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Five on Friday {January 27, 2023}

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Hooray for Friday – my favorite weekday! My husband was away at a work conference Monday and Tuesday so I had to do the single parent thing for two days. It really made me appreciate how much of a team we usually are in doing the house stuff and taking care of the kids. Wednesday, we finally got some snow and had an early dismissal from school/work. Thursday, I had a dentist appointment to get a new crown made. I had an old one that I’ve had recemented three times in the past couple of months and this past weekend, it came off and I ended up swallowing it! It’s Here are five from this week.

1.Date Night – Saturday night my husband and I went to Mahoney’s Irish Pub in Poughkeepsie for a murder mystery dinner. It was presented by ACME Mystery Co.  I had been wanting to go to one of these for a while! It was a different and fun night out.

2. Eating – Sunday for lunch we ordered takeout from a local pizzeria. I was craving eggplant parm and did not want to make it, so this really hit the spot. 

3. Reading – This week I finished reading Love & Saffron by Kim Fay. It was a quick, short, easy read about food and friendship written in letters between two friends. 

4. Cooking – This week’s menu included One Pot Creamy French Onion Pasta Bake, Vegan Meatball Soup with Pasta & Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Casserole, Crispy Sesame Tofu with rice and roasted broccoli and homemade pizza.

5. Puzzle – I finally finished the 3,000 piece Nickelodeon puzzle! Unfortunately, there are two pieces missing, thanks to my cats, who enjoyed jumping on the table and knocking the pieces off. I’m hoping they turn up.

6. Watching – It took me awhile, but I finally finished watching Wednesday (Netflix) this week. I’m surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did, kind of like with Stranger Things. Not my usual genre of television, but it had me intrigued. I heard it was renewed for another season, so there will be more to come.

7. Internet Things:

ICYMI this week on the blog: 

 Tuesday I posted the 2023 Westchester County Dining Guide

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

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2023 Westchester County Valentine’s Day Dining Guide

Valentine’s Day will be here soon. Many restaurants throughout Westchester County are serving their regular dinner menus. However, check out our Westchester County Valentine’s Day Dining Guide to see some of the area restaurants that are offering special Valentine’s Day menus. Regardless of where you decide to eat, be sure to make reservations now!

Please check the restaurant’s website or call for the most up-to-date information.  Additionally, please note that prices listed below do not include tax and gratuities.

3 Westerly (Ossining/Modern American)
3 Westerly Road
Ossining, NY 10562
(914) 762-1333

3 Westerly has a three course prix fixe menu for Valentine’s Day for $90/person. There is a champagne toast and live music as well. Guests can add a wine pairing for $40/person or a cocktail pairing for $45/person.

thegreekish.com/harrison/(opens in a new tab)

City Limits Diner (White Plains/American)
200 Central Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606

The City Limits Diner is serving its special Valentine’s Day menu from 4 PM to closing.

Goosefeather (Tarrytown/modern Chinese)
49 E. Sunnyside Lane
Tarrytown, NY 10591

Goosefeather is serving a three course modern Cantonese prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $130/person (gratuity included). There is also a wine pairing available for $35/person. This menu will also be available on Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11. 

The Greekish – Harrison (Harrison/Greek)
273 Halstead Avenue
Harrison, NY 10528
reservations: (914) 732-3333

The Greekish is having a special 4-course menu for $85 person. The menu includes a glass of bubbly and a rose. It will be served from 4 PM – 9 PM.

Half Moon (Dobbs Ferry/New American)
1 High Street
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
reservations:  (914) 693-4130

Half Moon is offering a special 3 course prix-fixe dinner for $85/person, which includes one miniature signature dessert cocktail. They are also serving a 5 course prix-fixe for $105/person, which includes starter tapas and one signature dessert cocktail. Dinner hours are 4PM – 9 PM. Reservations are required and require a $50 deposit. The 3 course prix-fixe dinner is also available on Friday, February 10th, Saturday, February 11th, Monday, February 13th, and Wednesday, February 15th-Sunday, February 19th all day.

Harvest-on-Hudson (Hastings/Italian)
1 River Street
Hastings, NY 10706
reservations: (914) 478-2800 or online

Harvest-on-Hudson is offering a special three course tasting for $90/person or a five course tasting for $125/person. (menu)

The Inn at Pound Ridge (Pound Ridge/farm-to-table American)
258 Westchester Avenue
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
reservations: (914) 764-1400

The Inn at Pound Ridge is offering a special Valentine’s Day four course menu for $148/person. (menu) They will also have a selection of à la carte menu items available.

L’Inizio (Ardsley/Italian)
698 Saw Mill Rd.
Ardsley, NY 10502
reservations: (914) 693-5400

L’Inizio will be offering a special Valentine’s Day four course menu for $85/person.  The menu is available February 14th through February 16th and will also be offered a la carte. (menu) A bottle of wine from their special menu can be added to the meal for $10. The menu is available as a to-go option, but needs to be pre-ordered.

Moderne Barn (Armonk/New American)
430 Bedford Ave.
Armonk, NY 10504
reservations: (914) 730-0001 or online

Moderne Barn is offering a 3 course prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu for $85/person and a $42.50/person two-course menu for children under 12. The regular dinner menu will not be available on Valentine’s Day.

Red Hat on the River (Irvington/French-American)
One Bridge Street
Irvington, NY 10533
(914) 591-5888

Red Hat on the River is serving Valentine’s Day three course prix fixe dinner for $98/person (menu). They have a “From the Sea” course for two available for an additional $28 and a NY Strip that can be added for an additional $10.

Savannah & Company  (Cortlandt Manor/Southern)
3901 Crompond Rd.
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
reservations: (914) 736-1203

Savannah & Company is serving their regular menu but will also have some Valentine’s Day specials available February 10th through February 14th.

Town House (New Rochelle/New American)
559 Main Street
New Rochelle, NY 10801
(914) 278-9278

Town House will be serving a special menu on Valentine’s Day (menu).

Underhills Crossing (Bronxville/French)
74.5 Pondville Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 337-1200

Underhills Crossing special three course prix-fixe will be offered February 12th and February 14th. It costs $85/person (plus tax and gratuities). A wine pairing can be added for $40/person. Includes a rose for the ladies and a glass of champagne if visiting on Sunday.

Rockland County:

The Greekish Nyack (Nyack/Greek)
8 North Broadway
Nyack, NY 10960
reservations: (845) 353-1200

The Greekish is having a special 4-course menu for $85 person. The menu includes a glass of bubbly and a rose and will be served from 4 PM – 9 PM.

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New Book Releases January 2023

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Have you set a book reading goal for 2023? Whether you are looking to explore new reading genres or stick to your favorites, there are plenty of new book releases coming in January 2023. Here are some of the new book releases of January 2023 in all different reading genres.

Cozy Mystery:

Fatal Fascinator by Jenn McKinlay (January 3)
Hip hip beret! Hatmakers Scarlett Parker and Vivian Tremont return and must collar a killer when a castle wedding goes awry in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new Hat Shop Mystery.

It’s wedding season and Viv’s longtime frenemy Piper May is getting married. She convinces Viv and Scarlett to take on the job of designing the headpieces for her “wedding of the year.” The well-to-do bride and her entourage are delighted to have Viv and Scarlett as their famous hat designer guests, but the hat-making pair are really just looking forward to a getaway at a castle in Sussex. It is to be a weekend full of events, culminating in the big ceremony.

Unfortunately, on the first night of the festivities, the groom is found murdered, and the joyous holiday becomes the stuff of nightmares as no one is allowed to leave the castle until the investigation is complete. Although Scarlett assures Harrison Wentworth, her fiancé, that she and Viv will stay out of harm’s way, circumstances force them to step in when a secret affair between the deceased groom and a bridesmaid comes to light, and the murderer takes another life. Scarlett and Viv vow to unveil the killer’s identity before the wedding adds another to its death toll.

The Game is a Footnote by Vicki Delaney (January 10)
Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are back on the case when a body is discovered in a haunted museum in bestselling author Vicki Delany’s eighth Sherlock Holmes Bookshop mystery.

Scarlet House, now a historical re-enactment museum, is the oldest building in West London, Massachusetts. When things start moving around on their own, board members suggest that Gemma Doyle, owner of the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium, might be able to get to the bottom of it. Gemma doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she agrees to ‘eliminate the impossible’. But when Gemma and Jayne stumble across a dead body on the property, they’re forced to consider an all too physical threat.

Gemma and Jayne suspect foul play as they start to uncover more secrets about the museum. With the museum being a revolving door for potential killers, they have plenty of options for who might be the actual culprit.

Despite Gemma’s determination not to get further involved, it would appear that once again, and much to the displeasure of Detective Ryan Ashburton, the game is afoot.

Will Gemma and Jayne be able to solve the mystery behind the haunted museum, or will they be the next to haunt it?

A Fashionable Fatality by Alyssa Maxwell (January 31)
Amid the aftermath of the Great War and its hardships, it’s no wonder that many wish to rediscover life’s pleasures–parties, fashion, dancing. Still, Lady Phoebe and Eva are disconcerted when a small gathering at the home of Phoebe’s sister, Julia, becomes a far larger and more glamorous affair . . .

Julia has invited her favorite French fashion designer, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, and Coco’s current beau, the Earl of Chesterhaven. Coco has brought an entourage of her own, including two models, and intends to use the gardens as a photographic setting for her latest creations.

Madame Chanel is as outspoken as she is talented, offering a scathing critique of Phoebe’s fashion sense. There is tense competition between the models as well. When one of the guests is found dead of smoke inhalation, it appears to be a tragic accident. But was a footman really to blame for mistakenly closing the fireplace flue, or is there a more sinister explanation?

Phoebe is determined to find out, despite the protestations of her sweetheart, Owen Seabright. Both above and below stairs, Phoebe and Eva uncover myriad motives–career ambition, romantic rivalries, and even deeper betrayals. For despite the surface beauty, there are ugly secrets in the world of Maison Chanel, ones that a killer will risk anything to protect.

Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly (January 31)
Winter in Balsam Dell is a snowy affair, and to add in some cheer after the holidays Carly’s former classmate Klarissa Taddeo is hosting her extravagant bridal shower at the historic Balsam Dell inn. That is, until a double-booking throws some mold in the cheese and leaves Klarissa scrambling. With the venue moved to the maid of honor’s family mansion and Carly rinding to create a new delicious treat it seems the group is going to pull off the shower without a hitch.

That is, until a rowdy band of groomsmen crashes the event. Klarissa is furious with her groom-to-be and when a loud argument ensues, everyone is shocked by what they hear. When the groom is later found dead at the bottom of the stairs, his drink spiked with a hefty dose of poison, Carly must put her nose to the rind and save Klarissa from being suspect #1.

Because you know what they say: it’s always the (almost) wife.

Gone But Not for Garden by Kate (January 31)
Abby has come from Indiana to this Lake Michigan town to help her cousin, Jillian, who was emceeing a local fashion show and now stands accused of murdering one of the models. Some of Sequoia’s most prominent citizens were there on the catwalk, so there’s increasing pressure to have the next event be a perp walk.

The clueless Jillian is in jail after ignoring orders not to leave town, and she isn’t happy–orange is not her color. Along with her handsome PI partner, Case, Athena starts making inquiries, while tiptoeing around the wives of the town’s mayor and police chief. In the meantime, the two detectives are becoming fast friends. After all, in addition to homicide, Abby and Athena share an interest in horticulture–though right now the only thing they’re growing is their list of suspects . . .

Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross (January 31)

IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Part-time reporter Lucy Stone is writing a piece for the Courier about four Irish step dancing students from Tinker’s Cove on the cusp of making it big. But the story becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons when one girl’s mother is found dead in her bathtub. Did a stage mom take rivalry too far, or is some other motive at play?

DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS
As owner of Bar Harbor’s hottest new restaurant, Hayley Powell offers to cater the after-party for popular comedian Jefferson O’Keefe, who’s playing his old hometown for St. Patrick’s Day. But it’s no laughing matter when Jefferson keels over after gulping down his post-show Irish coffee, leaving Hayley to figure out who decided this joker had gone too far . . .

PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS
It’s a snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Busman’s Harbor. But when the power goes out, what better way for Julia Snowden to spend the evening than sharing local ghost stories–and Irish coffees–with friends and family? By the time the lights come back, they might even have solved the coldest case in town . . .

Fantasy:

The Daughters of Izdihar by Hadeer Elsbai (January 10)
As a waterweaver, Nehal can move and shape any water to her will, but she’s limited by her lack of formal education. She desires nothing more than to attend the newly opened Weaving Academy, take complete control of her powers, and pursue a glorious future on the battlefield with the first all-female military regiment. But her family cannot afford to let her go–crushed under her father’s gambling debt, Nehal is forcibly married into a wealthy merchant family. Her new spouse, Nico, is indifferent and distant and in love with another woman, a bookseller named Giorgina.

Giorgina has her own secret, however: she is an earthweaver with dangerously uncontrollable powers. She has no money and no prospects. Her only solace comes from her activities with the Daughters of Izdihar, a radical women’s rights group at the forefront of a movement with a simple goal: to attain recognition for women to have a say in their own lives. They live very different lives and come from very different means, yet Nehal and Giorgina have more in common than they think. The cause–and Nico–brings them into each other’s orbit, drawn in by the group’s enigmatic leader, Malak Mamdouh, and the urge to do what is right.

But their problems may seem small in the broader context of their world, as tensions are rising with a neighboring nation that desires an end to weaving and weavers. As Nehal and Giorgina fight for their rights, the threat of war looms in the background, and the two women find themselves struggling to earn–and keep–a lasting freedom.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo (January 10)
Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

The Wicked Ones by Robin Benway (January 10)
Drizella and Anastasia only know one thing for certain: they will never end up like their mother, Lady Tremaine. When their father left them as young girls, he took what was left of their family’s fortune and their mother’s dignity with him. A few years and one deceased stepfather later, the only version of Lady Tremaine that Drizella and Anastasia know is a bitter and cruel head of house. Anastasia and Drizella have promised themselves—and each other—that they’ll be different. They’ll find love, see the world, and never let their hearts go cold.

But both sisters are all too aware of what it can mean when cast into disfavor with their mother, and fueled by Lady Tremaine’s tendencies to pit the daughters against one another, Drizella and Anastasia are locked into a complicated waltz of tenuous sisterhood. On the cusp of the royal debut party—their one chance to impress the Prince and live up to their mother’s expectations—the sisters at last get a glimpse of what life could be like outside of Lady Tremaine’s intentions: Drizella discovering a love of science and Anastasia sparking a secret romance. But never underestimate the power a mother whose greatest talents lie in manipulation, and the sisters may learn that even the cruelest of hearts can spill blood.

