Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews

Publishers Weekly called the latest novel, ROAD TRIP, by Mary Kay Andrews “perfect for the beach bag” and it is a light read, with a combination of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. Two adult (thirty-something) sisters, practical professor Maeve and carefree struggling actress Therese, are brought together by their mother’s recent death and her squandering of funds on a televangelist. She wanted them to repair their relationship with a trip to Ireland and they travel, hoping to establish provenance for a family painting and thereby secure an inheritance. At first, the sisters are not very likeable characters, but the trip gradually transform them. Plus, Andrews weaves in the story of Kathleen Connor, who emigrated to America in 1926 and of an IRA heist in the mid-1970s with the present-day quest. At the end, the sisters learn to admire and emulate “all the gutsy, ballsy women in our family who’ve picked up the pieces and kept going.”

United States of Oligarchy by Casey Michel

UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY by Casey Michel is subtitled “How America's Wealthiest Ally with Dictators, Weaken the U.S., and Destroy Democracy.” Michel (American Kleptocracy and Foreign Agents) is a financial expert and has written extensively about related crimes (e.g., tax evasion, money laundering). Recently described in Foreign Affairs journal as “a blistering account,” his latest text is accessible, but fairly academic in tone and centers on the ways in which national security and democracy are being threatened both by very wealthy Americans and foreign influences from places like Russia, China, and the Middle East. I was surprised at the extent to which he calls out rich and powerful people like Elon Musk and Jared Kushner, for example. Even the Afterward is chilling. Writing about “Just how monstrous American wealth inequality has become in recent decades -- and how it's now surpassed anything the country has ever known,” Michel cites statistics meant to shock: (“First year the 400 richest Americans paid a lower tax rate than the bottom 50% of Americans: 2018”) and outlines recommendations (e.g., more enforcement of existing laws or enacting new taxes on the ultra-wealthy) to halt or curb these practices. He goes on to point out that this as a global phenomenon, “infecting even places like Britain (where the top 1 percent owned 21.3% of the country's total wealth), France (27.2%), and Germany (27.6%). UNITED STATES OF OLIGARCHY received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Readers will be outraged by the egregiousness of it all.”). The text is extensively researched with over a thousand footnotes.

The Digital Delusion by Jared Cooney Horvath

THE DIGITAL DELUSION by Jared Cooney Horvath discusses “How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning--and How to Help Them Thrive Again.” Horvath, a neuroscientist and educator who specializes in human learning and brain development, has certainly produced a thought-provoking text. He divides it into three sections: defining the problem (including a chapter which looks at the impact on attention, empathy, and transfer of knowledge); a deeper dive into the use of cellphones and artificial intelligence; and an action-oriented section on how to push back. Some of his most interesting comments concern discrepancies between commonly held beliefs and what research shows. For example, he notes that, “although EdTech is frequently promoted as a tool for equity, evidence suggests it most often benefits students who already possess strong knowledge and self-regulation skills. As a result, digital technology tends to amplify existing inequalities rather than eliminate them.” And, in an interview earlier this year with American Enterprise Institute, Horvath explained that high international test scores do not necessarily correlate with tech use, saying, “the countries that use technology the least in schools in the world are Japan, China, Malaysia, and Singapore.” He continues, “[their] rich digital infrastructure is for adults producing work, not kids learning how to become adults.” He repeatedly probes the difference between knowing something and merely knowing where to find it, writing, “human beings think in stories. … digital technologies largely kill sustained narrative. They flood us with disconnected, context free fragments … with no coherent thread linking one idea to the next. This consistent stream of randomness doesn't just weaken memory, it also disrupts comprehension, deep thinking, and the ability to build usable knowledge.” THE DIGITAL DELUSION offers much to contemplate in what Publishers Weekly calls an “intriguing if flawed treatise … sure to spark plenty of conversation.” References and Appendices accounted for approximately half of the preview copy I received.

Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connelly

DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN by Lucy Connelly is part of a Scottish Isle series about a new doctor, Emilia McRoy, who has moved to Scotland where she puts her former emergency room skills to work helping patients and solving police cases. This was the first that I had read, and I felt that the characters needed more introduction. Their relationships became clearer as the story went on, of course. But one, Abigail, who is the assistant in the medical practice is definitely too good to be true … always ready with the scans, tests, and support, willing to work all hours, and not asserting herself in personal or professional settings. The mystery involved two deaths (one in a haunted house; another of someone “scared to death”) which was interesting and provided some twists with a hint of romance. Connelly also includes facts about witches and Scottish history (e.g., scientist Mary Sommerville). Overall, DEATH AT A SCOTTISH HALLOWEEN is a quick, light, cozy read, with a fun, festive theme and I hope that the quality of editing improves with future additions to the series.

