Good Reads & Views

Billy Summers by Stephen King
Fiction

What it's about: In this (non-horror) noir thriller, Veteran Billy Summers is an assassin-for-hire who will only take jobs where he kills really bad guys. Now he wants to retire, right after completing one last job. As is usually the case, things don’t go quite as planned and he ends up going after the people who stiffed him on his last job. They should have known better…

Reviewers say: "This is another outstanding outing from a writer who consistently delivers more than his readers expect" (Publishers Weekly); “Murder most foul and mayhem most entertaining. Another worthy page-turner from a protean master” (Kirkus Reviews).

Want a taste? " He has no problem with bad people paying to have other bad people killed. He basically sees himself as a garbageman with a gun.” “God doesn’t have a plan, He throws pickup sticks."

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Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick 
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: While many of us know a thing or two about Elvis, this immersive biography is a meticulously researched and compelling look at his young life that reveals the vulnerability—and eventual triumph—of his early years. In 560 pages that fly by, Guralnick gives us the young Elvis Presley in vivid technicolor.  

Why you might like it: For rock & roll enthusiasts, this book is a treat: it’s the first of two volumes considered the definitive biography of Elvis. Readers who love biographies will appreciate the in-depth research combined with sparkling writing about larger-than-life personalities against a lovingly depicted backdrop of 1950s America. 

Reviewers say: “A serious, musically literate, and historically attuned biography. An American epic that belongs on every bookshelf” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
Fiction

What it’s about: The story begins in Wisconsin during the winter of 1919. Young mom Mathilda is found dead in a lake, leaving behind her husband, young daughter Ruth, and sister. What enfolds is an exploration into the depths of secrets between family members and how it impacts them all.  

Why you might like it: A fast-paced psychological thriller that has readers going back and forth between viewpoints and time. If I say anymore, I would be giving it away so instead I will say, READ THIS BOOK! 

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A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert
Fiction

What it’s about: After a disastrous end to her last romance, librarian Amy Webber fled to her aunt’s home in Taylorsford, VA, and took a job as the library director. When handsome professional dancer Richard Muir shows up at the library, wanting to research his late uncle Paul’s history, Amy tells herself it’s just the research that she finds interesting. They go to the archives where they find dementia patient Doris Virts shot dead. Though deeply shaken, Amy and Richard decide to dig into the town’s history, where they find the tragic story of Eleanora Cooper, accused of murdering her husband. Eleanora was acquitted, but disappeared without a trace. Richard says his uncle Paul was in love with Eleanora, and he wants Amy to help clear her name. Amy digs deeper into both present and past mysteries, and soon finds that someone wants her to leave both alone.

Reviewers say: “This debut mystery and series launch by a former librarian is an intriguing cozy that combines historical tidbits, a taste of the supernatural, a budding romance, and humor” (Library Journal); “Gilbert's series kickoff offers an intricate mystery, an interesting look at the past, and a clever and determined heroine” (Kirkus Reviews).

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The House of Dragon Blood by B.C. Fajohn
Fiction

What it’s about: This is an epic tale with high fantasy. I enjoyed seeing the different facets of the various lands and characters and how they view and interact with magic as well as non-humans. There was a lot of secrecy and hidden truths in this book as well! I loved every part of it!

Why you might like it: It is an adventure of fantasy, mystery, and magical combat.

You might also like: Fire and Blood by George R. R. Martin

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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Fiction

Read this if you like: Dungeons and dragons, found family, self-reinvention, good coffee and tasty snacks, and slow burn romance.

What it’s about: Viv has had enough of battles, blood, and bounty hunting—she’s ready to hang up her sword—literally. She sets out to fulfill her private dream to own a coffeehouse…problem is, no one in her new town has heard of coffee. But she has a secret, strange talisman that might bring the luck she needs to succeed, if only she can avoid the menacing adversary that threatens her burgeoning success and new-found circle of friends. A charming and heartwarming slice-of-life fantasy.

You might also like: For more cozy fantasy about found family and discovering romance, try The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

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Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron
Nonfiction

About the Author: Delia Ephron is a bestselling author, screenwriter, essayist, and playwright. Her novels include Siracusa, The Lion Is In, and her movie credits include You’ve Got Mail and Hanging Up. Her play, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, written with her sister Nora Ephron, ran for two years off Broadway.

Reviewers say: “Ephron’s memoir is a heart-wrenching tale of second chances at life and love” (TIME Magazine).

You might also like: Sister Mother Husband Dog by Delia Ephron or The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron

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Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Fiction

What it’s about: Frank Drum looks back on the summer of 1961, when he was twelve. Events during this fateful summer greatly affected his family and other denizens of the small community of New Bremen, Minnesota.

Reviewers say: “The small-town milieu is rendered in picturesque detail, accurate down to period-appropriate TV programs, for what becomes a resonant tale of fury, guilt, and redemption” (Publishers Weekly); “A novel that transforms narrator and reader alike” (Kirkus Review)

Good to know: This coming-of-age novel is also excellent on audio. For more from this award-winning author, try his Cork O’Connor mystery series, which is highly recommended.

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Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
Fiction

What it’s about: An author living a comfortable, happy life receives a call from a reporter who discovered that she was the source of mass hysteria in her small town 20 years ago, when she and a friend posted hundreds of copies of their mysterious art poster around town.

Why you might like it: This engaging first-person story relives teen angst and the joy of artistic creation—and what happens when artwork takes on a life of its own and wreaks havoc.

Reviewers say: “Wilson has developed a story that is a precise capture of adolescence and of two vibrant teens whose everyday dilemmas, weaknesses, and triumphs are utterly endearing” (Booklist).

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The Layover by Lacie Waldon
Fiction 

What it’s about: Ava Green has been a flight attendant for the past 10 years. Recently engaged, her fiancé is set on her quitting her job and living a more settled life. On her last flight, bad boy flight attendant Jack Stone is on the crew and trouble ensues. The airplane is grounded in Belize and the crew is taken to a resort to stay until the plane is fixed. Ava can’t seem to escape Jack and her personal life starts to unravel. Will Ava finally hang up her wings and settle down with her fiancé, or will she continue to explore the world and float from place to place? 

Why you might like it: This is a debut novel that shows the behind the scenes of being a flight attendant. If you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope with a will they, won’t they plot, this is a light and easy read.  

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Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn
Fiction

What it’s about: Daisy Dalrymple, though the daughter of a Viscount, has taken a position as a writer for a magazine, quite a step in the 1920s. Daisy is sent to write about the history and family of Wentwater Court. She joins a group of guests including the cold, suave, “absolute cad” Lord Stephen Astwick. When his body turns up in the frozen lake, at first it is thought he fell through the ice by accident. Daisy takes photos of the scene, however, and when handsome Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Alec Fletcher arrives, he uses the photos to determine that it was murder.

Why you might like it: If you like classic cozy mysteries, you’ll find this spritely mystery is a delight to read. Daisy is a sympathetic character whom people want to confide in, even the Chief Inspector!

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Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
Fiction

What it’s about: Witty, tender, and highly entertaining—like the nightclubs she writes about—Atkinson’s literary novels meet her crime series in this historical romp about the bright young people of 1920s London and the criminal world that regales them. This cat-and-mouse tale features a lively cast of characters who mingle on multiple levels: the infamous and decidedly crooked nightclub owner Nellie Coker and her six children; John Frobisher, the new police detective who is determined to bring Nellie down; Gwendolen Kelling, a librarian and former battlefield nurse who agrees to go undercover for Frobisher; and Freda and Florence, two young runaways with dreams of being on the stage. When the young girls disappear without a trace, Gwendolen risks her undercover job working in one of Nellie’s nightclubs to track them down before they end up in the river like many other missing girls. A triumphant celebration of Jazz Age London.

Critics say: “If Dickens had lived to write about The Jazz Age, he would have produced a novel much like “Shrines of Gaiety” (The Washington Post); “There is the perfect balance throughout of sweetness and heartbreak ... And, as always, there is the unmistakable zest of Ms. Atkinson’s dry wit” (Anna Mundow, Wall Street Journal).

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An Act of Love by Nancy Thayer
Fiction

What it’s about: An Act of Love is about a step-family in crisis. The novel concerns a mother and her daughter and a father and his son. The parents believe they have done a good job raising their children until their daughter ends up in a psychiatric ward. This is a sort of mystery. Neither the characters nor the reader knows what has really happened. The children are pitted against each other testing the loyalties of the parents, threatening the foundations of the family.

