#atriabooks

[bucolicbook]

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances: A Novel by Glenn Dixon

pub date - April 7, 2026

I loved this book from start to finish. Sentient (mostly) small household appliances learn how to begin working together to keep their family home a happy one. Remember the Pixar movie Wall-E? If you do, Wall-E is Scout, and what a wonderful character she is. She’s utterly loveable through and through and I really wish I had my very own Scout.

Cozy and dystopian at the same time, I read this with such appreciation as I found myself utterly entranced by the appliances and the Winters’ family that I rooted for them the entire story through. What a wonderful treat of a book this was.

An absolute Recommendation!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances: A Novel by Glenn Dixon

[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #1 – 2026

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Massachusetts and New Jersey! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed Mugshots of Manhattan (A Snapshot of NYC Mystery) by Christin Brecher Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - New York For the Finish the Series Challenge. Review Coming Soon! Scheduled Escapes Crime Rangoon: A Noodle Shop Mystery by Vivien Chien Release Date - December 30, 2025 Setting - Ohio My Review will be up tomorrow! Currently Reading Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven (Stephanie Plum) by Janet Evanovich Release Date - November 3, 2020 Setting - New Jersey Read Just for Fun! Scheduled Escapes The Housewife Next Door by LynDee Walker Release Date - January 7, 2026 Setting - ?? For Review The Devil in the Details: A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery by Vicki Delany Release Date - January 6, 2026 Setting - Massachusetts I will feature this book next week on Cozy Wednesday! All Spooked Up (Haunted Paint Store Mysteries) by E.J. Copperman Release Date - November 4, 2025 Setting - New Jersey For Review Possible Future Escapes December 30 - January 3, 2026 Happy Reading!! Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Remember - This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas. Read the full article

[bucolicbook]

The Book of Lost Hours: A Novel by Hayley Gelfuso

pub date - 8/26/25

(I’m not sharing anything of this, nothing remotely spoil-ery. Not a single detail. I’m just begging you, if you’re reading this review, to read this story.)

Gorgeous, wonderfully written, heartbreaking - I loved this (which I write while still weeping from this book, which has destroyed me). This, which is somehow a debut novel. I look forward to reading whatever Ms Gelfuso writes next.

Show me a book anyone writes for the love of a wonderful grandfather and I’m there, ready to read it. This was one of my top reads of 2025, and I wholeheartedly recommend The Book of Lost Hours. I’m strongly urging everyone to read this.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

The Book of Lost Hours: A Novel by Hayley Gelfuso

[bucolicbook]

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet

Pub date - 8/19/25

WTAF?

I love a spicy 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ dark gothic spicy romantasy and while both the synopsis and the Jane Eyre quality this has, had me really wanting to love this, I could barely get through it. I kept at it (skimming often), hoping it would get better (*spoiler alert - it did not).

*slowburn, but not the kind of slowburn I love

*waaaaaaay too long

*pacing was very weird

*repetitive MFC is unbearable

*MMC is toxic

*way too much licking

*chemistry?

*big cringe in parts

*predictable

*could not with the writing

Other readers may love this, but it was not for me.

**While the beginning does warn of sexual assault as a trigger warning, it fails to inform the reader just how many SA scenes there are.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Fairydale by Veronica Lancet

[bucolicbook]

Let’s Make a Scene (Theo & Cynthie) by Laura Wood

pub date - 7/1/25

I really wanted to like this but had too many issues. I found the dual timelines in this were so confusing, I felt like I was reading two separate stories in that aspect, and I didn’t like either MC; to the point where I actively disliked both during my reading, both were examples of walking red flags so I really didn’t like them as a couple.

This was my first time reading the author, and I would try other titles by her but Let’s Make a Scene did not work for me.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley

Let’s Make a Scene (Theo & Cynthie #2) by Laura Wood

[bucolicbook]

Fifty Fifty: A Novel (Eddie Flynn, #5) by Steve Cavanagh

Pub date - 6/3/25

A father and public figure dead. His two daughters arrested for the crime. Which one is guilty?

Though I’ve had the Eddie Flynn books on my radar for quite some time, this was my first time reading the author.

The synopsis was very interesting to me so I decided to give it a try (despite being the fifth title in an established series). I started this, to be pulled into the story right away and I liked the storyline (minus a couple of issues), and the characters as well.

I found Fifty Fifty well written, engaging, and a fun read. It also kept me guessing right up to the end. I enjoyed this and will definitely read more of the series.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

Fifty Fifty: A Novel (Eddie Flynn, #5) by Steve Cavanagh

[bucolicbook]

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles 

US pub date - 4/30/24

I have only recently started reading WWI historical fiction and the synopsis for this appealed. 

Based on the true story of Jesse Carson (whom I knew nothing of), I was immediately pulled into this compelling story. The pacing and writing are smooth and the dual timelines blend together well. 

My biggest issue with the story is that many characters (including main) were far less full and sketched out and the emotions were portrayed with less gravitas than the situations would seem to warrant. This definitely impacted my reading experience. 

While I found the subject highly interesting - the book quotes were an appreciated addition and I loved how this showcased the life altering importance of libraries, in all times, I ultimately was disappointed - the lack of depth regarding the emotions  of characters really detracted from my reading enjoyment. 

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC 

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade: A Novel by Janet Skeslien Charles

[bucolicbook]

The Family Recipe: A Novel by Carolyn Huynh

Pub date - 4/1/25

I was fortunate enough to read an early copy of The Fortunes of Jaded Women and absolutely loved it. Therefore, I was thrilled to get an invitation to read Carolyn Huynh’s second novel.

The Family Recipe pulled me in immediately and each story kept my attention - I read this over a few days (which was a few days too many, I was so invested in this family’s story that I wished for this on audiobook so I could have listened to it while cleaning, free moments, and then getting ready for bed). A family’s life in this story, that you will read with all the emotions - this had me laughing, tearing up, laughing again, hunger (jfc the food descriptions 😍) and it kept my thoughts on it even during non-reading times.

This is only the author’s second novel; I, for one, am really looking forward to reading Huynh’s future works 📚🙂

Full recommendation from me.

”Which came first - the karaoke machine of Vietnamese fathers?

Duc had never known peace; he just accepted life for what it was - that it was difficult ad long, and in order to survive, one needed bad karaoke and snails.”

Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the DRC

The Family Recipe: A Novel by Carolyn Huynh