Series Sunday: The First Time I Saw Him

(Hannah Hall #2) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is The First Time I Saw Him, the second book in the Hannah Hall series by Laura Dave. Before I delve into this new book review, please read my previous pithy review of The Last Thing He Told Me then watch season one on Apple TV+. It features Jennifer Garner and is oh-so-good! Binge and catch up before season two begins on February 20, 2026.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled review. The First Time I Saw Him picks up five years, 10 months and 24 days later. Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter, Bailey, have settled into a new life in Southern California. Just when Hannah feels well-adjusted and safe, she gets a sign that her and Bailey are in danger. Owen risks everything to deliver a warning forcing Hannah and Bailey to uproot their lives yet again and go on the run. As the thriller unfolds, there is a chance that their family can be reunited.

"Because that's the thing about faith. Even if the world decides it looks crazy, it shows up for you in the moment you need it most." ~ 32%

I love it when a sequel is perfectly executed! The First Time I Saw Him was even better than the first book. The suspense, mystery and fast pace kept me reading nonstop. More background info on the characters was revealed creating several layers to the story. Laura Dave's writing is so descriptive, I thought I was on the run right along with Hannah and Bailey holding my breath. By the time I reached the ending, I was spent...in a good way!

My only gripe is the repetitive sentences. At only 37% in, there were six sentences repeated word-for-word. By 46%, I had to take my editor hat off; otherwise, I would not have enjoyed the story. At that point, my nose stayed in the book turning pages frantically, skipping over the repetitiveness. The story was so edge-of-the-seat that I didn't realize only 30% was left in the book when I came up for air. And by 82%...WHOA! 

Let me stop my review here to avoid spoilers. The First Time I Saw Him is obviously recommended; it will be one of my top reads of books published in 2026. Reserve your copy now!

Happy Early Pub Day, Laura Dave! The First Time I Saw Him will be available Tuesday, January 6.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The First Time I Saw Him

Author: Laura Dave

Published: January 2026

Pages: 271

Edition: Galley

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 ♡

Series Sunday: Crime Rangoon

(Noodle Shop Mystery #12) 

Series Sunday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Read an installment of a series.
• Share your review/recommendation below.
• Include the title, author and series name.

My Series Sunday pick is Crime Rangoon, the 12th book in the Noodle Shop mystery series by Vivien Chien. One of my favorite sleuths, Lana Lee, is back to investigate a stranger-than-fiction murder with the help of her detective boyfriend. Lana Lee is excited for the appearance of her favorite author at a book signing in Asia Village.

"And if it wasn't someone from her writers community, the murderer is probably a reader." ~ 67%

Lana Lee has the honor of being the author's "handler" for the event. Unfortunately, the author is found dead in the mystery aisle of the bookstore, clutching a copy of her own new book. Coincidentally, the details of the murder matches the book's plot! Detective boyfriend, Adam, and Lana team up for the first time on purpose to solve the mystery. But first, they must work through the novel to outwit the murderer.

Books within a book can be tricky. It takes a skilled author to tell a story within a story, carry two plots without confusing the reader and solve a double mystery. Vivien Chien pulls it off in Crime Rangoon but something was off. Perhaps the mystery was too easy to figure out. Or maybe because my least liked character, Kimmy, had a bigger role in the story so it annoyed me. There is humor and light romance but it didn't save the book for me.

That doesn't mean Crime Rangoon is not for you, if already a fan of this series. Newbies, I do not recommend this as your first Vivien Chien novel. Anyhoot—here's a holiday task for you, Bookhearts. Order your favorite Asian dish with a side of crab or cream cheese rangoons, then settle in for a cozy mystery read. Crime Rangoon will take your mind off the bustle of the holidays while enjoying a takeout meal.

Happy Early Pub Day, Vivien Chien! Crime Rangoon will be available Tuesday, December 30.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: Crime Rangoon

Author: Vivien Chien

Published: December 2025

Pages: 320

Edition: Galley

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 🖤 🖤

First Lines Friday

First Lines Friday is a bookish meme hosted by Literary Marie. I encourage all of my fellow book bloggers and bookhearts to play along.

• Grab your current read(s).
• Share the first line(s).
• Include the title and author.

"The dress was made for sinning. Black. Strapless. Sheer."

~ Brimstone by Callie Hart

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe

"America's most famous actress with a man who could be America's next president? Why not? She married America's greatest living sportsman, and then America's greatest living writer." ~ 69%

June 1, 2026, would be Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday. In life, she was a superstar. In death, she is a mystery. New true crime thriller by bestselling author James Patterson with Imogen Edwards-Jones focuses on her eventful rollercoaster life. 

The title of this true crime thriller is misleading. It begins way before Marilyn Monroe's last days. In fact, it begins when she was a little girl named Norma Jean, through her teen years, multiple marriages, rise in Hollywood then finally to the months leading to her death. Longtime Bookhearts know how I am a stickler for titles. It has to fit and make sense. This did not! 

I appreciate the authors starting with background but it should have been limited to the first couple chapters. Because of the title, I expected a detailed account of the literal days before her unexpected death. What led to it? Who did she argue with and what about? What was her state of mind? Who was around? Who did she last talk to, clutching the phone as she took her last breath? Who found her body and why did it take so long to call authorities? Was it an intentional or accidental overdose? While some of the questions were answered, I finished the book with even more questions. I doubt this was the authors' intention.

"It's not really me who's late...It's the others who are in such a hurry." ~ 34%

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is an extra long biographical article. A compilation of information I could have easily read and researched online. I recommend to readers interested in learning surface level information about the iconic Marilyn Monroe with no expectations of a deep dive. 

Happy Pub Day, James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones! The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Title: The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
Author: James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones
Published: December 2025
Pages: 416
Edition: Galley
Genre: True Crime Thriller
Rating: 🖤 🖤