2024 Summer Staff Picks

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

Updated July 6, 2024
L
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Gladstone & Oak Lodge Public Libraries
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Challenger: ; A True Story Of Heroism And Disaster On The Edge Of Space
Higginbotham, Adam.
Paper Book
'Gripping' ED CAESAR * 'Masterly' GEOFF DYER * 'Incredible' TIM HARFORD * 'A universal story that transcends time' NEW YORK TIMES * 'Superb' DAILY TELEGRAPH * 'We know what's going to happen, but feel the suspense nonetheless' THE TIMES ** THE NEW...

Kerrie says: A fast-paced history of the space shuttle program and the astronauts, focusing on the Challenger disaster showing how corporate selfishness, government deadlines, miscommunication and unwillingness to share information made the shuttle program a disaster waiting to happen.

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Divine rivals
Ross, Rebecca
Paper Book
?A LOVE STORY TO DEFY THE GODS?The epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy novel filled with hope and heartbreak from number one SUNDAY TIMES bestseller Rebecca Ross A LOVE THAT CONQUERS ALL Eighteen-year-old Iris dreams that one day her writing will make a difference. A war between...

Maria says: One of my favorites this year!

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The frozen river
Lawhon, Ariel
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Helene comes a gripping historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial. Maine, 1789:...

Bonnie says: I've always enjoyed a good historical novel! It starts with a body found in the river which makes the reader interested in who did it. Martha Ballard is a midwife from the 18th century who delivered hundreds of kids and kept diaries. It was interesting to see how her life was tied to the mystery of the body found.

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The hunter
French, Tana
Paper Book
'A richly told tale of tangled loyalties. French ratchets up the tension in increments . . . By the end, these characters have taken on such solidity that, long after finishing it, I often catch myself wondering how they're doing - a testament to the author's mastery of her craft'...

Walt says: The author's best book yet!

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The island of missing trees
Shafak, Elif
Paper Book
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK Winner of the 2022 BookTube Silver Medal in Fiction * Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction "A wise novel of love and grief, roots and branches, displacement and home, faith and belief. Balm for our bruised times." -David...

Jill says: This book is incredible and my favorite of the year so far. To pique your interest, half of it is narrated by a fig tree!

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The Kamogawa food detectives
Kashiwai, Hisashi
Paper Book
Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant called the Kamogawa Diner run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare. Customers who can find the hidden diner are treated to an extravagant meal, but it's not the main reason for visiting . . .The father-daughter duo have started...

Jessica says: I devoured this first book in a new fun foodie mystery series! Pun intended. :)

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The other significant others : reimagining life with friendship at the center
Cohen, Rhaina
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER AN INDIE BESTSELLER "The Other Significant Others...fundamentally, it's become my new Bible." -- Trevor Noah "An arresting work of compassion and insight." ―Lori Gottlieb "I loved and recommend [The Other Significant Others...

Brian says: I enjoyed how this book values friendship and chosen family. It creates space for folks to build meaningful connection alongside traditional romantic and familial relationships.

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What moves the dead
Kingfisher, T.
Paper Book
An Instant USA Today & Indie Bestseller A Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Finalist A Goodreads Best Horror Choice Award Nominee A gripping and atmospheric reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" from Hugo, Locus, &...

Heather says: This was an interesting retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's short story The Fall of the House of Usher which added more depth to the characters and explanation for the occurrences in the story. A quick read if you are in the mood for something creepy!

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What the river knows
Ibañez, Isabel (Novelist)
Paper Book
PRE-ORDER WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES NOW, THE HUGELY ROMANTIC SEQUEL TO WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS 'BURNING WITH ROMANCE' STEPHANIE GARBER 'ALL THE STARS' HEATHER FAWCETT 'A ROMANTIC, SPELLBINDING ADVENTURE' REBECCA ROSS ...

Emma says: I really enjoyed this YA adventure that spans from South America to Egypt! It's full of side quests, light magic, and a cute romance.

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Who ate the first oyster? : the extraordinary people behind the greatest firsts in history
Cassidy, Cody
Paper Book
Stephanie says: I love history and the author has selected a list of facinating 'firsts of' and using archeology and experts in various fields works out how we came to have the first wheel, or beer, or the first clothes. The writer has a delightfully funny writing style and the information is intriguing.
The women a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
"Women can be heroes, too." When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in...

Bonnie says: Hard to read at times and I even put it down occasionally, but so worth finishing!

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Woven in moonlight
Ibañez, Isabel (Novelist)
Paper Book
Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena's motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to...

Maria says: I loved this young adult fantasy. Another one of my favorites this year!

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