Reader Review: Life’s Too Short

Posted on Thursday, August 5, 2021 by patron reviewer

In the book “Life’s Too Short,” we’re introduced to Vanessa and Adrian. Vanessa is a travel vlogger with an unorthodox and frustrating family. Adrian is a lawyer with a black and white life. Both have unhappy pasts and Vanessa’s future seems tragic. In her third book by Abby Jimenez readers once again truly get to know her characters through wonderful characterization and dialogue making it a delightful read for someone who loves character-driven romantic comedy. BUT … as a die-hard happily-ever-after romance reader, Jimenez’s books skirt the edges of Jodi Picoult-ish/Oprah book club-ish books (emotionally manipulative and often WAY too dramatic) by including some deeper emotions and conflicts than are often written into classic happily-ever-after romance novels. But they only skirt those edges and the characters are SO GOOD you have to read them, anyway! This one was almost as good as her first two books.

Three words that describe this book: Characters. Dialogue. Humor.

You might want to pick this book up if: You like romance novels and you like good dialogue and smart characters.

-Kristen

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Nothing to See Here

Posted on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 by patron reviewer

Nothing to See Here book coverIn the book “Nothing To See Here,” Madison gets caught with drugs at a prestigious boarding school, and Lillian takes the fall and ends up expelled. Madison goes on to marry a wealthy senator, but Lillian finds herself living in her mom’s attic and working at a local grocery store. The women stay in touch with occasional letters until Madison calls Lillian with a strange request. Following the death of her husband’s ex-wife, Madison must take in her two stepchildren. The kids have a weird quirk: they spontaneously combust when they are upset. Madison needs someone to care for the children over the summer as they look for a more permanent solution, and Lillian agrees to be their governess. I loved Lillian as the book’s protagonist and narrator because she was so honest and funny. If you don’t listen to the audiobook, you’re missing out; the narrator does such a great job capturing the humor and emotion in this book.

Three words that describe this book: Quirky, Funny, Sincere

You might want to pick this book up if: You’re looking for a quick read that will make you laugh.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: What’s Done in Darkness

Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2021 by patron reviewer

What's done in Darkness booko coverWhat’s Done in Darkness” follows Sarah (Sarabeth) who grew up in a ultra religious family in the Arkansas Ozarks. Right before turning 18 she’s kidnapped. About a week later she’s released without ever knowing who abducted her or why. Rather than embrace her return her family shuns her. Five years later Sarah is living a completely different life in a city near St. Louis. A detective contacts her asking for help finding a couple of recently missing girls who might be related to her case. This forces Sarah to go back to her past and deal with the difficult feelings around her abduction and her family. Very fast paced mystery/thriller. Bonus, Laura McHugh is a Missouri author who also has three other great mystery books that take place in the Midwest.

Three words that describe this book: intriguing, dark, compelling

You might want to pick this book up if: you enjoyed the author’s previous books, or if you’re a fan of dark mystery/thrillers.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Into the Planet

Posted on Tuesday, July 27, 2021 by patron reviewer

Into the Planet book coverInto the Planet” is a memoir about the dangerous field of cave diving and is written by a woman — often the only woman on her expeditions. The book discusses the beauty and danger in diving deep into caves, along with the challenges of sexism and maintaining healthy relationships while pursuing your dreams. There’s also a theme of the importance of learning about the environment we live in and our impact on it, particularly related to our drinking water, but also the myriad ways our actions impact others personally, professionally, and in ways we cannot imagine, such as the way the cave divers influence space exploration. I read the audiobook, which was narrated by the author, and I often found myself holding my breath while listening to her brushes with the limits of what the human body can endure. My favorite part was when Heinerth traveled to Antarctica to dive into a iceberg(!), although the book was interesting throughout as she conveyed the language and science of cave diving in a way someone with no real prior knowledge of the subject could understand and enjoy.

Three words that describe this book: Breathtaking, Claustrophobic, Educational

You might want to pick this book up if: You would never actually don a wet-suit, but want a firsthand telling of diving deep into the planet.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Travels With Charley

Posted on Thursday, July 22, 2021 by patron reviewer

“In America I live in New York, or dip into Chicago or San Francisco. But New York is no more America than Paris is France or London is England. Thus I discovered that I did not know my own country.”
~John Steinbeck

travels with Charley book coverTravels with Charley: In Search of America” was published in 1962, coincidentally the same year that John Steinbeck earned a Nobel Peace Prize, and rightfully so. Steinbeck travels America in a truck with a camper and his grey Standard Poodle named Charley. This well known writer expresses his travels in a satiric, witty and down right blunt way.

He encounters people of all walks of life and details their uniqueness. Whether it be camping with a farmer on his property in New Hampshire and discussing politics while sharing a few drinks, stopping by a dairy in Massachusetts to buy milk and discovering the dairyman has a Ph.D in mathematics but just loves his job as a dairyman, or a stay in Maine where his lodging is accompanied by a grey cat named George who Steinbeck hilariously describes as disgruntled: “I am told that when guests sleep in the house, George goes into the pine woods and watches from afar, grumbling his dissatisfaction and pouring out his dislike.” Continue reading “Reader Review: Travels With Charley”

Reader Review: The (Almost) Zero Waste Guide

Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 by patron reviewer

Almost Zero Waste Guide book coverThe (Almost) Zero Waste Guide” is about making small, easy steps to use less waste in daily living. I liked the author’s introduction to become more zero waste. As a parent of a toddler and a baby, going zero waste is nearly impossible at this stage in my life, but this book encouraged me to take little steps to leave a smaller footprint on earth.

Three words that describe this book: Zero-waste, sustainability, frugality

You might want to pick this book up if: You might like this book if you are interested in becoming more zero-wasted oriented in your life.

-Elaine

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Beastars

Posted on Thursday, July 15, 2021 by patron reviewer

Beastars introduces readers to Cherryton Academy, where herbivores and carnivores live and study together in peace … mostly. Out of nowhere, Tem (an alpaca) is murdered and a rift forms between the already tenuous relationship between students (hunters vs. prey). Immediately, the suspicious turn to Legoshi, a large gray wolf, who is awkward at best and terrifying at worst. The graphic novel moves between perspectives of members of the award-winning drama club; focusing on their sympathies for their friend their suspicions of the culprit.

Well drawn and written, the book is easy to follow (albeit it read from the back to front and right to left). Finished on a cliffhanger and will definitely have me grabbing the next books in the series to find out what happened to poor, innocent Tem!

Three words that describe this book: Suspicions, School, Animals

You might want to pick this book up if: You’re into graphic novels focused on anthropomorphized characters that have deeper, more meaningful backgrounds, thoughts, and feelings.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: The Vanishing Point

Posted on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 by patron reviewer

The Vanishing Point” is the story of two couples and how their lives have been permanently altered by a secret that comes to light toward the beginning of the book. Two young men, both photography students in a prestigious program, fall in love with the same woman, Magda. One of these men, Julian, marries Magda but she never stops loving Rye. Rye marries as well, but is never quite present with his wife, Simone, a theme that is explored throughout the book. (Similarly, Julian is neglectful of and abusive toward his wife and son.) Julian and Rye both go on to live as successful photographers, but although they were roommates in college, their relationship is severed until about 20 years after they graduate, when Magda contacts Rye out of the blue. The renewed connection sparks reflections on the past as well as a mystery that the characters work to solve. Throughout the book, the characters confront the secrets of their pasts, their own troubled relationships, and, for some of the characters, personal demons. It is a compelling novel that not only explores a mystery, but also deals with trauma and addiction. It is a page-turner.

Three words that describe this book: compelling, character-driven, family conflict

You might want to pick this book up if: You like Elizabeth Brundage’s other works, enjoy stories centered on women, enjoy stories about family conflict

-Sarah

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: That Sounds Fun

Posted on Thursday, July 8, 2021 by patron reviewer

The Sounds Fun book coverIn “That Sounds Like Fun,” Annie Downs turns her podcast into a book. It’s about why it is important to be an amateur and find a hobby to bring more fun into your life. She talks about ways to find fun in the everyday and to savor the moments you’ve created. The book is a bit of a remembrance of simpler times in her life, but also shows readers/listeners how to craft a life of adventures, big and small.

Three words that describe this book: Uplifting, encouraging, hopeful

You might want to pick this book up if: You feel like there’s not any excitement or adventure in your life and you’re looking for a change.

-Laura

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog. 

Reader Review: Bitter Greens

Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 by patron reviewer

Bitter Greens book coverAlthough “Bitter Greens” is a historical fiction novel with a fairy tale added in the mix, the author artfully weaves the plot so that the magical story line fits right in with actual events. Intriguing to the end, I found myself thinking about the characters several days after finishing the book. A great summer read!

Three words that describe this book: Magical; Heart-breaking; Hopeful

You might want to pick this book up if: you read or watched “Rapunzel” and have an interest in French/Italian history.

-Anonymous

 

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. Submit your own book review here for a chance to have it featured on the Adults Blog.