5 STARS

Kept me on edge of seat! Didn't realize 2 additional stories were included in that book. They weren't as exciting. My rating is for the title book.

3 STARS

Action, intrigue as only Lee Child can convey. Did not like ending. Too many unanswered questions.

-Anonymous

4 STARS

Anthony Doer's is a Pulitzer Prize winning story and it does not disappoint. All the Light We Cannot See is an wonderfully written, poignant, and powerful novel that deserves every bit of praise it has received. It explores themes of love, loss, sacrifice, and the power of hope. It is a timeless tale that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, and it is a must-read for anyone who appreciates masterful storytelling and richly drawn characters.

2 STARS

Summer travel took me to Prince Edward Island, a destination known for one claim to fame: Anne of Green Gables. I never read the book as a child so I bought a copy to read on the way. The book is half made up of lush descriptions of the island's countryside and farmland found (and the descriptions truly do justice to the gorgeous scenery), and half made up of monologues of young Anne's musings. Much to my dismay, I did not find myself enjoying Anne as a character. She's long-winded and overdramatic, childlike traits that I guess make her appeal to many other readers. In my case, I was happy to have read it to recognize the landmarks on my trip, but I would never recommend it to someone generally.

-Lauren L.

5 STARS

Reacher uses his brains & brawn along with some of his former elite team to thwart a terrorist plot. Hard to believe how he overcomes near impossible odds.

3 STARS

The Bandit Queens by Parini Schroff centers around Geeta, an abandoned spouse who resides in a community where her neighbors all gossip that she secretly murdered her husband. Used to being shunned as a supposed "witch," she is surprised when female neighbors instead start asking for advice on how to... dispose of their spouses. This book is laden with social commentary, both on the Indian caste system and on how women navigate adult female friendships. A bit of an unbelievable plot, but FIERCE women characters that you will find yourself rallying behind as you read.

Lauren C.

5 STARS

Can history classes ever be interesting or exciting? Yes! If students were to read a book like this in English or history class! This is the underappreciated story of how a young slave managed to perform the extraordinary feat of piloting a Confederate military transport gunboat (the CSS Planter), out of the Confederate harbor of Charleston, South Carolina in May 1862, past five confederate harbor forts to the Union blockade and then to the Union-controlled enclave in the Beaufort-Port Royal area. He then handed over the vessel to the Union, along with the guns and ammunition it was carrying and that were meant for the Confederate soldiers. He was instrumental in convincing President Lincoln to accept African-American soldiers into the Union army. He later became a politician during the Reconstruction era and authored a bill for South Carolina to have the first free and compulsory education system. Great read!

-Vivian H.

5 STARS

The author, Christian Cooper, is the “Central Park Birder” who had an encounter with an ”entitled” White woman, who falsely accused him of harassing her, after he asked her to leash her dog in an area of the Park where this is mandatory. This well-written and interesting book goes way beyond this episode and is the memoir of a Black, gay kid who was essentially saved thanks to his hobby of watching birds. This hobby validated his existence and gave him an outlet from the otherwise secret life he had to lead to conceal his sexuality from his friends and family.

Beyond his passion for birds, Cooper talks of his travels, his activism for Black and LGBTQ rights and his family life. He describes his difficult relationship with his volatile father, and then their shared interests for Black activism and nature.

He was the first in his family, not only to go to college, but to Harvard. He then worked as a creator at Marvel Comics, where he introduced the first openly female lesbian character, Victoria Montes. He also introduced the first openly gay male character (Yoshi Mishima) in Star Trek, the Starfleet Academy series.

Interestingly enough, his encounter in Central Park occurred the same day that George Floyd was murdered by the Minneapolis Police (May 25, 2020). His experience in the Park actually provided a platform for his birding experience to be recognized, and he now hosts a show on National Geographic about birding.

-Vivian H.

4 STARS

4 STARS

Because of the book I am inspired to travel the world. She tells of her travels from the perspective of a Black American female. It discusses safety which is a plus. However, she seems to have an inside advantage every where she travels given her profession. Great book. I will continue to reference it as I travel.

4 STARS

-Stanley B.

4 STARS

Cloud Cuckoo Land is a time-sprawling journey that tells the story of one book's meaning across generations. The novel is set in various eras - from hundreds of years ago to decades into the future, you are transported into the lives of those closest to the titular novel.

While not the type of novel you pack with you on your way to the beach, it was a different story that felt fresh, and is a good complement to Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See. The way he weaves the narratives together reinforces his great writing, though the story itself lacks in the major twists and turns that I gravitate towards in fiction.

-Ian M.

