Happy New Year, Readers! In some ways 2023 has felt like it has dragged on and on and yet I can’t believe it is already time to curate my “Favorite Books” list. It took me no time to come up what my “favorite” book was this year because there was one that stuck with me and just had to be held higher than the rest. The other books that make up my “Favorites” list might not be for everyone but for one reason or another these titles made me sit and think, cry, laugh out loud, kept me up well past my bedtime or left me sinking into end of book depression after the last page. I would love to know if you have read any of these, what your thoughts are, if you had a “favorite” of 2023 or if you have suggestions of a book I should add to my must-read list for 2024. I set myself a reading goal that was a bit too high this year and wasn’t able to reach the 100 I had in mind. Finishing up at 83 books read for 2023 isn’t too bad considering how busy I was personally. Here’s to getting back into the reading habit a little more in ’24. Once again, thank you for reading along with me and I hope your year is filled with good health, good luck and lots of good books. 

Book of the Year 2023

“The Spectacular” by Fiona Davis

Marion, a newly minted Rockette, is living her dream dancing on the stage of the world famous Radio City Music Hall. Much to her father’s disapproval she can’t give up on this once in a lifetime opportunity to have the bright lights in her eyes, wear those dazzling costumes & hear the roar of the applause four shows a day. Marion’s father’s worst fears come to fruition one night when a bomb goes off while Marion is on stage. Unimaginable chaos erupts but when the smoke clears it’s the unthinkable loss that hits Marion to her core. The attack is just the latest explosion set off by “The Big Apple Bomber”, someone that has been terrorizing New York City for over sixteen years. Being one of the few witnesses to have actually seen the bomber’s face, Marion is desperate to help the police, even pointing them towards a friend with the new skill of psychological profiling. When the bomber seems to be escalating Marion realizes she is running out time to prove to everyone that she is not to be underestimated & is willing to lay everything on the line to get justice even the career she has worked so hard for. When I heard what the plot of Fiona Davis’ latest novel would be to say I was giddy is an understatement. His Fic, Dance and Davis?! Sign. Me. Up. As a former dancer, it’s so frustrating seeing the thing you love the most written about incorrectly or just thrown in as an aside but reader let me tell you Davis has knocked this out of the park! If you have ever wondered what it’s like to work in this industry, “The Spectacular” gets it all right. As always, Davis has written a story that’s not to be missed. Shuffle off to your nearest bookstore & get yourself a copy today!

Purchase a copy of “The Spectacular” here.

Learn more about author Fiona Davis here.

Mystery/Thrillers

“Daisy Darker” by Alice Feeney

Nana’s only wish for her 80th birthday is to have all of the Darker family visit her home on a tiny secluded island one last time. So secluded that when the tide comes in you are trapped there for the next eight hours with no escape. As each of the family members arrive a storm brews overhead finally unleashing its fury just as darkness overtakes them. When the clock strikes midnight a scream is heard and someone in the Darker family is discovered dead. Grief and sorrow ensues as surely this was just a horrible accident…until the chimes in the hall signal another hour has passed and another is found dead. Soon they realize that they are being systematically murdered one by one but which one of them is the killer and who will still be alive once daylight returns and the ocean recedes. I could not put this one down. Having enjoyed Feeney’s previous works I knew I was in for a treat with “Daisy Darker” but wow…I did not see that ending coming. Now I feel like I have to go back and reread this to see where I should have figured this out. If you love a good mystery/thriller add this one to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “Daisy Darker” here.

Learn more about author Alice Feeney here.

“The Twyford Code” by Janice Hallett

Something has bothered Steven Smith for decades. What happened to Miss Isles on their school trip all those years ago and why can’t he seem to remember that day? After finding a book on the bus on his way to school, Steven had handed it over to his reading teacher, having no idea what the strange markings in the margins meant. Miss Isles began reading the story to their class and fell deep into the belief that the author left behind a secret code in her words that unlocks a puzzle. Deciding a class trip to see the sites that are mentioned in the book was a good idea, Miss Isles piled the small group into a school van but when the class returned Miss Isles was nowhere to be found. Now years later, fresh out of prison from a lengthy stay, Steven is determined to figure out the question that has been nagging at his brain since he was a boy. What happened to Miss Isles? What would cause her to abandon her class? Was she running from something? Someone? Was Miss Isles actually on to something with the code or are there other factors at play? Convinced the answer lies somewhere in that book, Steven sets off to decipher a long ago mystery. This is the second creatively written book I’ve read by Janice Hallett. The first book, “The Appeal” was crafted out of emails and this one is primarily transcripts of voice memos. Placing you in the detective chair Hallett has written another great mystery that you won’t be able to put down. If you have yet to read Hallett’s work I highly recommend both titles for your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “The Twyford Code” here.

