Prairie Fox Reads

  Book Review:   Under the Falls   (Falls #2) by Richard Russo Estimated Rating:   ★★★☆☆ (3.14 out of 5 stars) Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and analyses presented below are entirely my own. Publication and Context Title:   Under the Falls Author:   Richard Russo Series:   Falls (#2) Expected Publication Date:   August 11, 2026 Publisher:   Knopf Page Count:   256 pages Format:   Hardcover (ASIN / ISBN: 9780593805107) Genres:   Fiction / Literary Fiction / Mystery / Suspense / Friendship / Book Club Contextual Backdrop: Expected to hit shelves in August 2026,   Under the Falls   marks the return of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Russo. Billed in the publisher’s description as his first stand-alone novel since   Chances Are . . . —despite also being categorized as “Falls #2”—this 256-page novel sees Russ...

  Caro Claire Burke Knopf, 2026 (Hardcover edition) 400 pages Disclaimer: This review is based on publicly available bibliographic data and the hardcover book of the month club edition.   Overview Yesteryear follows Natalie Heller Mills, a traditional American woman who built a massive social media following by selling a pastoral, perfected version of farm life—raw milk, farm-fresh eggs, and an idealized maternal ideal. When she awakens in 1805 Idaho, the comforts of modernity vanish and she is confronted with a stark, brutal reality: dirt, manual labor, and a husband whose persona shifts from protective patriarch to capable frontiersman. The novel blends elements of historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and time travel, exploring themes of fame, faith, gender performance, and the performative nature of womanhood. Burke’s debut pulls readers into Natalie’s disoriented, sometimes darkly comic, odyssey as she attempts to discern whether her reality is a hoax, a test, or somethi...

  Book Review:   The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives   by Elizabeth Arnott Rating:   ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5 stars) Disclaimer:   I was provided an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. This provision has in no way affected the content, objectivity, or critical analysis of this review. Publication and Context Title:   The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives Author:   Elizabeth Arnott Edition:   First Edition Publication Date:   March 3, 2026 Page Count:   320 pages Format:   Hardcover Genre:   Historical Fiction / Thriller / Mystery Target Audience:   Adult readers of literary thrillers, psychological suspense, and character-driven historical fiction. Contextual Backdrop and Authorial Heritage: Arriving in the cultural milieu of early 2026,   The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives   capitalizes on a societal fascination with true crime while sharply pivoting the lens away from the perpe...