In a Nutshell Reviews

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Cat's People by Tanya Guerrero
Published by Delacorte Press on April 1, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A stray cat brings together five strangers over the course of one fateful summer in this heartwarming novel about love, found family, and the power of connection.

Núria, a single-by-choice barista with a resentment for the “crazy cat lady” label, is a member of The Meow-Yorkers, a group in Brooklyn who takes care of the neighborhood’s stray cats. On one of her volunteering days, she starts finding Post-It notes from a secret admirer at the spot where her favorite stray lives—a black cat named Cat. Like most cats, he is rather curious and sly, so of course he knows who the notes are from. Núria, however, is clueless.

Are the notes from Collin, a bestselling author and self-professed hermit with a weakness for good coffee? Are they from Lily, a fresh-out-of-high school Georgia native searching for her long-lost half-sister? Are they from Omar, the beloved neighborhood mailman going through an early mid-life crisis? Or are they from Bong, the grieving widower who owns her favorite bodega? When Cat suddenly falls ill, these five strangers find themselves connected in their desire to care for him and discover that chance encounters can lead to the meaningful connections they've been searching for.

Cat was a stray who had lived his life on the streets. Rainbow Lady, Cheery Mailman, Sad Bodega Man, Awkward Neighbor Guy - these were his people, and this is the story of how he brought them all together.

I am a sap who loves tales about connection and found family, and those were two elements that were done so well in Cat's People. Guerrero assembled a fantastic group of characters and connected them to each other via Cat. It's amazing the way people can be part of our world but never part of lives though our paths may often intersect. All these people inhabited the same Brooklyn neighborhood, but it took Cat to bring them together.

"Those were the sounds of his favorite people. As long as he could hear them, he was safe."

Each character was at a crossroads in their life (including Cat). One was dealing with grief, one with a stalled life, one with big career decisions, and others with discovering a secret. The beauty of it was how each person found strength and clarity with the support of each other. They were able to make those changes, take those chances, and make those choices because they had one another.

There is something about a non-human point of view that adds a little extra, too. Cat was old and wise. He experienced a lot during his eleven years, many losses and kindnesses. His observations of his people were keen, and I loved seeing him warm to this group as his trust in them grew. 

"he realized that home wasn't necessarily a place. Home could be people too. As long as he was with them, he would be all right. Cat finally found a home to call his own."

Not only was Cat's People a heartwarming tale, but it spoke to the power of community and connection. Overall, it was a pleasure meeting Cat's People, and I am left with so much hope and happiness for them all.

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Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin
Published by Avon on March 18, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Rekindle your belief in the magic of first love and the charm of small towns with Annie England Noblin’s delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Sarah Adams.

Spring is in the air and Mylie has everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.

After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.

Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.

Told with Annie England Noblin’s signature wit, cozy charm, and a dash of spice, Spring Fling is the perfect friends-to-lovers read.

It's been a decade since Ben left Clay Creek and Mylie behind. Ben had always planned to leave, therefore, he never acted on his attraction to Mylie, but the timing may finally be right for a little spring fling.

Spring Fling was a fun and cute small town romance. Everyone in these parts knows how much I love characters with history, and Mylie and Ben shared plenty. I was treated to learning all about their friendship via flashbacks, and I must say, they made many wonderful memories together. Though their relationship had lapsed, they were able to easily slip back into that friendship which I kept hoping would turn to more.

One of the things that made this story so much fun was Clay Creek. As with most small towns, this one was packed with quirky characters who added a lot to the story. Granny, Cassie, and Jodie were standouts who amplified the chaos and shenanigans. I really enjoyed all the events and festivities I got to attend as well.

Overall, I enjoyed spending time in Clay Creek where I had a great time mingling with the townsfolk as Mylie and Ben tried to figure out if they had a future together.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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