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston

A LibraryReads selection for August, WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE by Anna Johnston (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife) is the story of an older man, named Griff, who was a Michelin star chef but now lives (according to the author) in “the most negligent nursing home imaginable.” That low quality of care was a big obstacle for me when I started reading about Griff, his estranged sister, Lisa, and his partner, Beau. The author jumps around in time and shares stories from the childhood of Griff and Lisa, (thirteen years apart in age with different fathers) as well as from their adult lives. WHEN LEMONS GIVE YOU LIFE is very cleverly written (“odd that we fear ageing, forgetting how lucky we are to even get the chance”). Booklist says, “Johnston thoughtfully explores grief, loneliness, aging, and sibling relationships while leavening with warmth and humor.” Indeed, Johnston comments movingly on “the invisibility cloak of age and dementia,” while also promoting laughter with some madcap adventures. I found myself coming to care for the characters more and more and particularly enjoyed the last third of the book as conflicts were resolved and reconciliations occurred. One more quote: “What matters – what lasts – is how you love people. How you treat them when no one’s watching. That’s the only legacy worth leaving.”

The Castle in the Glen by Rhys Bowen

THE CASTLE IN THE GLEN is the latest stand-alone historical mystery by Rhys Bowen, bestselling author of more than sixty novels. This is the story of a famous mystery writer, Iris Blackburn, who was recently diagnosed with dementia and needs to find a co-writer to help finish her latest work, the prequel to her best-selling Inspector Melrose series. She offers the opportunity to Emma Callander, a young writer living in London, but from Australia. Emma is hesitant at first but quickly becomes enthralled by the author’s book within a book about the drowning death of the daughter of a laird and her male companion. The draft chapters describe fictional Melrose’s first solo case and he, too, is concerned about solving the puzzle, especially since the main suspect, a rival suitor, has disappeared. To help writing and revising, Emma is given a trip to Glascow and the Isle of Skye and there she begins to learn some troubling facts and is threatened while also starting a romance. The pace picks up and readers will likely predict some of the ending Bowen has crafted, but she includes numerous twists and surprises, so they are unlikely to foretell them all. The unique geography and environment on Skye is vividly described in this entertaining combination of suspense and historical fiction.

Human Raised by Dana Suskind

HUMAN RAISED by Dana Suskind should be on your reading list. It is on several others, including an appearance as the notable non-fiction choice on the LibraryReads July 2026 selections and on the Next Big Idea Club’s summary of July 2026 Must Read Books. Suskind, an MD who writes extensively and is a professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago, focuses this new book on “Nurturing Connection, Curiosity, & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI.” In chapters with titles like “The Human Edge,” “How Parents Build a Child’s Brain,” or “Robots in the Classroom,” she makes several very compelling and interesting arguments. For example, Suskind writes, “I believe that the relationship between child development and artificial intelligence is one of the most critical and overlooked challenges of our time, one that has the potential to transform childhood, family structures, and ultimately nothing less than our future as a species. And it's up to us as parents and caregivers to decide how these intelligent tools will shape our children's lives.” I found her sharing of Hinton’s comments on embedding maternal instincts in AI models to be quite thought-provoking. And, like many of us, she expressed  concerns about the pervasiveness of AI, asking, “Will a primarily or entirely human-raised childhood be a luxury experience, like a farm-raised diet?” Parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators will find much to consider and discuss in HUMAN RAISED. This book is not anti-technology; rather Suskind is encouraging us to act and to shape the future; she eloquently points out, “In Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, … the birds that no longer sang weren't the tragedy. They were …. a warning that something essential was dying. I hear a similar warning now in a different kind of silence: the eerie, algorithm-induced quiet of children transfixed by technology.” Suskind stresses four guiding principles (HOPE) for raising children alongside AI:  Human connection is irreplaceable; Own your imperfections; Protect the early years; and Enhance—don’t replace—connection. Highly recommended.

The Whole30 Fast & Easy Cookbook Revised

THE WHOLE30 FAST & EASY COOKBOOK REVISED by Melissa Urban is beautifully illustrated and filled with a variety of delicious recipes grouped by cooking method (e.g., sheet pan, slow-cooker). This updates the New York Times 2017 bestseller edition with 35 new recipes. As the title promises, they generally can be prepared fairly quickly and are not overly complicated; plus, they use ingredients from a variety of cultures. A couple of examples include Cashew-Crusted Chicken and Wilted Kale Salad, Harissa Turkey Loaves with Tomato-Ginger Gravy and Cumin-Roasted Carrots, or Slow-Cooker Shakshuka with Artichoke Hearts. This cookbook is worth a look BUT a great deal of space is devoted to explaining the Whole30 movement and encouraging readers to limit (or eliminate) consumption of many foodstuffs in a manner consistent with that program. Honestly, that aspect felt too complicated for me, but I do look forward to trying some of the recipes which Melissa Urban suggests.

