Tag: fiction

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

“Last, Current, Next” is where Jessie shares what she’s been reading and what’s next on her reading list. If you’re looking for something different to read or if you’re just curious, check out this month’s three selections.

Last: The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir 

Format: Audiobook via Libby 

Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Novella 

In three hours, you follow the main character as she seeks medical treatment for her symptoms only to be told there’s nothing wrong with her because her blood work has come back fine. But now there’s strange things being noticed when she wakes up, like injuries she didn’t have the day before. Each day brings something a little bit stranger than the last. I normally don’t like thrillers as audiobooks, I prefer them in a physical or digital format, but the narration kept me on my toes the entire time. The ending left me wanting more, and I would have loved having this as a full novel. 

Current: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Márquez 

 Format: Physical via Interlibrary Loan 

Genre: Classics, Spanish Literature, Fiction, Magical Realism 

I first read Gabriel Garcia Márquez’s “Of Love and Other Demons” in a college history class and it’s been one of my favorite books since. I decided I wanted to try working through all Márquez’s backlist of books and landed on this one first. In this work, a man returns to town to find the truth about a murder that happened nearly three decades ago. Everyone knew it was going to happen, but no one stopped it. The whole town is being questioned. I’m about halfway through and I’m enjoying piecing together the truth from various rumors from past and present time. 

Did you know? A book like “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” that is not in our library consortium can still be checked out from Derby Public Library by utilizing our Interlibrary Loan service. Check out our website page for more information! 

Next: M is for Monster by Talia Dutton 

Format: Physical 

Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, LGBTQ 

A quick glance through looking at the artwork of this graphic novel is what initially caught my attention. But also, I really love a Frankenstein-esque moment! A scientist sister brings her sister back to life, or at least she thought she did. When M starts pushing back on expectations of not only the scientist but themself, a challenge arises – whose expectations are we trying to meet? I’m looking forward to reading this as I think it hits on some great conversation and reflection points such as self-discovery, individuality and grief.   

Bookworm Buffet: A Feast for your Reading Senses

Bookworm Buffet: March 2025

Welcome to Bookworm Buffet! Get ready to feast on three literary delights, each served up in a different format: physical, digital ebook, and audiobook.

March’s Spread –

Physical: Love & Friendship by Jane Austen

Genre: Satire, British Literature, Humor

Summary:
From the much-loved Jane Austen comes the satirical short novel, Love and Friendship. Written as a series of letters, Love and Friendship is a satire of the upper-class 18th century society that Austen loved to parody.

Isabel’s daughter, Marianne, is naive, flighty and unaware of the first thing about love. Through apprising letters, her mother’s friend, Laura, warns her of the dangers of sensibility and romance. But when Laura receives an unexpected proposal, it seems as though love might have its advantages after all. That is until the family learn about their hasty marriage and each member begins to reject Laura.

The plot is an amusing combination of unlikely coincidences, dramatic fainting fits and confusing twists and turns. Complete with the young writer’s original spelling quirks, this short novel demonstrates Austen’s natural talent and biting wit.

Publication: 1790

My Rating:

eBook: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Summary:
It’s a thin line between love and love-hating.

Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.
The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but fakes it that she can. Plus: Cole is Hutch’s brother. And they don’t get along. Next stop paradise!

But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.

Publication: May 20, 2025

My Rating:

Audio: The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

Genre: Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction
Read for: Hauntingly Good Reads Book Club

Summary:
Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town. Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man—one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him.
By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to. Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, Starling crafts a new kind of gothic horror from the bones of the beloved canon. This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished.

Narrated by: Mandy Weston
Publication: October 5, 2021

My Rating:

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

Last :: “Fourth Wing” – Rebecca Yarros 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Fantasy, Romance, New Adult 

I’ve said it before on this blog, I don’t typically read fantasy let alone seek one out. I finally did it though! I read the ever talked about and loved “Fourth Wing” and I have to say, the hype is 100% real! I read this 500+ book within a few days because I literally could not stop thinking about it. Dragons, magic, found family and a romance, all in one book! I have to say, my favorite part is how the dragons are written as characters themselves, each of them is quite distinct. I felt a lot of “Divergent” vibes throughout this book, which happens to be one of my favorite books! I think “Fourth Wing” goes on the “Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time” list. 

