Good Reads & Views

Invisible Differences: A Story of Asperger’s, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color by Julie Dachez
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Author Julie Dachez chronicled her experiences having difficulties in social situations and finally being diagnosed as an adult on the autism spectrum. The diagnosis changed her life as she found a community going through some of the same struggles and helped her determine her comfort zone and advocating for herself.

Why you might like it: Dachez wrote that France is behind in recognizing autism, so she had issues with trying to get a diagnosis and then finding help. This is an eye-opening look at autism through the lens of another culture.

You might also like: Other memoirs by people with autism such as The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage… by David Finch. 

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
Fiction

What it’s about: “In this satisfying page-turner from "the queen of beach reads" (New York Magazine), a Nantucket novelist has one final summer to protect her secrets while her loved ones on earth learn to live without their golden girl” (Amazon).

Reviewers say: "In her 25th novel, Hilderbrand gets everything right and leaves her ardent fans hungry for No. 26. Hilderbrand sets the gold standard in escapist fiction" (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: Now that you mention it by Kristan Higgins or The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult.

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Fiction

What it’s about: In this compelling, character-driven novel, family secrets and hidden desires hide just below the surface. Lydia Lee was a gifted high school student from a loving family, and when she died mysteriously, her family was shattered. As the story delves into each family member’s past, you learn of her father’s struggles as the son of Chinese immigrants, her mother’s pain at giving up her career, and Lydia’s own inner conflicts and secret life.

Why you might like it: If you like novels told from multiple perspectives, you’ll appreciate the gradual unfolding of this story as you read different viewpoints. Also, if you prefer a strong sense of place, you’ll enjoy the way Ng carefully constructs the 1970s Midwestern setting.

Reviewers say: “Ng constructs a mesmerizing narrative that shrinks enormous issues of race, prejudice, identity, and gender into the miniaturist dynamics of a single family. A breathtaking triumph..." (Library Journal).

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Fiction

What it’s about: Caroline is taking her 10 year anniversary trip to London alone after finding out her husband has been cheating on her. While out with a tour group in the River Thames, she discovers a glass vial, etched only with the likeness of a bear. After doing some digging at the library, she learns more about the vial and discovers even more about herself.

What sets it apart: This is not only the story of modern-day Caroline. There are 3 narratives happening simultaneously. Caroline, yes, but also Nella, an apothecary shop owner living in 18th-century London, who dispenses poisons to women, looking to harm the oppressive men in their lives. And also Eliza, a 12-year old girl, sent to retrieve poison from Nella. All three of their lives become tangled in this suspenseful tale of revenge.

You might also like: The Necklace by Claire McMillian or The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor.

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page

Suspicious Minds by David Mark
Fiction

What it’s about: Betsy has been diagnosed with BPD and has run away from her abusive boyfriend. When she crashes her car on a country road, a local farmer comes to her rescue and she ends up staying with him to recover. Farmer Jude writes poetry, is mysterious and attentive, but also rumored to have killed his wife. Betsy is very happy with Jude but isn’t quite sure what to think...

Reviewers say: “A chilling entry from a master of the dark psychological thriller--one that's uncharacteristically tempered by hope” (Kirkus Reviews); “Author Mark's way with words is the star here, describing clammy skin as ‘like a wild mushroom at dawn’ and a trophy wife with ‘costly breasts and teeth like sugar cubes.’ Questions abound until the end” (Booklist).

You might also like: Try the author’s The Mausoleum, A Rush of Blood, and Borrowed Time.

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict
Fiction

What happens: The famous mystery novelist Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days in 1926, and she never spoke about that time except to claim amnesia. This novel tells the story of those days from the point of view of her husband Archie, as well as imagines the story of Agatha’s and Archie’s marriage from Agatha’s point of view.  As the story travels back and forth between these two timelines, the reader is forced to ask which narrator is reliable—or if neither is.

Reviewers say: “Mystery lovers, especially fans of Christie's works, as well as those who enjoy period pieces, will find this an engrossing fictional answer to a real historical mystery” (Library Journal); “A compelling portrait of a marriage gone desperately sour” (Kirkus Reviews).

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: The Red Queen tells the story of Margaret Beaufort, heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, a mother at fourteen, and a woman determined that her son would reign as King of England. Margaret is a patient manipulator, working behind the scenes. In the end she conceives one of the great rebellions of her time.