The Chase by Felix Francis

THE CHASE by Felix Francis continues in the tradition of the excellent horse racing mysteries by Dick Francis. In this case, his son, Felix, shares a tale about almost fifty-year-old Fabian Tulley who runs an art gallery. The paintings and sculptures he buys and sells are generally related to the racing world and horses; plus, Tulley’s father is a trainer with horses in major races, so he is definitely involved in that world. Easing into retirement does not look likely for Tulley when an unpleasant client very publicly accuses him of knowingly selling a forged painting. Troubles compound when more paintings are vandalized and Tulley is physically attacked. To me, THE CHASE is stronger (and closer in style to an original Dick Francis novel) than Francis’ previous offerings largely because of the way he shares Tulley’s musings and suppositions with the reader. THE CHASE received a starred review from Booklist (“It’s fascinating to follow his [Francis’] hero into art galleries and auctions as well as the stable and racetrack.”) and is scheduled to be published on September 8.

Your Fellow Americans by Peter Santenello

YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS by Peter Santenello is a wonderful collection of “Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home.” Santenello has a YouTube channel with over four million followers and pulled many of these stories from those encounters. He divides the book into four broad sections. In the first, he looks at “groups of people living in the modern world and yet almost alongside the modern world,” travelling to an Amish outpost in northern Florida, to East LA, and to Alaska. Santenello comments on “the thing that keeps hitting me each and every time I find myself somewhere new is how much people here care -- about their families, their towns, their little corners on the map.” Next, he writes about “The Underdogs” with interviews in Central Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta. That is followed by a section with stories about endurance and overcoming obstacles from the Pacific coast of northern California and on to an island in the Chesapeake Bay. The final section, “Pioneering Spirit,” veers towards stories of exploration and adventure; here, Santenello provides insight into one of his first travel experiences, a post high school road trip on a tight budget (in a repurposed van named Vandura) with his best friend Steve. Santenello clearly has a passion for travel and for learning about people and his essays are well presented and generally optimistic. He writes, “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary I think we could all use some stories that leave us feeling good about our country.” Interested readers may also want to pursue Judy Woodruff’s America at a Crossroads, or the Make America Dinner Again movement, or even expand upon the idea of creating connections with titles like David Brooks’ How to Know a Person or Nicholas Epley’s A Little More Social.

The Distinctly Competent District Councillor

THE DISTINCTLY COMPETENT DISTRICT COUNCILLOR by Jonas Jonasson is a quick read (144 pages) which will have readers laughing and smiling even as Jonasson satirizes multinational conglomerates and their impact on small towns. The newly elected mayor, Julia Back, of a small Swedish town, Halstaholm, is intent on improving future prospects for her constituents and she spearheads a campaign to attract investment by a German mattress manufacturer. Her local task force (including a ten-year-old boy) quickly devise a number of surprising ways (e.g., starting a German language school) to convince the owner, Konrad Kaltenbacher Jr., and his two young daughters that Halstaholm is German-friendly. They are up against a tight timeframe and some unethical competition from consultants pushing for a rival location, however. Let the contest begin! Jonasson said that he “felt the urge to write something that might give us hope … about friendship between people from different nations.” Booklist called THE DISTINCTLY COMPETENT DISTRICT COUNCILLOR a “warm-hearted satire” and The Mail on Sunday described it as “a shot of serotonin in book form.” Enjoy!!

Return to Sender by Stephanie Parente

RETURN TO SENDER by Stephanie Parente is a debut novel which succeeds and surprises on many fronts. While mainly a rom com, it explores aspects of identity, friendship, and grief, offering humorous sidenotes and road trip adventure with appealing characters. The most endearing is fourteen-year-old Phoebe who has recently lost her father and is living with her twenty-six-year-old sister, Violet, a teacher. Parente is described as “passionate about writing messy characters falling in love,” and she begins the story with a rebellious Phoebe opening and reading a stranger’s love letter. That leads to their finding and convincing Dex, a troubled young man, to return the letter to its intended recipient, named Catalina. Along the way, the trio visits several highlights (e.g., Yogi Bear statue, Coney Island, a gay bar in Chicago) and experience moments of self-reflection (“The sort of unremarkable night that maybe once would have been easily forgotten, but now I knew to hold onto it with both hands. What a privilege it was to be bored and boring. We were alive at the same time, on opposite sides of the couch. I could have lived in this moment with him forever.”). Violet often focuses on naming three good things and is relentless in trying to stay positive (although her musings about being a guardian can feel repetitive). As readers might expect, there are several romantic scenes as well. RETURN TO SENDER received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“a zany road trip provides a path to recovery”).

Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

WISDOM CORNER by David Heska Wanbli Weiden is the second book, following award-winning Winter Counts, to feature Virgil Wounded Horse, his girlfriend Marie, nephew Nathan, and mentor Jerome Iron Shell who live on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Virgil is trying to move away from his past as a vigilante, but there are still aspects of violence in this novel as he tries to solve a murder, confront a rival gang, and deal with a devious politician. The action keeps coming, but this text also adheres to Weiden’s agreement with the view that crime fiction is “the new literature of resistance.” He deftly weaves in background information about Native American history, like life at the infamous Native boarding schools and “how the children there were compelled to abandon their Indigenous traditions, languages, and spirituality.” As another example, I particularly liked his recounting of the origin of football’s forward pass, involving Pop Warner, Jim Thorpe, and the Carlisle Indian School football team. The author’s note includes several recommended titles for further reading. Both S. A. Cosby (“a raw yet moving journey”) and William Kent Krueger (“riveting thriller that will surprise you to the very end”) have praised this compelling mystery.

The audio book of WISDOM CORNER is narrated by Shane Ghostkeeper who does an excellent job of relaying the action and differentiating the characters. In a recent Bookpage cover story, Weiden says, “I'm hoping that readers will leave the novel with a better understanding of the broken criminal justice system on reservations as well as a sense of life as a Native American in the 21st century.” He succeeds. Learn more about his thinking on this topic in Weiden's New York Times essay, “This 19th-Century Law Helps Shape Criminal Justice in Indian Country.”

The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

THE STORY KEEPER by Kelly Rimmer is sure to be a popular choice with readers of mysteries and historic fiction. Just released, it is an upcoming Indie Next pick and also number one for July’s LibraryReads selections. Set in Australia, this novel cleverly provides a book within a book story, using a dual timeline and suspenseful gothic undertones.  Fiona’s daughters are starting their adult lives when her husband asks for a divorce and pushes her out of their shared architectural business. Desperate for a project and purpose, she returns to the family estate named Wurimbirra, intent on restoring it. But her mother, who lives nearby, actively discourages her from changing anything and several local residents insist the house is haunted. After some strange happenings, Fiona even starts to question her decision and turns to a book, called The Midnight Estate, for diversion. Readers can share in deciphering that tale of marital abuse and escape which has some surprising parallels with Fiona’s life and contains its own mysteries and adventure. Booklist recommends THE STORY KEEPER for those “who enjoy secret-filled family sagas by Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley.”

Cleanup on Aisle Five by Ann Larson

CLEANUP ON AISLE FIVE by Ann Larson is an eye-opening tale of “Essential Work, Poverty Wages, and the View from Behind the Supermarket Register.” We have all stood in line at the supermarket check-out, often frustrated with the wait and the poor quality of packing. Larson encourages readers to take another perspective by relating her own COVID-era experiences as a worker and those of her colleagues. She certainly made me feel more compassionate towards the frontline supermarket employees, standing in place for hours on end and repetitively swiping products past a scanner. Yet, it is worth pointing out that Larson takes an activist perspective and writes, “it was as an outsider that I saw how the supermarket as an institution is a window into larger social divisions and injustices.” She notes, for example, that “many grocery workers are food insecure” and “being perpetually too tired to cook was one of the ironies of working at the supermarket.” And her statistics on dental care, tooth pain, and missing teeth (“One-quarter of adults in the United States over the age of 65 are missing all of their teeth and our country has one of the highest rates of toothlessness in the world”) are surprising and class related. CLEANUP ON AISLE FIVE received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. This book deserves attention and could join others (e.g., Evicted, Nickel and Dimed, Maid, or even How May I Help You?) which have been part of our curriculum as students learn to appreciate the struggles of their neighbors. Extensive source notes (approximately fifteen percent of the text) are included.