Current:: “All the Water in the World” – Eiren Caffal 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Fiction, Thriller 

When the glaciers melt, the water rises, the world isn’t the same as it was – Nonie and her family escape from the museum they were living in when the floods first began. Currently, I’m about halfway through with this read. I like the way the author has written shorter chapters but bounces between telling the past and the current points of view without it being a sharp back and forth. Caffal writes in such a way that the action of the story pulls me in, and it feels like I’m right there beside the characters on the water.  Already, at the halfway point, I have thought a lot about survival skills versus the need and responsibility to preserve history – it has been a great conversation point with my husband.

Next :: “Out of the Woods” – Hannah Bonam-Young 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction 

My first experience with Hannah Bonam-Young was reading “Out on a Limb” last year. I enjoyed the author’s writing great realistic characters with honest flaws that I’ve been waiting for “Out of the Woods” to be released. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts, Sarah begins to wonder what life would be like without Caleb as her other half. I’m interested in reading this because I haven’t read a high school sweetheart romance like this, it’s usually the “once upon a time, broke up and now finding each other again” high school sweetheart story line.

What have you been reading? What are you looking forward to reading next?

Bookworm Buffet: A Feast for your Reading Senses

Bookworm Buffet: February 2025

Welcome to Bookworm Buffet! Get ready to feast on three literary delights, each served up in a different format: physical, digital ebook, and audiobook.

February’s Spread –

Physical: Better Than Revenge by Kasie West

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Finley has only ever had one to become a famous podcaster. This includes coming up with the perfect pitch to land her on her school’s podcast team. But when her football-obsessed boyfriend, Jensen, decides to also try out—and uses her idea—she’s left confused and betrayed. 
Determined to get back at him, Finley and her friends try to find the perfect revenge scheme, but quickly discover that Jensen is almost-impossible to best. Keyword, almost. 
By chance, Finley discovers a knack for kicking and decides to take Jensen’s spot on the football team. To help her train, she recruits Jensen’s cute but conceited nemeses, Theo. Soon the two discover that their connection runs deeper than football. But Finley can’t let herself get distracted, and Theo has secrets of his own. Is true love really better than the perfect revenge?

Publication: December 31, 2024

My Rating:

eBook: Finders Keepers by Sarah Adler

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

Summary:
Last week, Nina Hunnicutt was a professor about to move into a gorgeous new apartment with her long-term boyfriend. Now, she’s single, unemployed, and living with her parents. Even more surprising is the fact that Quentin Bell, her childhood neighbor (and okay, fine, crush), is also back in town—and wants to resume the treasure hunt that ended their friendship almost two decades ago.
As they resume their hunt, Nina and Quentin begin to rediscover all the things they once loved best about each other. But unlike the treasure, the secrets that left them empty-handed the first time refuse to stay buried. If there’s any hope of finding what they’re looking for—and for a future together—Nina and Quentin will have to be brave enough to excavate their past as well.

Publication: June 24, 2025

My Rating:

Audio: A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult
Read for: Wine & YA Book Club

Summary:
Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.
But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more

Narrated by: Fran Burgoyne
Publication: January 2, 2024

My Rating:

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

Last :: “The Society for Soulless Girls” – Laura Steven 

Format :: Audio via Libby 

Genre :: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mystery, LGBTQ 

Fantasy is not typically a genre that I search out when I choose to read it. This dark academia meets supernatural read reminds me of “The Devil makes Three” by Tori Bovalino.  Carvell College of the Arts was once an elite school but is now known for the murders that once occurred there.  “The Society for Soulless Girls” is told in a dual point of view following Lottie and Alice as the unknown hauntings of the school library’s North Tower begins to claim students again. This read is heavy on gothic and supernatural themes, while not something I look for in my young adult reads, I did like this read. 

