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.

This was one of my favorite books of this year so far. I really enjoyed reading about the trial and Lovely’s family history. I haven’t read the second book in this series but I really want to now.

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 got to meet the author of the Penderwick series and I got to ask questions like do you speak Latin because there was Latin in the Penderwicks? She said it was fun the add different languages into it but she doesn’t speak Latin. It was so cool to meet my favorite author in the world everyone should read her books and she has a new book The Library of Unruly Treasures

Jennifer Weiner's latest book that does not take place on the Outer Cape but in Philadelphia and New York in August of 2023. The main character of the book is Abby Stern who is a "larger" person that struggles with criticism from her Mother as well as society. Abby is also an avid biker who ends up leading a 14-day bike trip on the Empire State Trail from NYC to Niagra Falls. Among the fifteen riders on the trip is Sebastian whom Abby had a one-night-stand with two years earlier. The rest of the book centers around Abby, Sebastian, and Abby's current boyfriend, Mark. I enjoyed the book as well as the different stories of the characters on the bike trip.

I read it all by myself. I love the princesses!

In five years was a fast, fabulous, five star read. Any book that makes you appreciate life, friends, and found family is a great book in my opinion. I also enjoyed the book because it was it wasn’t one dimensional. It made me laugh and cry!

Good for kids staring manga

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.

I think June B is the funniest group of books. She is hilarious.