Is it for you? If you enjoy stories about blended families and how they endure trials and still hold onto love, you should read this book.

You might also like: Once Upon a Time, There Was You by Elizabeth Berg

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Now That You Mention It by Kristan Higgins
Fiction

About the Author: Kristan Higgins is the New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty novels. She is the mother of two and she enjoys gardening. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, a dog, and a cat.

Reviewers say: “New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins welcomes you home in a funny, emotionally charged must-read novel about the complications of life, love and family” (Amazon).

You might also like: Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center or Family Tree by Susan Wiggs

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Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
Fiction

What it’s about: In this sparkling fairy-tale-come-true, Vivian joins her daughter, a stylist for the British royal family, at the royal estate for the holidays—where she meets the man of her dreams.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy stories of finding love in mid-life, this witty tale of unexpected joy will delight you. Also, if you look for light and happy books set during the holiday season—or if you’re a royal watcher—this is a great choice.

Series alert: While this book is the fourth in the Wedding Dates series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. But if you’d like to read them all (and who wouldn’t?) you can start with the first book, The Wedding Date.

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The Ludwig Conspiracy by Oliver Pötzsch
Fiction

What it's about: A rare books dealer and an art detective are forced to go on the run when they start investigating a diary, written in code, about Ludwig, the fairytale king of Bavaria, who was declared insane, disposed, and found dead the next day.

Reviewers say: "While readers will find broad parallels with Dan Brown's thrillers, Pötzsch's sophisticated plotting and good use of a real-life historical puzzle place this far ahead of most Da Vinci Code wannabes" (Publishers Weekly).

Good to know: This is very enjoyable on audio, read by the excellent Simon Vance, British accent included. Available from hoopla.

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Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Fiction 

What it's about: Two college friends (who used to date) get tangled up in the lives of a married couple. The wife, Melissa, is an artist, and husband Nick is an actor. Both seem to gravitate towards Frances (the narrator) and Bobbi, two women who perform spoken word poetry in Dublin. Soon bonds are formed and secrets are kept. Lovers of book to screen adaptions, this is for you. Now a 12-episode TV show on Hulu. All episodes are out and available to stream.  

An aside: If you’ve never read Sally Rooney, she is known for writing in the third person and doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue. The words that Rooney chooses are deliberate and not wasted. Her characters are flawed and are relatable to millennials.  

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Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Fiction 

What it’s about:  Flapper Phryne Fisher agrees to go from 1920s England to Melbourne, Australia, to investigate a suspected wife-poisoning. While there she becomes enmeshed in uncovering the “king of snow” who has taken over the local cocaine trade and an illegal, butcher-like abortionist. Phryne takes it all in stride, gathering an entourage of human rescue cases as she breezes along. 

Why you might like it: If you like your cozy mysteries mixed with strong local color and some tasteful but erotic scenes, give the Hon. Phryne Fisher’s first mystery a try. 

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Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
Fiction

What it’s about: A medical school dropout, Emma was born with the healing touch, but lost it while working in a nursing home. Feeling adrift, Emma returns to her small hometown to find herself and help her family. Emma's parents are on the verge of divorce, her father Clive is ill and haunted by a charming ghost, her brother Auggie is recovering from addiction, her mother Ingrid feels betrayed and disappointed, and her friend Crystal is an opioid addict and has gone missing. Emma eventually takes a substitute teaching job for a classroom of complicated, charming children, and spends her spare time aiding her father’s search for Crystal. Despite the difficult circumstances, this lovely story about coming to terms with loss and finding one's way in the world is hopeful, joyous, and witty.

Why you might like it: This tender and quirky tale is narrated by a chorus of the town's dead, who have an active interest in, and serve as a cheering section for, the living residents of this small town. Clive’s illness and his interest in the town history result in charming stories about a menagerie of historical, imagined, and real animals. Harnett’s second novel is a big-hearted, magical tale, layered with warmth and generosity.

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A Week at the Shore by Barbara Delinsky
Fiction

What it’s about: Encouraged by her daughter and feeling the need to reconnect with her father, Mallory returns home after 20 years. A captivating story about family secrets and how complex and difficult they can be. It also touches on how life can be when you have a parent that has dementia. The stress it puts on caregivers and family.

