Books for Dog Lovers

 

Stella
Best Friends Dog Tales 1
By McCall Hoyle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: September 6, 2022
Print length: 176 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639930555
Reading age: 8 - 11 years, from customers
Grade level: Preschool - 1

 Publisher’s Blurb:

STELLA has been nominated for 14 state awards in FL, ME, NE, NM, OK, PA, KY, KS, LA, AL, MA, SC & TX!

"This empathetic read is also full of important themes and lessons for young readers bravery, how to overcome fears, and that mistakes don't have to define us." --School Library Journal

Told from Stella's perspective, this story is about a special dog who must find the courage to overcome her fears in order to help save a young girl with epilepsy.

Ever since she was a puppy, Stella was trained to use her powerful beagle nose to sniff out dangerous chemicals and help her handler keep people safe. But during a routine security inspection, Stella misses the scent of an explosive. The sound of the blast is loud and scary. Unable to go back to work because of her anxiety, Stella is retired as a working dog.

When a young girl named Cloe wants to adopt Stella, the beagle knows this is her last chance to prove her worth. But how? When Stella smells a strange chemical inside Cloe's body, a scent that surges just before the girl has a seizure, Stella's nose makes the connection. But how can Stella warn her new family without them thinking she's having an anxiety attack? How can she convince others that she can be a new kind of service dog and hopefully save Cloe's life?

Even dogs deserve a second chance.

 

Just Gus
Best Friends Dog Tales 2
By McCall Hoyle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: September 3, 2024
Print length: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639933235
Reading age: 8 - 11 years
Grade level: Preschool - 1

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Gus is a livestock guardian dog with one job―protecting his farm from coyotes and foxes. He likes keeping the sheep, the chickens, and his humans safe, and he’s very good at it.

 One day, Diego and his dad come to visit the farm, and Gus immediately connects to the small boy. They both like to sit still and enjoy the quiet, and Gus can tell that Diego likes being around a gentle giant of a dog, that it helps relieve the boy’s constant worry.

 When Gus detects the scent of a bear in the woods, he rushes to protect his flock, injuring his leg in a fight with the dangerous beast. Wounded, Gus needs to rest and heal away from his sheep, so he doesn’t risk reinjuring his leg. Diego suggests Gus come home with them to the North Carolina coast.

 Suddenly, Gus is thrust into a new world of saltwater and sand and neighbors who don’t appreciate the presence of a large guard dog, like the neighbor who reminds Gus of his first owner―the junkyard man with the heavy boots.

 Gus realizes Diego might need a friend as much as his sheep need a protector, but if he can’t learn to control his instincts, like barking and patrolling the neighborhood, Gus might lose his chance to stay in his new home. If he can’t protect the farm or his boy, Gus worries he might never find his place in the world.

 Just Gus is a tender story of belonging and of two friends who learn they are better together than they were alone.

Millie
Best Friends Dog Tales 3
By McCall Hoyle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: August 5, 2025
Print length: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639933945
Reading age: 8 - 11 years
Grade level: 3 - 8

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Selected for the 2024-2025 Club Tome Book Award -Tome Student Literacy Society

From the author of Stella—nominated for fourteen Best Book of the Year state awards—this heartwarming story is about a street dog named Millie and a young girl who are both dealing with abandonment issues and must give trust and belonging a second chance.

Millie is a feisty border terrier who lives on the streets and has a keen sense for finding scraps of food, usually in the shadows or the cover of darkness. She protects herself with a shield of what is perceived by many as aggression—barking and snarling—when in reality, she is just plain scared.

Turned over to animal control after a recent run-in with the dogcatcher, Millie is rescued by a special teacher who also rehabilitates and rehomes dogs. It’s a win-win. Together the dogs and Ms. Berry's students learn emotional resilience, anger management, and other coping skills.

When one of the students, a struggling reader named Tori, shows a natural gift for dog training and working with fearful dogs, Millie is temporarily placed in her care. Tori may be young, but she knows a thing or two about anger, fear, and abandonment after her mother can no longer care for her and she is placed in kinship care with her grandfather. Millie wonders if she’s finally found her human and begins to let down her emotional guard. But when trust and belonging are challenged, Millie reverts to old habits—fleeing, hiding, and growling. Will she end up back on the streets? Or can Millie and Tori embrace their training, trust in each other, and find a forever home together?