3 STARS

I have always been a Daniel Silva groupie, devouring his novels and becoming enmeshed in his characters' lives.: Gabriel Allon, Eli Lavon, Mikhail Abramov, and the entire crew of the renowned Israeli intelligence office. Not to mention America's CIA and foreign diplomats. In addition, his personal story of his wife Chiara and twins Irene and Rafael become your family as well. I am devastated to say this novel falls short of what I have come to expect. I, who read his first 19 novels non stop (binge reading), found this latest story more like reading a newspaper than a page turning novel. It is the Russian-Ukraine crisis that fills the pages, and an in depth scrutiny of Vladimir Putin. Granted there is some intrigue with a beautiful thief, there is the ongoing restoration of paintings by Allon, the search for a stolen Vermeer, worth 250 million dollars, actually based on fact, but something was missing for me, this time. There were snatches of excitement, but not enough for me to give this a rave review. Sorry Mr. Silva, but I admit I will wait for your next book, which will come out next July, and hope the fire has not been doused. Someone of your stature certainly deserves another chance, from the likes of me.

-Edie S.

5 STARS

The scope and drama of this novel literally takes your breath away. Its pages are filled with the lives of a family. Ordinary lives do not remain ordinary. Its chapters are short, bringing you to resolution quickly. Happiness, tragedy, and all that falls in between move the reader quickly to the unexpected. It questions how a loving parent can become hated, how a loving husband can become indifferent, it questions how a mother, the mainstay, can become rejected. It is a book not to be missed. The writing is exceptional.

-Edie S.

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5 STARS

Someone suggested this book at the June meeting of the BYOB group. Wonderful read about a woman - her youth, marriage, three kids, trouble with marriage etc. it all comes full circle. I couldn’t put it down.

-Carol S.

5 STARS

Second in a trilogy, which I continue to enjoy, looking forward to the last installment. Love the different worlds he creates!

-Erika D.

5 STARS

Alex Cross is injured so his friend, John Sampson, takes over to find out why he and Alex were targets. He proceeds to uncover who is trying to take over the United States government and why. This is another thriller in the Alex Cross mysteries.

4 STARS

Having seen the memorial to the Morro Castleon the Asbury Park Boardwalk, I was intrigued to learn there was a newly released book set on the ship. Great read, even if you don't have the context of the semi-local historical event. This book is heavy on both romance and revenge, and contains a fairly predictable plot "twist" that made me feel like the slyest reader ever when I predicted the ending mid-way through!

-Lauren L.

4 STARS

This book was definitely different, strange and weird but it keep me reading. It was sometimes funny, dramatic and a murder mystery all in one.

5 STARS

This is a fantasy novel, about two rival journalists, Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt, who cross paths in more ways than one. It's a story about love, war, and hope. To say that I loved this book would be an understatement! I've thought about it every day since I finished it. I will warn- it's marketed as YA, but personally, I felt that it didn't read as such- besides the main characters being 18 and 19 years old. Highly recommend, to anyone in the need of a beautiful love story.

-Anastasia S.

3 STARS

-Anonymous

_________________

5 STARS

The Door to door bookstore is a heartwarming, easy-to-read tale of a bookstore employee and an unlikely new friend. For those who have read A Man Called Ove, imagine a quicker read, with a bit less beauty in the writing, but with a generally more upbeat feel.

I found this to be the type of light reading I needed for the summer, but for those who like a drama with higher stakes, this likely falls short. What the book sacrifices in character development it makes up for in succinctness.

-Ian M.

2 STARS

Started off strong but I had to push myself to finish, and then wished I hadn’t. The ending was disappointing.

-Megan L.

5 STARS

Hearth warming & breaking story of a 16 year old boy's love story from first realization through adulthood & his tender interactions with family & friends. Could not put this book down.

5 STARS

Tara Westover writes a memoir about her life as part of an ultra conservative family. Her parents do not trust the government. Their children are born at home and do not have a birth certificate. The parents do not believe in sending their children to school but have them work in the family’s junkyard instead. Tara wants to be educated and is admitted to BYU without a high school diploma. Her education then takes her Cambridge. This memoir shows how a person can persevere and achieve their dreams against all odds.

5 STARS

5 STARS

Katie Couric recommended this book in her daily newsletter as a must read. It deals with anxiety and its manifestations in an increasingly large segment of the world. The author is a victim of anxiety and traces its sources and the many methods used to alleviate the symptoms. It is well researched and gives several examples of ways to cope, all of them seemingly doable. She also uses real life examples of celebrities and people of note, including Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, It is easy to read, much like a self help magazine article. You can skim or read straight through. Meditation, yoga, exercise, cognitive therapy techniques and giving up sugar are some of the tried and true solutions to anxiety. The author is a well known magazine editor, Cosmopolitan, and her life story, while fraught, offers hope to those who also suffer. And according to her statistics, one out of every seven people have anxiety issues. The scope of this condition is a symptom of the preponderance of mental health issues that plague so much of the population. But the book offers hope, easy to do exercises, and will be interesting to read for the Self-Help book "junkies!"