Why you might like it: This book is about brokenness, family trials, heartache, love and forgiveness.

You might also like: Everything We Didn’t Say by Nicole Baart

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Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing is Matthew Perry’s memoir about his addiction, his illness, and his paralyzing loneliness. He takes us through his “hell” but doesn’t wallow. Ultimately, this book is filled with hope for the future.  

Reviewers say:  “The beloved star of Friends takes us behind the scenes of the hit sitcom and his struggles with addiction in this ‘candid, darkly funny...poignant' memoir” (The New York Times).

You might also like: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey or Will by Will Smith

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Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King
Fiction 

What it’s about: While obsessively investigating a 1970s serial killer case, a current-day cold case police detective learns of a body found at a former commune—and goes down the rabbit hole of investigating the possible connections. The story of the 2020s murder investigation interweaves with the 1970s story of the grand estate that became a haven for flower children. 

Why you might like it: Atmospheric and suspenseful, this novel is brimming with complex characters, red herrings, and some significant moral conundrums.  

Reviewers say: “King skillfully misdirects the reader as the action builds to a surprising resolution” (Publishers Weekly).  

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21 Lessons for the 21^st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Nonfiction

What it’s about: The author’s bestsellers Sapiens and Homo Deus dealt with the past and the future of humanity, whereas this book concerns itself with the present and immediate future. Great on audio.

Reviewers say: “Harari delivers yet another tour de force” (Kirkus); “This well-informed and searching book is one to be savored and widely discussed” (Publishers Weekly); “Highly recommended for general readers and academics alike” (Library Journal).

Some quotes: “Humans were always far better at inventing tools than using them wisely”; “We should never underestimate human stupidity. Both on the personal and on the collective level, humans are prone to engage in self-destructive activities”; “So the best advice I could give a fifteen-year-old stuck in an outdated school somewhere in Mexico, India or Alabama is: don’t rely on the adults too much. Most of them mean well, but they just don’t understand the world.”

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The Friend Zone (#1) by Abby Jimenez 
Fiction

What it’s about: Kristen Petersen is in a long-distance relationship with a military man. Knowing she can’t have children, Kristen refuses to fall for someone who wants children. Everything is going fine for Kristen, that is, until she meets Josh, a firefighter. Josh and Kristen instantly butt heads but continue to be drawn towards each other. If you enjoy the enemies to lovers’ trope, then pick this up. CONTENT WARNING: This book deals with health issues and death.   

Series alert: This is the first book of a three-book series. Each book follows a new pair and their journey to find love.  

Reviewers say: “Harnessing sass, heartfelt struggle, and unapologetic sexuality, Jimenez's debut is as hysterical as it is tear-jerking” (Publisher’s Weekly Review).  

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Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini 
Fiction

What it’s about:  To help the Allies fight World War One, General Pershing calls for telephone switchboard operators to enlist in the Army Signal Corps. We follow Grace, Marie and Valerie, each with their own motivations for joining the Signal Corps, from training in the US, overseas to war-torn France. The male soldiers they replaced had needed one minute to connect each call. The switchboard soldiers could do it in ten seconds. The danger they face is real and leaves little time for private life, but each young woman has a brush with romance along the way. 

Reviewers say: “So much new information is packed into this story that becomes the best kind of history lesson" (Library Journal); “Chiaverini's story will strike a chord with history buffs . . . An eye-opening and detailed novel about remarkable female soldiers” (Kirkus). 

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The Trees by Percival Everett
Fiction

For readers who enjoy: Jordan Peele’s films, Southern noir with an uncanny twist, dry humor, and spare prose.

What’s it about: Ed and Jim, Special Detectives ("that’s not just because we’re Black”) are called to the scene of a gruesome double murder in Money, Mississippi—two men are found horribly mutilated—one, a white man with a racist past, and across the room, a young Black man who bears a startling resemblance to Emmett Till. Then the body of the Black victim disappears, and reappears at a second murder scene, with a second white victim. The detectives soon learn that eerily similar murders are occurring all over the country. Short chapters, quick scene changes, and humor—punchlines, slapstick gags, and wordplay—move the action along. This satirical revenge novel is deeply tinged with horror and haunted by history.

