Good Reads & Views

The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
Nonfiction  

What it’s about: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey will probably always be best known as Pam and Angela from The Office, but in this heartfelt and exuberant memoir, they share the story of their real-life friendship and their love of their work. You’ll hear the true stories of how famous scenes were filmed, as well as humorous and surprising tales of the making of the show.   

Why you might like it: If you enjoy behind-the-scenes memoirs, workplace chronicles, or books about the creative process, this book is for you. It’s also a great narrative of friendship, with the authors telling the story as if they’re sitting in the room with you. Highly recommended on audio! 

You might also like: If you’re a fan of The Office, there are several other great memoirs by cast members and creators, all of which are excellent as audiobooks: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling, The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy by Rainn Wilson, and Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office by Brian Baumgartner and Ben Silverman.  

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Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Fiction

What it’s about: When Sally, a cynical-about-love TV writer for a Saturday Night Live-type show, meets Noah, the pop star who is that week’s special guest, sparks fly… but then sparks die when her sharp remarks extinguish them. But when he sends her a flirty email a couple of years later, a romance begins and she wonders if this might be the real thing.

Why you might like it: Filled with complex characters and sparkling banter, this romantic comedy actually contains comedy. Sally’s wry outlook and wit shine in this funny, romantic, and engaging story. Also, Sally’s workplace provides a fascinating look into the life of a TV writer on a late-night show.

Book buzz: Sittenfeld “consistently proves herself as one of the most readable contemporary novelists. Her books are impossible to put down, and the characters will continue to swim around in readers' minds long after the final chapters”(Library Journal).

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Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
Fiction

What it’s about: After a difficult childhood in foster care and orphanages, Samantha is surprised to learn that a mysterious benefactor has offered to pay for her to attend journalism school—and the only requirement is that she write letters to update him on her progress. In her lively correspondence, she describes her challenging academic work, as well as her friendship with a handsome author.

Why you might like it: If you enjoy character-driven novels, you’ll appreciate the ways Samantha grows stronger over the course of this old-fashioned, modern-day romance. Filled with warm, kind people and set in Chicago, this novel offers smart comfort reading. 

You might also like: Readers of Jane Austen and Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster (available on the Libby app) will enjoy the Austen quotes that fill this novel, as well as the nod to the classic children’s book by Jean Webster.

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I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter 
Nonfiction

What it’s about: Nearly every week, there’s a news story about a decades-old murder that’s been solved using genetic genealogy. Barbara Rae-Venter gives us a suspenseful, behind-the-scenes look into this remarkable crime-solving technique that she helped pioneer.  

Why you might like it: Whether you’re a true crime reader, a science enthusiast, or a genealogy researcher, you’ll find this story riveting. Rae-Venter describes how she blended the knowledge from her biotech career with genealogical research techniques to discover the identity of an unknown relative—which then evolved into using DNA results to identify criminals. While genealogical research isn’t usually considered dramatic, her involvement in cracking the high-profile Golden State Killer and Bear Brook cases will have you turning the pages fast. (She identified the Golden State Killer in only 63 days!) 

Book buzz: “Her chronicle is a solid testament to the evolution of genetic forensic science and how it has made investigators more effective in apprehending criminals, both from cold cases and those in real time. It’s also an examination of corrupted humanity gone haywire and the thrill and release of an abuser being brought to justice” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World by Gretchen Rubin 
Nonfiction 

What it’s about: Have you ever driven home and realized you can’t remember anything about the drive? This engaging book will inspire you to awaken your senses so you see the bright-colored tulips, hear the honking geese, and smell the budding trees. In a lively, conversational tone, Rubin describes her own awakening, which involved experiences such as a sound bath, tasting parties, and the luxury of visiting a museum repeatedly.  

Why you might like it: While some self-improvement books ask a lot of the reader, this book invites you to take small steps to enrich your life through sensory experiences. In other words, it’s easy to do these things. For example, you can really, really pay attention to eating an amazing food, or pause for one minute to pay attention to all the textures around you.

You might also like: Check out Rubin’s The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, which have a similar structure. Also, Melody Warnick’s This Is Where You Belong invites readers to truly appreciate the place where they live.   

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The Removed by Brandon Hobson  
Fiction 

What it’s about: In this somber literary novel, a couple welcomes a foster child who is eerily reminiscent of their son, who died years earlier. While Ray-Ray is gone, his presence is at the center of this story of mourning. The family plans to gather to remember him on the Cherokee National Holiday, but their other son is lost in another realm due to addiction.  

Why you might like it: This haunting novel—touched with magical realism and mysticism—is a great choice for book clubs, as well as for readers who enjoy stories told through multiple viewpoints. The audiobook provides a powerful listening experience, which is recorded by a full cast.  

Book buzz: Recommended by O: the Oprah Magazine, the Washington Post, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, Chicago Review of Books, Parade, and LitHub. 

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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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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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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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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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