The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book so much; you will just have to read it to see why! Middle grade with a math/science female protagonist and so much going on. Highly recommended!

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Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

Simon Sort of Says: by Erin Bow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Simon; he has suffered a major trauma and as a result, his family moves far away. In this new town Simon makes 2 friends, is glad there is no internet and gets used to the new life while also being well aware what he survived. There was so much to love about this book; the plot, the characters, the funeral home hijinks, the farm, his pastor father all combine to give the reader a story so important you cannot put it down. You will laugh and you will cry but Simon's many messages will resound with ALL readers! Highly recommended!

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Game Face by Shari Green

Game Face by Shari Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonah and his friend Ty love hockey; but Jonah is anxious about everything and Ty is the only one who knows. Also Jonah's Dad suffers from anxiety and it has only gotten worse since his mom died in a car accident. It is through working on class projects with his neighbor, Rosie, that Jonah shares his anxieties to Rosie just as she shares her grandmother's worsening dementia. This novel in verse captivated me from the first line; so much power in each word and line, middle grade students will be sharing this gem.

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Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story of a family wedding on Nantucket- the daughters follow their dead mother's notebook of what Jenna's wedding should entail, their father, Doug, remarried is still in love with Beth who died of cancer quickly over 7 months. What should be a happy weekend is so much more than that with many disagreements, lies, and drama. I could not stop turning the pages (I am like this with all Elin's books) such a great read, beautiful setting, characters you want to throttle, characters that make you laugh, and a great plot. A great summer read!

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The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated by: Eilidh Beaton, I read this on Hoopla as part of my library subscription. I love Jenny Colgan books and MaryAlice, my librarian friend told me about this and highly recommended it. I loved the voices of Carmen and Okie, especially Okie's Brazilian drawl! I loved the plot, poor Carmen who has not ever done anything the way her family wants, has been given a challenge to work in a bookstore- she ends of really enjoying saving this store and filling it with Christmas decorations, books, and watching the sales roll in. Not without drama, Carmen's choice of books to read bring children to tears and parents marching them out of the store. Carmen also has a dalliance with an author who does an appearance at the store. There is conflict with her sister and also the nanny, but Carmen and the kids enjoy each other. Such an enjoyable listen!!!

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All the Broken Places by John Boyne

All the Broken Places by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Milly Neff for recommending this awesome Holocaust book! Oh boy, I loved this novel, but I really tried to like Gretel Fernsby, but her life, her history, her personality kept me reading---but I did not really like her throughout her life from childhood to adulthood. I loved 91 year old Gretel though and this book moved back and forth in time, so chilling, haunting, and sad. Gretel's past has tormented her whole life but as the 91 year old now living in England, I loved these parts of the book most because Gretel has become a caring, forthright, dame who befriends a new family in her complex that calls upon her (demands) to question her own guilt, complicity, and all that she has spent her life running from and can she really help protect violence? A must read!

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Tumble by Celia C. Perez

Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a great cover and such a good, important read for middle grade and YA! Adela lives with her mom and Alex (her mom's boyfriend and the only father she has ever known) when they approach her with Alex's wish to adopt her. What this sets off is Adela looking for her real father--one question her mother has refused to answer ever! So when Adela and her bestie decide to look for her birth certificate they find GOLD--a picture of her mother and real father with a small Adela. As she begins the search for her father so much hits her and she is also in her school play the Nutcracker and knows her mom & Alex want an answer to adoption. I loved Perez's writing, her characters, and the food (oh so yummy) as this 12 year old braves finding her father and his family of wrestlers. This is a must read for all; the wrestling expectations (and history) in this family, her grandfather who does not remember, her mother who is still fighting her on anything about her father, and her father, Manny, who wants to be the son his father has demanded back in his prime. The family dynamics were wonderful, heartbreaking, and real. Highly recommended!

