Melissa's Picks
THe Hold Out by Graham Moore
I thoroughly enjoyed this legal thriller. The central character, Maya, is the lone holdout on a highly publicized murder trial. After convincing her fellow jurors to acquit, their lives are never the same. Ten years later, Maya is a successful attorney suddenly accused of murdering a fellow juror. A multilayered whodunit with a few really well done twists. Loved it!
The Authenticity Project by Clare Dooley
Oooh I enjoyed reading this heartwarming story! What if you found a journal and were challenged to write your deepest life truth in it? What if you met people who wrote in the journal too? As the story unfolds, the various characters meet each other and find life amongst new friends can be surprising, interesting and pretty special.
The Adventurer's Son by Roman Dial
An adventure memoir I could not put down. From the early family travels and trips with his son, to the search for Cody "R2" when he went missing, Roman Dial captures both the adrenaline rush of adventure and the guilt-ridden grief of a parent. So well written and heartfelt.
After the End by Clare Mackintosh
A deeply emotional novel about difficult choices and the aftermath over the years. I thought Mackintosh weaving Robert Frost's Road Not Taken was a perfect metaphor - the unknowns as we travel through life with or without a partner. A very well-done, thought provoking read.
The Girl Who Lived Twice by David Lagercrantz
Another fun read - Lisbeth Salander is one of my all -time favorite heroines. She is wanting to be rid of her sister once & for all, but that proves to be difficult & she's just not on the top of her typical devious game. Family sure can complicate things!
The Holdout by Graham Moore
I thoroughly enjoyed this legal thriller. The central character, Maya, is the lone holdout on a highly publicized murder trial. After convincing her fellow jurors to acquit, their lives are never the same. Ten years later, Maya is a successful attorney suddenly accused of murdering a fellow juror. A multilayered whodunit with a few really well done twists. Loved it!
Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin
Wealthy families on vacation, tropical beaches, resort workers eyeing young women. This novel is a well-crafted slow burn, layered with memories - painful recollections of the past. When Claire decides to look deeper into her sister's murder, her life gets complicated and confused. An excellent debut!
The Warehouse by Rob Hart
Near future...workplace and housing and never leave...the Cloud is a powerful all-knowing company that has taken over vast portions of the global economy. It was creepy, alarming a bit depressing for a retail business owner! Thankfully it's a work of fiction...for how long??
The Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld
Oooh I loved this book! Haunting and so well-written, I could not put it down. Naomi is searching for her lost sister and gets involved with the murders of local homeless teens. Celia is homeless due to abuse and she imagines seeing butterflies to negate the sadness in her life. The imaging is beautiful and hopeful. That is what Denfeld does so well - difficult topics with underlying hope and grace.
Cog by Greg van Eekhout
Laugh out loud - really loud - when you learn all about COG. He's the coolest robot around. COGnitive development means making mistakes and learning from them, and that is what COG and his robot buddies do on their crazy cross country adventure. I'll never think of grocery shopping or eating a hot dog the way I did before I read this book! So. Darn. Clever.
A Better Man by Louise Penny
Rich storytelling, familiar characters with new challenges and complexities - Penny is just so good at weaving a murder mystery into a compelling, emotional read. Yes, a whodunit, but more about the why. What drives a person to the edge - to commit murder? What drives investigators to parse through the lies and obstructions to find the truth? Thoroughly enjoyed!
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
Historical Fiction at its best! Spain under dictatorship, aftermath of civil war and stolen children form the backdrop of this well-researched novel. The young people in this story are brave, determined and scarred by their childhood during wartime. Ruta is an exceptional author. I can't wait to recommend this book!!
Frankly in Love by David Yoon
Cross-cultural, multi-racial, laugh-out-loud funny and thoughtful novel about first loves, annoying parents, great friends and figuring out who you really are. Navigating senior year started out confusing and not so fun for Frank, but little by little things fall into place and he finds out what is truly important.
This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
I was looking so forward to reading This Tender Land and it was the gem I hoped it would be. Drawing you in to the people, the landscape, the era - it was a journey I did not want to end. A depression era "school" that mistreated the children, leads Odie and his three friends to escape and run from the law and the scary school owners. They meet well-meaning people, unscrupulous people and hard-scrabble folks just trying to survive on so very little. What a privilege it is be a bookseller - sharing a literary novel with such deep meaning and quiet insight into the human spirit.
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
Two families with children who are best friends. An unthinkable tragedy happens and their lives are never the same. This novel explores so many facets of contemporary lives - parenting, marriage, friendship, loneliness, loyalty, addiction, mental illness. Sounds heavy and depressing, but Ask Again, Yes is so hopeful and redemptive, so powerful and enthralling. Ordinary people facing difficult challenges. Will they overcome them, or be defined by them? A brilliant novel!