Lightning Beneath the Sea by James M. Tabor

LIGHTNING BENEATH THE SEA by James M. Tabor is a fascinating read about “The Race to Wire the World and the Dawn of the Information Age.” Tabor, an award-winning and widely published author, chronicles events surrounding efforts to lay the first transatlantic cable. Most of this activity takes place in the mid-1800s and while the technology is interesting in itself (e.g., the need to develop a salt water cable and a way to safely lay it across the ocean floor) so are the various players, including Samuel Morse, and financiers of the day. I was astounded to learn that Cyrus Field and the group who formed the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company in 1854 “committed $1.5 million ($57 million [in today’s dollars]) to start the project. That came from just five men and amounted to about 4% of the American government's total spending then.” For more than a decade, they battled some amazing obstacles, including weather issues, which adds to the tension of this tale of remarkable resilience. LIGHTNING BENEATH THE SEA received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“epic maritime adventure, as well as a riveting study of technological progress”) and The Wall Street Journal described it as “full of drama and excitement.” Enjoy!

An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton

Suspenseful and with a surprising ending, AN INFINITE LOVE STORY by Chanel Cleeton (The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes) is a work of historical fiction and set in the 1960s. The emphasis is on the nascent space program and the lives of test pilots, early astronauts and their families. Cleeton begins with the facts that divorces in the United States at that time were 2.9 for every 1,000 marriages; while “there were thirty-nine married astronauts in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs. Twenty of those marriages ultimately ended in divorce.” And, then she shifts to fiction and the news of a missing spaceship in 1968. Employing frequent flashbacks, she introduces readers to the main characters: Vivian, an aspiring journalist, and Joe, a fighter pilot who has dreams of travelling in space. The most memorable element of this book is the devotion which Viv and Joe have for each other. For the most part, that is beautifully written, but it becomes somewhat repetitive as Cleeton continually emphasizes the tension: “It must be an extraordinary thing to be loved by a man who felt things so deeply, so passionately, that he devoted his life to a vocation with such singularity. Or was his love for flying, for his dreams of space, so great that there was room for little else?” Still, AN INFINITE LOVE STORY not only conveys the love between two people, the historical events and details also invoke many memories of rocket launches and a country’s love affair with space travel in a more hopeful, inspiring time. Discussion questions are included as are references to relevant works like The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe, A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin, Apollo 8 by Jeffrey Kluger, and Rocket Men by Robert Kurson. Publishers Weekly gave AN INFINITE LOVE STORY a starred review, saying, “Readers won’t want to miss this.”

Aging Out by Lucy Schiller

AGING OUT by Lucy Schiller is subtitled “An Exploration of Caregiving, Community, and How Americans Grow Old,” but it seems to be more of an internal evaluation expressed in a series of essays. Schiller, a non-fiction writing professor at Texas Tech, begins by talking about a move to Pittsburgh after leaving a job in Germany and living with Mary Ann, her grandmother, for a bit during COVID. And then she reflects on her other grandmother, Anita, who died from COVID. Eventually, Schiller starts to quote industry statistics for senior living facilities, but it feels really negative. She herself says, “From my pink couch in Pittsburgh, I read this hodgepodge of age-fear, the sunlight slanting down through the dark wood windows.” She makes a very valid point that “there is no class you take, at any point in your life, alongside everyone else, in which you learn such facts. Perhaps it is because there are so many options, instead of a few or even more simply, one. …. perhaps you wonder how to make sense of all these pieces of some larger puzzle whose shape, and picture, you can't see.”  Does she help answer those questions? Again, not really, even though she supplies data points like “The median cost, nationally, of a semiprivate room in a nursing home in 2025 is around $110,000.” Information is buried in the text (e.g., she describes Papa, a private company worth more than a billion which offers elder companions on demand), but those details are not easily accessible and certainly not very action oriented. This was a missed opportunity to give direction on how to gather information and make choices from an author who had obviously researched the topic. Approximately twenty percent of the preview was devoted to a Notes section but unlike so many other texts about aging, there was no helpful list of resources, government agencies, or relevant websites. Publishers Weekly gave AGING OUT a starred review, commenting “It’s a deeply human portrayal of what it means to get older in a society unprepared to care for its most vulnerable.”

The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR OF JUDITH POTTS by Robert Thorogood is the latest in the Marlow Murder mystery series (also on PBS Masterpiece). When reading this story, it was incredibly easy to picture the interactions of three friends, Judith Potts, Susie Harris, and Becks Starling in their small English village. This time, some famous locals (a sportsman and a writer) are found dead and the friends set out to investigate, but something Is clearly not right as Judith is distracted, and police liaison Tanika Malik has been suspended. That shifts the burden of investigating to Becks and Susie while Thorogood seems to over-emphasize some of their less attractive qualities (e.g., rule-follower and boisterous, almost rudeness), perhaps to replace the tension that existed between the investigators and police in earlier series entries. They have even more to solve when Judith is threatened with exposure of being involved in her long-ago husband’s death. The ending is exciting, and readers will be gratified to learn more about Judith’s cryptic past.

