Wayward

by Dana Spiotta

Release Date: July 6, 2021
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Cary's Review:
I love this book, about a woman who makes an impulse buy of an old house in a bad neighborhood, realizing that this means she will be leaving her husband and daughter as a consequence. She’s in a muddle, not coherent at the best of times, and taking control by taking shelter seems to be the only thing she can latch onto. As a woman of a certain age, I can relate to the main character’s restless, disjointed longings, with seemingly no real plan.

Half Sick of Shadows

by Laura Sebastian

Publication Date: July 6, 2021
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
I really enjoyed reading this re-imagining of the Arthurian myth. Some readers will likely object to some of the changes made in this novel that break away from what they believe to be the "true" story. This was not an issue for me as I didn't remember a lot of the details written in earlier books and I felt like the changes made worked well in this story. I like that this story was told in a non-linear manner since Elaine sees the world this way and I enjoyed getting glimpses of the past, present, and future and having them mixed into the story.

Intimacies

by Katie Kitamura

Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jill's Review:
An interpreter moves from New York to The Hague to work at an international court during a period of transition in her life. This novel is unsettling and quite thought provoking. I listened to the audio and found myself thinking of it long after I was finished.

The Reading List

by Sara Nisha Adams

Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Mary's Review:
If you love libraries you'll love this book! It's the author's debut novel about how a chance encounter with a list of library books helps create an unlikely friendship between two very different people in a London suburb.

If the Shoe Fits

by Julie Murphy

Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Kaylee's Review:
If the Shoe Fits sets itself up to be a Cinderella retelling - a rich stepfamily, winning the love of a sought-after bachelor, a fascination with shoes - but it doesn't ever fully commit to that trope. Instead, the focus is more on being "behind the scenes of a reality dating show" in book form, which I thought was done pretty well (though this is coming from someone who has never watched reality television) and an interesting premise to play around with. This was a fun story and I enjoyed my time in it, but it ultimately wasn't something that stuck with me.

We Were Never Here

by Andrea Bartz

Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Jill's Review:
This is a page turner, and I was very interested for the first several chapters. After a while, though, my disbelief could no longer be suspended.

How to Suffer Outside

by Diana Helmuth

Publication Date: September 1, 2021
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Mason's Review:
I saw this book on the shelf at REI, and I knew I needed to read it. I have a soft spot for the "funny how-to" genre. And. . . this is a solid entry. Topics covered include "how not to get killed by your jeans;" "hygiene, or lack therof;" and "poop (yes, it deserves its own chapter)."

The Morning Star

by Karl Ove Knausgård

Publication Date: September 28, 2021
Rating: 4 stars out of 5 (so far)

Jill's Review:
I started reading this without reading any reviews or summaries of the book, so I was quite surprised with the direction it is heading. A huge star suddenly appears in the sky, and the book weaves between several characters in Norway during this time. What does the star mean? Will life go on as before or not quite as before?

Cloud Cuckoo Land

by David Michell

Publication Date: September 28, 2021
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Katherine's Review:
This book may end up being my favorite of the year. I was hesitant to pick it up because I LOVED "All the Light We Cannot See" and was worried that this new book would not meet my expectations. While it is a very different book and I can't say that everyone that loved "All the Light..." will love this one too, it was perfect for me. I really enjoy reading books that have multiple story lines in different time periods with story threads that come together by the end. Plus, the way Anthony Doerr writes is amazing -- so much talent. I will be recommending and gushing about this book for a very long time.

The Boys : a memoir of Hollywood and family

by Ron Howard

Publication Date: Oct. 12, 2021
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Joyce's Review:
I watched Ron and Clint Howard grow up on screen so I really anticipated this book. It was a great read because it is the story of a family, a story of two boys and their parents who also had Hollywood careers. Their successes (and failures) are told as part of their family story not just as individuals.