Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg

LIFE: A LOVE STORY by Elizabeth Berg (The Story of Arthur Truluv and others) has a beautiful cover and expresses some truly wonderful and universal sentiments. Berg introduces readers to Flo, a widow in her nineties. Flo has received a terminal diagnosis and in an effort to wrap up her affairs she crafts a lengthy letter to Ruthie, the now grown woman who, as a young child, was her neighbor and almost a daughter. Flo tells Ruthie “You can do with my things whatever you like but I just think you should know why they are not just objects, but pieces of my life that point to something bigger than my life. I'll tell you what, a rubber band is not just a rubber band, as you will come to see.” Filled with wisdom, this letter includes many memories and meaningful stories (“an autobiography in things”), particularly about Flo’s marriage to Terrence (“She never would have predicted that he would be taking care of her long after he was gone. Yet he is.”), and one which might provide some guidance for Ruthie’s own troubled relationship. Even though this novel is almost a monologue from Flo, it is engaging and thought-provoking, totally enjoyable. I also liked the references to older books and songs (e.g., Mrs. Mike and Jesse) and a comment from Flo’s new friend, Teresa, who says, “You know, I had a patient once tell me that the best index he had to his mental health was whether or not he looked up at the sky every day.” LIFE: A LOVE STORY is a March 2026 LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection and received a starred review from Booklist (“The prolific Berg has a huge following, and this is the author at her heartwarming best.”). Highly recommended.

Storm Warning by Alice Henderson

STORM WARNING by Alice Henderson is her latest novel featuring biologist Alex Carter.  Henderson has written several other “action-packed mystery thrillers with a wildlife twist” and I am sure that her fans will enjoy this one. However, I found it a bit unrealistic, and I seriously doubted that Alex could survive the many dangers and human “predators” that she faced. The premise of the story is that Alex is in Hawaii trying to protect endangered turtles when a major hurricane arrives along with armed thieves seeking to rob the local paleontology museum. STORM WARNING is certainly action-packed, danger is everywhere, and there are many deaths. There are some references to earlier books in the series, but this works as a stand-alone read.

Confident by Choice by Juan Bendaña

CONFIDENT BY CHOICE by Juan Bendaña is a very energizing text. Bendaña writes with verve and enthusiasm. His main message centers around the idea that confidence can be built. He starts out by noting four confidence myths regarding being an extrovert; absence of insecurity; having the “right” genetics; and needing competence first. I particularly liked his point that “1. You're going to fail. 2. But that's OK because failure is the path to success.” At the end of each chapter, Bendaña suggests an action item, a micro-step, often designed to help his readers further clarify their goals. Many of his ideas (“change your posture, skip around, do a little dance”) are small actions which can really have a big impact as they help improve attitude and overcome fears.  CONFIDENT BY CHOICE, published in August 2025, made me think of earlier titles like Be Fearless by Jean Case or Resilient by Rick Hanson.

Genius at Scale by Hill, Tedards, and Wild

GENIUS AT SCALE by Linda A. Hill, Emily Tedards, and Jason Wild is an in-depth, thoughtful look at “How Great Leaders Drive Innovation.” The authors’ credentials are impressive: Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School (HBS); Tedards is a graduate researcher in organizational behavior at HBS; and Wild is he former Global Vice President of CEO Co-Innovation and Customer Engagement at Microsoft. Together, they essentially use case studies and real-world examples to talk about Architects, Bridgers, and Catalysts effecting change in their organizations. Some of the companies and groups mentioned are P&G, Pfizer, Mastercard, Delta Airlines, as well as food organizations in Africa and Italy and the Sampark Foundation which promoted educational advancements in India.  

