The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

THE UNICORN HUNTERS by Katherine Arden is a work of historical fiction, based in part on a real person, Anne, Duchess of Brittany. The story occurs in 1491 and centers around her attempts to keep Brittany separate from France, despite the efforts to have her wed the French King. Initially, the unicorn hunt is conceived as a delaying tactic, but it opens connections to The Lost Lands and the magic – sorcery and enchantments – still practiced there. As a result, Anne, her sister, and her kingdom are in great peril. In its starred review, Booklist says, “The lush historical details, descriptive language, and intriguing relationships will draw readers into this world of mystery, deception, danger, and fantasy.” THE UNICORN HUNTERS blends romance (including some bedroom scenes), folklore (with a legendary missing city and sea dragons), pageantry, and political intrigue for a memorable reading experience.

The Book of Birds by Macfarlane and Morris

I requested a preview of THE BOOK OF BIRDS by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris for several reasons: it was the notable nonfiction LibraryReads selection in June 2026; Macfarlane also wrote Is a River Alive? (New York Times bestseller and on my TBR list due to being highly recommended by a voracious reader friend); and the general interest in birds by our book group members. However, this “Field Guide to Wonder and Loss” was actually somewhat disappointing to me because it did not include sections on common birds like robins and cardinals. I think this is because the authors chose to focus on endangered species and, understandably, seem to have included birds more likely to be found in the UK. They crafted 49 amazing essays along with colorful illustrations of species such as kestrel, puffin, and woodcocks. The clever essays are sometimes written in first person and the illustrations are gorgeous. Saying, “bird lovers will be delighted,” Publishers Weekly gave THE BOOK OF BIRDS a starred review (“The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this ode to the wonders of the natural world”) and Booklist described it as a “radiant, exhilarating, and invaluable creation.”   

I found myself being especially grateful for this introduction to the beautiful artwork of Jackie Morris (how did I miss his voluminous work for young children?) and the previous Macfarlane-Morris collaborations, The Lost Words (voted the most beautiful book of 2016 by UK booksellers) and The Lost Spells, both of which seem truly magical. I want to spend more time with them and their accompanying resources, like the Spring Edition Explorer’s Guide. 

Here, to offer a sense of their talent, is a short video on The Red Fox:

Death at King's Cross by Rosanne Limoncelli

DEATH AT KING’S CROSS by Rosanne Limoncelli (The Four Queens of Crime) is the second in the series to feature four famous mystery writers (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham) and pioneering policewoman Detective Chief Inspector Lilian Wyles as they all work together to solve a puzzling crime in 1941 London. A young woman is found stabbed at King’s Cross Station and the case is given to MI5 where the higher-ups seem reluctant to share information. The writers and Wyles are increasingly convinced that several more women’s lives may be at stake; it is only combining their findings (regarding stolen medicines, missing relatives, and blackmail threats) that they are able to concoct a plan and act upon it. Although the plot rests a bit too heavily on coincidences, it is still suspenseful and entertaining, especially the reflections on the role for women in the police force at that time. Look for this title when it becomes available in July 2026.

Big Time by Laura Vanderkam

BIG TIME by Laura Vanderkam is subtitled “A Simple Path to Time Abundance” and compliments the other texts (e.g., Tranquility by Tuesday or Juliet's School of Possibilities) that she has written regarding time management. In this case, Vanderkam asks readers to take more of a big picture approach and to think in terms of 8,760 hours (an entire year).  Her first chapter discusses the benefits of time tracking – learning about patterns of how one’s time is spent. From there, she advocates for readers to “become the ringmaster,” balancing career, relationships, and self. For example, she describes the Better Workday Challenge where she advocates for people to pursue three strategies: find meaning by spending an extra hour per week on the work you like best; increase belonging by giving fifteen more minutes to deepening a work friendship; and reinforce a feeling of autonomy by taking two, short intentional breaks per day. Subsequent chapters are labeled “Embrace Your Golden Hours” and “Be Open to Serendipity” and contain ideas for evening hours, weekends and vacations. Throughout, Vanderkam points to examples from her own life or the survey research which has conducted with others who tracked their time. The text is written in an accessible manner and concludes with a brief case study. Publishers Weekly describes BIG TIME as an “upbeat guide” that “will resonate most with readers juggling family and career demands.”