Learn more about author Janice Hallett here.

“The Lost Village” by Camilla Sten

Something truly terrible happened to the villagers of Silvertjarn in 1959. Over nine hundred citizens vanished without a trace leaving behind only two, a girl brutally murdered in the town square and a newborn baby left to fend for itself in the school’s nurses office. Documentary filmmaker Alice Lindstedt’s relatives were among the missing and she is determined to solve the mystery of what happened there. Having her grandmother’s letters to her sister and mother who both vanished all those decades ago to guide her, Alice pulls together a team to go to the abandoned town to research content for their film. But once they arrive they soon realize that someone…something…or maybe the village itself doesn’t want them there. Accidents start to plague the crew. Equipment is destroyed. People start to disappear. As fear and suspicion creeps over the group they soon begin to question if they are truly alone in Silvertjarn or if the dangers that plagued the village never really left. I have to be honest, I am not a fan of horror books, movies, whatever. The fact that this is plugged for fans of “Blair Witch” should have been my first indication to run but I kept on. “The Lost Village” was really such a page-turner. I love podcasts and documentaries so I could see this having a real market to get optioned into a series or movie at some point. Thriller/horror/mystery fans should give this one a try.

Purchase a copy of “The Lost Village” here.

Learn more about author Camilla Sten here.

“The Writing Retreat” by Julia Bartz

Roza Vallo has always been Alex’s favorite author, consuming every word she has written since she was young inspiring her to be an author herself. Alex always dreamed of getting a spot in Roza’s mysterious writer’s retreat held at her home, Blackbriar Estate, so when a friend arranges for her to attend Alex jumps at the chance, taking leave from work and packing up for her month- long stay. As the select few start to arrive at Blackbriar the agenda for the retreat is laid out for the women. They will have a month to complete a book from scratch and at the end of the retreat one author’s work will be chosen to be published. Determined to win, Alex starts to feel the pressure of her years-long writer’s block weighing on her. She starts to notice weird behavior from their host, gossiping between the other author’s not to mention the well known history of the estate’s previous owners and their horrible deaths but when one of the women goes missing during a significant storm everything starts to unravel. “The Writing Retreat” started out so strong for me and had me hooked right from the start. It wasn’t until the last 25ish % that it all started to get a little too far fetched for me. You definitely have to step back and give this one allowances but it certainly was entertaining. Fans of the thriller/mystery/paranormal genre should give this one a try.

Purchase a copy of “The Writing Retreat” here.

Learn more about author Julia Bartz here.

“The Only One Left” by Riley Sager

In 1929 the most wealthy family in a small coastal town in Maine were all murdered…well, all but one. Seventeen year old Lenora Hope was left to answer for the deaths of her mother, father and sister but no one could ever prove that she killed them. Now over fifty years later, Lenora, after suffering from strokes as well as being struck down with polo in her youth can no longer care for herself. Enter Kit McDeere, a home health aide who has been assigned to the Hope’s End mansion to care for Lenora when her previous aide disappeared in the middle of the night. Secretly terrified to be living in the home where three people were murdered, not to mention possibly taking care of their killer, Kit finds herself in a delicate position when Lenora, who can only communicate through a typewriter, tells Kit she wants to confess to her what really happened to her family. As strange noises are heard in the night and shadows creep around corners Kit is torn between fleeing Hope’s End or remaining to hopefully uncover one of their town’s biggest secrets – what really happened to the Hope family? For someone who was very disappointed with Sager’s last book, I was very eager to get my hands on “The Only One Left” to see if he redeemed himself. Reader, he did. Though there were elements of this story you could see coming for the most part I still welcomed the twists (no matter how predictable) when they arrived. I have loved (for the most part) everything Sager has written and “The Only One Left” is a great addition to his catalog. This newest isn’t my favorite of his titles but it’s certainly worth a read for fans of a great gothic mystery.

