Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center, recommended by Leah
I loved this book so much. It was so fun and had some good adventure. It made me want to get out there and do some hiking and camping. Katherine never ceases to entertain me. She is probably one of my favorite authors and I always enjoy her books. Available on Libby and cloudLibrary
Hidden Libraries: The World’s Most Unusual Book Depositories by DC Helmuth, recommended by Megan C. and Megan S.
If you’re notorious for making pitstops at libraries whenever you visit a new city, then you’ll love Hidden Libraries! For library lovers and adventurers, Lonely Planet takes you on a journey to discover 50 unique libraries across North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Antarctica, and beyond. Explore libraries nestled into Cottonwood trees and retrofitted phone booths, archives with hanging hammocks, and even the International Space Station’s stash of intergalactic reads. Delight in captivating photos and start your bookish bucket list here!
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, recommended by Melissa
A family moves to Alaska to homestead. I loved the descriptions of Alaska in this coming of age, romantic novel with plenty of action!
The “I Don’t Want to Cook” Book – Dinners Done in One Pot: 100 Low-Prep, No-Mess Recipes for Your Skillet, Sheet Pan, Pressure Cooker, and More! by Alyssa Brantley, recommended by Megan S.
This book is perfect for any day you’d rather not be in the kitchen. You can still have fresh, satisfying meals without a ton of pots and pans, or running the oven when it’s triple digits outside. I’ve found quite a few recipes from this book that my family enjoyed, and I love how easy all of them are. My kids especially enjoy the “Meatball Casserole with Tater Tot Topping,” and the “Shortcut Blackened Shrimp with Grits and Greens” is another household favorite.
Butcher and Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1) by Brynne Weaver, recommended by Cheryl
This book is dark, clever, and so much fun. Sloane, a charming poisoner with a baking hobby, and Rowan, a broody butcher with a bloody past, become unlikely partners in a secret serial killer competition. But somewhere between all the banter, blood, and body disposal… they fall in love.
I really enjoyed it—it was definitely unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Sharp, spicy, and surprisingly heartfelt, with pitch-black humor and morally gray characters, Butcher and Blackbird is perfect for fans of dark romance, murder games, and enemies-to-lovers tropes.
Note: Recommended for mature readers due to violence, gore, and adult content. Available on Libby.
Staff Book Club Pick: Is She Really Going Out with Him? by Sophie Cousens
In this romance novel, columnist Anna Appleby comes up with a unique idea for her column: letting her children pick dates for her. We enjoyed reading a book with a type of protagonist not often represented: a divorced mother in her late 30s who doesn’t mind being single. Anna finds friendship and connections to people she never would have talked to before, and of course there’s a romance too! Our Staff Book Club enjoyed these lively, realistic characters, and the reminder that it’s not frivolous or too luxurious to care for yourself and have hobbies on your own.