2024 May Staff Picks

Check out what we've been reading/watching and loving! We think you'll enjoy them, too.

Updated April 30, 2024
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The last smile in Sunder City
Arnold, Luke
Paper Book
A former soldier turned PI tries to help the fantasy creatures whose lives he ruined in a world that's lost its magic in a compelling debut fantasy by Black Sails actor Luke Arnold. Welcome to Sunder City. The magic is gone but the monsters remain. I'm Fetch...

Ashlee says: An entertaining mash-up of fantasy, noir, and dystopian fiction! If you are a fan of 'Legends and Lattes' and are open to a main character that is a little darker and edgier, this book is for you!

Also available as:

EBook

The Mona Lisa vanishes : a legendary painter, a shocking heist, and the birth of a global celebrity
Day, Nick
Paper Book
A "witty thriller" (The New York Times) for middle-grade readers about how the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre, how the robbery made the portrait the most famous artwork in the world--and how the painting by Leonardo da Vinci should never have existed at all. ...

Gloria says: This was such an enjoyable middle grade nonfiction all about The Mona Lisa and Leonardo Da Vinci. The illustrations inside were also a fun bonus!

Also available as:

EAudiobook

EBook

East meets vegan : the best of Asian home cooking, plant-based and delicious
Gill, Sasha
Paper Book
When Sasha Gill went vegan, she wasn't about to leave her family's home-cooked favorites behind. Pad thai without fish sauce? Curry without ghee? In East Meets Vegan, Sasha proves that Asian cooking can be plant-based--as well as easy, affordable, and delicious! Here are: ...
Kerrie says: The recipes in this book were so good, I had to buy it, and I'm not even vegan! 90 recipes from 6 different Asian countries.
The women
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times! From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women--at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a...

Jill says: An epic historical fiction tale that focuses on the crucial role of women nurses during the Vietnam War.

Maria says: Heartbreaking historical fiction! This story of women nurses from the Vietnam war and what they went through after the war ended ripped me open and had me sobbing, but was so much worth the read!

Also available as:

EAudiobook

EBook

CD Audiobook

Large Print

A fate inked in blood
Jensen, Danielle L.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king--while fighting her growing desire for his fiery son--in the first book of a Norse-inspired fantasy romance duology from the author of The Bridge Kingdom series. ...

Maria says: An exciting fantasy with Norse Viking inspiration. It had me hooked with the twists, the fighting, the magic, the banter, and the chemistry!

Also available as:

EAudiobook

EBook

Part of your world
Jimenez, Abby
Paper Book
A refreshingly modern fairy tale and instant New York Times bestseller that Love Hypothesis author Ali Hazelwood hails as "an uplifting, feel-good, romantic read."  After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle...

Emma says: This dual perspective contemporary romance is cute and fun, yet isn't afraid to delve into the reality of being a survivor of emotional abuse. I loved seeing the female main character grow in resilience and bravery. I think fans of Emily Henry will enjoy this one!

Also available as:

EAudiobook

EBook

CD Audiobook

How to stay married : the most insane love story ever told
Key, Harrison Scott
Paper Book
Harrison Scott Key, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor, tells the shocking, "shot through with sharp humor" (The Washington Post), spiritually profound story of his journey through hell and back when infidelity threatens his marriage. One gorgeous autumn day,...

Gloria says: A fascinating and hilarious story about marriage and faith. Would recommend the audiobook narrated by the author himself!

Also available as:

EBook

CD Audiobook

The scandalous confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch
Taub, Melinda
Paper Book
In this "magical, brilliant" (Lev Grossman, New York Times bestselling author) reimagining of Pride and Prejudice, the youngest Bennett sister is given the spotlight. In this exuberant retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet...

Heather says: A fun reimagining of Pride and Prejudice from the youngest Bennet sister's perspective with a magical twist! I really enjoyed how the author wove aspects of the original plot of P&P into her more fantastical narrative.

Also available as:

EAudiobook

Diavola
Thorne, Jennifer
Paper Book
Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family...

Jill says: A spooky, spine tingling ghost story about a family vacation in Italy that goes VERY wrong!

Also available as:

EBook


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