This first book in the new Disney Villains Dark Ascension series by National Book Award-winning author Robin Benway explores the complex sibling rivalry between the two wicked stepsisters from Cinderella that turned them into the characters we know today.

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim (January 24)
In the hidden desert city of Qalia, secret spice magic awakens affinities in those who drink the misra tea. With an affinity for iron, seventeen-year-old Imani wields a dagger like no other warrior, garnering her the reputation as the next greatest Shield for battling the dangerous djinn, ghouls, and other monsters that lurk in the sands beyond city limits.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother who tarnished the family name after he was discovered stealing their nation’s coveted spice – a tell-tale sign of magical obsession. He disappeared soon after, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes, and leaving Imani reeling with both betrayal and grief.

But when Imani uncovers evidence her brother may be alive and spreading their nation’s magic beyond the desert, she strikes a deal with the Council to find him and bring him back to Qalia before he can reveal the city’s location. Accompanied by Qayn, a roguish but handsome djinni, and Taha, a powerful beastseer whose magical talents are matched only by his arrogance, they set out on their mission.

Imani will soon discover there are many secrets that lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes – and in her own heart – but will she find her brother before his betrayals endanger the fate of all of Qalia?

In this epic and action-packed fantasy, one young heroine navigates the treacherous road between protecting the ones you love and staying loyal to the place you call home.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare (January 31)
Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter.

After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial.

Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone.

For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.

Historical Fiction:

In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas (January 10)
In the 1800s in Dunmore, a Canadian town settled by people fleeing enslavement in the American south, young Lensinda Martin works for a crusading Black journalist.

One night, a neighboring farmer summons Lensinda after a slave hunter is shot dead on his land by an old woman who recently arrived via the Underground Railroad. When the old woman refuses to flee before the authorities arrive, the farmer urges Lensinda to gather testimony from her before she can be condemned for the crime.

But the old woman doesn’t want to confess. Instead she proposes a barter: a story for a story. And so begins an extraordinary exchange of tales that reveal an interwoven history of Black and Indigenous peoples in a wide swath of what is called North America.

As time runs out, Lensinda is challenged to uncover her past and face her fears in order to make good on the bargain of a story for a story. And it seems the old woman may carry a secret that could shape Lensinda’s destiny.

Traveling along the path of the Underground Railroad from Virginia to Michigan, from the Indigenous nations around the Great Lakes, to the Black refugee communities of Canada, In the Upper Country weaves together unlikely stories of love, survival, and familial upheaval that map the interconnected history of the peoples of North America in an entirely new and resonant way.

Moonrise over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks (January 10)
It’s 1957, and after leaving the only home she has ever known, Alice Young steps off the bus into the all-Black town of New Jessup, Alabama, where residents have largely rejected integration as the means for Black social advancement. Instead, they seek to maintain, and fortify, the community they cherish on their “side of the woods.” In this place, Alice falls in love with Raymond Campbell, whose clandestine organizing activities challenge New Jessup’s longstanding status quo and could lead to the young couple’s expulsion—or worse—from the home they both hold dear. But as Raymond continues to push alternatives for enhancing New Jessup’s political power, Alice must find a way to balance her undying support for his underground work with her desire to protect New Jessup from the rising pressure of upheaval from inside, and outside, their side of town.

Jamila Minnicks’s debut novel is both a celebration of Black joy and a timely examination of the opposing viewpoints that attended desegregation in America. Readers of Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half and Robert Jones, Jr.’s The Prophets will love Moonrise Over New Jessup.

Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (January 17)
India, 1947.

In a rural village in Bengal live three sisters, daughters of a well-respected doctor.

Priya: intelligent and idealistic, resolved to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor, though society frowns on it.

Deepa: the beauty, determined to make a marriage that will bring her family joy and status.

Jamini: devout, sharp-eyed, and a talented quiltmaker, with deeper passions than she reveals.

Theirs is a home of love and safety, a refuge from the violent events taking shape in the nation. Then their father is killed during a riot, and even their neighbors turn against them, bringing the events of their country closer to home.

As Priya determinedly pursues her career goal, Deepa falls deeply in love with a Muslim, causing her to break with her family. And Jamini attempts to hold her family together, even as she secretly longs for her sister’s fiancè.

When the partition of India is officially decided, a drastic—and dangerous—change is in the air. India is now for Hindus, Pakistan for Muslims. The sisters find themselves separated from one another, each on different paths. They fear for what will happen to not just themselves, but each other.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni outdoes herself with this deeply moving story of sisterhood and friendship, painting an account of India’s independence simultaneously exhilarating and devastating, that will make any reader—new or old—a devoted fan.

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict (January 17)
Between the World Wars, the six Mitford sisters dominate the English political, literary, and social scenes. Though they’ve weathered scandals before, the family falls into disarray when Diana divorces her husband to marry a fascist leader and Unity follows her sister’s lead, inciting rumors that she’s become Hitler’s own mistress.

Novelist Nancy Mitford is the only member of her family to keep in touch with Diana and Unity after their desertion, so it falls to her to act when her sisters become spies for the Nazi party.

Probing the torrid political climate of World War II and the ways that sensible people can be sucked into radical action, The Mitford Affair follows Nancy’s valiant efforts to end the war and the cost of placing loyalty to her country above loyalty to her family.

River, Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer (January 31)
Her search begins with an ending….

The master of the Providence plantation in Barbados gathers his slaves and announces the king has decreed an end to slavery. As of the following day, the Emancipation Act of 1834 will come into effect. The cries of joy fall silent when he announces that they are no longer his slaves; they are now his apprentices. No one can leave. They must work for him for another six years. Freedom is just another name for the life they have always lived. So Rachel runs.

Away from Providence, she begins a desperate search to find her children–the five who survived birth and were sold. Are any of them still alive? Rachel has to know. The grueling, dangerous journey takes her from Barbados then, by river, deep into the forest of British Guiana and finally across the sea to Trinidad. She is driven on by the certainty that a mother cannot be truly free without knowing what has become of her children, even if the answer is more than she can bear. These are the stories of Mary Grace, Micah, Thomas Augustus, Cherry Jane and Mercy. But above all this is the story of Rachel and the extraordinary lengths to which a mother will go to find her children…and her freedom.

Nonfiction:

The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schuz, PhD (January 10)
What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life? According to the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize.

What makes a life fulfilling and meaningful? The simple but surprising answer is: relationships. The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and overall healthier lives. In fact, the Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals that the strength of our connections with others can predict the health of both our bodies and our brains as we go through life.

The invaluable insights in this book emerge from the revealing personal stories of hundreds of participants in the Harvard Study as they were followed year after year for their entire adult lives, and this wisdom is bolstered by research findings from this and many other studies. Relationships in all their forms—friendships, romantic partnerships, families, coworkers, tennis partners, book club members, Bible study groups—all contribute to a happier, healthier life. And as The Good Life shows us, it’s never too late to strengthen the relationships you have, and never too late to build new ones.

