Published by Harper on June 2, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult Fiction
Rating:
Goodreads
The acclaimed, prize-winning #1 New York Times bestselling writer returns with a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time.
When Daphne Fuller and her husband Jonathan visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they notice an older, white-haired gentleman following them. The man turns out to be Eddie Triplett, her former stepfather, who had been married to her mother for a little more than year when Daphne was nine. Now fifty-three, Daphne hasn’t seen Eddie for many years, not since the fateful event that changed the direction of both their lives. Meeting again, time falls away; while their relationship was brief, it had a profound impact on them both, and now that they are reunited, they have no intention of ever being separated again.
Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.
He was her favorite step-father, but he left and was never heard from again. Until forty-four years later, Daphne and Eddie bump into each other at the Met. Their bond was instantly renewed, but it also raised some questions and awakened old memories from the last time they were together while reinforcing what big impacts they made on each other's lives.
I had no idea what to expect from this story, but it was so beautiful and moving. The idea that in a city of over 8 million people you can be reunited with someone who was very important to you at one time in your life. As if their heartfelt reunion wasn't enough, Patchett did such an incredible job revealing bits and pieces of Daphne and Eddie's lives that shaped who they became. I felt they found each other for a reason, and that their reunion helped them heal and understand more about themselves.
Whistler was a lovely story about the complexities and complications of familial, filial, romantic, and platonic relationships. This was a quiet story, but the characters and their emotional journeys kept me fully engrossed. I was also deeply invested in the happiness of both Daphne and Eddie. They were characters that earned and deserved my attention and affection.
Published by Berkley on June 16, 2026
Age/Genres: Adult, Enchanted Realism, Romance
Rating:
Goodreads
The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.
When Sophie Drear plans her escape to coastal Maine for the summer—for a temporary job revitalizing the storied grounds at Lilymoor House—she doesn’t expect to fall in love.
But she does: With the beguiling land, the fragrant flowers, and the towering hedge maze. With the quirky staff and the enigmatic woman who owns the place.
And then, the door appears. Never in the same place twice, it leads her to a secret, and unfinished, garden with a frustrated thundercloud of a man trapped inside.
This mysterious garden is not the only sign that the future of Lilymoor is unstable: the foliage resists Sophie’s careful nurturing, vines threaten to strangle the hedges, and the manor’s owner has wild ideas about who will take over when she retires—including her inconveniently attractive nephew who is also there just for the summer.
Despite herself, Sophie has come to care for the residents of Lilymoor just as much as she cares for its grounds. With the help of one man on the outside of the secret garden, and one man on the inside, she might be the only person who can figure out exactly what Lilymoor needs to bloom once more.
They promised to return to the garden in ten years, but Sophie was forced to return alone following Harrie's death. Wracked with grief, she was struggling to move on, but this garden that brought her and Harrie into each other lives may just be the thing to help her through her pain.
Poston never fails to win my heart with her wonderful and magical stories. A year ago, Sophie lost her best friend, and her life lost all its color. She had been struggling with this loss which was negatively affecting all areas of her life, including her job. She was "encouraged" to accept a temporary position to help revitalize the Lilymoor gardens for their 250th celebration. This place was special to Sophie and her best friend, and it ends up being a place of healing for her as well.
I was very moved by Sophie and the friendship she shared with Harrie. I totally felt and understood her pain. They shared such an incredible friendship! It was a pleasure to see Sophie find comfort in the gardens that brought so much joy to her and Harrie, and I as always, I felt the magical element was woven so well into the story. There was this beautiful parallel to the gardens and Sophie both growing and flourishing together.
Overall: A very touching tale with that perfectly blended romance, humor, and drama with a touch of magic to produce a special story that wedged its way in my heart.
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