Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

“The book went over a lot. I liked how the author explained things and the different formatting of the poems. It was good to learn about this stuff” – Madeline Brown

All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani

“Enjoyable read!” – Mary Smith

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

“Very good book. Much longer than I prefer.” – Karyn Atkinson

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

“Strangely weird. Don’t judge a book by its cover and show love to everyone. The Creature was my favorite character because he saved people. I would recommend this because it can help reframe your mindset of how you treat people.” – Emily Brown

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid

“And exciting read you won’t want to put down! You are constantly trying to figure out what is going on and who is who (in a good way.) The pacing is excellent and calm. Easy to read.” – Bethany Phelps

The Christmas Mystery by James Patterson

“I love these Bookshot books. Straight to the point and no fluff.” – Melissa Cornelius

28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand

“One of my favorite books of hers. A very clever title.” – Diane Fernaays

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

“Remarkable.” – Kathleen Aman

All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

“Wow wow wow! I loved the shorter chapters and taking bite size bits. Not an uplifting book but definitely some different subject matter. It kept my attention through till the end.” – Kathy Schrecengost

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer

“Heartbreaking story of how slaves were treated even after they were “freed.” A mother’s dangerous journey to find the children that were stolen from her while she was enslaved.” – Peggy Pelc

4 ½ stars for Paris audiobook by Paris Hilton

   “I was looking for something “light” to listen to. This wasn’t it, but far exceeded my expectations. If you liked, Pamela a Love Story on Netflix, you’ll like this memoir. It touches on the subject of sexual abuse and is primarily about her time as a teen at an abusive institution. It peaked my interest in learning more about survivors of Provo Canyon School. Lots of discussion on celebrity, technology, and the rise of social media.” – Nicole Shue

4 stars for Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

   “I wouldn’t consider this for a particular age group. Overall a really good book. I was captivated as I kept reading Anne’s story. I related more to the older Anne Shirley. The story was boring until the entrance exam and then it sped up and got more interesting.” – Emily Brown

4 stars for The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

   “I particularly liked the setting – a small college in an English town. The book had a gothic vibe in describing the main characters estate. What kept me flipping through pages were the clues, and wanting to know the fate of the couple. It had a surprise LGBTQIA+ storyline, which I loved and through queer young adults could see themselves in or relate to.” – Nicole Shue

4 ½ stars for The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden

   “I read the Housemaid and I just had to go out and find the sequel right away. Found a new author that I definitely enjoy!” – Tine Bitler

4 stars for Somebody’s Daughter audiobook by Ashley Ford

   “Thought it would focus mostly on the author’s father’s incarceration, but instead it focused on her relationship with her present parent – her mother. Ashley holds nothing back in describing their bond, the good parts and the bad (physical abuse). It made me think about what “home” means to me and how important safety and stability is in a person’s younger years.” – Nicole Shue

3 stars for Being Lolita by Alissa Wood

   “A 17-year-old becomes involved with her high school English teacher (who is obsessed with the book Lolita). It is a memoir. Wish the author had more self-realization or had described her trauma healing journey.” – Nicole Shue

5 stars for The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

   “I saw a post by a friend on Facebook saying how much she enjoyed this book. I happened to spot it on the shelf at the library. Best book that I’ve read this summer! Can’t wait to read the sequel!” – Tina Bitler

4 stars for Never Lie by Frieda McFadden

   “This was the 2^nd book that I’ve read by Frieda McFadden. A quick read with enough content to discuss in a book club. Go into it knowing the narrator may not be reliable. The couple is snowed in at a home for sale and there’s a possible murderer on the loose. The newlyweds become closer as a couple under unusual circumstances.” – Nicole Shue

4 ½ stars for Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

   “The kind of book you can see being made into a thriller movie or series.” – Tina Bitler

4 stars for Into the Mystic by Len Senecal

   “This is part of the Mr. Tout’s Magical Forest series written by a local author (my high school journalism teacher)! The next book will be the last in the series. Enjoyed learning backstory of the villain Tout.” – Nicole Shue

4 stars for Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

   “Depressing. Heartbreaking. And so, so real. I probably would not have pushed through were it not for being the adoptive mom of three who were chewed up and spit out by the selfsame opioid epidemic that hit the families in this book. The insights into how hard it is to rise above, when anyone whose head sticks up gets beat back down by the culture, are excellent. You might as well keep your head down in the first place. How the brutality is just… their normal. It’s an unsettling book, but it needed to be written.” — anonymous