Purchase a copy of “The Only One Left” here.

Learn more about author Riley Sager here.

“The Hike” by Lucy Clarke

Four best friends from childhood set aside one week a year to meet up and vacation together. This year, it was Liz’s turn to choose the destination. Tired of their usual sunshine and cocktail infused beach trips she decided on a real adventure. Liz, Maggie, Helena and Jodi would hike and wild camp in the mountains of Norway. As the group sets off with heavy packs on their backs each woman is also carrying a burden of their own – Maggie anxious about being separated from her daughter for the first time, Jodi dealing with her struggles with addiction, Helena recently dealt life-changing news and Liz a marriage on the rocks. The women, each with different levels of preparedness walk their way through the wilderness towards their goal reaching the summit of Blafjell Mountain. But there are dangers lurking in the woods and Blafjell has claimed lives before. When hikers return to base camp reporting a body found, a search begins in the ravine and for a killer hiding somewhere out in the wild. I am so grateful to have been sent an advanced copy of “The Hike” by @PutnamBooks and @NetGalley because I couldn’t put this one down. Each of the characters gives you love/hate vibes, the setting is pure anxiety inducing and I couldn’t wait to figure out what really happened out there on the mountain. Not a chance would I be found doing what these women were brave enough to attempt but I enjoyed Lucy Clarke taking me along on their adventure. Thriller/Mystery fans add this one to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “The Hike” here.

Learn more about author Lucy Clarke here. Purchase a copy of “The Last Thing He Told Me” here.

Memoir/Non-Fiction/Biography

“The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World” by Jonathan Freedland

“In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba became the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz—one of only four who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. He did it to reveal the truth of the death camp to the world—and to warn the last Jews of Europe what fate awaited them at the end of the railway line. Against all odds, he and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope.” Author Jonathan Freedland had me riveted with the story of Vrba’s life and the important turn his act of bravery had on the war. The well narrated audiobook had me engaged and invested the entire time. I cannot imagine the level of courage it must have taken to not only act but to survive what Vrba did. I highly recommend this book to all history fans.

Purchase a copy of “The Escape Artist” here.

Learn more about author Jonathan Freedland here.

“A Very Punchable Face” by Colin Jost

“Told with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, A Very Punchable Face reveals the brilliant mind behind some of the dumbest sketches on television, and lays bare the heart and humor of a hardworking guy—with a face you can’t help but want to punch.” If you have watched SNL anytime in the last two decades you have seen Jost’s work as a Head Writer for the show. This hilarious memoir is filled with stories from Jost’s childhood (how many stitches can one kid get?), early school years (tales from his three hour commute to high school from Staten Island to Manhattan), his time at Harvard (as a Russian lit major), and his time at Saturday Night Live. I was actually laughing out loud while listening to Jost narrate. Not all of this memoir is fun and games though, Jost shares an emotional chapter about his mother and her work with the FDNY on September 11th. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, getting to hear Colin tell his own stories make it all the more hilarious as his comedic delivery is spot on. If you are a fan of SNL (and don’t mind some toilet humor) give “A Very Punchable Face” a try.

Purchase a copy of “A Very Punchable Face” here.

Learn more about author Colin Jost here.

“The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears

“In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.” You would have to live on another planet to not know who Britney Spears is and her explosive path to fame. The hold on the early 00’s that Britney had with her iconic performances was undeniable but what was happening when she stepped off stage was nothing short of torture. Britney takes her reader from her early beginnings in Louisiana, to exploding onto the music scene and her rise to the top of the pop charts all while becoming one of our generation’s most iconic artists. Spears shares an insight with the world into the behind-the-scenes trauma she endured at the hands of the people in her life that should have been her biggest protectors. The ins and outs of her conservatorship is nothing short of jaw-dropping honestly it’s a wonder she made it through. “The Woman in Me” really feels like a scratch on the surface of Spears’ life and is a short audiobook that could easily be tackled in one afternoon. Is the writing stellar, no, but the story Britney vulnerably shares is told in her voice making it authentic and real. The book is masterfully narrated by Oscar nominated actress Michelle Williams making the audio version a must listen. Fans, don’t miss this.

Purchase a copy of “The Woman in Me” here.

Learn more about author Britney Spears here.

