Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb, recommended by Megan C.
Quirky Celeste and strong but silent John are two forty-somethings who have been unlucky in love. When first impressions go awry, the pair find themselves partnering for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching competition… and posing as a fake couple! But as they adventure through the Arizona wilderness, they find themselves watching more than just birds. This sweet and steamy romance is the debut novel from Pima County Public Librarian Sarah T. Dubb. Be on the lookout for Sarah’s upcoming author talk and book signing at AJPL during our 2025 Winter Lecture Series!
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow, recommended by Megan S.
You don’t have to be interested in fashion to enjoy this history of department stores and the women who ran them. Satow paints a fascinating picture of what department stores used to be – a place to escape, a place to dream, and a place to get everything you needed to be stylish under one roof. She follows both the history of major department stores across the country as well as some of the influential women who guided them towards success. As you might imagine, these women faced challenges both within and outside of their companies, and sometimes even from themselves. I enjoyed Satow’s writing style and came away from this book having learned so much.
Flip the Script by Lyla Lee, recommended by Diana G.
Flip the Script is a book written about the K-Pop generation, once known primarily for their Korean boy band music groups. This book tells a story of two teen girls, Minjee and Hana, trying out for parts in a K-Drama Series called Faded Destiny. Both Minjee and Hana get parts in the drama series.
Hana, who is openly queer, falls in love with Minjee. Minjee also falls for Hana, but fears her parents and friends will no longer accept her if they knew she was queer. While trying to decide how to share their new relationship with their friends and agents, Minjee and Hana find out that they have been scripted in a new K-Pop television series.
I enjoyed this lighthearted story and would read it again.
The Good Part by Sophie Cousens, recommended by Leah
So enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook on Libby! A book about time travel and life choices. I really liked the ideas this book highlighted. There is no perfect time in your life, at every point you have good stuff and bad stuff. The choices you make in life are important. It’s important to live your life, good and bad, just enjoy the journey. If you enjoyed The Midnight Library, I would recommend this book for a lighter read on a similar topic!
Ordinary Angels, recommended by Sandy K.
I saw this movie’s synopsis on Wowbrary, thought it looked interesting and placed it on hold directly from the website. The hold came in and my husband and I watched it this weekend. We both really enjoyed it! It was based on a true story and so heartwarming! One woman specifically, but then many people in this community, truly came together to help this family in their time of need. If I didn’t know this was a true story, I would have thought it was pure fiction! Ordinary Angels are everywhere! (They also showed pictures of the real family at the end – love that too!)
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, recommended by River W.
This book is adorable and fascinating with twists you don’t expect. Themes of found family, quirky characters, and a dash of magical realism add to this cute love story.
Staff Book Club Pick: The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
Our Staff Book Club pick for July was this twisty mystery centered on a cozy baking competition at a stately, mysterious manor. We enjoyed the building suspense and the development of the characters over the course of the novel. The plot moves along well, with lots of clues and very human characters. The ending led to a lot of discussion about the moral and legal aspects of the consequences for the characters. Best of all, AJPL staff had our own little “Bake Week” competition! Grace’s blueberry cream cheese bars were the winner – find the recipe in our Recipe Exchange next time you stop by!