This book was hard to connect to because the main character refers to everyone around her as a title (ex:the husband, the daughter) and refers to no one by name. She is stuck in a less than perfect marriage and is treated as an outcast for her profession as a funeral cryer, which to many makes her bad luck. As soon as she seems to making some changes for her happiness the story kind of abruptly ends. I really wanted more from the ending. One thing I did appreciate about this book was the glimpse into Chinese culture at the time.

I’m biased to any story set in Scotland, but this was such an interesting and unexpected one. I did not anticipate how much the lore of the region would play, and it was a great surprise.

Easy and engaging read. Left some questions un answered to hopefully be discovered in the books to come. Excited to see the direction of this series. I read ACOTAR, so I’m excited for this SJM series

Everyone should read it. I really liked how Skye got a chance to be OAP (oldest available Penderwick) and how Roslind had a break

As a hearing person, I learned so so much about the Deaf/ASL community, culture, life, languages and more from this book. I truly recommend this book to everyone out there. It’s funny, the characters are great but at the same time there’s just so much to learn and so much I didn’t realize before. Come for the learning; Stay for the plot and characters. So great!

Heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, sad, charming, poignant—this book hits many emotions. Fredrik Backman knows people, and his characters are multi-dimensional, complex, and charming. The book is a story within a story, as the retelling of one remarkable summer for four teenage friends is shared during a train ride. Chance encounters, special connections, and the power of good friendship, especially during teenage years. Highly recommend.

I adore this series. Light fun and intriguing. Each book said with be characters and interest. The references to everyday tasks with a mystical element are delightful.

A murder mystery from the murderers’ point of view! Bought this as a beach book but was pleasantly surprised. Very creative and enticing storyline that kept me interested as someone who’s not much of a bookworm.

I read this book based on our book club's recommendation and also as it was a library staff pick. While told in its own unique way, the plot reminded me of so many things that have happened/are happening in society and the world. I got the impressions of COVID and anti-Asian sentiments, the removal and separation of children from Native Americans as well as their return from successful adoptions, separation of immigrant families at the border, etc. The "Crisis" and PACT were universal in their meaning as was the resulting abuse of power and tendency to look the other way. The way Celeste Ng told the story through the eyes of young Bird was very interesting, and the young adult fiction book, "The Giver", kept coming to mind.

This was a dual-timeline historical novel set in present day and WWII, but a little different from most in that the primary character is the same throughout. Present day Colette is in her 80s, but still an active jewel thief. 1940s Colette was a child, but a jewel thief even then. But she's a jewel thief with a twist--she only still from the evil, and uses the proceeds to fund positive things. An engaging story with twists and turns, centering around a two-piece bracelet.