Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Hello friends, happy Wednesday! I hope you are making the most of this first unofficial start of summer. I have yet another book for you from our friends at NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. I actually recently finished another book from the same author, so I was very excited to get another book from Julie Murphy. This one is Vera Stein Is Fine, and it comes out on July 21, 2026, making this a perfect summer beach read.

So friends, we first meet the lead of this book, Vera, when she is at The Ivy with Ruby. Ruby is Vera’s grandmother, but god forbid she calls her grandma. They are mourning the death of Vera’s mother, and Ruby is celebrating selling her house and her plan to move into the retirement community of Starlight Palms, the same house that she has been pouring her money into to keep running. But now, without her mom and with Ruby moving on, Vera needs to rethink things. The next thing we know, she is back at work for her boss, her friend with benefits, Brody. Only, while managing his email, she comes across an email where he is going to get rid of her. She immediately writes a resignation letter and temporarily moves in with Ruby. That is, until she is caught and needs to find other accommodations along with a new job.

Then we meet a few of the members of Starlight Palms. I will not go into much detail about them, but this cast of side characters is going to make you fall in love with them through the course of the novel.

And then there is Elias, a doctor who works at Starlight Palms and just so happens to be Vera’s ex-husband. They got married in a quicky Vegas wedding on a dare and got it annulled shortly after. Only Elias had been pining for Vera without her knowledge, even though she was on again, off again with Brody. They went their own ways afterwards, but now that they are in the same place, Elias cannot help but help out Vera in any way he can, including moving her in with him and helping her along the way.

I just loved the dynamics between Vera and the cast of characters. Not only Elias, but Ruby and the residents of Starlight Palms, where she is the activities coordinator. I also loved that Vera is not your standard heroine. She is a plus-sized woman in her 40s, with baggage, who is trying to get through a rough time in her life. She is extremely relatable.

I highly recommend picking up this book. I received the e-book version, but you better believe I will be picking up the audio version when it releases because Elias is being voiced by none other than Teddy Hamilton.

So my friends, pick this one up for your summer reading. You will not be disappointed. Until then, friends, what books are on your summer reading list so far?