems to hate Jess for no reason and Kiki... well, actually Kiki seems like a delight. Plus, there's this man on property that Jess immediately feels drawn towards. But she's not really at that stage in her life. 

That's all bad enough but one of the other resort members dies and Jess stumbles over the body. There are some unexpected visitors but then, there's another body. (Jess stumbles over that one too.)

I really liked the character development in this one A couple of the characters were a little shallow but we mainly follow Jess around and she's got a little bit of depth to her which sometimes surprise some of the other characters. I really didn't like the ending for a couple of spoiler-y reasons but the rest was a good Harper novel and I generally enjoyed the book.

Three and a half stars

This book came out April 8, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime by Leonie Swann and translated by Amy Bojang

Bernadette has won a trip. The rest of the house decide they're tired of the cold and the damp and they're going with her. All of them. Agnes isn't sure about it but she decides to go along. 

They end up at a remote health resort. It's... fine. But there are some odd things going on. And not just in Edwina's imagination. There's the young man that stows away in Edwina's clsoet and the boa constrictor that shows up (in Cornwall?). There's also a murder. And the hotel is cut off from civilization. So it's up to Agnes and the crew to figure out what's going on. As long as they're not chose as the most likely suspects first.

Four stars

Miss Sharp Investigates #2

Follows The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp

The book came out September 3, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle

stars

This book comes out April 8, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

When the Crow's Away by Auralee Wallace

I've been enjoying the fact that this series isn't trying to match up the protagonist. She's still mourning the death of her husband and dealing with the fact that her powers have only recently returned. Brynn, the youngest in a family of witches, speaks to the dead. She's moved back to the family B&B and is currently enjoying the signs of spring. Although, she thinks her aunts may be enjoying it a bit too much as it is usually a time for love and Brynn just isn't ready.

So it's with mixed emotions that she notices a ghost. It's Mortimer Sweete, the co-owner of a local candy store. He's convinced that he's been murdered and he wants Brynn's help.

There's quite a bit going on in this story and the solution is fairly convoluted. The ending sets Brynn up with not only a new mentee but with a possible antagonist.

Three stars

Evenfall Witches B&B #2

This book came out April 5, 2022

Follows In the Company of Witches

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

This Is Not a Game by Kelly Mullen

Rosemary "Mimi" Louise MacLaine knows her place and is assured in it. She's been on the island of Mackinac for a very long time and knows how her life will run. At least until a mysterious invitation appears on her doorstep. It's an invitation... and an order. Unless she comes to the party and bids on (and wins) a specific item, her dirty secrets will be revealed. It is the latter direction that has Mimi reaching out to her granddaughter, Addie for the first time in months.

Addie is fighting her ex-boyfriend for recognition that she deserves on the massively hit video game that she helped him put together. She argues with her grandmother over that same man and now she's been dumped and pushed out of the company. But her normally unemotional grandmother has reached out with an olive branch and Addie is willing to try. 

The two attend the party. It's hosted at the mansion of a woman who is infamous for cavorting with the man her daughter is still married to. And it's an eclecticc group of people who are gathered, including one who Addie is sure she knows under another name. Of course, there is a murder. And a snowstorm. So it's up to Mimi and Addie to figure out what happened.

There was a little too much going on for me, especially at the end, but I generally enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by the author. 

Three and a half  stars

This book comes out April 8, 2025

ARC kindly provided by PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley

Opinons are my own