BOOK NEWS: May 16, 2023

Let’s take a look at some of the books out this week!

Books for Teens/Young Adults


Julieta and the Romeos – A young writer posts her work online and finds herself with an intriguing collaborator. Yes, please!
The DC Book of Pride (Nonfiction) – Highlights DC Comics’ characters in the LGBTQ+ community. The artwork on the sample pages I have seen is gorgeous. Will definitely be picking this one up!
You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory (Nonfiction) – A writer’s guide that encourages young writers to use their own lives and experiences to help them grow as writers. This sounds amazing!

 

Books for Adults


The Late Mrs. Willoughby (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery series after The Murder of Mr. Wickham (which is on my TBR). When Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney are once again together at the site of a murder, they team up to solve the crime. This series sounds so fantastic. I can’t wait to get some time to dig into the first book!
The Malevolent Seven (Hardcover) – I can’t do the summary of this justice – you’ll just have to read up on this one for yourself. I am fascinated to see what this one is like!
A Novel Disguise (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Lady Librarian Mystery series. A young woman takes her half-brother’s identity after his death so she can keep her home. But that seems to be only one of a dozen mysteries and secrets swirling around her. Sounds fun!
Seven Rules for Breaking Hearts (Trade Paperback) – When a podcaster breaks her own rules for hooking up without “catching feelings” by falling in love and getting married, her podcasting partner tries to save their reputations and their following by breaking all the rules herself to show what a terrible idea that is.  She is certain the best man is the perfect person to help her prove her point – until she actually starts to fall for him.
Summer Reading (Trade Paperback) – A incident on a ferry when a determined non-reader knocks a bookworm’s latest read into the ocean could lead to love. Yes, please! Can’t go wrong with Jenn McKinlay.

 

BOOK NEWS: May 9, 2023

Here are some of the new books out this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/ Young Adults


The Greatest Kid in the World – When Zeke is chosen to compete in a competition to be named Greatest Kid in the World, he’s not sure how he even got into the contest. But his family needs the prize money so he will do what he can to win. I don’t think you can go wrong with a book by John David Anderson!
Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Taking the Blame – Book 2 in the series. Loki is trying to prove to Odin that he can be good enough for Asgard, but it’s tough to be good when his only friend now has a new friend and when he’s accused of stealing Mjolnir.
Breaking In – A film student wants to make a tribute movie about her dad, but her school gets shut down and the big-time director who ran it steals her idea and makes his own movie. *adds to cart* Need it!
Cursed Crowns – Sequel to Twin Crowns (which I have on my TBR shelves – I hate when I get “lapped” and a sequel is released before I get to read the first book.) The twin queens are pulled in different directions by their rival goals and ideas of what they should do next for their kingdom.
The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich (Graphic Novel) – A young woman disguises herself as a Count in order to keep her inheritance, but when she starts to fall for Princess Brie, her secret is in danger.
The Truth About the Spy (ebook) – A teen spy’s secret life – and her best friend – are in danger when one of her missions goes awry.

 

Books for Adults


The Boyfriend Candidate (Trade Paperback) – A shy school librarian trying to become more bold ends up in the middle of a political scandal when  her one night stand turns out to be running for governor and pictures of the two of them go viral. He proposes they fake date until after the election. You all know how I feel about fake dating stories!! This is on my list.
The Comeback Summer (Trade Paperback) – In order to hook a new client for their struggling business, two sisters agree to complete individual challenges for the client. This is one I couldn’t buy fast enough. Sounds perfect!

 

BOOK NEWS: May 2, 2023

It’s the first week of May – and readers are in for a month FULL of great books. Let’s see some of the new releases for this week:

Books for Kids


Pluto!: Not a Planet? Not a Problem! – Book 7 in Stacy McAnulty’s Our Universe series focuses on Pluto.
Real to Me – What do you do when your imaginary friend disappears?
Weather Together – Part of the Not Quite Narwhal and Friends series. Nimbus and Kelp are best friends, but what happens when Nimbus’ cloudy moods turn into a storm because she tries to hide them from her friend?
The Adventures of Sophie Mouse: Under the Weather – Book 20 in the Sophie Mouse series. Sophie feels jealous when she sees the attention her brother gets because he is sick.
Owl Diaries: The Nature Club  – When Eva’s class starts working on a Nature Day party, she’s put in a different planning group from her friends.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


 

The Firefly Summer – Ryanna spends the summer with her late-mother’s extended family, people she’s never met before who can help her learn about her mother. This sounds like my kind of middle grade story!
The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor – Will a young girl feeling out of place end up trading her beloved books and stories for a chance to experience real magic?
The Sun and the Star (Older Middle Grade) – Nico and Will (from the Percy Jackson novels) travel to Tartarus to try to save an old friend. I have had this pre-ordered since last October. It’s finally time!!!
A Work in Progress (Older Middle Grade, Graphic Novel) – A “round” boy at a school full of “string beans” tries to change his appearance to fit in. I have been waiting for this one for months, too. I hope to review this one soon. There is a trigger warning with this one, so be sure to check that out before reading.
Imogen Obviously – A fervent ally to her queer friends, Imogen starts to wonder if maybe she’s more part of the LGBTQ+ community than she realized. I hope to review this one soon as well!
Liar’s Beach – A prep school outsider and his childhood best friend try to solve the mystery of an “accident” at a Martha’s Vineyard house party.  Sounds fantastic!
Lying in the Deep – A girl looking to escape her ex and his new girlfriend – her ex-best friend – signs on for a semester on a cruise ship traveling the world. As if it wasn’t surprising enough to find her ex on board, there’s also a murderer.
Might as Well Be Dead (May 5) – A teen still reeling from his mother’s abrupt departure and trying to help his dad through at the same time, starts to see a ghost who wants to help him – but who also has a favor to ask.
The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom – A standout performer is challenged to develop some humility by not singing at her new boarding school. I’m intrigued by this one!
Your Plantation Prom Is Not Okay – Harriet and her father run an enslaved persons museum on the site of an old plantation. When an influencer and her mother move in next door with plans to turn that plantation into an antebellum showplace for a prestigious Hollywood couple’s wedding – and the site is also chosen for their high school’s prom – Harriet is fed up with the whole racist mess. I have this one on my list for May!

 

Books for Adults


Best Men (Trade Paperback) – Two best men in a wedding party start to fall for each other. Yes, please!
Fourth Wing (Hardcover) – Book one of The Empyrean series. Instead of following her plans to become a scribe and enjoy a quiet, bookish life, Violet is forced to compete with those who want to be DRAGON riders in the war! The dragons have become choosy about who they will bond with, so Violet becomes a target for those who want to thin the ranks, doing whatever it takes in order to have their chance. Dragons! And this book has decorative page edges – I couldn’t hit the buy button fast enough! I hope the story lives up to the gorgeous packaging.
Jana Goes Wild (Trade Paperback) – Jana wants nothing to do with her ex, but he’s hard to avoid when they are both attending the same destination wedding. But her friends come to the rescue with a “Go Wild” list of things for Jana to do to keep her busy and way from Anil.
Love Buzz (Trade Paperback) – A chance-meeting at a destination bachelorette party leaves Serena tossing away the facets of her carefully crafted life as she searches for a man she knows only by his first name in one of the largest cities in America.
Practice Makes Perfect (Trade Paperback) – When Annie starts to think she might be too boring to find love, she convinces her brother’s fiancée’s bodyguard to help her learn to be more flirty and fun.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (Graphic Novel) – A new mission for the crew of the Ceritos
Sugar Spice and Can’t Play Nice (Trade Paperback) – Two young people agree to an arranged marriage to avoid family drama and to achieve their personal agendas, but along they way they start to wonder if there’s more to this engagement than just a means to an end.
Super Bloom (Trade Paperback) – Joan agrees to funnel gossip to a romance author at the spa where she works so the author can use the tidbits in her next book. But then Joan takes up writing as well, crafting an imagined future she would never get with her late boyfriend. When the author tries to steal Joan’s novel and pass it off as her own, Joan’s quirky group of friends pitch in to help her get it back. Yes, please!

 

BOOK NEWS: May 31, 2022

Happy Memorial Day to those of you in the US. Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens


Small Town Pride – Jake has found his family and friends to be supportive since he came out as gay, but his community isn’t there yet. So when Jake and his friends want to have a Pride festival in town, they have to convince the town council, and the mayor, to get on board.