Book buzz: Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, the nominating committee calls The Trees “an irresistible page-turner, hurtling headlong with swagger, humour, relish and rage.”

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This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel
Fiction

What it’s about: This book follows a couple of shifting points of view. Natalie is a young professional who receives an email telling her that if she doesn’t tell her sister the truth, the unknown sender will. Her sister went away to a retreat where she’s been cut off from everyone and everything for six months and Natalie has no way to reach her without following the instructions sent by the person behind the email. In alternating POVs you begin to follow the life of an unnamed young woman with a controlling, abusive father, and a troublesome family dynamic. She’s forced to confront her fears and anything else her father wants her to do.

Is it for you? If you like books about intriguing cultish behavior, sibling dynamics and secrets, and questionable decision-making you should read this.

You might also like: Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

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Things you save in a fire by Katherine Center
Fiction

About the author:  She’s the New York Times bestselling author of over half a dozen books, including How to Walk Away and What You Wish For. The movie adaptation of Katherine’s novel The Lost Husband hit #1 on Netflix, and her novel Happiness for Beginners is in production now as a Netflix original.  Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two kids, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.

Reviewers say: "A story about survival that is heartbreakingly honest and wryly funny, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Elizabeth Berg" (Kirkus).

You might also like:  First Comes Love by Emily Giffin or Evvie Drake Starts Over by by Linda Holmes  

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Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman
Nonfiction  

What it’s about: It’s time to face the fact that we’ll never complete our to-do lists, and we’re making ourselves miserable thinking otherwise. (Is anyone else as freaked out by this idea as I am?) That’s the premise of this wide-ranging self-improvement book, which suggests that we acknowledge the limited amount of time we have on Earth—so we can then focus on what matters most to us.  

Why you should read it: Whether you love or dislike time management books, Four Thousand Weeks proposes a thought-provoking way of looking at how we spend our time. For those of us who like nothing better than a good life hack, this book challenges us to focus on the big picture before optimizing the small details.  

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The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves
Fiction

What’s it about: For fifty years a group of friends has met for reunions on the island where they all originally met during a school retreat. This time, one of them ends up hanged and DI Vera Stanhope and her team must find out what led up to the murder. Are secrets from the past to blame or are the motives for the murder of a more recent variety?

Reviewers say: "Cleeves crafts a clever central puzzle, then confers remarkable emotional complexity using her keenly drawn characters' advancing age, wistful nostalgia, and thorny shared history. A pinwheeling third-person narrative drives the pace, while Vera's candor tempers the plot's darker elements. Fair-play mystery fans will delight.” (Publishers Weekly).

Good to know:  The great Brenda Blethyn portrays the cantankerous but brilliant detective in a series of TV movies, available on dvd.

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Fiction 

What it’s about: For a totally madcap read, Dial A for Aunties! Meddelin Chan is a daughter and niece of an Indonesian-Chinese family and the photographer for the family business: planning weddings. She loves her aunties and mother even though they drive her crazy. They want to see Meddelin married and set her up online, but the guy tries to date rape her. In defending herself, she kills him! That’s when the aunties step in – they don’t call the police, they just hide the body in a cooler. Trouble is, they have a big wedding to cater to, and the corpse takes on a life of its own. 

Reviewers say: “Readers will die for the delightfully absurd hijinks in this dark comedy” (Kirkus); “Dial A for Aunties, indeed, as they navigate a high-profile wedding with a corpse in tow. Sound preposterous? Perhaps, but you'll be glad you went along for the yacht ride” (Booklist). 

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The Bromance Book Club (#1) by Lyssa Kay Adams
Fiction 

Why this book: Besides the amazing title, this book explores the falling apart of a relationship and what it takes to put it back together. Gavin Scott is a baseball player in Nashville, TN. He is married to his college sweetheart and has two kids. Life is great until Gavin discovers a secret that his wife has been keeping from him. To win his wife back, Gavin joins the Bromance Book Club made up of other elite Nashville men. Will the Bromance Book Club help Gavin overcome his relationship hang-ups and save his marriage? 

Series Alert: There are five books already published in this series with more to come. Each book centers around one guy from the Bromance Book Club but also deals with a different subgenre of the romance genre.  