4 stars for The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya

   “Very interesting memoir of a young girl who flees Rwanda with her sister during the genocide. Her writing is so vivid – it really takes you there, especially during the refugee camp scenes.” – Nicole Shue

5 stars for The Only One Left by Riley Sager

   “Oh, the twists and turns! Riley Sager never disappoints. One of my favorite authors!” – Tina Bitler

5 stars for Divergent audiobook by Veronica Roth

   “Good story line. Keeps your attention.” – Shannon Bennett

5 stars for Tuesdays with Morrie audiobook by Mitch Albom

   “Very thought evoking. I would read again. Wish it was a longer read. 😊” – Shannan Bennett

4 stars for Racing the Light by Robert Crais

   “Robert Crais is always a good read.” – Donna Bradway

3 ½ stars for Keep You Close by Karen Cleveland

   “The previous book, Need to Know, was 5 stars and I did not want to put it down. Keep You Close, however, felt sporadic and was hard to piece together at times. In the end it all comes together and makes sense, but it felt very lackluster for such a chaotic and intense book. Worth a read, but only if you read the first book and really like puzzles.” – Bethany Phelps

3 stars for Men in Space by Tom McCarthy

   “This book was interesting but confusing. Hard to keep all the characters straight. The ending wasn’t very satisfying.” – Mary Smith

4 stars for The Last Invitation by Darby Kane

   “The kind of story that makes you wonder just how far someone is willing to go just to get what they want!” – Tina Bitler

5 stars for Savage Sam by Fred Gipson

   “A well-written adventure tale even better than Old Yeller. Only briefly touched on settlers’ encroachment on buffalo and its effects on Native American tribes’ way of life as a possible driver for hostilities, but I was impressed that a book written in the early 60s touched on it at all. Additionally, so much of the story is focused on the protagonist’s attempts at survival and rescue that I would not expect it to wax philosophical. A very enjoyable read, even for a Western.” – Hannah Lebo

5 stars for Everything will be Okay by Dana Perino

   “Great advice for young adults who are just starting to work. I love how Dana integrates her faith in practical ways in her life 😊 Very good book!!” – Emily Brown

5 stars for Educated by Tara Westover

   “The things Tara Westover dealt with are crazy! Honestly, the story sounds like a series of unfortunate events – it doesn’t sound real. It is though. The whole memoir is so crazy and I was amazed she overcame of boatload of trauma and got a really good education.” – Madeline Brown

4 stars for The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

   “One of those stories that keeps you guessing up until the end!” – Tina Bitler

4 stars for A Little Ray of Sunshine by Kristen Higgins

   “I love books set on Cape Cod – I spent many family vacations there as a child. Great characters, just enough intrigue to keep you guessing. Covered many serious subjects.” – Kathy Nyman

4 stars for Lost Connections by Johann Hari

   “There was lots of useful information about mental health, medication, and holistic alternatives. This book was hard to follow with all of the studies mentioned and the topics abruptly changed. There is practical information, however, on how we should tackle this world’s challenges. I liked that community and the importance of it was stressed.” – Emily Brown

4 stars for The Bullet that Missed by Richard Osman

   “3^rd book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Easy read and enjoyable.” – Mary Smith

5 stars for The Giver by Lois Lowry

   “It was very descriptive. The imagery when Jonas was experiencing feelings, colors, and physical things for the first time was amazing. I also love dystopian books in general.” – Madeline Brown

4 stars for Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

   “This book definitely makes you think about all of the time people actually spend on social media and how it can impact your life in all kinds of ways (and even with those around you).” – Tina Bitler

5 stars for Heart Berries by Terese Marie Mailhot

   “This was such an emotional book. It reframes your perspective on how you live and how the choices you make carry over to all those around you. Terese had a choice to become like her parents or break generational trauma. She broke the cycle and made her hurt into something beautiful. Her story was inspiring because her life was a hot mess and she put in the effort to make things better so she could finally have peace.” – Emily Brown

4 stars for The Summer House by Jenny Hale

   “Great summer read!” – Carol Fitzsimmons

4 stars for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

   “Now what I expected, but well written with quite a twist at the end.” – Wendy Geroux