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Summer Reading Reviews 2023Unpublished

We’re sharing some of your reviews of your Summer Reading 2023 books here–you may find ideas for your next read. Looking for more ideas? Take a look at reviews from 2022, too!

Log your own reviews here!

Updated July 11, 2023

Libraries of Middlesex Automation ConsortiumScotch Plains Public Library

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3 days to live

Patterson, James

Paper Book

The people closest to you can be your most dangerous enemies in this heart-pounding collection of three thrillers from master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author James Patterson. 3 Days to Live: A CIA-agent bride is on her European honeymoon when she and her...

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.

61 hours : a Reacher novel

Child, Lee.

Paper Book

Jack Reacher is back. The countdown has begun. Get ready for the most exciting 61 hours of your life. #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child's latest thriller is a ticking time bomb of suspense that builds electric tension on every page. Sixty-one hours....

3 STARS

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

-Anonymous

After I do : a novel

Reid, Taylor Jenkins.

Paper Book

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo "A seductive twist on the timeless tale of a couple trying to rediscover love in a marriage brought low by the challenges of domestic togetherness...touching, perceptive, and achingly...

4 STARS

All the light we cannot see

Doerr, Anthony

Paper Book

*NOW A NETFLIX LIMITED SERIES--from producer and director Shawn Levy (Stranger Things) starring Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, and newcomer Aria Mia Loberti* Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist, the beloved instant New York Times bestseller...

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.

Anne of Green Gables

Montgomery, L. M.

Paper Book

The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of...

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.

Bad luck and trouble

Child, Lee.

Paper Book

From a helicopter high above the empty California desert, a man is sent free-falling into the night…. In Chicago, a woman learns that an elite team of ex–army investigators is being hunted down one by one.... And on the streets of Portland, Jack Reacher—soldier, cop, hero—is...

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.

Bad summer people

Rosenblum, Emma

Paper Book

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * Emma Rosenblum's Bad Summer People is a whip-smart, propulsive debut about infidelity, backstabbing, and murderous intrigue, set against an exclusive summer haven on Fire Island. "This roiling beach community satire serves up wicked,...

4 STARS

A dark look into the lifestyles of wealthy Manhattanites with summer homes on Fire Island. What I predicted was going to be a light beach read suddenly got heavy. The social commentary got me to pause both during and after I read it. Would be a conversation-starter, for sure, as a book club choice!

-Lauren L.

The bandit queens : a novel

Shroff, Parini

Paper Book

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * GOOD MORNING AMERICA BUZZ PICK * A young Indian woman finds the false rumors that she killed her husband surprisingly useful--until other women in the village start asking for her help getting rid of their own husbands--in this razor-sharp debut.

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.

The beauty of dusk : on vision lost and found

Bruni, Frank

Paper Book

From New York Times columnist and bestselling author Frank Bruni comes a wise and moving memoir about aging, affliction, and optimism after partially losing his eyesight. One morning in late 2017, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni woke up with strangely blurred vision. He...

4 STARS

Bruni, an acclaimed New York Times journalist writes his non fiction account of losing considerable vision in his right eye, with the threat his left eye might also one day be affected.. The optical nerve damage he sustains during a rare stroke, severely impacts his personal and professional life. Typing, observing, and being able to report accurately leave him devastatingly at a loss. He writes with honesty about his medical care, some of his physicians leave a lot to be desired, but others are compassionate and able to guide him accurately. In his personal journey to accepting a life changing condition, he recounts the stories of others who have faced even more threatening conditions. He learns what makes life bearable , for life cannot always be controlled and bend to our will. This is honest writing, assuring the reader that while all problems cannot be solved, Bruni takes comfort in the paths and opportunities that can be accessed to allow him to live a wonderful life. He gives us lessons in what is important for fulfillment. His family and many friends are his support system, and he writes with great affection for them, including a heartwarming segment about his dog, who is indeed an inspiration. Bruni's story is optimism combined with a dose of realism, worthy of reading.

-Edie S.