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Fiction

Read this if you like: Reuniting estranged siblings, family secrets, murder mysteries, and expert storytelling. 

What it’s about: Ocean scientist Byron and his sister Benny, a creative but lost soul, reluctantly reunite after their mother Eleanor’s death. She has left them an audio recording and a Caribbean black cake in the freezer, with instructions to listen to the recording together, and to “share the cake when the time is right. You’ll know when.”  Puzzled, confused, and grieving, they listen to their mother’s story—where she almost immediately reveals a deep secret, and then begins a tale of a young island woman, accused of murder, who escapes into the sea. This delectable family saga is told in tasty bites that change perspective and timelines. It is a rich and flavorful read, made with ingredients carefully chosen and mixed with care, like the black cake made by Eleanor. 

Book buzz: A Hulu TV series of Black Cake is in development by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. 

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A List of Cages by Robin Roe
YA Fiction 

What it’s about: Robin Roe did a fantastic job of writing a heart-wrenching yet charming novel centered around the friendship between two teen boys. Adam is a senior in high school who is well known by many of the students and teachers. Julian is a freshman at the same school who deals with constant bullying. The story is beautifully written bringing out such depth of compassion and bravery. That a life changing friendship could come from betrayal and tragedy is a miracle. 

Why you might like it: If you enjoy realistic fiction books with well-developed characters, written from a dual narrative perspective, you’ll love this book. 

You might also like: Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King

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Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
Nonfiction

About the author: “Chelsea Handler is an accomplished stand-up comic and actress, as well as the bestselling author of My Horizontal Life. She was the star of her own late-night show on E!, Chelsea Lately; was one of the stars of Girls Behaving Badly; has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with David Letterman; and has starred in her own half-hour Comedy Central special. Chelsea makes regular appearances in comedy clubs across America and lives in Los Angeles” (Amazon).

Reviewers say: "Ms. Handler's style is a friendlier, more workaday version of the haughty self-abasement practiced by Sarah Silverman, leavened by the everywoman spirit of Kathy Griffin... She seems like a cruel queen bee from an expensive college: There's something suspiciously sophisticated about how her jokes line up that suggests the moral austerity of a comic not of [Joan] Rivers's bad-girl school: Tina Fey" (New York Times).

You might also like: Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline or Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler.

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Marked Man by Archer Mayor
Fiction

What happens: A medical student working on a body that was donated to science discovers that the assumed “natural” death attributed to the cadaver might have actually been murder. Turns out the dead local philanthropist and millionaire wasn’t actually who he pretended to be and Joe Gunther and his team at the Vermont Bureau of Investigation look into the murder and others that follow.

Reviewers say: “it's been clear for quite awhile that Mayor's series--a perfect mix of character, setting, and story--is one of the best American police procedurals going” (Booklist Review); “Mayor matches vivid characters with clever plot twists. This is a perfect jumping-on point for newcomers” (Publishers Weekly).

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Between Heaven and Texas by Marie Bostwick
Fiction

What it’s about: This is a big, folksy story about a Texas ranch family, the joys of quilting, and strong generations of women. Mary Dell and her sister Lydia Dale join forces to become a quilting duo, as they weather and overcome heartache in their personal lives. Their large and often quirky family adds warmth and coziness to a story about marriage, motherhood, and reinventing oneself.  

Why you might like it: If you like heartwarming but realistic family stories, this first-book-in-a-series will pull you into the rhythm of ranch life. It’s also an inspiring story of a woman who finds her own strength and develops her creativity.  

You might also like: Jennifer Chiaverini’s The Quilter’s Apprentice is another warm story of a woman for whom quilting is a refuge. If you like stories of sisters and ranch life, check out The Wilder Sisters by Jo-Ann Mapson. 

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Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins
Fiction

What it’s about: Lillie Silva is steeling herself to send her son and only child off to college when another blow falls: her husband of 20 years wants a divorce so he can “find joy.” Turns out “joy” is living near by with Melissa, a young rich widow who just came to town. Lillie lashes out with pranks like setting a skunk loose in Melissa’s spotless home, but eventually she turns to her network of friends and family who take her side, and she comes out stronger. You’ll feel hopeful for her by the end of this funny, poignant story.