Why you might like it: Author Philippa Gregory is a genius at conveying character. We are able see into their hearts and minds. We see their struggles, the twists and turns that surprise them and us, as the suspense carries us forward.

You might also like: The next book in this series, The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Fiction

Read this if you like: Stories that take you on a wild ride, Ojibwe/Anishinaabe culture, traditions, and language with a sprinkling of French American culture, ice hockey, and fake relationships.

What it’s about: Family tragedies—her uncle’s death by overdose, and her grandmother’s stroke—cause Daunis to halt her plans to go away to college so she can remain at home and care for her fragile mother. After she witnesses a drug-related murder, she is recruited as a confidential informant to the FBI to help investigate the influx of a new drug that is destroying her community. Her undercover work introduces her to the new guy on her brother’s hockey team, who may be hiding something. This multilayered gripping thriller will leave you looking for Boulley’s next book.

Tell me more: Daunis is biracial and uses her knowledge of her Ojibwe heritage to guide her actions and decisions throughout the story. Her special interests in chemistry and traditional plants and their medicinal uses help with the investigation, but also put her in danger as she follows her own leads. The tribal Elders who support and advise Daunis are wonderfully charming and play a key role in the book. Daunis herself is likeable, brave, and resourceful—it’s easy to cheer her on as she takes one risk after another.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Judith Heumann became quadriplegic after contracting polio as a small child. Early experiences of being denied opportunities in education, transportation, and access to other services led her to advocate for all disabled people, including helping to organize a sit-in in a federal office building in San Francisco in support of keeping Section 504, a landmark statement for disability rights in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The sit-in lasted for three weeks and brought together an entire community of people with disabilities to fight for their rights.

Why you might like it: Although I didn’t know about the struggle for Section 504, Heumann did a good job setting out the stakes for people with disabilities and pulling back the curtain on how legislation really gets made. This would be a great read for a new or current politican!

You might also like: Other memoirs such as Shawn Burcaw’s Laughing At My Nightmare or Haben Girma’s book Haben. 

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

 

I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart
Nonfiction

What’s it about: “New York Times bestselling author, superstar comedian, and Hollywood box office star Kevin Hart turns his immense talent to the written word in this “hilarious but also heartfelt” (Elle) memoir on survival, success, and the importance of believing in yourself” (Amazon).

Reviewers say: "Hart is an incredibly magnetic storyteller, on the page as he is onstage, and that’s what shines through…a genial, entertaining guide to a life in comedy”  (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: Born Standing Up by Steve Martin or Fail Until You Don’t: Fight, Grind, Repeat by Bobby Bones

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers by Hannah K. Chapman and Lauren Burke
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Classic women authors take center stage in this inspiring, creative nonfiction graphic novel. Some of the authors are famous (Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Mary Wollstonecraft), while others are less well-known but equally fascinating. Varied in tone—some segments are grimly atmospheric, while others are sprightly—this book zeroes in on the reasons why each woman defied the odds to become a published writer.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy learning the story behind the story, this book is for you. Also, if you like books you can briefly dip into, the episodic nature of this graphic novel will appeal to you.

You might also like: Lauren Burke and Hannah K. Chapman have a podcast called Bonnets at Dawn, in which they further explore the lives and times of classic women authors.

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel by Ruth Hogan
Fiction

What it’s about: Tilly’s childhood was full of mystery, heartbreak, and mysticism. Her father died when she was a child. Her mother had an awful relationship with the bottle, and no one else seemed to be able to see her dog, Eli. Randomly, her mother uprooted their family to live and work with an old friend, Queenie, in her paradise hotel. Tilda, who is now an adult, has major resentment towards her now-dead mother. She finds a chest of her mother’s old diaries, and digs through them trying to figure out why she was suddenly torn from Queenie’s and sent away to boarding school. In the diaries, she learns some hard-truths and uncovers family secrets.

Why you might like it: Hogan’s books are written with dual-narrative. In her two previous books, the narratives are 2 different people whose stories come together by the end. But in “Queenie Malone” the narratives are by the same person, one as a little girl, Tilly, the other as an adult woman, Tilda.

Try this next: The Keeper of Lost Things or The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes, both by Ruth Hogan, available on Hoopla and in-print at the library.

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

If It Bleeds by Stephen King
Fiction                                                                                                   

What it is: Four novellas by the master of horror, never before published.

What you will find inside: A cell phone communicating from beyond the grave, a series of apocalyptic incidents, a Faustian bargain, and Holly Gibney - of King’s Bill Hodges trilogy and The Outsider – facing off against evil in the form of a television newscaster.

