The Good House by Ann Leary

The Good House by Ann Leary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Tara Smith for recommending this audiobook, narrated by Mary Beth Hurt. Hildy Good is a life long resident of quaint Wendover. Hildy happens to be a pretty successful real estate broker, is divorced and an alcoholic who will not recognize she is one. It was interesting reading all the ways Hildy gave herself to drink and how often she had to drink but always hiding it because her daughters sent her to recovery. I loved Frank her life long friend and sometimes interest--but Hildy can be nasty & she was nasty to Frankie too often for me. I am not a fan of the unreliable narrator and Hildy was the perfect unreliable narrator for most of this story---and for the few times she was not drinking I did like her.

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Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter

Squished: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great follow-up to Allergic---M W Lloyd's debut graphic novel! I loved the Lee family and there is always something going on with a family of 7 children and 2 parents. Avery is a responsible older sister, but this summer she wants her own room due to her sisters and brothers always needing her. But will Avery be happy with the outcome? A laugh a page!!!

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Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Milo has just moved into a rambling old home and his Mom can't find his sister's pink sock and sends Milo to the basement to look. Oh boy does that open up another basement or 2 as he descends into various openings, doors etc. Along the way he meets "friends" who Milo trusts to help him find the sock. What adventures ensue, this is another great Ben Hatke graphic novel. Fantastic illustrations & a great plot!

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A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh did I love this book---from the novel in verse & graphic novel format to the angst of a heavy middle grade student, Will, grabbed my heart and kept pushing my sorrow button. This is a must read for middle grade students!

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Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Tara Smith for this suspenseful audiobook, awesomely narrated by Kirsten Power. A neighborhood has someone breaking into their house, there is a murder, maybe 2, and some marital infidelity. The title, Someone We Know, is good on many levels; this is a sizzling mystery, lots of head games, and family drama. A must read!

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Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown (Lunch Lady, #4) by Jarrett J Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

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Lunch Ladies and the League of Librarians (Lunch Lady, #2) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

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Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute (Lunch Lady, #1) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!


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The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin

The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This audiobook, narrated awesomely by the author, Lara Love Hardin, was excellent! I did not like Drug fueled Lara and I rooted for her sobriety and a normal life. I love her journey and also the book she co-authored with Anthony Ray Hinton, The Sun Does Shine, which is a MUST READ too!

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Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Ruptured by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Being an only child isn't always great; Claire loves to read books and this summer she wants to do a lot of that but when her parents (who do not talk much to each other anymore) want to go to a vacation, Claire is all in. At a mother-daughter lunch Claire is astonished at a secret her mom has, but even worse---at that lunch her mom passes out & is hospitalized for a brain aneurysm. Will Claire be able to keep the secret and what will her mom be like after this??? A must read middle grade novel in verse based in part on the author's 2 brain aneurysms! Gripping and authentic!

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Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7) by David Baldacci

Long Shadows by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this 7th ad final (?) book in the series! Amos Decker has a new partner and his memory is not what it used to be. There is a murder of a judge and her bodyguard and of course, as Amos delves into the murder he is confounded by the scene. But Amos will not stop until he solves this page turner! Highly recommended!

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Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta (Lunch Lady, #3) by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love & recommend the Lunch Lady graphic novel series! Funny, relatable, and superheroes all in one!

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Iron Flame (Empyrean, #2) by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG did I love both Fourth Wing and Iron Flame!!! I became thoroughly invested in Violet and Xaden's story because after all they are the main focus in both books besides all the other tings going on in the plot. Without revealing anything about the ending; I am a reader who really enjoys redemptive endings. Xaden and Violet have had many ups and downs in their relationship (& in their lives)---I beg Rebecca Yarros to really think about the 3rd book in the series and Violet & Xaden's love. Please write a redemptive book that gives hope...Yes, these books were violent, yes there are many evil characters, but write some kind of magic that will give Violet & Xaden a lasting relationship with their dragons that is not about killing but finding the truth.

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Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to Donna Gola for her enthusiastic recommendation of this book! I could not stop reading about Violet's world, the dragons, her friends/riders (enemies too) in the Fourth Wing. Yarros did a wonderful world building, descriptions of Basgiath War College and the trials Violet & the other cadets must endure (many die) to stay alive and become riders. Violet is the daughter of the Commander so she already has a strike against her- she has brittle bones & is considered "frail" so why would her mother force her to become a rider rather than a scribe? This book will grab you from page 1, it is a very satisfying must read---and did I almost forgot about ruthless handsome Xaden Riosen, who also hates her? Get comfy and start reading this scintillating fantasy of dragons, lies, love, and friendship!

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Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Michelle Romash for continuing to bring this book up through 2023 as one to read. I still cannot stop thinking about it!!! I was so drawn in by William's upbringing (or not), his friend, Kent and others as he played basketball and of course, the Padavano sisters!!! This family has so much history together (while William has none). Julia targets him in college and from there it is Julia and Walter as a couple becoming a part of the Padavano family. But even more, I loved their father, Charlie so much with his poetic soul, calling his daughter Julia (and all the other sisters, Hello Beautiful). This book deals with so much, I could not put it down! I loved the family issues, the basketball theme, so much going on there, and the tenderness of love within all these characters. This will be a favorite book of mine!

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