“Spare” by Prince Harry

You would have to live on another planet at this point to have not heard of Prince Harry and his new memoir “Spare”. Whether you are a fan of the Royals or not their mark on history is undeniable. The image of the two Princes walking behind their mother’s coffin, a woman who had the entire world’s focus, is an iconic one. Now imagine that being your life, your reality. You have heard the stories, the rumors, the gossip now Harry is telling his side of history, his perspective of growing up the spare to his brother the Heir and the son of the now King of England. The old saying there are two sides to every story unfortunately doesn’t really fit here it feels as it seems there are entirely way too many people involved in the lives and communication around this family. The lack of affection, connection and autonomy that’s described by Harry would do a number on anyone, let alone someone who has the entire world watching you grow through your awkward years, teenage rebellions and navigating young adulthood. I don’t envy any of them. The behaviors and treatment described is learned, repeated behavior from generations long before and one can only hope that by stepping aside Harry can learn to be his own man, find his own happiness and raise his family in his own way. Which is all any of us can ask/hope for our children. I found “Spare” to be a really sad story written by someone who is still struggling to manage a broken family dynamic who unfortunately has to deal with all of it in a very public way. If you haven’t yet joined the rest of the world in reading this give the audiobook a try as it’s very well narrated by Harry himself.

Purchase a copy of “Spare” here.

Learn more about author Prince Harry here.

Fiction, Contemporary Fiction & Romance

“Happy Place” by Emily Henry

For the last decade a cottage in Maine has been the yearly escape for Harriet, Wyn and their friends turned family. However, this will be their last as the cottage is being sold and the threat of life and their friendships never being the same is felt by all. No one is feeling it more than Harriet and Wyn forced to put on the perfect show so their friends don’t figure out that the happy couple broke up six months ago but couldn’t bring themselves to tell their friends. Not wanting to ruin their last vacation together Harriet and Wyn decide to pretend to still love each other for one week. After years of being in love it shouldn’t be that hard, right? I have loved everything in Emily Henry’s current catalog and “Happy Place” is no exception. A contender for my favorite Henry book “Happy Place” was so hard to put down. I loved the dual timelines that gave you insight on how Wyn and Harriet came to be mixed with present day at their happy place in Maine. (One of my personal happy places as well!) This book will give you all the feels and is the perfect summer read. (Also, now I need a lobster roll ASAP!)

Purchase a copy of “Happy Place” here.

Learn more about author Emily Henry here.

“Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Riva siblings have not had an easy life though to an outsider their last name would suggest otherwise. Their father, the famous Mick Riva, is America’s sweetheart but to the four Riva kids – Nina, Jay, Hudson and Kit – he’s a stranger. Each of them are successful in their own way no thanks to Mick and know the only people they can rely on is one another. All of Malibu is fascinated by the Rivas and their annual summer party is the event to be at and be seen at. This year’s party will be no exception. By midnight the event will have turned into the wildest party Malibu has ever seen and as the sun comes up the Riva mansion will burn to the ground. What happens in those 24 hours will shift and shape the Riva siblings in new ways, fracture open old wounds and uncover long buried secrets. Some people were born to tell stories and Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of them. “Malibu Rising” is another example of her perfectly crafting a tale in a unique and gripping way that makes the characters come alive. Told through multiple timelines and perspectives “Malibu Rising” is filled with love, loss, loyalty and the strength of family ties beyond everything else. I highly recommend adding “Malibu Rising” to your TBR list. Though you can’t go wrong with any TJR titles as I have yet to find one I didn’t fall in love with.

Purchase a copy of “Malibu Rising” here.

Learn more about author Taylor Jenkins Reid here.

“Yours Truly” by Abby Jimenez

Briana Ortiz is going through a difficult patch of life. Her divorce is about to be final, her brother is fading away while awaiting a transplant and that promotion she thought she was a shoe-in for is now on hold to give the new guy a shot at it. Channeling all her anger towards Dr. Jacob Maddox was easy, there was absolutely nothing to like about this man…well, except maybe his face. But now to make matters worse, he’s written her a letter and it turns out that maybe he wasn’t the problem after all. As their letter exchanges continue and lunch meet-ups in the supply closet become more frequent, Briana can see she was completely wrong about Jacob, even more so when it’s revealed that he is a perfect transplant match for her brother and Jacob has agreed to be his donor. So when Jacob calls in a favor how can Briana say no? Even if it means spending quite a lot of time with Dr. Maddox and discovering that maybe she’s met her match as well. I flew through “Yours Truly” much as I did “Part of Your World” last year. Abby Jimenez has mastered the art of the slow-burn romance and I found myself smiling while reading this and actually laughing out loud at times. Jimenez covers a list of heavier topics in her rom-coms so this isn’t your typical cookie-cutter read. You will see “Yours Truly” marketed as book two of a series but it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

Purchase a copy of “Yours Truly” here.