Reviewers say: “This excellent collection delivers exactly the kind of bravura storytelling King's readers expect” (Publishers Weekly); “King has gone a far piece from the killer clowns and vampires of old, with his monsters and monstrosities taking on far more quotidian forms--which makes them all the scarier. Vintage King: a pleasure for his many fans and not a bad place to start if you're new to him” (Kirkus Reviews); “This set of novellas is thought-provoking, terrifying, and, at times, outright charming, showcasing King's breadth as a master storyteller” (Booklist).

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

The Gown by Jennifer Robson
Fiction

What it's about: In 1947, two young women, Ann and Miriam, are chosen to make the embroidery on Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown. It is samples of Ann’s embroidery that, in 2016, Ann’s granddaughter Heather inherits. Ann never spoke of her life before emigrating to Canada. Can these exquisite flowers and a few pictures of an elite London fashion house lead Heather to solve the mystery surrounding her Nan?

Reviewers say:  “Robson (Moonlight over Paris) delivers a satisfying multigenerational epic linked by the intricate embroidery used on Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown” (Publisher’s Weekly); “A fascinating glimpse into the world of design, the healing power of art, and the importance of women's friendships” (Kirkus Reviews).

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: The young and beautiful Mary Queen of Scotts encounters many trials and endures great hardships and humiliations at the hand of her cousin Queen Elizabeth of England. Mixed in with this account of the time of Queen Mary's imprisonment under George Talbot’s watchful eye, the Earl of Shrewsbury, there is a tragic romance that gnashes at the very heart of the reader. I recommend this historical fiction novel to anyone who is interested in the uncertain and dramatic times of early England.

Why you might like it: If you like historical fiction than you will LOVE any book by Phillipa Gregory!!

You might also like: The next book in this series, The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page 

Cane River by Lalita Tademy
Fiction

What it’s about: This fictionalized family saga is the story of four generations of an African American family living in an isolated Louisiana community. Told from the perspective of three women as the family moves from slavery to the Jim Crow era to freedom, it chronicles the relationship between blacks and whites, enslaved people and slave owners, and later, between newly freed Blacks and the white people who control law and finances. A fascinating and tenderly depicted tale.

Of special interest: Author Tademy quit a high-powered executive position to research and write about her family. Documents and photographs included in the text verify the stories depicted in the book, but it is her imagination and skilled storytelling that bring the stories to life.

What to try next: If you want to further explore complex family relationships and the effects of prejudice, try Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis is a lyrical and bittersweet saga of a family facing hardships and discrimination.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

Tokyo Love Story: A Manga Memoir of One Woman's Journey in the World's Most Exciting City by Julie Blanchin
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Julie, a Frenchwoman, moved to Japan and spent several years living in different places. It’s an amusing visual guide exploring Japanese food and culture through a French lens. She learns Japanese, makes friends, enjoys going shopping, and even falls in love.

Why you might like it: I especially liked the author’s guide to the 1970s-style apartments she lived in, especially the one with the bath out on the tiny balcony!

You might also like: Tokyo Geek's Guide: Manga, Anime, Gaming, Cosplay, Toys, Idols & More by Gianni Simone.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

 

Summer Breeze by Nancy Thayer
Fiction

Reviewers say: “Nancy Thayer has a deep and masterly understanding of love and friendship, of where the two complement and where they collide” (Elin Hilderbrand).

You might also like: First Comes Love by Emily Giffin or The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand.

What’s it about: Set in the Berkshires on Dragonfly Lake, three women come together to reassess their lives and, in the process, become fast friends. During a summer Natalie, Bella and Morgan struggle to reconcile their desires and dreams with the cards they've been dealt. 

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal about Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power by Deirdre Mask
Nonfiction

What it’s about: With in-depth research and a conversational style, Deirdre Mask takes the reader on a journey through streets and alleys and unnamed places. If, like me, you take street addresses for granted, this book will open your eyes to the reasons and systems that go into naming streets and numbering buildings—for better or worse.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy investigating thought-provoking questions related to everyday things, this informative cultural history will delight you. Mask’s research delves into topics such as what happens when someone doesn’t have an address and how addresses have been used for good and evil.

You might also like: The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt is another fascinating look at infrastructure that we take for granted.

