3 Books to Read: 2 Book Clubs & Alzheimer's

Handsome by Ezra Palmer Coming July 2026

5 Stars!

Powerful & Engaging. This book reads like a series of reflections & situational stories woven together through the narrator’s life, almost a stream of consciousness that feels intimate & unfiltered, as though she has no agenda other than to tell the truth of her experiences. The audiobook narrator elevates the story even further, delivering the emotional weight with incredible depth & authenticity. This is a story about a complicated marriage fractured by infidelity, but it is also about identity, aging, ambition, & survival. The novel explores the quiet devastation of living through a husband’s affair & the psychological warfare that follows, the endless internal dialogue, the anger left unspoken, & the emotional wounds buried beneath the routines & busyness of everyday life that is even worse as Alzheimer’s has taken over the narrator, who doesn’t realize it herself. What makes the story especially powerful is its nuanced portrayal of female empowerment. The narrator’s decision to remain in her marriage is not framed as weakness, but rather as something layered, painful, & deeply human. The book captures the emotional complexity of long-term relationships & the resentment, deception, & silence that can quietly build over decades. There is also a haunting examination of aging & irrelevance, both within a marriage & in the workforce, as the narrator reflects on climbing the career ladder only to feel herself fading from visibility. Combined with themes of mental decline & Alzheimer’s, the story becomes an incredibly raw portrait of someone slowly losing their grip on certainty, memory, & even themselves. Powerful, emotional, & deeply unsettling at times, this book offers an intimate glimpse into the unraveling of a mind & a marriage. The mind prison that Alzheimer’s creates, & the pain that others feel as part of this prison. It is not always an easy read, but it is an unforgettable one. I loved the writing. I loved the character, and I highly recommend this read. It’s truly one that everyone should read to get a glimpse of someone living with this pain & mental decline.

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

5 Stars!

Gracious did I love this book. It has a bit of everything: crime, suspense, deep life considerations, romance & the most lovable birds ever! I truly enjoyed this book which felt like a full circle moment for all the characters, the reflection on the different lives we live & mistakes we made, & of course- the power of reading & books. This book was so hard to put down. It slowly eases you into a “one more page” reading that you can’t stop. The main characters are so all so individually wonderful & engaging. The birds, however, are the stars of the show. I loved getting back to the lab & seeing what they were doing. Their storyline truly made me so interested in African Grey Parrots. And everyone needs a Harriet in their life. Her perspective & loyalty are unmatched. Such a great book. Perfectly beautiful.

The Book Club Murders by Maggie Allswell

4 Stars!

I listened to the audiobook of this one, and within the first few minutes I wasn’t entirely convinced by the narrator. But by the ten-minute mark, I was completely won over. The narration ended up adding so much charm and personality to the story. This is the quintessential cozy murder mystery: clever, entertaining, and incredibly engaging from start to finish. The pacing kept me hooked, and I genuinely didn’t predict the ending. The twist was subtle but satisfying, which made it all the more effective. What I loved most was the cast of characters. Their interactions felt natural, witty, and endlessly entertaining. And Jack? An absolute saint for tolerating the chaos surrounding this book club. He was impossible not to adore. The story strikes a perfect balance between humor and mystery without becoming overly convoluted or relying on far-fetched plot devices. It’s simply an enjoyable, well-crafted mystery about a group of avid crime readers who hilariously decide that years of reading murder mysteries somehow qualifies them to approach murder like seasoned experts. Sharp, cozy, and delightfully self-aware. Great writing!