Inside the Box by David Epstein

INSIDE THE BOX by David Epstein (Range) presents his arguments on “How Constraints Make Us Better.” Epstein uses multiple stories and anecdotes to illustrate his point that too much choice can actually impede creativity. He discusses the benefits of ruthlessly prioritizing, “stop starting and start finishing,” and one page press releases (based on advice from Tony Fadell). In a recent New York Times piece, Epstein references Nobel Laureate Herbert Simon and contrasts Maximizers with Satisficers, claiming “that the path to the best outcome runs directly through the willingness to stop searching long before you’ve exhausted the options” (think about trying to choose a streaming service and video to watch). INSIDE THE BOX received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Through captivating case studies, Epstein reveals the transformative power of obstacles. It’s a game changer.”) and positive “blurbs” from Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink. Notes and references comprise roughly twenty-five percent of the text. A favorite story for me was referenced in The Wall Street Journal review: “Mr. Epstein used to make long lists that compelled multitasking and induced anxiety. Now, he writes, ‘at the top of each list is one single thing that, if accomplished, will mean it was a good day.’ This forced prioritizing means that he chooses something worth doing, does it and moves forward.” 

10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors

10-MINUTE CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES FOR SENIORS by April Hattori offers “40 Poses to Build Strength and Flexibility for Fall Prevention.” It is filled with colorful drawings (similar to the figure on the cover) and helpful direction. I recently attended my first chair yoga session in person at the local library and was happily surprised at the “workout” I received. This book is split into three sections. A short first part provides background and discusses the importance of building strength and flexibility. Part two introduces forty individual poses, including, per the author “targeted areas (the muscle groups engaged during the pose,) reminders and things to keep in mind to help your form, modifications to make the pose easier or more challenging, and illustrations showing how to do each step.” The third part outlines twenty-five ten-minute sequences of those poses, along with warm-up and cool-down exercises. Hattori also includes a list of references (although some are rather dated) and an index. 10-MINUTE CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES FOR SENIORS seems user-friendly and could encourage readers to try chair yoga, although a video (see below) or other group activity could also be a helpful, social motivator. 

For some more ideas, please see the video on chair yoga from Yoga with Adrienne:

Additional resources: Harvard Health (2025) offers advice on “Chair Exercises for Seniors”and Healthline (2025) provides direction on “7 Chair Yoga Poses for Older Adults.” Like Hattori, they stress numerous benefits including increased strength, emotional well-being, and fall prevention.

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

THE BURNING SIDE by Sarah Damoff is a beautifully written, character-driven story set in Texas and a LibraryReads selection for May 2026. The focus is on April and Leo whose house burns down and whose marriage is falling apart. They have two young children, Sadie and Otto, and move in temporarily with April’s parents, Deb and Billy. The narrative jumps around in time and there are many sad moments and missed opportunities for clearer communication in this book, only intensifying the “feels” and affection for these characters. Deb and Billy have their own poignant story as they adjust to the impact of his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, reflecting throughout on their long, not always happy marriage. April and her siblings, Josie (dramatic middle child involved in theater) and Cameron (with girlfriend Rachel) also need to cope with selling the family home (“We live in homes until we leave them, and then they live in us. … I miss it. But we can only return to a place, not a time.”) and decisions about their own Alzheimer testing. There are plenty of issues and shifts in the characters’ reality, but that contributes to the realistic feeling of family life: “It doesn’t go fast, but it will have gone fast.” Having myself just returned from a memorial service for a dear Aunt who loved to read, Deb’s musings resonated: “In a flash, I'll be gone, my own children recalling their favorite things about me in some new house at some new table with some new iteration of family. So I dance now as if time is the music. This, I know, is how you dream. This is how you live forever.”