Early Reader Review: (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

(Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall  

Series: Entity Case Files #1
Publisher: Alcove Press
Publication Date:  August 4, 2026

 

Format: Paperback ARC


Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Amongst mountains as old as time, the jackalopes and ghouls are the least of your worries.

Working in Human Resources was not what Alexys had in mind when she joined Entity, the company who categorise and manage the monsters and cryptids of the world. But after her dad was killed as a Warden in the Appalachian Mountains, she was filled with noble ideas of carrying on his legacy... from behind the safety of a desk.

But when one of her new Wardens, Elliot, goes missing, her chances of promotion go missing too. Determined to find him safe and sound, she marches off into the mountains to find him herself.

Because Elliot had been talking about sightings of a highly dangerous and never-recorded monster, The Hollow Walker, and she's promised herself that no Warden will ever die on her watch.

Meanwhile Nic, Director of Research and Cataloging, is not one to ignore the words 'never-recorded'. With Alexys, his work nemesis, leading the charge into the mountains, he's not going to let her have all the fun. If he can be the youngest Entity employee to discover a new monster, his name will go down in the annals of cryptozoology... and if it means spending some extra time with Alexys then he's not one to argue.

But Alexys and Nic are about to discover why the Appalachian Mountains are the last place you want to find yourself after dark.

Review: 

Alexys works a desk job coordinating Wardens, who are agents who investigate and, when necessary, eliminate the things that go bump in the night. When one of her Wardens goes missing just before a scheduled field meeting with her, she's determined to find him and bring him home. The creature he was tracking is incredibly dangerous and frustratingly elusive, prompting Nic, a researcher, to insert himself into the investigation. While his primary interest is the creature, he certainly doesn't mind spending more time with Alexys.

Together, they battle terrifying creatures, unravel the mystery of the missing Warden, and discover that the truth is far more dangerous than they expected.

This was such a fun and engaging read! The story is set in the Appalachian Mountains, which already have an eerie reputation, and the author does an excellent job capturing that unsettling atmosphere. The local folklore and the sense that something is always lurking in the woods added so much to the overall vibe and eeriness of the story.

I also really enjoyed the blend of horror/thriller and romance. There was a great variety of monsters and genuinely creepy moments that kept my heart racing, while the romance added some lighter, entertaining moments. The pacing was especially well done and the story gets moving quickly and never really slows down.

The ending was fantastic, although it's one of the downsides of reading ARCs because now I have such a long wait before I can find out what happens next!

The characters were enjoyable, though I wasn't completely invested in them. For me, the mysterious setting and creature-filled adventure were th highlights. That said, the banter between Alexys and Nic was fun, their growing relationship felt natural, and several of their interactions made me laugh out loud.

My one small criticism is that I wasn't entirely sure what the author intended with Alexys's personality. At times she seemed like a strict rule follower, while at others she was willing to throw the rules aside, and that inconsistency made it difficult for me to get a solid sense of who she was.

Overall, this was a fun Summerween read with plenty of creepy atmosphere, exciting monster encounters, and a satisfying blend of horror and romance. I'm definitely looking forward to picking up the next installment when it's released.

Building the Book Pile #523

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Hi everyone ~ hope you are having a great summer!

Here is a quick rundown of some things I have been up to. 

We went to Rhode Island last weekend so I was MIA again - sorry about that. 

Otherwise we are still in the midst of the kitchen project most weekends. 

Softball season is about to come to an end on Monday, but then the students are back on ~10th so back in the office a lot again. 

This past week we had some electricians out to the house for some work - all went well but 💸💸

I am excited about all the Halloween décor coming out - as my house tends to keep the spooky vibe all year so it is home-décor shopping season for me 🎃👻

• Currently watching: F1 & watched the Mortal Kombat II movie this weekend.
• Currently reading: Pumpkin Apocalypse by M.D. Payne
• Currently listening to: Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall (Adult)

Recent Reads: Wretched Mage by Juliana Pinheiro (Adult)

Books Received Recently...  

