Author: Jessie Mueller

I'm a Librarian Assistant at DPL; you'll most often see me at the circulation desk! I call myself a chaotic mood reader, meaning I read what I feel like in the moment (most often with no plan). I am partial to thrillers, romance, and young adult but will dabble in other genres depending on my mood. I read across all formats, but my most favorite is digital with my Kindle.

Last, Current, Next: Jessie’s November Reading Shelf 

Last Read :: “The Lemon Apron Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes for the Curious Home Cook” by Jennifer Emilson 

Format: Physical

Genre: Cookbook, Non Fiction

I cannot lie, as most cookbooks do, I was pulled in by the cover photo. Plates of pasta are my weakness! I knew this was my kind of cookbook when I noticed most recipes had short ingredient lists and the longest were maybe around fifteen items. Broken down into the four seasons, this cookbook has delightful recipes sure to get you out of your comfort zone but also pay homage to dishes you may be used to already. A bonus to this cookbook is the wonderful, curated photos that show off not just the food but the seasons themself. 

Current Read :: “Full Out: Lessons in Life and Leadership from America’s Favorite Coach” by Monica Aldama 

Format: Physical 

Genre: Non Fiction, Leadership 

From the coach behind the Netflix docuseries Cheer, Monica Aldama shares the makings of how she leads the multi-championship winning team from Navarro College but also how she became the coach she is now. What I have loved most so far from this book is the numerous examples Aldama shares of being not just a leader but a great friend and a person of integrity. She tells her life lessons in short snippets that carry a big punch leaving each chapter with a lot to think about. This book would be a great read for anyone wanting to step up their game in any area of their life, it’s not just for athletes! 

Next Read :: “The Boyfriend” by Frieda McFadden 

Format: Audiobook via Libby 

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction 

I discovered Frieda McFadden and her books earlier this year. I tried my first one purely to see what the hype was about after seeing them all over the internet. Since picking my first one up I have read a few of them; my favorite has been “The Inmate”. I have been waiting to see how “The Boyfriend” compares in the twists and turns I experienced that kept me enthralled with “The Inmate”. Told in a dual point of view and timeline format, readers have said this newest McFadden book is on par with her twisty and winding thrills previously written. 

What books are on your Last, Current, Next?

Last, Current, Next: Jessie’s October Reading Shelf

Last Read :: “Anita de Monte Laughs Last” by Xóchitl González 

Format: Audiobook via Libby 

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mystery 

Told from a split point-of-view from 1985 and 1998, Anita de Monte Laughs Last explores the desire to fit in a world that you don’t belong in with poetic writing that matches the art described. I will say, I feel that I would have enjoyed this more had I read a physical book instead of an audio, as the audio made it confusing to keep track of the split timeline. I took a lot into consideration while reading this, particularly the difficulties that minorities faced in both time periods that Gonzalez wrote with passion.  

Current Read :: “Daydream” by Hannah Grace 

Format: Physical 

Genre: Romance, Sports Romance, New Adult 

Daydream is the third and final installment in the Maple Hills series that follows a group of friends that play college hockey and their love interests. I have loved the Maple Hills series due to the large cast of characters and the witty banter between them. It feels like I’m a part of their friend group. Daydream is focused on Henry, the captain of the hockey team and Halle, the family chaos coordinator and aspiring author. So far, this book has kept me engaged and has showed great examples of mental health and neurodivergent characters in college while “figuring it out”.  

Next Read :: “She Gets the Girl” by Rachael Lippincott 

Format: Physical 

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, LGBTQ 

My next read is the October book pick for the Wine and YA book club. My first experience with Lippincott’s work was Five Feet Apart which I absolutely loved. I loved how realistic the characters were written and I’m looking forward to see how character driven She Gets the Girl is in comparison. She Gets the Girl is said to be an enemies-to-lovers, dual point-of-view, with lots of banter written by Lippincott and her wife. Online reviews are likening this read to a teenage rom-com movie with a 90’s vibe, but with LGBTQ representation. 

What books are on your Last, Current, Next?