You Again

by Debra Jo Immergut

Release Date: July 7, 2020
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jill's Review:
I found the concept of this book fascinating. The central character is a 46 year old woman who keeps seeing, and begins interacting with, the 22 year old version of herself. She also has some memory issues that seem to be related to a past trauma, so everything is viewed through that clouded lens. What would you say to your younger self? How much would it alter your life if you warn your younger self of something or give her advice? How do we deal with regret for the past and reconcile that with love for our current families?

Other People’s Pets

by R.L. Maizes

Release Date: July 14, 2020

4 out of 5 stars

Amanda's Review:
I found this book far more impactful than I expected to. I was intrigued by the premise, a burglar who is highly attuned to animals and only robs houses where she can help a pet. But the story holds so much more depth than I was expecting. The main character is deeply flawed in some ways that made me say “Same.” Warning: there’s a scene where a dog dies that had me sobbing in public.

Crossings

by Alex Landragin

Release Date: July 28, 2020
5 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
My favorite kind of book- inventive and engrossing! While reading, I was reminded of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas in that it is telling a story from multiple perspectives over a long period of time. It didn't quite reach the level of Cloud Atlas, but close enough for me to have really enjoyed it. I read this using the 'Baroness Sequence' which I recommend but it does have you jumping between storylines. I do admit to being tempted to read it again straight through, but haven't yet.

The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne

by Elsa Hart

Release Date: August 4, 2020

3 out of 5 stars

Mary's Review:
The book is of the historical fiction/mystery genre. It takes place in London in 1703 and is about a time when the old approaches to science coexist with the new. A select community of collectors vie to acquire various objects for their cabinets of curiosity, ranging from stones, bones, books and other artifacts, while a newer group attempt to get appointments with them to study these items. Sir Barnaby Mayne, the most formidable of the collector group, ends up getting murdered in his study. One of the researchers notices that there is something off about how he was killed and to discover the truth, she must enter the world of the collectors, a realm where intellect is distorted by obsession and greed. In researching the murder she puts herself in danger of the same fate. For someone who has spent 30 years in museums and the museum collection world, I found this very interesting as museums still contain important, old collections donated by this era of collector. However, as a mystery goes, I'd give it a 3 out of 5 as parts of the mystery portion seemed a little hokey. Still, a fun, fast read though!

The Daughters of Ys

by M.T. Anderson

Release Date: August 11, 2020
4 out of 5 stars

Kristen's Review:
This graphic novel is a dark tale about two sisters, Rozenn and Duhut, who travel down different life paths after the death of their mother, each discovering that all magic has a price. The atmosphere created by Jo Rioux’s illustrations swept me away, but I did wish at times for more depth in the plot and characters. I still enjoyed the read based on classic Breton folklore, and it has sent me searching for more about Celtic mythology!

The Sprawl

Jason Diamond

Release Date: August 11, 2020
4 out of 5 stars

Cary's Review:
This is an interesting read for anyone who grew up in a midwestern suburb like me. We can love the suburbs, or want to escape (like my adult children – one who wants isolation in Colorado, and the other who wants the excitement in a city). I was born in a midwestern suburb, and although I’ve moved several times in my life, I have remained a suburbanite. This book reminds me of all the nostalga that comes from remembering their heyday and beginnings, along with the reasons many of us want to flee to another lifestyle (ie. Tiny homes). Well, we can run but we can’t hide from where we came from. Love them or hate them, let’s appreciate them for the ideal, even if they’ve fallen a bit short. 4 stars.

Grand

by Sara Schaefer

Release Date: August 11, 2020
4 out of 5 stars

Tara's Review:
I enjoyed this memoir! Sara Schaefer, a comedian, tells the story of a recent trip she took with her sister as they traveled down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon to celebrate her 40th birthday. She wrote alternating chapters between her childhood growing into adulthood, and the trip with her sister, Ross. I loved the chapters with her sister - I took a trip out west with my sister to celebrate my 40th last year - so that part really felt personal to me. I also immediately texted my sister to see if we could take the same trip Sara and Ross took! The chapters about her growing up felt very honest, candid, and humorous. Grand is a great, quick read about family, relationships, and facing your fears.

The Switch

by Beth O'Leary

Release Date: August 18, 2020
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Amanda's Review:
I really liked the inter-generational nature of this story. I read it during this very isolating pandemic and found myself identifying with the loneliness of the elderly and contemplating the nature of community as you age.

Good Dogs Don't Make It to the South Pole

by Hans-Olav Thyvold

Release Date: August 18, 2020
5 out of 5 stars

Joyce's Review:
I thought the book would be a pleasant look at the life of a dog and the people he bonded with. It was but it was also a penetrating look into aging, the bond of a dog and his people, the interactions of family. There were parts describing the historical journeys to the South Pole that were not always easy to read but were an important part of the book.

Transcendent Kingdom

by Yaa Gyasi

Release Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jill's Review:
Yaa Gyasi writes beautiful stories. Her first novel, Homegoing, spanned hundreds of years and felt like a fairy tale at times, but this novel is very different. The main character is a studying neuroscience to understand the science behind addiction. She tells the story of her family, their transition from Ghana to life in America, their struggle with loss, and the deep impact that loss has on the survivors. She is writing about heavy topics, but the main ribbon running through the novel is still that of love and joy.

Piranesi

by Susanna Clarke

Release Date: September 15, 2020
5 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
Don't read too much about this book before beginning, just start reading. I loved it and I think that's because I was thrown into a fascinating new place with an unreliable narrator and a lot of uncertainty about what was happening. A lot of the enjoyment for me was the amazing setting and the slow revealing of information. I highly recommend this one.

A Deadly Education

by Naomi Novik

Release Date: Sept. 29, 2020
5 out of 5 stars

Amanda's Review:
This is my favorite Naomi Novik book yet, and that’s kind of saying something. I’ve seen it described as “a twisted, super dark, super modern, female-led Harry Potter” and that’s pretty on point. I stan the main protagonist, El and can’t wait for the next in the series.