Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Boy and His Higher Self and My First Day of School

Summer isn’t over yet, but for many, the carefree days are slipping by—and that means back-to-school season is here! Around here, we’ve already started shopping, fall schedules are taking shape, and a few back-to-school jitters are probably starting to emerge. 

Today I’m sharing two new picture books that are perfect for this time of year and remind kids to be authentic, trust their inner voice, stay positive, and be self-confident. Every student could use that reminder right now.

 

Learn More About the Books:

 

The Boy and His Higher Self

Written by Ricardo Santa Cruz

Illustrated by Yuko Kondo

Ages: 4-8 | 38 Pages

Publisher: Mascot Kids (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-99068-351-8

Publisher's Book Summary: And have you always been here right by my side? I have always been with you, living inside. Have you ever listened to the little voice inside your head? What does it say to you? The Boy and His Higher Self is the story of a boy who discovers and learns to trust his higher self, a presence that has always been with him. Dedicated to the inner child and higher self within young children and adults alike, this book offers guidance and tools to help children overcome feelings of insecurity and sadness and gain self-confidence and positivity. 

You can purchase your own copy of The Boy and His Higher Self at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop. 

 

 

My First Day of School

Written by Ricardo Santa Cruz

Illustrated by Yuko Kondo

Ages: 4-8 | 38 Pages

Publisher: Mascot Kids (2026) | ISBN: 979-8990683501

Publisher's Book Summary: "I'm afraid to be myself and don't know if I can. Relax and remember to be yourself. There's no need to try to be someone else. My First Day of School, the second book in a series dedicated to the inner child and higher self, tells the story of a boy on his first day of school. Nervous about making new friends and being accepted by his peers, he confides his insecurities in his higher self. With insight and guidance, his higher self shares with him that having the courage to be your authentic self inspires others to do the same and create a positive environment."

 

You can purchase your own copy of My First Day of School at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop. 

To learn more about Ricardo Santa Cruz by visiting his website as well as the Xala Foundation. All proceeds from The Boy and His Higher Self will be given to The Xala Foundation, aimed at helping to educate and bring opportunities to marginalized communities from the region.

 

The Giveaway: 

 

I have partnered with Ricardo Santa Cruz to host a giveaway to celebrate the publication of these two wonderful picture books. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of three book sets, each featuring both The Boy and His Higher Self and My First Day of School. Good luck!

 

 

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Witches of Cambridge

The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman

Pub. Date: September 8, 2026

 

Goodreads says, "The brand-new series from the bestselling author of Practical Magic, following two brilliant young women in 1950s Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they become immersed in a mysterious secret group of witches at Radcliffe known as the Lilith Society.

Once upon a time, women were drowned in the river and the only witnesses were the crows in the trees. The Puritans blamed Eve for the sins of the world. That was when we began to meet in the name of Lilith, Adam’s first wife—banished for refusing to do as she was told.

We Fly Together…

By the 1950s, Cambridge, Massachusetts feels far removed from the legendary witch trials that marked its early days as a colony. Ava, a bright young woman from a small town in Maine, arrives for her first year at Radcliffe College. There, she meets Lauren, her opposite in every way—the wild and brazen daughter of a wealthy and well-established Cambridge family. But the two have more in common than they think. Both are recruited by the Lilith Society, a secret organization of witches at Radcliffe dating back to colonial times. As they learn more about their legacy, Ava and Lauren form a close bond that is put to the test as they learn to navigate their new power, friendship, and love.

While Radcliffe seems like a safe haven, the shadow of McCarthyism looms large, an ever-present threat to the flourishing creative and intellectual life in Cambridge. And as girls from the Lilith Society begin to go missing, Ava and Lauren realize the witch trials of the past may not be as deeply buried as they once believed. 

 

I know summer isn't over yet, but these new fall reads have me excited. Fans of Practical Magic will want to immediately add this book to their fall TBR list. I hear this novel is dark academia meets historical fiction--sounds like a winning combination to me! Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Mini Reviews: Beach Reads with Memorable Settings

 

There's nothing like a beach read with a setting that is beautiful, glamorous, and, of course, memorable. That's immediately what I thought when I read that The May House is set on Coronado Island, set across from the bay from downtown San Diego. Who wouldn't want to spend a glorious week there? And then, of course, there's Nantucket, the setting of Worse Than Strangers. It's where everyone's favorite beach read always seems to take place.

