August 2025

Katie Peterson
Aug 1, 2025
7 min read

Something old, something new, something steamy, something true-ish

Book Review Blog-Previous Posts

(Hint: If you click on the image of a book below, it will take you directly to the section about that book!)

Something old: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Something new: The Names by Florence Knapp

Something steamy: Next to Heaven by James Frey

Something true-ish: Stars Over Clear Lake by Loretta Ellsworth

Book club pick: Til Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn

The Ratings:

Like plain, black coffee. Strong dislike.

A little cream, a little sugar. Not bad. Not great.

Add some flavor or syrup, it's getting good.

I liked this a latte!

Love! Refill please!

The Steam:

No peppers: Love/romance not a major part of this story

One pepper: Mild! Some love scenes; nothing risque on the page; fade to black

Two peppers: Moderate! Slightly descriptive romantic scenes may occur on page; some implied innuendos

Three peppers: Hot! Blushing while reading may occur; lots of spice

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

I chose this as my 'something old' because I read it a long time ago and it was a book that contained a twist that I truly, in no way, saw coming. If you read a lot of books, as I do, you tend to be familiar with common revelations, or at least be able to guess a few plausible endings. We Were Liars threw me for the biggest book loop you can imagine. Also, this book felt fitting to revisit, as its recently been adapted to screen and can be viewed as a series! Although only 1 season is released, I read that there's a 'strong possibility' for season 2....now, the book definitely had an ending that didn't lend itself to a continuation...so I can't wait to see how they modified this one.

The Sinclairs are a wealthy, albeit dysfunctional, family who spend their summers on their own private island. The story begins when Cadence (Cady) Sinclair is finally able to revisit the island after suffering from an injury two years earlier, leading to memory loss and migraines. Her cousins and close friend, collectively self-coined as 'The Liars', help her piece together what happened and help her find closure regarding that fateful summer.

We're transported back to the summer of her accident...and all of the events that lead up to the tragedy. Following her grandmother's death, Cady's mom and aunts spend the summer bickering over their inheritances. Using their children as pawns, they use sly means to try to earn favor with their dad. Jealousy and resentment threaten to overpower all family connections and summers at the island are at risk. Deciding to take matters into their own hands, 'The Liars' (tired of all the lies their parents are spewing), formulate a plan to stop the family feuds once and for all. What Cady can't remember is...did their plan work?

When a book is being adapted for screen I...

0%Read the book first, duh!
0%Watch the movie/show and then decide whether to read it.

My rating:

The Names

Florence Knapp

Wow. A book so profound...so breathtaking...so heartbreaking. What's in a name? Well, Florence Knapp has us all imagining our lives in a 'what if' we were named something else than what we were? Would our life's course have changed? Would our personality be different? Where would we be?

Cora is on her way to file the official name of her recently born son. Along the way, she and her young daughter, Maia, imagine the future of the little one. Maia's idea: Bear. Soft and cuddly, yet brave and strong. Cora's desire: Julian. A name she loves for it's meaning, Sky Father, representative of a fresh start, with the sky as his limit. However, they both know their husband and father's command: Gordon, named after himself, following generations of family custom. As Cora stands at the registrar's office, she's filled with impending doom. For she knows that if she goes against her husband's directive, the consequences will be dire. But if she follows the tradition, will her son be trapped in a life like so many before him?

We are sent on three separate journeys as we find out how all of their lives are affected by the decision Cora makes on this day. Spanning decades, we find out exactly how some premonitions came true, and how at times they came crumbling down as each character fought through years of generational trauma. Be prepared for a rollercoaster of elation and devastation as their lives unfold...in many unexpected ways. No path is a clear 'winner' as each of them have their own very unique positives and negatives. Just as each of our lives is made up of ebbs and flows, the author has the perfect imaginings of 'what could be'?

Good to know before reading: Domestic abuse and home violence is a main theme.

My rating:

Next to Heaven

James Frey

Who: A cast full of the most unlikeable characters in existence.

What: Murder...whose? You'll have to read to find out...

Where: New Bethlehem, Connecticut, home of the richest people, the best schools, the nicest homes, and the most drama.

When: Following a swingers party.

Why: Freedom? Lust? Opportunity?