Books for Adults


The Messy Lives of Book People (Trade Paperback) – A house cleaner is surprised to discover her deceased client wanted her to finish the recluse’s final novel.
Renovated to Death (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery series. Peter and JP, domestic partners with a renovation show, take on new clients – and a murder mystery. I pre-ordered this weeks ago – I can’t wait to dig in!
You’re My I.T. (Trade Paperback) – Book 1 in the Nerds of Happy Valley series. After a two-year crush on the hilarious IT guy at work, Blaine decides she is going to tell him how she feels, first chance she gets. But when Lysander returns after a family health scare, he’s gone through some personal changes and returns with a girl on his arm, leaving Blaine to wonder if she missed her chance.
Wild Life (Hardcover, gift book) – I adore Charley Harper’s work, so this is at the top of my May wish list! 336 pages.

 

BOOK NEWS: May 24, 2022

I’ve got my eyes on the long weekend ahead, and I’m hoping to get a lot of reading in. Here are some of the new books out this week that you might check out for a long weekend of reading, too!

Books for Kids


Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe – A girl and her service dog solve mysteries together. You can read my review of this one here.

Books for Older Kids/Teens


The Civil War of Amos Abernathy – A history loving boy goes looking through records to find people like him represented in history. When he discovers a Civil War solider who today might have identified as a trans man, Amos looks for a way to share the soldier’s story. I have requested this one from the library.
Enola Holmes: The Graphic Novels, Vol 1 – The first three Enola Holmes middle grade novels get the graphic novel treatment. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
The Problem with Prophecies – First in a new Celia Cleary series. When a girl who inherited a gift of prophecy sees the death of a neighbor boy, she does everything she can to keep that vision from coming true.

Books for Adults


Buried in a Good Book (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new By the Book mystery series. A thriller writer and her daughter arrive at the family cabin looking for some healing – and writing time – when their retreat is spoiled by an explosion – and a murder. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

BOOK NEWS: May 17, 2022

Here are some of the new books out this week that I have on my watch list!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


This Is Not a Drill – After a disastrous day, Ava is taking a moment in the bathroom when her school goes on lockdown – and she discovers it is not a drill. I have requested this one from our library.
See You Yesterday – After a horrendous first day of college, Barrett finds herself reliving the same day over. To make things worse, her nemesis is reliving the day, too. And he has been for months. This is already on my library list!
Twin Crowns – Twin princesses, raised apart – one raised to rule and the other raised to usurp the throne. This is exactly my kind of story!

Books for Adults


Adult Assembly Required (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Abbi Waxman. A young woman trying to start over in LA finds herself homeless after just a week and her life takes some wild turns. This is on my review list, so stay tuned!
From Bad to Cursed (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Witches of Thistle Grove series, after Payback’s a Witch. Issa teams up with a member of a rival family to investigate sabotage caused by mysterious dark magic. I have book one on my TBR – I need to get to that one soon!
Hotel California (Hardcover) – A Music and Murder Mystery collection. Includes a new Jack Reacher story!
We Were Dreamers (Hardcover Nonfiction) – We have adored Simu Liu since we first watched Shang Chi (a Marvel movie I wasn’t sure I wanted to watch which has now become a favorite). I am so looking forward to reading this memoir.

BOOK NEWS: May 10, 2022

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Answers in the Pages – A boy struggles to understand why his whole town is freaking out over the adventure book he was reading. But the book’s gay main characters are the reason his mom is trying to get the book banned from his school. This is a timely story, so I already have this one in my shopping cart.
A Show for Two – The latest from the author of Counting Down with You. Mina agrees to help a TV star undercover at her school to do research for a role in exchange for him helping her by starring in her short film for a contest. This is on my list because I loved Counting Down SO much!

Books for Adults


Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies (Hardcover) – First in a new Pies Before Guys Mystery series about a woman who “bakes vengeance into her pastries.” I am LOVING the recent release of these mysteries that don’t follow the usual pattern. I can’t wait to read this one – I already have it on hold at the library!
Speaking By the Numbers (Hardcover Nonfiction) – The Enneagram for teachers, pastors and communicators. I’ll be reviewing this one soon!