GENIUS AT SCALE is very accessible, with differently sized helpful headers, a conversational tone, and a focus on individuals and their stories. Much of this necessitates a new way of thinking, like Mastercard’s emphasis on a Framework to Grow, Diversify and Build in the “World Beyond Cash” or P&G’s increasing recognition that “the product economy was shifting to an experience economy.” The authors note that “as much as leaders would like to plan their way to innovation, their job as architects is to help their teams and organizations act their way instead,” referencing a vivid descriptor from previous research: “it's like shifting from leading an orchestra to a jazz ensemble: while their sheet music provides some guardrails, the musicians have to improvise, listen, and adapt to each other as they perform.” Another chapter looks at the establishment of the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi, stressing the importance of continuous learning and adapting to local practices, needing “to create an environment where all caregivers could be ‘contemplative and creative rather than reactive problem solvers’.” While reading, I found many insightful comments like when the Sampark leadership opined “If you launch a decision as an initiative, people wait for it to fail. If you launch it as an experiment -- indicating that you will reverse it if it doesn't go right -- people participate in shaping it. They own it.” The authors and those they studied repeatedly point out how critical it is to have a “foundation of shared purposes and values -- a sense of community." GENIUS AT SCALE is clearly extensively researched with notes comprising at least ten percent of the book; there's also a helpful index and the online bibliography contains a list of over 700 books and articles.  Highly recommended.

The House of Hidden Letters by Izzy Broom

THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN LETTERS by Izzy Broom is a dual timeline mystery set on Folegandros, a Greek island. The story moves back and forth between the 1940s’ local resistance efforts (of Stefanos, Katerina, and her sister, Leni) and more present day when Skye (fleeing an abusive relationship) and several other new residents are attempting to renovate the older houses with the help of contractor Andreas. Storms and excavations yield bodies and clues to the long ago past: “An antique blade buried underground, a bundle of letters sealed behind stone. Six houses abandoned since the war, with nothing and nobody to tell them why. There were secrets here. Secrets that someone had gone to great lengths to hide…. The past, it seemed had begun to reawaken.” It is a story of budding friendships, romance, courage, and the importance of community woven into a beautiful setting. The award-winning author’s acknowledgments suggest more adventures will follow.

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis

JUDGE STONE by James Patterson and Viola Davis (narrator) shares the tale of the title character, Mary Stone, who draws the judicial assignment of overseeing a court case involving Bria Gaines, a local doctor, and the accusation that Bria has performed an illegal abortion on a thirteen-year-old, Nova Jones. The setting is a small town, Union Springs, in present day Alabama and feelings run high, often prompting recall of past traumas. Activists from both sides, including Klan members, convey their views (sometimes with violence) on this triggering and divisive subject. As Mary’s sister says, “Call it abortion, pro-life, pro-choice, women's reproductive health. Doesn't matter how you label it, there is no middle ground. None. Not here in Alabama. The issue fires people up. Makes them unhinged.” Even the governor and state officials try to convince Judge Stone to recuse herself. As expected, Patterson provides plenty of action, with a murder, a bombing, and other threats. JUDGE STONE received a starred review from Booklist. Readers who would like to listen to Viola Davis’ expressive reading can find a sample of the audiobook at this link.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

LADY TREMAINE by Rachel Hochhauser is an impressive debut, containing a clever retelling of the Cinderella story, this time focusing on its title character, the stepmother. Twice widowed and impoverished, Lady Ethel Tremaine struggles to provide for her two daughters (Matilda and Rosamund) and ungrateful, detached step-daughter (Elin), constantly hoping that a fortuitous marriage will improve their fortunes. With its themes of motherhood (“The love of a mother does away with scales and measurement altogether; It envelops and understands and embraces what is cracked along with what is beautiful.”), social standing, resilience, and feminism, this title would be an interesting and discussion-provoking choice for book groups. LADY TREMAINE received starred review from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus. It is both a LibraryReads selection and an IndieNext pick for March.

Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips

STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS by Rob Phillips is an award-winning debut mystery, with a cute cover that captured my attention. I was expecting something light and cozy and initially felt that this was a little too silly until I started to build affection for the characters and appreciation for what becomes a fairly complicated plot set in the Bay Area. The main character is Charlie Shaw, an ex-journalist, now newbie PI, married to his high school sweetheart and dad to a six-month-old daughter. His inexperience contributes to both hilarity and danger as he shifts from tailing a client’s cheating wife to trying to find the dysfunctional, missing father of sixteen-year-old Friday Finley, a runaway who has just lost her Mom. It seems that the missing Dad is involved (voluntarily or not?) in some shady dealings including gambling, crooked cops, and even murder. Solving this dilemma and supporting the troubled teen requires the involvement of Dwayne Powell, a retired police officer and Shaw’s boss. There will undoubtedly be more in this charming series, as Phillips writes, “This book, above all else, is about fathers and daughters and the space a little girl takes in her daddy's heart.” STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS received a starred review from Library Journal.

 

The Star from Calcutta by Sujata Massey

THE STAR FROM CALCUTTA by Sujata Massey is the fifth mystery in the series  (see The Widows of Malabar Hill and others) featuring Perveen Mistry in 1920s India. Once again, the first female lawyer in Bombay is working a unique case, this time involving the moviemaking industry. Her client, Rochana, is a famous star originally from Calcutta and now in some danger as she and her new husband may lose their film company. Even Perveen and her friend Alice Hobson-Jones may fall under suspicion when a film censor is found dead after a screening they all attended. Massey offers suspense in an intriguing setting with likeable characters. THE STAR FROM CALCUTTA received a starred review from Booklist (“wonderful history-mystery read, filled with fascinating details both of the complexity of life in British India and of the workings of the 1920s film world”).   

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief

A LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for March, EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF by Benjamin Stevenson is the latest in his very entertaining Ernest Cunningham series. In this case, old Ern may have really pushed the envelope as he is trapped in a bank by a rather ineffective robber. Someone mysteriously dies and it looks like Ern could be next. He’s intent on solving the mystery, though, and playing fair with his readers by providing as much background as he can. Noting, for example, that “We've got a dead body in Byron, two hours’ drive from here, a police raid a year ago that resulted in another dead body, a missing banker, a vault that can't be opened, a bank robber who doesn't seem to care about money, and a guard who doesn't care about protecting it, plus a priest who can't talk and a bird that won't shut up.” Stevenson is very clever in crafting this series and I doubt that too many readers will jump to the right conclusion here… plenty of twists and interrelationships despite Ern’s admonition that “You don't need to solve every little thing. Just solve the things that matter.”  The audiobook is narrated by Barton Welch who does a commendable job (and has so many great lines to deliver, like: “Winston rolled his eyes and turned to Juliette, ‘Is he always this argumentative?’ ‘Yes,’ [she responded] ‘I disagree,’ I said.)”. EVERYONE IN THIS BANK IS A THIEF received starred reviews from Kirkus (“Resign yourself to being stumped, and enjoy.”) and Publishers Weekly (“Stevenson’s hot streak continues”).

Nobody's Baby by Olivia Waite

NOBODY’S BABY by Olivia Waite is a short (144 pages) novella set in space. The baby is a total surprise as people traveling on the spaceship for hundreds of years are not supposed to be able to have children. The main character, a detective named Dorothy Gentleman, has a nephew who finds the baby and wants to raise it with his partner. Their reaction to the whole situation is heartwarming in itself, as are Dorothy’s efforts to untangle the legal status of a being who is not supposed to exist. NOBODY’S BABY is a LibraryReads selection for March; that’s where I first heard about this second book in the series (after Murder By Memory) where “Becky Chambers meets Miss Marple.” Kirkus described NOBODY’S BABY as “a gentle charmer of a SF mystery that surprises as it satisfies” and Booklist gave it a starred review. Enjoy!

The Crossroads by C.J. Box

THE CROSSROADS by C.J. Box is the latest (#26) in the long-running series featuring game warden Joe Pickett. Set amid harsh conditions in Wyoming, this story centers on finding out why (and by whom) Pickett was ambushed near a fork in the trail that splits off towards three different ranches.  There are questions related to cartels and drug smuggling, to possible kidnapping, and to just plain greed and social standing. It takes a while to determine the possible motives, particularly as it is Pickett’s three grown daughters (Sheridan, April, and Lucy) leading the chase while their Dad is hospitalized in the hopes of recovering from a brain injury. The perpetrators are ruthless, and multiple deaths occur as the action accelerates towards a fitting ending. A larger role for the daughters was a bonus in this puzzling, often violent, whodunit. 

