I Hope This Finds You Well is truly one of the best books I've read recently—both hilarious and deeply touching.
I had a limited time to read it beforeI Hope This Finds You Well is truly one of the best books I've read recently—both hilarious and deeply touching.
I had a limited time to read it before passing it on to the next library patron (I started it a bit too late), but that wasn’t an issue because I couldn’t put it down. Every spare moment was devoted to devouring its pages.
While I won’t delve into the plot—since the publisher’s summary covers that—I will say there’s so much more beneath the surface. The book is filled with humor, heartfelt moments, genuine friendships, a fake engagement, a touch of blackmail, some trauma mixed with a hint of mystery, rich Persian culture, and plenty of decadent donuts, all wrapped up with just the right amount of romance.
It's hard to believe this is Natalie Sue’s debut novel! I’m excited to see what she has in store next. Keep an eye on this author! – Diana F.
A must read for any fan of horror, but especially those who enjoy slasher movies, this book is a slasher movie told through the point of view of the sA must read for any fan of horror, but especially those who enjoy slasher movies, this book is a slasher movie told through the point of view of the slasher killer. Reading like a dark origin story, this novel is like the movie Scream with its self-referential treatment of the slasher genre, but instead of how to survive a horror movie, it’s what you do when you find you’ve become the unstoppable killer. While some twists and developments can feel obvious, that feels right in a genre such as slasher horror where we know what to expect and how things are supposed to go. Horror fans will enjoy this look at a well known genre from a different perspective. -Madeline C. ...more
Olivia is taking over her family’s matchmaking business. Tapping into her heritage, the business revolves around compatible matches using the traditioOlivia is taking over her family’s matchmaking business. Tapping into her heritage, the business revolves around compatible matches using the traditional Chinese Zodiac approach. However, her plan to revamp the business gets derailed when a new app is trying to modernize Chinese Zodiac dating with the convenience of current-day dating apps. This was a really cute book that is infused with love, dating struggles, and funny banter between the 2 main characters. One thing that I truly appreciated was Jessen's way of identifying the struggles of Asian American/Mixed Race people. As someone who has personally gone through these struggles, it was refreshing to be seen in a book that was able to identify the strong feelings of wanting to follow tradition but also wanting to get with the times. The natural flow of the book was wonderful, I love a good meet-cute (which this book totally has), and I love how everything was centered around family. This is an adorable RomCom for anyone looking for a sweet, wholesome book! – Alyssa C....more
This cookbook had so many recipes I tried that were a hit with family. Definitely a winner if you want recipes that are tasty, healthy, and easy! -StaThis cookbook had so many recipes I tried that were a hit with family. Definitely a winner if you want recipes that are tasty, healthy, and easy! -Stacy M....more
If you would have told me I was going to like this book, I would say you were right!
John Stamos surprisingly has a lot to say and many life lessons tIf you would have told me I was going to like this book, I would say you were right!
John Stamos surprisingly has a lot to say and many life lessons to share. Everything from his days as Blackie Parrish to Marvyn Korn, Stamos gives you a backstage pass as his life as an actor and the emotional turmoil that goes with it. He opens up about his personal life too, including marriage, divorce, becoming a father, addiction, and the loss of those nearest and dearest to him.
I highly recommend the audiobook since he reads it himself and does amazing voices. Not only that, but during some of the deep emotional parts, you can hear the pain or joy in his voice. Uncle Jesse may have been the funny care-free guy we love from Full House, but John Stamos is the man we can all learn a lot from. – Alyssa C....more
This book has the best, the worst, and some of the most humorous parts of life wrapped in an unputdownable package. I laughed, I cried, and I kept turThis book has the best, the worst, and some of the most humorous parts of life wrapped in an unputdownable package. I laughed, I cried, and I kept turning the page to see how Lark, her family and her friends would work through all that is their messy yet wonderful life. It's definitely worth your time to get to know them. -Jen K....more
For many, Elon Musk is a man people love to hate but love anyway despite his grating personality. Emerging from a very tough and unusual childhood in For many, Elon Musk is a man people love to hate but love anyway despite his grating personality. Emerging from a very tough and unusual childhood in South Africa, where he was routinely pummeled at the school his father sent him to get toughened up, he wound up first at university in Toronto, then at Penn in the United States.