On the Street Where You Live by Kathryn Nicolai

ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE by Kathryn Nicolai is self-described as a cozy audio (total length about 5 hours) and is narrated by the author and several other performers. Basically, this is almost like a set of short stories as each section (lightly tied together since everyone lives in the same neighborhood) focuses primarily on one person (baker, book seller with a cat named Alphabet, piano teacher, star gazer, historian, novelist, librarian, puzzle maker, innkeeper). The pace is gentle and slow (the author also crafted Nothing Much Happens, a collection of stories “to soothe your mind and help you sleep”) – one can easily listen to this audiobook at 1.5 speed. The characters generally face limited conflict (e.g., what food to make and bring to neighbor) and their actions (e.g., juicing a lemon, searching through photos) tend to be methodical and described in a deliberate manner. Nicolai cleverly interweaves the stories (e.g., a piano student leaves a book behind and returning it introduces listeners to the next character). It looks as though ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE will only be available as audiobook or audio CD. Look for it (release date is July 28) if you would like a gentle, peaceful listen.

Most Ardently Yours by Freya Sampson

MOST ARDENTLY YOURS by Freya Sampson is another rom-com of sorts from this creative author (Nosy Neighbors, The Busybody Book Club) and a LibraryReads selection for July. My favorite of Sampson’s titles, The Lost Ticket, also took place in London and dealt with issues that happened decades earlier. In her latest, Sampson draws on events from centuries earlier … and fictional ones at that. Imagine avid romance reader Zoe Knight’s surprise when a man appearing to be Mr. Darcy arrives at the café where she works in modern day London. She convinces him that he has time traveled there - rather than being summoned by magic related to a copy of Pride and Prejudice which Zoe stole from the grumpy, but handsome bookstore owner, Nick Baskerville. See where this may be going? Library Journal says, “The many book lovers who have dreamed that their favorite fictional characters could leave the pages of a novel and join them in the real world will want to pick up Sampson's latest.” Perhaps, but only if they are willing to endure Zoe’s almost constant crisis of self-worth. Publishers Weekly calls MOST ARDENTLY YOURS “a charmer,” citing Darcy’s amusing reactions to present day culture. In addition, there are numerous references to romance novelists and the plot of Pride and Prejudice. A reading group guide and author interview are included.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House

THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE by Jaleigh Johnson is an absolutely delightful fantasy debut. The author says that “this book turned out to be a strange alchemy of things I needed to write to comfort myself during hard times, and gifts I wanted to give to other people.” The gentle story about a young witch, Evie, and her adopted daughter (also with magical abilities), Ruby, is indeed a gift. The two stake their future together on a new posting to a sentient house in a rural area, only to find upon their arrival that the house has run away. Together with their neighbor, Gil, and many of the other villagers, Evie and Ruby gradually repair the house and slowly gain its trust. “You nurture it, allow it to grieve, and, when it's ready, help it to reimagine itself and what it's going to be moving forward. It won't be the same as it was, but it can still be something amazing.” Nature – there is a lovely Mood Garden and Star Oak tree – plays a key role. But there is danger about and a mystery to solve before the house can be fully restored. This is a hopeful story and is highly recommended, especially for readers who enjoyed the cozy fantasy titled The Teller of Small Fortunes. Another gentle story involving “found families” is Loon Point, although it has a contemporary setting without magic. I am also going to look for the author's middle grade series (published about a decade ago) about The Mark of the Dragonfly. 

Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan

GRANDMA JOY AND ME by Brad Ryan is subtitled “A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time” and it shares the story of his reconciliation with his grandmother and their subsequent adventures to visit each of the 63 National Parks.  Sadly, the text of this book feels rather self-centered; Ryan is working through their past decade long estrangement and the trauma of coming out to his judgmental father. The book needed even more of Grandma Joy’s effervescence and positive attitude. I loved the idea of their journeys together and had bookmarked this news video (from 2025 about a current goal) long before I knew there was going to be a book:

Noticing by Richard Louv

NOTICING by Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods, Vitamin N and more) is subtitled “Intimate Encounters with the Natural World” and once again Louv, a journalist and nature advocate, offers insight regarding our relationship with wildlife and the environment. He includes over two dozen chapters, loosely grouped into categories like the Neuroscience of Noticing or the Art and Music of Nature or Our Human-Nature Spirit. NOTICING is full of gentle observations, it feels almost cleansing, and frequently prompts images of one’s own childhood. There are many comments about children as when Louv writes, “Being new to the world and closer to the ground, children notice such details and create stories about them, or they paint or draw them.” He shares perspective from others, too, (like a soon to be forest therapy guide or a PhD student in marine biology) and intersperses some of his own photos of animals and trees. Several final pages list Suggested Readings and numerous Notes are also included. Overall, there is a sense of curiosity and awe.

