Everyone Is Watching by Heather Gudenkauf, recommended by Debbie
Five people have been chosen to participate in a reality show, One Lucky Winner. The prize: ten million dollars. No one knows what to expect; the rules are – there are no rules. There are challenges with a super clue as the prize and hidden game changers in various places. Secrets begin to rise, and contestants realize this is no longer just a reality show. Someone wants revenge. No one knows who the originator of the show is; they only meet Fern, the assistant. The first challenge is a hedge maze, and each contestant is given a taser. How far will any of them go to win the ten million? Who will win?
Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer, recommended by Jason
From Goodreads: White Lotus meets Kevin Wilson in this whip-smart social satire about a man who finds himself trapped on an island resort after the sun literally explodes, and suddenly must choose whether to save himself from the chaos, or help fellow guests make it off the island alive.
5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life by Bill Eddy, recommended by Diana
Filled with expert advice and real-life anecdotes, 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life is an essential guide to helping you escape negative relationships, build healthy connections, and safeguard your reputation and personal life in the process. Excellent book. Clear descriptions for each personality type. How to identify them in yourself, friends, and family members. Available on Libby by following the link above.
Funny Story by Emily Henry, recommended by Karen
Daphne has just recently been told by her fiancé, Peter, that he is in love with his best friend, Petra, and is breaking off their engagement to begin a life with Petra. Which then means that Daphne needs to find a new place to live… now. The only place Daphne can find available is with Petra’s ex-fiancé, Miles – not someone she knows well and who seems to be her polar opposite. However, beggars cannot be choosers, and Daphne moves in as Miles’ roommate for which she plans is a short period of time.
Funny Story is a well told tale of picking up the pieces and moving on with one’s life after a major setback, with some great character building in all types of relationships along the way.
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, recommended by Leah
I listened to this on Libby! This book was so helpful for me! I’m not much of a non-fiction reader but I loved this. I love learning about communication and am always trying to improve in that area. This book challenged me and made me to look at myself and my motives before being able to move into other areas. I learned so much from this and it’s one I’ll revisit in the future. I think if you are in the workforce, a parent, or just generally have hard conversations with people, this book will help you. Available on Libby by following the link above.
December’s Staff Book Club Pick: World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever
This book is filled with history about countries and cities all over the world, including some isolated countries that only allow a certain number of tourists per year. It made us want to travel, especially if we could have a friend everywhere we went, like he did! It’s fascinating to read about the food Bourdain tried as he traveled; while you’d have to be pretty adventurous to try it, it was interesting to read about!
While overall we liked this book, we thought that it was not an everyday person’s guide to travel. While there are lots of interesting facts, Bourdain goes to a lot of high-end restaurants and hotels that we didn’t feel like the average person would be able to stay/eat at. We also thought his fame might contribute to his safety in other remote countries that are known for their potential for danger.