BOOK NEWS: May 3, 2022

Happy May! I don’t know about you, but April was jam packed for me, so I have high hopes for a more relaxing May. Here are some of the new books releasing this week that I am excited about.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


The Marvellers – A middle grade debut by the author of The Belles. The first magic user of her kind at the Arcanum Training Institute, Ella initially encounters mistrust before finding her people. But when a dangerous criminal escapes prison with help from someone like Ella, and then her favorite teacher disappears, Ella starts investigating things for herself. I have this on my library wishlist.
Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game – Fans of the fantastic Mr. Lemoncello series can now go back and read about a teen Luigi Lemoncello. This is on my library list as well.
The Agathas – Two young women use the collected works of Agatha Christie to help them solve the mystery of a missing girl in their own town. This is on my review list for later this month.

 

Books for Adults


Blame It on the Brontës (Trade Paperback) – Athena returns to her home town – and daily run-ins with her ex – in her quest to find a reclusive author (who is writing spicy retellings of classics) she is writing about in order to keep her job as an English Professor. This is waiting in my shopping cart right now.
Book Lovers (Trade Paperback) – This new novel by Emily Henry focuses on a cut-throat literary agent who goes on vacation determined to reinvent herself as the heroine of her own story. Instead she keeps running into an editor she knows – and loathes – from the city. Another for the library list!
By the Book (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Meant to Be series after If the Shoe Fits (which is still on my review list from last year). This series of fairy tale re-imaginings is right up my alley! A young woman feelings stuck in her publishing job decides to take charge of her own destiny by wrangling a delinquent author into completing his manuscript. But his beastly behavior is more of a challenge than she expected. *add to cart*
Claws for Suspicion (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 3 in the delightful Catskills Pet Rescue Mystery series. When Kari’s ex comes to town with the news that their divorce was never finalized he tells her this means he is entitled to half of her lottery winnings – but he’d settle for the land where her beloved rescue sits. Sure she’s upset, but she would never resort to murder! But that’s not what the police think. You can read my review of this one here.
The Dachshund Wears Prada (Trade Paperback) – First in a new Dogs in the City romcom series. After a social media disaster, an influencer settles for a job as a dogsitter for a foul-tempered dachshund with an owner who is just as prickly. Yes, please!
Double Twist (Trade Paperback) – After accidentally marrying a drug kingpin, Mia is eager to get her life back on the straight and narrow. But then she and some new friends stumble across a body. Then, when a friend is suspected of murder, Mia decides to dust off the skills of her old life to clear their name. I have already pre-ordered this one.
The Homewreckers (Hardcover) – A young widow falls in love with a money pit of a house. To help her stay afloat after a series of disasters she agrees to star in a reality show where she ends up embroiled in a mystery. I am thrilled so many of the books on my list this week are already on order with my library. This is on my wishlist there, too.
The Murder of Mr. Wickham (Trade Paperback) – Jane Austen’s Mr. Wickham is murdered at a house party, and Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy team up to solve the mystery.  Another for the library list!
Tear Down the Throne (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the fabulous Gargoyle Queen series, a spin off from the Crown of Shards series. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, so all I will say now is that the new book is just as fantastic as its predecessors.
The Wedding Season (Trade Paperback) – When Freya’s wedding – the first of 8 on her calendar for the year – is called off, she can’t imagine how she will survive watching happy couples all year while she feels devastated. So her friends devise a series of challenges for her to complete at the various weddings. Yet one more for the library list!
The Joy of Reading (Paperback – Professional Development) – When I was teaching, my go to resource for all things reading was Donalyn Miller. This is her latest book and I will be reviewing it soon. For now I’ll just say she never disappoints!

BOOK NEWS: May 25, 2021

It’s the final release week of May – let’s take a look at the new books out this week.