 My thoughts:

These loosely connected books offer a wonderful insight into the behavior of dogs. Hoyle does train dogs, and does a really wonderful job of making canine behavior understandable, even for quite young readers.

 Told from the point of view of each title dog, we get the stories of humans through canine eyes. The narration recounts human conversations, which requires a little bit of suspension of disbelief from us, but also gives us insight into the dogs’ relationship with their humans.

 The dogs featured, as well as the humans, all have their own histories and issues to heal from—which is nice. It’s a sort of dual story as humans and canines learn together.

 Whatever the emotional story is, each of these is a story about a dog forging a friendship with a child, who needs the support and love that only a dog can give.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Health issues, some frightening situations. Abusive and scary humans.

 

Forever Ripley
By McCall Hoyle
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Print length: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639934164
Reading age: 8 - 11 years
Grade level: 4 - 6

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Ripley, an aging German Shepherd Dog, spent her life guarding the wildlife refuge with Max, the best man she’s ever known. But that was before the accident, before he gave her one final job: “Take care of the girls.”

 And Ripley has done just that—especially for Charlie, the girl Ripley loves even more than peanut butter. Ripley watches over Charlie with dedication, especially when faced with bullies who threaten the refuge. But Ripley is slowing down. She knows dogs don’t last forever.

Sensing their time together is running out, Charlie plans a farewell adventure filled with Ripley’s favorite things—fried chicken, sandpiper chasing on the beach, and ice cream in Nags Head. Through it all, they learn that love isn’t about holding on—it’s about lifting each other up.

A heartwarming tribute to love, resilience, and the joy of a life well lived, Forever Ripley proves that even in goodbye, there is beauty, courage, and the promise of new beginnings.

 My Thoughts:

As with the “Best Friends Dog Tales”, Hoyle focuses on the relationship between a dog and a child. This time, though, the dog is nearing the end of life, fulfilling a promise to her original owner to look after “the girls”. Ripley knows that her life is ending. Watching Charlie come to terms with this is lovely, and heart-rending. Yes, sad things happen in this book, but it is a beautiful, joyful book.

 Possible objectionable material:

Charlie is in physical danger from poachers. The death of a pet.

 #Stella #JustGus #Millie #ForeverRipley #McCallHoyle #ShadowMountain #DogBook #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing advanced reader copies of these books in exchange for my honest opinion.

James Ponti does it again in his new series

 

The Sherlock Society
Sherlock Society #1
By James Ponti
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: September 3, 2024
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665932530
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.

The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.

Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

 My Thoughts:

With the last name of “Sherlock” starting your own detective agency is kind of a no-brainer. Of course, if you’re in middle school, you’ll need a driver. No problem if your 70-something former-journalist grandfather has an ultra-cool vintage Cadillac convertible!

 All four of the kids in the Sherlock Society have a desire to earn some summer money. When Alex and Zoe’s attorney mom shuts them down from taking cases from strangers, Grandpa introduces them to his files of notes from an illustrious journalism career and invites them to choose an unsolved mystery. While searching for Al Capone’s lost treasure, they stumble across—and solve—a real mystery, though not without getting in a little trouble with the Department of the Treasury.

 James Ponti is a master of writing suspenseful stories for the middle-grade audience. The wonderful thing is that I find his work equally entertaining for me—very, very removed from middle grades. Although he’s a bit far from middle school as well, he has a great grasp of the emotional and intellectual lives of the age group. There’s a reason I don’t teach middle school—it’s a really difficult age for the kids and for the adults around them. Ponti handles the questions of self-worth and friendship in a consistently realistic manner.

 Any time someone is asking for book recommendations for middle schoolers, I say “anything by James Ponti.” This book is no exception. This one has some fun callouts to classic children’s literature, and a very cute “Who’s on First”-type scene.

 Possible objectionable material:

The kids deceive their parents a little bit. Some interpersonal struggles with very mild, indirect bullying. Perilous situations, including an explosion. Some minor deception of other adults. Discussion of a Sasquatch-type creature. Mentions of segregation.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #Biblioquacious #BookReview #SherlockSociety #JamesPonti #MiddleGrades #Mystery

 

Hurricane Heist
Sherlock Society #2
By James Ponti
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1665932561
Reading age: 8 - 12 years
Grade level: 3 - 7

 Publisher’s Blurb:

When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.

Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s murder, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.

 My Thoughts:

 This book picks up almost immediately after the previous book. The Society is still disappointed about not finding Al Capone’s treasure. School is about to start, but first they have to get through a hurricane. Wyoming transplant Lina is quite nervous about her first hurricane. There’s also a flashback to 1964, when Grandpa Pete was a youngster going through a similar hurricane.

 And now the scene is set for a new mystery, one that’s very personal to Grandpa.

 I love watching the kids learn to research and form hypothesis, then work on proving them. It’s a wonderful process to watch. Grandpa is such a patient teacher, knowing when to lead and when to get out of the kids’ way.

 The kids themselves complement each other in their abilities and personalities. It’s especially interesting watching Zoe balance between her popular friends and her enjoyment of solving mysteries.

 Ponti has created vibrant personalities and given them interesting challenges. As always, Ponti brings us another winner.

 Possible Objectionable Material:

Dangerous situations, a possible murder (in the past), mention of the Cuban Revolution, climate change, and segregation. Perilous situations.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #Biblioquacious #BookReview #SherlockSociety #JamesPonti #MiddleGrades #Mystery

Bon Appetit

 

Julia
By Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Print length: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639934256

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Before she stepped into the spotlight as a master of French cooking, Julia Child navigated the shadows as a WWII intelligence officer.

 On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage.

 Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris.

 In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: She refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion.

 Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, this is Julia’s extraordinary journey.

 My Thoughts:

While this is not a straight-up biography, it is an exceedingly well-researched book.

 I had heard that Child was a “spy” during WWII, which is a bit of an exaggeration. She did work in intelligence, and had a gift for pulling together information and drawing conclusions from it.

 More importantly for all of us, Julia loved food. From a privileged family, she only knew how to cook a few things. But when she met Paul Child through her work, he opened her eyes to the beauties of the cuisines of the various countries they were stationed in. He praised French food and, fortunately, after their marriage, Paul was stationed in France. Julia fell in love with the cuisine. She was also frustrated by her inability to cooks, so she started to teach herself from one of the famous cookbooks of her day. She then progressed to a course at the famed Cordon Bleu school, then eventually linked up with a couple of French women as their American contributor to a comprehensive French cookbook.

 It would be a cheat to say “and the rest is history.” There were a LOT of struggles, both personal and professional, along the way, and the book details them. But Julia’s positive and personable attitude takes her far, all the way into the new realm of television. The book ends with the beginning of Julia’s first Public Broadcasting series, covering about 20 years of her life in all.

 Because this book straddles the line between fiction and non-fiction, it’s not a super exciting read. It doesn’t pull you along, excited every moment to see what’s next. That’s not to say it’s not a pleasant read, it’s just a different way of reading. There are a LOT of names dropped, and occasionally it’s difficult to keep all these people straight, especially as they keep popping up in different countries. The relationship between Julia and her husband, Paul, is so sweet and supportive, despite their trials. Relationship goals!

 Possible objectionable material:

There’s a vague indication that a man might be gay (he’s not). Drinking wine. Infertility. Paul has a romantic past; Julia has not. Unmarried men and women live together. Smoking. Mention of women who “sell themselves.”

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#NetGalley #Biblioquacious #BookReview #HistoricalNovel #Julia #ShadowMountain #HeatherBMoore

Slipping Through Time

 

The Tides of Time
Storm Tide #1
By Sarah M. Eden

Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Publication date: March 4, 2025
Print length: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639933815

 Publisher’s Blurb:

In 1793, a storm propels Lili forward through time, kindling a love that transcends the ages.

Fleeing the clutches of Robespierre’s revolutionary Tribunal in France, Lili Minet makes a desperate escape on a ship headed to England, but her dangerous flight takes an unexpected turn when a violent storm catapults her off the ship and eighty years into the future, leaving her stranded in the unfamiliar world of 1873 England.

When lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce rescues a woman from the tumultuous sea, he does not anticipate her silent, cold response to his gallant efforts. Though he is wary of this woman and her odd behaviors, he finds she is just as wary of him. And he can sense that she is not telling him something of great import to her. Only Armitage’s grandfather, a man seasoned by the mysteries of the sea, can seem to penetrate Lili’s defenses to offer her support. But as Lili heals from the physical and emotional wounds of her ordeal and Armitage continues to offer light and safety to her, a tender friendship blossoms between the two.

Yet the shadow of danger looms as the threat that chased Lili from France all those years ago reemerges in her new present. Together Lili and Armitage must navigate the challenges of a love that defies the boundaries of time and the perils that reach across the decades to ensnare Lili. As the storm clouds gather, Lili and Armitage face the ultimate test—whether their bond is strong enough to rewrite the pages of history itself to save them and their love.

My thoughts:

Time travel gives me a headache. There are so many opportunities for paradoxes. It’s been a staple of science fiction for decades.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this “time slip” novel.

Imagine being abruptly placed 80 years into the future, where you don’t understand how things work. Magnify that by ending up in a new country, with a new language, as well.

That is the situation Lili finds herself in after bravely trying to help aristocrats escape from the violence of the French Revolution. Rescued by quiet lighthouse keeper Armitage Pierce, at first she believes that all the strange things around her are the result of being in England rather than France.

But the water off Loftstone Island is known for its sudden storms, and the flashes of green lightning that open the door to other times.

Lili is drawn to Armitage’s quiet patience as she learns to navigate in this new place and time, and as they both slowly figure out what happened. The problem is, Lili isn’t the only one for whom a portal in time opened. Her brother and enemy, Geraud, has also arrived at Loftstone, and is determined to take her back for retribution.

The resolution of the story is well-done, although it stretches belief just a little bit that random portals in time could put all of the important players exactly when they need to be. Clearly, there is some power behind it all.

As with anything by Sarah M. Eden, the time and place are meticulously researched and the characters, whether major or minor, ring true. 

Possible objectionable material:

Kissing. Mild violence. Time travel. Mention of people being sent to the guillotine.

Who might like this book:

Those interested in time travel or the French Revolution. Those who like historical romance in general.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JSarahMEden  #TimeSlip #ProperRomance #TheTidesOfTime

  

Echoes of the Sea
Storm Tide #2
By Sarah M. Eden
 
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date: September 2, 2025
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1639934249

 Publisher’s Blurb:

For Kipling Summerfield, the glamour of Hollywood is becoming a distant memory. After losing the role of a lifetime, he’s forced to take a lesser job as a historical reenactor on England’s Guilford Island. But a sudden storm changes everything, casting him into the ocean—and into the care of a mysterious lighthouse keeper. Kip assumes everyone he meets and the island’s historical setting are just an elaborate performance—until he meets the captivating Amelia Archibald, whose quiet strength feels too real, making him question everything about Guilford.

Amelia has spent her life as an unimportant poor relation and is now trapped by her late grandfather’s will on an island she loathes because of her great fear of the sea. When Kip stumbles into her world, his strange ideas and warm presence are both a disruption and an unexpected light.

As Kip and Amelia work to save Guilford Island, an undeniable connection blooms between them. But when Kip uncovers the truth about where—or when—he is, he must make an impossible choice: rise to meet the expectations of Amelia’s world and build a life worthy of her station or walk away from the love that has redefined his very existence.

 My thoughts:

This time it’s modern-day American ex-pat actor Kipling Summerfield who is taken by the waters near Loftstone Island. The irony is that he’s expecting to work for the summer at a historical reenactment site. He things they take historical accuracy super seriously, so it takes a while for him to realize what has actually happened. Seeing the locals—who know what may happen there—watch him and think he’s an idiot for not getting it is kind of fun.

 Amelia has grit. She’s been traumatized by the sea, but when her late and unlamented grandfather insists that she live in one of his properties surrounded by the sea for six months in order to gain her inheritance, she is determined to win her freedom. It’s hard, but with Kipling’s help, it becomes more and more possible. And, of course, they fall in love on the way.

 Once again, Eden handles the vernacular language of the time and place with ease. The characters, from the leads to the minor characters, are well-written and feel like real people. The resolution is satisfying, though not without some bumps along the way as both of our protagonists question whether they could ever have enough worth for the other.

 Possible objectionable material:

Minor violence. Kissing. Some threats.

 Who might like this book:

Historical romance fans and those who can suspend disbelief and wrap their minds around time travel.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JSarahMEden  #TimeSlip #ProperRomance #EchoesOfTheSea

Introducing...Midnight Rush

 

Once Upon a Boy Band
Midnight Rush #1
By Jenny Proctor
ASIN: B0CQ76BSK2
Publisher: Jenny Proctor Creative
Publication date: September 1, 2024
Print length: 358 pages 
ISBN-13: 979-8989342266

Publisher’s Blurb:

Once upon a time, she slept with his poster beside her bed. Now he's all grown up, hiding behind a burly beard and lots of flannel ... and she doesn't have a clue.

Eight years ago, Adam Driscoll walked away from his stage name—Deke—and the boyband that turned him into an international star before his eighteenth birthday.

And he never looked back.

It didn’t even matter that everyone blamed him for the band’s breakup. He might miss making music, but he had good reasons for walking. Give him solitude over thousands of screaming fans any day of the week.

These days, the only company he’s truly interested in is that of the vet who works closely with his dog rescue—Dr. Laney Lawson. She’s brilliant, funny, beautiful, and best of all, she has no idea he used to be a pop star.

But then Adam’s bandmates reach out about a one-time reunion concert benefiting a charity that’s close to his heart, and he starts to wonder if some things are worth a little extra attention. He loves the idea of singing again, but saying yes would out him to the small mountain community that has become his refuge. Worse, it would out him to Laney.

But old hurts can’t stay buried forever. And something tells Adam that scary or not, saying yes is the decision he needs to make. He just has to hope he doesn’t lose the life—or the woman—he loves in the process.

Once Upon a Boyband has all the crackling chemistry and sizzling kisses you want in a low-spice, closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romantic comedy with a little less heat.

 My thoughts:

Once upon a time, back in the 1970s, I, like so many young girls, had a crush. It wasn’t anyone at school. It was Donny Osmond, the youngest and cutest of the Osmond Brothers. They were what we’ve now come to know as a boy band.

 No, I did not grow up to marry Donny. I did work an evening at Osmond studios, typing the script for their first Miracle Network Telethon. I encountered brother Jay once or twice in other places. But that’s it.

 The difference between the Osmonds and Adam—formerly known as Midnight Rush heartthrob Deke—is that they didn’t drop off the face of the earth, start dog rescues, and fade into welcome obscurity.

 Laney was a huge, huge fand of Midnight Rush back in the day. And Deke was her favorite. She even has boxes full of Midnight Rush and Deke memorabilia. But even she doesn’t recognize Adam as Deke.

 Until she does.

 Adam carries a lot of guilt over how his time in the band ended—both because he let his bandmates down, and because he wasn’t with his mother when cancer took her. But when former bandmate Freddie (hang on…we’ll talk about him more in a minute) shows up to propose a reunion concert, Adam has a hard time saying no. He might have even claimed to have a fiancée. Named Laney.

 Let the fake-dating trope begin!

 Adam and Laney are actually really cute together. They are both crazy about music of all genres and eras, and it’s fun to listen to them discuss it. And of course, the puppies are cute. Even though we readers don’t actually get to see the puppies, they’re cute.

 While Adam does eventually agree to do the concert, and finds that he really enjoys being with the band again, his lingering guilt becomes too much when management proposed a series of concerts, rather than the one that was supposed to benefit cancer research. And when Adam’s guilt gets too much for him, he disappears. Cuts contact. Goes for a walk around his extensive property.

 This takes the place of a third-act breakup, and the method Laney finds to help him deal with is grief is super sweet and satisfying.

 All in all, this is a tender, funny, sweet romance.

 I do question whether Laney is actually old enough to be out of vet school, based on the timeline presented. Also, they mention the band being on TikTok before they broke up eight years ago. But TikTok didn’t start until 2018. There are a couple of other time glitches that were hopefully cleared up on final.

 There’s also a nod to another Proctor series when Adam wears an Appies hat. This is right and good and as it should be.

 Possible objectionable material:

Past parental death. Lying to friends/family. Speculation over whether a man is gay; another male character has a boyfriend. Adults drink alcohol.

 Who might like this book:

All of us with a boyband crush in our past. Music lovers. Romance fans.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JennyProctor #RomCom #OnceUponABoyband

One More Made Up Love Song
Midnight Rush #2
By Jenny Proctor
ASIN: B0FKPPQRYQ
Publisher: Jenny Proctor Creative
Publication date: August 29, 2025
Print length: 344 pages 

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Rule #1: Do not fall in love with your very famous boss. Rule #2: See Rule #1.

As the personal assistant of rockstar Freddie Ridgefield, Ivy Conway knows most women would love to have her job. It definitely has its perks. She gets to travel, the pay is great, and she’s among the first to hear Freddie’s new music.

 The only problem? When she got the job, Ivy promised herself she would never fall in love with her boss. And it’s taking everything in her to stay true to her word.

 Then Freddie kisses Ivy—an impulsive move to save himself from a little bit of bad press—and everything changes. Now, the whole world thinks they’re in love.

 Even more significant: Ivy could swear Freddie felt the same fireworks she did when he pressed his lips to hers.

 What starts as an accidental publicity stunt quickly turns into something more, but fame makes everything more complicated. As Freddie’s spotlight grows to include her—and her family—Ivy starts to wonder if the life Freddie can offer her is worth the life she’ll give up. And how she’ll ever survive without him if it isn’t.

 One More Made Up Love Song is a fake-dating rockstar romance with all the crackling chemistry and tension you want in a closed-door romcom. Perfect for fans of romance with a little less heat.

 My thoughts:

This time, it’s Freddie’s turn in the spotlight. We got to know both him and Ivy a bit as secondary characters in the previous book. Freddie absolutely depends on Ivy for just about everything. She lives at his house and keeps his house organized. She’s been working for him for five years, and was hired with the understanding that she would not fall in love with him. Given that she wasn’t even a Midnight Rush fan when the band was together, or a Freddie Ridgefield fan when she was hired, she didn’t think that would be a problem. But, after a few years of close proximity, she definitely caught feelings. So when the book begins, she’s thinking it might be time to move on and move up into a position with a recording label.

 At the same time, Freddie suddenly starts noticing Ivy more, just not her looks, but how interwoven she is into his life. And he likes it. He’s a little bit crushed when she talks about changing jobs, leading him to realize just how attached to her he is.

 When a situation with rescuing Ivy’s sister Carina from a manipulative social media influencer calls for Ivy and Freddie to kiss, paparazzi catch them and the picture is instantly viral. So fake-dating it is. But it’s not as fake as either of them is pretending it is.

 Again, this is sweet and tender. It doesn’t even have a “you’d be better off without me” third act breakup. Once these two decide they’re a couple, they’re committed to each other.

 It’s a nice change.

 Possible objectionable material:

Adults drink alcohol. Freddie has lots of tattoos and a past as a bit of a playboy. Mention of tampons.

 Who might like this book:

Again, anyone who likes music, rock stars, and romance.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #JennyProctor #RomCom #OneMoreMadeUpLoveSong

Secret penpals

 

Wish You Were Her
By Elle McNicoll
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication date: August 26, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1250335562
Reading age: 13 - 18 years
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Allegra Brooks is an eighteen year old actress who is secretly autistic. When a journalist publishes a scathing profile on Allegra, she decides to take the summer off in Lake Pristine, to visit her slightly estranged father. There, she befriends the booksellers of Brooks Books and decides to help them plan the popular Lake Pristine Book Festival. As she gets closer to Simon, the openly enthusiastic and neurotypical of the two, she realizes it's really Jonah, the boy she argues with constantly and finds a bit off-putting, who she's actually more and more drawn to. As the summer wraps up and the festival approaches, Allegra has to make some decisions about what she owes to others, and to herself.

 My thoughts:

She’s been working since she was 13, and everyone’s favorite actress, Allegra Brooks, just wants a rest. So she decides to go stay with her father, whom she hasn’t visited in years, in his smallish town and help with his bookstore and book festival.

 And maybe, meet her anonymous email penpal who works at the bookstore. She really, really hopes it’s funny and charismatic Simon, not grumpy Jonah who insults her on first meeting. Of course, we know it’s Jonah, since this book is told from both of their POVs. (I still love dramatic irony.)

 Honestly, the least believable part of this book is how so many people in the town of Lake Pristine keep Allegra’s visit a secret. She’s there quite a while before the press picks up on. But when the paparazzi arrive…things get bad in a hurry.

 Allegra takes a long time to tell Noah that she is autistic; he had told her of his own autism much sooner. She told others long before she told him. Not realizing she has autism means that Noah assumes some of her intentions—incorrectly. As with any romance, there are miscommunications along the way.

 Many of the side characters are delightful. Some are mean. But they all feel like real people, and add to Allegra’s experience of trying to be more like a normal teenager in her stolen summer. As the story progresses, both Allegra and Noah are forced to break out of their comfort zones, and it’s a good thing.

 Possible objectionable material:

Swearing, including the F word. Mention of same-gender couples. Partying, but the book takes place in the UK (I think—it’s never quite made clear), so the teens are of legal drinking age. Paparazzi. Allegra’s parents are divorced. Description of heavy making out. Later, we get the idea that Allegra and Noah are sexually active. Friend betrayals.

 Who might like this book:

Those who like books about famous people, autistic people, teens finding their purpose.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #ElleMcNicoll #YA #WishYouWereHer #autism #romance #YARomance

Is it real, or is it social media?

 

Influenced
By Sarah Darer Littman and Cindy L. Otis
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: August 19, 2025
Print length: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1339038261
Reading age: 12 years and up
Grade level: 7 - 9

 Publisher’s Blurb:

Tenth grade isn’t going according to plan for Lainey. Her twin brother moved across the country to live with their dad and stepmom, leaving Lainey -- and her anxiety -- behind. And Lainey’s starting to realize that maybe most of her friends were really her brother’s friends. Thank god for Bliss.

 Bliss is navigating her own tough sophomore year, determined to find her place. But no matter what’s going on in her life, Bliss is really good about being there for Lainey. She’s confident and fearless, all that Lainey wishes she could be. It seems like Bliss is getting everything she’s ever wanted, including a new boyfriend and becoming the first wheelchair user to land a lead role in the school production.

 What no one knows is that Bliss is struggling. At school it feels like everyone is always watching her, and at home, she’s overwhelmed by her parents’ expectations. When things get worse for Bliss, Lainey stops hearing from her completely. Panicked that something awful has happened, Lainey rushes to find out what’s going on. But when Lainey arrives at Bliss’s apartment, nothing is what it seems, and everything Lainey thought she knew about her friend is a lie...

 My thoughts:

When my daughter was in elementary school, she came to me in tears one day. Her favorite YouTubers, Popular MMOs’ Pat and Jen were getting a divorce, and my poor child was crushed. It’s a great example of what we call a parasocial relationship, in which we feel a connection with public or professional figures, but the relationship is all on our side, or only minimally on the side of the other person.

 This is the case in Influenced.

 Lonely Lainey has been following Bliss on social media, entranced by her talent, uplifted by her positive content, and heartened by Bliss’ replies to Lainey’s DMs. So when Bliss makes a post about being “done”, Lainey rushes to Bliss’ home, urgently trying to save her friend from some kind of self harm.

 Only problem is, Bliss—actually Elizabeth—has no clue who Lainey is. Lainey, who has sent Bliss a gift, and has been knitting her a sweater. Lainey, who has poured out her heart to Bliss through DMs.

 Elizabeth has used an accidental viral moment to re-create herself as Bliss and become an advocate for disability awareness. A wheelchair user, Elizabeth has cerebral palsy, which doesn’t prevent her from dreaming of a career on Broadway.

 It’s in the aftermath of Lainey’s visit that things get really interesting, as she comes to realize the truth of the situation. Elizabeth has her own problems, as her parents have come to depend on her influencer status and endorsement deals for income.

 This book makes a great commentary on the power—both positive and negative—of social media and how easily we fall into parasocial relationships. The ideas of fame and notoriety ring true. Dialogue is natural. You can’t help but feel sorry for Lainey and her social anxiety, but she also is stubborn and blind to her own flaws. Elizabeth finds that her fame is not what she had expected it to be, and also has to confront her parents and make them listen to what she really wants.

 Possible objectionable material:

Parental infidelity, divorce and remarriage. Parental manipulation. Heavy social media use. Manipulative friendships. Lainey doesn’t tell anyone she’s going to find Bliss. Mention of a same-gender couple. I didn’t note any swear words.

 Who might like this book:

Anyone interested in the effects of social media.

 Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

 #NetGalley #BookReview #Biblioquacious #SarahDarerLittman #CindyLOtis #YA #CerebralPalsy #Influenced