But education was not to be his destination. Stanford accepted him for a Masters/PhD track, but he deferred enrollment, hoping to take advantage of the Internet wave breaking across the world. His entrepreneurial spirit won over the academic. He never returned for an advanced degree.
Though he never focused exclusively on money, early in his career he knew he would either be very rich or very poor. His talents and dogged persistence did make him rich. His mission was his enduring goal: to change the direction of humanity by building an electric car that would dramatically reduce emissions and manufacture rockets that would ultimately take humanity to Mars, making humanity a multi-planetary civilization. He thought if humanity remained earthbound, the logical end would be the end of humanity.
The trials and tribulations of his numerous ventures, especially Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter are so fantastic they seem unreal. If there is one billionaire who deserves every dollar he earns, then Musk is that person: sleeping in his factories, working with employees on the factory floor, operating on a schedule that started at sunrise and often ended in the middle of the night. Every task was important and no task, no costs, no part or process escaped his attention.
Driving down costs while improving quality was his indefatigable mission. The man was relentless as he was agitating. His Asperger’s diminished his ability to read people, a huge managerial problem. He tossed employees out of his companies routinely while attracting others who wanted to be a part of his amazing trek.
What may be the best advice for running any organization, derives from his dedication to simplicity. The author outlines Musk’s process for eliminating functionless rules, regulations, and requirements. Musk demands that when finding a requirement that doesn’t seem to fit, find the person that owns it – not a department, not a federal agency, the specific person and find out the reason for the requirement. His summary advice is to delete more requirements than you think is necessary and add any back that were cut but actually really were needed.
Whether you like this man or not, this is a book for all readers. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Musk’s story provides numerous examples of how to operate and how not to operate a startup.
Musk’s personality is much like Steve Jobs’s and Thomas Edison’s: grating and unnerving. Despite these shortcomings, and maybe because of them, they have changed the world, and it is wonderful to have these people on the American team and not our enemies. - Tom L....more
Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi thriller about Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or who heProject Hail Mary is a sci-fi thriller about Ryland Grace, an astronaut who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there or who he is. Throughout the book, he slowly recovers memories and discovers that his mission is to save humanity from microorganisms that are consuming the sun's energy and dimming its light. With the help of an alien named Rocky, Grace works towards a solution that saves Earth from this extinction-level event.
I found this book very enjoyable because its fast-paced, thrilling plot that incorporated many science-based aspects and problems. -Estella M., SPL Teen Volunteer...more
Breaking the Dark is the first book in Marvel’s all new crime series and it is expertly crafted by Lisa Jewell. The author perfectly balances the plotBreaking the Dark is the first book in Marvel’s all new crime series and it is expertly crafted by Lisa Jewell. The author perfectly balances the plot, the pacing, and the characters to create the ultimate page-turner that will positively blow away her current fans, especially new Lisa Jewell readers like me.
I have read many Marvel prose novels and I will admit that Breaking the Dark is definitely the BEST one I have read. The brilliance about Breaking the Dark is that you do not have to be a Marvel fan to truly enjoy it, but it is an absolutely bonus if you are one.
Thank you, Lisa Jewell, for doing a marvelous job of headlining this new series of Marvel themed crime novels. I highly recommend Breaking the Dark if you love Marvel, mysteries, and magic! - Leslie G. ...more
A few of us at work started reading this series because of the kitschy covers and fun titles. (Who says covers don't sell books?) However, we got hookA few of us at work started reading this series because of the kitschy covers and fun titles. (Who says covers don't sell books?) However, we got hooked on the very real characters and invested in what would happen next. Lyla Sage doesn't disappoint in this third installment to the series. You will want to join the family and friends at Rebel Blue Ranch, riding the roller coaster of life with its many ups and downs. Fiery Teddy and closed off Gus have a past that no one knows about, and they are highlighted this time. You can't help but hope for them to figure things out, especially with the sizzle that is between them. I'm certain you'll enjoy getting to know these characters better. -Jen K....more
For those readers lamenting the continuing political bickering, Gehl and Porter provide unique insights to the problem and the resolution.
Their centraFor those readers lamenting the continuing political bickering, Gehl and Porter provide unique insights to the problem and the resolution.
Their central thesis expresses the viewpoint of big money dwarfing the meaning of individual votes. To assure their ideas are accurately portrayed, I quote them, “The Politics Industry has two currencies: some customers pay with votes; some pay with money.”
“The currency of votes has consistently less relative value than money. … Said another way, money in politics gets a great return on investment (ROI) – votes, not so much.”
Recent research supports their conclusions about customer power. For example, in 2014, researchers Martin Gilens at Princeton University and Benjamin Page at Northwestern University examined congressional action on 1779 policy issues. Their finding: “When the preferences are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule near-zero, statistically non-significant impact on public policy.”
Their perspective hits the target of much of the electorate’s discontent. Polling reveals we are not happy with the nation’s direction, in part because polling shows we have lost trust in our leaders.
We vote in the ballot box, but someone else gets the benefit.
The book doesn’t just identify the challenges, it provides numerous avenues to get a better selection of candidates. Non-partisan voting is a big idea, and it is one the founding fathers would love as their dislike for ‘factions,’ their word for political parties creating big problems during the early Republic.
The ballot box may not solve the voters’ candidate dilemma this fall, but it does provide a pathway from the anger pervasive in politics.
Check it out. You will be glad you did. -Tom L. ...more
Perfect for those who enjoyed the docuseries “Quiet on Set” or celebrity memoirs about growing up in the spotlight, this is a story set in our social Perfect for those who enjoyed the docuseries “Quiet on Set” or celebrity memoirs about growing up in the spotlight, this is a story set in our social media/influencer heavy culture; a “Gone Girl” for our current times. It follows Hazel who is trying to find her 18-year-old sister Evie, who has been a social media star since a video of her went viral at the age of 5, after she goes missing during a livestream. Hazel, who has watched her little sister live her life in the public eye, while keeping herself out of everything, must work to figure out what has happened to her sister and if her public life contributed to her disappearance. Engaging and a fast read, with an ending they won’t see coming, readers will be engrossed into figuring out what is going on.
If you're looking for an entertaining escape to a steamy tropical locale for the summer, this is the perfect book to pick up. Not only do you have advIf you're looking for an entertaining escape to a steamy tropical locale for the summer, this is the perfect book to pick up. Not only do you have adventure, intrigue and drama, but the chemistry makes the Mexican jungle even hotter. Besides a strong and brilliant female lead character, with the archaeologists in this book, you have a story that's a cross between Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones. Who knows, it might even make you want to give the profession a try.
I highly recommend this book if you want an action-packed getaway. It's truly a fun vacation packed in a story... the perfect excursion.
Stop what you are doing... I'll wait... and read this book!
This witty ode to The Princess Bride asks the question, "What if Buttercup pulled up the hStop what you are doing... I'll wait... and read this book!
This witty ode to The Princess Bride asks the question, "What if Buttercup pulled up the hem of her skirt, dusted off her boots, and went in search and rescue or her beloved?"
Sanderson delivers an adventure with aplomb, humor, and the most delightfully sarcastic asides this side of Florin. -Sara W....more
It will make you laugh, fall in love, and definitely make you cry. One reviewer said that it wrecked her in theThis book will give you all the feels.
It will make you laugh, fall in love, and definitely make you cry. One reviewer said that it wrecked her in the best possible way and I couldn't agree more. She absolutely hit the nail on the head with that single comment.
When Emily Allen moves to Ireland to escape her manipulative, abusive, narcissist of a mother and work with the author of her favorite books of all time, she gets way more than she dreamed of and quite possibly a life worth living. But, as in any good romance, there is heartache involved... just not quite the way you would normally expect. Jenn McKinlay has created a work with the best possible characters, a perfect location and people dealing with real life and all the emotions that go with it.
If you don't read this book, you are missing out on a truly captivating read that will stay with you for a very long time! -Jennifer K....more
Little Women is a period drama centered around the lives of four young women during the Civil War where they learn their ways towards sisterhood, resiLittle Women is a period drama centered around the lives of four young women during the Civil War where they learn their ways towards sisterhood, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams. This book was set during the Civil War, and the novel follows the lives of the four March sisters: Amy, Jo, Beth, and Meg, as they navigate the challenges of growing up, finding love, and pursuing their dreams. The author really captivates the character development and characteristics, really drawing the reader into the sisters’ lives, making the reader have an emotional connection with the sisters. Through their trials and triumphs, the March sisters inspire readers with their strength, compassion, sisterly love, family, and the pursuit of individuality. If you are interested in period dramas, coming of age stories, and sisterhood, then Little Women is the perfect book for you! -Sara K. (Teen Volunteer)...more
I have long been an advocate of David McCullough’s biographies. His loss in 2022 left a huge hole in the reporting of American history. Gladly, a frieI have long been an advocate of David McCullough’s biographies. His loss in 2022 left a huge hole in the reporting of American history. Gladly, a friend gave me Meacham’s Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. Lincoln’s biography was simply fantastic; Thomas Jefferson’s eclipsed it.