Learn more about author Abby Jimenez here.

“Hello Stranger” by Katherine Center

Sadie has spent the last few years of her life being her own biggest cheerleader. Cast aside by what’s left of her family, Sadie has surrounded herself with a small group of friends and her beloved dog, Peanut, and now after years of working on her art, she has been named a finalist in a national portrait competition. One minute everything feels like she’s about to get everything she’s ever wanted, the next Sadie wakes up in a hospital room with no memory of why she’s there. Diagnosed with a rare brain disorder, Sadie is now facing the biggest challenge of her life – how does a portrait artist work when every face they see is a jumbled puzzle? Now Sadie must figure out how to live her life with face-blindness in order to not give up on the only dream she has ever had. I really enjoy the stories that Katherine Center tells. She has such a great way of helping her readers see perspective on life while giving us a heartwarming story mixed in. Though the concept is fairly predictable and I had it all sussed out mid-way through it in no way held me back from enjoying Sadie’s story. Be sure to add “Hello Stranger” to your TBD list.

Purchase a copy of “Hello Stranger” here.

Learn more about author Katherine Center here.

“My Favorite Half-Night Stand” by Christina Lauren

The forever best friend, Millie Morris is used to being in the friend-zone. She couldn’t be happier doing life with her closest friends, her male co-workers at UC Santa Barbara, especially after the disaster her most recent dating experience was. But when the guys propose an experiment Millie can’t excuse herself from, she finds herself back in the dating game. The university’s black tie gala is approaching and the group decides to sign up for an online dating app to find their plus one’s for the event. Always one to keep the tough parts of life to herself, never wanting to really open up to anyone, Millie decides the best way to be open and honest is to create a profile using her middle name, Catherine, and a vague picture. The guys profiles are off to a great start thanks to bios written by Millie but everything goes off the rails when “Catherine” matches with one of the guys, her best friend Reid. Millie is sure he would realize it was her based on inside jokes she sends his way but Reid doesn’t catch on and soon Millie is stuck between her not-so-real life romance with Reid and falling for her very real best friend. Scared she might lose it all, Millie has to decide if she’s willing to peel back her layers and finally let someone see who she really is or possibly lose out on what might be forever. I love the writing duo of Christina Lauren and the stories they give us. Though this isn’t a new title (2018) I had yet to read “My Favorite Half-Night Stand” and I’m so glad I picked this up – also how great is this new cover? If you have yet to discover these amazing authors go check out their catalog of titles ASAP!

Purchase a copy of “My Favorite Half-Night Stand” here.

Learn more about author Christina Lauren here.

“Meet Me at the Lake” by Carley Fortune

One magical day that led to one magical evening and then he was gone. Fern has wondered what became of Will Baxter after he never showed up to their planned reunion at the lake on the one year anniversary of their perfect date. Fern sat alone and waited on the dock for hours but Will never came. Now, years later Fern finds herself back at the lake after the death of her mother with their resort placed fully in her hands. The resort is falling apart, in desperate need of restructuring and not to mention having to juggle working with her ex-boyfriend all while managing her grief, Fern is at the end of her rope. Then one night a tall, handsome guest walks into the lobby and back into her life only Will is about nine years too late. I loved Carley Fortune’s first book and had high expectations for “Meet Me at the Lake”. It’s not a perfect cookie cutter romance, it’s messy and complicated just like real life. Not every relationship has great timing, not everyone is ready for the person who is in their life currently and though it’s not ideal, sometimes that’s just life. I really like Fortune’s style of writing and hope that there are many more to come.

Purchase a copy of “Meet Me at the Lake” here.

Learn more about author Carley Fortune here.