-Edie S.

5 STARS

Another great summer read from Elin Hilderbrand. This book is hard to put down once you start reading it. Five Star Weekend is a story about Hollis Shaw, a woman who suffers a tragedy. She hears about a woman who brings together four friends from various times in her life for a fun filled five star weekend. Hollis decides to do the same thing with four of her friends and plans a wonderful weekend. Her weekend is filled with fun, delicious meals and unexpected experiences.

5 STARS

GIRL IN PIECES is an aptly named novel. It is the SHATTERING story of a teen aged girl, one of many who cuts herself to relieve her inner turmoil. This novel is classified as a Young Adult read, however, it is an easy crossover for any adult. While the subject matter is depressing, the author carries you along on a ride that is eye opening. The characters are seedy, unlikeable, until you see the reasons for their dependence on drugs. Everyone has secrets, as do all humans. The secrets in this novel are deep, hurtful, and monstrous. This novel takes you to places you don't want to know, but you learn that not everyone leads a perfect life. It is compelling and difficult to stop reading. Its message reveals the underbelly of society and how many cope. They are deserving of understanding and compassion. A good and important read.

-Edie S.

4 STARS

3 STARS

3 STARS

Brain surgery leaves a portrait artist with a condition called "face blindness," which complicates both her professional and romantic lives. This is a Hallmark movie of a book-- light, enjoyable "chick lit."

-Lauren L.

3 STARS

Somewhat interesting plot but was fairly easy to guess what was going to happen. A lot of the story lines seem left open.

-Anonymous

4 STARS

5 STARS

Found it hard to put down this fast moving complicated murder mystery. Piece by piece the Memory Man & his new partner work their magic.

-Anonymous

3 STARS

4 STARS

This was the sweetest middle grade book. I saw it in my children's school library and was interested in picking it up. This book is about a little girl and her mother who travel to a very small town to spend the summer with her grandparents because her grandpa is ill. I loved it and I'll be reading it to my kids soon!

-Anastasia S.

4 STARS

3 STARS

Very slow start but did pick up towards the middle of the book. Nina, a young woman with an affluent family, faces challenges as she tries to figure out who she is. The ending was kind of predictable. I'd say it was an ok read.

4 STARS

This is THE BOOK to read as we honor Pride throughout the month of June. While following a fictional young, gay, male character's experience, readers are transported to 1980s NYC. It's a work of historical fiction that is so emotionally moving. It's also a major learning opportunity-- nearly every page has detailed footnotes showing the ways in which historical facts integrate into the character's storyline.

-Anonymous

4 STARS

4 STARS

I saw that this YA graphic novel was becoming a show on Netflix and wanted to read it to see if it was appropriate for my kids to watch. I ended up loving it! It was about a young girl who can shapeshift who becomes the sidekick of the kingdoms villain and the trouble that ensues. No one is as they seem in this one! It's always a bit more complicated than expected. I'm excited to see the show with my kids soon!

-Anastasia S.

4 STARS

A refreshing creative novel.

4 STARS

I find the Michael Bennett mysteries very entertaining, fast moving & heart warming with aspects of his family life with wife, 10 children & priest grandfather. I marvel how he can manage his sharp detective skills while being a great family man.

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4 STARS

-Abby P.

4 STARS

This book rotated through characters in and seeking relationships and was hard to put down. It left each chapter on a cliffhanger and had some surprise twists. It was not great writing but engrossing kind of like a soap opera.

-Caitlin R.

The prose in this book is laced with so much humor, though the topic is pretty heavy. I picked it up because I wanted to read something in honor of Pride Month and I had read reviews that Winterson perfectly marries comedy and tragedy and I would say that is accurate! I do think the book should come with a trigger warning for anyone who identifies as queer and has had negative experiences with evangelical religious traditions. That said, Winterson tells a lovely coming of age story that really asks the reader to parse out how our environment shapes our identity and how our identity can cause friction in our environment.

-Amy J.

5 STARS

4 STARS

5 STARS

Tana French, a respected award winning mystery writer, tells of a retired Chicago police officer who moves to a small beautiful village in Ireland. Her characters are warm and likeable, from the pub drinkers with their pints to the tea drinkers with their mugs. The dialogue (in Irish dialect) is warm, humorous, and easy to understand. This reader would move to that village immediately. But slowly, without fanfare, the climate changes. A young man goes missing, his younger sibling enlists the aid of Cal, the retired policeman. The movement in the search is without crisis, there are no dramatic moments. The plot is all about finding the older brother. With a steady pace, the close community slowly reveals an unexpected underside. The ending is startling, a surprise of major proportions. The seeming humanity of the villagers belies the truth. Tana French is a master of leading the reader down paths one never expects.

