THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY

by Elizabeth Strout

Artie Dam is a middle aged high school history teacher. He lives in a small town in Massachusetts, has been married for 30 years, is recently questioning the concept of free will and is about to face a life changing secret. This beautiful, slender novel is quintessential Elizabeth Strout. Through a glorious cast of characters, she explores the isolation that we feel and our inability to truly speak the truth to each other. Savor this one!

-Laura

FIVE

by Ilona Bannister

A train approaches, five minutes away from a suburban London station. Five would-be passengers wait on the platform. A frenetic mother and her unmanageable child, a swaggering businessman, a sour grandmother, and an eccentric post-grad. But when the train arrives, one of these five will be dead. Each character's story is dark, complicated, and tragic in different ways. And at times it will have you asking, which of these people do I want to see meet their end? I was captivated by each character, and the cutting writing style. Not to mention the plot had me turning every page at a rapid clip. This is an excellent, outside-the-box thriller that a lot of readers will enjoy!

-Katie & Anne

LOVE BY THE BOOK

by Jessica George

I absolutely lost myself in this gorgeous novel about female friendship. George's stunning prose captures all the nuances of female platonic love--a group of 30 somethings, each at a crossroads in life, struggling to retain and create new friendships. I saw myself (and my friends) in so many aspects of this moving story.

-Laura

THE TYPEWRITER AND THE GUILLOTINE

by Mark Braude



In The Typewriter and the Guillotine, we learn about Paris in the 1930s through the eyes of Janet Flanner, an American writer, who takes an assignment from the newly launched magazine, The New Yorker. What starts as a smart commentary on French art, culture and society turns to a real time reflection on the turmoil, extremism and fear spreading through Europe. Her 3 part report published in 1936 was one of the earliest truly in-depth studies of Hilter that many Americans

would have encountered. Flanner’s reporting provided her readers with first person accounts of history in the making. It also changed The New Yorker from what started as a lighthearted magazine by some friends in NYC into a sharp, serious publication.

The second story line of the serial killer, Eugen Weidmann, during the 1930s was interesting. I am not sure what was more amazing-the gullibility (or innocence) of the victims or the pointlessness of the murders themselves? Who knew that the French used the guillotine until 1977?

-Anne

DOGS, BOYS, AND OTHER THINGS I'VE CRIED ABOUT

by Isabel Klee

This memoir is Isabel Klee's story from her early college years through turning the corner into her thirties. Through family, roommates, boys, a pandemic, the gritty magic of New York City, and many quirky foster dogs, Isabel tells a deeply relatable yet unique story. 

It's heartfelt, beautifully told, and rich with the universal trials and excitement of early adult life. If you've ever had a pet, fallen in love, or spent blissfully messy nights with your people on a loud city street in your 20's, this book is an absolute must!

-Katie

ENORMOUS WINGS

by Laurie Frankel

What starts out as another of Frankel's humorous, witty novels with quirky characters, this story quickly morphs into a meaningful look at what it means for an older woman to navigate friendships, love, and family after finding she can't live life on her own terms. Pepper moves into a senior living facility where she unexpectedly finds love. Then - a turn you won't see coming rearranges everything! After the unfathomable happens, life becomes messy with what feels like the whole world watching. This is a wild ride!

-Beth

THE FUTURE IS PEACE

by Aziz Abu Sarah & Maoz Inon

The Future is Peace is an eight day journey across the holy land. Your tour guides are Aziz and Maoz, two travel professionals, who know this area intimately: the history, the geography, the beauty and the violence. The message they send is to us all is that people have the power to make change. We will not “find” hope, we must create it.

-Anne & Morley

LAST SUMMER AT MAINE CHANCE

by Jessica Everett

Budding economist Cynthia has big plans but the cultural norms and misogny of 1950s get in the way of her scholarship and college plans until an unconventional older woman senses her potential and becomes an advocate for her. Set in the Maine Chance Spa started by Elizabeth Arden, this female character driven story examines the strict social norms of the 1950s and illustrates the importance of the role of women in families and society, as well as female friendship and standing up for each other.  This is a perfect vacation read, especially if you’re off to Maine this summer.

-Martha

IN TREES

by Robert Moor

I must confess-I have a “thing” for trees. So when a book comes in with the title In Trees: An Exploration, I am willing to take the plunge. Moor uses the tree as a metaphor for life. I know...you think you have read this all before, but you have not come close! Using trees as a starting point, Robert Moor, a Chicagoland native, takes us across the globe and through the life cycle of trees, as well as that of man and mankind. Pick up the book, find a shady spot under your favorite tree and start reading.

As Dr. Suess said, “Oh, the places you’ll go!”

-Anne

DOG PERSON

by Camille Pagán

Dog Person by Camille Pagán is a tender, heartfelt story about grief, love, and the quiet ways we find our way back to connection.

After Amelia’s death, she leaves behind an unusual final wish: that her loyal dog, Harold, look after Miguel and help him find his “person.” As Miguel sinks into grief—neglecting both himself and his struggling bookstore—Harold grieves in his own way, yet remains steadfast in his promise. When he becomes convinced he’s found the right person for Miguel, the question becomes how to bridge the gap between instinct and human hesitation. This is a gentle, uplifting story that explores whether love is ever truly lost or simply transformed. With warmth and a touch of whimsy, it highlights the importance of staying open to new beginnings, even after heartbreak. A sweet, clean read that will especially appeal to romantics.

-Karina