“A December to Remember” by Jenny Bayliss

Apart from four magical weeks in the summer when they were children, sisters Maggie, Star and Simone rarely saw one another. Their time together with their father in the village of Rowan Thorpe was always too short and soon enough the girls would be sent back to their lives each to their own mother. Then as they grew older their visits became fewer and their connection as the North sisters faded away. Now, the trio has been called to gather in Rowan Thorpe to hear the reading of their late father’s will. Always one for the dramatics, Augustus North has a scheme in mind for his daughters. In order to collect their inheritance the sisters must rebuild their bond and work together through a series of tasks left behind for them by a father they always wanted more from. The roots of the North family run through the woods of Rowan Thorpe laid out by strong North women hundreds of years ago and now Star, Maggie and Simone must embrace the village that once created magic for them and remember the love they have for one another given to them by a man they hardly knew. It wouldn’t be the holidays without a Jenny Bayliss book. I have read (and loved) everything Bayliss has written and “A December to Remember” is no exception. I love the worlds she creates, the characters in them and the way you never want her stories to end. I highly recommend picking up any Bayliss title to cozy up with this holiday season.

Purchase a copy of “A December to Remember” here.

Learn more about author Jenny Bayliss here.

Historical Fiction

“Ripples in Time” by Julie McElwain

Kendra Donovan is tasked with helping to solve yet another crime in the 1800s after getting trapped there when she crossed through a rift in time. Having no way of knowing if she will ever be able to get back to the present day, Kendra is using all of her skills learned at the FBI to help navigate this era. Now that she has become an official ward of the Duke of Aldridge, Kendra is afforded more respect with the Ton and finds herself in the ballrooms of the upper class elite knowing one of them might just be the culprit she is looking for. When another murder happens on the Duke’s land, Kendra finds herself entangled in the investigation helping to distract her as the one year anniversary of her time jump approaches. Kendra wonders if she could really stay and follow through on her promise to marry Alec after all? The Earl of Craymore’s death brings more mystery, deceit and danger to Aldridge Castle in Julie McElwain’s sixth book in the “…in Time” series. I highly recommend fans of historical fiction and mysteries give this series a try. I have loved them all and though I fear this might be the end I’m holding out hope there will be more!

Purchase a copy of “Ripples in Time” here.

Learn more about author Julie McElwain here.

“The London House” by Katherine Reay

When someone from Caroline’s past reaches out to inform her that her family is about to be the subject of an article he’s writing revealing that her great-aunt Caro was involved with the Nazi party Caroline’s already fractured family is in danger of shattering completely. Unable to accept his narrative Caroline is determined to uncover the truth about their family’s past and returns to her grandmother’s home in London where the attic is filled with letters and journals detailing the lives of Margo and Caro. Caroline races against a deadline to finally figure out what Caro was really doing before she disappeared. Was she truly a Nazi traitor or could her letters reveal a far different role in the war. As a giant genealogy & history nerd this book was right up my alley. The idea of learning the stories of the people that came before us and helped mold our family into who they are now fascinates me. I would love to be able to get my hands on the records that they had access to for my grandfather. Maybe one day… If you are a fan of the His/Fic genre, add “The London House” to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “The London House” here.

Learn more about author Katherine Reay here.

“Northern Spy” by Flynn Berry

Nothing in life is more important than family to Tessa. Having recently become a new mother she holds on to her relationship with her own mom and sister tightly, each of them the other’s closest confidant. Which is why she can hardly believe her own eyes as to what is playing out on the tv. Sitting in her office at the BBC in Belfast, Tessa is listening to a news anchor’s report about the IRA’s most recent attack, a robbery at a gas station. The police are requesting the public’s help in identifying the people responsible and there on the screen is Tessa’s sister Marion. Convinced she has to have been kidnapped or coerced into participating Tessa tries to persuade the police that Marion can’t be in the IRA, she would have known. When the smoke begins to clear and Tessa starts to see clearly again she finds herself in an impossible position. Walking a fine line between protecting her family and standing up for what she believes in, Tessa must choose who and what she is most loyal to possibly risking it all to do so. I found “Northern Spy” very hard to put down. I was invested right from the start in Tessa’s story and her character. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like in her shoes and of those who lived through similar events. I highly recommend adding “Northern Spy” to your TBR list.

Purchase a copy of “Northern Spy” here.

Learn more about author Flynn Berry here.

Til next time,

The Booked Mama

Like/Follow/Add @thebookedmama on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter