My First Origami Book: 19 Easy & Colorful Projects

 

My First Origami Book is a collection of beginner friendly origami tutorials bundled with 80 sheets of origami paper folded by Rita Foelker. Released 16th Dec 2025 by Dover, it's 248 pages and is available in paperback format.

The tutorials are all accessible and the illustrations and photos are very clear and concise. The difficulty of the projects range from beginner level to slightly more advanced beginner. It should be noted that the actual page count includes the included bundled sheets of origami paper.

At the very beginning of the book are the symbol explanations and the short tutorials for the traditional folds.  This will help complete newbies to be able to follow the later tutorials.  None of the pieces in this book are beyond a keen beginner's abilities with a generous dose of patience and practice. The author/publisher have also included QR code links to video and internet content pages for more in-depth information.

Dover publications has long been a standard bearer for beautifully illustrated well made crafts books.  This one is no exception.  Everything is top notch. This would make a perfect gift for origami-curious beginners. 

Four and a half stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Waltz into Darkness

 

Waltz into Darkness is a nice addition to the American mystery noir genre, and an early crime novel written by Cornell Woolrich (published under his pseudonym as William Irish). Originally published in 1947, this re-formatting and re-release as part of the American Mystery Classics series war released 7th Jan 2020. It's 364 pages and is available in hardcover format (other editions available in other formats). 

The American Mystery Classics series has unerringly plucked important but potentially lesser known crime gems and presented them (with expert introductory content and commentary) to new generations of crime fiction readers. Although I had read much of Cornell Woolrich's oeuvre previously and was familiar with his work from the pulps (he was incredibly prolific), I had never read this one. 

The writing is admittedly dated, but still powerful. In this case, it's been turned into film twice, most recently in 2001 starring Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas (Original Sin). 

That being said, however, the writing and plotting are classic early noir and very well done. Recommended for lovers of noir, American crime, as well as a support text for allied scholastic examination (modern American literature, etc). The erudite and informative introduction by Wallace Stroby is a highlight of this edition. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

 

A Lesson in Dying - Inspector Ramsay #1

 

A Lesson in Dying is the 1st Inspector Ramsay standalone mystery by Ann Cleeves. Originally released in 1990, this reformat and re-release 25th March 2025 by Macmillan is 240 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

The (loathed) headmaster at a local school is found hanged in the courtyard of the school, and Ramsay is drawn in by circumstances to investigate. There are a plethora of suspects; the victim was not an upstanding person. As with the other books in the series, there's a pervasive sadness and sordidness which makes for a melancholy read. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 5 hours 35 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Simon Mattacks. He has a beautifully modulated classically trained light baritone voice and does a great job of delineating a range of characters of both sexes and a number of regional accents, shifting quickly and flawlessly. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

There's not a ton of continuity in this series, and it works very well as a standalone read. This book is also quite intricately plotted, but there aren't any major spoilers if they're read out of order. The denouement and resolution were satisfying, if melancholy. 

This series is definitely not as polished as her later work, but there are glimpses of the style and development which later gave rise to Vera and Shetland. It has "good bones" and works very well, despite the pervasive sadness which threads throughout the entire series.

Four stars. Well worth seeking out for fans of moody atmospheric British crime.  

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

 

A Very Bookish Murder

 

A Very Bookish Murder is book three in this cozy mystery series by Dee Macdonald. Released 19th Sept 2025, it's 240 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU (ditto for the fourth book - due out 16th April 2026). 

Guest house owner and recently retired amateur sleuth Ally is an appealing and well written character. It's classic village cozy, full of quirky secondary characters, a moderately gentle pace, and no graphic on page violence. The author has even given the main character an appealing Labrador puppy called Flora.

It's not derivative, but fans of the cozy B&B subgenre (like Victoria Gilbert, Ellen Byron, and Murder She Wrote) will likely love this one as well. 

With three books out currently and a fourth out in a few months, it would make a good short binge/buddy read.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

 

Amigurumi Fairies: 50 Patterns for Customizable Dolls and Magical Friends

 

Amigurumi Fairies is a tutorial instruction guide with patterns for 50 amigurumi dolls plus accessories written by Amber Beaulieu. Due out 11th Aug 2026 from Fox Chapel on their Landauer imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The book is logically laid out and accessible. The graphics are adorably appealing and clear. The book is lavishly illustrated and the closeness and detail of the photography is a definite plus. It has a short introduction covering basic supplies, fiber/yarn choices, and some techniques. Her writing style throughout is informal, upbeat, and encouraging. She comes across as very friendly and fun. 

The first section includes a fairly thorough intro to crochet and tools and supplies. The master pattern tutorial is shown with tutorial process photos and detailed instructions. The book's tutorials do presuppose at least an advanced beginner level of familiarity with crochet techniques and construction/sewing. She does also briefly cover some safety info re: safety eyes and small moving parts. (PSA don't use safety eyes for toys which will be loved by babies/toddlers, as they can be a choking hazard). 

The intro is followed by the tutorials. Each tutorial contains multiple photos (mostly process photos, but also finished/styled photos), tools and supplies, and well written (not charted) instructions. There are many construction instructions and photos. 

Well done and a nice selection of patterns which are fundamentally different from one another, giving the reader a broad platform for creating alternative amigurumi and for customization.

Four and a half stars. Well worth a read for crochet interested readers. The dolls are cute, and most are fairly detailed.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

For the Love of Houseplants: Caring for & Keeping Plants with Confidence

 

For the Love of Houseplants is a beginner friendly, accessible primer to houseplant care by Tanner Mitchell. Due out 14th April 2026 from Simon & Schuster on their Simon Element imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio (!!), and ebook formats. 

There is a wealth of info available for houseplant selection, culture, and propagation. This is an appealing, up to date primer which is aimed at beginner to intermediate houseplant enthusiasts. The author is experienced and shares a lot of joyful enthusiasm for the subject. He covers a range of culture requirements for the different types of plants along with some short tutorial protocols for all aspects (including troubleshooting and treating inevitable problems which occur). 

The second part of the book contains an alphabetical indepth profile section with 30 popular houseplants, from Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen) to Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Zanzibar gem/ZZ plant). The choices are up-to-date (no African violets and a couple "ferns", it's not your grandmother's houseplant book from the 60s). There are a couple of eyebrow raising inclusions however, such as Venus flytraps which tend to be challenging keepers in the middle to long run. To be fair, the author does go into some detail about the more exacting requirements (demineralized water and sufficient light). 

The book has a nice slightly retro graphic vibe, with side-lit photos and simple line-drawn graphics. There are lots of shots of the author and his wife and pets. It's a cozy and attractive book full of healthy, well styled plants and containers. 

The unabridged audiobook version runs 8 hours 30 minutes and is narrated by the author himself. Although audio would work well enough for the theory/practice content of houseplant culture, there are a lot of visual elements in the book such as plant styling and container choice which would be more easily accessed in the print versions. It's nice the book will be accessible for sight impaired readers though, so that's a plus; kudos to the author/publisher for accessibility. 

Four stars. Nothing extremely groundbreaking, but a solidly useful primer for the home gardener, public or school library acquisition, garden club libraries, and similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop

 

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop is a standalone cozy fantasy by Takuya Asakura. Originally published in Japanese in May 2025, this English language translation was published  28th Aug 2025 by HarperCollins on their One More Chapter imprint. It's 194 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

There's a vibrant sub-genre in Japanese cozy literature (Kamogawa Food Detectives, Tales from the Cafe, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Dallergut Department Store (which was Korean, but same basic genre), etc), and this one fits right in with the others. There's definitely a dreamlike, slightly trippy, aspect to the story, set in an ephemeral bookshop which only shows up during cherry blossom season like a bookish Brigadoon.

The prose is beautifully wrought and although slightly discursive and meandering, manages to make some good points about the meaning and trajectory of life, choices (and how they can affect our entire lives), acceptance, and being truthful (and kind) to ourselves. The translation work, done by Yuka Maeno, is seamless and invisible. Although indelibly Japanese, the text flows very well, and it doesn't read as though it's been translated (which has to be the goal).  

Four stars. Well written, professionally translated, and full of whimsy, it would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, and a challenging and enjoyable book club selection/buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Marguerite by the Lake

 

Marguerite by the Lake is a slowly developing standalone mystery thriller by Mary Dixie Carter. Released 20th May 2025 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Very slow to develop with a number of morally grey characters and an often awkward dual-timeline narrative mechanic that is not always very well delineated. This is a reverse mystery; the denouement and guilty party are part of the prologue, and the story gets filled in as it progresses. Antihero Phoenix is generally unlikeable and difficult to vibe with, her affair with Geoffrey is both lackluster and unrealistic. Readers should absolutely bring a prodigious suspension of disbelief to the read.

The writing is competent and readable, but the story never really clearly settles in any camp; it's not horror, not really mystery, not engagingly thrilling, not paranormal (though there's a lot of talk of being haunted and feeling hunted on the part of the female MC (narrator voice: it's her guilty conscience)). 

Three stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, possibly for a buddy read or book club selection. It might make a diverting holiday read. 

Very much in the same subgenre as Jessa Maxwell and Rachel Hawkins. Fans of those authors will likely enjoy this one also.  

 Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

 

My Roommate from Hell

 

My Roommate from Hell is a cute light YA rom-com by Cale Dietrich. Released 11th Nov 2025 by Wednesday Books, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a cute very light romance featuring a mismatched pair of dorm roommates thrust together by circumstance. One's an everyman type midwest all-American boy, the other is a prince of hell. Sparks (literally) fly. It's a slow burn throughout, with a HFN denouement and resolution. Owen is a bit of a doormat, and spends a *large* amount of the book giving prince Not-Very-Charming "just one more chance". 

It's aimed at YA readers, who can relate to the out-of-control feeling that comes with moving away to college, but even so, Owen's a doormat. Things do improve, although there are still points where readers will want to smack their heads together for being so unnecessarily *dim* about how to go about coexisting successfully without unnecessary drama.  

Four stars, with the understanding that it's YA romance. It's snarky and silly in about equal measure. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home library, or for a buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.  

The Maiden and Her Monster

 

The Maiden and Her Monster is a darky reimagined fantasy retelling of the Golem of Prague, by Maddie Martinez. Released 9th Sept 2025 by Macmillan on their Tor Forge imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 202. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

Steeped in Jewish folklore and history, the author has done a stellar job of reimagining the Golem story with some twists. It's not necessary for readers to have prior exposure to the fables; the author does a good job of providing context without spoon feeding. For readers who are entirely unfamiliar with the story/background/culture, expect to read this with additional resources, the author/publisher have not included a glossary. In fact, the author is gifted at narrative prose, and it does not read like a debut effort at all. The writing is lush, enveloping, and nuanced. 

That being said, there is a -lot- of explicit and direct violence here. Content warning for graphic body horror, religious extremism/zealotry, violence to animals, and threatened SA.  It was quite difficult to read in places. 

Three and a half stars. Well written.  It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, or possibly a book club or buddy read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Surgeon's House - Book 2

 

The Surgeon's House is an engaging historical mystery and the sequel to The Small Museum by Jody Cooksley. Released 22nd May 2025 by Allison & Busby, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

Although undoubtedly fairly accurate with regard to social restrictions, sexism, and rigid class divisions, it's relentlessly depressing. Hannah Arendt was entirely spot on when she coined the phrase "the banality of evil" (she was talking about Eichmann, but the phrase is also quite apt here). The male characters are universally bad, mostly incompetent small minded and mean spirited. The women are hounded from pillar to post by circumstances beyond their control. When the resolution and denouement occur, although self-contained in this volume, they failed to entirely satisfy. 

The pacing is... sedate. The characters are a mixed bag; some are well fleshed out and believable, others seem more like mostly 2 dimensional plot devices. It must be said the author is extremely gifted, often the descriptive prose is beautifully rendered and inviting. 

Definitely one for fans of historical fiction/thrillers. There is a fair bit of continuity from the first book, and although this one can be read as a standalone, there's a large-ish portion of the plot which follows from the first book, and thus there will be some spoilers if read out of order.  

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours, 21 minutes and is capably read by Jessica Whittaker and Louise Williams. They do a good job with the disparate regional accents and a range of ages. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.  

Three stars. Readable, stately paced, and depressingly accurate. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Life, and Death, and Giants

 

Life, and Death, and Giants is a thoughtful philosophical fable by Ron Rindo. Released 9th Sept 2025 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in 4th quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links.

This is a warm and moving tale, full of Americana and a Norman Rockwell vibe, with an often darker undertone. The titular central character, a child/man born very large who grows to a huge size is always the hub around which the characters' points of view revolve. It's told in alternating first person point of view, without ever giving Gabriel (the giant) a voice. It's an effective mechanic and the author uses it fully. 

The community into which giant Gabriel is born straddles old-sect Amish and "English" (non-Amish). The contrast and culture clashes, and uneasy alliances between Gabriel's family and his found family are moving and often tragic. The depictions of Amish life and culture are probably not very accurate. The story often flirts with magical realism, and the second half of the book deals with it more directly. 

It's an odd, off-kilter book in more ways than one, but well crafted, if slow-paced.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 29 minutes and is read by an ensemble cast. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Four stars. It will undoubtedly hit the bookclub circuit heavily in 2026. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, and is widely available. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 
 

God's Colorful Easter: The Good News Is for Everyone

 

God's Colorful Easter: The Good News Is for Everyone is an inclusive and illustrated Easter story for young readers (~5-7 years) by Dr. Esau McCaulley. Released 3rd Feb 2026 by Tyndale on their kids' imprint, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover format. 

The story is simply and directly told in age appropriate text and illustrations. The pictures, by Rogério Coelho are colorful and beautifully intricate with many small details, such as animals and facial expressions and body language which invite contemplation and a closer look. 

In addition to the redemption story, the illustrations also specifically show that the message of love and inclusivity being for people (and kids) of all ethnicities and abilities. 

It's a positive and uplifting book. There are no graphic representations of violence in the book, although the text does refer to Simon helping Jesus when he is unable to carry the cross. 

The author/publisher have also included short biographical info, but no further reading links, bibliography, or resources. There are some links for further reading and other resources available on the publisher's website.  

Four stars. It's would possibly be a good choice for public or school library acquisition (with the understanding that it's directly religious and tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection).   

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Baby Dragon Bookshop - The Baby Dragon #3

 

The Baby Dragon Bookshop is a cute sweetly fluffy lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers romantasy by A.T. Qureshi, and the third book in the loosely connected series. Released 10th Feb 2026 by HarperCollins on their Avon imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

Very cute, very fluffy, with a very YA vibe. Lots of heartfelt drama and a nice (fluffy) ending. This volume is back to being absolutely stuffed full of adorable baby dragons compared to the relative  dearth in the second book. This book has some returning cast, but the plot centers around a different couple and different setting. 

Three and a half stars. It would make a good choice for public library acquisition, or a short binge/buddy/beach read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

Murder on a Scottish Island - Lady Poppy Proudfoot #2

 

Murder on a Scottish Island is the second light historical cozy featuring Lady Poppy by Lydia Travers. Released 8th Sept 2025, it's 352 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, alongside the other book in the series (as well as much of the author's oeuvre and other series).

This is a fun and well written historical cozy with an appealing cast set during the early 1920s in Scotland. The plot is well organized and the characters are rendered (mostly) believably. It's a historical cozy, so there are some period appropriate bits of dialogue and commentary which give the book a historical feel, but not so much as to be awkward or yank readers out of their suspension of disbelief. It's a light read; there's no graphic violence or rough language. Well written and civilized, readers who enjoy early golden age mysteries will likely find it, and the first book in the series, appealing.

Four stars. It works perfectly well as a standalone read, but readers who enjoy series cozies will enjoy the first, and it would make a nice short binge/buddy read. Book 3 is due out in March 2026.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

Murder at Somerset House - Wrexford & Sloane #9

 

Murder at Somerset House is the 9th Wrexford & Sloane regency mystery by Andrea Penrose. Released 30th Sept 2025 by Kensington, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in Aug 2026 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The earlier books in the series are currently available on KU as well.

This is an engaging and well written series. It's an ensemble character driven cozy(ish) historical murder mystery with a strong element of romance. The author has written the story around a framework of fictionalized historical characters and she does a good job of interweaving the real historical facts with the fictional narrative allowing for some minor poetic license regarding names, dates, and times. This installment, as most of them, contain a fair bit of science/technology/engineering of the period, and feature some cameos from well known names in the scientific world of the time.

Although self-contained in the narrative arc, the cast of characters have a long history together, so it works well enough as a standalone, but it's strongly recommend to read the series in order because of  character development spoilers (in fact the titular series characters have progressed from near-enemies in book one to stably married and with a settled situation and dependents). The language is very clean, there's some violence used in context, and very little sexual content. 

The author does take some thinly veiled pokes at colonialism, racism (one of the wards of the family is dark skinned), slavery, unscrupulous profiteers, and the military industrial complex in this book which have distinct takeaways for our modern world.  The narrative arc and denouement and resolution are satisfying for the genre (a little swoony and overwrought, but not egregiously so). This is the ninth book, and it's a continuing series holding to a roughly yearly release schedule; the 10th book is due out in Sept 2026.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours, 31 minutes, and is expertly read by series narrator James Cameron Stewart. He has a well modulated light baritone voice and a surprisingly masterful control with regional UK accents of the period as well as a few non-local-accents (including southern German) without a hitch.  Happily, his Scottish accent isn't painful to listen to (it's his native dialect), nor is his upper class Regency English RP type accent (which presumably isn't).  Sound and production quality are high throughout.

Enjoyable cozy murder / romance. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

A Quilted Christmas: 16 Projects to Bring the Warmth of the Season Home

 

A Quilted Christmas is a nice tutorial collection with 16 projects included collected by Deb Grogan. Released 9th Sept 2025 by Fox Chapel, it's 80 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The projects cover a nice range of traditional, modern, whimsical, and cute. There are table runners, placemats, decor/door hangers, and hangings (See cover). The graphics a clear, high contrast, and in color throughout. There's a combination of photos and drawn graphics. Everything is easy to understand and in color. 

Each project includes a finish photo, materials list with measurements in imperial (American) measurements and metric in parentheses (yay!), and step by step instructions. Process photos and drawings are clear and easy to follow. Templates are included for each project.

Four stars. There are some cute, relatively quick projects here which would be good for gifts and bazaars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

What Stalks the Deep

 

What Stalks the Deep is a very well written trippy fantasy historical-horror lite, the third adventure for these characters, by T. Kingfisher. Released 30th Sept 2025 by Macmillan on their Tor Nightfire imprint, it's 192 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in Sept 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This time Alex & co. wind up on a missing person case with decidedly abnormal things-that-go-bump-in-the-night aspects. Dismemberment and disappearances, cagey locals (it's set deep in remote Appalachia), and a claustrophobic and mysterious cave system attached to a mine. Although it's the third book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone, and readers won't have any trouble staying with the story.

The author is exceedingly talented and this story is engaging, atmospherically creepy in places, with some jump scares and some body horror including animals (bear, dog, etc) but overall nothing really horrible (probably not enough actual horror for die-hard horror fans).

Four stars. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home library, or a great weekend or buddy/binge read. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang

 

 

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang is a semi-cozy fantasy debut by pseudonymous Lee Onhwa. Originally published in Korean in 2024, this English language translation was published  13th Jan 2026 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint. It's 240 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

There's a vibrant sub-genre in Asian food related cozy fantasy (Kamogawa Food Detectives, Tales from the Cafe, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Dallergut Department Store (which is also Korean, but same basic genre), etc), and this one fits right in with the others. There's definitely a dreamlike, slightly trippy, aspect (the cafe is ephemeral and serves both the living and departed customers depending on circumstances dictated by the patrons' needs, always at night, and there are priests/monks who pay for the objects the ghost patrons pay for their pastries with).  

The book has a dreamlike quality, and the stories told to shop owner Yeon-Hwa traverse time and space, and philosophy, and music. It contains a fair bit of "woo-woo" pop psychology, but overall it's entertaining, full of whimsy, and fun with a serious bent. The patrons themselves are a mixed lot, but the story is written around their lives and fates and how they passed, and how their stories relate to the larger world.

The prose is oddly wrought and full of odd whimsy and although slightly discursive and meandering, manages to make some good points about the meaning and trajectory of life, choices (and how they can affect our entire lives), acceptance, and being truthful (and kind) to ourselves. Although the translation work seems well done, it absolutely reads like literature in translation and there's often (often!) a choppy discontinuity to the writing. It's not annoying, but it is noticeable. 

Three and a half stars. Well written, professionally translated, and full of whimsy, it would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, and a challenging and enjoyable book club selection/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

 

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat

 

We'll Prescribe You Another Cat is the second collection of interconnected vignettes by Syou Ishida. Originally released in Japanese in 2023, this English language translation was released 2nd Sept 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint. It's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a relaxingly cozy, warmly written book with several mini-stories around people whose lives are touched by feline interactions. The "patients" run the gamut from a young relationship-shy woman to a widowed grandfather whose grandson is hikikomori, and it's a redemptive and sentimental read (in a good way). 

The translation work by E. Madison Shimoda is completely seamless and unobtrusive. It doesn't read like literature in translation and although set in Japan with Japanese names and settings, the scansion and prose flow very well in English. 

Four stars. Well written. There are a fair number of cozy Japanese "lifestyle" stories, it's become a popular genre. It's not derivative at all, but fans of The Full Moon Coffee Shop, the Morisaki Bookshop books, and the Kamogawa Food Detectives, will likely enjoy this one as well.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.