For Review From Publishers 

Pumpkin Apocalypse by MD Payne

The Heart Trials by J. Elle 

The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace 

Reviews and Such

Disability Pride Month: All The Ways We Learn by Chloe Ito Ward -⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Reads: Forty Love: A Novel by Jane Costello - ⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: Salvage by Renee Nault - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Early Reader Review: Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni - ⭐⭐⭐.5

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

Disability Pride Month: All The Ways We Learn by Chloe Ito Ward

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

All The Ways We Learn by Chloe Ito Ward 

Illustrated by Yaroslava Apollonova

Publisher: Rise x Penguin Workshop
Publication Date:  July 7, 2026

 

Format: Hardback

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

An empowering picture book celebrating the many ways kids learn best. 

Not every child learns by sitting still and staying quiet. Some kids learn by jumping and tapping their feet. Others by building, drawing, or making a joyful mess. However they learn, all kids deserve to feel proud of and confident in themselves! This book celebrates the many brilliant and beautiful ways kids take in the world, helping them feel seen, supported, and loved. 

Created by a neurodivergent author and illustrator team, with back matter to learn more about neurodivergence and simple accommodations, this is an essential reminder that there’s no one right way to learn.

• Written by an Expert with Lived Experience: Author Chloe Ito Ward is an early childhood educator and former curriculum director who drew from her professional and personal experiences growing up with ADHD to create an authentic, affirming book.
• Supports Educators and Caregivers: Back matter includes explanations of common neurodivergent traits and simple accommodations to help create a more inclusive classroom or home.
• Inclusive and Uplifting: This book normalizes a wide range of learning styles and models how to support all children in diverse learning environments.
• Impactful Art: Neurodivergent illustrator Yaroslava Apollonova brings a bright and whimsical point of view to this book, adding a sense of belonging on every page.

Review: 

Written for ages 3-6, All The Ways We Learn is such a beautiful introduction to learning differences, reminding young readers that there is no "right" way to learn. Rather than presenting differences to overcome, the book celebrates them, showing children with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia and more -emphasizing that everyone has strengths, challenges, and ways of understanding. 

The illustrations are so inclusive, expanding beyond the learning aspects of the book, but also showing young readers differences in race, culture, and physical disabilities as well. That thoughtful representation makes the story feel more welcoming and accessible. I really appreciated the attention to detail there. The images are bright and inviting and young readers will certainly connect with one or more of the character regardless of accommodation. 

Growing up, many of us were taught that people were simply visual, auditory, or hands-on learners. This book expands that conversation in a meaningful way - introducing accommodations and some challenges.  It gently reinforces supports like fidget toys, sensory tools, tactile learning, quiet spaces and more and that they aren't special treatment but tools that help others learn and grow. 

One of the book's greatest strengths is that is it just as impactful for an adult audience. The inclusion of definitions, resources, and an accommodation list provides parents and caregivers practical information to help and deepen their understanding of neurodiversity. 

Overall, this is a lovely book about such a meaningful topic. I think all households should give it a read. 

About the Author and Illustrator

Author Bio: Chloe Ito Ward is a Japanese American author. A former curriculum director, she has a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction and spent the last decade teaching kindergarten, where she discovered her passion for picture books. Chloe is the author of Love Grows Here (2024) and Made for More (2025). When Chloe isn’t perfecting her ramen recipe, you can find her rock climbing or dancing in the kitchen with her husband, son, and their imaginary dog, Miso.

Illustrator Bio: Yaroslava Apollonova is a neurodivergent author-illustrator and character designer with an uncontrollable desire to know everything about anteaters (and all other weirdly shaped animals). She enjoys creating stories and characters to inspire kids to embrace who they truly are and never give up on their dreams. When Yara isn’t drawing, you can find her baking white chocolate chip cookies; drinking coffee before bed; having deep conversations with her cats, Ciri and Nala; and gathering new ideas for illustrations from documentaries at 3 a.m. You can even find her doing all of that while drawing, too!

 

Recent Reads: Forty Love: A Novel by Jane Costello

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Forty Love: A Novel by Jane Costello

Publisher: Zibby Publishing
Publication Date:  May 19, 2026

 

Format: Ebook/Audio - bought on Audible 

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A fun, sexy rom-com about learning to take big swings, discovering new passions, filling an empty nest, and maybe another shot at love.