Dr. Waldinger’s TED Talk about the Harvard Study, “What Makes a Good Life,” has been viewed more than 42 million times and is one of the ten most-watched TED talks ever. The Good Life has been praised by bestselling authors Jay Shetty (“Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz lead us on an empowering quest towards our greatest need: meaningful human connection”), Angela Duckworth (“In a crowded field of life advice and even life advice based on scientific research, Schulz and Waldinger stand apart”), and happiness expert Laurie Santos (“Waldinger and Schulz are world experts on the counterintuitive things that make life meaningful”).

With warmth, wisdom, and compelling life stories, The Good Life shows us how we can make our lives happier and more meaningful through our connections to others.

Spare by Prince Harry (January 10)
It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother’s coffin as the world watched in sorrow – and horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling – and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Prince Harry wishes to support British charities with donations from his proceeds from Spare. The Duke of Sussex has donated $1,500,000 to Sentebale, an organisation he founded with Prince Seeiso in their mothers’ legacies, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS. Prince Harry will also donate to the non-profit organisation WellChild in the amount of £300,000. WellChild, which he has been Royal patron of for fifteen years, makes it possible for children and young people with complex health needs to be cared for at home instead of hospital, wherever possible.

Good for a Girl by Laura Fleshman (January 17)
Lauren Fleshman has grown up in the world of running. One of the most decorated collegiate athletes of all time and a national champion as a pro, she was a major face of women’s running for Nike before leaving to shake up the industry with feminist running brand Oiselle and now coaches elite young female runners. Every step of the way, she has seen the way that our sports systems–originally designed by men, for men and boys–fail young women and girls as much as empower them. Girls drop out of sports at alarming rates once they hit puberty, and female collegiate athletes routinely fall victim to injury, eating disorders, or mental health struggles as they try to force their way past a natural dip in performance for women of their age.

Part memoir, part manifesto, Good for a Girl is Fleshman’s story of falling in love with running as a girl, being pushed to her limits and succumbing to devastating injuries, and daring to fight for a better way for female athletes. Long gone are the days when women and girls felt lucky just to participate; Fleshman and women everywhere are waking up to the reality that they’re running, playing, and competing in a world that wasn’t made for them. Drawing on not only her own story but also emerging research on the physiology and psychology of young athletes, of any gender, Fleshman gives voice to the often-silent experience of the female athlete and argues that the time has come to rebuild our systems of competitive sport with women at their center.

Written with heart and verve, Good for a Girl is a joyful love letter to the running life, a raw personal narrative of growth and change, and a vital call to reimagine sports for young women.

Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutterer by John Hendrickson (January 17)
In the fall of 2019, John Hendrickson wrote a groundbreaking story for The Atlantic about Joe Biden’s decades-long journey with stuttering, as well as his own. The article went viral, reaching readers around the world and altering the course of Hendrickson’s life. Overnight, he was forced to publicly confront an element of himself that still caused him great pain.

He soon learned he wasn’t alone with his feelings: strangers who stutter began sending him their own personal stories, something that continues to this day. Now, in this reported memoir, Hendrickson takes us deep inside the mind and heart of a stutterer as he sets out to answer lingering questions about himself and his condition that he was often too afraid to ask.

In Life on Delay, Hendrickson writes candidly about bullying, substance abuse, depression, isolation, and other issues stutterers like him face daily. He explores the intricate family dynamics surrounding his own stutter and revisits key people from his past in unguarded interviews. Readers get an over-the-shoulder view of his childhood; his career as a journalist, which once seemed impossible; and his search for a romantic partner. Along the way, Hendrickson guides us through the evolution of speech therapy, the controversial quest for a “magic pill” to end stuttering, and the burgeoning self-help movement within the stuttering community. Beyond his own experiences, he shares portraits of fellow stutterers who have changed his life, and he writes about a pioneering doctor who is upending the field of speech therapy.

Life on Delay is an indelible account of perseverance, a soulful narrative about not giving up, and a glimpse into the process of making peace with our past and present selves.

Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey From Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo (January 17)
The remarkable true story of Ellen and William Craft, who escaped slavery through daring, determination, and disguise, with Ellen passing as a wealthy, disabled White man and William posing as “his” slave.

In 1848, a year of international democratic revolt, a young, enslaved couple, Ellen and William Craft, achieved one of the boldest feats of self-emancipation in American history. Posing as master and slave, while sustained by their love as husband and wife, they made their escape together across more than 1,000 miles, riding out in the open on steamboats, carriages, and trains that took them from bondage in Georgia to the free states of the North.

Along the way, they dodged slave traders, military officers, and even friends of their enslavers, who might have revealed their true identities. The tale of their adventure soon made them celebrities, and generated headlines around the country. Americans could not get enough of this charismatic young couple, who traveled another 1,000 miles criss-crossing New England, drawing thunderous applause as they spoke alongside some of the greatest abolitionist luminaries of the day—among them Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown.

But even then, they were not out of danger. With the passage of an infamous new Fugitive Slave Act in 1850, all Americans became accountable for returning refugees like the Crafts to slavery. Then yet another adventure began, as slave hunters came up from Georgia, forcing the Crafts to flee once again—this time from the United States, their lives and thousands more on the line and the stakes never higher.

With three epic journeys compressed into one monumental bid for freedom, Master Slave Husband Wife is an American love story—one that would challenge the nation’s core precepts of life, liberty, and justice for all—one that challenges us even now.

Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy by Daniel T. Willingham, PhD (January 24)
In this revolutionary, comprehensive, and accessible guide on how the brain learns, discover how to study more efficiently and effectively, shrug away exam stress, and most of all, enjoy learning.

When we study, we tend to focus on the tasks we can most easily control—such as highlighting and rereading—but these practices only give the illusion of mastery. As Dan Willingham, professor of psychology and bestselling author, explains, familiarity is not the same as comprehension.

Perfect for teachers and students of all ages, Outsmart Your Brain provides real-world practices and the latest research on how to train your brain for better learning. Each chapter provides clear and specific strategies while also explaining why traditional study processes do not work. Grounded in scientifically backed practical advice, this is the ultimate guide to improving grades and better understanding the power of our own brains.

The Fresh Prince Project: How the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Remixed America by Chris Palmer (January 31)
A “thorough, thoughtful, and immensely entertaining”(Jemele Hill, author of Uphill) cultural history of the beloved nineties sitcom that launched Will Smith to superstardom—The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—in the vein of Seinfeldia and Best Wishes, Warmest Regards.

More than thirty years have passed since The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on NBC but unlike other family sitcoms of its era, it has remained culturally relevant and beloved by new generations of fans.

With fresh eyes on the show in the wake of 2022’s launch of Bel-Air, a Fresh Prince reboot on NBC’s Peacock, The Fresh Prince Project brings us never-before-told stories based on exclusive interviews with the show’s cast, creators, writers, and crew. The Fresh Prince Project is an eye-opening exploration and celebration of a show that not only made Will Smith a household name but helped redefine America’s understandings of race, sex, parenthood, and class.

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson (January 31)
PAMELA ANDERSON’s blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands during a Canadian football game, she was quickly launched into superstardom, becoming Playboy’s favorite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sex appeal. Yet the Pamela Anderson we think we know was created through happenstance rather than careful cultivation. Love, Pamela brings forth her true story: that of a small-town girl getting tangled up in her own dream.

Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unwittingly stylish parents, Pamela lived a hardscrabble childhood but developed a deep love for nature, populating her world with misfits, apparitional friends, and injured animals. Eventually overcoming her natural shyness, Pamela’s restless imagination propelled her into a life few can dream of, from the beaches of Malibu to the coveted scene at the Playboy Mansion. As her star rose, she found herself a fixture of tabloid fodder, at the height of an era when paparazzi tactics were bent on destroying a person’s image and self-esteem.

Pamela forged ahead with grace, finding sanctuary in her love of art and literature, and emerged a devoted mother and activist. Now, having returned to the island of her childhood, after a memorable run starring as Roxie in Chicago on Broadway, Pamela is telling her story, a story of an irrepressible free spirit coming home and discovering herself anew at every turn. With vivid prose interspersed with bursts of original poetry, Love, Pamela is a pensive, layered, and unforgettable memoir.

Romance:

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert (January 3)
Bradley Graeme is pretty much perfect. He’s a star football player, manages his OCD well (enough), and comes out on top in all his classes . . . except the ones he shares with his ex-best friend, Celine.

Celine Bangura is conspiracy-theory-obsessed. Social media followers eat up her takes on everything from UFOs to holiday overconsumption–yet, she’s still not cool enough for the popular kids’ table. Which is why Brad abandoned her for the in-crowd years ago. (At least, that’s how Celine sees it.)

These days, there’s nothing between them other than petty insults and academic rivalry. So when Celine signs up for a survival course in the woods, she’s surprised to find Brad right beside her.

Forced to work as a team for the chance to win a grand prize, these two teens must trudge through not just mud and dirt but their messy past. And as this adventure brings them closer together, they begin to remember the good bits of their history. But has too much time passed . . . or just enough to spark a whole new kind of relationship?

The Hustler Next Door by K.A. Tucker (January 3)
From the international bestselling author of The Simple Wild and Ten Tiny Breaths comes a new stand-alone enemies-to-lovers, small-town romance.

Justine MacDermott is in what she would call a transition period: squatting in her best friend’s house and working in an appliance store in Polson Falls while the man she was supposed to marry starts a new life with someone else.

She’s definitely not thinking about slashing his tires and wishing his vital extremities would fall off.

When newcomer Garrett Harrington strolls into Murphy’s looking to buy a refrigerator, Justine convinces herself she’s found her rebound. Or the next love of her life. Either works. But a chance encounter leads her to discover that Garrett isn’t who he made himself out to be, and he’s more interested in hustling her kindly old boss out of his family business—and using her to do it.

Furious at being fooled by yet another man and itching for retribution, Justine enlists the help of unlikely townsfolk to battle Harrington Group’s big-city development plans for Polson Falls.

It’s all going to plan … until Justine finds herself crossing enemy lines.

The Hustler Next Door is set in the Polson Falls world. Books in this series can be read in any order.

Without a Trace by Danielle Steel (January 3)
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a powerful story about fighting for a chance at happiness—whatever the cost.

Charles Vincent seems to have it all—a beautiful wife, two successful children, and a well-paying career. Yet happiness remains out of reach. He is trapped in a loveless marriage and his job is simply a paycheck. But his life changes forever as he drives along the Normandy coast, heading to their lavish château for the weekend. In one terrifying moment, Charles falls asleep at the wheel and veers off the road, plunging thirty feet down the face of a rocky cliff.

Miraculously, Charles survives. After gathering the courage to climb to safety, he starts to walk—bruised, bloody, and desperate for help. In the dark of night, he happens upon a cabin where he meets the kind and beautiful Aude Saint-Martin. Their connection is instant, and as she nurses him back to health, Charles begins to discover the passion he’s been missing for so many years.

In the aftermath of the crash, Charles has a startling realization—he doesn’t have to go back. He could simply choose to disappear, to walk away from his old life. When his car is discovered, he’ll be presumed dead, washed away at sea. If he stays with Aude, he has a chance at a fuller, happier life he didn’t know was possible. It all seems too good to resist. But Aude has secrets of her own and before long their pasts catch up to them, threatening everything they have fought to build.

What would happen if you were given a chance to walk away from everything in your life and start over with a blank slate, and you had a split second to decide? In Without a Trace, Danielle Steel tells an irresistible story of the risks two people are willing to take in exchange for a second chance at the life they’ve always wanted.

Loathe to Love You by Ali Hazelwood (January 10)
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis comes a collection of steamy, STEMinist novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing—with a special bonus chapter!

Under One Roof
An environmental engineer discovers that scientists should never cohabitate when she finds herself stuck with the roommate from hell—a detestable big-oil lawyer who won’t leave the thermostat alone.

Stuck with You
A civil engineer and her nemesis take their rivalry—and love—to the next level when they get stuck in a New York elevator.

Below Zero
A NASA aerospace engineer’s frozen heart melts as she lies injured and stranded at a remote Arctic research station and the only person willing to undertake the dangerous rescue mission is her longtime rival.

Begin Again by Emma Lord (January 24)
As usual, Andie Rose has a plan: Transfer from community college to the hyper competitive Blue Ridge State, major in psychology, and maintain her lifelong goal of becoming an iconic self-help figure despite the nerves that have recently thrown her for a loop. All it will take is ruthless organization, hard work, and her trademark unrelenting enthusiasm to pull it all together.

But the moment Andie arrives, the rest of her plans go off the rails. Her rocky relationship with her boyfriend Connor only gets more complicated when she discovers he transferred out of Blue Ridge to her community college. Her roommate Shay needs a major, and despite Andie’s impressive track record of being The Fixer, she’s stumped on how to help. And Milo, her coffee-guzzling grump of an R.A. with seafoam green eyes, is somehow disrupting all her ideas about love and relationships one sleep-deprived wisecrack at a time.

But sometimes, when all your plans are in rubble at your feet, you find out what you’re made of. And when Andie starts to find the power of her voice as the anonymous Squire on the school’s legendary pirate radio station–the same one her mom founded, years before she passed away–Andie learns that not all the best laid plans are necessarily the right ones.

Filled with a friend group that feels like family, an empowering journey of finding your own way, and a Just Kiss Already! romance, Begin Again is an unforgettable novel of love and starting again.

Breaking All the Rules by Amy Andrews (January 24)
Sometimes you gotta toss your whole life into a burning dumpster to find what’s most important…

Beatrice Archer has always done everything she’s supposed to —worked her ass off, ignored her non-existent personal life, and kept her mouth shut. Now she’s over it. The rat race, respectability…the underwire bras. She’s taking her life back. Starting with moving to Nowhere, Colorado to live life on her own terms.

Now Bea gives exactly zero forks. Beer for breakfast. Sugar for everything else. Baggy sweats and soft cotton undies FTW. Then a much younger and delightfully attractive cop is called to deal with her flagrant disregard for appropriate clothing outside the local diner (some folks just don’t appreciate bunny slippers) and Bea realizes there’s something missing from her little decathlon of decadence…and he might be the guy to help her out.

When it comes to breaking rules, Officer Austin Cooper is surprisingly eager to assist. He’s charming, a little bit cowboy, and a whole lot sexy. But Bea’s about to discover that breaking the rules has consequences. And all of the cherry pies in Colorado can’t save her from what’s coming…

Do I Know You? by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka (January 24)
When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Eliza and Graham are anticipating an anything-but-sexy, weeklong getaway to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Nestled on the Northern California coastline, the resort prides itself on being a destination for those in love and those looking to find it. For Eliza and Graham, it might as well be a vacation with a roommate.

When a well-meaning guest mistakes Eliza and Graham for being single and introduces them at the hotel bar, they don’t correct him. Suddenly, they’re pretending to be perfect strangers and it’s unexpectedly…fun? Eliza and Graham find themselves flirting like it’s their first date, and waiting with butterflies in their stomach for the other to text back.

Everyone at the retreat can sense the electric chemistry between Eliza and Graham’s alter egos. But when their scintillating game of roleplaying ends, will they still feel the heat?

Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni (January 31)
An Armenian-American woman rediscovers her roots and embraces who she really is in this vibrant and heartfelt queer rom-com by debut author Taleen Voskuni.

When Nar’s non-Armenian boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her in front of a room full of drunk San Francisco tech boys, she realizes it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.

Enter her mother: armed with plenty of mom-guilt and a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked Armenian men, she convinces Nar to attend Explore Armenia, a month-long series of events in the city. But it’s not the mom-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye—it’s Erebuni, a woman as equally immersed in the witchy arts as she is in preserving Armenian identity. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her wingwoman, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure. Who knew cooking up kuftes together could be so . . . sexy?

Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual. The clock is ticking on Nar’s double life, though—the closing event banquet is coming up, and her entire extended family will be there, along with Erebuni. Her worlds will inevitably collide, but Nar is determined to be brave, determined to claim her happiness: proudly Armenian, proudly bisexual, and proudly herself for the first time in her life.

Suspense/Thrillers:

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins (January 3)
From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a deliciously wicked gothic suspense, set at an Italian villa with a dark history, for fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware.

As kids, Emily and Chess were inseparable. But by their 30s, their bond has been strained by the demands of their adult lives. So when Chess suggests a girls trip to Italy, Emily jumps at the chance to reconnect with her best friend.

Villa Aestas in Orvieto is a high-end holiday home now, but in 1974, it was known as Villa Rosato, and rented for the summer by a notorious rock star, Noel Gordon. In an attempt to reignite his creative spark, Noel invites up-and-coming musician, Pierce Sheldon to join him, as well as Pierce’s girlfriend, Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. But he also sets in motion a chain of events that leads to Mari writing one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Lara composing a platinum album––and ends in Pierce’s brutal murder.

As Emily digs into the villa’s complicated history, she begins to think there might be more to the story of that fateful summer in 1974. That perhaps Pierce’s murder wasn’t just a tale of sex, drugs, and rock & roll gone wrong, but that something more sinister might have occurred––and that there might be clues hidden in the now-iconic works that Mari and Lara left behind.

Yet the closer that Emily gets to the truth, the more tension she feels developing between her and Chess. As secrets from the past come to light, equally dangerous betrayals from the present also emerge––and it begins to look like the villa will claim another victim before the summer ends.

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor (January 3)
This is the age of vice, where money, pleasure, and power are everything, and the family ties that bind can also kill.

New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the curb and in the blink of an eye, five people are dead. It’s a rich man’s car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold.

Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family — loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all.

In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family’s ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters’ connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction?

Equal parts crime thriller and family saga, transporting readers from the dusty villages of Uttar Pradesh to the urban energy of New Delhi, Age of Vice is an intoxicating novel of gangsters and lovers, false friendships, forbidden romance, and the consequences of corruption. It is binge-worthy entertainment at its literary best.

The House of Wolves by James Patterson and Mike Lupica (January 9)
The murder of a billionaire patriarch triggers a bloody battle for control of his empire. For fans of Succession, Yellowstone—and #1 bestselling duo James Patterson and Mike Lupica.

Joe Wolf applies a cutthroat determination to his life’s work, from to building a California business empire to parenting three sons and a daughter. Kill or be killed. So when the patriarch takes a deadly cruise on San Francisco Bay, Joe Wolf’s bloodline becomes SFPD’s lifeline. 

Detective Ben Cantor trails the “pack of wolves” as the siblings vie for control of their legacy of power and assets. All four have the means and the motive to commit murder, but only one of them is most like Joe Wolf. Only one of them earned their father’s love.

Lurking in the shadows is the real alpha wolf. That creature survives on instinct. And desire. To kill all the wolves dead.  

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham (January 10)
One year ago, Isabelle Drake’s life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally.

Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year.

Isabelle’s entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle’s past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust… including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica (January 10)
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.

Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.

Off the Deep End by Lucinda Berry (January 10)
From the bestselling author of The Best of Friends comes a heart-stopping psychological thriller about the shades of truth and the power of lies in the wake of one mother’s unspeakable loss.

Therapist turned stay-at-home mom Jules Hart’s idyllic suburban life shatters when she crashes her car into an icy lake. Her son and another teenage boy plunge into the water with her, but Jules can only manage to save one—the wrong one.

Reeling from the death of her son, Jules spirals into a violent and unstable mental state. Ten months after the accident, she’s still trying to reckon with the fact that she rescued Isaac Greer, another woman’s child, when Isaac suddenly vanishes.

Jules finds herself at the center of a massive police investigation. While she harbors her own dangerous secrets, Jules is adamant that she didn’t take Isaac. But then who did? Is Isaac the victim of a dangerous killer who’s been targeting boys in the Midwest? Or is someone else pulling the strings in this deadly game?

The Marriage Act by John Marrs (January 17)
From the bestselling author of THE ONE, now an eight part NETFLIX series. Set in the same world as THE ONE, THE MARRIAGE ACT is a dark, high concept thriller.

What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey?

Britain. The near future. A right wing government believes it has the answer to society’s ills – the Sanctity of Marriage Act which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.

But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives, monitoring every word, every minor disagreement…And it will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honour and obey!

BLACK MIRROR meets thriller with a dash of Naomi Alderman’s THE POWER.

Don’t Open the Door by Allison Brennan (January 24)
A child is shot while playing video games at home. His mother will stop at nothing to find out who did it—and why.

After their ten-year-old son, Chase, was senselessly murdered, Regan’s life unraveled. Her corporate lawyer husband, Grant, blamed the death on Regan’s work as a US marshal. Unable to reconcile their grief, they divorced, and Regan quit her job and moved away.

Now she’s back after a voice mail from her former boss Tommy said he had important news to share about Chase’s killing. Regan is stunned to learn Tommy is dead too. When she reaches out to Grant, his panicked reaction raises her suspicions. Then a lawyer with ties to her ex also turns up murdered, and the police make Grant their top suspect.

Unsure of his guilt or innocence, Regan risks everything to find Grant before the police do so she can finally get the answers to all that has haunted her since losing Chase. But the truth is not even close to what she imagines—and now she fears she has no one to trust.

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Five on Friday {August 12, 2022}

I can’t believe how quickly summer is going. It’s crazy to think that the kids start their sports tryouts/practices in less than two weeks. My daughter’s been busy working and they’ve both been hanging out with friends, enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer. Here are five from this week:

1. New kitten – Sunday we went to our local SPCA and adopted a kitten. Meet Blackjack. He joins our other two cats, who are NOT fans of him. He’s already brought lots of joy for the rest of us though. This is one of the rare times that he stayed still enough for me to get a picture!