Edie S.

5 STARS

5 STARS

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston was so much fun to read! It's a story about a woman who inherits a magical apartment, that time travels seven years in the past... but only when it wants to! This was such a wonderful, funny, and sweet book. I highly recommend it. Don't forget the tissues!

-Anastasia S.

4 STARS

Kept me guessing right until the end. Great twists & turns. Characters are so human & believable...good, bad & ugly!

5 STARS

Wow! This book had me hooked right from the beginning & only got better right up to the end. It tells the hard luck stories of 2 very different women & how their meeting under extremely antagonist circumstances enriches their lives & those around them.

2 STARS

I was disappointed in this book. I had to force myself to finish it. I did not feel empathy for the characters who were murdered or the detective & psychologist who pursued the killer because something was lacking in the way they were portrayed.

2 STARS

I traded books while on vacation, swapping the book I read during my departure flight for something new to read on the way home. I wound up with a Colleen Hoover book and figured, after a year of seeing her name spread like wildfire, that I was well overdue to give her books a try.

Verity is suspenseful, but all the build-up doesn't lead to as significant a plot twist as I anticipated. I felt the plot sort of just fizzled out. While there is some resolution, one big question is left open-ended, which may be great for book club conversations, but left me a bit disappointed. I don't think I get what all the hype is about.

-Lauren L.

Cute and quirky story about a young woman who is obsessed with rom-com movies and wants her life to be one.

Enter a handsome hulky movie who she encounters and the book takes off from there. Filled with other kooky characters makes the book funny and a quick read.

I love this book as well as all in the series. This is my 3rd time reading it. This book tells the story of an unlikely romance and their trials and tribulations. Great book. She's a really good romance author who can connect with diverse audiences.

-Anonymous

4 STARS

Does not disappoint. Fascinating tale of the heart warming encounters of this gifted wedding planner.

5 STARS

5 STARS

Once I started reading this book, I could hardly put it down. This is a story about the lives of four families and their secrets. I would highly recommend reading The Whispers.

Helen S.

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5 STARS

Another reader reviewed this book earlier in the summer, and their review intrigued me. Count this as another five-star review for The Whispers! The character development is on point. You'll be shocked by characters' actions, yet never find them to be out-of-character or unbelievable. The strong character development, coupled with some well-timed plot twists, function in tandem to create such a riveting story.

-Lauren L.

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4 STARS

-Abbie P.

5 STARS

David Burroughs is in prison for the horrific murder of his three year old son, Matthew. After being incarcerated, for five years, David’s former sister-in-law, Rachel, visits him with a photo. In the background of the photo Rachel believes believes she sees Matthew. This is an exciting book that you will thoroughly enjoy.

1 STAR

Ugh, this book falls so short. It's trying to be sort of like The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, but it doesn't come anywhere close! I worked as a middle school English teacher for a long time and when I first started this book, I thought to myself, "This seems like it's more of a young adult book than an adult novel." By the middle of the book, I thought to myself, "This book is written more poorly than my students' writing pieces..." The character development and pacing of the plot are both quite weak. Even worse, the crux of the story involves the main character competing in a contest to solve highly complex riddles. Yet, the author used some of the most common riddles that we've all likely heard time and time again in classrooms, from elder relatives, etc. It's laughable; I have no idea how this got published, LOL. Just go read the House in the Cerulean Sea instead.

-Lauren L.

3 STARS

I don't think I've ever read satire for my own enjoyment before. I've read works of satire, but it was because they were on high school's or college's required reading lists. I checked out Yellowface by R. F. Kuang because I saw it garnering positive reviews on bestseller lists, not because I knew the premise. I was shocked when I realized by the third chapter that the story was satirical.

A criticism of the publishing industry, Yellowface features a narrator whose internal dialogue and decision-making will make you cringe from start to finish. Seemingly every sentence from the narrator's perspective induces secondhand embarrassment. As someone who works in the field of online content development, though, many of the plot points felt uncomfortably reflective of my own workplace encounters. I highly recommend this for anyone working in HR, media, or content/curriculum development.

5 STARS

A great read about the Aston family. Stephen Aston is a renowned, 60 year old heart surgeon who is getting married to a much younger woman while his wife is still alive and suffering from dementia. This book has many twists and turns as two sisters react to their father’s impending marriage.

3 STARS

Interesting & fast moving Who Done It. Had too many details of computer & security hacking which I skimmed over & I guessed the culprit too early on.