Jules has lived next door to the local tennis club for years without picking up a racket. As a full-time buyer for a national chain of lifestyle stores and a single, widowed mother of a teenager, she doesn’t have time for a hobby. And then, there is the matter of that run-in with her old school crush, Sam, who recently joined the club.

In a surge of boldness, Jules decides to stop playing it safe and accepts an invitation to join the amateur tennis team. Soon enough, she has fully embraced the tennis life and finds herself loving the game and her teammates, but that’s not all. Her intense attraction to Sam is gaining an advantage over her. Now Jules is facing a whole new kind of match with her insecurities, her desires, and maybe—just maybe—a second shot at love. And boy, does it have some spin on it.

Review: 

Forty Love is a romance about a single mom in her forties navigating her daughter doing off to college, how to approach dating and love after the death of her husband, and tennis. Jules has had a great life, raised a daughter, love her husband and now she is in transition. 

I am forty now but whenever I read a book about a woman in her 40s, I just feel like we are so completely different. Jules is a mom and approaches her life with structure and hesitation. I, on the other hand, am not a parent and live like a grown child for the most part. I still have obligations, worries, and work, but sometimes I just cannot connect with these on-page women. I think that was the issue for me here. 

I enjoyed the book, it was a cute, slow, romance that was calm and safe. I think a lot of women will love reading about Jules and her transitions and trying to figure out life on her own again. Jules was realistic in a lot of ways and her worries and grief feel like their own character in the book as well. So there was a lot of emotional depth that I appreciated. 

I listened to this on Audible and think that if I was reading it would have set it down. It was slow, cozy, and a good romance but even at the climaxes I kind of jest felt meh. I think this book will be a fit for many, it just wasn’t me and that is ok. 

Early Reader Review: Salvage by Renee Nault

Source: From the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Salvage by Renée Nault 

Publisher: Ten Speed Graphic
Publication Date:  July 21, 2026

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

In this heartwarming graphic novel romance from the adaptor and illustrator of The Handmaid’s The Graphic Novel, two young artists' paths intertwine as they navigate the complexities of love in a world where sea levels have risen and society is sharply divided.

Paolo lives in the Flats, a dangerous, water-logged community where families survive by salvaging materials from skyscrapers hidden just beneath the ocean’s surface—remnants of a world before sea levels rose. Scavenging the depths comes with its risks, but when Paolo discovers a suitcase of designer clothes, he decides to fulfill his To spend one night in the Uplands, a place of privilege, excess, and freedom. There he meets Jules and her friends, and what begins as a single night of reckless adventure turns into a secret double life—and a seemingly impossible romance that forces Paolo to reckon with who he is, where he belongs, and the importance of being honest.

Rendered in vibrant watercolor illustrations that bring every scene to vivid life, Salvage is as much a visual masterpiece as it is a moving tale of love and self-discovery. Renée Nault’s atmospheric and luminous hand-painted art draws readers into Paolo and Jules’ world, promising an unforgettable coming of age story.

Review: 

This YA graphic novel is stunning, with detailed watercolor illustrations that bring every page to life. The artwork is bright, engaging, and packed with details that invite readers to stick around and explore. While I found it a little text-heavy at times, the beauty of the story and the richness of the world still made the read enjoyable.

Paolo lives in the Flats, a community where people survive by salvaging goods from the sea, including the remnants of a drowned city. When he discovers a waterproof case filled with in-style clothing (something really rare), he is inspired to travel into the Uplands, where the wealthy live. There, he meets a group of influencer teens and begins spending more time in a world that is completely different from his own.

Alongside a cute romance, the story explores themes of privilege, freedom, identity, and self-discovery. Paolo is the main character, but readers also get glimpses into the life of Jules, the girl he falls for. Despite coming from opposite sides f society, Paolo and Jules struggle with loneliness and share a passion for art in a world that doesn't fully appreciate their creativity.

One of my favorte things about the book was the art - the cities become an additional character. The contrasting landscapes of the Flats and the Uplands feel so vivid and interesting. and the juxtaposition between the two worlds adds depth to the story and gives readers so much to engage with/ look at. I wanted a little more background for how the cities got to this point, but it was still gorgeous. 

Overall, this was a beautifully illustrated and thoughtful read. It's a graphic novel that combines a compelling coming-of-age story with a richly imagined world. 

