Inhale Exhale by Nicole MacPherson
Print • Owned (giveaway) • Contemporary Fiction • 2026
Short synopsis: After decades devoted to motherhood and work, Michelle decides to enter the dating world and finds unexpected love—but as secrets surface and family tensions rise, she must confront her past to decide whether she can truly move forward.
Our friend wrote a whole-ass book!! It was such a joy to step into Michelle’s life. I was especially touched by the relationship between her and her teenage daughter, Livvy, which felt incredibly real to me. I loved their bond, and Nicole captured the nuances of the mother/daughter dynamic so well. (It reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my mom when I was a teenager. At once, I wanted her close, and within a split second, I could lash out at her for the most inane reason. Ahh, teenagers!)
I’ll be honest: I was nervous about the dating plot (so many writers do not understand the true nuances of online dating), but it turned out to be a delight and definitely made me laugh out loud at times. More than anything, I’m just in awe of Nicole for writing and completing a novel and for creating characters that feel so true to life. There’s something really special about seeing someone you know bring a story like this into the world!
(Note: I’m choosing not to rate this one since the author is a personal friend.)
What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (★★★★☆)
Print • Owned (romance bookstore) • Contemporary Romance • 2025
Short synopsis: Dani, a directionless thirty-something, takes a leap of faith when she accepts a job in Amsterdam. There, she reunites with her ex, enters a marriage of convenience for a visa, and starts to discover herself.
This romance has a pretty silly premise (Dani marrying her ex, Wouter, so he can inherit his family’s canal house), but I was able to push past the absurdity to enjoy the story for what it is—the uncertainty of being in your thirties and not knowing what you’re supposed to do with your life. Solomon brings Amsterdam to life in such a beautiful way (she genuinely made me want to book a trip immediately!). I loved watching Dani fall for the city at the same time she’s falling back in love with her high school boyfriend. It’s a sweet, charming read. Nothing groundbreaking, but an enjoyable escape.
Open-door romance – I’d give this one 3.5 chili peppers!
Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation by Linda Villarosa (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction • 2022
Short synopsis: In Under the Skin, Linda Villarosa exposes how systemic racism—embedded in medicine, environmental policy, and everyday life—drives stark health disparities that cause Black Americans to suffer worse outcomes and shorter lives than their white counterparts.
This book is a masterpiece. Each chapter explores a different system that shapes our lives, revealing how Black people continue to suffer under systemic racism. Villarosa pairs rigorous research with powerful personal stories—from a woman whose pregnancy nearly ended in tragedy because doctors dismissed her concerns to a family grappling with a son’s addiction and its ripple effects. The result is an impactful book that shines a clear light on the profound health consequences of racism and racist policies. A must-read for anyone on an antiracism journey. (Recommendation source: Lisa.)
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Awwww, thank you Stephany for the review! I hope you enjoyed it! It was very fun to write. xoxo
I’m so proud of you, Nicole! What a lovely story. <3
I loved Nicole’s book too! And yeah, SO impressive to write a book…to come up with characters and a story and….everything! I’m in awe.
I kind of want to read the second one because I have been to Amsterdam (back in ‘93 on our honeymoon) and I just loved it. And the 3rd one sounds like it’s going to be a rough ride, but important.
She did the thing! A whole-ass book. It’s amazing!
I definitely want to go to Amsterdam now after reading that romance. It sounds magical!
You read books so quickly. I just finished The Story of a Heart and it was very good. Sad, but well told. I started Good Dirt and so far I like it. I listened to We Were Rich and We Didn’t Know It. Highly recommend. It made me laugh out loud multiple times but it is about growing up on a farm in Ireland, so it might not interest everyone.
I don’t have kids and or a partner, and my job is low stress! That helps a lot. And I do a lot of audiobooks. 🙂
Yes! I love your review of Inhale, Exhale, and I completely agree with it. Such an enjoyable book by our friend! What an amazing accomplishment!
I’m so proud of her! And impressed!
Yep! I concur with your review of Nicole’s book. And like you, I’m in awe that she WROTE A BOOK. It’s incredible.
The third book sounds really good. I need to read more important non-fiction books instead of lazily reading mysteries all the time!
You are doing enough hard things that I think you can make one thing in your life “lazy,” although I wouldn’t call it that at all. It’s okay to have a fun, enjoyable reading life!
I loved Nicole’s book. I could really see her in Michelle’s character. It was just a delight to read a whole book by her. I’m in awe of what she did! I would not be able to write a book!
I am glad Under the Skin worked for you! We read it for book club a couple of years ago and everyone loved it. The convo was extra interesting since we have several members who work in health care!
Under the Skin would make such a great book club discussion! There’s so much to talk about. It was such an excellent book.