Watch Where They Hide by Tamron Hall, recommended by Debbie
Marla Hancock has recently left her abusive husband and moved in with her sister Shelly. One day, after dropping her child off at preschool she mysteriously disappears. Shelly believes Marla’s husband is the suspect and files a missing person’s report. When she receives little to no help from the local authorities, she reaches out to Jordan, a TV journalist for help. Jordan interviews Marla’s friends and the officer in charge of the investigation, uncovering secrets and scandals along the way. Is Jordan putting her own life in danger? What happened to Marla? Twists and turns reveal the real answer.
Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta, recommended by Melissa
I really loved it! It’s a nice short read. It is a sequel to the book/movie Election but can probably be read on its own.
How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin, recommended by Leah
I had so much fun with this read!! As someone who doesn’t always read mysteries but enjoys it when I do, I thought this was really well done. It gave me grown up Nancy Drew vibes. I couldn’t stop listening. I had such a good time. The mystery had me guessing the whole time. Great read, highly recommend!
The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller, recommended by Megan C.
The perfect cozy romance to start the season! If you’re looking for your next Autumnal read while waiting for the leaves to change, The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living will give you Gilmore Girls vibes. When big-city baker Olivia flees Boston for picturesque Vermont, she doesn’t expect small town living to suit her. But when the Sugar Maple Inn needs an expert to help them win the county fair’s pie contest, Livvy discovers the community she’s been missing. Though unexpected, the sounds of banjos, crisp tastes of apples, plus a little romance, may keep her firmly planted in the country.
Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film by Alonso Duralde, recommended by Megan S.
Alonso Duralde, a well-known film critic, does an amazing job of bringing Hollywood’s queer history to light. This book takes the reader decade-by-decade, film-by-film, actor-by-actor, through the American film industry’s lavender history. It was very interesting to read how attitudes changed throughout the decades, especially with pivotal moments like the AIDS crisis in the latter half of the 20th century, and how it affected the film industry. Some stories are sad, some are joyous, but ultimately the entire book is a hopeful message of perseverance and endurance. It’s an excellent choice for October, which is LGBT+ History Month!
Staff Pick: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Our book club book for this month prompted a lot of great discussion. Many of us had watched the Hulu adaptation of this novel, and we recommend it, but also recommend reading the book that started it all. Described as “a women’s 1984,” we thought The Handmaid’s Tale has an interesting story in a dystopian setting. We enjoyed the ambiguous writing and unreliable narrator.