 

The May House by Jillian Cantor

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult Fiction/Beach Read

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "No matter what’s going on in the May sisters’ lives, the one thing they can rely upon is seeing each other for one week each year, while staying at their grandmother’s beachside home in gorgeous Coronado. As adults, Julia, Emily, and Nora aren’t particularly close, spread out across the country and busy with careers, relationships, and the minutia of life, but their promise to Grandma Vera keeps them anchored together, if only for one week every May.

One year Julia, the oldest and most dependable sister, doesn’t show. And suddenly Nora and Emily start to question how much they truly know about their sister’s life. Told in alternating points of view, spanning from their time together with Grandma Vera as kids into their adult lives, The May House explores how a decades-long family secret has unknowingly shaped each sister and, ultimately, how it brings them closer together.

Funny, poignant, and brimming with heart, The May House is an irresistible story about the special bond between sisters and figuring out what matters most in life, in all its ups and downs.

 

The May sisters have inherited a beach house from their Grandmother on beautiful Coronado Island. They have been going there for a week in May ever since they were little, and they always promised their grandmother they would return every year. Now the sisters are adults and dealing with real-world issues, finding it hard to carve out time to come back. However, despite their obstacles, all three sisters have met each year for a week of bonding by the sea. Except this year, Julia, the eldest sister, doesn't come and is nowhere to be found. This leaves Emily and Nora confused, as their older sister has always been dependable. How well do they know her? The May House by Jillian Cantor is a solid beach read with a gorgeous California setting, perfect for fans of stories involving sisterhood and family drama.
 
The three May sisters don't have much in common except for their beach house, as they don't actively participate in each other's adult lives. Their bond is rooted in their Grandmother Vera, who has helped care for them since their mother's death. The story unfolds through the various points of view of the sisters, along with flashbacks to past summers, providing readers with deeper insights into the May sisters' backstories. A common thread among the sisters is their next-door neighbor, Nate, who is Julia's former boyfriend and Nora's long-time crush. There is also a secret box of letters that Grandma Vera keeps hidden, which threatens to reveal some family secrets. The May House offers a charming beach read, and having just visited Coronado made the experience even more enjoyable.
 

 

 

 

 

Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy 

Pages: 320

Genre: Romance/Beach Read

Pub. Date: June 23, 2026

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Personal Copy

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "A debut novel for fans of Jane Austen, Elin Hilderbrand, and Gilmore Girls, Worse Than Strangers is a Nantucket-set retelling of Austen’s Persuasion about finding romance, second chances, and a new path in life.

Rose and Lily are best friends first, mother-daughter second, which is good because right now, Lily could really use a friend. Recently fired from her NYC magazine job and heartbroken, Lily has fled to the family cottage in Siasconset. She is shocked when she stumbles across her first love at the grocery store holding hands with his new fiancé—a fiancé he never mentioned on their many, many late-night phone calls.

Rose has secrets, too. A therapist about to start her own private practice, Rose’s world is rocked by the handsome renter staying in their guest cottage, Thomas Wentworth: the one person she thought she would never see again and the man who has always (unfortunately) held her heart.

A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set against a backdrop of blue and purple hydrangeas, swollen brick sidewalks, tall sea grass, and uniform, shingled houses, Lily and Rose Gardner’s summer journey of second chances, healing, and hope begs the question: Can you repeat the past, and is it ever too late to try again?"

 

Rose and Lily are a mother-daughter duo similar to The Gilmore Girls. Rose is a beautiful single mother and therapist, and Lily is making her way in the world in NYC, but they are still as close as ever. Unfortunately, Lily gets fired from her job in NYC and returns home with her tail between her legs to her mother's cottage on Nantucket. This cottage holds a special place in her heart as it was her beloved great-aunt's cottage and she spent many summers there. Upon her arrival on the small island, she runs into her first love and former boyfriend, Henry, at the grocery store holding hands with his new fiancée. This shocks Lily as they had just spoken not too long ago and he never mentioned her. Lily and Henry never really had a clean break, so this hits her hard. She is set for a summer of rebuilding her life when her mother rents out the other cottage next door and finds out it's been rented to Thomas Wentworth, a man who played an important role in Rose's life. This is proving to be a complicated summer for Rose and Lily, filled with second chances and finding their way. Kyleigh Leddy's Worse Than Strangers is a wonderful retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion and makes for a delightful beach read.
 
First and foremost, Persuasion is my favorite of Austen's novels, so I couldn't wait to dive into a modern retelling. I enjoyed every aspect of this novel, especially how each chapter was presented from the perspectives of Lily and Rose, along with a few chapters from their beloved aunt, Lottie. Leddy also did a fantastic job of bringing Nantucket to life; she truly conveyed a strong sense of place. It was clear that she spent a lot of time there, and I appreciated the vivid details about the gardens, restaurants, beaches, and more. While Leddy addressed some difficult topics, such as cancer and addiction, she managed to keep the narrative light, ensuring it never felt overly heavy. The arrival of extra family members at the cottage added humor to the story while maintaining a strong focus on rebuilding their lives and mending past relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the debut novel Worse Than Strangers and can't wait to see what Leddy writes next.
 
Have you read either The May House or Worse Than Strangers? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  

 

Blog Break

 

I’m taking a blog break to soak up some sunshine with my family. In between adventures, I’ll be reading good books and enjoying the beautiful summer season. Thanks for visiting and I’ll be back soon!

 

Mini Reviews: New Beach Reads

 

The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson 

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Fiction

Pub. Date: June 30, 2026

Publisher: Penguin

Source: Personal Copy

Other Books By Author: Pineapple Street

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.

Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.

 

Caroline Lash is relocating to the close-knit seaside community of Greenhead, MA, after winning the opportunity to serve as a residency writer. While there, she falls for Van, an environmentalist and super outdoorsy kind of guy, despite their differences, as she is a city girl through and through. The more she hangs out with Van, the more she is privy to his friend group, all their hangouts, whether at beaches or bars, and their secrets, too, as they are dysfunctional. Things are smooth sailing until Van realizes that his ex-girlfriend, Bailey, is pregnant with his baby. But he assures Caroline that he wants to be with her and will platonically support his lifelong friend and on-again-off-again girlfriend, Bailey. There's more drama amongst their friend group, and things get challenging between Van and Caroline, leaving her to question whether they have what it takes to make this work. The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson is pure beach read fun. If you love a dysfunctional friend group and lots of drama, look no further. 
 
Jackson alternates points of view from each friend in The Shampoo Effect, so readers get a behind-the-scenes look into the character's lives and their problems. Each character is dealing with issues, whether it be Bailey's pregnancy, Augusta's marriage issues, Fran's parenthood strife and issues with aging parents, and more. They have always tackled these issues together as friends, but the arrival of Caroline upends their close-knit group. It's always fun when an outsider comes into the circle and really shakes things up, and that is what happens in The Shampoo Effect. While a lot of it felt like rich people problems, that is exactly what I wanted on a hot summer weekend. 
 

 

 

The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren 

Pages: 352

Genre: Romance

Pub. Date: July 24, 2026 

Publisher: Gallery

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Love and Other Words,

The Paradise Problem, The Unhoneymooners

and Twice in a Blue Moon 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

 

 

Goodreads says, "Three years ago, Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.

But now, Emery is consumed by her top-secret job, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge research comes to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.

Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule to bring him back. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together...all of it is gone.

It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.

 

 
Dr. Emery Martin is living a perfect life at first glance. She is married to her love, Luca; she is working a meaningful job with medical-grade lasers; and she is living in Southern California. Except her job isn't really with lasers, and she hasn't even told her husband. Emery works at a San Diego lab that is working on bringing animals back from the dead; it's top secret, so she can't even talk about it with Luca. Her obsession with work is taking its toll on their marriage, and Luca is starting to get frustrated. On the night of their anniversary dinner (which she forgot about!), Luca gets into an accident, and Emery witnesses it. She administers this drug (which hasn't been tried on humans yet) and saves Luca's life. But at what cost? He wakes up and has no recollection of her. Emery makes it a goal to appreciate him this time around and get him to remember the special love they shared. But things are never easy as that! Christina Lauren's The Romance Revival is a departure from their normal romance novels, as this involves a lot of STEM elements, some sci-fi, and even some aspects of a thriller.
 
One thing I always appreciate about Lauren's novels is the chemistry she creates between her characters. I really loved the romance between Emery and Luca in The Romance Revival. I enjoyed the way they met and their blossoming love. Luca is a fantastic male lead, and I know many of Lauren's fans will thoroughly enjoy him. While I didn’t mind the STEM details in the novel, there were times when they felt a bit over-the-top and unbelievable. This was especially true during the cat-and-mouse chase towards the end of the novel. I appreciate that Lauren tried something new here; while I enjoyed the adorable romance, I felt that other aspects of the novel fell short. Additionally, the cover led me to expect more beach read elements than were actually present. Am I right in thinking that? I still look forward to reading more of Lauren's romances in the future.

 

 

Have you read The Shampoo Effect or The Romance Revival? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.