Books for Kids


Memory Jars – While Freda can save her favorite blueberries for later by turning them into jam, she discovers she can’t save all of her favorite things the same way.
Good Dog: Fireworks Night – Book 4 in the Good Dog series. Bo’s friend Scrapper isn’t a fan of summer fireworks.
Scaredy Squirrel in a Nutshell (Graphic Novel) – First in a new graphic novel series starring the delightful Scaredy Squirrel.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Diana and the Underworld Odyssey – Sequel to Diana and the Island of No Return. Diana goes toe-to-toe against Hades and an unexpected villain when Artemis brings word that children are going missing from around the world. I enjoyed the first book, and the two chapter teaser I read for this one was fantastic! This is on my list for this week.
How to Become a Planet – A girl struggling with depression makes a plan to help her get back to “normal” so she doesn’t have to move to the city with her dad.
Marvel-Verse Loki (Older Middle Grade, comics collection) – Part of a collection of books focused on one or two Marvel characters at a time. This book collects pieces of 5 or 6 comics (100+ pages) that focus on Loki. This one is on my list.
Aetherbound – The latest from E. K. Johnston. When her family starts to view her as a waste of food on their long space voyage thanks to a genetic mutation, Pendt sneaks off ship and joins the Brannick twins in a scheme to take over a space station and create their own destiny. I have had this on my list for months.
Every Body Shines: Sixteen Stories About Living Fabulously Fat – An anthology featuring fat main characters.
The Ivies – The Ivies at Claflin Academy are five young women determined to get into an Ivy League university – by any means necessary.
Not My Problem (LGBTQ+) – When Aideen agrees to help a peer who is overwhelmed with her extracurriculars – by pushing her down the stairs so she sprains her ankle – she finds herself getting approached by more kids at school who need her fixing abilities. I am intrigued by this one!
Pumpkin (LGBTQ+) – A companion novel to Dumplin’. Waylon is biding his time until he can leave his small home town. But when he throws caution to the wind and creates an audition tape for a TV drag show, his whole school ends up seeing it and someone nominates him for prom queen. When his twin sister’s girlfriend is also nominated to be prom king, the two decide to team up and throw the prank back in their classmates’ faces. This is on my library list.
Sixteen Scandals – When Prim decides to go rogue on her 16th birthday, her plan almost blows up in her face. But she is rescued by a mysterious stranger – who isn’t who he says he is. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

 

Books for Adults


The Apocalypse Seven (Trade Paperback) – Seven strangers in a post-apocalyptic Cambridge, Massachusetts, fight for their lives and for answers as to what happened to the world around them.
Beyond a Reasonable Donut (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Deputy Donut Mystery series. Emily and Nina are working at the Friday the 13th festival when a string of bad luck hits – stolen product, stolen cash, vandalism, and murder.
Chasing Romeo (Trade Paperback) – First in a new series. A psychic points Chloe at her soul mate, but there’s one problem. It could be one of seven men, and she only has a week to find him. Chloe hires a private investigator to help her search – and he doesn’t believe in love or soul mates. This sounds fun!
Death in Bloom (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Flower House Mystery series. Sierra is licking her wounds after trying to launch a singing career in Nashville. Working at the Flower House is just a stop-gap measure – until someone drops dead and the shop owner disappears, leaving Sierra to manage the shop and his Corgi pup.
The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit (Hardcover) – Book 14 in the Domestic Diva series. Sophie is working a home decorating festival when her friend Nina calls needing a ride from the airport. When one of Nina’s traveling companions later turns up dead, Sophie is sleuthing again.
