Ages 18+
Twenty-six-year-old Nell is meeting her boyfriend on a romantic weekend trip to Paris. She finds herself in an interesting position, however, when he fails to show up. Instead of sulking, Nell takes the opportunity that she’s been given and tries to make the most of it. Eight stories follow this one, and add charm and romance to the collection.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Ages 14+
Sloane moves to Florida from New York and becomes involved in a close knit group of friends. Two of those friends are twins Gabs and Vera. When a painting by the twins’ late mother goes missing, Sloane takes it upon herself to bring it back to the twins. She started on the journey feeling like the twins needed her to do this for them, but what she doesn’t realize is how much she needs them to help her in return.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Ages 14+
Just A Kiss, the third book in the Summer Harbor series, was heartwarming and inspiring. Riley went to bootcamp to become a marine when he couldn’t handle the fact that the love of his life was with his brother. Now, Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, and he returns with every intention of telling Paige how he feels. However, an IED leaves him an amputee, but Paige is all too happy to take care of him, her best friend. Will Riley be able to come clean and tell Paige that he loves her? Or will he fall apart at the seams?
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Ages 14+
This sweet love story didn’t start out as a love story at all. Julia starts to blog about her annoying neighbor Cain, giving him the nickname Ebenezer so as to hide his real identity. She is on a mission to “kill him with kindness” after he steals her newspaper. She expects to change his outlook on Christmas, but what she doesn’t expect is to fall in love with him. What will happen if and when he finds out that he’s her little project? And worse, what will happen if he finds out about the blog?
Thanks to Netgalley.com for a review copy of this book.
Ages 14+
This intense, eye-opening memoir chronicles Emily Lindin’s life as a middle schooler and peer-labeled “slut.” The book is made up of diary entries of Lindin’s middle school years, and footnotes that the adult Emily Lindin has added to examine the craziness of her relationships with her friends, enemies and various crushes and boyfriends. The purpose of the memoir is to shed light on how crazy kids’ lives can be, and what we as adults can do to help them. She includes entries that talk about kids ages eleven to thirteen drinking, engaging in sexual behavior and acting nasty towards each other, like it’s no big deal at all. The Unslut Project began as a blog, but when women started sharing their own stories, and took it a step further, and published the memoir in hopes that it would shed light on the sexual bullying of girls and women.
Grades 9-12
Libby Strout is known for one thing: being America’s fattest teen. No one bothered or cared to get to know her for who she really is. After her mother’s death, she is done with home-schooling and now ready to attend high school after a long while of staying home all the time.
When Libby gets mixed up with Jack Masselin, a boy who goes to her school, the two of them end up in group counseling and community service. Jack knows how to give people what they want, but he has a secret: he is unable to recognize faces. Because of this, he spends his time trying to “get by,” and he constantly reminds himself not to get too close to anyone. As time goes on, Libby and Jack’s relationship starts to change. Will Jack be able to come clean to Libby about his secret?
Ages 18+
Russel Green has everything he ever wanted: a ravishing wife, an adorable six-year-old daughter, and an advertising career he loves. The reality that he knows is ripped from under him in a matter of months, however, and he is left jobless, separated from his wife, and taking care of his daughter all alone. Will be able to adapt accordingly or crack under pressure?
Ages 16+
In his inspiring autobiography, Bruce Springsteen tells of his life as a star, beginning with how he always knew he wanted to be a musician. He tells about his life growing up Catholic in New Jersey, and all the steps he took to make his dreams come true.
Ages 14+
Despite her difficult past, Lily moved on from the small town she grew up in, graduated from college, and then moved to Boston to start her own business. There she meets Ryle, a neurosurgeon who she falls for, and hard. Their relationship is great, until an old flame of Lily’s shows up and threatens everything that she and Ryle have. Will she be able to truly move on from her past to secure her future?
Ages 18+
The second book in the Winter trilogy, Winter Stroll continues the story of Kelley Quinn who owns the Winter Street Inn on Nantucket. Readers learn about his relationship with his first wife, Margaret, and the birth of a grandchild. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Kelley encounters his second wife, Mitzi, and she turns his life upside down.
Michelle’s Bookish Life 