Beyond that, the sea

Spence-Ash, Laura

Paper Book

"Spence-Ash has written the novel in eight points of view, but each character is utterly three-dimensional and distinct. This debut novel captivated me from start to finish." --Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton Series A sweeping, tenderhearted love story,...

5 STARS

It's London in 1940, WWII has begun and bombs are falling. Beatrix is eleven and her parents arrange to send her to live with a family in Boston- the Gregorys. Beatrix becomes part of the family, becomes a daughter they never had to the parents and a young sister to the two boys. Each August family goes to their own island in Maine and those memories stay with her when she returns to England when the war ends. It's a beautiful first novel that I couldn't put down and didn't want to end.

-Carol S.

______________________________

5 STARS

Absolutely loved this book. I read the online reviews in the summer reading group and decided to give this book a try. I'm so glad that I did. It's a wonderful story which spans the years from 1940-1977. Bea is an 11 year old girl whose family sends her to America to live with an American family to keep her safe from WWII. The connection that she makes after living with this family for years is lifelong. It's a great read and I couldn't put this one down.

Beyond the wand : the magic and mayhem of growing up a wizard

Felton, Tom

Paper Book

From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton's life on and off the big screen in this #1 New York Times bestseller. Tom Felton's adolescence was anything but ordinary. His...

4 STARS

Interesting quick read for fans of the Harry Potter movies. He explains what it was like to be part of some of the biggest movies of all time, but also the difficulties of life after playing Draco Malfoy.

Billionaires' Row Book - Katherine Clarke

https://www.katherineclarke.com/

All about architecture and the super rich. The book is a bit long. If you’ve ever wondered about the super tall residential buildings on NYC’s skyline, this is your book! I enjoyed learning about this.

-Amy J.

Black candle women : a novel

Brown, Diane Marie

Paper Book

A Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Seen on the Today Show "If you like Practical Magic... you will love Black Candle Women." --Jenna Bush Hager Named a Best Book of the Month by: Shondaland, MS. Magazine, TODAY.com, Reader's Digest,...

4 STARS

Carrie Soto is back : a novel

Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Paper Book

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "An epic adventure about a female athlete perhaps past her prime, brought back to the tennis court for one last grand slam" (Elle), from the author of Malibu Rising, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

4 STARS

The catch me if you can : one woman's journey to every country in the world

Nabongo, Jessica

Paper Book

In this inspiring travelogue, celebrated traveler and photographer Jessica Nabongo―the first Black woman on record to visit all 195 countries in the world―shares her journey around the globe with fascinating stories of adventure, culture, travel musts, and human connections. ...

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.

The chemist : a novel

Meyer, Stephenie

Paper Book

In this gripping page-turner, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life. She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest...

4 STARS

-Stanley B.

Cloud cuckoo land : a novel

Doerr, Anthony

Paper Book

On the New York Times bestseller list for over 20 weeks * A New York Times Notable Book * A National Book Award Finalist * Named a Best Book of the Year by Fresh Air, Time, Entertainment Weekly, Associated Press, and many more "If you're looking for...

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.

The collected regrets of Clover

Brammer, Mikki

Paper Book

Named a Best Book of 2023 by NPR "This weird, lovely and sweetly satisfying novel [is] engaging and accessible...Clover's emergence from a shuttered life is moving enough to elicit tears, and Brammer's take on death and grieving is profound enough to feel genuinely...

5 STARS

One of my favorite books of the summer. Starts off light enough that you can enjoy it as a beach read, but ends in such a wholesome and emotional way that I found myself crying on my sofa at the conclusion.

Clover, a woman who experienced more than her usual amount of loss and grieving in her formative years, lives an introverted lifestyle. Her work requires her to develop some deep relationships, which transform her life significantly. This is a coming-of-age novel in some ways, as well as a romance novel, and wraps up in an unexpected way that delighted me.

-Lauren L.

The Collector

Silva, Daniel

Paper Book

"A world-class practitioner of spy fiction."--Washington Post In this electrifying thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva, Gabriel Allon undertakes a search for a stolen Vermeer masterpiece and uncovers a conspiracy that could bring the world to the brink of...

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.

Count the ways : a novel

Maynard, Joyce

Ebook

In her most ambitious novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard returns to the themes that are the hallmarks of her most acclaimed work in a mesmerizing story of a family--from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and the costly aftermath that...

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.

__________________________________

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 couldnâ€™t put it down.

-Carol S.

The cradle of ice

Rollins, James

Paper Book

The second book of four in the New York Times bestselling Moonfall series from thriller-master James Rollins, The Cradle of Ice is a page-turning tale of action, adventure, betrayal, ambition, and the struggle for survival in a harsh world that hangs by a thread. ...

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.

Cross down

Patterson, James

Paper Book

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Alex Cross is gravely injured and only his partner and friend John Sampson can keep him safe . . . and get justice. For the first time, John Sampson is on his own. The...

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.

The Cuban heiress

Cleeton, Chanel

Paper Book

An NPR Books We Love selection for 2023 "An unforgettable read that should be at the top of every TBR list."-NPR In 1934, a luxury cruise becomes a fight for survival as two women's pasts collide on a round-trip voyage from New York to Havana in New York Times...

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.

Dear future mama : a TMI guide to pregnancy, birth, and new motherhood from your bestie

Trainor, Meghan

Paper Book

The real talk you want about pregnancy, birth, body image, and the newborn days from Meghan Trainor, the chart-topping singer-songwriter behind "All About That Bass" and "Dear Future Husband," and, more importantly, Riley's mom. Meghan Trainor has wanted to be a mom since before she even...

4 STARS

Useful book for anyone who is thinking of becoming pregnant.

-Anonymous

Divine rivals : a novel

Ross, Rebecca

Paper Book

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever. After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family...

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.

Earth's the right place for love : a novel

Berg, Elizabeth

Paper Book

This beautiful novel by the beloved author of Open House and Talk Before Sleep tells the story of two young people growing up in Mason, Missouri, and how Arthur Moses, a shy young man, becomes the wise and compassionate person readers loved in The Story of Arthur Truluv....

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.

Educated : a memoir

Westover, Tara

Paper Book

#1 NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER * One of the most acclaimed books of our time: an unforgettable memoir about a young woman who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University

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 familyâ€™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.

Everything's fine : a novel

Rabess, Cecilia

Ebook

"Does love conquer all? Does it now? Did it ever? These are questions Cecilia Rabess asks in her nimble, discerning debut...The ending of Everything's Fine is one of the best I've read in years." --The New York Times A painfully funny, painfully real love story...

5 STARS

The five-star weekend

Hilderbrand, Elin

Paper Book

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket: After tragedy strikes, food blogger Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket. Hollis Shaw's life seems...

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.

Girl in pieces

Glasgow, Kathleen

Paper Book

Fans of Girl, Interrupted, Thirteen Reasons Why, and All the Bright Places will love this New York Times bestseller. "A haunting, beautiful, and necessary book that will stay with you long after you've read the last page."--Nicola Yoon, #1...

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.

Hello stranger

Center, Katherine

Paper Book

The glorious novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called "My perfect 10 of a book" (Emily Henry) and cheered for their "speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles" (People). Love may be blind. But what if...

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.

The house in the pines : a novel

Reyes, Ana

Paper Book

An instant New York Times bestseller! "This is an absolute, can't-put-it-down thriller. . . . It's truly a wild ride that had me flying through chapter after chapter--which I think is the perfect way to kick off your year of reading."--Reese Witherspoon (Reese's Book Club Pick...

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

The Housekeepers

Hay, Alex.

Paper Book

The night of London's grandest ball, a bold group of women downstairs plot a daring revenge heist against Mayfair society in this dazzling historical novel about power, gender, and class Named a Best Book of Summer by The Washington Post * Good Housekeeping ...

4 STARS

The librarian of burned books : a novel

Labuskes, Brianna

Paper Book

For fans of The Rose Code and The Paris Library, The Librarian of Burned Books is a captivating WWII-era novel about the intertwined fates of three women who believe in the power of books to triumph over the very darkest moments of war. Berlin...

5 STARS

This compelling WW2-era novel is about the lives of three women who come together in their fight against censorship in Nazi Germany and America. I loved learning about the American Services Editions and their inspiration to the soldiers on the front, a bit of history I never knew. Readers will identify with the complex and endearing characters who honor the guardians of books: librarians.

-Deb L.

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https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60661466

4 STARS

I’m a sucker for any story about a lighthouse, and I enjoyed imagining the setting of this small island with a close knit set of families working the lighthouse. The characters felt thin to me and the mystery surrounding them was a bit overdone. Worth it for the lighthouse though. :)

-Amy J.

Long shadows

Baldacci, David

Paper Book

From the author of The 6:20 Man, "Memory Man" Amos Decker--an FBI consultant with perfect recall--delves into a bewildering double homicide in this thriller in David Baldacci's #1 New York Times bestselling series. When...

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

Maame

George, Jessica

Paper Book

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! * A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick * A February 2023 Indie Next Pick "Sparkling." --The New York Times "An utterly charming and deeply moving portrait of the joys<...

3 STARS

Maizy Chen's last chance

Yee, Lisa

Paper Book

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER . NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST . ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR YOUTH LITERATURE Twelve year-old Maizy discovers her family's Chinese restaurant is full of secrets in this irresistible novel that celebrates food, fortune, and family. NAMED...

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.

Malibu rising : a novel

Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Paper Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today * From the author of Carrie Soto Is Back, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo . . . "Irresistible . . . High drama at the beach,...

4 STARS

More than words

Santopolo, Jill

Paper Book

Nina Gregory has always been a good daughter. Raised by her father, owner of New York City's glamorous Gregory Hotels, Nina was taught that family, reputation, and legacy are what matter most. And her devoted boyfriend feels the same. But when Nina's father dies, he leaves behind a secret that...

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.

Never give up a prairie family's story

Brokaw, Tom

Paper Book

In thismovingstory, the New York Times bestselling author of The Greatest Generation chronicles the values and lessons he absorbed from his parents and other people who worked hard to build lives on the prairie during the first half of the twentieth century. "A...

5 STARS

Touching history of his parents' hard work through the Great Depression & Army Corps of Engineering building great dams in the Midwest & how it affected his career development & hope for our country.

Never split the difference : negotiating as if your life depended on it

Voss, Christopher

Paper Book

This international bestseller, with more than 3 million copies sold, offers a field-tested approach to high-stakes negotiations--whether in the boardroom, in your community, or at home. Life is a series of negotiations, and negotiation is at the heart of collaboration--whether you are a...

4 STARS

Nimona

Stevenson, Noelle

Paper Book

Now a Netflix animated film! Nimona is the New York Times bestselling graphic novel sensation from ND Stevenson, based on his beloved and critically acclaimed web comic. Kirkus says, "If you're going to read one graphic novel this year, make it this one." Nemeses!...

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.

Nothing to see here

Wilson, Kevin

Paper Book

A New York Times Bestseller * A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, People, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, TIME, The A.V. Club, Buzzfeed, and PopSugar ...

4 STARS

A refreshing creative novel.

Obsessed

Patterson, James

Paper Book

In this startling psychological thriller, a killer is targeting young women in New York City and is obsessed with Michael Bennett's daughter. A killer is obsessed... with Detective Michael Bennett's oldest daughter. ...

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.

The one

Marrs, John (Freelance journalist)

Paper Book

***Over 1M Copies Sold!*** Now on Netflix! The USA Today bestseller A Wall Street Journal Best Science Fiction Book of 2018 "Just try to put this gripping thriller down once you pick it...

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.

One false move

Coben, Harlan

Paper Book

Myron Bolitar is a hotheaded sports agent with a fierce wit, a taste for Yoo-Hoo, and a penchant for falling into jobs he doesn't want--think of him as Jerry Maguire as a reluctant private eye. In this remarkable novel by Edgar Award-winning author Harlan Coben, Myron is asked to keep an eye on the...

5 STARS

Sports agent Myron Bolitar is hired to protect Brenda Slaughter, a WNBA basketball player. Although Myron is a sports agent, he is drawn to Brenda and decides to protect her. Brenda is beautiful and kind but has a tragic past. Myron will help Brenda find the answers to the questions she has about her family.

Our wives under the sea

Armfield, Julia

Paper Book

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR (NPR, The Washington Post, Lit Hub, The Telegraph, Goodreads, Tor.com, them, and more) A FINALIST for the LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD and GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD "A deeply strange and haunting novel in the best possible way...An...

2 STARS

This book was recommended by so many horror fans! Perhaps my expectations were too high based on that, but I found this book incredibly slow and boring. I listened to the audiobook rather than reading the physical copy in hopes I'd be more engaged. Our Wives Under the Sea is about a woman who welcomes home her wife who had been lost for months at the bottom of the ocean. But something is off with her wife. The chapters go from one woman's POV to the other but I still feel like nothing happened. Not recommended!

-Anastasia S.

The postcard

Berest, Anne

Paper Book

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR TIME Magazine・NPR・Library Journal・The Globe and Mail・Lilith・Forward Magazine・Toronto Star・The New Yorker Winner of the Choix Goncourt Prize, Anne Berest...

1 STAR

This novel has been touted as a prizewinner, international best seller, and powerful. I have to disagree with all the wonderful press it received. It is the story of Nazism in France and the Resistance during WWII. I am accustomed to Holocaust literature written by the likes of Anthony Doerr and All the Light We Cannot See. I am accustomed to Speilberg's Schindler's List. So the premise of this book was intriguing. A postcard with four names written on it is sent to the home of concentration camp survivors many years after the war. It is not signed. Who sent it, why those names? The plot is so disjointed, I could never keep track of which character is speaking, the drama and suspense, usually prevalent in a war story was completely missing. I cannot help but wonder how this novel became a best seller. It is labelled as autobiographical fiction. The author's name is used for one of the characters. I was never able to tell when the author was speaking through her character. The characters were not interesting and poorly developed. The ending did not satisfy the quest of learning who sent the postcard. I forced myself to finish the book only to see who sent that card. Another disappointment. The climax was uneventful. Why did The Postcard receive such acclaim?

-Edie S.

Same time next summer

Monaghan, Annabel

Paper Book

"Bursting with the magic of first love, it's everything I want in a summer romance." --Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of EVERY SUMMER AFTER Named a Best Book of Summer by Real Simple * Reader's Digest * Country Living * The Skimm *...

4 STARS

-Abby P.

The School for Good Mothers: A Novel

Chan, Jessamine

Paper Book

Longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel Longlisted for the 2023 Carnegie Medal for Excellence Shortlisted for The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize Selected as One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2022! In...

4 STARS

The searcher

French, Tana

Paper Book

Best Book of 2020 New York Times |NPR | New York Post "This hushed suspense tale about thwarted dreams of escape may be her best one yet . . . Its own kind of masterpiece." --Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post "A new Tana French is always cause...

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.

The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Paper Book

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?...

5 STARS

The seven year slip

Poston, Ashley

Ebook

"A gorgeous love story from one of the finest romance writers out there." --Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023 A Most Anticipated Book by Entertainment Weekly ∙ Harper's Bazaar &...

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.

Simply lies

Baldacci, David

Paper Book

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 6:20 Man comes a twisting psychological thriller in which two women--one a former detective, the other a dangerous con artist--go head-to-head in an electrifying game of cat and mouse. ...

4 STARS

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

Someone else's shoes

Moyes, Jojo

Paper Book

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! "Very few authors have the power to make you laugh on one page and cry on the next. Moyes is one of them." --The New York Times A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new...

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.

Unnatural history

Kellerman, Jonathan

Paper Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The most enduring detectives in American crime fiction are back in this electrifying thriller of art and brutality from the #1 New York Times bestselling master of suspense. Los Angeles is a city of stark contrast, the palaces of the...

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.

Verity

Hoover, Colleen

Paper Book

Whose truth is the lie? Stay up all night reading the sensational psychological thriller that has readers obsessed, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Too Late and It Ends With Us. #1 New York Times<...

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.

Waiting for Tom Hanks

Winfrey, Kerry

Paper Book

A rom-com-obsessed romantic waiting for her perfect leading man learns that life doesn't always go according to a script in this delightfully charming and funny novel. Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching...

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.

The wedding date

Guillory, Jasmine

Paper Book

A groomsman and his last-minute guest are about to discover if a fake date can go the distance in this fun and flirty multicultural romance debut by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory--author of the Resse Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick The Proposal....

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

The wedding planner : a novel

Steel, Danielle

Paper Book

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In this captivating novel from Danielle Steel, a wildly successful, unmarried wedding planner leads her clients to happily ever after. Faith Ferguson is New York's most in-demand wedding planner, an arbiter of taste for...

4 STARS

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

When no one is watching : a thriller

Cole, Alyssa

Paper Book

An instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "I was knocked over by the momentum of an intense psychological thriller that doesn't let go until the final page. This is a terrific read." - Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author *A Marie Claire Book...

5 STARS

Where are the children now?

Clark, Mary Higgins

Paper Book

The legacy of the "Queen of Suspense" continues with the highly anticipated follow-up to Mary Higgins Clark's iconic novel Where Are the Children?, featuring the children of Nancy Harmon, facing peril once again as adults. Of the fifty-six bestsellers the "Queen of...

5 STARS

Another great read from Mary Higgins Clark. If you enjoyed Where Are The Children, you will enjoy this book. It picks up where the first book ended and now the children are adults and another child is missing.

-Helen S.

The Whispers

Audrain, Ashley

Ebook

"Expertly, subtly and powerfully rendered....[The Whispers] delivers a sucker-punch ending you'll have to read twice to believe."--The New York Times Book Review "[An] electrifying...razor-sharp page-turner." --Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling...

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.

I will find you

Coben, Harlan

Paper Book

In this breathtaking thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, an innocent father serving life for the murder of his own son receives evidence that his child may still be alive--and must break out of prison to find out the truth. ...

5 STARS

David Burroughs is in prison for the horrific murder of his three year old son, Matthew. After being incarcerated, for five years, Davidâ€™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.

Wish you well

Baldacci, David.

Paper Book

Following a family tragedy, siblings Lou and Oz must leave New York and adjust to life in the Virginia mountains--but just as the farm begins to feel like home, they'll have to defend it from a dark threat in this New York Times bestselling coming-of-age story. <...

5 STARS

Not your usual Baldacci novel, primarily known as suspense and legal thrillers. This novel could not be further from those. It is a story that actually draws from Baldacci's ancestors' past in the coal mining mountains of Virginia. It is reminiscent of To Kill A Mockingbird, particularly the nail biting trial at the end. Cotton Longfellow, an attorney, is the counterpart of Atticus Finch. A heartwarming drama filled with the struggles of a poor family, corruption, and the injustice that large corporations can inflict on rural America. A great summer read, whose characters are sympathetic, evil, and all that falls in between.

-Edie S.

The wishing game : a novel

Shaffer, Meg

Paper Book

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children's author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner's life in this absorbing and whimsical novel....

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.

Yellowface : a novel

Kuang, R. F.

Paper Book

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK "Hard to put down, harder to forget." -- Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences... Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she...

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.

The younger wife

Hepworth, Sally

Paper Book

From the author of The Good Sister, the breakout New York Times bestseller and "stunningly clever thriller" (People), comes Sally Hepworth's next novel of domestic suspense about the tangled vines of family secrets. "Smart, suspenseful, brimming with...

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 fatherâ€™s impending marriage.

Zero day : a novel

Baldacci, David.

Paper Book

Combat veteran and U. S. Army investigator John Puller is on the hunt for justice with the help of a homicide detective -- but as they face deceptions and dead ends, a powerful force threatens to stop them forever. John Puller is a combat...

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.

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Summer Reading Reviews 2023UnpublishedShare

Summer Reading Reviews 2023Unpublished