A Cyclist’s Guide To Poppies & Predicaments

A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO POPPIES & PREDICAMENTS by Ann Claire is the third book in the Oui Cycle series after A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants and A Cyclist's Guide to Villains & Vines. In this cozy mystery, a cycling adventure is disrupted by murder as the Velo Vixens, a group on a bachelorette party trip, become suspects. The proprietor of Oui Cycle, Sadie Greene, is caught (again and again) between keeping her clients happy and occupied and making safer choices. Honestly, that gets a bit wearisome, especially when she says, “‘I don't ascribe to ye olde toxic saying that the customer (or bride) is always right.’” Not sure that is accurate; she seems like too much of a pushover, but thankfully Laurent (her boyfriend and police officer) is friends with the best man and so is available as a support in the face of murder and all. “And all, in this case, would include murder, stalking, extortion, punching, arrest, lies, omissions, temporary van theft, and phone confiscation.” With all of that happening and despite plenty of clues, the ending was still a surprise. A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO POPPIES & PREDICAMENTS is a cute story and provides some interesting facts (who knew that the phrase déjà vu originated as late as 1870?) and touristy info about Provence, its charming towns, and beautiful vistas.

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan (North of Nowhere) is a thriller whose relentless pace will keep readers enthralled. Set in rural Texas during a dangerous rainstorm, this novel relates the story of Ellie McKenna and her four children (high schoolers Jake and Avery, plus tween Lyla and eight-year-old Bobby) who are trying to hold onto the family farm after the recent death of Ellie’s husband, John. It is a daunting task made much more difficult by threats and sabotage from a corporate entity intent on taking over the farm. Mother Nature’s hailstorms and rain add even more obstacles like washed out or flooded roadways, disrupted communications, and power outages. Adding to Ellie’s worries are a heavily pregnant neighbor, her elderly grandmother, and a series of local robberies, one of which resulted in the serious wounding of a neighbor. Danger increases hourly as the storm continues and those criminals threaten both Ellie’s ranch and her family. This stand-alone mystery is full of twists and highly recommended for its action-packed adventure.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

It was just announced that Ann Patchett won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, to be officially awarded at the National Book Festival in Washington on Aug. 22. Her latest novel is titled WHISTLER and Booklist (“tale of complicated marriages, secret love, fear, fury, courage, and reconciliation”), Kirkus (“evocative and moving”), and Publishers Weekly (“one of her best”) all gave WHISTLER starred reviews. This book tells the story of Daphne, now 53, meeting her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett (now 76), by chance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eddie and Daphne had both wanted to be writers – he edited books for years and years and she teaches literature at a girl’s school. It takes a while for Patchett to explain the background to their surprisingly deep and affectionate relationship that was suddenly severed by Daphne’s mother after Eddie and Daphne were in a serious car accident when she was nine years old. Daphne’s Mom remarried for a third time long ago and Daphne and her sister, Leda (a psychiatrist), have two adult half-brothers. Patchett herself had an “abundance” of fathers (also three) as she wrote several years ago in The New Yorker and her collection of essays, These Precious Days.

Book groups will adore WHISTLER, filled as it is with reflections, “There is so much randomness to youth. The person assigned to share your room becomes your friend, the girl you pass on your way out the door becomes your wife, and from these random encounters our entire lives are built, four beautiful children come into the world, and they, in turn, found the people they were meant to spend their lives with.” 

Or, contemplating death: “‘It's okay,’ her father said. ‘You'll be back later.’ ‘We'll still be here,’ Jeffrey said. ‘You won't believe how fast it goes. Might as well be a minute.’ ‘You'll look after everyone?’ she asked her son. ‘No,’ he said. ‘We'll look after you.’”  And Robert Frost’s Wild Grapes: “And the life I live now’s an extra life / I can waste as I please on whom I please.”

Or, simply Patchett’s wry wit: “We write each other notes, back and forth, back and forth. It's like texting for people with large collections of stationery.” Ann Patchett is the narrator for the audio book version of WHISTLER and she does an excellent job, gently evoking the characters and their complex emotions.