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If the Shoe Fits (Meant to Be, #1) by Julie Murphy

If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this new book in a Julie Murphy series, a modern take on the Cinderella story. Cindy is on a plane to visit her stepmother (famous reality queen of modern dating shows), step sisters and triplets. She meets Henry (Prince Charming) on the plane has a great conversation and there it ends --- until Cindy decides to join her stepsisters and enter a dating game show and low & behold the SUITOR is Henry. I loved the story (but I did not like the intense scenes on the dating shows and between the contestants) and root for Cindy and Henry and enjoyed the many plot twists. I really liked so many of the characters (except nasty Allison) and learning about textiles and design. The emphasis on family and friends was nice and authentic. I can't wait to read the 2nd book in the series!

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The Winners (Beartown, #3) by Fredrick Backman

The Winners by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great 3rd book in the series of Beartown hockey. There were more great characters introduced, the rivalry still between the teams in Hed & Beartown, and there are things afoot, deaths, violence, bullying and family relationships explored and friendships celebrated.

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It Starts With Us (It Ends With Us, #2) by Colleen Hoover

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved It Ends With Us, so did I love the love story of Atlas and Lily as they told alternating chapters. Being lifelong friends, now adults and bumping into each other, they work to get back together quickly despite her raging jealous husband and life as it throws challenges that they meet because this time it will start with them!!! Highly recommended!

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Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Narrated by Chris Reilly, Mungo is a a young teen living in hell with a mother who leaves & disappears from the family. Mungo has a sister and brother (Hamish is dangerous, a gang leader who hates Catholics & gay people) and life is bleak until he meets James, who is a Catholic (not good) and gay (not good) and they forge a friendship where James raises his beloved pigeons, talk about a future that includes them and accepts them. It was very hard to listen to this book---neglectful parents, violence, rape, fighting, and so much dysfunction it made for a difficult read and because of my mind at this time, I really did not enjoy either of Douglas Stuart's books like I wanted to...

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The Honeymoon Cottage (Cemetery, Indiana, #1) by Lori Foster

The Honeymoon Cottage by Lori Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Lori Foster books and this book was a great read- the town of Cemetery, Yardley's friends and family and her wedding planner business sucked me right in. I loved the progression of the story, Yardley is a heartfelt character who really does not know how much she is loved by everyone. Enter Travis and his sister as clients for her services. Immediately both Travis and Yardley are attracted to each other, but each have a rule that they do not date clients, and add the town drama, best friend Mimi's insecurities after having a baby, and a rescued dog; I loved turning every page. I am glad this is going to be a series because I fell in love with Cemetery, the food and house architecture, and the goodness/down to earth chraracters---I want to know more, more, more!!! Highly recommended!

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The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher

The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I relistened to this book on Audible with awesome dual narrations by Fiona Hardingham as Emily, Shaun Grindell as Damon. I found this 2nd time around gripping, haunting and relevant as the GAME becomes clearer and sicker. Teens will find this a great story packed with suspense and a lesson about the mistakes that can be made.
I received this ARC at ALA Philadelphia in January. I loved the mystery, drama and how the reader sees Damon's perspective and Emily's in the alternating chapters. I was totally surprised to learn about The Game(s)and was glad Emily and Damon both figure out (together) what happened to Ashlee. The PTSD that Emily's dad suffered from alienated her mom but Emily still believed and loved her dad. Damon was fighting his own demons with the loss of his dad and the final night he can't remember with Ashlee. I couldn't put this book down, it had the right amount of mystery to drag you in and keep on turning those pages. The only thing I think teens in the US will not enjoy is the dialect the author and her characters use; I found it foreign (and I understood all the words, phrases, etc.) and American teens will notice as well.

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Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves all the awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2021), Michael L. Printz Award Nominee (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2021), Teen category, Walter Dean Myers Honor Award. Awesomely narrated by Emily Woo Zeller; this story takes place in 1954 Chinatown where high school student Lily Hu lives with her family, with an annoying, an overbearing best friend, and the Red Scare has taken her doctor father's Naturalization Papers because of a patient her saw. When Lily begins to realize she has feelings for Kath Miller as a result of sneaking out to the GAY bar to see a female impersonator, the reader follows Kath and Lily's friendship turn to relationship and how their world blows up. Thoroughly researched this a must read for YA readers on the history of the Red Scare, life in Chinatown, and the growth of lesbian movement.

