FICTION:
Teddy by Emily Dunlay– Detectives at the door. A bloodied dress on the bedroom floor. What has Teddy, the newlywed wife of a state department functionary in Rome, gotten herself into? Set in Rome in 1969, this is the story of a former debutante, newly arrived from Texas on the arm of her diplomat husband stationed in the American embassy. She vows to be perfect and good; then, at a Fourth of July party, everything explodes. At first Theodora Huntley Carlyle Shepard seems superficial, but as her story is revealed in all its twists and turns, her hidden depth comes to light. I found this novel (and its descriptions of Rome) to be thoroughly entertaining. – Beth’s pick
Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier -A historical novel following the history of glassmaking and Murano Italy’s family dynasties of glassmakers, especially as it relates to the influence of women beginning in the Renaissance era, moving through the present day. A bit of magical realism adds to the continuity throughout the ages. –Davonne’s pick
Crumble by Meredith Mcclaren – This is a heartfelt juvenile graphic novel about friendship, grief, love, and sweet treats. Emily, her mom, and her aunt Gina have a unique form of magic that allows them to bake emotions into the desserts they sell at their family bakery. But one day Emily’s life is turned upside down when she accidentally bakes a bad feeling into her crumble, and she inadvertently makes all her classmates sick. The artwork in this story is cute and expressive, and the story is sweet and relatable. – Alena’s pick
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert – A 2024 NPR Book We Love selection, The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert is a fast-paced, contemporary mystery sure to entrance young adult and adult readers alike. Nora’s best friend, teetering on ex-best friend, Becca sends her a late night text, followed by silence. Nora falls asleep on Becca’s deck, waiting for a response that never comes. Although Becca’s step mother is reluctant, she eventually has to admit Becca is officially missing. Weirder yet, she is the fourth person in their tiny midwest town to go missing, all in the same night. Partnering with Becca’s photography classmate, the two follow the clues Becca has left while trying to uncover her connection with the vanished. A compelling mystery that only grows as the past and present continue to cloud the truth. Wonderfully executed explorations of relationship dynamics heavily shaped by the influence and responsibility to good, evil, and revenge. – Molly’s pick
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden – Isabel is quiet,. socially awkward, and seething with resentment. She lives alone in the house she grew up in until her brother deposits his girlfriend-of-the-moment Eva on Isabel’s doorstep. Eva is flamboyant, vivacious, and everything l.sabel is not. The tension between the two builds to near bursting before their relationship explodes into flames of a very unexpected variety. Yet van der Wouden isn’t done as the final portion of the book reveals that Eva is not at all what she seems. A great blend of suspense, character development, history, and intimacy. – Ryan’s pick
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – A magical novel journeying to a small northern town where a curmudgeonly introverted professor faces the harsh reality of fieldwork. Discover dark magic, fortuitous friendships, and experience the love of nature and education in the first installment of the otherworldly Emily Wilde series. – Julia’s pick
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter – Baxter’s new novel is about a divorced insurance salesman named Brock Hobson; a man so ordinary that people keep forgetting his name. The story is set in motion when Brock agrees to take an expensive, new blood test that will predict his future behavior. Brock, whose most aggressive tendency is correcting people’s grammar, finds out that he is almost certain to commit a very serious, likely violent, crime soon. It is comical but in a bit of a dark way, and weird at times (which I loved). – Sarah Benitez’s pick
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler – A great short novel covering three actual days in June and what happens to a woman before, during, and after her daughter’s wedding. Lovely and hopeful. – Sara Shifrin’s pick
NONFICTION:
Lost at Windy River by Trina Rathgeber – The best part for me was going down the rabbit hole & learning the true story of this young lady’s survival in the Canadian wilderness. And of course, sled dogs! It is claimed that the story was ‘overheard’ while on a train ride, by the author who heard about the young lady’s survival. – Rebecca’s pick
The House on the Canal by Thomas Harding and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup – Having been a fan of Teckentrup’s picture books for a while, I gravitated to this new volume. The story centers around the house that hid Anne Frank. It delves into the history of the almost four-hundred-year-old plot and the inhabitants that the Amsterdam property saw through the years. Expertly researched and beautifully designed, it makes the reader think of the unique stories each place has to tell and the highs and lows that our histories hold. – Jessica’s pick
We Will be Jaguars: a memoir of my people by Nemonte Nenquimo – Born into the Waorani tribe of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest-one of the last to be contacted by missionaries in the 1950s-the author of this engrossing memoir had a singular upbringing. She was taught about plant medicines, foraging, oral storytelling, and shamanism by her elders. Written with her husband and co-author Mitch Anderson, this book is the story of an indigenous childhood, a clash of cultures, and the fight to save the Amazon rainforest. Reading it (I actually listened to it on Libby), I was transported into a world I previously had known very little about, and into the lives of people fighting against the destruction of their land and culture by the church, the government, and big oil companies. I came away awed by Nemonte’s courage and with a new appreciation for the plight of the people of the rainforest and for the forest itself. – Beth’s pick
Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan – An exceptionally beautiful and insightful nonfiction book from Amy Tan, author of novels including “The Kitchen God’s Wife” and “Joy Luck Club.” Illustrated by the author, the book offers a refuge into nature with whimsical and daunting perceptions about our world. – Davonne’s pick
Work: Interviews with People Doing Jobs They Love by Shaina Feinberg and illustrated by Julia Rothman – This dynamic duo is responsible for the NYT’s column Scratch. The content is curated for a younger audience and kept me eagerly turning the pages. It’s a fun romp that details interesting careers around the world, asking great questions and garnering some surprising answers and stories. – Jessica’s pick