Published by Atria/Emily Bestler Books on April 14, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Mystery
Rating:
Goodreads
In this witty and delightful follow-up to the “glam and glorious” (Kat Ailes, author of the Expectant Detectives Mysteries) Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder, Pom finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery that threatens her up-and-coming charity foundation and—worst of all—her romantic life.
Pomona Afton knows how to throw a memorable party. After all, for her twenty-fifth birthday, she hosted a global extravaganza that included a masquerade ball in a Scottish castle, clubbing in Ibiza, and skinny dipping on a private island. So, throwing a gala for her fledgling nonprofit should be a breeze.
Unfortunately, she has to navigate the high-stakes (and snobby) world of philanthropy, a beloved boyfriend who just can’t seem to fit in, and of course, her dysfunctional family, all while planning a party that won't only affect the future of her charity, but her own future in society.
But Pom is no quitter. She pushes forward and perseveres…until, right in the middle of her party, she discovers the body of one of her biggest donors. Suddenly all her hard work is going up in flames. If she’s going to salvage her new life path, she must put on her (incredibly stylish) detective hat again and figure out who wants to bring her down. One more measly little murder mystery shouldn’t be that hard, right?
It had been a year since Pomona Afton So Solved a Murder, and she had been working hard to reinvent herself as a "serious" person. Pom was busy doing "serious" things like preparing for the first gala fundraiser for her new foundation. When one of the attendees ends up dead, Pomona switches back into killer catching mode. With a little help from her friends, she hopes to solve this murder and restore her image.
I was a HUGE fan of Pomona's previous book and was excited to return to her world. I have to agree that she is as lovable as another "Clueless" spoiled rich girl, and I was happy to see she was doing well. Her trust fund restored, her relationship flourishing, and her dedication to helping others garnering recognition. But a murder at her event sets off a domino effect causing all areas of her life to become unsettled.
Pom's search for the killer took some twists and turns as she experienced some ups and downs in her personal life. Pomona was charming and witty, just as she was is her last story, and I enjoyed cheering for her as she worked to solve this murder. I won't lie, the romantic storyline was stressful for me, but I kept the faith that everything would work out.
Overall, I had a great time returning to Pom's world. This cozy mystery was highlighted with Pomona's sparkling and hilarious observations as well as with an entertaining roster of characters. Here's hoping Pomona gets a third book so I can see how a certain storyline worked out.
*ARC PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
Know Your Newlywed by Hillary Nussbaum, Heather Taylo
Published by Audible Audio on December 10, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) and Mary Mouser (Cobra Kai) star in this swoon-worthy, full-cast rom-com! When two super-fans of a beloved dating gameshow hear that it’s being rebooted, they decide to team up and fake a marriage to compete in the hilarious new audiobook Know Your Newlywed, written by Heather Taylor and Hillary Nussbaum, and executive produced by New York Times bestselling author Elena Armas.
Cleo is a researcher with big dreams of a PhD in anthrozoology, and a guilty pleasure obsession with Know Your Newlywed, a decades-old gameshow where married couples compete by answering obscure questions about each other. She’s more invested in her career than in finding a relationship of her own, though—that is, until she comes across Javi’s dating app profile, which says he’s “looking for someone to win Know Your Newlywed with.”
Sparks fly, and when Cleo and Javi catch wind of a reboot of their beloved show, they apply on a whim, pretending to be newlyweds themselves. Before they know it, they’re cast as contestants, playing the part of smitten married couple better than they could’ve imagined. Their very real chemistry is impossible to ignore, and as the competition heats up, they quickly become America’s sweethearts. But how far can Cleo and Javi take their secret? And as they inch closer and closer to a life-changing cash prize, will the mounting pressure and their individual ambitions get in the way of their blossoming romance? Or is their connection strong enough to last once the cameras stop rolling?
This was a lot of fun! A couple meet on an app but live in different cities. They continue to connect online and find they share a love for the same gameshow. They decide to apply and are selected. The only problem is - they are not married. Seems a bit unscrupulous, but as big fans of the show who both are in dire need of a cash injection to jump-start their futures, I couldn't help but want them to win.
The actual show was a lot of fun, and it was cute the way these two dug in and learned so much about each other. Along the way, it was easy to see they were great together. The gameshow was a great backdrop and a great way to accelerate this relationship. I had a fantastic time listening (shout out to Tyler Posey!). I laughed, smiled, and aww shucks plenty of times as I delighted in watching this couple's connection blossom and grow.
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