May 2026

Katie Peterson

Aug 7

6 min read

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

Book Review Blog-Previous Posts

Something old:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Something new:

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

Something steamy:

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Something true-ish:

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

Book Club pick:

The Briar Club by Kate 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

Something old:

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I picked this up on a whim from a book sale over spring break and it was the perfect 'distraction book'-something so fantastical you don't find yourself losing sleep over it possibly happening.

Pi Patel and his family run the zoo in Pondicherry, India where he develops a knowledge about the complex workings of animal biology, behavior, and psychology. His father teaches him hard lessons so that he will never forget...although it may seem like he's formed friendships with some of them, the animals in their care have deep, ingrained biologic tendencies...and they will do anything to survive. When his family sells the zoo, they embark on a journey to transport many of the animals across the ocean. The ship mysteriously wrecks, and Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors: an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena, and a 450 pound Bengal tiger. Due to proximity and the ever-present food chain, Pi and Richard Parker, the tiger, soon find themselves alone on the lifeboat.

What follows is a story about faith, resilience, and survival. Pi uses every ounce of knowledge he gained through his upbringing to establish dominance, allowing him to train Richard Parker. Even when things seem bleak and insurmountable, Pi finds a way to persevere. Upon their eventual rescue, the inquiry into the shipwreck brings up questions that will have you wondering...what if?

My rating:

Something new:

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

The premise of this book was so sweet to me, because every single book I read, I find myself thinking things such as, "Who does this book make me think of?" and "Who would love this book?" Recommending books is one of my favorite things and I absolutely love it when the recommendation slaps (if my teenager ever decides to read my blog I think they'll like that bit). Just call me a literary matchmaker... prepping you for the best date with a book.

When Tilly Nightingale gets a call from a local bookstore informing her she has a birthday gift from her husband to pick up, she's shocked. For one, she can't remember when the act of reading last gave her pleasure. And second...her husband passed away several months ago. Intrigued and apprehensive, she finds herself receiving the gift of a new book each month for a year, hand picked by her husband during his final months of sickness.

She sets out on a literary adventure, each month bringing a new book and challenge. From old favorites reminding her of past dreams, to new reads teaching her skills she's never contemplated mastering. Through each book, her husband helps Tilly navigate a world without him, helping her find peace with truly moving forwards towards living again.

This book includes recommendations upon recommendations and if you'd like to check some of them out I found this list from the author!

A sweet little tearjerker.

My rating:

Something steamy:

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Frankie met her best friend George when she was eight years old, on the day her mom left. Unable to pursue her dream of marine biology once she got pregnant, Frankie's mom had always felt pulled to returning to whale research in the Pacific. George becomes the companion Frankie needs to move past the feeling of abandonment. Years of memories ensue, leading them to know each other like the back of their own hands.

On the night of her rehearsal dinner, Frankie finds herself wondering if George will show, as they haven't spoken since an argument months ago about her fiance, Nate, and how George didn't feel as if he was right for her. George shows up in time to dance with Frankie, making the night everything she dreamt of. Upon awakening however, she finds a note from her fiance breaking off the engagement. After months of listless existence, she's convinced to go on her already paid for and planned honeymoon...but instead of with her should-have-been husband, she finds that George has decided to accompany her. He's completed research on recovering from break-ups and has an intentionally scheduled itinerary for their week away.

As I'm guessing this isn't your first-ever book, you can probably take a gander at what happens whilst those two only friends while away their time in a romantic location. But, just in case you're still stumped, I'm not going to give any spoilers away here!

My rating:

Steam rating:

Something true-ish:

Fever by Mary Beth Keane

I will admit right away, this book stumped me. A fictional account of 'Typhoid Mary' (or Mary Mallon) in the early 1900's, this book is based on real-life events. I admit, I did not know Mary's story prior to reading, therefore I was completely thrown by how events unfolded.

Mary Mallon is a cook for affluent families in New York City, and cases of typhoid seem to pop up wherever she is, leaving a trail of sickness, and in some cases, death, behind her. When Mary is forced into isolated quarantine on a remote New York island, she's indignant and puzzled: she's never been sick; how could she be infecting others if she doesn't have the disease herself?

The lead investigator George Soper is in charge of tracing the outbreaks, finding connections to sickness everywhere she's worked. She's mandated to provide samples, and is prodded and poked, yet never told anything regarding their findings or results. After years in isolation, Mary is tried and released, under strict orders never to cook for others again. Breaking this promise under an alias, Mary causes a massive typhoid outbreak at a maternity hospital, leading to her confinement until death.

Wait. What?

The *entire* time I read this book, I truly thought Mr. Soper was the 'bad guy' and I was waiting for Mary's redemption. Spoiler: it doesn't come! SHE is the bad guy! She just doesn't know it because she's asymptomatic and that hadn't really been studied yet. Ugh. Chalk this one up to another book that makes you think 'TGIWAT' [Thank God I Wasn't Alive Then]---I'm hoping this catches on, try and use it sometime.

My rating:

Honestly barely finished it, but I did.

Book Club pick:

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

A perfect mix of historical fiction and mystery, this book is set in 1950's Washington D.C. Following Senator McCarthy's comments on communists in the government, the political climate is volatile and accusatory. The story takes place in the normally mundane boarding house, Briarwood, which is about to take a turn towards the dramatic with the arrival of it's newest resident: Grace.

Grace: a mysterious widow with a charismatic personality, determined to make Briarwood House a community. Encouraging and inviting, she starts hosting weekly supper clubs to get to know her new neighbors. What nobody seems to notice: Grace never divulges any real information about herself.

Nora: an ambitious businesswoman with a strong sense of duty. Raised in a 'good ol' boy' police home where Nora is relied on to financially bail out her family members. She has a deep desire for personal freedom, and finds the path carved out through none other than: organized crime.

Fliss: a seemingly perfect housewife & mother, awaiting the return of her husband from war. Underneath her polished exterior lies a slew of feelings: none of which feel perfect, therefore she'll keep them hidden to herself.

Reka: an elderly Hungarian refugee, she carries the heavy burden of surviving the war, when so many didn't. Using a hard as stone attitude and harsh words to keep others at bay, lest she get close to anyone she could potentially lose again.

Bea: a former professional baseball player, reeling from a career-ending knee injury. Unsure what her future holds, she struggles to see beyond the profound loss of her previous life path.

Arlene: paranoid and jealous, she enthusiastically embraces Senator McCarthy's views and is on the prowl for turning in a communist 'traitor' to help her find validation and appreciation at her male dominated job.

Thanksgiving at the boarding house. A gruesome murder. Who died? Who did the killing? And will the boarders protect one another, or use the opportunity to help themselves?

My rating: