The Shippers by Katherine Center

 

Another unapologetic romance novel om the brilliant Katherine Center. The first thing we read in this novel is the Author’s Note which begins: “Spoiler: This book will end well.”  No surprise for romance readers; one of the rules of romance writing is the Happily Ever After. I suspect Center begins this way for her growing number of readers from other genres who’ve heard about this funny, smart author. She’s a graduate of one of the most respected MFA programs in the USA. She can hold her own with anyone, and she chooses to bring these funny, human characters to life, to bring joy and hope and fun to reading.

The Shippers takes place primarily on a cruise ship, but the “shippers” refers to the slang term for relationships. Jojo, our protagonist, has a habit of dumping any relationship that becomes serious—including her fiancé at the altar. Her best friend from childhood, Cooper, shows up just in time to help her make her escape, and then disappears until Jojo’s sisters cruise ship destination wedding. Jojo is convinced she has imprinted on her crush from high school and sets out to connect with him at the wedding. She enlists Cooper’s help with the project, and … shenanigans ensue!

The Shippers will be released May 19, 2026, by St Martin’s Press. Thanks to them and NetGalley for the review copy. This will be a great book to kick off the summer!

Weightless by Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD

 

This is the user manual needed by everyone taking, or considering, GLP-1 weight loss medication. Dr. Salas-Whalen is a board-certified endocrinologist and expert in obesity medicine. Unlike many physicians who’ve jumped on the bandwagon in the last few years, Dr. Salas-Whalen has decades of experience with the formulations and development of these drugs and has taken them herself. Rather than stressing the cosmetic side of weight loss, she stresses the health issues, including the mental health and genetic sides with compassion. A very informative book that stresses the need for increased protein and strength training, especially for older adults. Weightless was released December 30, 2025, and will be great support for New Year’s Resolutions. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Rodale books, for the review copy.

 

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

 

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

Geneva has inherited the family business, the Rosalie Inn, after her father dies and her mother’s Alzheimer’s makes it impossible for her to keep it going. Set in beautiful St Medard’s Bay, Alabama, which is famous because major hurricane’s hit the small community regularly. Most of the town is regularly destroyed, except for the Rosalie Inn.

The other thing the town is famous for is that the Senator’s son died there—but whether it was murder or nature, no one know. When the woman accused of the alleged murder returns to SMB to write her memoirs, with handsome Journalist August, the old story is revived. In true Rachel Hawkins form, the mystery twists and turns as dramatically as the final hurricane to reveal the truth. Told from multiple viewpoints, including the hurricanes! This is a quick to read thriller. The Storm is published by St. Martin’s press and will be released January 6, 2026. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

The Memory Gardener by Meg Donohue

 

A beautiful story about the power of memory and scent. Lucy Barnes had always had a special relationship with gardens and had created a career designing them in ways even the people who hire her don’t understand. She’s able to know what they need just by listening to them, and her intuition. In fact, Lucy senses which fragrances can provide life changing memories to the people she works for.

It's a precious talent, one her recently departed mother warns her to take care of. When Lucy facilitates a memory for her boyfriend, things go terribly awry and Lucy flees her beloved hometown in shame.

After her mother dies, Lucy finds a reference in her calendar to the Oceanview Home, a senior center near her father. She’s worried about him, and accepts the task of reviving the Oceanview gardens, a monumental task. The effect she has on the gardens, the residents and herself is nothing short of magic. The Memory Gardener was released November 25, 2025, by Gallery Books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

 

 

Jonah Fisher and Sadie Shaw are brilliant. They have each achieved the highest levels of scholarship in their fields of literature after sharing all 13 years of their education, starting with their first class together as undergrads, and continuing all the way through their doctoral program. It would be an understatement to say they are academic rivals. But Jonah comes from and elite, overachieving academic family, and Sadie is a hard-working orphaned daughter whose sister sacrifices everything she can to make sure Sadie realizes her dream.

The problem comes when the rivals must find a way to make a living in the highly competitive academic world, both wanting full professorships in a tight market where only a few positions ever open up. When they find they are both applying for the same job, in a location Jonah needs to support his beloved, abandoned sister, and Sadie needs because the job is open to her less than traditional specialty, the competition heats up.

But when Sadie wins, she can’t leave well enough alone.

This book is a great enemy to friend romance, particularly for anyone who’s had to suffer toxic academia. The characters are fully formed, with just enough vocabulary, and footnotes! to authenticate the situation. Set in Australia, the reader learns that toxicity is as universal as a good romance. An Academic Affair was published November 14, 2025, by Atria books. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the review copy.