The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor

THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE POISONED PROFESSOR by Lucy Connelly is the first in a new cozy mystery series. It is set in Dillynaidd, Wales at the local university where alumnae Gwen Griffith has arrived to head the journalism department for the Dean (and her best friend), Carolyn Sparks. After a faculty party welcome, one of the other professors, Alice Rice, collapses at Gwen’s door. Foul play - and Gwen - are suspected by the local police detective, Gareth Jones. Of course, Gwen (aided by her teaching assistant Ellis) jumps in to do some investigative reporting and makes some rather dubious choices along the way. Soon, both are in danger, and it takes a village of newly found friends to save them. Gwen is a very likeable heroine and I look forward to more of her Welsh adventures. 

The Devil's Bible by Steve Berry

THE DEVIL'S BIBLE by Steve Berry is the latest novel featuring Cotton Malone, a retired Justice Department agent. I had not read any previously, but I look forward to reading more in this series due to the twisty, relevant plot and exciting action. This story takes place in Sweden (which I now want to visit) where the sister of the King has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. The demand is for The Codex Gigas, a massive (165 pound) medieval manuscript originally created in Bohemia and belonging to Czechoslovakia but plundered by Sweden in 1648. The intent was to return the codex so as to facilitate a positive vote on Sweden’s entry into NATO, but that is now in jeopardy. Russia is suspected being behind the kidnapping and of using an agent close to the royal family. Berry includes some intriguing historical background and spycraft information, but really excels when Cotton; his former boss, Stephanie Nelle; and his girlfriend and former colleague, Cassiopeia Vitt encounter harrowing circumstances (attempted assassination at a circus, intense aerial combat, and gunfighting) and turncoat agents in their efforts to find the princess and deliver the bible. THE DEVIL'S BIBLE received a starred review from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly says, “Cotton’s narrow escapes and larger-than-life heroics are as outlandish and thrilling as ever.” If you are looking for mystery and adventure, try this.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

THE ASTRAL LIBRARY by Kate Quinn was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for February.  I have enjoyed Kate Quinn’s historical fiction (The Briar Club, The Diamond Eye, The Rose Code, for example), but this new novel went in an exciting different direction. Quinn experiments with fantasy as she introduces Alexandria “Alix” Watson, a young, almost destitute young woman who is welcomed into the magical Astral Library. There, other desperate readers (e.g., a woman escaping her controlling husband) are offered sanctuary and helped into books by The Librarian. Several rules apply in this alternative world and Quinn provides an element of danger and quite a bit of exciting adventure for Alix as the Astral Library itself comes under threat. Alix is joined by Beau, a fashion designer who constructs amazing dresses, based in part on the real world creations of Sylvie Facon. With THE ASTRAL LIBRARY, Quinn has crafted an ode to Libraries “full of ideas – perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” She dedicates this book to her mother and “all Librarians everywhere—[saying,] this is for you, Book Dragons keep on breathing flame.” Fantastical and improbable, but inspiring and fun!

The Secret of Snow by Tina Harnesk

THE SECRET OF SNOW is written by Tina Harnesk and translated by Alice Menzies. This novel takes place in northern Sweden and involves characters across many generations. Most notably, there is an elderly husband and wife who face serious health challenges. These two get a new phone and the woman (Mariddja) believes that Siri is a real person – their conversations are funny and poignant, especially as Siri is the only real friend this woman has. She and her husband do not trust the authorities since as a child he and his family were forcibly relocated. Harnesk explores this important sub-theme and the ideas associated with cultural preservation while also looking at the impact of the trauma on individuals and future generations. Overall, the book was sad and a bit confusing, especially at the beginning where the author flips back and forth between various characters; ultimately, Harnesk does interweave the stories for a satisfying ending. THE SECRET OF SNOW received a starred review from Library Journal and Publishers Weekly says: “Fans of Fredrik Backman will take to this touching family drama.”  I concur.

Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron

CATCH YOUR DEATH by Ravena Guron is described by the publisher as being part Agatha Christie and part Karen McManus. It is a locked room mystery with several teenage characters and an amazing number of twists. Devi’s car breaks down on the way to her grandmother’s house; Lizzie delivers a necklace to a wealthy, but arrogant, woman named Emily Vanforte; and Jayne is employed to help with a very fancy dinner. They all end up marooned during a snowstorm with the dysfunctional family at the Bramble Estate. Emily joins her husband, Charles; daughter, Lottie, daughter’s boyfriend, Douglas Treefair; and a young cousin of Lottie’s, Tate Astur, as the only dinner guests when Emily dies suddenly. Was her food poisoned by one of these other dinner attendees? The three girls combine efforts to solve the puzzle and try to keep any other deaths from happening until police can arrive. Guron does an excellent job building suspense and an air of menace: the three girls alternate narrating and police interviews are interspersed as chilling flashbacks. The old manor house is full of secret passages and multiple weapons appear and disappear.  School Library Journal recommends CATCH YOUR DEATH for grades 9 and up, saying, “truly unpredictable and sure to engross readers as the full story unwinds.” I concur and I will look for past (This Book Kills) and future mystery titles by Ravena Guron. 

Lucky by Design by Judd Kessler

LUCKY BY DESIGN by Judd Kessler is subtitled “The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want.” Kessler, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, expounds upon his research about markets and scarce resources. Kessler spoke recently about his new book at a Family Action Network event. There, he explored ideas like getting a reservation at a popular restaurant or being admitted to an elite college. He indicated that it often serves one best to initially “settle for silver” to achieve a desirable outcome. Later, he stressed the importance of personal networking and signaling to the other side of a labor market or to a potential romantic partner that one is sincerely interested. Similar ideas are outlined in this text where, according to the author, “each chapter will provide guidance about how to play in certain types of markets and will arm you with a set of strategies to increase your chances of getting more of what you want from them.” In LUCKY BY DESIGN Kessler looks first at what he calls the three Es (having rules that are equitable, efficient, and easy). He then devotes chapters to different types of market rules: first come, first served; using a lottery; ranking preferences and so forth. While the findings are not especially surprising, this is an accessible text filled with multiple, everyday examples (like allocating household chores), often involving Kessler’s three children or the university academic environment with which he is most familiar. There is an excellent summary and an audio excerpt (read by the author) at the Next Big Idea Club website.

I'll Make Me a World by Jarvis R. Givens

I'LL MAKE ME A WORLD by Jarvis R. Givens received a starred review from Library Journal and was the notable non-fiction LibraryReads selection for February. This text contains four essays and purports to share “The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month.” There is a great deal of history, including multiple images, and many stories related to figures critical to both the creation and the commemoration of Black History Week in 1926 and then Black History Month in 1976. However, the overall tone is quite scholarly and academic which could unnecessarily restrict readership. Givens is a Professor of Education and African and African American Studies and the co-founding faculty director of the Black Teacher Archive at Harvard University. He freely shares his personal experiences as a student and as a mentor. That personal history was quite interesting as well as the many more widely recognized historical anecdotes which he included. Givens feels passionately about this subject and that was evident in his research (Notes comprise about ten percent of this text and a detailed Index is included). Crafting an “abridged” version for high school students would be worth pursuing. 

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean

LOVE ME TOMORROW by Emiko Jean is a young adult novel whose main character is high school senior, Emma. She is a violin prodigy, but resists following her dream of music school because she feels compelled to stay close to home in order to help her single Mom and grandfather. It is a bit difficult to reconcile that selfless view with her almost obsession with several boys in her life. Teen readers will likely enjoy the angst and the mystery about which boy is really right for her. There’s her longtime neighbor and quasi brother, Theo; her high school crush and fellow musician, Ezra;  and wealthy Colin whose parents are house cleaning clients of Emma’s Mom. The author weaves a mystery into the story due to a romantic letter Emma receives which is supposedly sent from the future. Can Emma and her best friend Delia discover who wrote it? What risks will it inspire her to take? Kirkus describes LOVE ME TOMORROW as a “charming, funny, time-traveling romance [which] weaves in themes of personal growth and shifting family relationships...” Booklist recommends for Grades 8 to 12 and a recent author interview indicates that a second book about Emma is in the works.

Murder at the Wham Bam Club by Carolyn Marie Wilkins

Set in rural Illinois during the roaring 1920s, MURDER AT THE WHAM BAM CLUB by Carolyn Marie Wilkins has a fun, catchy title, but the story moved slowly. Wilkins seems to rely on quite a few stereotypes with a great deal of focus on being psychic and seeing auras. Honestly, that did not seem interesting after a while, especially with all of the repetition throughout the story. The main character, Nola Ann Jackson, is a young twenty-one-year-old widow who shares second sight abilities with her Aunt Sarah. When another young woman, Lilly, goes missing, from a school (Phyllis Wheatley Institute for homeless colored girls) that Nola Ann attended, the Director asks for help, implying that the police force will not give the case appropriate priority. I can readily see Nola Ann (as fearless as PBS’ Miss Scarlett) returning in future mysteries (and it does look like Let the Murderer Say Amen is scheduled for a July 2026 publication), but it is hard to always feel that she really is experienced enough or that local crime bosses and politicians would continue to listen to her. Readers interested in using “magic” to solve a puzzle would also enjoy the more modern day Lina Chern’s mysteries (Play the Fool and Tricks of Fortune).

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

THE FUTURE SAINTS by Ashley Winstead was a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for January and deservedly so. This is a novel which deals with strong emotions shared through the actions of appealing characters. Hannah Cortland is the lead singer whose band is on its way down, due in part to the death a few months ago of their manager and in part to Hannah’s alcohol use and self-destructive behavior. In steps a new manager, Theo Ford, and the dynamics change rapidly as the band’s new and darker songs, along with some spectacular antics, build awareness and interest through social media. United in devastating grief, Hannah and the other band members (handsome bassist "Ripper" Ravishankar and gentle drummer Kenny Lovins) gradually accept Theo into their “found family.” Together, they push back against the pressures of sudden fame and corporate balance sheets, but not without some ruptures along the way. THE FUTURE SAINTS received starred reviews from Booklist (“emotional, unflinching story of grief and fame”) and Publishers Weekly (“readers will fly through the pages to find out whether Hannah will manage to tame her demons in time”). Highly recommended. 

Loon Point by Carrie Classon

LOON POINT by Carrie Classon is a debut novel which will melt your heart. I read this in about two days and was enamored with the characters and the found family they eventually manage to create. Set in the North Woods of Minnesota at the Last Resort (which is camp run by Norry Last), the story introduces readers to a darling (and rather self-sufficient) 8-year-old girl named Lizzie. She’s living in a rundown trailer with her Mom who is battling pain and addiction. A nearby and elderly neighbor is Wendell who seems neurodivergent or at least unaccustomed to being around other people since his own Mom’s death. Norry is middle aged, single, and has taken over the running of the camp after her own father’s death. She becomes a maternal figure of sorts for both Lizzie and Wendell. Those three share the narrating duties which moves the story along in an engaging manner. And then there’s Bud, a handyman with a strong desire to help others, who uses his local connections with foster care, addiction treatment, and senior housing to try to put things right. Sad events occur, but overall, LOON POINT is a feel-good book with memorable characters: “Maybe that was the trick. Maybe that's how people always managed to stay so much happier than Wendell had. They didn't complicate things -- the happy ones didn't, anyway. They knew what they needed, and they decided to be grateful for what they had.” Book Club Questions are included. 