I thought I had a good handle on Jefferson’s life with a couple of biographies under my belt and what could be gleaned from a few American history books.
It was amazing to ride along with Jefferson’s first term and view how his conduct changed the nature of the presidency while affirming Jefferson’s faith in our democratic republic and Constitution. Even more intriguing is Meacham’s reporting of the conflict between the Monocrats (monarchists coupled with autocrats) that aligned with John Adams and the democratic republicans aligning with Jefferson. The political incursion was more than political dialog and opinions voiced in the press. Plans had been made to circumvent the Constitution to place a Monocrat in office instead of Jefferson.
The conflicts between the factions continued through Jefferson’s eight-year tenure. As the election of James Madison approached, also a democratic republican and father of the Constitution, two different groups hoped to splinter America: a nest of insurgents in the Northeast who hoped to secede from the Union and a group led by Aaron Burr hoping to carve out territory in the West for a new nation headed by Burr. Both failed.
As amazing as these revelations were, the book was filled with tantalizing reporting about Jefferson that will make any lover of the early nation gawk and grin. The book also portrays a man great in stature, much taller than my light dusting of history painted him.
This is not just recommended. Thomas Jefferson is now my favorite biography.
Pick it up. You will be delightfully stunned. -Tom L....more
"The Last Ronin" series is a gripping and thrilling addition to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, offering a darker and more mature take on "The Last Ronin" series is a gripping and thrilling addition to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, offering a darker and more mature take on the beloved characters. Set in a dystopian future where only one turtle survives, (no spoilers) this tale dives deep into themes of loss, revenge, and the burden of legacy. The storytelling is both thrilling and emotionally resonant, with dynamic artwork that brings the intense action sequences to life. Fans of the Ninja Turtles will appreciate this fresh and compelling interpretation, while newcomers will find a captivating entry point into their world. It's a must-read for anyone seeking lots of action and depth in their graphic novels. -George B., SPL Teen Volunteer...more
I’m a Fan places the reader in the very real world of social media influencers and their followers longing for the perfect lives portrayed online.
TheI’m a Fan places the reader in the very real world of social media influencers and their followers longing for the perfect lives portrayed online.
The nameless narrator cheats on her boyfriend with a man who cheats on his wife with her (and many others). The narrator becomes obsessed with her lover’s lover: an influencer leading a seemingly perfect, aesthetically pleasing, farm to table existence. The narrator becomes completely entrenched in the woman’s world, stalking her online and in person, finding any details she can to understand the life this woman lives—and why her lover seems to prefer this woman over her.
The narrator’s internal monologue is conniving, scathing, and erratic. She makes astute observations about the art world, social media culture, capitalism and consumerism, race, and class while unraveling in her own sanity and becoming painfully desperate for her lover’s attention.
Anyone interested in a critique on the dysfunction of our society who also enjoys the trope of the unreliable, crazed narrator will enjoy this book. Patel’s prose is sizzling and concise; I was surprised that this was her first novel, but I am sure it will not be her last. -Madeline W. ...more
I was so excited to get my hands on a hard copy of this book. For a long time I have followed Natasha in her kitchen on the Internet, making the most I was so excited to get my hands on a hard copy of this book. For a long time I have followed Natasha in her kitchen on the Internet, making the most mouth-watering meals. Her light-hearted approach to cooking and her sense of fun bring a whole new dimension to cooking. Yes, it can be an enjoyable adventure! I am really picky about my cookbooks and there simply must be a picture to accompany every recipe. Natasha does not disappoint. The bright food photography surrounding each recipe will surely motivate you to begin making your own delicious entrees. Natasha adds a personal note to this book by including stories of her family's immigration from the Ukraine to America. I enjoyed learning about her history and how this is deeply connected to her style of cooking, her family, and her home. For fans of Once Upon a Chef, don't miss this one! ~Tiffany J.
Scottsdale Public Library
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Books:
adult
(1974)
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