2. Green Chimneys – Saturday we visited Green Chimneys in Brewster. Two years ago in June, during the height of the pandemic, we rescued two baby hawks from our backyard. They fell out of a nest in a tree and were unable to fly. Green Chimneys ended taking them in. We are not sure if the two Broad-winged hawks were our baby rescues. But we were finally able to visit. They have lots of other rescue animals, most of which are birds, that were fun to see.

3. Red Rooster – Red Rooster in Brewster has been open since the 1960’s. I remember having a mini-golf party here when I was younger. It’s been ages since we were in the area so we stopped for lunch. It was way too hot to play mini-golf, but ice cream was perfect!  

4. Reading – This week I finished reading Local Girl Missing by Mary Kubrick. This was a good mystery/suspense read that had me engaged. 

5. Cooking – This week our dinner menu included Blue Cheese Stuffed Portobello Burgers with Grilled Corn and Crispy Shallots. These were really good! Since the kids don’t like mushrooms they had regular burgers.

6. Watching – This weekend we watched the movie Downtown Abbey: A New Era. Although we never finished watching the season, it was nice to see them wrap everything up.

ICYMI this week on the blog: 

Wednesday I posted Cooking Lately: July.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

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Five on Friday {July 8, 2022}

Happy Friday! This was a short work week with the 4th of July on Monday but it felt long. This weekend we are celebrating my son’s upcoming birthday with the family. Here are five from this week:

1. Fishing – It is tradition for us to go fishing when in Rhode Island. This year instead of getting up super early we did an afternoon trip from 1-5 PM with my sister and brother-in-law. Although my husband had caught fish before, this was his first trip catching a “keeper.” He was the only one too! We all caught at least one fish, but ours were all too small. 

2. 75th birthday– Saturday while we were in Rhode Island my mom threw a surprise party for my dad’s 75th birthday. Although his actual birthday was in June she wanted me and my sister to be there to celebrate. It was nice getting to meet some of their Rhode Island friends and my dad was very surprised.

3. Reading – This week I finished reading Pride and Persuasion by Sonali Dev. This was an okay contemporary romance. 

4. Cooking – This week I’ve made shrimp scampi pasta, salmon with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli, Buffalo tofu wraps and Instant Pot Cauliflower Curry. But I took pictures of none of it!

5. Watching – we’ve only watched the first of the last two Stranger Things episodes that dropped Friday. We will hopefully have time this weekend to watch the last one. 

Photo credit: Frank Ockenfels/FX

I’ve been watching The Bear on Hulu and have really been enjoying it. Although I personally don’t have experience, I’ve heard it’s a very realistic look at working in a kitchen. 

6. Eating – Caprese is a family fave and a summer staple. Nothing like fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes and basil. Plus birthday cake, veggie burgers and lots of summer side salads.

7. Drinking – When we were in RI at the Stop & Shop we saw so many different cases of Mountain Dew. We had to stock up on a few that we haven’t found near us. We’ve had Code Red before, but but I’ve never seen it in cans at our local grocery store in NY. We also picked up Spark and Baja Mango Gem which are new to us and I’m looking forward to trying! Any other Mtn Dew fans?! 


8. The Beach – No trip to Rhode Island is complete without a visit to the beach. Even if it’s super crowded at 8:30 AM. And even if it’s chilly enough that I have to wear a sweatshirt. Sitting on a chair in the sand, reading a book and listening to the ocean waves is pure happiness!

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Thursday I posted about The Edge VR.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Peekskill Brewery Pizza & Beer: Live at the Valley

What better way to spend a summer evening than with pizza, beer and live music? Peekskill Brewery Pizza & Beer has got you covered with their Live at the Valley evenings. This event takes place today, June 3rd, and the last Friday of the month throughout the summer.

From 7 PM – 10 PM, come enjoy an evening of live music, craft beer, food trucks, vendors, family games, kids activities and more. I highly recommend grabbing a slice (or two) and a beer from PB Pizza & Beer.

Tonight, Pizzazzles will have glitter tattoos and face painting for $5. Chomp Mobile Pet Boutique will be there so you can stock up on all your pet supplies. Unraveled in Twine will be there selling their homemade self-care products including jewelry and bath and body products. Lydette Alexis will also be there selling her, “minimalist, uplifting unisex apparel + accessories.”

Grateful Duo

The summer music lineup includes:

June 3rd (rescheduled from May 27th): Grateful Duo – Fans of the Grateful Dead will want to see this duo from the Gratefully Yours Band perform.

June 24th: Smooch – This is a Westchester based soul/funk band.

July 29th: Plane Station – This is a brother and sister duo, with Nick playing acoustic guitar and Brianna playing the piano.

August 26th: Run For Cover – Based in Beacon, this is a 90’s and 00’s cover band.

Which band are you looking forward to seeing?

MoMo Valley Opens in Beacon

I first discovered MoMo Valley at their food kiosk in the Hudson Valley Food Hall in Beacon a few years ago. However, the family-owned restaurant first started in 2018 as a NYC pop-up where they sold their homemade momo dumplings. MoMo Valley was one of the original food stands in the Hudson Valley Food Hall when it opened in early 2019. Fast forward two and a half years and they have launched their own restaurant space.

Situated on the opposite end of Main Street from the Hudson Valley Food Hall, the MoMo Valley restaurant has now been open for 3 months.

The Atmosphere

The restaurant has a clean and minimalistic vibe. The space is bright with white painted textured walls and a tin ceiling and the front windows are filled with lots of green plants. As we dined, we listened to sounds of world music playing from the speakers.

The Food

MoMo Valley’s specialty is their spiced momo. For those not familiar, momo are dumplings from the countries of Nepal and Tibet. However, the restaurant also serve other Himalayan dishes. One of their popular main dishes is Dal-Bhat- Everest Platter. According to the menu, this is Nepal’s national dish and a meal that sherpas often enjoy en route to Mt. Everest. It’s a small sampling of several dishes including curried chicken, sauteed greens, lentil soup, the vegetable of the day, rice and a side of relish.

My husband and I visited MoMo Valley mid-afternoon on a Sunday. We weren’t super hungry since we had a late breakfast before we headed up to Beacon. We opted to share an order of Spinach and Cheese Momo and the Vegan Platter. It is similar to the Everest Platter, described above, minus the curried chicken.

Everything we had was so delicious! The momo are large and served with a tomato-based dipping sauce. The okra in the vegan platter was our surprise favorite. The carrot relish was a nice tangy complement to the spice of the other dishes. When our food was served, they also brought us extra plates, since they knew we were sharing the platter.

It is important to note that the restaurant is vegan friendly. An entire side of the menu is filled with vegan options including several main dishes. They also make vegan momo, which they were out of the day of our visit.

There are not many restaurants in the Hudson Valley serving Himalayan cuisine, so a trip to Beacon to dine here is worth the trip!

The Details:
MoMo Valley
455 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 536-4934
website

Open: Thursday – Monday 12 PM – 9 PM
Tuesday – Closed
Wednesday – Closed

Parking: Street parking

A Weekend in Hartford County, Connecticut

Over the past couple of years my husband and I have opted for a weekend away to celebrate our birthdays, sans kids, over giving each other gifts. On his most recent birthday, he organized his entire celebratory weekend! Our getaway was for just one night, but we managed to make it a great 24 hours in Hartford County, Connecticut.