Reviewers say: “A beautifully told blend of grief, hope, and humor that showcases Higgins at her best” (Kirkus); “This will be satisfying for readers who like to see a strong woman thrive during times of trial” (Library Journal).

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The Duchess Deal: Girl Meets Duke by Tessa Dare
Fiction 

Why this book: If you like historical romance and haven’t read a Tessa Dare book, do yourself a favor and read this. Tessa Dare is not only a fabulous writer, but she makes her characters jump off the page. Even though this book takes place in 18^th century England, I found myself relating to the main character Emma a lot. The Duke of Ashbury was scarred during a war and has shut himself off from love and happiness. Realizing he needs an heir, he decides to set up rules to protect himself from getting hurt. Little does he know that the woman he has landed on, Emma, has rules of her own.  

Good to know: This book is amazing on audio. It is read by two narrators, each covering one of the two main characters. This really helps to get into the man and woman’s point of view. Plus, being read to by a British man is always great…that accent! 

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The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith
Fiction 

What it’s about: Indie rock darling Greta James hasn’t been able to make music since she had an onstage meltdown after the sudden death of her mother. She reluctantly agrees to take her mother’s place on an Alaskan cruise with her father, hoping to mend their broken relationship and recover her lost creative drive. She doesn’t expect to connect with the ship’s guest lecturer, but the erudite and charming Ben Wilder might be just the balm she needs. 

Why you might like it: This is a warm and tender examination of parent/child relationships, resolving differences, and coping with grief—all tempered with a little light romance. The writing is thoughtful, and the story is sentimental in a good way and is filled with characters to care about. The descriptions of the Alaskan scenery are vivid. You may not be surprised by the ending, but it is handled with delicacy and grace.  

You might also like: One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes, and Float Plan by Trish Doller 

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You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
YA Fiction

What it’s about: This is a heart wrenching story of teenage drug addiction and its effects on one family. The story of Emory and Joey explains how much you can love an addict and how desperate you are to help but it isn’t enough. The struggle Emory feels in trying to be happy with her life while helping an addict.

Is it for you? This is a story of addiction, but also a story of healing. The book and its rawness display a family’s love for an addict and the battle it can take to get them help. I highly recommend it to anyone struggling with addiction or who has a loved one with addiction.

You might also like: Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

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When Life Gives You Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
Fiction

Series alert: This is the third book in the Devil Wears Prada series. Read The Devil Wears Prada and Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns.

Reviewers say: “With rich people behaving scandalously on every page, this lemon is juicy and delicious… Having a kick-ass girl posse is not only great fun, but essential for survival in this town filled with moms obsessed with SoulCycle, trophy kids, and plastic surgery” (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: The Stylist by Rosie Nixon or According to a Source by Abby Stern.

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Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones 
Fiction 

What it’s about: Set in the midst of the Atlanta child murders, this poignant story is told through three children’s perspectives. While the tone is somber and atmospheric, the fifth graders’ day-to-day lives are at the center of the story—though the terror of children disappearing lurks in the background.  

Why you might like it: If you enjoy stories that build gradually and invite you as the reader to see the connections among various perspectives, this book will be a very satisfying read. The storylines weave together to create a textured narrative.  

Reviewers say: “This strongly grounded tale hums with the rhythms of schoolyard life and proves Jones to be a powerful storyteller” (Publishers Weekly). 

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari 
Nonfiction

What’s it about: In this provocative and thought-provoking tome, Historian Harari (author of the international bestseller Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind) discusses achievements of the civilized world in the areas of disease, famine, and war, and speculates on humanity’s evolutionary goals for the future - immortality, happiness, and divinity.

Reviewers say: "Harari paints with a very broad brush throughout, but he raises stimulating questions about both the past and the future” (Publishers Weekly); “A relentlessly fascinating book” (Kirkus Reviews).

Want a taste?  “Every day millions of people decide to grant their smartphone a bit more control over their lives or try a new and more effective antidepressant drug. In pursuit of health, happiness and power, humans will gradually change first one of their features and then another, and another, until they will no longer be human.”

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Fiction 

What it’s about: A debut novel that will leave you charmed by its characters, plot, and idyllic town of Chawton, located in the United Kingdom. This historical novel is centered around Chawton House, which is where Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life. The world is recovering from WWII and the distant relatives of Jane Austen are unable to keep up with the maintenance of Chawton House. A group of Austen lovers join forces to save Chawton House and restore it to its full grandeur. Chapters are told by alternating characters and readers discover the past of the characters and why they are so invested in Jane Austen and saving Chawton House.  

