“Gerald & Elizabeth” is a lesser known novel written by one of my favorite authors, who herself is lesser known. D.E. Stevenson was a Scottish novelist who wrote during the ‘Golden Age’ of British fiction, before, during and for a decade or two after WWII.

This book is set after WWII, and tells the story of two adult siblings who are reunited in London and solve a mystery surrounding one of their births. There’s some intrigue about a diamond mine in South Africa and some light romance. Stevenson has a very distinctive style, she writes in clipped prose without a lot of description. Very clean story telling. It’s not my favorite of hers, but it’s enjoyable.

Three words that describe this book: Gentle mid-century fiction

You might want to pick this book up if: Want something to read that won’t stress you out at all.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

In the book “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System,” the main character Shen Yuan dies and is reborn into the same trashy web-novel that he cursed right before he died. Transmigrating into the body of the main villain of the novel, he has to balance changing the story in order to avoid a tragic ending for the villain while still being in character and unraveling the mysteries that were left unwritten.

I liked the book as it was easy to read; being in Shen Yuan’s point of view and inner dialogue made the story funnier than it should have been. Considering the original story he transmigrated into, I love how this book makes fun of the clichés, stereotypes, and tropes that surrounds fantasy harem novels.

Certain parts of the story might lean more into telling instead of showing, but remembering that Shen Yuan has an outsider/reader’s perspective, it makes sense and I didn’t dislike that part as much as I thought. Plenty of likeable characters, and an exciting start for a four-book series.

Three words that describe this book: Funny, rebirth, parody

You might want to pick this book up if: You’re interested in a story set in a fantasy Chinese landscape, with magic and cultivation, and is guided through by the funniest modern-age character as they escape death.

-Daisy

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

I really appreciate reading poetry anthologies as they are a good way to be exposed to many poets’ work at one time. I can then follow up on reading more poetry by the poets I liked in the anthology.

Spending time in nature and learning more and more about how to be a good steward with the natural world is near and dear to my heart so finding “You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World” at the library felt a little like discovering a pot of gold. The poems about the natural world in this book were written specifically for this collection and the breadth of insights offered by a very diverse group of poets makes for a wonderful immersion in poetry.

Three words that describe this book: diversity, authenticity, beauty

You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy poetry and are a nature lover.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

The book “Little Rot” follows a couple’s relationship at the start of the book, but quickly separates as they break-up and start to act on their own desires outside of a monogamous relationship. I thought I wouldn’t like it at first because it seemed to jump to other characters and their desires, but it met back to our main people again within a few chapters. The descriptions were wonderfully written. It had a lot of exploration on the darker sides of our desires, too, and is not something I would recommend to everyone. I loved this book and think it was a strong piece of literature, but it is a more mature book with some difficult imagery.

Three words that describe this book: desires, relationships, humanity

You might want to pick this book up if: If you like work from this author already. If you are interested in drama. If you want something akin to thriller but focusing more on human connections and ethics.

-Sam

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

The graphic novel “The Girl from the Sea” retells the legend of the selkie with a gay young adult protagonist. Written and drawn by Molly Knox Ostertag, this book’s beachside setting and secret summer romance make it a perfect summertime read.

If graphic novels aren’t for you or if you just enjoy listening to your books, Hoopla has an audiobook adaptation. It’s only one and a half hours long and features music and sound effects. It is read by a full cast, who’s voices are overlaid on one track, like an old timey radio play.

In whichever format you choose to pick it up, “The Girl from the Sea” is a cute, fun, and quick read.

Three words that describe this book: Cute, light-hearted, & hopeful

You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy Queer retellings of classic myths.

-Joe

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

“American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous” is a collection of essays on divas, past and present. Author Deborah Paredez teaches a university course on the subject matter and I wish I could join to be in the class discussion.

I was introduced to divas I knew little about, i.e. Jomama Jones, and engaged with divas I’ve long worshiped, i.e. Tina Turner. Some chapters were too ethereal for me to connect with, but I enjoyed the author including personal elements in the book and introducing us to the divas in her life.

Three words that describe this book: Reflection. Celebration. Feminine.

You might want to pick this book up if: You admire divas!

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year. 

Author Bill Bryson’s witty signature style is prevalent throughout his Australian travelogue, “In a Sunburned Country.” Although the publication date was 20 years ago, so much of his story traveling throughout the country remains a compelling read. In fact, part of the draw is the almost forgotten pre-technology travel means he uses — a somewhat sentimental throwback experience before the convenience of cell phones, internet and google maps that was standard operating procedure for traveling in that day. Even his note-taking and journaling of the trip is done with a pen and spiral notebook… imagine!

His entertaining reporting and meticulous research easily fulfill an inquisitive traveler’s desire to learn. He records in detail historical cases of lost explorers and discoveries of plants and animals unique only to Australia. All this detail is told within his descriptive narrative chronicling the vastness, beauty and danger of the many regions. He poignantly does NOT forget the Aboriginal Australians, in his writings; a people that have been forgotten, even made invisible, by so many. Every time I picked up the book to read further, I felt as though I was joining a friend, not to mention a highly engaging and educated guide, on an arm chair down under adventure.

Three words that describe this book: Fascinating, Educational; Humorous

You might want to pick this book up if: Your interested in the intriguingly singular Australian Down Under — it’s history, politics, peoples, culture, plant and animal life forms, land and water characteristics and a multitude of sometimes ironic almost unbelievable anecdotes shared in typical Bill Bryson style, this book offers an adventure you won’t quickly forget.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

I genuinely don’t know how I feel about “Love Letters to a Serial Killer.” It’s a unique story where you are in the head of a person who is clearly not doing well in their personal life and tries to find meaning through other people. She then puts any excitement and “living her life” onto an alleged serial killer, writing letters to him in jail and during his trial.

The main character is unlikable, as are most of the characters are in this book, but I was fascinated by the story and her unreliability. At times her character is definitely satirical, like a hyped up unhinged version of stories you’ve heard about who idolize killers, but she also feels like someone you might know.

The lies she tells herself to rationalize and choices she makes… I just couldn’t stop listening because I had to know what hole she was going to dig herself into next. I agree with another reviewer who said it reminded them of “Yellowface” by R. F. Kuang because in both books you are in the main character’s mind and you see all the ways they justify what are clearly terrible and unethical decisions. “Love Letters to a Serial Killer” was overall fascinating and I would recommend it.

Three words that describe this book: Unhinged, Obsession, Binge-worthy

You might want to pick this book up if: You are interested in true crime, but more interested in the psyche of those people who are super obsessed with serial killers.

-Taira

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

What I liked about “Different, Not Less”:

• Personal Stories: The book is filled with real-life stories that are both inspiring and relatable, offering a deep understanding of neurodiversity.
• Empowerment: It provides a positive and affirming perspective, encouraging readers to embrace their differences as strengths.
• Educational: The book is informative, helping to break down misconceptions about neurodiversity and promote greater acceptance and inclusion.

Continue reading “Reader Review: Different, Not Less”

“Second Time Around” is about Malloy Farrell, an interior designer, who inherits her grandmother’s run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon. Her plan is to sell the shop. However, she quickly finds out her old childhood crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the shop and redevelop the area into an outdoor mall. So Mallory changes her mind about selling and decides to renovate and open a home decor shop instead. There are many renovating mishaps, entertaining side stories and budding romances in the story until a happily ever after finds Mallory.

I liked this book because Carlson always does an exceptional job with creating relaxing romance reads with enough plot development and twists and turns to keep the story moving. Starting over is a strong theme throughout the book.

Three words that describe this book: Sweet, Romantic, and Enjoyable

You might want to pick this book up if: You might pick up this book if you enjoy reading romance novels and reading novels about characters who are starting over in life.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.