Posts
![Heartstopper Vol. 1-4 by Alice Oseman](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/c.jpg?itok=cZcXab1t)
Heartstopper Vol. 1-4 by Alice Oseman
Rating: 5/5
This is an extremely cute romance graphic novel series with beautiful art. This series has recently been adapted by Netflix. Charlie Spring was outed and heavily bullied his first year at Truham Grammar School for Boys. Entering year 10 Charlie is hopeful about the new year. Until he develops a crush on Nick Nelson, a year 11 in the rugby team, a possibly, maybe not, entirely straight cute boy.
![The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/Hal%20life.jpg?itok=T1kzKl6G)
The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley
Loosely based on true events at a Russian nuclear facility in the 1960s, The Half Life of Valery K (2022) follows the story of a Russian nuclear scientist, pulled from a freezing gulag to lend his expertise to what seem to be human radiation trials at the mysterious City 40. Never sure who to trust and who to fear, he picks his way through a minefield of misinformation and mystery.
![Crossroads cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/xroads.jpg?itok=R2YouMVz)
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Crossroads (2021) is the first novel I’ve read by Jonathan Franzen, an author who made a big splash when his first novel, The Corrections, was released, just over twenty years ago now. Franzen has gone on to write other popular novels (with single word titles), including Freedom and Purity, along with multiple essay collections.
![American Like Me cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/American.jpg?itok=F9o7RiSL)
American Like Me by America Ferrera
This conversational collection of essays is great reading or listening. In American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures (2018), 32 authors share their personal experiences growing up in America as 1st or 2nd generation Americans. Some vignettes cover a specific childhood incident; others reflecting, as the children of immigrants, on their parents’ choices; still others speak on current matters.
![Tin Man Cover Image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/Tin%20Man.jpg?itok=8142dKi8)
Tin Man by Sarah Winman
Tin Man (2018) is a slim volume packed full with beauty and emotion. It's a story about love - young love, first love, friendship, hidden love, lost love and all the heartbreak that ensues. It's a coming-of-age story of two young boys who find solace in each other after the loss of and rejection from their parents. It's a bittersweet study of loneliness, grief and acceptance.
![Gone Girl cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/gone%20girl.jpg?itok=fJkAo2aF)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl (2012) by Gillian Flynn had been on my radar for a few years but once I finally paid it the attention it deserves I was glad I did! I liked it so much that when I finished, I immediately checked out the audiobook on Libby so I could listen to it with my spouse.
![A woman and man tangled together by a dog leash. A corgis is at the end of the leash and a seagull flies overhead.](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/Too%20Good%20to%20be%20Real.jpg?itok=wNEBWB94)
Too Good to Be Real by Melonie Johnson
When love begins to blossom while she's at a romantic comedy themed resort, can Julia trust it? Or is her supposed real-life love story just part of the show?
![One Of Us Is Lying](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/one%20of%20us.jpg?itok=UiaT6Exs)
One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus
When the creator of a high school gossip app mysteriously dies in front of four high-profile students, all four become suspects. It's up to them to solve the case.
![Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/1.png?itok=In1dFINo)
Book Review- Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier, Val Wise
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms is a heart lifting story about finding your voice, LGBTQ+ representation, friendship and love. This is a quick read with a happy ending. The character Anne wants to get into college and tries to find a way to become more involved in after school activities after a meeting with her guidance counselor. While Bebe is trying to figure out life after coming out and joining the cheerleading squad as the first transgender cheerleader. This graphic novel is a definite must read!
![Mercy Street cover image](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/Mercy.jpg?itok=LHAeKrwl)
Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh
With her latest book, Mercy Street (2022), novelist Jennifer Haigh explores the nua
![Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_teaser/public/content/blogs/2_0.jpg?itok=WS-Je5ng)
Book Review-Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
Tokyo Ever After is a great book to read if you enjoyed the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. The characters in this story were really interesting and worked well with each other. Zoom Zoom is a teenage just trying to understand who she is and where she comes from, finding out she’s a princess in Japan is a big surprise. Her friends are her found family and help support her through the changes of her new life. Zoom Zoom not only has to navigate culture shock and her new fame but she also falls in love and doesn't know who to trust. I enjoyed reading her journey.