Where to Stay:

We stayed for one night at the Truman Gillet House Bed & Breakfast in Granby, CT. This historic home, built circa 1805, has just two guest rooms. I recommend the Connecticut Room Suite, which can sleep up to four. It has its own private bathroom, which includes a large whirlpool tub. One of the perks of staying at a bed and breakfast is the complimentary homemade breakfast that is served. During our stay, we were treated to a fresh fruit salad and homemade blueberry pancakes. The Truman Gillet House was super affordable at just $140/night.

Where to Eat:

We celebrated my husband’s birthday with dinner at Present Company in Tariffville, Connecticut. This restaurant is just a 10 minute drive from the bed and breakfast. Located in a 19th century mill, Present Company serves French-American cuisine. They have an open kitchen concept with a large dining room. The restaurant serves either a 3 course prix fixe $75 dinner menu or a 5 course chef’s tasting menu for $120. Wine pairings are available for an additional cost. Our dinner was delicious. Each dish was so complex with layers of flavor! Portions were large and not only tasted good, but were plated beautifully as well. I highly recommend this restaurant and wish it was closer so we could visit more often!

We enjoyed a late lunch at Gio’s Brick Oven Pizzeria in East Granby, Connecticut before heading home. We shared the eggplant parm with pasta and the eggplant with fresh mozzarella, marinara and roasted peppers specialty sandwich. This pizzeria/restaurant has an extensive menu that includes a variety of specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, pasta and entrees.

What to Do:

The primary reason for our visit to Hartford County, Connecticut was to visit the New England Air Museum. My husband is a history lover and one of his hobbies is building model airplanes. He had been wanting to visit the museum for awhile and knew that this was not an attraction that our two teens would enjoy. His birthday weekend was the perfect opportunity for just he and I to visit. The museum is less than 10 miles away from the Truman Gillet House Bed & Breakfast.

Over 55 aircraft are displayed at the New England Air Museum in exhibit hangars and outdoors. When the museum isn’t too crowded, visitors are able to sit in the cockpits of several aircraft! We spent a good 2 1/2 hours wandering the museum. For those with kids, there are flight science demonstrations and a play area.

Unfortunately, we only had 24 hours to spend in Granby and did not get to explore all there is to do in the area. There are parks and hiking trails, antique shops, wineries and farms nearby. There’s enough to do to make an entire weekend visit and we will have to plan another trip to Hartford County, Connecticut soon!

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Five on Friday {10-1-21}

Hello Friday! It’s hard to believe that it’s already October 1st! I hope everyone had a great week. It’s been a super busy week. My daughter was sick Monday with a temperature. She missed two days of school and we took her for a COVID test, which was fortunately negative. We had multiple sport games this week, including both a soccer and field hockey game taking place yesterday afternoon…..which also happened to be my daughter’s high school back-to-school night. It was a LONG day for me! I believe it’s supposed to be a nice weekend. At this point though, I have no idea what we are doing! Here are five from this week:

1.  Homecoming dress shopping – My daughter’s first Homecoming dance is coming up. She missed out last year due to COVID so she’s very excited about it. This weekend was all about dress shopping.  She went shopping with her friends Saturday and didn’t find a dress that she liked in her size.  When she went online to buy the dress she wanted, it was sold out.  So Sunday was all about finding her a dress.  We lucked out at Windsor at the Palisades Center. The store has affordable special occasion dresses and I’m glad that my daughter found one that she liked in her size! It was funny seeing all of the moms and daughters shopping for Homecoming dresses! I don’t remember Homecoming being such a big deal when I was in school.

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2. Reading – This week I finished Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena.  I was a bit disappointed with this thriller. I’ve read almost all of her books and I’ve found most of them to just be okay. I have to move on and not keep reading her books! There are just too many other books on my want to read list!

3. Cooking – This week my two “cooking” dinners included Mediterranean Braised Chickpea Rice Bowls.

And Spicy Peanut Udon Noodle Bowls (that I served on a plate, rather than a bowl!). Plus we had Tortellini Alfredo with garlic bread and salad and “Chick’n” sandwiches with fries one night.

4.  Watching – This week my husband and I started watching a new, old season of Top Chef, season 16 Kentucky. We also watched the first episode of the new season of the Great British Baking Show, the newest episode of Only Murders in the Building and another episode of Ted Lasso.

5. Eating –  Can you spend a day shopping at the mall and not get a pretzel?! We got pretzel bites to share and some pretty awful peach lemonade twister the kids picked out.

My husband is the only one in the family that eats vegan, non-dairy ice cream. I have to say Ben & Jerry’s makes really good non-dairy ice cream!

ICYMI this week on the blog:

Tuesday I posted October Events in Westchester County.

Sharing with Friday Favorites!  Have a great weekend!

Hudson Valley Food Waste Challenge

Do you know how much food your family throws out every week?  The produce that went bad, the leftovers that never got eaten, the expired yogurt?  According to Foodprint.org, households are responsible for the largest portion of food waste. Janet Irizarry of Hudson Valley EATS is working to help combat household food waste with the first ever Hudson Valley Food Waste Challenge.

A Little Bit More About Janet

Janet has always worked in the restaurant and food industry.  This past year she launched “Cooking For a Cause”, where local Hudson Valley chefs gave virtual cooking demonstrations of some of their signature dishes. This was a fundraiser with profits from ticket sales going to nonprofits helping feed families in need. She started her blog Hudson Valley EATS in 2016 to highlight local restaurant chefs and food entrepreneurs. Recently, she has shifted the focus of the website to become more of an interactive food community, where readers can contribute articles, recipes and more.

Why Have A Food Waste Challenge?

Janet is hoping to bring more awareness to the amount of food that Hudson Valley households waste. She is also looking to educate families in significantly reducing their “foodprint” by giving them strategies to reduce their food waste. Although food waste challenges are not new, this is the first food waste challenge focused specifically on the Hudson Valley.

How long Is The Challenge?

The challenge is 6 weeks, running from September 20 – October 31st.

How Do I Join the Challenge?

You can join the challenge by signing up via the website.  There is a $25 registration fee per family that provides access to an online community, all of the resources for the challenge including articles, videos and worksheets, a t-shirt and a chance to win some prizes.

The only supplies you need for the challenge are small garbage bags, a small kitchen scale and the desire to reduce your food waste.

How Does The Challenge Work?

Each week there is a different topic related to food waste as well as challenges, questions and activities. Participants will be asked to complete a survey and track their food waste.

There is a social aspect to the challenge as well with an interactive community, social media hashtags and more.

At the end of the challenge prizes will be awarded to participants.

Why Should You Participate in the Hudson Valley Food Waste Challenge?

A recent study showed that the average American household wasted almost 32% of its food. The annual cost of this wasted food is almost $2,000. I think we can all do better at reducing the amount of food we waste. The Hudson Valley Food Waste Challenge is giving families the tools they need to learn how to reduce their “foodprint.” Even a small number of people can make a big impact.

I’ve been an advocate of food waste and have posted about the Too Good To Go App as well as the television show Scraps with Joel Gamoran. While I try my best to avoid food waste, I know there is always something new to learn.

I am looking forward to hopefully joining many of you in participating in the Hudson Valley’s first food waste challenge. You can sign up here. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the organizer, Janet Irizzary, at janet@hudsonvalleyEATS.com. You can read more about the challenge in the press release and on the Hudson Valley EATS website.