A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker

A MURDER IN SPRINGTIME by Martin Walker is the latest (19th) in the Inspector Bruno mystery series set in rural, southwestern France. Walker excels at conveying the village life, particularly as Bruno is working on a project to revitalize the market at St. Denis. He also once again shares numerous details of meal preparation and ingredients, including a huge lamb roast to celebrate Easter. The mystery, involving the death of a relatively unknown outsider, is almost secondary to the sense of community and celebration through food. Due to a possible conflict in the case for Bruno, a young inspector (Fabien) associated with the Police Judiciaire arrives to lead the investigation and the two become fast friends. As always, I look forward to more in this rather cozy, but thoroughly entertaining, series. A MURDER IN SPRINGTIME received a starred review from Booklist (“If, by some magic, you could live within any book (or series), you would do well to choose Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police mysteries...”).

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon

A ZOOM WITH A VIEW by Jess Cannon is an entertaining debut mystery set in small town Blue Oak, Texas and features numerous residents including the local cops (steadfast Jake, a bumbling sheriff, and a couple of other deputies), plus Leonora “Leo” Holloway (who has returned after a long absence), her mother (ditzy hairdresser Karina), and Leo’s long ago boyfriend, Mack Garner. The cast of characters also includes some local influencers and wannabe real estate moguls, Chaz Nickolson and Kymber Owens. Chaz is found murdered, and a rival real estate professional (best friend of Leo’s Mom) is arrested. Suddenly, Leo and her friend Emily, who have been covertly mocking Chaz online for years are local experts and guiding the police towards potential clues. The clever, humorous text is sprinkled with text messages, police memos, blog posts, and Reddit or Facebook entries. Complicating matters are hints of a romantic triangle as well as some long-hidden family secrets. Library Journal sums up A ZOOM WITH A VIEW well: “Readers who enjoy epistolary novels and quirky characters may enjoy this mystery from first-time novelist Cannon.”

An Artful Dodge by Karen Odden

AN ARTFUL DODGE by Karen Odden is an historical fiction mystery story set in 1879 London. The main character is Kit Jimeson, a twenty-year-old orphan who has been responsible for raising her younger sister, Sarah. Kit does so by acting as a thief (like her mother before her) in an all-female gang that is managed by Amelia. In fact, Odden introduces roughly three dozen characters (even providing a helpful list) and the relationships, spanning multiple generations, are a bit complex. Trouble really begins, though, when Maggie (whose mother used to run the gang) returns after being sent as a criminal to Australia and wants to replace Amelia and take things over. Kit then needs to balance Maggie’s demands (especially related to an expensive necklace) with safety for herself and Sarah. She relies on a small trusted group with surprising ties to Fleet Street and Scotland Yard, and the dangerous heist is on. The pace picks up in the last third of the book and while the ending is a bit abrupt, it looks like there will be more adventures to come. Publishers Weekly gave AN ARTFUL DODGE a starred review (“Odden matches vivid details of the hard-knock life in Victorian London with complex backstories for her large cast. Readers will be rapt.”). An entertaining, twisty and suspenseful tale from an award-winning author.

Dyslexia Unlocked by Natalie Brooks

DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED by Natalie Brooks is written for adults and is intended to provide guidance on “How to be successful in work and life.” Brooks is the Founder of Dyslexia in Adults and she herself has dyslexia and ADHD; she shares numerous personal stories of the frustrations she has experienced, particularly in the workplace. I liked that she points out that dyslexia can really be different for each person and that she has made a great effort to provide information clearly, often summarizing and then restating her points in more detail. For example, she writes about “The three areas that every dyslexic needs to focus on in order to achieve success. These are 1) unlocking dyslexic confidence, 2) unlocking dyslexic strategies and 3) unlocking dyslexic strengths.”  The book is organized around those three needs, but I found the initial section on confidence to be a bit disheartening since it documents so many potential negatives. Granted, this seems to be a well-intentioned attempt to convey that millions of people (other dyslexics) are all in this together and therefore some of the examples (push vs pull on a door) may seem familiar to readers. However, she also points out “You need to spend time valuing and focusing on your strengths” and it may have been more helpful to start there. She does suggest a few useful resources (e.g., Grammarly) and provides sample wording to talk about dyslexia at work.

Other excellent resources for people who wish to learn about dyslexia are Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shawitz (a classic) and The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide. Both seem to be much more research and science based than Brooks’ work; also, the Eides generally take a very positive, encouraging approach. Younger students will appreciate titles like Meet the Dyslexia Club by Margaret Rooke. Check them out.