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To say Xingyin has lived a sheltered life is putting it mildly. She, her mother, and her mother's attendant live alone in the Palace of Pure Light on the moon, for Xingyin's mother is the moon goddess.

Rating: 4/5

This graphic novel takes place in a magical universe in a special town. There is magic, a seer, quirky tech, a bakery, a musician, a mystery and romance. This is a cozy, magical read with some adventure.

SeinLanguage by Jerry Seinfeld is perfect for anyone who has sat there thinking, "Boy, nothing sounds better right now than reading the first 90 seconds of every Seinfeld episode in one sitting," which is what I said to myself right before checking out this book.

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.

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 (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.

Rating: 5/5

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 (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 (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.

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 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.