Why you might like it: Fans of Jane Austen will enjoy reading about her life and how this real-life society helped to preserve Chawton House; if you are interested in reading about the aftereffects of WWII and how it shaped people in the small town; those who enjoy reading romance stories that include “will they/won’t they” get together plots.

Visit Mallory’s My Librarian Page

 

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle by Jennifer Ryan
Fiction

What it’s about: Three very different women, in England during World War II, forge a friendship while repairing a wedding dress. Grace is a clergyman’s daughter who tries to find meaning for herself in serving others. Cressida is a designer of clothes who uses her work to fill the loneliness in her life. Violet is a spoiled upper class young woman who thinks her role in life is to marry a man with a title. As they come together to repair Grace’s mother’s gown for Grace’s wedding, each learns more about herself and what her life could really be.

Reviewers say: “Comforting but still rich with interesting history, this will please fans of cozy WWII fiction” (Booklist); “The pleasurable plot focuses on overcoming adversity through friendship, with plenty of romance” (LibraryReads).

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The Lucky Ones by Liz Lawson
Fiction

What it’s about: The Lucky Ones is the tragic story of a girl who was the only survivor of a school shooting while her brother was killed, and a boy whose life was altered forever once his mother, a defense attorney, took the shooter's case.

Why you might like it: It's a story of mental health and people trying to do the right thing amidst devastating circumstances. It is both a heart wrenching and uplifting read.

You might also like: Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

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Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Fiction

Read this if you like: Masterful writing about broken families, a gutted community, toxic masculinity, innocence lost, and the redemptive power of love.

What it’s about: First love between two 1990s Glasgow boys—one Protestant, the other Catholic—what could go wrong? Mungo and James should be sworn enemies. Mungo’s older brother is the brutal leader of a Protestant gang, his mother is a drunk, and his older sister fills in for his mother as best as she can. Mungo is isolated and lonely, unable to fit in anywhere. James’s mother is dead and his father away working on an oil rig. They meet when Mungo wanders into Catholic territory and stumbles across James’s dovecote, where he raises pigeons. Their friendship grows into intimacy—they have much to share. But when his family finds out about James, Mungo’s mother sends him on a fishing trip into the Scottish wilds with two men she knows from her AA meetings “to make a man of him.” Again, what could go wrong? Suspenseful, gut-wrenching, horrifying, tender and bittersweet, and ultimately hopeful.

You might also like: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, and The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow.

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I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Nonfiction

About the author: “Michelle McNamara (1970-2016) was the author of the website Truecrimediary.com. She earned an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Minnesota, worked as a consultant for "Dateline NBC," and had sold television pilots to ABC and Fox and a screenplay to Paramount. She lived in Los Angeles and is survived by her husband, Patton Oswalt, and their daughter, Alice” (https://www.bookreporter.com/authors/michelle-mcnamara).

Reviewers say: “What makes McNamara’s work so compelling is her empathy and sensitivity toward the people touched by these crimes.... I wish I could read the next 10 books she would have written” (Kate Tuttle, Los Angeles Times).

You might also like: When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain or Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen (Journalist).   

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Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation by Maud Newton
Nonfiction   

What it’s about: In this candid, vulnerable, and engaging mash-up of memoir, genealogical research, science, and sociology, the author investigates her troubling family history. From shocking stories about her parents to disturbing discoveries about her Southern ancestors, Newton faces the unsettling truths about her family. Interspersed with her genealogical quest, she explores genetic research to learn more about nature vs. nurture, and she does some serious soul searching to determine how to respond to her findings.

You might also like: Readers of The Glass Castle will find Newton’s family story similarly compelling. To read another memoir about life-changing genealogical discoveries, pick up Dani Shapiro’s Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love.

Reviewers say: “An engaging and thoroughly researched memoir relaying a family history that is at turns recognizable and abhorrent, as an honest and typical history of American exceptionalism, racism, and misogyny. Will appeal to lovers of memoirs, family secrets, genealogy, and the sociological makeup threading U.S. history” (Library Journal).

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