The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore, recommended by Leah
Love. The librarian in me is cringing with all the writing inside of books, but the reader in me is thriving. Such a fun read! Lucy Gilmore writes about intergenerational relationships so beautifully. I really appreciate the friendships that Lucy writes. I think they feel real, wholesome, and always unlikely. If you’ve read Gilmore’s other novel Lonely Hearts Book Club, you might find some similarities to this title. Even with those similarities I still felt this book was worth the read. Highly recommend!
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison, recommended by Jason
A dark and unsettling post-apocalyptic tale, it follows the Unnamed Midwife as they try to persist in a world where a plague has wiped out most of the population, and very few women have survived. It is not for the faint of heart. Mature audiences only.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle, recommended by Megan C.
From the bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer, Rebecca Serle returns with a gripping new romance, with just a dash of magical realism. For 20 years, every time Daphne Bell meets a man, she also meets a slip of paper with his name and the amount of time they’ll be together. From 3 days to 3 months, Daphne can’t help but hope for a paper without an expiration date. But when a blind date arrives with a paper that only lists his name, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction. This heartbreaking novel explores what it means to be single, in search of love, and how to define yourself, your future, and your expectations.
The Women by Kristin Hannah, recommended by Diana
This book tells the story of Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who serves in the United States Army Nurse Corps during the Vietnam War during 1965. The story shares the sacrifices of all women that chose to give their lives and nursing skills to save our solders. Frankie decides to join the Army Nurse Corp and is shipped out to serve in the Viet Nam War along with her brother. The war was harsh and she finds herself in the middle of chaos and destruction. Upon coming home she finds herself and the women that served as nurses being belittled and dismissed. Some with the same emotional and physical issues as the men fighting this war suffered. Many being denied medical assistance being told, “Women did not fight in Viet Nam!” I found this book to be riveting.
The Old Neighborhood by James Frie, recommended by Lisa
The Old Neighborhood by local author James Frie tells the story of two childhood friends who grew up to be on opposite sides of the law. When Dickie Darling escapes from prison and begins a crime spree, it’s Dan Maxwell, an investigator with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who takes on the case and soon realizes it’s his childhood friend who is responsible. This story ends with a surprising bang and cliffhanger that is keeping me waiting for the sequel.
Staff Book Club Pick: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson
We felt that this month’s book, which follows a packhorse librarian in a rural community, really showed how books and libraries make a connection and affect people in different ways. We enjoyed learning about this time period. While we wanted more from the ending, we loved how this book demonstrated that libraries are “a place of equal access for everyone!”