Early Reader Review: Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni 
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date:  June 30, 2026 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Derin’s acceptance into Cambridge University is the end of an era—just not the one she expected.

When she and her ultra-competitive Uni prep group, The Kenfield Set, were first invited to Professor Darnley’s summer ball, they planned on celebrating the group's success surrounded by the riches of his historical Kenfield estate—not kicking off the festivities with the professor’s will reading.

But when the Darnley’s aristocratic children are disinherited, the students are offered the opportunity of a lifetime: compete in a Victorian, literary-inspired inheritance competition to be named the new heir—winner takes all!

For Derin, it's a chance to help her working-class family. But the remaining Darnleys won’t take losing their stately home and its multimillion-pound inheritance lying down. And into the mix, a mysterious note is slipped under Derin’s door alluding to a dark family secret lying in wait.

Now, Derin must balance the cutthroat games; scheming relatives; and a cute Kenfield intern amidst her dawning realization that the history of this inheritance might be soaked in lies… and blood.

Review: 

Derin is a graduating teen about to head off to her dream school. She has had the pleasure over the past years of working with a professor and other students to prepare herself for her college applications etc. When the professor passes and calls them all to the will-reading they are thrown into a game to determine who among them will win his estate and all the money along with it. 

This book reads like a more mature and historical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with twists like Knives Out. I felt like the plot was intriguing and satisfying, but the slow pacing occasionally tested my patience, and I almost gave up on the book within the first few chapters. There was a bit too much jumping around in the timeline and the setup felt like a slog. Once we were into the real plotline…the historical sections added depth, though they sometimes disrupted the mystery's tension and pulled me out of the story. 

While I really liked and felt engaged in the challenges, the historical parts weren’t the only thing that kept me from fully immersing myself. I often felt like the characters were too close in personality to distinguish and even with Derin, I didn’t grow to empathize with her or really know her. 

On top of that, the author often found the need to interject with sexual representation, (I am all for representation!) but I didn’t feel like it added to the plot or the storyline at all. It often pulled me out of the story because of how oddly jarring it occurred in dialogue or thought processes. The main character is bi, and she has flirtatious banter with a few of the other characters. This dynamic and insertion makes the reader think that there might be more coming, maybe a romantic side story; however, the author sadly leaves this at the surface and doesn’t delve into it past that point. Again, fine for a YA read. Acceptance and representation are super important, I just felt like… if it was brought up so much that there might be a bigger point than just rep. It definitely read as if the author was telling us versus showing us in this instance. 

Overall, I think that the themes around whitewashing of history, racism, classism were exemplified in a very creative and engaging way. I think that the rep was there regardless of being told versus shown, and I think that readers that are looking for a plot with games and clues will enjoy it. I wouldn’t fully call this a murder mystery but there some elements of that too. 

Building the Book Pile #522

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!

Happy 4th of July weekend for those in the US. 

We had Friday off and took a ride up north. We went to a candy store, I bought some art, and we had a yummy lunch. We also stopped by a Lowe's which we don't have near us (only Home Depot). 

On the 4th, we grabbed food to grill and just did house-project stuff. Our stove and fridge for the new kitchen arrived on Thursday, so we are more excited to push forward. We are so close to having one half of the new kitchen done. 

Today we have a few projects/ tasks to get done and we are prepping for the week. AND if it F1 Race Day, so I will be watching that.

The past week was busy at work but productive busy because most people had the whole week off. I had a double-header softball game on Wednesday evening and my foot is almost all the way back... so I played. I took a runner because I didn't want to chance hurting it again though. 

I didn't read much at all, so my current lists are the same but I picked up a few short-form things to feel somewhat productive on that front. I am not sure if it is me or the book that is causing struggle. I am only 2 chapters in, so I am hoping I can push on and it is all just a slump.

• Currently watching: F1 and started a show called Sugar.
• Currently reading: Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni, finished Winnie the Pooh: The Graphic Novel, & Good Night, Break a Leg
• Currently listening to: Forty Love by Jane Costello (still need to finish)

Linking up with Caffeinated Book Reviewer Sunday Post 

xo steph

Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Winners & Liars by Aleema Omotoni (YA)

Early Reader Review: Salvage by Renee Nault (GN, YA)

Books Received Recently...  

For Review From Publishers 

Love Between the Lectures by Christie Curry

The Alibi Club by Carrie Talick

Not Another Christmas Movie by Ashley Cowan

Winnie-the-Pooh: The Graphic Novel by AA Milne, Kevan Chandler, and Joe Sutphin 

Good Night, Break a Leg: Life with Broadway Dads by Bret Shuford

 

Reviews and Such

Early Reader Review: Doe by Rebecca Barrow (YA) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

June 2026 Re-Cap

Donating Caffeine is greatly appreciated ... Donate on Ko-fi

What have you been reading?  How was your week? Feel free to leave a comment!

Happy Reading! 

June 2026 Recap

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people. 

Here is my June re-cap.

~~Books I Read in June~~

~~Review Links ~~

Doe by Rebecca Barrow

Their Will Undone by RJ Valldeperas

Milk & Mocha: Our Little Moments by Melani Sie

Calypso's Odyssey by Anna Ellison

Mate by Ali Hazelwood

June Bingo w/ Chapter Break

Lights Out - Book I've Been thinking about reading for a while, Audiobook, In a series

Doe - Not in a series, Free book (gifted), Multi-POV, Physical book

Mate - Shelf love, Beard, Powers, Mates, For a challenge, Found family

Their Will Undone - Ebook, Epic world building, Debut

Here was my plan.

Added to Completed:

Calypso's Odyssey

Doe

Mate

Throttled

DNFed: King Sorrow

Here was my plan.

Finished:

Mate

Goal: 3 books | Completed: 1/3

I did horrible on this one

Read:

Doe by Rebecca Barrow

Count: 1

Early Reader Review: Doe by Rebecca Barrow

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.  

Doe by Rebecca Barrow

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date:  June 23, 2026

 

Format: Ebook/ Hardback


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Maris Larsen is the captain of the West Eaton High cheer team. She’s Coach’s favorite and the team worships her. Being on the team makes her feel special—powerful. When she’s leading the girls on the mat, Maris doesn’t have to think about her dead-end life in a dead-end town. She can forget about her depressed mother and absent father and the fact that her girlfriend doesn’t really love her. But when newcomer and Coach’s new golden girl, Genevieve Ray, joins the team, the only thing going right in Maris’s life is suddenly in jeopardy. A bitter rivalry develops between the two, but Maris is determined to take Genevieve down. The knife she needs to wield comes to Maris in her dreams.

While sleepwalking, Maris is visited by a monstrous, decaying beast in the shape of an enormous deer. Doe is an ancient, tired creature who has been wandering, trapped in her current form for decades. She cannot die, but she cannot go on living as she has. Only a girl related by blood to those who bound her in this form can free her, but those girls she loved died years ago—murdered in a fire.

But Maris is somehow linked to Doe’s beloved girls—linked by blood—and so she has the power to free Doe, to unleash her immense power. In Maris’s dreams, she and Doe form a bond, but Maris doesn’t know the creature from her dreams is real. Maris doesn’t understand the danger she’s in. She only knows Doe has promised her a way to win her battle with Genevieve. But for Maris to win, someone has to die, and the only real winner in the end will be Doe.

Review: 

This was such an interesting book. Told in verse, we transition between Maris - a cheerleading captain, the team as a whole, and Doe - a mystical being that lives in the body of a deer. The overall tone is eerie and strange and the format adds to that off-putting vibe.

The girls are from a nothing town and think they will all go nowhere, and cheer is all they have. They are wild and chaotic with no so great home situations. When a new member comes into the scene they need her to become a part of them or be gone for good. 

The story is this really dynamic interplay of past and present, expectations versus reality, and trauma bonding. Being written in verse only adds to that cutting sense of intensity that the author builds and builds throughout the story. 

I really enjoyed this one and will likely think about it a lot. The story was interesting, quickly paced, and easy to read. I liked the way that the eeriness of Doe also creeped into the team and Maris and how these were cheerleaders that were not the popular girls but the outcasts in a lot of ways. It turned things on their head a bit. 

Sadly, I picked up on the ending before I got there... so there wasn't a big surprise. That said it was really well done. 

Overall, I think this YA Horror is a great addition to libraries and TBRs. It will be a great Fall read but really it is a great read either way.