Book Chatter

Enormous Wings
By Laurie Frankel
Henry Holt & Co., May 2026, 304pp.

The Short of It

Funny, sharp, and unexpectedly moving, this novel tackles a deeply divisive issue with both humor and emotional weight.

The Rest of It

At seventy-seven, Pepper Mills is preparing for a new chapter at Vista View, a retirement community in Austin. She still has her health, a devoted family, and plenty of spirit, but even she has started to wonder if it is finally time for a safer, more supportive place to live.

What Pepper never expects is love.

When she meets Timothy, affectionately known as Moth, she finds herself swept into a romance that feels as surprising as it is genuine. After spending decades building a life centered around everyone else, Pepper suddenly has the chance to focus on her own happiness. Her adult children support her. Even her ex-husband, who also lives at Vista View, seems encouraging.

For once, life feels wide open.

Then everything changes.

A sudden curveball forces Pepper into a decision she is absolutely certain about, but one that is illegal in the state of Texas. What follows is both deeply personal and politically charged, especially given the risks her age already places on her. Still, Pepper is not the type to back down quietly. She is bold, funny, stubborn, and more than willing to fight for what she believes is right.

The novel shines in its quieter moments at Vista View, where Pepper’s friendships and late-in-life romance add warmth and humor. But Frankel does not let the story remain light for long. What begins as a charming and witty tale quickly transforms into something far more urgent as themes of women’s rights and bodily autonomy take center stage.

Pepper is an unforgettable protagonist: empathetic, outspoken, vulnerable, and fiercely determined. Frankel balances the sweetness of the romance with the seriousness of the larger issue, creating a story that feels both entertaining and important.

While I wish the ending had taken a slightly different direction, this is still a book I would strongly recommend. Its message is timely, thought-provoking, and impossible to ignore.

Source: Review copy sent to me by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

Mad Mabel
By Sally Hepworth
St. Martin’s Press, April 2026, 352pp.

The Short of It:

Witty and sharp.

The Rest of It:

“Meet Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick: eighty-one years old, gloriously grumpy, fiercely independent, and never without a hot cup of tea—or a cutting remark. She minds her own business in her quiet Melbourne suburb, until a neighbor turns up dead and the whispers start flying.” ~from the publisher

There’s so much more going on here. For one, Elsie is also known as Mad Mabel. She was institutionalized for one murder at fifteen and accused of another, and her quiet suburban neighborhood hasn’t forgotten it. Every so often, it comes back to the surface, especially when a neighbor turns up dead. Fingers start pointing again and honestly, can you blame them? They know what they know. Elsie, for her part, is kind of over it.

Enter Persephone. Seven years old and far wiser than she should be, she ignores the whispers and shows up at Elsie’s door like it’s the most natural thing in the world. She lives next door with her mom, Roxanne, and even though Elsie is not looking for friends, especially not a child who lets herself in unannounced and immediately wants to play games, she can’t help but soften once she realizes Roxanne is dealing with her own darkness.

This book hits a really satisfying balance between humor and mystery. You keep wondering what actually happened all those years ago, and how anyone moves forward from something like that without carrying resentment or doubt.

Friends? Who needs them? Apparently Elsie does. Even when her interactions with the neighbors start with irritation, she finds herself enjoying conversation again, lingering over tea, even getting pulled into Persephone’s games.

I’m always drawn to stories that put older and younger characters together like this. There’s something about the blunt honesty of kids that gets under your skin. Persephone leaves a mark, whether Elsie wants her to or not. Watching Elsie try to process that is half the fun. She’s adorably flustered most of the time, but still sharp and fierce when it counts, especially when the people she’s come to care about are at risk.

Highly recommend.

Source: Review Copy provided by the publisher.
Disclosure: This post contains Bookshop.org affiliate links.

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