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After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this stand alone book by Lisa Scottoline! Alernately told by Dr. Noah Alderman who is on trial for murdering his step daughter beginning with Day 10 of his trial (and then working backward in time with his wife, Maggie, being contacted by the daughter taken away from her when she was an infant. There was mystery, angst, and lying as well as just not mentioning a lot. I loved their romance and life with Caleb, Noah's son who has a speaking disability. Recommended!

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The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to my sister in law, Donna Gola for recommending such a great book! I listened to this amazing audiobook narrated by Alana Kerr Collins & Jason Culp and could not stop as the reader is swept into Sophie's life and hardships. Sophie is Irish and living miserably in a NY tenement when she answers a mail order bride ad place by a Martin Hocking. Sophie ran from Ireland and now runs to California marrying a man she does not know but he has told her he is a widower and has a young daughter, Kat. She meets and marries him a few hours later and settles into life in a nice home with a husband who travels selling insurance (Martin barely provides any information about his job and travels) and a daughter who does not speak (why?). Sophie falls in love with Kat and spends all her time coaxing her to daughter to speak. The day before the famous 1906 San Francisco Earthquake hits, Sophie's life is thrown into chaos with the arrival of a pregnant woman on her steps. Such a great historical fiction novel about the fierce love of women, the bonds of friendship, and the mess of marriages. Highly recommended!

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Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this latest book from Elin Hilderbrand and she did a great job drawing me in---loved the Martha Person who guides Vivi, loved the story line of Vivi and Brett Caspian, Willa and Rip, and the trials and grief of her children. I could not stop turning the pages and loved the chapters with the different voices of the characters, Nantucket, & the police chief. The growth of the many characters, both good and not so good, were well drawn---Leo and Marissa (she is such a jealous racist), Carson and her antics, PJ and Savannah, Amy and Dennis, and always I enjoyed Vivi but the one thing I did not really like or understand about her was the dissolving of her marriage. I could have used more of Vivi's insight because I definitely got PJ's again and again. The beauty of Nantucket, the food, the water, the restaurants all held me captive and can't wait til the next book.

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The Sisters (Cormac Reilly, 0.5) by Dervla McTiernan

The Sisters by Dervla McTiernan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This prequel in the Cormac Reilly series was awesomely narrated by Aoife McMahon. Two sisters, One a Lawyer (barrister) and one with the police (the Guarda)and pulled me in so much that I have listened to all books in this series, Cormac Reilly, and am on the final book (so far) and along with Aoife McMahon's great narration, the mystery of the sisters, the police department and the law firm were riveting. I could not stop listening to Carrie and Aifric's story and the resolution was terrific! On to the next in this series, The Roommate.

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Unraveled (Steel Brothers Saga, #9) by Helen Hardt

Unraveled by Helen Hardt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great title in this series as Ryan and Ruby race against time, bondage, and fear for their families lives---Ruby has been imprisoned by her father and when she wakes she finds she has been taken and is now in the Caribbean on a mystery island and in the room with her is Juliet, one of the girls who was abducted and Ruby was trying to find where she was trafficked to--because now she and Ryan know the mastermind of the awful human trafficking is Ryan's mother and each time they try to overwhelm her, she is two steps ahead. Will they with the help of Jonah and Talon be able to stop the suffering of the abducted women and children? Another suspenseful book in this series!

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Twisted (Steel Brothers Saga, #8) by Helen Hardt

Twisted by Helen Hardt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the perfect title because Twisted was most certainly apt for what was revealed in this 8th book about the Steel brothers! Ryan and Ruby are getting mysterious phone calls and texts, Ryan from his "real" mother who is crazier than a bed bug and Ruby from her father, but now the secrets are being spilled and there might be other revelations that others are alive who were supposedly dead!!! Also the suspense is increased because these unwanted people have the ability to track Ryan and Ruby, and hold them prisoner as they try to ensnare all the Steel siblings. I am goiong right into the next book, I can't wait to find out what is happening!

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