Current:: “Magnolia Parks” – Jessa Hastings  

Format :: E-read via Libby 

Genre :: Romance, New Adult, Fiction, Contemporary 

The first in the Magnolia Parks series, “Magnolia Parks” follows the main character Magnolia and on again, off again boyfriend BJ through the struggles of love while being the center of British socialite circles. I’m about thirty percent into this and while I can see Magnolia and BJ are incredibly toxic in their relationship and so very predictable, I can’t put the book down. From the first chapter I got “Gossip Girl” by Cecily von Ziegesar vibes, but slightly more mature main characters– heavy on the “slightly” more mature part. I can foresee myself reading the rest of this series just to see what these characters get up to. 

Next :: “Tiny Threads” – Lilliam Rivera 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Horror, Thriller, Fiction 

First, the cover was what drew me in. Then, the synopsis got me pulled all the way in. Just shy of 250 pages, “Tiny Threads” must pack a punch with supernatural happenings. I get the vibe that this might be a darker, full of twists and turns version of “The Devil Wears Prada” by Lauren Weisberger. It has been a while since I have read something that made me twist with anticipation to figure it out and I sense that this might be the trick and be more than a dark dive into the fashion industry. 

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

Last :: “What’s Eating Jackie Oh?” – Patricia Park 

Format :: Audio via Libby 

Genre :: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction 

I needed an audiobook, and this was one of the first ones I came across that was available on Libby. I have not read a food focused book in quite a while, and I liked the premise of a high school student figuring things out in their young life and competing on their favorite food show’s high school edition. A couple of the themes Patricia Park hits on is food insecurity, incarceration of minorities, and the familial struggles faced with immigrant families. My favorite scene of the whole book was the moment Jackie and her mom got on the same page and had a heart-to-heart talk; the audio of this scene made it feel like I was sitting in on a conversation and made the entire plot feel realistic. 

Current:: “Tooth and Claw” – Craig Johnson  

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Mystery, Western, Fiction 

“Tooth and Claw” is the newest novella in the Walt Longmire series. I was interested in reading this because I have read the first three books in this series, and I’ve always enjoyed the flashbacks of Walt and his good friend Henry Standing Bear. This novella takes place long before the first book begins and follows the duo as they come back from serving in Vietnam and look for jobs. I’m not quite a quarter of the way through this novella, and I love to see the characters of Walt and Henry are true to themselves, but still much younger than they are in the main series. I anticipate this will be a quick and adventurous read. 

Next :: “The Anti-Social Season” – Adele Buck 

Format :: Physical 

Genre :: Romance, Holiday Fiction 

“The Anti-Social Season” is the second book in the First Responders series (which is not a holiday book series, if you were wondering). I’ve been searching for a romantic comedy with a holiday theme and I’m hopeful that this will be a great pick! Thea, firefighter turning social media manager and Simon, a librarian are the main characters of this rom-com. I decided this would be my next read because Thea doesn’t remember Simon at all from high school, but Simon had a crush on her the entire time – this is one of my favorite romance tropes to read. 

Bookworm Buffet: A Feast for your Reading Senses

Bookworm Buffet: December 2024

Welcome to Bookworm Buffet! Get ready to feast on three literary delights, each served up in a different format: physical, digital ebook, and audiobook.

December’s Spread –

Physical: The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal by Ambika Vohra

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

“How have you gotten out of your comfort zone?” That’s the Stanford admissions prompt that valedictorian shoo-in Aisha Agarwal can’t answer. Comfort zone? Her life’s been homework and junk food for as long as she can remember. Not exactly the thing college essays are written about. So, when her crush, Brian, asks her to winter formal, Aisha thinks her fate is changing . . . until Brian stands her up. As if on cue, a banged-up Volkswagen arrives outside the dance; the driver—a guy her age—profusely apologizing for being late to pick her up. Does Aisha know him or what he’s talking about? No. Does the Stanford essay convince her to take him up on the ride? Absolutely. To Aisha’s relief, seventeen-year-old Quentin Santos isn’t a kidnapper, but he is failing math. So, they strike a If Aisha helps Quentin pass math, he’ll help push her out of her comfort zone, using a series of sticky note to-do’s—dares—that will not only give Aisha content for her essay but will turn her into the confident person she’s always wanted to be. From New Year’s Eve kisses to high school parties, Aisha’s sticky note manifesto is taking off. But when she falls for the wrong guy, hurts her best friend, and still can’t finish her essay, victory feels far from reach. Is winning worth it if you end up losing yourself in the process?  

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

My Rating:

eBook: While We’re Young by K.L. Walther

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

Grace, Isa, and Everett used to be an inseparable trio before their love lives became a tangled mess. For starters, Grace is secretly in love with Everett, who used to go out with Isa before breaking her heart in the infamous Freshman Year Fracture. And, oh yeah, no one knows that Isa has been hanging out with James, Grace’s brother—and if Grace finds out, it could ruin their friendship.
With graduation fast approaching, Grace decides an unsanctioned senior skip day in Philadelphia might be just what they need to fix things. All she has to do is convince Isa to help her kidnap Everett and outmaneuver James, who’s certain his sister is up to something.
In an epic day that includes racing up the famous Rocky steps, taste-testing Philly’s finest cheesesteaks, and even crashing a wedding, their secrets are bound to collide. But can their hearts withstand the wreckage?

Publication Date: March 4, 2025

My Rating:

Audio: Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Heist Novel

A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

Narrated by: Jay Snyder, Brandon Rubin, Fred Berman, Lauren Fortgang, Roger Clark, Elizabeth Evans, and Tristan Morris
Publication Date: September 29, 2015

My Rating:

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?

Monica’s Musings: Expiration Dates

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

“But being surprised by life isn’t losing, it’s living. It’s messy and uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It’s life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.”
― Rebecca Serle, Expiration Dates

Summary: Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

My Opinion: Once again, a book by Rebecca Serle does not disappoint! I thought this one would be a light, fluffy romance, but boy, was I wrong! This book was so much more. The concept of receiving notes that show how long a relationship will last is quite intriguing. I managed this one in a single session.

There were a few surprise twists that I did not see coming, but the best part for me was when Daphne stopped letting the pieces of paper dictate her life. She took control and realized you only have one life, so do what you want! I like how Serle writes because it is unique but not too wordy, and her books are always unique.

Check out my reviews of In Five Years and One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle too!

Monica’s Musings: End of Story

End of Story by A.J. Finn

“I’ll be dead in three months. Come tell my story.”
― A.J. Finn, End of Story

Summary: So writes Sebastian Trapp, reclusive mystery novelist, to his longtime correspondent Nicky Hunter, an expert in detective fiction. With mere months to live, Trapp invites Nicky to his spectacular San Francisco mansion to help draft his life story . . . living alongside his beautiful second wife, Diana; his wayward nephew, Freddy; and his protective daughter, Madeleine. Soon Nicky finds herself caught in an irresistible case of real-life “detective fever.”

“You and I might even solve an old mystery or two.”

Twenty years earlier—on New Year’s Eve 1999—Sebastian’s first wife and teenage son vanished from different locations, never to be seen again. Did the perfect crime writer commit the perfect crime? And why has he emerged from seclusion, two decades later, to allow a stranger to dig into his past?

“Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”

As Nicky attempts to weave together the strands of Sebastian’s life, she becomes obsessed with discovering the truth . . . while Madeleine begins to question what her beloved father might actually know about that long-ago night. And when a corpse appears in the family’s koi pond, both women are shocked to find that the past isn’t gone—it’s just waiting.

My Opinion: This book makes you slow down and pay attention to every detail. I highly recommend reading the physical copy, as I was confused multiple times throughout the audiobook. Pacing-wise, End of Story is a slow read, with an over-complicated plot. It tries to weave in too many strands that it ends up being hard to keep track of.

The last few chapters were interesting, but the rest of the book never grabbed me enough that I found it irresistible. If you have read The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, and enjoyed it, just be warned this is an entirely different type of book. Overall, I think this book was intriguing, but I do wish it had a little more going on in the first half to make it quicker paced.