The Queen of Wishful Thinking by Milly Johnson

THE QUEEN OF WISHFUL THINKING by Milly Johnson is a feel-good novel about friendship, resilience, and the antique trade. Bonnie Brookland is a young woman who has lost her father, her faithful dog, and her independence. She’s trapped in a loveless marriage and a thankless job. Things change, however, as she dares to take a risk and apply for a position at The Pot of Gold, a newer antique store run by Lewis Harley. He is already pursuing a second chance at life after suffering a heart attack. They gradually come to depend on each other and share stories about their lives and relationships. Both of their spouses (Stephen and Charlotte) are controlling and deceitful, but readers will not be surprised that all works out in the end as they follow the advice of Bonnie’s mother: “First wish it. Then think of yourself doing it. Then do it.” I was surprised to learn that this is the author’s twenty-second novel, although it certainly fits with her publisher’s characterization of her writing as “highlight[ing] the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness” – something we all need these days. THE QUEEN OF WISHFUL THINKING is an upbeat book as the characters grow and discover “the greater your storm, the brighter your rainbow.” A series of book group discussion questions are included.

ALA and RUSA award lists and more ...

It is that time of year so here are some wonderful links for even more reading choices ...

ALA Youth awards:
https://www.ala.org/news/2026/01/american-library-association-announces-2026-youth-media-award-winners   Plenty of choices for young people in our lives AND the ALEX awards are adult books suitable for teens. 

 

Notable Fiction

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/ 

The ten fiction choices from that list are shown here with their covers:

https://pcin.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/1612157240/2946217557

 

Listen List … Includes The Correspondent, Mailman, and The Names

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-rusa-listen-list-revealed/

 

And Ron Charles, The Washington Post book reviewer, just shared his readers' favorite humorous books ... we all need a smile or a laugh ...  

·       Jeeves & Wooster series, by P.G. Wodehouse

·       “A Confederacy of Dunces,” by John Kennedy Toole

·       “Straight Man,” by Richard Russo

·       “Dear Committee Members,” by Julie Schumacher

·       “Lucky Jim,” by Kingsley Amis

·       “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” by Helen Fielding

·       “I See You’ve Called in Dead,” by John Kenney

·       “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir,” by Jenny Lawson

·       “Squeeze Me,” by Carl Hiaasen

·       “Lamb,” by Christopher Moore

 

And see A Year-by-Year Look at 4-Star, Beloved Books of the New Century, published on GoodReads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/3040-a-year-by-year-look-at-4-star-beloved-books-of-the-new-century 

The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar

THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE by Maya Shankar is about “Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans.” Shankar is a cognitive scientist and neuroscience expert who describes the life altering changes faced by guests on her podcast. She notes that the book is “part narrative, and part practical guide, rooted in the latest scientific research.” Her first example (“Locked In”) involves Olivia Lewis who becomes paralyzed; it is reminiscent (as Shankar also notes) of events which impacted Jean-Dominique Bauby, author of Diving Bell and the Butterfly, as well as of Allison Pataki’s Beauty in the Broken Places about her husband’s unexpected health scare. Shankar notes how these individuals must confront what they have lost and then “experience an internal transformation that allows them to imagine new and freeing possibilities for themselves.” She also “shows how that sense of possibility can ripple outward” and includes an Appendix titled “Getting to the other side of Change: Your Change Survival Kit” where she summarizes key concepts (e.g., self-identity) from each chapter. Her bibliographic notes and references comprise an additional ten percent or so of the text. Shankar does an excellent job of weaving examples and research, but this is based on numerous conversations, sometimes covering years. I wonder how well a person in the midst of devastating change would be able to comprehend, digest, and implement (without professional guidance) the ideas from this book. THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE received a starred review from Booklist.

On a related note, I recently attended a conversation between Kelly Corrigan and Jennifer Breheny Wallace about Wallace's new book titled MATTERING. The event was sponsored by Family Action Network and a recording is available:

According to the publisher: Wallace argues that mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have the chance to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water. ... MATTERING shows how lives are transformed when we are reminded, in small but intentional ways, that we are seen, valued, and needed. Wallace identifies the essential components of what she calls a “mattering core”: recognizing your impact, being relied on (but not too much), feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in. ... Wallace shows how to strengthen our own sense of mattering—and how to build cultures of mattering in our homes, workplaces, and communities—at a moment when it has never been more urgent.