Book Reviews

4.9

A New York Times bestselling follow-up to Matheson's debut cookbook, Home Style Cookery delivers 135 recipes spanning pantry fundamentals through showstopping roasts, shaped by the Canadian chef's personality and his belief that cooking is both practical and personal.

Jul 21, 2026

101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest

101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think is a wide-ranging collection of short essays by Brianna Wiest, edited by Thought Catalog, designed to prompt introspection on mental health, emotional intelligence, personal growth, and the nature of happiness. Originally compiled from Wiest's best articles — including pieces previously published in digital outlets such as Thought Catalog and Huffington Post — the collection is unified by a central argument: that self-knowledge and self-compassion are within every person's reach, and that true happiness arises from purposeful living and ongoing self-actualization rather than external achievement. The review below is based on the book's contents and published reader commentary, not hands-on application.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

The Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of Crime and Punishment, published by Vintage Classics, brings one of literature's most celebrated psychological novels to English-language readers in a version that critical coverage Book World called "the best [translation] currently available" upon its first release. This review is based on published sources and the documented record of the book's content and reception, not hands-on reading.

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger and Gene Stone

How Not to Die: Revised and Updated is a New York Times bestseller by physician Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, and co-author Gene Stone, now available as an audiobook from Macmillan Audio narrated by Greger himself. The book makes the case that the fifteen leading causes of disease-related death are largely preventable through diet and lifestyle, marshalling peer-reviewed scientific evidence to identify the foods and habits designed to extend healthy life. This review is based on the book's content and published reception, not hands-on use.

The Complete Recovery Room Book by Anthea Hatfield

The Complete Recovery Room Book, now in its fifth edition from Oxford University Press, is a comprehensive clinical reference designed to guide nurses, surgeons, and anaesthetists through the complex demands of post-operative patient management. This review covers the book's content and structure as documented by the publisher and public library sources, and draws on published reception — not hands-on clinical use.

Odder: The Novel by Katherine Applegate

4.6

Odder: The Novel is a #1 New York Times bestselling verse novel by Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charles Santoso, that follows a young sea otter's journey through danger, rehabilitation, and survival in Monterey Bay — a book praised for its naturalistic detail, its unvarnished emotional honesty, and its seamless weaving of marine science into lyrical free verse, though some reviewers note uneven pacing and a rushed ending.

Jul 19, 2026

The Land and Its People: Essays by David Sedaris

4.5

The Land and Its People is David Sedaris's essay collection — an instant #1 New York Times bestseller — gathering 28 short pieces drawn from his life with husband Hugh, his siblings, his friends, and his perpetual travels through New York, England, and beyond. Critical coverage (starred review) called the essays "among the best of his career," while Kirkus (starred review) hailed it as "a welcome return to form for the much-awarded and much-loved humorist," adding that "Sedaris remains a national treasure." This review is based on published sources and the audiobook's verified content; it does not reflect hands-on use or listening.

Jul 21, 2026

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey

4.5

The Mercy of Gods is the opening novel of The Captive's War trilogy by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, writing as James S. A. Corey — the duo behind the celebrated Expanse series. Set on a human-settled planet called Anjiin that is conquered by a formidable alien race known as the Carryx, the novel follows bioscientist Dafyd Alkhor and a cohort of researchers forced to survive and serve as prized intellectual captives under their alien rulers. Published in August 2024, the audiobook edition — narrated by Jefferson Mays and released through Recorded Books — runs nearly fifteen hours and has already charted prominently across multiple Audible science fiction categories. This review is based on the book's contents and published reception, not hands-on use or listening.

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

4.4

SuperFreakonomics is the follow-up non-fiction book from University of Chicago economist Steven D. Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner, applying unconventional economic reasoning to subjects ranging from street prostitution to suicide bombing to climate change — and generating serious pushback from scientists on the latter. This review is based on published sources and reception, not hands-on use of the audiobook.

Jul 21, 2026

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

4.4

Seven Days in June is a contemporary romance novel by Tia Williams that follows Eva Mercy and Shane Hall — two writers whose lives collided as teenagers and whose reunion as adults forces them to reckon with trauma, growth, and the love they never fully left behind. Praised by outlets including critical coverage, critical coverage, The Week, and PopSugar, it has earned a reputation as one of the standout romance novels of its era, selected as a Reese's Book Club pick and celebrated for balancing wit and sensuality with substantive themes of chronic illness, generational trauma, and Black joy.

On a Quiet Street: A Dr. Pepper Hunt Mystery by J.L. Doucette

4.1

On a Quiet Street is the second installment in J.L. Doucette's Dr. Pepper Hunt Mystery series, published by She Writes Press in 2019. The novel centers on the strangling of Stacy Hart, fiancée of prosecutor Connor Collins, just a month before their wedding — a case that draws psychologist Dr. Pepper Hunt back into collaboration with Detective Beau Antelope of the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Department. A finalist for both the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (Mystery) and the 2019 Best Book Awards (Fiction: Mystery/Suspense), the novel earned praise from critical coverage as "a solid series entry" and from The International Review of Books for being "dark and gripping with plenty of twists and good solid characters." This review is based on the book's content and published reception, not hands-on reading.

Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half by Kim Kimberling and Nancy Kimberling

Published in November 2023 by The Core Media Group, Inc., Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half is a Christian marriage guide co-authored by Dr. Kim Kimberling and Nancy Kimberling — the duo behind the Awesome Marriage ministry — designed to help long-married couples deepen their connection, rebuild intimacy, and revitalize their sexual relationship once the child-rearing years are behind them.