Anna's bookshelf: all en-US Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:37:52 -0700 60 Anna's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books]]> 200987258
Beverly Underwood and her arch enemy, Lula Dean, live in the tiny town of Troy, Georgia, where they were born and raised. Now Beverly is on the school board, and Lula has become a local celebrity by embarking on mission to rid the public libraries of all inappropriate books—none of which she’s actually read. To replace the “pornographic� books she’s challenged at the local public library, Lula starts her own lending library in front of her home: a cute wooden hutch with glass doors and neat rows of the worthy literature that she’s sure the town’s readers need.

But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome� dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.

That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.]]> 298 Kirsten Miller 0063348691 Anna 4 4.07 2024 Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books
author: Kirsten Miller
name: Anna
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/29
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]]> Right Back at You 210563305 From the award-winning, bestselling author of Not If I Can Help It, a story about reaching across time to find the support you need against bullies, bad friends, and antisemitism.

Mason lives in 2023. His parents have just split up, and there's a guy at school who won't get off his case. As part of an assignment, he writes a letter to Albert Einstein and it ends up getting a little too personal. He throws the letter into his closet...

...and the next day he gets a letter back from a girl named Talia, who lives in 1987. She has problems of her own, including classmates who make jokes because she's Jewish. She thought her friends would have her back. But it ends up the only person she really has to talk to is... a random boy from the future?

In the tradition of such beloved novels as When You Reach Me and Save Me a Seat, Carolyn Mackler has written a funny, all-too-relatable story about finding the friend you need... even if that friends happens to live in another year.]]> 240 Carolyn Mackler 1338734210 Anna 0 4.18 2025 Right Back at You
author: Carolyn Mackler
name: Anna
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/23
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]]> One Good Thing 214268979 From the New York Times�bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones, an unforgettable story of hardship and hope, courage and resilience, that follows one young woman’s journey through war-torn Italy

1940, Emilia Romagna. Lili and Esti have been best friends since meeting at the University of Ferrara; when Esti’s son Theo is born, they become as close as sisters. There is a war being fought across borders, and in Italy, Mussolini’s Racial Laws have deemed Lili and Esti descendants of an ‘inferior� Jewish race, but life somehow goes on—until Germany invades northern Italy, and the friends find themselves in occupied territory

Esti, older and fiercely self-assured, convinces Lili to flee first to a villa in the countryside to help hide a group of young war orphans, then to a convent in Florence, where they pose as nuns and forge false identification papers for the Underground. When disaster strikes at the convent, a critically wounded Esti asks Lili to take a much bigger step: To go on the run with Theo. Protect him while Esti can’t.

Terrified to travel on her own, Lili sets out on an epic journey south toward Allied territory, through Nazi-occupied villages and bombed-out cities, doing everything she can to keep Theo safe.

A remarkable tale of friendship, motherhood, and survival,One Good Thing is a tender reminder that love for another person, even amidst darkness and uncertainty, can be reason to keep going.]]> 432 Georgia Hunter 1984880934 Anna 4 4.28 2025 One Good Thing
author: Georgia Hunter
name: Anna
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/23
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]]> <![CDATA[Nobody’s Fool (Detective Sami Kierce #2)]]> 217394492 In this stunningly twisty thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce’s college days comes back to haunt him. His memory is clear, but all these years later, the facts don’t add up…which is something he cannot ignore.

Sami Kierce, a young college grad backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning, covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand. Beside him, the body of his girlfriend. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened. His screams drown out his thoughts—and then he runs.

Twenty-two years later, Kierce, now a private investigator, is a new father who’s working off his debts by doing low level surveillance jobs and teaching wannabe sleuths at a night school in New York City. One evening, he recognizes a familiar face at the back of the classroom. Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as Kierce makes eye contact with her, she bolts. For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment since that terrible day.

His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past—and prove, after all this time, he’s nobody’s fool.]]> 352 Harlan Coben 1538756358 Anna 0 to-read 4.21 2025 Nobody’s Fool (Detective Sami Kierce #2)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/15
shelves: to-read
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]]> Sisters in the Wind 225515153 From the internationally bestselling author of Firekeeper's Daughter comes an explosive story about seeking justice for a past that won't let you go.

Seventeen-year-old Lucy Smith is on the run. Years of hell as an Ojibwe child in foster care have taught her to be smart, cautious. But when the kind-eyed Mr. Jameson tracks her down and shows interest in her case, Lucy begins to wonder if things could be different.

Still, you can’t escape the past, no matter how fast you are. Soon Lucy is under investigation with the police. She knows she can clear her name from the chaos that has followed her everywhere, but saving the people she loves could cost Lucy her life.]]> Angeline Boulley 1836430663 Anna 0 to-read 0.0 2025 Sisters in the Wind
author: Angeline Boulley
name: Anna
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
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]]> This Book Won't Burn 198493806
After her dad abruptly abandons her family and her mom moves them a million miles from their Chicago home, Noor Khan is forced to start the last quarter of her senior year at a new school, away from everything and everyone she knows and loves. Reeling from being uprooted and deserted, Noor is certain the key to survival is to keep her head down and make it to graduation. But things aren’t so simple. At school, Noor discovers hundreds of books have been labeled “obscene� or “pornographic� and are being removed from the library in accordance with a new school board policy. Even worse, virtually all the banned books are by queer and BIPOC authors. Noor can’t sit back and do nothing, because that goes against everything she believes in, but challenging the status quo just might put a target on her back. Can she effect change by speaking up? Or will small-town politics—and small-town love—be her downfall?]]> 384 Samira Ahmed 0316547840 Anna 4 4.21 2024 This Book Won't Burn
author: Samira Ahmed
name: Anna
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/09
date added: 2025/03/09
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Really well written, but it was too much like real life to completely enjoy it.
]]> The Quiet Librarian 214175092 After the murder of her best friend, a librarian’s search for answers leads back to her own dark secrets in this sweeping novel about a woman transformed by war, family, vengeance, and love, from award-winning writer Allen Eskens.

Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota whowants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared.

Thirty years before, Hana was someone Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head.

Now, someone is hunting Hana, and her friend has paid the price, leaving her eight-year-old grandson in Hana’s care. To protect the child without revealing her secret, Hana must again become the Night Mora—and hope she can find the killer before the past comes for them, too.]]> 320 Allen Eskens 0316566314 Anna 4 4.22 2025 The Quiet Librarian
author: Allen Eskens
name: Anna
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/08
date added: 2025/03/08
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Overall, I thought this was really well done.
]]> Nat a Chance (Nat Enough #6) 210563365 The sixth book in the New York Times bestselling series that began with Nat Enough!

You don't know until you tri...

Nat doesn't think she's an athlete, but after a series of painfully embarrassing moments, she's determined to build her confidence and signs up for a triathlon with her best friend, Zoe. As training begins, Nat realizes she's in way over her head, facing so many setbacks and challenges that she wonders why she ever signed up! Can Nat get out of her own way and complete the triathlon, or has she convinced herself that she's not cut out for it and quit?]]> 240 Maria Scrivan 1546104461 Anna 0 4.25 Nat a Chance (Nat Enough #6)
author: Maria Scrivan
name: Anna
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
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review:
Another lovely entry into the Nat Enough series.
]]> <![CDATA[Mallory and the Trouble with Twins: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #17)]]> 210563235 A Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by New York Times bestselling cartoonist Arley Nopra!

Mallory knows she's a good baby-sitter. She's been looking after her seven younger brothers and sisters for years. So when Kristy offers her a steady job baby-sitting for the Arnold twins, Mal thinks it'll be easy money.

The twins sure are cute in their matching outfits. But once Mrs. Arnold leaves, Marilyn and Carolyn turn into twin terrors! They trick Mallory so that she can't tell them apart and they act like spoiled brats.

Taking care of Marilyn and Carolyn is a baby-sitting nightmare. But Mallory is a responsible member of the Baby-sitters Club and she's not giving up!]]> 176 Arley Nopra 1338835637 Anna 0 4.22 2025 Mallory and the Trouble with Twins: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels #17)
author: Arley Nopra
name: Anna
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves:
review:
I love reliving my childhood through these graphic novel adaptations
]]> We Could Be Magic 215149189 A swoon-worthy young adult graphic novel about a girl's summer job at a theme park from #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.


When Tabitha Laurie was growing up, a visit to Sommerland saved her belief in true love, even as her parents� marriage was falling apart. Now she’s landed her dream job at the theme park’s prestigious summer program, where she can make magical memories for other kids, guests, and superfans just like her. All she has to do is audition for one of the coveted princess roles, and soon her dreams will come true.

There’s just one problem. The heroes and heroines at Sommerland are all, well� thin. And no matter how much Tabi lives for the magic, she simply doesn't fit the park's idea of a princess.

Given a not-so-regal position at a nacho food stand instead, Tabi is going to need the support of new friends, a new crush, and a whole lot of magic if she’s going to devise her own happily ever after. . . without getting herself fired in the process.

With art by Joelle Murray, the wonder of Sommerland comes to life with charming characters and whimsical backdrops. We Could Be Magic is a perfect read for anyone looking to get swept away by a sparkly summer romance.]]> 256 Marissa Meyer 1250379393 Anna 0 to-read 4.46 2025 We Could Be Magic
author: Marissa Meyer
name: Anna
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/06
shelves: to-read
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]]> Ryan and Avery 70876231 From the New York Times bestselling author of EVERY DAY, this is a queer love story for the ages--told over the course of a couple's first ten dates.

When a blue-haired boy (Ryan) meets a pink-haired boy (Avery) at a dance--a queer prom--both feel an inexplicable but powerful connection. Follow them through their first ten dates as they bridge their initial shyness and fall in love--through snowstorms, groundings, meeting parents (Avery's) and not (Ryan's), cast parties, heartbreak, and every day and date in between.]]> 320 David Levithan 0399553096 Anna 3 3.87 2023 Ryan and Avery
author: David Levithan
name: Anna
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/04
date added: 2025/03/04
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]]> <![CDATA[Denton Little's Still Not Dead (Denton Little #2)]]> 25937799 You only live once—unless you’re Denton Little!

The good news: Denton Little has lived through his deathdate. Yay! The bad news: He’s being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die any time. Huh. Cheating death isn’t quite as awesome as Denton would have thought�

Lance Rubin’s debut novel, Denton Little’s Deathdate, showed readers just how funny and poignant imminent death could be. Now in this sequel, he takes on the big questions about life. How do we cope, knowing we could die at any time? Would you save someone from dying even if they were a horrible person? Is it wrong to kiss the girl your best friend is crushing on if she’s really into you instead? What if she’s wearing bacon lip gloss?]]> 346 Lance Rubin 0553497006 Anna 4 3.67 Denton Little's Still Not Dead (Denton Little #2)
author: Lance Rubin
name: Anna
average rating: 3.67
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2020/01/23
date added: 2025/03/02
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]]> <![CDATA[Sea Legs: A Graphic Novel (Sea Legs #1)]]> 210563250 Set sail for adventure! Dive in to this hilarious and moving middle grade graphic memoir about friendship, growing up, and life at sea.

Janey's family is about to set sail for the adventure of a lifetime! The only problem? Janey must leave her school, her life, her best friend, the entire country behind for new adventures � coral reefs, colorful markets, and new cultures. Life at sea is exhilarating, but there’s a major downside: when you’re raising anchor every few days with sights on a new harbor, it’s almost impossible to make new friends.

Finally, Janey meets the cool and aloof Astrid � a fellow boat kid who’s equally starved for friendship. But Astrid can be a challenging friend to navigate, and beyond that, hurricane season has only just begun . . . .

At turns laugh-out-loud hilarious and heartbreakingly poingnant, this stunning middle grade graphic memoir charts both the turbulence and joys of growing up.]]> 256 Jules Bakes 1338835882 Anna 3 3.80 2025 Sea Legs: A Graphic Novel (Sea Legs #1)
author: Jules Bakes
name: Anna
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
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]]> Such Charming Liars 201102258 The newest mystery from the author One of Us Is Lying, the Queen of thrillers, Karen M. McManus! When mother-daughter grifters set out on their final job, the heist gets deadly and dangerously personal.

For all of Kat’s life, it’s just been her and her mother, Jamie—except for the forty-eight hours when Jamie was married and Kat had a stepbrother, Liam. That all ended in an epic divorce, and Kat and Liam haven’t spoken since.

Now Jamie is a jewel thief trying to go straight, but she has one last job—at billionaire Ross Sutherland’s birthday party. And Kat has figured out a way to tag along. What Kat doesn’t know, though, is that there are two surprise guests at the dazzling Sutherland compound that weekend. The last two people she wants to run into. Liam and his father—a serial scammer who has his sights set on Ross Sutherland’s youngest daughter.

Kat and Liam are on a collision course to disaster, and when a Sutherland dies, they realize they might actually be in the killer’s crosshairs themselves. Somehow Kat and Liam are the new targets, and they can’t trust anyone—except each other.

Or can they? Because if there’s one thing both Kat and Liam know, it’s how to lie. They learned from the best.]]> 389 Karen M. McManus 059348505X Anna 4 3.77 2024 Such Charming Liars
author: Karen M. McManus
name: Anna
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/01
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]]> How to Draw a Secret 213051913 For fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Sisters and Jen Wang’s Stargazing comes the empowering autobiographical story of a young Taiwanese American artist struggling to find her voice to save what matters most.

Twelve-year-old Cindy relishes drawing flawless images, but she is stumped by an art contest prompt: “What family means to me.� No one at school can know that Cindy’s dad moved back to Taiwan four years ago, so Cindy sketches out the perfect plan to draw the perfect picture while keeping her parents� separation secret.

Then an unexpected trip to Taipei reveals devastating new secrets. Suddenly everything from Cindy's art to her family is falling apart. With her dream of perfection in tatters, Cindy must figure out how to draw from her heart and share her secrets. But can she really reveal the truth, messy lines and all?]]> 272 Cindy Chang 0358659655 Anna 0 4.27 2025 How to Draw a Secret
author: Cindy Chang
name: Anna
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
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]]> The Fall Risk 223199392 Two good neighbors make the best of a bad Valentine’s Day in a funny and improbably romantic short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.]]> 82 Abby Jimenez 1662529082 Anna 4 4.13 2025 The Fall Risk
author: Abby Jimenez
name: Anna
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/23
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]]> Song of a Blackbird 208840720 Song of a Blackbird has two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling tale of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.

In the present day, teenage Annick is desperate to find a bone marrow donor that could save the life of her grandmother, Johanna. She turns to her family history and discovers a photograph taken by Emma Bergsma.

Decades earlier, Emma is a young art student about to be drawn into what will become the biggest bank heist in European history: swapping 50 Million Guilders' worth of forged bank notes for real ones―right under the noses of the Nazis! Emma’s life―and the lives of thousands, including a young woman named Johanna―hangs in the balance.

In this stranger-than-fiction graphic novel, Maria van Lieshout weaves a tale about family, courage, and the power of art. Deeply personal yet universal, Song of a Blackbird sheds light on an untold WWII story and sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.]]> 256 Maria van Lieshout 1250869811 Anna 5 4.34 2025 Song of a Blackbird
author: Maria van Lieshout
name: Anna
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves:
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The incorporation of real pictures made this more intense. While this is fictionalized, it’s based on many true people, and oof.
]]> Halfway to Somewhere 213618146 New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent’s divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel.

Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce.

As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends.

Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.]]> 256 José Pimienta 0593569423 Anna 4 4.00 2025 Halfway to Somewhere
author: José Pimienta
name: Anna
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves:
review:
Overall, a solid graphic novel. It sorta seemed to rush in the last 20 pages and felt incomplete because of that. Rest was great.
]]> I Think They Love You 211003713 Sometimes fake dating your ex can turn into a second chance.

When Denzel “Denz� Carter’s workaholic father and CEO of 24 Carter Gold unexpectedly announces his retirement, the competition is on for who will become his successor. To convince his judgmental family members that Denz is capable of commitment he impulsively lies about being in a serious relationship. Problem is the last serious relationship he was in hung him high and dry after leaving the continent.

Now Denz needs to find a fake boyfriend to bring to family functions and seal the deal on the CEO position. To do so he enlists the help of his best friend and roommate, Jamie. Someone his family already accepts in their inner circle. But when his BFF is a no-show, Denz is forced to turn to the last person he wants to be in a pretend (or any) relationship Braylon, the man who broke his heart.

Braylon’s sudden reappearance in Denz’s life turns everything upside down. But apparently, he needs Denz’s connections to the mayor to win his own promotion and Denz is currently up a creek without a paddle. So, they strike a deal. It’s all business, but between the funny texts and the confusing kisses soon enough Denz is struggling to separate business from the affairs of his heart.

In Julian Winters's I think They Love You, sometimes fake dating your way to success can mean finding the second chance at love you've needed all along.]]> 336 Julian Winters 1250326249 Anna 4 3.97 2025 I Think They Love You
author: Julian Winters
name: Anna
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/22
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]]> The Berry Pickers 123036004 A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years.

July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.

In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.

For readers of The Vanishing Half and Woman of Light, this showstopping debut by a vibrant new voice in fiction is a riveting novel about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma, and the persistence of love across time.]]> 307 Amanda Peters 1646221958 Anna 0 to-read 4.04 2023 The Berry Pickers
author: Amanda Peters
name: Anna
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves: to-read
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]]> All the Blues in the Sky 211003794 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant new novel in verse and vignettes.

Sage's thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. WIthout the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn't predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life -- and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.

In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is an important story of a girl's journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.]]> 208 Renée Watson 1547605898 Anna 4 4.49 All the Blues in the Sky
author: Renée Watson
name: Anna
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/20
date added: 2025/02/20
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]]> The Game Is Afoot 220238793 A clever and hilarious new mystery about a mother who thinks she has to do it all—even solve a murder—from the author of It's Elementary

After rage quitting her job, Mavis finally has time to get all the rest she’s been putting off. Or she should have the time. Hypothetically. Except she’s taken on a new Supermom. Her hours are filledwith chauffeuring her daughter, Pearl, around toher extracurricular activities, somehow ending up class mom, and…investigating another mystery?

When Coach Cole, the director ofthekids’soccer program, drops dead on a sunny Saturday morning, no one suspects foul play. However, the police soon discover something suspicious left on the field, making it clear that someone had it in for the coach. But who?Sure, parents got mad when he made their precious star athletes sit on the bench, but not that mad.

Mavis is determined to find out, even if it takes her into the dark, dangerous underbelly of gentleparents and MLM girlbosses. Plus, it’s an easy distraction from everything else going on. Like the panic attacks she keeps brushing off. Or the fact that she’s unemployed and totally lost as to what her purpose and path in life should be. And then there’s her ex-husband who’s back in town and doing everything she’s ever wanted, just as she’s beginning a new relationship. Mavis knows a murder investigation probably isn’t the self-care she needs right now. But how exactly are you supposed to take care of yourselfwhen you don’t even know who you are anymore?]]> Elise Bryant 0593640810 Anna 0 to-read 4.70 2025 The Game Is Afoot
author: Elise Bryant
name: Anna
average rating: 4.70
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Missing Half 217213002 Two women haunted by their sisters' unsolved disappearances band together in this captivating mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Good People Here and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie.

Nicole “Nic� Monroe is in a rut. At twenty-four, she lives alone in a dinky apartment in her hometown of Mishawaka, Indiana, she’s just gotten a DWI, and she works the same dead-end job she’s been working since high school, a job she only has because her boss is a family friend and feels sorry for her. Everyone has felt sorry for her forthelast seven years—since the day her older sister, Kasey, vanished without a trace.

On thenight Kasey went missing, her car was found overahundred miles from home. Thedriver’s door was open and her purse was untouched intheseat next to it. The only real clue in her disappearance was Jules Connor, another young woman from the same area who disappeared inthesame way, two weeks earlier. But with so little for the police to go on, both their cases eventually went cold.

Nic wants nothing more than to move on—from her sister’s disappearance andthestate it’s left her in. But then one day, Jules’s sister, Jenna Connor, walks into her life and offers Nic something she hasn’t felt inalong hope. What follows isagripping tale of two sisters who will do anything to find theirmissinghalves, even if it means destroying everything they’ve ever known.]]> 272 Ashley Flowers 0593726987 Anna 0 to-read 4.03 2025 The Missing Half
author: Ashley Flowers
name: Anna
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (Death-Cast, #2)]]> 199531917
Paz Dario stays up every night, waiting for the Death-Cast call that would mean he doesn’t have to keep faking his way through this lonely life. After a devastating day, Paz decides he’s done waiting around for Death-Cast. If they say he’s not dying, he’ll just have to prove them wrong. But right before Paz can die, a boy saves his life.

Alano Rosa is heir to the Death-Cast empire that encourages everyone to live their best lives, but he doesn’t feel in control of his own existence thanks to his father. And with a violent organization called the Death Guard threatening Alano, his End Day might be closer than he thinks. It’s time to live.

Fate brings Paz and Alano together, but it’s now up to the boys to survive the tragic trials ahead so no one dies at the end.

This book contains themes that some readers may find difficult.]]> 720 Adam Silvera 0063240858 Anna 0 to-read 3.80 2025 The Survivor Wants to Die at the End (Death-Cast, #2)
author: Adam Silvera
name: Anna
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Joy to the Girls: A She Gets the Girl Novella]]> 204308396
Aside from sampling all the holiday cheer Barnwich has to offer, Alex and Molly have an important mission this weekend: to help their friend, Cora, get her crush to fall for her. But in between ice skating, snowball fights, and matchmaking schemes, it becomes obvious that both of them have another mission this weekend: to not reveal the huge secrets they’re each keeping from the other. Secrets about their post-college plans that just might threaten to tear them apart.

Will these two be able to help Cora get the girl and keep theirs—or will this be the last Christmas of Alex and Molly’s love story?]]> 220 Rachael Lippincott Anna 0 to-read 4.44 Joy to the Girls: A She Gets the Girl Novella
author: Rachael Lippincott
name: Anna
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Favorites 211399784 To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.

An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice

She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.

As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the "real story" through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can't stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she's telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.

Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.]]> 448 Layne Fargo 0593732049 Anna 4 4.20 2025 The Favorites
author: Layne Fargo
name: Anna
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/18
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]]> The Masterpiece 37504654 In her latest captivating novel, nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis takes readers into the glamorous lost art school within Grand Central Terminal, where two very different women, fifty years apart, strive to make their mark on a world set against them.

For the nearly nine million people who live in New York City, Grand Central Terminal is a crown jewel, a masterpiece of design. But for Clara Darden and Virginia Clay, it represents something quite different.

For Clara, the terminal is the stepping stone to her future, which she is certain will shine as the brightly as the constellations on the main concourse ceiling. It is 1928, and twenty-five-year-old Clara is teaching at the lauded Grand Central School of Art. A talented illustrator, she has dreams of creating cover art for Vogue, but not even the prestige of the school can override the public's disdain for a "woman artist." Brash, fiery, confident, and single-minded—even while juggling the affections of two men, a wealthy would-be poet and a brilliant experimental painter—Clara is determined to achieve every creative success. But she and her bohemian friends have no idea that they'll soon be blindsided by the looming Great Depression, an insatiable monster with the power to destroy the entire art scene. And even poverty and hunger will do little to prepare Clara for the greater tragedy yet to come.

Nearly fifty years later, in 1974, the terminal has declined almost as sharply as Virginia Clay's life. Full of grime and danger, from the smoke-blackened ceiling to the pickpockets and drug dealers who roam the floor, Grand Central is at the center of a fierce lawsuit: Is the once-grand building a landmark to be preserved, or a cancer to be demolished? For Virginia, it is simply her last resort. Recently divorced, she has just accepted a job in the information booth in order to support herself and her college-age daughter, Ruby. But when Virginia stumbles upon an abandoned art school within the terminal and discovers a striking watercolor hidden under the dust, her eyes are opened to the elegance beneath the decay. She embarks on a quest to find the artist of the unsigned masterpiece—an impassioned chase that draws Virginia not only into the battle to save Grand Central but deep into the mystery of Clara Darden, the famed 1920s illustrator who disappeared from history in 1931.]]> 368 Fiona Davis 1524742953 Anna 4 3.78 2018 The Masterpiece
author: Fiona Davis
name: Anna
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology, #2)]]> 200982268 New York Times-bestselling author Aiden Thomas returns to the beloved world of The Sunbearer Trials in Celestial Monsters, a heart-stopping duology finale, in which three young semidioses travel through a dark monster-infested world, facing down chaotic Obsidian gods, in a quest to save their friends and return the sun to the sky.

Teo never thought he could be a Hero. Now, he doesn’t have a choice.

The sun is gone, the Obsidian gods have been released from their prison, and chaos and destruction are wreaking havoc on Reino del Sol. All because Teo refused to sacrifice a fellow semidiós during the Sunbearer Trials.

With the world plunged into perpetual night, Teo, his crush Aurelio, and his best friend Niya must journey to the dark wilderness of Los Restos, battling vicious monsters while dealing with guilt, trauma, and a (very distracting) burgeoning romance between Teo and Aurelio. Determined to rescue the captured semidioses and retrieve the Sol Stone, the trio races against the clock to return Sol and their protective light. With it, order can be restored.

The future of the whole world is in their hands.]]> 416 Aiden Thomas 1250822084 Anna 4 4.19 2024 Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology, #2)
author: Aiden Thomas
name: Anna
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom]]> 214151420 From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.

Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.

As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.

Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.�

For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, “ConneXions.� No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.]]> 320 Shari Franke 1668065398 Anna 0 4.44 2025 The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom
author: Shari Franke
name: Anna
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
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]]> I'll Have What He's Having 204593815 A smart, tender, vivacious romantic comedy about mistaken identities, the line between love and sex, and the way one night—and one person—can change your life forever.

When it comes to love, Farzan Alavi is a disaster. After his most recent heartbreak, he’s drowning his sorrows at Kansas City’s newest wine bar. Only instead of being crowded between strangers, he’s escorted to a VIP table for one. There, the hot sommelier does more than treat him to the meal of his life. The way he flirts with Farzan ignites instant sparks.

There’s just one problem: David Curtis thinks Farzan is Frank Allen, Kansas City’s most influential food critic. The truth only comes out after the two spend an unforgettably hot night together. Good news—both think the mix-up is hilarious. Bad news—David is studying to become a master sommelier and has no interest in a relationship.

Neither expects their paths to cross again . . . until Farzan inherits his family’s bistro and needs David’s restaurant knowledge. The two agree to an exchange: David will answer Farzan’s questions, and Farzan will help David study for his test. Only business turns to pleasure when neither can ignore the attraction still sizzling between them. But with David set on moving after his test, and Farzan committed to his family’s restaurant, how can their relationship last past the expiration date?]]> 384 Adib Khorram 1538739526 Anna 3 4.00 2024 I'll Have What He's Having
author: Adib Khorram
name: Anna
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/09
shelves:
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]]> Under the Same Stars 200982339
In 1940s Germany, Sophie is excited to discover a message waiting for her in the Bridegroom's Oak from a mysterious suitor. Meanwhile, her best friend, Hanna, is sending messages too—but not to find love. As World War II unfolds in their small town of Kleinwald, the oak may hold the key to resistance against the Nazis.

In 1980s West Germany, American teen transplant Jenny feels suffocated by her strict parents and is struggling to fit in. Until she finds herself falling for Lena, a punk-rock girl hell-bent on tearing down the wall separating West Germany from East Germany, and meeting Frau Hermann, a kind old lady with secrets of her own.

In Spring 2020, New York City, best friends Miles and Chloe are slogging through the last few months of senior year when an unexpected package from Chloe’s grandmother leads them to investigate a cold case about two unidentified teenagers who went missing under the Bridegroom’s Oak eighty years ago.

Age Range: 12-18]]> 480 Libba Bray 0374388946 Anna 5 4.21 2025 Under the Same Stars
author: Libba Bray
name: Anna
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/08
date added: 2025/02/08
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]]> Not Quite Dead Yet 220223963 The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder—now a hit Netflix series—returns with her first novel for adults: a twisty thriller about a young woman trying to solve her own murder.

In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.

She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm.

Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend.

She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:

Jet is going to solve her own murder.]]> 400 Holly Jackson 059397705X Anna 0 to-read 4.44 2025 Not Quite Dead Yet
author: Holly Jackson
name: Anna
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/06
shelves: to-read
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]]> Lying in the Deep 61442283 A juicy mystery of jealousy, love, and betrayal set on a Semester at Sea-inspired cruise ship, with a diverse cast of delightfully suspicious characters who’ll leave you guessing with every jaw-dropping twist.

After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn't be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime�11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship—and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart.

But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with�.before anyone else winds up in body bags.

Perfect for readers of Natalie D. Richards, E. Lockhart, and Karen McManus!]]> 384 Diana Urban 0593527607 Anna 3 3.62 2023 Lying in the Deep
author: Diana Urban
name: Anna
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/05
date added: 2025/02/05
shelves:
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Overall, enjoyable but some things were out there in a not enjoyable way
]]> The Glass Girl 208430624
There’s only one thing that dulls the pressure: alcohol. Vodka, beer, peppermint schnapps—alcohol smooths the sharp edges of Bella’s life. And what’s the big deal? Everyone drinks. Besides, Bella can stop whenever she wants. But after she gets blackout drunk at a Thanksgiving party and wakes up in the hospital, it’s time to face reality. And for Bella, reality means rehab.]]> 464 Kathleen Glasgow 0525708081 Anna 4 4.32 2024 The Glass Girl
author: Kathleen Glasgow
name: Anna
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/02
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves:
review:

]]> The Stolen Queen 211025454 From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

Egypt, 1936: When anthropology student Charlotte Cross is offered a coveted spot on an archaeological dig in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, she leaps at the opportunity. But after an unbearable tragedy strikes, Charlotte knows her future will never be the same.

New York City, 1978: Eighteen-year-old Annie Jenkins is thrilled when she lands an opportunity to work for iconic former Vogue fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who’s in the midst of organizing the famous Met Gala, hosted at the museum and known across the city as the “party of the year.� Though Annie soon realizes she’ll have her work cut out for her, scrambling to meet Diana’s capricious demands and exacting standards.

Meanwhile, Charlotte, now leading a quiet life as the associate curator of the Met’s celebrated Department of Egyptian Art, wants little to do with the upcoming gala. She’s consumed with her research on Hathorkare—a rare female pharaoh dismissed by most other Egyptologists as unimportant.

That is, until the night of the gala. When one of the Egyptian art collection’s most valuable artifacts goes missing . . . and there are signs Hathorkare’s legendary curse might be reawakening.

As Annie and Charlotte team up to search for the missing antiquity, a desperate hunch leads the unlikely duo to one place Charlotte swore she’d never return: Egypt. But if they’re to have any hope of finding the artifact, Charlotte will need to confront the demons of her past—which may mean leading them both directly into danger.]]> 352 Fiona Davis 0593474279 Anna 4 3.93 2025 The Stolen Queen
author: Fiona Davis
name: Anna
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/01
date added: 2025/02/01
shelves:
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]]> A Bánh Mì for Two 200982333 In this sweet sapphic romance about two foodies in love, Vivi meets Lan while studying abroad in Vietnam and they spend the semester unraveling their families' histories—and eating all the street food in Sài Gòn.

In Sài Gòn, Lan is always trying to be the perfect daughter, dependable and willing to care for her widowed mother and their bánh mì stall. Her secret passion, however, is A Bánh Mì for Two, the food blog she started with her father but has stopped updating since his passing.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese American Vivi Huynh, has never been to Việt Nam. Her parents rarely talk about the homeland that clearly haunts them. So Vivi secretly goes to Vietnam for a study abroad program her freshman year of college. She’s determined to figure out why her parents left, and to try everything she’s seen on her favorite food blog, A Bánh Mì for Two.

When Vivi and Lan meet in Sài Gòn, they strike a deal. Lan will show Vivi around the city, helping her piece together her mother’s story through crumbling photographs and old memories. Vivi will help Lan start writing again so she can enter a food blogging contest. And slowly, as they explore the city and their pasts, Vivi and Lan fall in love.]]> 224 Trinity Nguyen 1250910838 Anna 3 3.85 2024 A Bánh Mì for Two
author: Trinity Nguyen
name: Anna
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/30
shelves:
review:
Shorter book which meant that some elements didn’t feel fully fleshed out, but overall, I liked it.
]]> Everything Glittered 204593537
But after sneaking out of the Washington Female Seminary to visit a speakeasy, they return to discover that their controversial young headmistress, Mrs. Rose, has been murdered.

Reeling from the death of her beloved mentor, Gertrude enlists her friends in her quest to clear Mrs. Rose’s reputation, while trying to keep her own intact. But in Prohibition Washington, it’s difficult to sidestepgrifters, bootleggers, and shady federal agentswhen investigating a murder. And with all the secrets being uncovered, Gertrude is finding it harder and harder to keep her attraction to her best friends hidden.

A proper, upscale life is all Gertrude has ever known, but murder sure makes a gal is all that glitters really gold?]]> 384 Robin Talley 0316565318 Anna 4 3.64 2024 Everything Glittered
author: Robin Talley
name: Anna
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/27
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves:
review:
I didn’t think it was the best mystery, but I still loved the queer historical elements.
]]> The Meadowbrook Murders 212806852
Secrets don't die when you do.

It’s the first week of senior year at Middlebrook Academy. For Amy and her best friend Sarah, that means late-night parties at the boathouse, bike rides through their sleepyConnecticut town, and the crisp beginning of a New England fall.

Then tragedy. Sarah and her boyfriend are brutally murdered in their dorm room. Now the week Amy has been dreaming about for years has turned into a nightmare, especially when all eyes turn to her as the culprit. She was Sarah’s only roommate, the only other person there when she died—or so she told the police to cover for her own boyfriend’s suspicious whereabouts. And even though they were best friends, with every passing day, Amy begins to learn that Sarah lied about a lot of things.

Liz, editor of the school newspaper and social outcast, is determined to uncover the truth about what happened on campus, in hopes her reporting will land a prestigious scholarship to college. As Liz dives deeper into her investigation,the secrets these murdered seniors never wanted out come to light. The deeper Liz digs, the messier the truth becomes � and with a killer still on campus, she can’t afford to make any mistakes.

The Meadowbrook Murders is a gripping mystery about the inextricable way power, privilege, and secrets are linked, and how telling the truth can come at a deadly price.]]> 336 Jessica Goodman 0593698711 Anna 0 to-read 3.60 2025 The Meadowbrook Murders
author: Jessica Goodman
name: Anna
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
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]]> Mixed-Up 208840706 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey.

When reading isn’t as easy as ABC�

Stella knows fifth grade will be the best year ever. Her closest friends, Emiko and Latasha, are in her class and they all got the teacher they wanted. Then their favorite television show, Witchlins, announces a new guidebook and an online game!

But when the classwork starts piling up, Stella struggles to stay on top. Why does it take her so long to read? And how can she keep up with friends in the Witchlins game if she can’t get through the text-heavy guidebook?] And when she can’t deal with the text-heavy Witchlins guidebook, she can’t keep up with her friends in the game. It takes loving teachers and her family to recognize that Stella has a learning difference, and after a dyslexia diagnosis she gets the support and tools she needs to succeed.

Bestselling author Kami Garcia was inspired to write this special book by her daughter’s dyslexia journey; her own neurodivergent experience; and the many students she taught over the years. Mixed-Up shows that our differences don’t need to separate us.]]> 208 Kami Garcia 1250840880 Anna 0 4.20 2025 Mixed-Up
author: Kami Garcia
name: Anna
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Speak Up, Santiago! (A Hillside Valley Graphic Novel)]]> 214269341 How can you speak up if you don't have the words?

Santi is excited to spend the summer in Hillside Valley, meeting the local kids, eating his Abuela's delicious food, exploring! There's just one problem—Santi doesn't speak Spanish that well and it feels like everyone he meets in Hillside does. There's Sol (she's a soccer player who really loves books), Willie, (the artist), Alejandro (Santi's unofficial tour guide!), and Nico (Alejandro's brother and blue belt in karate). In between all of their adventures in Hillside, Santi can't help but worry about his Spanish-what if he can't keep up?! Does that mean he's not Colombian enough? Will Santi find his confidence and his voice? Or will his worries cost him his new friendships...and the chance to play in HIlliside's summer soccer tournament?!]]> 224 Julio Anta 0593651650 Anna 0 to-read 4.23 Speak Up, Santiago! (A Hillside Valley Graphic Novel)
author: Julio Anta
name: Anna
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Verona Comics 51901322 From the author of Hot Dog Girl comes a fresh and funny queer YA contemporary novel about two teens who fall in love in an indie comic book shop.

Jubilee has it all together. She’s an elite cellist, and when she’s not working in her stepmom’s indie comic shop, she’s prepping for the biggest audition of her life.

Ridley is barely holding it together. His parents own the biggest comic-store chain in the country, and Ridley can’t stop disappointing them—that is, when they’re even paying attention.

They meet one fateful night at a comic convention prom, and the two can’t help falling for each other. Too bad their parents are at each other’s throats every chance they get, making a relationship between them nearly impossible…unless they manage to keep it a secret.

Then again, the feud between their families may be the least of their problems. As Ridley’s anxiety spirals, Jubilee tries to help but finds her focus torn between her fast-approaching audition and their intensifying relationship. What if love can’t conquer all? What if each of them needs more than the other can give?]]> 352 Jennifer Dugan 052551628X Anna 3 3.58 2020 Verona Comics
author: Jennifer Dugan
name: Anna
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves:
review:

]]> In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some 214151387 A heartfelt and hilarious collection of essays from the comedian and entertainer known for voicing Olaf in Disney's Frozen and for his award-winning turn as Elder Cunningham in the Broadway smash hit The Book of Mormon

For the first and possibly last time Josh Gad dives into a wide array of personal topics: the lasting impact of his parents� divorce; how he struggled with weight and self-image; his first big break; how everyone was sure his most successful ventures (both on the big screen and on the stage) would fail; his take on fatherhood; and much more. This trip down the rabbit hole of overly personal stories will distract readers from climate change, the downward descent of democracy in Western civilization, and the existential threat that AI poses to Drake’s music—with never-before-seen photos and few-to-no spelling errors.

Whether you know him from Disney or Broadway, YouTube, the silver screen, or not at all, one fact remains: Gad’s work never fails to bring people together (as long as they’re alive). His delightful debut, written in the tradition of Amy Poehler, Jim Gaffigan, and Mindy Kaling, reminds us to keep going, even when the chips and doubters are stacked against you.]]> 272 Josh Gad 1668050528 Anna 0 4.24 2025 In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some
author: Josh Gad
name: Anna
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/21
shelves:
review:
I don’t tend to rate memoirs anymore, but I thought this was a pretty decent one. It for sure was a quick read.
]]> Take It from the Top 200229974
Eowyn Becker has waited all year to attend her sixth summer at Lamplighter Lake Summer Camp. Here, she’s not in the shadow of her Broadway-star older brother; she’s a stellar performer in her own right. Here, the pain of her mom’s death can’t reach her, and she gets to reunite with her best friend, Jules Marrigan—the only person in the world who understands her.

But when she gets to camp, everything seems wrong. The best-friend reunion Eowyn had been dreaming of doesn’t go as planned. Jules will barely even look at Eowyn, let alone talk to her, and Eowyn has no idea why.

Well, maybe she does�

There are two sides to every story, and if you want to understand this one, you’ll need to hear both. Told in a series of alternating chapters that dip back to past summers, the girls� story will soon reveal how Eowyn and Jules went from being best friends to fierce foils. Can they mend ways before the curtains close on what was supposed to be the best summer of their lives?]]> 256 Claire Swinarski 0063321734 Anna 3 4.00 2024 Take It from the Top
author: Claire Swinarski
name: Anna
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves:
review:

]]> The Bump 197536816 Two men expecting a baby via surrogate go on the road trip of a lifetime in this hilarious and poignant novel by Sidney Karger, author of Best Men.

Wyatt Wallace is a practical, super organized director of TV commercials. Biz Petterelli is a child-actor-turned-magazine-writer who thrives on spontaneity. Though polar opposites, they are fully committed to their relationship and their life in Brooklyn with their dog, Matilda. They’re also about to have a baby together.

And they’re freaking out.

They’ve both dreamed of becoming parents, but now that it’s happening, they’re doubting everything. Their baby is due in a few weeks and instead of flying to California just before the birth as planned, Biz has a better idea. They could use one last hurrah, along with some serious “us-time� to mend the issues they’ve been having lately—before they get tied down by fatherhood and its impending responsibilities. So the daddies-to-be load up their 1992 Volkswagen Cabriolet and embark on an epic cross-country babymoon. They attempt to recharge at the beach in Provincetown, stumble through their impromptu baby shower in Chicago, and endure a Star Wars -themed wedding in Colorado before heading west for the baby.

But when they take several unexpected detours, old wounds are reopened and secrets spill out that could change their relationship for betteror for worse, forcing the couple to reexamine the meaning of family while building their own. After all, what’s a road trip without a few bumps along the way?]]> 368 Sidney Karger 0593439503 Anna 3 3.77 2024 The Bump
author: Sidney Karger
name: Anna
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves:
review:

]]> Leap 200982350 A coming-of-age graphic novel following two dancers at a conservative performing arts school―exploring friendship, first love, and what it means to fall out of step with your own dreams.

Ana has been studying contemporary dance since she was little, but her heart isn’t in it anymore. Instead her focus is on Carina―a beautiful, ambitious ballerina whose fear of being outed keeps Ana in the closet and their fragile relationship from seeing the light of day. Risking her own career, Ana gives up more and more in order to fit into the shadows of Carina’s life.

Sara, on the other hand, is fielding whispers she may be the best dancer their school has produced in years. Much of that is thanks to her mentor and instructor, Marlena, who plucked Sara from the classical track and encouraged her to blossom as a contemporary dancer. Sara has always been in awe of Marlena, but recently, that admiration has sparked into something more, and Sara’s not sure what to do about it.

As junior year at their performing arts school begins, Ana and Sara are assigned as roommates. What starts off as a tentative friendship soon becomes a much-needed anchor.]]> 304 Simina Popescu 1250838304 Anna 4 4.17 2024 Leap
author: Simina Popescu
name: Anna
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves:
review:

]]> Fresh Start 210563353 From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging.

Ollie Herisson's dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn't worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she'll get a fresh start somewhere else. A complete reset. It doesn't matter if her classmates think she's weird for pretending that she lives in the world of an imagined anime, or if she makes an enemy out of the most popular girl in her class, or if she just does something hugely embarrassing! And it definitely doesn't matter that all her mom wants is for Ollie to be more of a proper Thai daughter.

But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can't run away from her life?]]> 288 Gale Galligan 1338045849 Anna 4 4.14 Fresh Start
author: Gale Galligan
name: Anna
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:

]]> Radiant 211025410 A historical middle-grade novel in verse from multiple Coretta Scott King winner Vaunda Micheaux Nelson.

As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine� for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world.

Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else.

It’s not all bad, though. Cooper and her beloved older sister have fallen for the Beatles, and Cooper is thrilled to have something special they can share. And what she learns about her British idols adds new complexity to Cooper’s feelings about race.]]> 320 Vaunda Micheaux Nelson 0593855787 Anna 4 4.29 Radiant
author: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
name: Anna
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight over Science in Schools]]> 211004214 A Dangerous Idea by Debbie Levy, read by Noe Nishizawa

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

One hundred years ago, a small-town science teacher ignited a nationwide debate over what students should learn in school--and who should decide.

In 1925, when Tennessee lawmakers banned the teaching of evolution in public schools, teacher John Scopes challenged the law--and set off a gripping circus of a legal battle. Two masterminds faced off in a blistering courtroom debate over creationism and natural selection, each armed with the books they believed belonged in classrooms. Celebrity politician William Jennings Bryan relied on the Bible to make his case, while legal luminary Clarence Darrow defended Charles Darwin's groundbreaking books On the Origin of Species and The Descent of Man. Their clash would go down in history as the Scopes Monkey Trial.

A century later, here is the riveting truth of what happened and why it matters. For a nation still arguing about the books and ideas that young people should encounter, award-winning author Debbie Levy delivers an important, insightful and expertly-researched account of our history that illuminates the challenges we face today.]]> 288 Debbie Levy 1547612215 Anna 0 to-read 4.12 A Dangerous Idea: The Scopes Trial, the Original Fight over Science in Schools
author: Debbie Levy
name: Anna
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Lions of Fifth Avenue 48814109
It's 1913, and on the surface, Laura Lyons couldn't ask for more out of life--her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she finds herself drawn to Greenwich Village's new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club--a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women's rights. Soon, Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. But when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she's forced to confront her shifting priorities head on . . . and may just lose everything in the process.

Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist Laura Lyons, especially after she's wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie's running begin disappearing from the library's famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-adverse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However, things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage--truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library's history.]]> 354 Fiona Davis 1524744611 Anna 4 3.83 2020 The Lions of Fifth Avenue
author: Fiona Davis
name: Anna
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/16
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves:
review:

]]> Ex Marks the Spot 212643715 A swoony rivals-to-lovers romance . . .
Family secrets that can't stay buried . . .
A globe-spanning treasure hunt with puzzles to solve . . .

This latest YA novel by acclaimed writer Gloria Chao takes readers on a soaring adventure through love, loss, and the lively streets of Taiwan.

For Gemma's whole life, it has always been her and her mom against the world. As far as she knew, all her grandparents—and thus her ties to Taiwanese culture—were dead. Until one day when a mysterious man shows up at her door with two shocking the news that her grandfather has just recently passed, and the first clue to a treasure hunt that Gemma hopes will lead to her inheritance.

There's just one major problem: to complete the hunt, she has to go to her grandfather's home in Taiwan. And the only way she can get there is by asking her ex and biggest high-school rival, Xander, for help. But after swallowing her pride, Gemma finds herself halfway across the world, ready to unearth her life-changing prize. Soon Gemma discovers that the treasure hunt is about much more than money—it's about finally learning about her family, her cultural roots, and maybe even finding true love.

Filled with ingenious puzzles, a vibrant Taipei setting, and a delicious romance, Ex Marks the Spot is an exciting adventure by award-winning writer Gloria Chao, perfect for fans of Loveboat Taipei, The Inheritance Games, and Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes.]]> 384 Gloria Chao 0593692713 Anna 4 3.85 2024 Ex Marks the Spot
author: Gloria Chao
name: Anna
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves:
review:

]]> The Love of My Afterlife 199928276 A recently deceased woman meets “the one� in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on Earth before ten days are up�.

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, she’s also now standing in her "sparkle and shine" nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is, until someone comes running through a door yelling something about a huge mistake and sends the dreamy stranger back down to Earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.

When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to Earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But to find him in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind. . . .]]> 369 Kirsty Greenwood 0593816137 Anna 4 4.05 2024 The Love of My Afterlife
author: Kirsty Greenwood
name: Anna
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/11
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:
Thought it could have been a little shorter but overall, I liked it.
]]> Visitations 200982311 Inspired by true events, this haunting yet hopeful young adult graphic novel weaves together family dynamics, mental illness, and religion―perfect for fans of Hey, Kiddo.

Corey’s mom has always made him feel safe. Especially after his parents� divorce, and the dreaded visitations with his dad begin. But as Corey grows older, he can’t ignore his mother’s increasingly wild accusations. Her insistence that God has appointed Corey as his sister’s protector. Her declaration that Corey’s father is the devil.

Soon, she whisks Corey and his sister away from their home and into the boiling Nevada desert. There, they struggle to survive with little food and the police on the trail. Meanwhile, under the night sky, Corey is visited by a flickering ghost, a girl who urges him to fight for a different world―one outside of his mother’s spoon-fed tales, one Corey must find before it’s too late.

Drawing inspiration from his own upbringing in the Mormon church, Corey Egbert welcomes readers on an emotionally stirring, nuanced journey into the liminal spaces between imagination and memory, faith and truth.]]> 336 Corey Egbert 037430842X Anna 0 4.06 2024 Visitations
author: Corey Egbert
name: Anna
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2025/01/11
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:
Intense but quick read. Not rating it because it’s based on something that actually happened to the author.
]]> <![CDATA[Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan, #5)]]> 211003787 From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.]]> 320 Elle Cosimano 1250337348 Anna 0 to-read 4.18 2025 Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave (Finlay Donovan, #5)
author: Elle Cosimano
name: Anna
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Dan in Green Gables: A Modern Reimagining of Anne of Green Gables]]> 218460269 In this modern reimagining of Anne of Green Gables, effervescent extrovert Dan Stewart-Álvarez is surprised to find home and community in rural Tennessee.

Despite a life on the road with his free-spirited mother, fifteen-year-old Dan Stewart-Álvarez has always wanted to settle down. He just didn’t think it’d be like this: with his mother abandoning him in rural Tennessee with two strangers—his gentle grandmother and conservative, rough-around-the-edges grandfather. Here, he is forced to adjust to working the farm, entering high school, and hardest yet—reckoning with his queerness in a severe Southern Baptist community.

But even as Dan grows closer to his mawmaw, befriends fellow outsiders at school, and tries to make a new life for himself in Green Gables, he has to discover whether he can contend with intolerance and adapt to change without losing himself in the process.

From award-winning author Rey Terciero and Eisner Award nominee and illustrator Claudia Aguirre comes a new retelling of Anne of Green Gables about unconventional families, queer identity, and finding the meaning of home in the most unlikely of places.]]> 256 Rey Terciero 0593385578 Anna 0 to-read 3.33 2025 Dan in Green Gables: A Modern Reimagining of Anne of Green Gables
author: Rey Terciero
name: Anna
average rating: 3.33
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Stuck (Click #7) 217223413 Kayla Miller, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Click graphic novel series and coauthor of the Besties series, returns with a new Olive story! Olive's hopes for a relaxing two weeks at Camp Acorn Lake are challenged when two of her friends stop speaking to each other.

A storm is brewing�- in the skies and in Olive’s friend group.

Olive is excited to reunite with Max and Bree at Camp Acorn Lake, but the buses have barely pulled away when her two closest camp friends start fighting…and it’s not just a little squabble. They refuse to speak to each other and, even worse, try to make Olive choose sides. Any attempt to smooth things over seems to aggravate them more, leaving Olive stuck in the middle. With Willow enjoying her busy activity and social schedule, Olive has no choice but to spend most of her time with unhappy first-time camper Nat. It’s far from the fun-filled, sun-filled summer she had planned.

Luckily, Olive is able to distract herself with a new challenge: pitching a winning plan for improving the camp! Willow, Nat, and even the feuding Max and Bree want to help Olive make the camp a better place, but with all the drama, they’re lacking the teamwork to make the dream work. Can Olive find a way to free herself and her friends from everything that’s holding them back, or are they doomed to stay stuck in their disagreements?

New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Kayla Miller returns with another vibrant and emotional story about the joys and challenges of navigating friend groups and the importance of remembering that the only feelings you can control are your own.]]> 224 Kayla Miller 0063285657 Anna 0 to-read 4.07 Stuck (Click #7)
author: Kayla Miller
name: Anna
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Free Piano (Not Haunted) 220160555 From beloved graphic novelist Whitney Gardner comes a big-hearted, touching, and spooky coming-of-age story about a young aspiring songwriter who forms a ghostly partnership with the pop star who haunts her secondhand piano.

The piano is free, but fame has a price.

On the sleepy streets of Cascade Cove, lonely Margot knows that when she stumbles across a discarded synthesizer with a “not haunted� sign, she’s discovered the key to realizing her dreams. Determined to become a real songwriter and earn her absent father’s admiration, Margot dives headfirst into trying to gain followers and fans online. But her musical journey takes an unexpected turn when she realizes the (not haunted) piano is very much…haunted.

Enter Vision, teen pop sensation of 1979 whose untimely demise left her spirit intertwined with the keys of her synthesizer. Though Margot and Vision couldn’t be more different, the girls form an unlikely bond fueled by their shared passion for music.

But as Margot’s obsession with fame and recognition grows, she may come dangerously close to losing what she loves about music…and herself.]]> 256 Whitney Gardner 1665938129 Anna 0 to-read 3.79 Free Piano (Not Haunted)
author: Whitney Gardner
name: Anna
average rating: 3.79
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Band Nerd 213344044 Perfect for fans of Roller Girl and New Kid comes a heartfelt coming-of-age story about music, family, and friendship wherein twelve-year-old Lucy Carver must navigate life as band nerd in a new school, all while competing for a top flute soloist spot in band. But for Lucy, facing the music means dealing with the problems at home.

Middle school is tough—thank goodness there’s band.

For twelve-year-old Lucy Carver, music isn’t just a way of life; it’s an escape from homework and an off-key homelife with her alcoholic father. When Lucy starts seventh grade at Windley School of the Arts, with its high academic standards and even higher artistic expectations, it becomes much harder to keep life in tune.

Determined to be the conductor of her own life, Lucy focuses all her energy on beating snobby Tolli Claybourne for first chair flute. As things spiral out of control with her parents and her schoolwork, Lucy grows desperate for a win. Just when she thinks she's hitting all the right notes, an accident leaves her unable to play and her mother threatens to withdraw her for poor grades. Now Lucy must sabotage Tolli or give up on her dream.

Packed with heart, Band Nerd is a poignant coming-of-age story about resilience, family, and using your voice to find harmony even during life’s most discordant moments.]]> 272 Sarah Clawson Willis 0358447852 Anna 0 to-read 4.29 2025 Band Nerd
author: Sarah Clawson Willis
name: Anna
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Sugar Shack 208430629 Like the seasons, everything changes with time, and for one city-kid turned country girl, she's ready to settle in for the winter...too bad there is always work to be done!Don't miss out on the final volume of New York Times bestselling author Lucy Knisley's Peapod Farm series!

Winter has come to Peapod Farm and Jen couldn't be more excited to spend time with her step-sisters. Jen has been so focused on trying to figure out how she fits into her new family that she hasn't realized she's found her place until Reese calls her 'sister'.

Unfortunately, this puts a rift between Jen and Andy. Andy has been and will always be Reese's ACTUAL sister, Jen is just the STEP sister. Just when Jen thought she had everything figured out she's suddenly not so sure...Jen still has a lot to learn about living life outside the city!

Maybe between Peapod Farm's first snow and learning how to tap a tree for sugar, Jen and Andy both will have a chance to truly understand what it means to be family.]]> 240 Lucy Knisley 1984896903 Anna 0 to-read 4.25 2025 Sugar Shack
author: Lucy Knisley
name: Anna
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Outsider Kids: A Parachute Kids Graphic Novel (Parachute Kids #2)]]> 210563230 Can one spoiled brat upend three kids' hard-won happiness and even their safety? Find out in this hilarious, hair-raising, high stakes companion to the bestselling Parachute Kids!

WITH FAMILY LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?

After seven months on their own as undocumented immigrants, the Lin siblings have settled into their new lives in California. Jia-Xi (Jesse) has a new job, Ke-Gang (Jason) has a new crush, and Feng-Li (Ann) is excited to celebrate her eleventh birthday with her new friends. Their parents still await visa approval in Taiwan, so the trio is trying to take better care of one another and stay under the radar of immigration authorities. But when their stuck-up cousin Josephine-a violin prodigy-arrives with her privilege and demands, suddenly their world is in turnaround. Will they have to give up their home, their friends, and the stability they worked so hard to achieve?]]> 288 Betty C. Tang 1338832727 Anna 0 to-read 4.11 Outsider Kids: A Parachute Kids Graphic Novel (Parachute Kids #2)
author: Betty C. Tang
name: Anna
average rating: 4.11
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> People We Meet on Vacation 54985743 Two best friends. Ten summer trips. One last chance to fall in love.

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?]]> 400 Emily Henry 1984806750 Anna 4 3.85 2021 People We Meet on Vacation
author: Emily Henry
name: Anna
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves:
review:

]]> Remarkably Bright Creatures 58733693 Remarkably Bright Creatures, an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors--until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.]]> 368 Shelby Van Pelt 0063204150 Anna 4 Quiet but beautiful book. 4.35 2022 Remarkably Bright Creatures
author: Shelby Van Pelt
name: Anna
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves:
review:
Quiet but beautiful book.
]]> Invisible Son 63249759
Life can change in an instant.
When you’re wrongfully accused of a crime.
When a virus shuts everything down.
When the girl you love moves on.

Andre Jackson is determined to reclaim his identity. But returning from juvie doesn’t feel like coming home. His Portland, Oregon, neighborhood is rapidly gentrifying, and COVID-19 shuts down school before he can return. And Andre’s suspicions about his arrest for a crime he didn’t commit even taint his friendships. It’s as if his whole life has been erased.

The one thing Andre is counting on is his relationship with the Whitaker kids—especially his longtime crush, Sierra. But Sierra’s brother Eric is missing, and the facts don’t add up as their adoptive parents fight to keep up the act that their racially diverse family is picture-perfect. If Andre can find Eric, he just might uncover the truth about his own arrest. But in a world where power is held by a few and Andre is nearly invisible, searching for the truth is a dangerous game.

Critically acclaimed author Kim Johnson delivers another social justice thriller that shines a light onbeing young and Black in America—perfect for fans of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Dear Justyce by Nic Stone.]]> 416 Kim Johnson 0593482115 Anna 0
I learned thought by reading it that I am more traumatized by 2020 than I thought. ]]> 4.14 2023 Invisible Son
author: Kim Johnson
name: Anna
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:
Objectively, this is a good book.

I learned thought by reading it that I am more traumatized by 2020 than I thought.
]]> The Innocent 43926
An electrifying thrill ride of a novel that peeks behind the white picket fences of suburbia, The Innocent is at once a twisting, turning, emotionally charged story and a compelling tale of the choices we make and the repercussions that never leave.

]]> 503 Harlan Coben 045121577X Anna 4 3.97 2005 The Innocent
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/28
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves:
review:
This is also one of his more out there plots, but unlike some of his other out-there ones, I found it super readable once I got into it.
]]> Wrong Answers Only 196408000 Marco's always done the right thing. But now it's time for wrong answers only.Marco should be at university, studying biomedicine. Instead, he’s been sent to live on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean with his estranged uncle, all because of a ‘blip� everyone else is convinced was a panic attack. (Which it most definitely was not.)And even though Marco’s trip is supposed to provide answers � about himself, about his family � all he finds on board the Ocean Melody are more and more questions.But then his best friend CeCe proposes a new for someone who has always done the right thing, in every possible way, it’s time for Marco to get a few things wrong. And hooking up with a hot dancer from the ship is only the beginning . . .]]> 384 Tobias Madden Anna 4 3.82 Wrong Answers Only
author: Tobias Madden
name: Anna
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves:
review:

]]> With a Vengeance 219603177 One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge.

In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family.Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.

Under false pretenses, Anna has lured those responsible for her family’s downfall ontoa luxurytrain from Philadelphia to Chicago,an overnightjourney of fourteen hours. Her goal? Confront the people who’ve wronged her, get them to confess their crimes, and deliver them into the hands of authorities waiting at the end of the line. Justice will at last be served.

But Anna’s plan is quickly derailed by the murder of one of the passengers. As the train barrels through the night, it becomes clear that someone else on board is enacting their own form of revenge—and that they won’t stop until everyone else is dead.

With time running out before the train reaches its destination, Anna is forced to hunt the killer in their midst while protecting the people she hates the most. In order to destroy her enemies, she must first save them—even though it means putting her own life at risk.]]> 400 Riley Sager 0593472403 Anna 0 to-read 3.66 2025 With a Vengeance
author: Riley Sager
name: Anna
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4)]]> 150072956
Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.

But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.

If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?]]> 320 Elle Cosimano 1250846005 Anna 4
It does (hopefully) wrap up some of the storylines I didn’t enjoy in book 3. I will read book 5 when I get a chance. ]]> 3.88 2024 Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4)
author: Elle Cosimano
name: Anna
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/26
date added: 2024/12/26
shelves:
review:
Probably a 3.5 star book.

It does (hopefully) wrap up some of the storylines I didn’t enjoy in book 3. I will read book 5 when I get a chance.
]]> Sounds Like Love 219301810 A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake, in the next sparkling, magical book from Ashley Poston.

Joni Lark is living the dream. She’s one of the most coveted songwriters in LA…and she can’t seem to write. There’s an emptiness inside her, and nothing seems to fill it.

When she returns to her hometown of Vienna Shores, North Carolina, she hopes that the sand, the surf, and the concerts at The Revelry, her family’s music venue, will spark her inspiration. But when she gets there, nothing is how she left it. Her best friend is avoiding her, her mother’s memories are fading fast, and The Revelry is closing.

How can she think about writing her next song when everything is changing without her?

Until she hears it. A melody in her head, lyric-less and half-formed, and an alluring and addictive voice to go with it—belonging, apparently, to a wry musician with hangups of his own.

Surely, he’s a figment of her overworked imagination.

But then the very real man attached to the voice shows up in Vienna Shores. He’s aggravating and gruff on the outside—nothing like the sweet, funny voice in Joni’s head—and he has a plan:

They’ll finish the song haunting them both, break their connection, and hope they don’t risk their hearts in the process.

Because that song stuck in their heads? Maybe it’s there for a reason.]]> Ashley Poston 0593641019 Anna 0 to-read 4.27 2025 Sounds Like Love
author: Ashley Poston
name: Anna
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/26
shelves: to-read
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]]> Love, Like Apples 222021258 Jeff Zentner Anna 0 to-read 0.0 Love, Like Apples
author: Jeff Zentner
name: Anna
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: to-read
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]]> Murder Between Friends 212105788 Two years ago, the murder of a neighbor tore three best friends apart--now the killer is going to walk free and the ex-friends are going to have to face the past--and each other--in another twisty thriller from the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Agathas

Grace, Henry, and Ally grew up together on the same block. They used to be best friends--until Grace's testimony put Henry's brother, Jake, away for killing their English teacher. Now, two years later, Ally and Henry hate Grace, and Grace is doubting what she thinks she saw that night.

It feels like everyone's getting a second chance, then, when due to a mistrial, Jake is suddenly released. And Henry knows his brother is innocent, but when Grace reaches out to say she’s rethinking what she saw the night of the murder, Jake’s reaction is confusing. He doesn’t want Henry—or Grace--getting involved.

For Ally not getting involved isn’t an option, and there’s nothing Grace can say to convince Ally she’s not the enemy. But can Ally afford to push Grace out when she’s one of the only other people willing to believe in Jake’s innocence?

The clock is ticking. Jake’s new trial date is about to be set, and he's sure to be foud guilty again unless there's new evidence to prove he's innocent. Grace, Henry, and Ally are going to have to decide whether you can trust an old friend now that they’re your enemy.]]> 384 Liz Lawson 059330103X Anna 0 to-read 4.06 2025 Murder Between Friends
author: Liz Lawson
name: Anna
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/23
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]]> The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club 218218717 In this laugh-out-loud murder mystery, three women dating the same man band together to get revenge, but when they discover his body, they'll need to solve his murder before they go down for it.

The body in the closet was going to be a problem. Kathryn Hu knew it. Yes, Tucker Jones was a cheating scumbag, and yes, she’d agreed to meet Olivia and Elle—Tucker’s other girlfriends—to exact revenge for all he’d put them through� But then they found him. Dead.

Do they look guilty? Yes.

Do they feel guilty for having wished him dead just hours before? Maybe a little.

But—solid motive and a crime scene covered in their DNA aside—they’re innocent. They swear.

To clear their names, Kat, Olivia, and Elle team up to find the real killer. But as they go undercover and lie to everyone, including the hot detective working the case, they realize that every person in their ex's life had a reason to want him dead. Will they uncover the truth before they go down for a murder they didn't commit?

Filled with humor and shenanigans,The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Clubis a romp of an adventure by award-winning author Gloria Chao, perfect for fans ofDial A for Aunties,Finlay Donovan Is Killing ItandJohn Tucker Must Die.]]> Gloria Chao 0369761294 Anna 0 to-read 4.09 2025 The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club
author: Gloria Chao
name: Anna
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/23
shelves: to-read
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]]> I Might Be In Trouble 128616513 A suspenseful dark comedy about a struggling gay writer who wakes up to find his date from the night before dead—and must enlist the help of his literary agent to get rid of the body and spin the entire misadventure into his next big book.

A few years ago, David Alvarez had it all: a six-figure book deal, a loving boyfriend, and an exciting writing career. His debut novel was a resounding success, which made the publication of his second book—a total flop—all the more devastating. Now, David is single, lonely, and desperately trying to come up with the next great idea for his third manuscript, one that will redeem him in the eyes of readers, reviewers, the entire publishing world…and maybe even his ex-boyfriend.

The issue is, good ideas are hard to come by, and the mounting pressure of a near-empty bank account isn’t helping. But when David connects with a sexy stranger on a dating app, he figures a wild night out in New York City may be just what he needs to get his creative juices flowing. Lucky for him, his date turns out to be handsome, confident, and charming—everything David’s been looking for, really—not to mention the perfect distraction from yet another evening staring at a blank screen.

After one of the best nights of his life, David wakes up hungover but giddy—only to find prince charming dead next to him in bed. Horrified, completely confused, and suddenly faced with the implausible-but-somehow-plausible idea that he may have actually killed his date, David calls the only person he can trust in a moment of crisis: his literary agent, Stacey.

Together, David and Stacey must untangle the events of the previous night, cover their tracks, and spin the entire misadventure into David’s career-defining novel—if only they can figure out what to do with the body first.]]> Daniel Aleman Anna 4 4.14 2024 I Might Be In Trouble
author: Daniel Aleman
name: Anna
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
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Overall, I enjoyed the read. The book does lose some momentum right at the start of part 2, but it does regain it about a third of the way left.
]]> <![CDATA[Uncle of the Year: And Other Debatable Triumphs]]> 61928015 Candid, hilarious essays from the star of The Book of Mormon, Girls, and Big Mouth on anxiety, ambition, and the uncertain path to adulthood, which ask, how will we know when we get there?

In Uncle of the Year, Andrew Rannells wonders: If he, now in his early forties, has everything he’s supposed to need to be a true adult–a career, property, a well-tailored suit–why does he still feel like an anxious twenty-year-old climbing his way toward security? Is it because he hasn’t won a Tony, or found a husband, or had a child? And what if he doesn’t want those things? (A husband and a child, that is. He wants a Tony.)

In essays drawn from his life and career, Rannells argues that we all pretend we are constantly winning. And with each success, we act like we’ve reached the pinnacle of happiness (for our parents), maturity (for our friends), success (for our bosses), and devotion (for our partners). But if “adulting� is just a pantomime that’s leaving us unmoored, then we need new markers of time, new milestones, new expectations of what adulthood is–and can be.

Along the way, Rannells looks back, reevaluating whether his triumphs were actually failures–and his failures, triumphs–and exploring what it will take to ever, ever feel like he has enough. In essays like “Uncle of the Year,� he explores the role that children play in his life, as a man who never thought having kids was necessary or even possible—until his siblings have kids and he falls in love with a man with two of his own. “It’s an Honor to Be Eligible� reveals the thrills and absurdities of the awards circuit (and the desire to be recognized for your work). And in “Horses, Not Zebras,� he shares the piece of wisdom that helped him finally come to terms with crippling anxiety and perfectionism.

Filled with witty and honest insights and observations, and a sharp sense of humor, Uncle of the Year challenges us to take a long look at who we're pretending to be, who we know we are, and who we want to become.]]> 272 Andrew Rannells 0593443438 Anna 0 I really enjoy his writing. 4.05 2023 Uncle of the Year: And Other Debatable Triumphs
author: Andrew Rannells
name: Anna
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/23
date added: 2024/12/23
shelves:
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I really enjoy his writing.
]]> <![CDATA[The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime]]> 210363850 Academy Award-winning actress and New York Times bestselling author Shirley MacLaine shares a dazzling memoir in photographs, chronicling her extraordinary life with 150+ images from her personal archive

With over seventy years on the silver screen, Shirley MacLaine has, as she says, seen it all, done it all, been everywhere, and met everyone. In 1955, she debuted in Hollywood as the lead role in The Trouble with Harry, winning her the first of many Golden Globes, and from there, her popularity only grew as she amassed a stunning collection of awards, stories, and experiences.

Now, at nearly ninety years old, MacLaine has more stories to tell and the pictures to bring them to life. By introducing readers to her extensive photo collection, MacLaine shares both intimate family memories and images from some of the most significant figures from film, entertainment, and politics. With her natural wit and charm, she reveals the stories behind each photo, exploring ambition, love, friendship, motherhood, art, political activism, and more.

By doing so, MacLaine charts the course of her remarkable life and career, sharing both early memories (her childhood with her brother Warren Beatty, her decision to leave for New York City at age sixteen, her early work on Broadway, and becoming a mother) as well as remembrances of her days in the public eye (campaigning for George McGovern, traveling to meet political luminaries, starring in legendary film roles, and developing an interest in spirituality).

Along the way, readers gain greater insight into figures such Frank Sinatra, Bob Fosse, Bette Davis, Jack Nicholson, the Dalai Lama, Fidel Castro, Mikhael Baryshnikov, and many more. And whether she's sharing what advice Elvis Presley asked her for, how she consoled close friend Elizabeth Taylor after the death of her husband, or which prime minister she discussed UFOs with, MacLaine offers her most visual and candid book yet, giving readers an unprecedented glance into a life like no other.]]> 272 Shirley MacLaine 0593735307 Anna 0 3.92 The Wall of Life: Pictures and Stories from This Marvelous Lifetime
author: Shirley MacLaine
name: Anna
average rating: 3.92
book published:
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/22
date added: 2024/12/22
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]]> This Book Will Bury Me 213570821 From the bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.

It's the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story.

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory...

So when news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes, Jane and her friends are determined to beat them. But the case turns out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence. When Jane and her sleuths take a step closer, they find that every answer only begs more questions. Something's not adding up, and they begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific than any they've faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap...

Told one year after the astounding events that concluded the case and left the world reeling, when Jane has finally decided to break her silence about what really happened, she tells the true story of the Delphine Massacres. And what she has to confess will shock even the most seasoned true crime fans...


]]> 480 Ashley Winstead 1728270006 Anna 0 to-read 3.80 2025 This Book Will Bury Me
author: Ashley Winstead
name: Anna
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> You Are Fatally Invited 213243937 An exclusive thriller writer’s retreat hosted on a private island turns lethal when one of the authors is found murdered in this twisty locked room mystery.

When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance—particularly since she has an ax to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem.

Confess the crimes, survive the tropes.

Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two—the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead—and it’s not the murder she planned—Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether.

One by one, you’ll lose your turn.

With a storm cutting off the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.

Until only one of us remains�]]> 371 Ande Pliego 059387157X Anna 0 to-read 3.60 2025 You Are Fatally Invited
author: Ande Pliego
name: Anna
average rating: 3.60
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> Don't Let Him In 220160814 Three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.

Restauranteur Paddy Swann was the life of the party until the day a man pushed him in the path of an oncoming train, leaving his twenty-something daughter Ash and wife Nina devastated. Shortly after Paddy’s funeral, the two women receive a surprise in the mail: a note and package from Nick Ratcliffe, an old friend of Paddy’s, and a nondescript lighter that once belonged to him decades ago. This unexpected gift draws Nick and Nina closer together—much to Ash’s dismay.

Martha is a small-town florist with dreams of expansion. She lives with her second husband Al, her baby, and two sons from her prior marriage. But they never seem to have any money, and with his constant traveling for work, she feels like a single parent—especially when an emergency makes her realize something needs to change.

But Nick and Al may not be who they say they are, leading these three women on a shocking collision course, wishing they had heeded a warning: Don’t let him in.]]> 368 Lisa Jewell 1668033879 Anna 0 to-read 4.00 2025 Don't Let Him In
author: Lisa Jewell
name: Anna
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Queens of Crime 211003830 The Mystery of Mrs. Christie returns with a thrilling story of Christie’s legendary rival Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a murder, and the power of friendship among women.

London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden.

Inspired by a true story in Sayers� own life, New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict brings to life the lengths to which five talented women writers will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters as they unpuzzle a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels.]]> 320 Marie Benedict 1250280753 Anna 0 to-read 3.85 2025 The Queens of Crime
author: Marie Benedict
name: Anna
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2025
rating: 0
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date added: 2024/12/18
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]]> Atmosphere 220817728 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s Space Shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.]]> 352 Taylor Jenkins Reid 0593158717 Anna 0 to-read 4.44 2025 Atmosphere
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
name: Anna
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> The Listeners 56988057
January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of West Virginia, its mountain sweetwater washing away all of high society’s troubles.

Local girl-turned-general manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. The Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, have trained her well. But when the family heir makes a secret deal with the State Department to fill the hotel with captured Axis diplomats, June must persuade her staff—many of whom have sons and husbands heading to the front lines—to offer luxury to Nazis. With a smile.

Meanwhile FBI Agent Tucker Minnick, whose coal tattoo hints at an Appalachian past, presses his ears to the hotel’s walls, listening for the diplomats� secrets. He has one of his own, which is how he knows that June’s balancing act can have dangerous consequences: the sweetwater beneath the hotel can threaten as well as heal.

June has never met a guest she couldn’t delight, but the diplomats are different. Without firing a single shot, they have brought the war directly to her. As clashing loyalties crack the Avallon’s polished veneer, June must calculate the true cost of luxury.]]> 400 Maggie Stiefvater 0593655508 Anna 0 to-read 4.02 2025 The Listeners
author: Maggie Stiefvater
name: Anna
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> <![CDATA[My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business]]> 9580315
His trailblazing television program, The Dick Van Dyke Show (produced by Carl Reiner, who has written the foreword to this memoir), was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1960s and introduced another major television star, Mary Tyler Moore. But Dick Van Dyke was also an enormously engaging movie star whose films, including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, have been discovered by a new generation of fans and are as beloved today as they were when they first appeared. Who doesn’t know the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?

A colorful, loving, richly detailed look at the decades of a multilayered life, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, will enthrall every generation of reader, from baby-boomers who recall when Rob Petrie became a household name, to all those still enchanted by Bert’s “Chim Chim Cher-ee.� This is a lively, heartwarming memoir of a performer who still thinks of himself as a “simple song-and-dance man,� but who is, in every sense of the word, a classic entertainer.


From the Hardcover edition.]]> 287 Dick Van Dyke 0307592235 Anna 0 3.82 2011 My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business
author: Dick Van Dyke
name: Anna
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/11
date added: 2024/12/11
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This is mostly just his highlights with a few low lights sprinkled in, but I enjoyed the read.
]]> <![CDATA[Claudia and Mean Janine (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels, #4)]]> 25613602
Raina Telgemeier, using the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters, perfectly captures all the drama and charm of the original novel!]]> 176 Raina Telgemeier 0545890683 Anna 0 4.43 2008 Claudia and Mean Janine (Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels, #4)
author: Raina Telgemeier
name: Anna
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/08
date added: 2024/12/08
shelves:
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]]> Too Much Is Not Enough 41556811 From the star of Broadway's The Book of Mormon and HBO's Girls, the heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age memoir of a Midwestern boy surviving bad auditions, bad relationships, and some really bad highlights as he chases his dreams in New York City

When Andrew Rannells arrived in New York City from Omaha in 1997, he, like many, saw the city as a chance to break free. To start over. To transform the fiercely ambitious but sexually confused teenager he saw in the mirror into the Broadway leading man of his dreams.

In Too Much Is Not Enough, Rannells takes us on the journey of a twentysomething hungry to experience everything: new friends, wild nights, great art, standing ovations. And at the heart of his hunger lies a powerful drive to reconcile the boy he was and the man he might have been with the man he wants to be. As Rannells reveals how he merged these Andrews into the one who made his Broadway debut at 26, he also shares stories from his path to the Great White Way, from horrible auditions and behind-the-curtain romances to the exhilaration of landing his first gig in Hairspray and the heartbreaking death of his father at the height of his ascent. Along the way, Rannells learns that you never really leave your past--or your family--behind; that the most painful, and perversely motivating, jobs are the ones you almost get; and that sometimes the most unforgettable nights are marked not by the hot clubs you danced at, but by the recap over diner food after.

Filled with candor and humor, Too Much Is Not Enough is an entertaining look at love, loss, and the powerful forces that determine who we become.]]> 272 Andrew Rannells 0525574875 Anna 0 4.15 2019 Too Much Is Not Enough
author: Andrew Rannells
name: Anna
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/07
date added: 2024/12/07
shelves:
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This is another theater related memoir that I really enjoyed a lot.
]]> <![CDATA[Please Be My Star: A Graphic Novel]]> 202773023
Erika knows that people find her weird and off-putting. Instead of making friends, she finds solace in talking to herself and obsessing over handsome actors and pop stars. When she starts attending a new school, her loneliness takes on a life of its own and she develops a new the cutest boy in her theater class, Christian. For some reason, Christian is kind to her and even agrees to star in the play that she wrote for him, and Erika starts to find a creative voice that might lead to new friendship and romance. But the more time Erika spends with Christian, the more she wonders what he sees in a creep like her. Can Erika somehow write her way into the center of her own heartfelt love story? Or does Christian have an ending of his own in mind?]]> 240 Victoria Grace Elliott 133884041X Anna 0 3.70 2024 Please Be My Star: A Graphic Novel
author: Victoria Grace Elliott
name: Anna
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/12/02
date added: 2024/12/02
shelves:
review:
This didn’t work for me. I liked the premise of a retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, but this just missed the mark for me.
]]> The Third Gilmore Girl 207298106 “Come for the Gilmore Girls anecdotes, stay for the revealing truths about what it takes to build a lifelong career in and out of Hollywood� (The A.V. Club) in this candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.

Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.

Now, Bishop reflects on her remarkable life and looks towards the future with The Third Gilmore Girl. She shares some of her greatest stories and the life lessons she’s learned on her journey. From her early transition from dance to drama, to marrying young to a compulsive gambler, to the losses and achievements she experienced—among them marching for women’s rights and losing her second husband to cancer—Bishop offers a rich, genuine celebration of her life.

Full of witty insights, The Third Gilmore Girl is a warm, unapologetic, and spirited memoir from a woman who has left indelible impressions on her audiences for decades and has no plans on slowing down.]]> 256 Kelly Bishop 1668023776 Anna 0
To be completely honest, I had no idea who Kelly Bishop was prior to learning about this memoir, but when I learned about her A Chorus Line connection, I was interested in reading it.

Loved the intel on her early career in NYC on and off Broadway. ]]> 4.36 2024 The Third Gilmore Girl
author: Kelly Bishop
name: Anna
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/30
date added: 2024/11/30
shelves:
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I thought this was very well written.

To be completely honest, I had no idea who Kelly Bishop was prior to learning about this memoir, but when I learned about her A Chorus Line connection, I was interested in reading it.

Loved the intel on her early career in NYC on and off Broadway.
]]> <![CDATA[The Wild Robot Escapes (The Wild Robot, #2)]]> 34219841 279 Peter Brown 0316382043 Anna 4 4.36 2018 The Wild Robot Escapes (The Wild Robot, #2)
author: Peter Brown
name: Anna
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/26
date added: 2024/11/26
shelves:
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]]> Over the Influence: A Memoir 213943852 A breathtakingly candid memoir by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the chart-topping, multi-platinum recording artist behind hits like “Leave (Get Out),� “Too Little, Too Late�, and the Grammy Award-winning "Say So"

Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to What happened to JoJo?

In OVER THE INFLUENCE, JoJo holds nothing back as she brings her against-the-odds story of adversity and triumph to center stage. From being raised by parents who were both battling addiction and depression, to emerging victorious in a never-ending lawsuit with her record label, to putting the fragmented pieces of herself together after a maddening period of rebellion and self-betrayal, she takes the reader through the turbulent years that led her to where she is releasing new music under her own imprint, performing in shows and festivals around the world, headlining a Broadway show, and beyond. In this raw,behind-the-scenes look at her life,both personal and professional, JoJo’s unflinching vulnerability allows readers to connect with her on a whole new level through stories of success, heartbreak, redemption, and resilience.

More than a victory lap from an artist with over two decades in an ever-changing entertainment industry, OVER THE INFLUENCEis an unapologetic rallying cry to anyone who’s ever been terrified to fail and still said, “Count me in.”]> 341 Joanna "JoJo" Levesque 0306833166 Anna 0 4.03 2024 Over the Influence: A Memoir
author: Joanna "JoJo" Levesque
name: Anna
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves:
review:
Started off strong but became a slog to read in the end.
]]> The Squad (The Tryout #2) 202773056 Break out your pom poms! The highly anticipated, stand-alone companion to the instant #1 bestseller The Tryout promises even more cheer, higher stakes, and relatable middle-school drama. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.



STEP UP. COMMIT. FOLLOW THROUGH.

After the crushing disappointment of not making the cheerleading squad, Christina and her besties, Megan and Leanne, are thrilled to discover they can try out again in eighth grade. Christina is more confident this She dresses in her own style and has amazing friends, even her first crush. But what if the girls don't all make the squad? Worse than that, Christina learns her parents' marriage is collapsing. Suddenly, her family, her future, and her identity seem in total freefall. Can Christina keep it together and still make her cheerleading dreams come true?

This high-flying, heart-filled story will make you laugh harder, cry more, and cheer louder than ever!]]> 288 Christina Soontornvat 1338741322 Anna 0 4.29 2024 The Squad (The Tryout #2)
author: Christina Soontornvat
name: Anna
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at: 2024/11/14
date added: 2024/11/14
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]]> I Still Believe 16184837
"We have choices when life hits us with tragedy or despair, crisis or loss. That's the message of Jeremy Camp's books, and it's the reason you will find hope and healing by journeying through the pages of this story."

--Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, from the Foreword]]> 224 Jeremy Camp 141437559X Anna 3 4.46 2011 I Still Believe
author: Jeremy Camp
name: Anna
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2016/12/31
date added: 2024/11/13
shelves:
review:

]]> Turning Twelve 207611558 Turning twelve means big changes for Katie--first bra, first time babysitting, and a first crush that she knows not everyone will approve of, From the creators of the acclaimed graphic novel Growing Pangs, comes another pitch-perfect coming-of-age graphic novel, set in the same beloved universe.

What if a friend...is more than a friend?

Katie can't wait to turn twelve--pool parties! babysitting! friends! But sometimes it feels like there's so much new stuff she can barely keep up. First Job? (Yes!) Unfair dress codes? (No way!) Make up (Okay?!) Shaving? (Uh�!) Maybe growing up isn't as much fun as she had expected. But one thing does seem right--her new friend, Grace. Could Katie have a crush on another girl? Katie knows not everyone around her will approve...which is kind of scary. She might not be ready to tell anyone yet, and that’s fine...but can Katie stay true to herself and embrace the person she's growing up to be?]]> 240 Kathryn Ormsbee 0593650077 Anna 4 4.35 2024 Turning Twelve
author: Kathryn Ormsbee
name: Anna
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/02
date added: 2024/11/02
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]]> <![CDATA[Live Wire (Myron Bolitar, #10)]]> 8437667 #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben proves once again that "nobody writes them better" in a thriller that asks a provocative question: Is a pretty lie better than the ugly truth?

Harlan Coben published his first Myron Bolitar thriller, Deal Breaker, in 1995, introducing a hero that would captivate millions. Over the years we have watched Myron walk a tight rope between sports agent, friend, problem solver and private eye, his big heart quick to defend his client's interests so fiercely that he can't help but jump in to save them, no matter the cost.

When former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, encounter an anonymous Facebook post questioning the paternity of their unborn child, Lex runs off, and Suzze - at eight months pregnant - asks Myron to save her marriage, and perhaps her husband's life. But when he finds Lex, he also finds someone he wasn't looking for: his sister-in-law, Kitty, who along with Myron's brother abandoned the Bolitar family long ago.

As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life, he must face the lies that led to the estrangement - including the ones told by Myron himself.]]> 371 Harlan Coben 0525952063 Anna 4 4.06 2011 Live Wire (Myron Bolitar, #10)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/01
date added: 2024/11/01
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review:

]]> <![CDATA[Long Lost (Myron Bolitar, #9)]]> 3675828 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s blistering new Myron Bolitar thriller takes Myron—and his millions of fans—where they have never gone before

Myron Bolitar hasn’t heard from Terese Collins since their torrid affair ended ten years ago, so her desperate phone call from Paris catches him completely off guard. In a shattering admission, Terese reveals the tragic story behind her disappearance—her struggles to get pregnant, the greatest moment of her life when her baby was born…and the fatal accident that robbed her of it all: her marriage, her happiness and her beloved only daughter.

Now a suspect in the murder of her ex-husband in Paris, Terese has nowhere else to turn for help. Myron heeds the call. But then a startling piece of evidence turns the entire case upside down, laying bare Terese’s long-buried family secrets…and the very real possibility that her daughter may still be alive.

In grave danger from unknown assailants in a country where nothing is as it seems, Myron and Terese race to stay a step ahead of Homeland Security, Interpol, and Mossad. Soon they are working at breakneck pace, not only to learn what really happened to Terese’s long-lost little girl� but to uncover a sinister plot with shocking global implications.]]> 374 Harlan Coben 0525951059 Anna 3
The first person was also a jarring contrast to his other Myron books. ]]> 3.95 2009 Long Lost (Myron Bolitar, #9)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/29
date added: 2024/10/29
shelves:
review:
This was a fast paced Myron book, but like many others, I didn’t like the terrorist plot. At this point, I’m only missing one Myron book, and so I’m relieved that at least the most recent two aren’t like this.

The first person was also a jarring contrast to his other Myron books.
]]> <![CDATA[Darkest Fear (Myron Bolitar, #7)]]> 43929 /book/show/5...

Myron Bolitar's father's recent heart attack brings Myron smack into a midlife encounter with issues of adulthood and mortality. And if that's not enough to turn his life upside down, the reappearance of his first serious girlfriend is. The basketball star turned sports agent, who does a little detecting when business is slow, is saddened by the news that Emily Downing's 13-year-old son is dying and desperately needs a bone marrow transplant; even if she did leave him for the man who destroyed his basketball career, he wouldn't wish tsuris like that on anyone. And he's not at all interested in getting involved with Emily again, not even to track down the one mysterious donor who may be able to save the boy. But when Myron learns that Jeremy Downing is his own son, conceived the night before Emily and Greg Downing married, he embarks on a search for someone who disappeared a lifetime ago. And what he finds leads him to a powerful family determined to keep an old secret, a disgraced reporter who may have plagiarized a novel to create a serial killer, a very interested FBI agent, and a missing child.

This is the seventh outing in a series that's been gaining in popularity since Bolitar's first appearance, in Harlan Coben's Deal Breaker. Myron's a bit of a baby, but he's not afraid to get rough when the situation calls for it, he's eminently likable, and his heart's in the right place. The fireworks are supplied by his friend and partner, Win, who really deserves a series of his own, and Esperanza, the lesbian wrestler-lawyer who has finally talked Myron into making her a partner in the business. Like Coben's other Bolitar novels, she's worth every penny. --Jane Adams

]]> 354 Harlan Coben 0752849190 Anna 4 4.02 1999 Darkest Fear (Myron Bolitar, #7)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/26
date added: 2024/10/26
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review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, #1)]]> 26030734
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is—but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home—until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.]]> 282 Peter Brown 0316381993 Anna 4 4.19 2016 The Wild Robot (The Wild Robot, #1)
author: Peter Brown
name: Anna
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/25
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[Flipping Forward Twisting Backward]]> 58573610
But when a sympathetic principal wonders if Claire is acting out because she’s dyslexic, her mother balks. She’s afraid Claire will be labeled “stupid� and refuses testing. Claire has always assumed she’s dumb; she never imagined her reading problem could have a solution. Is she strong enough to take on both her reading challenges and her mother’s denial? Is it worth jeopardizing her spot in qualifiers?

Told in clear and poignant verse and featuring black and white illustrations, Claire’s struggle with something that seems to come easily to everyone else will resonate with readers and have them cheering her on.]]> 144 Alma Fullerton 1682633667 Anna 0 3.91 2022 Flipping Forward Twisting Backward
author: Alma Fullerton
name: Anna
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at: 2024/10/23
date added: 2024/10/23
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]]> <![CDATA[The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar, #6)]]> 372384
Myron Bolitar’s colleague at MB SportsReps, Esperanza, has been arrested for the murder of a client, a fallen baseball star attempting a comeback. Myron is determined to prove Esperanza’s innocence—even if she won’t speak to him on the advice of her lawyer, who warns Myron to keep away from both the case and his client. But Myron is already too close, too involved, and has too much at stake. And the closer Myron gets to the truth, the more the evidence points to the only viable suspect besides Esperanza: Myron himself.]]> 384 Harlan Coben 0440225450 Anna 4 4.00 1999 The Final Detail (Myron Bolitar, #6)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/21
date added: 2024/10/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy]]> 25937937 For the last sixteen years, Sue Klebold, Dylan s mother, has lived with the indescribable grief and shame of that day. How could her child, the promising young man she had loved and raised, be responsible for such horror? And how, as his mother, had she not known something was wrong? Were there subtle signs she had missed? What, if anything, could she have done differently?
These are questions that Klebold has grappled with every day since the Columbine tragedy. In"A Mother s Reckoning," she chronicles with unflinching honesty her journey as a mother trying to come to terms with the incomprehensible. In the hope that the insights and understanding she has gained may help other families recognize when a child is in distress, she tells her story in full, drawing upon her personal journals, the videos and writings that Dylan left behind, and on countless interviews with mental health experts.
Filled with hard-won wisdom and compassion, "A Mother s Reckoning"is a powerful and haunting book that sheds light on one of the most pressing issues of our time. And with fresh wounds from the recent Newtown and Charleston shootings, never has the need for understanding been more urgent.
"All author profits from the book will be donated to research and to charitable organizations focusing on mental health issues."


"From the Hardcover edition.""]]> 305 Sue Klebold 1101902752 Anna 4 4.18 2016 A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
author: Sue Klebold
name: Anna
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2016/07/22
date added: 2024/10/19
shelves:
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]]> <![CDATA[One False Move (Myron Bolitar, #5)]]> 382680
Brenda Slaughter is no damsel in distress. Myron Bolitar is no bodyguard. But Myron has agreed to protect the bright, strong, beautiful basketball star. And he's about to find out if he's man enough to unravel the tragic riddle of her life.

Twenty years before, Brenda's mother deserted her. And just as Brenda is making it to the top of the women's pro basketball world, her father disappears too. A big-time New York sports agent with a foundering love life, Myron has a professional interest in Brenda. Then a personal one. But between them isn't just the difference in their backgrounds or the color of their skin. Between them is a chasm of corruption and lies, a vicious young mafioso on the make, and one secret that some people are dying to keep -- and others are killing to protect....]]> 383 Harlan Coben 0440225442 Anna 4 Was it enjoyable? Yes.
This showed a different side of Myron that hasn't really been seen in the earlier books in this series.]]> 4.06 1998 One False Move (Myron Bolitar, #5)
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1998
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/18
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves:
review:
Was this storyline bananas? Yes.
Was it enjoyable? Yes.
This showed a different side of Myron that hasn't really been seen in the earlier books in this series.
]]> No Second Chance 43927 We are watching. If you contact the authorities, you will never see your daughter again. There will be no second chance. With no one to trust, and mired in a deepening quicksand of deception and deadly secrets, Marc clings to one unwavering vow: bring home his daughter, at any cost.]]> 452 Harlan Coben 0451210557 Anna 0 to-read 4.05 2003 No Second Chance
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Missing You 18114060
Kat feels a spark, wondering if this might be the moment when past tragedies recede and a new world opens up to her. But when she reaches out to the man in the profile, her reawakened hope quickly darkens into suspicion and then terror as an unspeakable conspiracy comes to light, in which monsters prey upon the most vulnerable.

As the body count mounts and Kat's hope for a second chance with Jeff grows more and more elusive, she is consumed by an investigation that challenges her feelings about everyone she ever loved—her former fiancé, her mother, and even her father, whose cruel murder so long ago has never been fully explained. With lives on the line, including her own, Kat must venture deeper into the darkness than she ever has before, and discover if she has the strength to survive what she finds there.]]> 399 Harlan Coben 0525953493 Anna 0 to-read 3.94 2014 Missing You
author: Harlan Coben
name: Anna
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Make My Wish Come True 207294205 A sapphic Netflix-esque Christmas movie meets How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days� from the New York Times bestselling author duo of She Gets the Girl, Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick.

Hollywood teen actor Arden James' messy reputation is interfering with her career when a notoriously picky director won't give her a role based on her party-girl image. So she and her publicist make up a lie � not only is she from a small town (true) but her childhood best friend Caroline, is her long-term girlfriend (false) and she can prove it when she goes home for Christmas.�

Caroline Beckett hasn't thought about her ex-best friend Arden James for years, focusing instead on her dreams about becoming a journalist. When Arden turns up on her doorstep and promises her an article in Cosmopolitan magazine on their twelve snow-covered romantic days together, Caroline agrees to play along.
�
But when old feelings start to bubble up, what will fall faster � Arden and Caroline or the Christmas Eve snow? �

A gorgeous, heartwarming cosy romance - perfect for the holidays!]]> 320 Rachael Lippincott 1665937564 Anna 4 3.84 2024 Make My Wish Come True
author: Rachael Lippincott
name: Anna
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/15
date added: 2024/10/15
shelves:
review:

]]>