Counting Down to You by Emily Stone

We can "count" on Emily Stone to provide a twist on the usual Christmas romance tropes.  Counting Down to You is traditional fake relationship story, but it’s also the story of friendship that is too important to lose, even when it is gone

Ali and Robyn have been best friends forever. Each year, they create a special Advent type calendar for each other, with both serious and whimsical challenges for the year. The idea is to complete them by Christmas, but at before the year is up.

 

Then Robyn dies and Ali is faced with a future without herAs she works through the last calendar she will ever have from Robyn, she finds herselfIt’s a lovely and heartwarming novel and frankly, a great idea for a gift

Counting Down to You will be published on October 6, 2026, by Ballantine/Bell. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Unsayable by Michael Cunningham

   

Part memoir, part love letter to language and part advice, Unsayable is a gift from beloved author and professor, Michael Cunningham. The book reads as if we are being told a fascinating story, with life advice, while respecting the magic and process of writing. I especially related to his description of the demons all writers face. Particularly the acknowledgment that as we write stories, the world around us goes on, and that terrible things are happening to people. Writer’s guilt is real, and it is encouraging that someone who’s contributed so brilliantly to the realm of literature feels is too.

Unsayable was released July 21, 2026, by Random House. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister

   

I was intrigued with this book from the beginning. Fiona is such a likable character, and when her less than likable husband Matt informs her that he has another family across the country, and that his “wife” was expecting, and that he was leaving her and their three children, we can only hope that she finds a way to land on her feet.

Then we meet Satoshi, the younger owner of her favorite wine bar. Satoshi is amazing, and he is astonished to realize he is in love with Fiona. But he knows he has to be careful, and Fiona needs him to be her friend.

Then, if it couldn’t be better, we realize that Jonah, who we fell for in An Academic Affair is Fiona’s beloved brother, and his new wife, Sadie, is her best friend. They characters are wonderful, the romance excruciatingly careful and it makes for a wonderful story.

A Study in Sparkling will be released September 15, 2026, by Atria books. Thanks for this delightful read to NetGalley and the publisher, who sent me a review copy.