The Guncle (Hardcover, LGBTQ+) – “Gay Uncle Patrick” finds himself temporary guardian of his niece and nephew when their mother dies and his brother has a health crisis. While he’s a great uncle on short visits, taking over full-time parenting is a whole new ballgame.
Hang the Moon (Trade Paperback, LGBTQ+) – A dating app creator – and true believer in love and OTPs – reconnects with his childhood crush who has no interest in romance and is just biding her time until she leaves the country.
Heart & Seoul (Trade Paperback) – A random comment at her adoptive father’s funeral sends Hara to Seoul to look for her roots. I have this on my library list already.
How to Find a Princess (Mass Market Paperback, LGBTQ+) – Book 2 in the Runaway Royals series by Alyssa Cole. Makeda has grown up with her grandmother’s stories about a fling with the prince of Ibarania, but now an investigator has shown up looking for the long-lost heir. She plans to take Makeda back to Ibarania, but the situation is more fraught than either of them realize. I adored Cole’s Reluctant Royals series, but I haven’t been able to dig into this series yet.
The Invisible Husband of Frick Island (Trade Paperback) – When her husband’s boat capsized and his body was never found, Piper carried on like nothing happened, like he was still by her side all the time. A journalist on the island for a fluff piece stumbles onto the story of an entire island pretending to interact with an invisible man and thinks it is the career-making story he’s been looking for. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Legacy (Hardcover) – When Adrian was 7, she met her father for the first time, when he tried to kill her. Now, as an adult, she is receiving menacing messages and death threats. Her mother dismisses them, and Adrian starts to think they are nothing – and then the murders start. I already have this one on hold at the library!
Murder at St. Winifred’s Academy (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 5 in the Ferrera Family Mystery series. When a Hollywood starlet from the 50s is found dead in her dressing room for a production of Arsenic and Old Lace, Alberta is the only one who thinks the death is suspicious.
Murder in a Scottish Garden (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Scottish Shire Mystery series. Paislee is on the case when a man is murdered at an estate while her son’s class is there for a field trip.
Pint of No Return (Mass Market Paperback) – First in a new Shake Shop Mystery series. Trinidad takes over one of her ex’s business locations to open her shake shop even though she knows it means living in the same town as his other two ex-wives. But when a neighboring business owner is found dead, and one of the other ex’s is the prime suspect, Trinidad starts investigating.
The Preacher’s Daughter (Mass Market Paperback) – Book 2 in the Infamous Amish series. Planning to leave town to escape her father’s shame, Elizabeth takes a temporary position helping an elderly Amish woman. But when the woman’s grandson returns, with his own difficult history with the law, sparks fly.
Scorpion (Hardcover) – A grieving spy throws herself into her next assignment – tracking a serial killer/assassin who leaves numeric codes on his victims’ bodies.
Star Trek Year Five: Weaker Than Man (Paperback Graphic Novel) – Collects comics 13 through 19 of this series about Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise.
The Stepsisters (Trade Paperback) – The latest from Susan Mallery centers around rival stepsisters who respond to a plea for help from the younger sister they have in common. But while the tensions between them start to thaw, one thoughtless act could undo all the progress they have made. This sounds fascinating!
Talk Bookish to Me (Trade Paperback) – A struggling novelist finds inspiration when her infuriating first love shows up in the wedding party she is in. But if she is going to finish this book, she might have to give into old feelings and take another chance with her heart.
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism (Trade Paperback) – A frank and funny primer on menopause. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.

