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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Meagan recommends: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo What it’s about: Desi Lee is the class president, a varsity soccer star, and a straight A student; succeeding at everything in high school―everything except love. No matter what Desi does, she just can’t seem to function properly in the presence of a cute boy. That is, until she starts taking some cues from the heroines in her father’s favorite televised Korean dramas. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo is a charming novel full of romantic shenanigans and an adorable father-daughter relationship. It touches on friendships, the grueling stress of getting into college, and grief while merrily following the tropes of popular K-dramas. For fans of: Korean dramas: Heirs, Secret Garden, and Boys Over Flowers as well as novels like To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Sample of chapters: Doggedly Pursue Your Dream, No Matter the Cost to Your Well-being; Be Caught in an Obviously Lopsided Love Triangle; Find Out the Guy’s Big Secret, Preferably Through Excruciatingly Repetitive Flashbacks.
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Christine recommends: The Kiss Quotient by Helen HoangWhat it’s about: Stella’s a star at work, but her parents are starting to pressure her to get married. Because she’s on the autism spectrum, she finds relationships to be daunting. So she hires a male escort to help her practice romance and sex, and she falls in love with him. Why you should read it: This book has had a lot of buzz this summer. It’s a fun, steamy romance in which two people who might never have met otherwise discover how much they have in common. The author discovered she herself was on the autism spectrum after her daughter was diagnosed.
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Astrid recommends: Hotel Silence by Auður A. Ólafsdóttir What it’s about: Jonas Ebeneser, divorced and recently told he is not the biological father of his adult daughter, decides to end it all with a rope and a hook attached to his living room ceiling. After careful consideration, because he's a thoughtful man, he decides that he does not want his daughter to be the one to find him. Instead, he resolves to go “on vacation,” check into a hotel in some war-torn land far away, and do the deed there. After his arrival at said hotel, however, things don’t go quite as planned. Reviewers say: “An engaging and surprising tale of transformation, told in almost allegorical form, perfect for fans of second chances and evolving perspectives” ( Kirkus). “Witty, soulful, lighthearted, and tender, this charming and immersive new work from the award-winning author of Butterflies in November is a great choice for book discussion groups" ( Library Journal).
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Laura recommends: The Dime by Kathleen Kent Introducing: Tough gal narcotics Detective Betty Rhyzyk, recently transplanted from the Big Apple to the Big D, where all the civilians are packing, the Mexican drug cartels battle Civil War reenactors, and local meth cookers quote the Old Testament. Betty has to make a place for herself in a squad room filled with Texas good ol’ boys who aren’t quite ready to welcome a tall red-headed New York Polish lesbian to their network. What it’s about: When the takedown of a major drug dealer goes horribly wrong, the case is turned over to homicide, but Betty and her team continue to work the case on the sly despite the increasing body count. Meanwhile, a stalker threatens Betty and her girlfriend Jackie at home, furtively entering their apartment and leaving menacing souvenirs. Why you might like it: This gritty police procedural is packed with tension and sparked by biting humor and whiplash plot shifts. Betty’s back story is fully developed—her cop family, including her mentor Uncle Benny, her realistic relationship with Jackie, and her developing camaraderie with her squad mates.
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Stacey recommends: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson What it’s about: This quiet, introspective novel is told through letters between an English farm wife and a Danish museum curator, who find over time that they are kindred spirits. Connecting initially over a shared interest in a prehistoric man, their letters become more personal and philosophical as they share details about their relationships, the challenges of being a parent to adult children, and their greatest losses. Why you might like it: If you like gentle stories that give insight into characters’ emotional lives, this epistolary novel is for you.
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Misty recommends: Upside: The New Science of Post-traumatic Growth by Jim Rendon What it’s about: This book provided an enormous awareness into the struggles of trauma and the rewards of living through them. The stories, the research, and the courage illustrated in this book are all well thought-out for a read that is appropriate for any audience. Key insight: I really appreciated the immense range of emotions that this book covered and now understand my own journey of surviving survival.
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Lee recommends: Ten Million Aliens: A Journey Through the Entire Animal Kingdom by Simon Barnes What it is: A humorous look at the extraordinary variety of life on earth. From coral to elephants to peacocks to beetles, Barnes finds a way to surprise the reader. Even the slugs are interesting! Want a taste? The secretary bird is a bird of prey that hunts on foot, stalking about the open plains of Africa apparently with its hands behind its back, in the same terribly interested fashion of Prince Philip reviewing the troops. Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a painless way to learn more about the creatures with whom we share a world.
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Roseanne recommends: Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff by Chip Gaines About the author: Chip Gaines and his wife, Joanna Gaines, are co-founders and co-owners of Magnolia Homes, Magnolia Market, and Magnolia Realty in Waco, Texas. What’s it about: It offers readers an inside look at how Chip Gaines, through crazy antics and his willingness to take that first step, became a successful business man and entrepreneur.
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What it’s about: Published following the controversial termination of his position as the head of the FBI, Comey’s memoir recounts his entire career in law enforcement, from his early days in law to his experience in government positions across three administrations: Bush, Obama, and Trump. Comey’s central theme is his commitment to truth and resistance to bullying, which he traces from experiences he had as a young man. While Comey focuses mainly on his career, he does offer some personal anecdotes, and reveals how he felt about various controversies that he faced throughout his career, such as the investigation of Hilary Clinton’s emails, and his (in)famous claims about Donald Trump demanding his personal loyalty. Why you might like it: This memoir will give readers insight into the workings of the FBI and the government from what comes across as a measured, fair perspective. Additionally, if you like audiobooks read by the author, I would recommend Comey’s narration.
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