January Staff Recommendations

The Little Bookshop on the Seine by Rebecca Raisin

I really enjoyed this book because I felt like I could relate with the main character. Sarah Smith, an introverted bookshop owner, gets an opportunity to shake up her quiet life by swapping bookshops with her friend in Paris for 6 months. While she is terrified of traveling halfway across the world alone, she feels even more terrified of not taking the chance of a lifetime to try something completely new. Her Paris journey begins with a rocky start, but the Parisian way of life pulls her in and shows her how to stand on her own two feet. Facing challenge after challenge, Sarah discovers her inner strength and builds up an unshakable confidence that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. This sweet story was a cozy and inspiring read that made my quiet introvert heart happy! It's available at the library in print and in audio through Libby. ~Alesia

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

The manor is the ultimate retreat. No expense has been spared to provide the ultimate experience. But the locals are not happy about the retreat, the owner or her brothers. There are rumors about "the Birds" who deal out justice to those who take advantage of nature & the townspeople. Great reveals. Lucy Foley also wrote the excellent novel The Guest List. This book is available at the library and through Libby. ~ Bonnie

Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West by John J. Sullivan

If you are interested in world politics or Russia's war with Ukraine, this is a great book for you. The author spent twenty years as the ambassador to Russia and shares his experiences. It's a fascinating read. This new non-fiction title is available at the library.

~ Leslie W.

Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens

This is the story of a divorced mother of two children who writes a social column. When her readership numbers decrease, and a co-worker decides to challenge her for her column, she suggests a creative approach to keep her job.

She pitches to her editor that she'll allow her children to choose her dates for a week and write about her experiences. Will she take the meetings seriously since she has no desire to have a long-term relationship with anyone? Will the least likely person she despises cause her to think twice about her social experiment? This book is available at the library and through Libby. ~ Erin

The Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

I put this one squarely in the sub genre of emotional suspense. An intense, very well-written examination of motherhood. Clove is being consumed with the desperation to keep her picture perfect family life exactly that. She's never told her husband the truth of who she is and when she receives a letter from the mother her husband thinks is dead, Clove starts to come undone. The truth and trauma of her childhood will not stay hidden. This book is available at the library and through Libby. ~ Leslie M.