FICTION:
My Friends by Frederik Backman – This is the story of friends, past and present. Twenty-five years ago, four
teenagers forged a bond that circumstances can never break, the story of which is told in flashbacks as today’s
story unfolds. It is also a book about artists, art, creativity and the pursuit of beauty. Wry, funny and moving. – Sara
Shifrin’s pick
This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno – A bold, original horror novel about grief, loneliness, and the oppressive
intimacy of technology. I found it to be clever, creepy, and sometimes darkly funny. You might want to put your
Alexa in the garage before reading it. – Sarah Benitez’s pick
Twist by Colum McCann – A novel of damage and repair, isolation and connection in the digital age. A journalist
follows the story of John Conway, diver, engineer, and the chief of mission on a cable repair ship along the coast of
South Africa whose task is to repair internet cable breaks. Conway rethinks the consequences of his mission’s
success considering our world’s methods of communication and brokenness. – Davonne’s pick
Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki – Translated from Japanese, The Full Moon Coffee Shop follows four
interconnected stories, with each character dealing with personal life difficulties. They take turns ending up at the
Full Moon Café, which has no fixed location, appearing and reappearing in different spots around Kyoto, Japan
during the full moon. The cats that run the place serve treats and teach astrology as a way to help the characters
find their path again. A short and cozy read. – Carrie’s pick
Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst – Our Evenings follows the musings and memories of Dave Win from his first
days at an elite British boarding school in the 1960’s through a shocking ending in contemporary England. As a
brilliant, working class, queer, brown boy of Burmese heritage, Our Evenings beautifully portrays what it can mean
to struggle with class and race, art and sexuality, love and violence. – Ryan’s pick
Yours from the Tower by Sally Nichols – Set in 1897 England and Scotland, this historical Young Adult novel is
told through letters between three young women—Polly, Tirzah, and Sophia—each navigating very different life
paths after school. Despite their varying views on love, family, and ambition, their bond is full of warmth and
support. The story feels cozy and intimate, like eavesdropping on heartfelt, witty conversations between friends.
The author embraces the time period and makes sure to weave in themes of class, gender roles, and family
dynamics, without it feeling too heavy. If you like the feeling of Little Women or Anne of Green Gables but want
something set in a different era, I would give this book a read! – Olivia’s pick
Cat Diary: Yon & Mu Collector’s Edition by Junji Ito – a spooky and sweet homage to the horror manga author’s
cats. Each tale is funny and a little over the top. Yon and Mu have their own personalities, like every kitty out there,
and I found this book to be very relatable, as a cat owner myself. – Helen’s pick
The Whispers of War by Julie Kelly – This is a tale of three childhood friends who navigate the rumblings of war in
England as Hitler seeks to invade all of Europe. Each with their own struggles, they bravely strive to keep each
other together until it becomes clear that one of them will never truly be safe in Europe for the foreseeable future.
This discovery prompts each of them use their unique talents to help their friend escape to the safety of America.
This book is filled with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow these three friends
through this harrowing journey. – Stephanie’s pick
Conclave by Robert Harris: You’ve seen the movie, now read the book! I watched the movie between the time
Pope Francis died and Pope Leo XIV was elected, and although I enjoyed the film version, I was eager to read the
book. I wasn’t disappointed. I found this to be an engrossing read, a true page-turner, and especially enjoyed it
because the characters (who I had a hard time keeping straight in the movie) were so well developed and distinct.
Plus, Harris takes the reader into the heart of the Vatican, and opens a window into the traditions, ceremony, and
intrigues of this ancient tradition. – Beth’s pick
How to Read a Book by Monica Wood – This is a book about redemption, forgiveness, and starting over. It has
several characters who face unusual adversity with humor and features a women’s prison book club, bookstore life
and an unlikely romance. The best part is a fantastic side plot involving African Grey parrots – totally worth the
read for the birds alone. – Sara Shifrin’s other pick
NONFICTION:
There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib – This is a book about
basketball yes, but even more so, it is a lyrical, dazzling, slam poetry-esque meditation. Using the basketball
scene of Columbus Ohio in the 1990’s, Hanif’s keen focus dances across topics including music, performance,
race, religion, what it means to make it in sports and life, and who we think deserves success. – Ryan’s pick
Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer – Indigenous scientist
and author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer speaks of serviceberries as an example of a gift
economy in which all can participate. Instead of competition and hoarding of resources, she focuses on
interconnectedness and reciprocity, which is evident in the natural world. Although libraries are funded with tax
dollars, they embody the idea of sharing resources in a gift economy. Appropriately, serviceberry trees thrive on
our library’s property – Davonne’s pick
All the Single Ladies by Rebecca Traister – Smart, easy to read, and thought provoking, All the Single Ladies is a
portrait of contemporary American life through the lens of the unmarried American woman. Covering class, race,
sexual orientation and using stories from contemporary and historical figures, it can help any and everyone see
independence and the power of women’s choices in a new way. – Rebecca’s pick
SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups by Ed Helms – The comedian, actor and now
author takes us decade by decade through some of history’s close calls and face-plants… when foolish decisions
nearly cost us dearly. Using nukes on the moon, training animals as CIA spies and weaponing the weather were
just some of the ideas that nearly became serious blunders that we would never live down. Some, like accidental
bomb drops, were among the screw-ups that actually did happen, but we never heard much about. It’s an
irreverent look at history in small bites… easy to pick up and put down, if you need to. – Tom’s pick
Past Picks
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