Best friends Devon and Belle seemingly have everything. They're beautiful, rich, and live in ultimate luxury. Their status as wives of successful, wealthy men is envied by all. But, they're bored. Wanting to add some 'spice' to their lives, they decide to throw an exclusive, invitation only swingers party. Carefully planned down to the last details: the food, the rooms, the drugs, the swag, and the players are all chosen to ensure the most desirable, seductive, sex-filled night they can imagine.

When the big night arrives, some couples are all in, some are surprised, and some are downright appalled. The women are sent to rooms around the mansion to await their partner. While the hostesses (who hand-picked their lovers) have the erotic, pleasure-filled nights they hoped for, some pairings don't hit it off so well. When one women refuses to participate, a rape occurs...leading to a snowball effect of coercion and blackmail. Someone is going to get revenge...but who?

This one is a mess but I'm here for it! So much sleaze and money and hormones. It's out there, but it's fun.

My rating:

Steam rating:

Stars Over Clear Lake

Loretta Ellsworth

Some multiple timeline stories are held together by characters...in this one, the glue connecting the 'before' and 'after' is a building. The historic Surf Ballroom, located in Clear Lake, Iowa. A real-life ballroom with a rich history and a community who celebrates it.

Present day (2007) Lorraine visits the Surf Ballroom with her daughter, Daisy, and son-in-law, Harry, for the first time in decades. As a firefighter, Harry is fascinated with the history of the building, which burned down in the late 40's, only to be rebuilt and be famously known as the last concert location for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper before tragically dying in a plane crash outside of town. Harry is determined to reexamine the case, hoping to find a clue as to what may have caused the fire. When looking at some of the photos from the day of the fire, he's surprised to see none other than Lorraine present. Why hasn't she ever talked about being there? When forced to revisit that fateful summer, Lorraine is thrust back into another time, another life, where everything is anything but simple.

In 1944, Lorraine's only sibling, her brother Pete, enlists and is sent overseas to fight in the war. Desperately needing help on the farm, her father agrees to 'host' German soldiers from a nearby prisoner of war camp as farm hands. Arriving each day with an armed guard, the farm is soon a bustling place with a handful of POW's helping out. Although her mom never warms to them, both Lorraine and her father build relationships with the men, learning that many of them never wanted to be at war in the first place. They are hard workers, and Lorraine finds herself drawn to one in particular, Jens, as she helps him learn English.

As the days pass, Lorraine finds herself torn, between a safe, easy life as a local boy's wife...and one that will be covered in judgement, cruelty, and misunderstanding as a woman who falls in love with a German during a time of war. Although she makes her decision, we don't quite know the outcome until present day Lorraine is forced to come clean about her past...her whole past...and the secrets she's been keeping will change the dynamics of her family, forever.

My rating:

I've been blessed to have been able to attend many events (weddings, concerts, parties) at the legendary Surf Ballroom, and have visited the site of Buddy Holly's plane crash in a Clear Lake field. Thanks to this book, I have added another North Iowa historic site to my list that I'd like to experience: The POW Museum in Algona, Iowa.

Til Summer Do Us Part

Meghan Quinn

This book is the perfect summer read! It was funny and romantic with a perfect blend of sweet and sassy. It contained a lot of familiar tropes: brothers best friend, enemies to lovers, fake marriage, forced proximity, yada yada....yet, still managed to feel fresh and original.

Scottie, fresh off a break up, moves to New York to experience the bustling city life. She starts a new job, where unfortunately, everyone seems to be as thick as thieves with their boss. Wanting to fit in, Scottie joins a conversation about spouses, landsliding into her needing a fake husband for a marriage retreat. Her bestie comes through, connecting her with his brother, Wilder, who loves practicing his improv skills. As they arrive at 'camp', they find that their cabin and surroundings, as well as mandatory therapy and relationship building sessions, are going to force them to 'fake it' in front of everyone. Their back and forth banter is natural and hilarious, and the absolute nutty character of the "therapist" really make this the perfect mix of romance and comedy.

As they progress through the week, they find they are 'acting' less and less. And the unconventional methods they are required to participate in actually help Scottie deal with many unresolved feelings from her previous relationship, full of unhealthy habits and emotional abuse. Wilder and Scottie entered this week with one goal: to save face in front of her colleagues...but the stakes are getting higher as they both realize they may not be satisfied with pretending anymore.

My rating:

Steam rating:

(One of our highest rated book club books to date (Avg 4.5 stars)!

Read along with me in September

Something old	All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry
Something new	The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
Something steamy	Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
Something true-ish	When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman
Book club pick	The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark