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Check out our reviews and recommendations:
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Aimee recommends: Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel What it’s about: Rose Gold and her mother, Patty, have a complicated relationship. For the first 18 years of her life, Rose Gold believed she was seriously ill, allergic to everything, wheelchair bound, and practically lived in the hospital. Garnishing sympathy from the town, Patty was given money and sympathy from her community, when, in reality, she was just a really, really, really good manipulator. She serves 5 years in prison. Upon her release, she begs Rose Gold to take her in, give her another chance, and everyone in town is shocked when she says yes. Why you might like it: This novel was a nail biter. It had great pace and really keeps the reader interested. If you like books with surprising twists and a great revenge story, you’ll like this book. Content warning: The mother in the novel suffers from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental illness in which the caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury for the person under their care. While I do not feel the author goes over-the-top, this subject matter may be unsettling or upsetting to some readers.
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Laura recommends: The Night Watchman: A Novel by Louise Erdrich Who it’s for: Readers who enjoy rich historical details, fully fleshed characters, and luminous, vibrant storytelling that’s firmly set in a different time and place. What it’s about: Thomas is a factory night watchman and Council leader who heads a fight against Native dispossession by Congress—an attempt to force his people away from their homes and into the city. Meanwhile, his 19-year-old niece Patrice (Pixie) searches for her older sister Vera, who has disappeared into the dark backstreets of Minneapolis. When Pixie fails at her mission, she joins forces with Thomas to travel to Washington, D.C. to save her family’s way of life. The story behind the story: Much of the narrative is based on the life of Erdrich’s grandfather, a Chippewa Council leader who traveled to Washington to speak against the 1953 Native Termination Act.
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Astrid recommends: Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith What it’s about: Private Investigators Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are looking into the cold case of Dr. Margot Bamborough whose disappearance has some similarities to serial killings committed by Dennis Creed, who is serving a life sentence. Reviewers say: “After wading through a barrel of red herrings, … Galbraith delivers the real killer, the least obvious of the lot, and it's a masterful, perfectly thought-through revelation … skillfully told, with a constantly gleeful interest in human awfulness” (Kirkus Reviews).
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Kristin recommends: The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hart What it's about: Lovers of historical mysteries will enjoy this tale set in 1703 London. Cecily Kay has come to the home of Barnaby Mayne, pre-eminent collector of everything under the sun, to try to identify her collection of plants. While on a tour of the home with several guests, Mayne breaks off and goes to his study, where he is later found murdered. His curator seems implicated, but Cecily is unconvinced. With her childhood friend, illustrator Meacan Barlow, she resolves to uncover the truth, putting them on a path fraught with peril for them both. Why you might like it: This is twisty, atmospheric classic mystery at its best. Reviewers say: "Hart is bound to become a household name for readers who love clever and fair whodunits" (Publishers Weekly). "[A] solid choice for historical mystery readers who want to see women with intelligence and agency navigate a time and place not meant for them, but where they thrive nonetheless while solving a delightfully twisty murder” (Library Journal).
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Roseanne recommends: The Lies That Bind: A Novel by Emily Giffin Reviewers say: “Giffin [has a] trademark ability to capture the complexities of human emotions while telling a rip-roaring tale” (The Washington Post). About the Author: Emily Giffin is the author of nine bestselling novels. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and three children.
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Stacey recommends: Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi What it’s about: While we used to have windows of time to simply notice the world around us, now most of us reach for our phones when things get boring. In this helpful and encouraging book, Zomorodi describes what we’re missing by logging on instead of occasionally zoning out. Why you should read it: If your smartphone is connected to your person all your waking hours and you’re not totally happy about that situation, this book provides concrete exercises that will help you keep only the apps and uses that are best serving you. The author’s conversational tone and account of her personal experiences make this challenge friendly and approachable. You might also like: If your goal is to reduce your social media use, also check out Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport.
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Misty recommends: The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story by Diane Ackerman What it’s about: The Zookeeper's Wife is an astonishing story of the courage and selfless actions of the people of Warsaw during the Second World War who rescued and hid, at great personal danger, the hundreds of Jews who were hunted by the Nazis. Why you might like it: The Zookeeper’s Wife is a true story set in Warsaw, Poland at the onset of WWII, and is both a horrifying and endearing story.
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Christine recommends: I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short What it’s about: Martin Short opens up about his life as a comedian and performer. Like many comedians, he suffered personal losses early in his life and turned to comedy as a way to cope. He met Gilda Radner and many up and coming stars in the Toronto production of Godspell. He shares the genesis of many of his best known characters and allows them to speak – one reason to listen to the audiobook! Why you should read it: My husband drove me crazy telling me all about this book while he was reading it, so I picked it up for myself. Despite the tragedies in Short’s life, he’s managed to thrive and build a close group of very funny friends that includes Eugene Levy, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, and Nora Ephron. Although many of Short’s characters are abrasive, I had fun learning how they were created.
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