 

BOOK NEWS: May 18, 2021

Here are some of the new books releasing this week!

Books for Kids


Nerdycorn – A STEAM-minded unicorn, tired of being teased for being different, has to decide if she will fix the equipment and save the Sparkle Dance Party for the unicorns who have been so mean to her.
Fox Tails: The Giant Ice Cream Mess – When their mom says the fox siblings can only have one scoop of ice cream each, how will they choose what flavors to get?
Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs After Dark (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the first Magic Tree House book.
Pixie Tricks: The Pet Store Sprite – Violet teams up with her cousin Leon to send a water sprite back to the Otherworld.

 

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults


Bravelands: Shadows on the Mountain – First in the new Bravelands: Curse of the Sandtongue series. While the different animals usually keep to their own kind, all of the animals will need to step up against a terrifying new evil in their home.
Jude Banks, Superhero – Jude feels responsible for the death of his favorite person, his sister Katie. While Jude and his family wrestle with their grief, Jude meets Clementine who also lost a sibling. But while Katie always called Jude a “superhero,” he’s not sure he can help save Clementine. This is on my list for this week.
Just Pretend
(Graphic Novel) – A girl going through a lot of changes – friendships, living in two different homes after her parents’ divorce – uses her stories and writing to help her adjust. This looks perfect for fans of Emmie and Friends, Smile (♥♥♥♥), Real Friends (♥♥♥♥), etc.
Kate In Between – Looking for a fresh start, Kate joins a group of popular girls at school, even though they are targeting her childhood friend. Kate manages to stop their latest cruelty, which could have killed Haddie. When video of the incident goes viral, Kate is viewed as a hero. But she knows she was really part of the problem. Does she keep her true involvement a secret and hope no one finds out? Or does she risk it all for the truth?
Not All Heroes – Zinnia’s family have moved to a new community to give them a fresh start after the death of her younger brother. And in this new town Zinnia finds real friends who, like her, want to make a big difference. But when the Reality Shifters start to lose their way, can Zinnia help them find their way again? This sounds awesome!
Ophie’s Ghosts – On that awful night in 1922 when Ophie lost her father and her home, she discovered she can see ghosts. Now her mother has gotten her a job as a maid in an old mansion, and Ophie is privy to the history and secrets of the old manor thanks to the ghosts she encounters there.
Taking Up Space – The author tackles disordered eating in this book about a girl who is struggling at home and on the basketball court when her mother forgets to feed her. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
That Thing About Bollywood – When their parents are struggling and might be breaking up, Sonali’s brother copes by constantly crying, something Sonali would never do. But when Sonali gets upset during a field trip, she breaks into song like she’s in a Bollywood show. Soon everyone in Sonali’s life is breaking into song like that’s completely normal. Somehow Sonali’s mis-managed emotions have caused this shift in her world. And she isn’t sure how to fix it. I’ll be reviewing this one soon.
Turtle in Paradise (Graphic Novel) – A graphic novel adaptation of the original story.
Don’t Breathe a Word – In 1962, six students at Hardwick went into the bomb shelter, but only five came out. Decades later, outsider Eva is asked to join the elite Fives, a secret society at Hardwick charged with keeping the school’s many secrets. Sounds fascinating!
Enduring Freedom – Two young men – one a studious Afghan teen, the other a young American soldier – meet on the streets of Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 where they find they have more in common than they might have guessed. But can they ever be true friends and allies considering the worlds they come from? From the author of If You’re Reading This (♥♥♥♥).
It Goes Like This (LGBTQ+) – When their hometown is devastated by storms, four ex-best friends and bandmates reunite for one last show. This is on my list for this week.
Last Chance Books – When a chain bookstore moves in across the street from her family’s book shop, Madeline declares war on the shop and the bookseller who is taking all of her customers. This is on my library list.
Made in Korea – She wants to take her halmeoni (grandmother) to Paris. He needs to pay for the music school he knows his parents won’t support. They are each trying to make money from selling Korean cosmetics at school. As they compete to be the best business at school, sparks fly between the two rivals. I have this on my library list, too.
Off the Record – A young journalist finds herself in over her head when she wins the chance to do a celebrity profile which puts her in the position to hear scandalous stories from woman after woman. Now she’ll have to decide what to do with the secrets she has learned. This is another one on my library list.
Shipped – Real life rivals at school are unknown friends in their online fandom. As they get closer to a cosplay meetup at a local con, their rivalry at school heats up with a scholarship at stake and a class project that could show them how much they actually have in common. YES, please! This one I actually have on hold already at the library. It sounds right up my alley.
Tokyo Ever After – First in a new series. Izzy discovers her previously unknown father is the Crown Prince of Japan. But being a princess also means dealing with scheming relatives, the weight of centuries of tradition, and a cranky bodyguard who could be so much more. This sounds fun, too! This is such a great month for readers. TONS of books to enjoy.

 

Books for Adults


An Amish Surprise (Trade Paperback) – Book 2 in the Berlin Bookmobile series. Miriam is afraid she is losing her husband over her inability to have children. When she discovers she is pregnant, she’s afraid to tell him right away in case she miscarries again, so instead she turns to the librarian who runs the Berlin Bookmobile for pregnancy books. But Calvin, who is not falling for another woman, has a secret of his own. This is a must-read for me.
The Break-Up Book Club (Trade Paperback) – Four women who seem to have little in common on paper bond over the struggles of life through their book club. This is another one for my list.
The Soulmate Equation (Hardcover) – The latest from Christina Lauren. A struggling single mom has sworn off dating until a new DNA-based matchmaking company catches her attention. And they find her a 98% match. Unfortunately it’s to the company’s grouchy co-founder. Jess is NOT interested. But the company offers to pay her to give the match a little more time, and she needs the money. This sounds fun. I’ll definitely be picking this one up at some point.
Star Trek Discovery: Wonderlands (Trade Paperback) – Find out what happened for Michael Burnham in the year she was waiting for Discovery in the future. I cannot WAIT for this one!
The Summer Seekers (Trade Paperback) – An eighty-year-old woman longing for adventure instead of the residential home her daughter wants her in goes on a road trip with a young twenty-something who is struggling to get her own life together.
Star Wars Mandalorian: Guide to Season One (Hardcover) – A behind-the-scenes look at season one of The Mandalorian.