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

And Now I Spill the Family Secrets: An Illustrated Memoir by Margaret Kimball
Nonfiction

What it is: Years of research went into this book, as Margaret Kimball dives into her family history of mental illness by scrounging through old diaries, family videos, and personal notes and photographs. She explores the reasons why families keep secrets, what drives them apart, and what it takes to keep them together.

What sets it apart: Unlike a typical graphic nonfiction book, Kimball illustrates the setting versus the characters. Each page is filled with black-and-white line drawings of entire houses, significant rooms, photographs, stills from home movies, pages of her diary, scrap notes, or maps. It was a really compelling read because we got to know the members of her family without getting a direct representation of them, only their surroundings.

Reviewers say: “An empathetic, uncommonly nuanced, and thoroughly brilliant family saga presented with real daring and true artistry” (Library Journal).

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page

Borrowed Time by David Mark
Fiction

What it’s about: After finding out that he was adopted, Adam Nunn hires a private eye  to help him search for his birth parents. The PI promptly turns up dead in an area that had been used in the 1970s as a dumping ground for mob killings, and Adam becomes the prime suspect. Works as both a police procedural and a work of psychological suspense.

Reviewers say: “Gripping from start to finish” (Booklist); “A wild, brutal, fascinating tale of death, betrayal, and love” (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: Try the author’s Aector McAvoy series, starting with The Dark Winter, or read one of his stand-alone novels like The Mausoleum or A Rush of Blood.

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan
Fiction

What it’s about: Mrs. Braithwaite was raised to believe herself superior to others and emotions are a sign of weakness. When she is divorced by her philandering husband and toppled from her position as head of the Women’s Voluntary Service, she heads to London to find her estranged daughter at the height of the Blitz. With her on the search is Mr. Norris, Betty’s timid landlord, and together they uncover black marketeers, Nazi sympathizers, double agents and – most importantly – truths about themselves.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy novels about World War II or ordinary people doing extraordinary things, this surprisingly cozy story of suspense is for you.

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght
Nonfiction

Why you should read it: For the blend of breathless adventure and riveting observations of landscape, animals, and people. This account of Slaght’s doctoral work studying the elusive Blakiston’s fish owl of eastern Russia is part natural history, part travelogue, and part personal account of meeting human and natural challenges. Lively and clear writing places the reader at the center of the action, whether it is a slapdash snowmobile ride down a river of dangerously thin spring ice, or a solitary night observing an owl for the first time.

What it’s about: The very real difficulties of scientific field study in the most remote locations--challenged by severe weather, limited funding, equipment failure, and rounds of hard drinking by hosts and guests alike while trying to study the world’s largest (and least studied) owl. The Blakiston’s fish owl shares its habitat with the Amur tiger and is equally elusive and in need of conservation.

Here’s a taste: “The nights dragged on; a deep winter stillness perforated by occasional firecracker-like pops: ice expanding in tree cracks as air temperatures plummeted after sunset. The adult female fish owl was like a ghost. We heard her vocalize with her mate almost every night, but she appeared onscreen only once, when she hit our snare but pulled the knot free before we reached her.”

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: I had always thought of Katherine of Aragon as a boring and devout first queen of Henry VIII, not as her own person or as anyone of great accomplishment. I am sure this is not uncommon when compared to the allure of Anne Boleyn’s role played in this court as well. I have a greater admiration for the original and true Queen of England now that I am more aware of the greatness she realized for England and a greater sadness and understanding for the betrayal of the country that she had dedicated her life to and loved.

Why you might like it: If you love stepping into history and discovering people, places, and the inner workings of a royal court, you will love this book. I know it’s historical fiction but it sounded real and wonderfully written.

You might also like: The next book in this series, The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page

The Adoption by Zidrou, Arno Monin, and Jeremy Melloul
Nonfiction

What it’s about: A couple adopts a little orphaned girl named Qinaya from Peru, and the grandparents adjust to the new addition to the family. Readers may think they know where the story is headed, but it takes a few very unexpected turns from there.    

Why you might like it: This is a slice of multi-generational French life with a detour into another culture.    

You might also like: Other books about well-drawn elder characters, including The Round House by Louise Erdrich and The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. 

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline
Fiction

Reviewers say: "A deliciously distracting thriller...Scottoline illuminat[es] the landing strip of revelations and truths in a deliciously slow and intense way" (The Washington Post).

What it’s about:  Maggie Ippolitti loses custody of her daughter Anna as an infant. After 17 years they are reunited, and Anna comes to live with her and her second husband Dr. Noah Alderman and her stepson. Life seems perfect until everything starts to go wrong and after Anna is murdered and her husband is accused, things still aren’t as they seem. 

You might also like:  The Secrets You Keep by Kate White or Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell.

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
Fiction

What it’s about: This creative and complex novel tells the story of Opal and Nev, a (fictional) 1970s musical phenomenon. After revealing early in the book that the group broke up after a horrible violent event, the story jumps back and forth in time to tell what really transpired. The music industry, facing racism, and the creative life all intersect in this engaging story.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy books written in an oral history format—where the story is stitched together from multiple participants who give their view in small snippets—then you’ll appreciate the way the truth is slowly revealed.

Reviewers say: Booklist’s starred review concludes: “A cinematic, stereophonic, and boldly imagined story of race, gender, and agency in art.”

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
Fiction

What it’s about: What if Hillary Rodham didn’t marry Bill Clinton? How would her life have been different? This is a fascinating what-if piece of fiction. It is split into two parts: leading up to and the courtship with Bill Clinton and the aftermath, which includes her rise in the political ranks, almost-infidelity, and Donald Trump.

Why you might like it: You might be put off by this novel for any number of reasons. I do not have a special interest or fascination with politics, but I loved this book. The main focus is on Hilary’s interpersonal relationships with everyone on her team and herself. If you put your own political affiliation aside, this is a story about a woman keeping true to herself to become something really great.

Reviewers say: “Successfully interspersing fact with fiction, Sittenfeld imagines Rodham's personal and professional life without marriage in aching detail in this captivating novel” (Library Journal).

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Fiction

What it’s about: The plot of this simple story is not the point of this beautiful book. The four title characters meet each other and talk about life and love. The simple illustrations add to the spare narration.

Why you might like it: The book is filled with insights told very simply: “’What is the bravest thing you ever said?’ asked the boy. ‘Help,’ said the horse.”  It is also very heartwarming: have tissues on hand.

Readalikes: Children’s books that have adult depth, such as The Little Prince and Winnie-the-Pooh.

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

Grace is Greater by Kyle Idleman
Nonfiction

What it’s about: "Grace is Greater" teaches us that God’s grace cannot be earned, is undeserved, tender and available to all who will accept it. His grace is greater than the shame we feel, our mistakes, and our resentment towards those who have hurt us. God’s grace is greater than our failures and provides strength in times of weakness.

Why you might like it: Regardless of anything you have ever done or anything that has been done to you, when you choose to accept and experience God's grace you will understand that God's grace IS greater, and you will want to share it with others.

You might also like: Grace written by Max Lucado.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page

Hollywood Homicide by Kellye Garrett
Fiction

What it’s about: Dayna’s acting career is over, and she is flat broke. The reward money for information about a hit and run Dayna may have witnessed looks like an easy way to save herself and to help her folks pay their mortgage. But turning private eye is more difficult and dangerous than she expected. Dayna and her friends—self-proclaimed reality star-in-training Sienna and online gamer Emme (identical twin to a bone-fide Hollywood star)—uncover a possible connection to a notorious Tinsel Town crime spree, and then someone tries to kill Dayna.

Why you might like it: This entertaining romp is a fresh take on the bumbling amateur sleuth, and is filled with lively, interesting characters. Smart and sassy, and full of insight about the Hollywood scene, this adventure will have you looking for more about Dayna and her besties.

Try this next: Travellin' Shoes by V. M. Burns, Broken Places by Tracy P. Clark, and The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir In Pictures by Noelle Stevenson 

YA Nonfiction

 

What it’s about: Noelle Stevenson is known as the author of Nimona and of the Lumberjanes comic book series. In this memoir of the years 2011 to 2019, she opens up about her life, her art, exploring her sexuality, and living with mental illness.

 

Why you might like it: In short chapters linked together chronologically, Stevenson explores episodes, raw emotions, and explorations of her mental states, almost like moods that are deeply personal and yet relatable.

 

You might also like: Other graphic memoirs like Almost American Girl by Robin Ha, Tomboy by Liz Prince, and Stitches by David Small. 

 

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis  
Fiction 

Reviewers say: “Davis gives readers a mystery and a historical novel all in one absorbing tale” (Library Journal).

For fans of: Rules of Civility by Amor Towles or The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

About the author: Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Masterpiece. She lives in New York City and is a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Virginia and the Columbia Journalism School.

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Before he ever starred in movies, Matthew McConaughey kept a journal. And lucky for us, he’s continued journaling even during his famous years. This self-improvement / memoir mash-up is entertaining, thoughtful, and inspiring. He tells outrageous stories about his growing-up years, the weird and wonderful tale about being an exchange student in Australia, and the up-and-down (and back-up-again) story of his film career. 

Why you might like it: If you like celebrity memoirs or self-improvement books—and especially if you like both—this book offers stories that will make you laugh, marvel, and think about your own life.

What sets it apart: McConaughey’s creativity and quirkiness infuse every word. My recommendation: listen to this one on audio. He narrates it himself and his intonations boost the humor. This is definitely one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to this year.

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
Fiction

What it’s about: Beth is a child prodigy when it comes to chess. She learns the game from the orphanage janitor, and quickly becomes obsessed. With the aid of little green pills, she is able to mentally play out chess games and memorize openings, midgames, and endgames. When she is lucky enough to get adopted, her and her adoptive mother, Mrs. Wheatley, start to develop Beth’s skills as a player. Those thirty-two game pieces end up bringing her all around the world in this exciting underdog story.

Warning: A working knowledge of chess is key to enjoying this book. It’s helpful to know the names of the pieces, directions on the board, and other chess terms and attacks. If you’re unfamiliar with chess terms, you’re still able to enjoy the story. I give you permission to zone out while the narrator chatters-on about opening the file or gloss over the page while reading about castling queen side.

What’s next? Watch the surprisingly accurate-to-the-book Netflix original series by the same name starring Anya Taylor-Joy.

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page  

Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Nonfiction

What it is: Racial disparities and racism in the United States are skillfully reframed as a classic caste system in this fascinating, well researched history lesson. Pulitzer Prize winner Wilkerson (The Warmth of Other Suns) compares America's caste system with the one that operated in Nazi Germany and the one still operating today in India. 

Want a taste? “Caste is structure. Caste is ranking. Caste is the boundaries that reinforce the fixed assignments based upon what people look like. Caste is a living, breathing entity.”

Reviewers say: "This is a brilliant book, well timed in the face of a pandemic and police brutality that cleave along the lines of a caste system” (Booklist); “A memorable, provocative book that exposes an American history in which few can take pride” (Kirkus Reviews).

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders by Tessa Arlen
Fiction

What it’s about: It’s 1942 and Poppy Redfern, a young woman from the English countryside, is serving as Air Raid Precautions warden for her village. When two other young women are found murdered, suspicion falls on the American pilots based just outside the village, but Poppy’s vivid imagination leads her to think otherwise. Her feelings for one of the pilots, Griff, couldn’t be the reason, could it?

Why you might like it: If you like mysteries set during World War II or plucky heroines, give this one a try.

Reviewers say: "History, suspense, and an appealing heroine combine in a series debut that should attract war buffs and many others" (Kirkus); "Vivid settings and high emotions keep the suspense at fever pitch, but it’s the characters that make Arlen’s series kickoff such a stunner" (Library Journal).

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Fiction

What it’s about: Philippa Gregory has written a plethora of books about the Tudor dynasty based in England in the 1500's. This book is written from the viewpoints of 3 women: Jane Boleyn, whose testimony at her husband's trial led to his beheading (along with Ann Boleyn, his sister). She served as a lady-in-waiting to many queens, who were all wives of Henry VIII; Anne of Cleves, Henry's 4th wife; and Katherine Howard, Henry's very young 5th wife, who was beheaded.

Why you might like it: This is a riveting and gripping novel. Gregory's writing style changes as each woman speaks. It makes the reading experience feel more intimate: you feel as if you know these ladies, and this feeling leads you to care about them.

You might also like: The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is the next book in the Plantagenet and Tudor Book series.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page

Sheet Pan Suppers Meatless by Raquel Pelzel
Nonfiction

Why you should check it out: Those large, rimmed baking sheets can do more than bake a tasty batch of cookies—tossing the right ingredients together on a sheet pan and popping it in a hot oven can result in tasty and healthy meatless meals with the help of this cookbook. Three-time James Beard Award nominee Raquel Pelzel has written recipes for vegetarian and vegan meals, snacks, soups, salads, and more for those short on time and patience. Many recipes suggest variations, and there are tips on techniques, ingredients, and cooking with fewer dirty dishes.

Who’s it for: Busy cooks, anyone looking to spend less time in the kitchen, vegetarians, or anyone trying to ease into cooking with less meat.

Recipes included: Charred Tomatillo Salsa, Roasted Plum Salad with Fresh Grapefruit and Cardamom Syrup, Summer Tomato Slab Pie with Flaky Sage Crust, White Bean Ratatouille Over Roasted Eggplant, and Shaved Zucchini and Minty Pesto Pizza.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

Be Happy : 35 Powerful Methods for Personal Growth and Well-being by Rebecca Ray
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Dr. Rebecca Ray has a wonderful podcast where she talks about ways to pursue the life you want according to what you value. This slim book distills much of the information into 35 areas in which people can change their lives and make them more meaningful.

Why you should read it: Although we go through a lot of our lives on autopilot, we can control the actions we take and change our habits. 

Other books to try: Brené Brown’s books on living authentically would be a great way to expand on the many ideas presented here. Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project would be another good pick. And I highly recommend Ray’s podcast -- she is warm, funny, and makes all of this sound doable.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis
Fiction  

Reviewers say: “With richly drawn characters living in two storied eras, there is much to be enchanted by” (Kirkus Reviews).

You might also like: The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer or The Secret life of Violet Grant by Beatriz Williams

About the Author:  Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including The Dollhouse, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue. She lives in New York City and is a graduate of the College of William & Mary in Virginia and the Columbia Journalism School.

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

Crazy Brave: A Memoir by Joy Harjo
Nonfiction

What it’s about: We know Joy Harjo as the Poet Laureate of the United States. But in this lyrical and poignant memoir, she writes about her early years: the difficulties she faced as a child with an abusive stepfather, the challenges of young marriage and motherhood, and the delight of discovering and developing her creativity. Harjo, a member of the Muskogee Nation, attended the Institute of American Indian Arts—and she writes movingly of the pleasures of the creative life amidst life’s clamor.

Why you might like it: If you appreciate beautiful and expressive writing, stories of strong women overcoming hardships, and poetic memoirs, this book is for you.

You might also like: Like Crazy Brave, Jill Ker Conway’s True North is a memoir about a young woman in an academic setting that provided an expansive place of learning. Also consider reading Just Kids by Patti Smith, another lyrical memoir about creativity.

Visit Stacey’s My Librarian Page

Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
J Fiction

What it’s about: ZJ’s dad is a hero to everyone... except ZJ. You see, ZJ’s dad is an NFL player, a very good one, and everyone looks up to him. But to ZJ, he’s just dad. After a few too many hits, his dad starts to act strangely. He forgets things, has pounding headaches, and becomes irrationally angry. He has to stop playing professionally, and ZJ doesn’t understand why. 

Why you might like it: Jacqueline Woodson is a lyrical mastermind. Her free verse novels flow and stop at the perfect moments. Even though this book is shelved in youth services, adults (especially parents) will feel empathy for ZJ and his family as it is revealed that ZJ’s dad has CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which is a very recently discovered degenerative brain disease caused by too many head injuries. It’s interesting to see this diagnosis through the eyes of a young child, how it affects him and his relationships with his friends. It’s almost gut-wrenching. 

Reviewers say: “Eloquent prose poetry creates a moving narrative that reveals the grief of a child trying to understand why his father has changed and why nothing can be done. An ardent account of the multitudes of losses experienced by those who suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy and its effects on their families, ZJ's doleful tale unveils the intense nostalgia and hope one can feel despite realizing that sometimes what is lost can never be regained” (Publishers Weekly).

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page

The Survivors by Jane Harper
Fiction

What it’s about: Years ago Kieran made a foolish and reckless mistake, the consequences of which still haunt him. Recently returned to his hometown to help his struggling parents, long-held secrets threaten to bubble up when the body of a young woman is found on the beach.

Here’s a taste: “Are they supposed to be happy or sad? I mean, is it a celebration of the people who made it, or a memorial to the ones who didn't?”

Also recommended: Jane Harper’s other novels are The Dry, Force of Nature, and The Lost Man.

Visit Astrid’s My Librarian Page

These Honored Dead: A Lincoln and Speed Mystery by Jonathan F Putnam
Fiction

What it’s about: Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed were close friends in real life, and this book uses their brand-new friendship as the stepping off point for a murder mystery. Speed had been in an affair with widowed shopkeeper Rebecca Harriman, which she ended to protect her reputation. She has taken in her niece and nephew, but comes to regret it when her niece is found stabbed in her barn. Suspicion falls on Lincoln’s first client, Dr. Patterson, and the newly-minted lawyer must use his intellect and homespun manner to absolve the doctor and find the true culprit.

Why you might like it: Lincoln is plausibly drawn in this book, the first of a mystery series, and the issues of the time, like slavery, are well-drawn. People who like a hefty dose of history with their fiction should give this one a try.

Visit Kristin’s My Librarian Page

Private: The Royals by James Patterson with Rees Jones
Fiction

What it’s about: Private is an elite detective agency. When kidnappers threaten to execute a Royal Family member in front of the Queen, Jack Morgan and his team have just 24 hours to stop them. While there are a dozen books before this one, and they do talk about a past case, I believe there is enough information in this book that you could read it alone. 

Why you might like it: It is fast paced with a surprising plot twist.

You might also like: New York, Actually by Sarah Morgan.

Visit Misty’s My Librarian Page

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Fiction

The elevator speech, short version: There is a library between life and death. The books shelved there represent an endless variety of possible lives—each one offers the reader a chance to live a different life.

Wait—what?? Nora Seed is unhappy with her life and decides to end it, but instead of dying she lands in the Midnight Library, where she has the chance to try different versions of her own life—like new books—until she finds a life she truly wants to live. Guided by a thoughtful librarian, Nora makes new choices with each attempt at an alternate life; which decision will lead to her best life? Haig’s playful tone approaches difficult subjects—suicide, mental illness, and the quantum physics that make the Midnight Library theoretically possible—with a gentle hand. An engaging and whimsical story about living a fulfilling life.

You may also enjoy: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, another thoughtful story featuring a character living multiple versions of their own life; and Or What You Will by Jo Walton, starring another protagonist that attempts to re-write their story while hovering between life and death.

Visit Laura’s My Librarian Page

Take A Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
Fiction

What it’s about: PhD student Dani Brown isn’t looking for love, but she does enjoy flirting with Zafir, the security guard for her building at the university. When he sweeps her off her feet and carries her to safety, social media explodes with the photo of them together and the hashtag #DrRugBae. Former rugby player Zaf wants to use the publicity to help his charity, so they become a fake couple for a few weeks in this steamy and funny romance.

Why you should read it: Zafir is adorable, a gruff romantic who pines for Dani. Dani is a strong, confident plus-sized woman who speaks her mind and is respected for her choices. Together they are adorable, and their banter zings.

What to read next: Talia Hibbert’s first book about the Brown sisters, Get A Life, Chloe Brown, or maybe the rom-coms of Alisha Rai.

Visit Christine's My Librarian Page

Forever Wild, Forever Home by Melanie and Mark Shellenbarger
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Today more than 460 rescued animals enjoy peace, comfort, and contentment in enormous habitats on thousands of acres of prairie and canyonlands. This is the story of The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.

Why it's significant: Animals at the sanctuary are rescued from mostly horrific situations and the thousands of people who visit, support, work, and volunteer there know that this is the place where hope begins for all of the animals who end up there. They are survivors.   

About the authors: Melanie and Mark Shellenbarger visited The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado and because of the impact that the place had on them they set out to commemorate its 40-year history by writing this book. Melanie is an architectural historian and retired faculty member of the Department of Architecture at the University of Colorado. Mark is a retired business executive. They live in Denver, CO.

Visit Roseanne’s My Librarian Page

The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe Thorogood
Nonfiction

What it is: This is one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read. Billie Scott lives alone in a one bedroom apartment, and spends her days painting. At long last, she gets accepted into a prestigious art gallery, and must produce 10 original works. She’s ecstatic and celebrates by leaving her apartment. While out, she gets in an altercation with some seedy individuals. Three days later, she goes to the doctor and learns that she will be blind in 2 weeks. That leaves Billie Scott with 2 weeks to produce 10 of the best watercolor portraits she has ever created. So she boards a train heading right into the heart of London with 100 quid, her art supplies, and nary a plan.

What’s inside: Stunning illustrations, a captivating story, and an increasingly interesting cast of characters. Throughout Billie Scott’s journey she takes notes and sketches the people she’s met, their quirky characteristics, and her decline in sight. You’re with her every step of the way as she accepts her prognosis and finishes her portraits.

Reviewers say: “This expansive story of an artist’s journey embraces both the power of art and human connection and showcases a new comics talent” (Publisher’s Weekly, starred review).

Visit Aimee’s My Librarian Page