Amanda

This takes a different angle of World War II, focusing on the people who hid Jewish children in Belgium and how their networks operated. It's well-written and hopeful. -Amanda

While not for the average Beatles fan, it's for sure fun for the hardcore fan. I find transcripts are generally a little more difficult to read, and since these are from 1980-81, from interviews used to create another book a few decades ago, it does seem a little disjointed at times. However, if you're interested in the business aspects of the Beatles, more theories about why the band broke up, and loads of random little trivia, you'll get something out of this. -Amanda

This was a joyful tribute to the reader and reader life, with funny academic life anecdotes from the author and an extensive reading list in the back of all the works mentioned. It's light reading, easy to pick up and put down, and a warm and fuzzy read on reading. -Amanda

I found much relatable about this, even if the characters are a little younger than me. It's a bittersweet and still funny exploration of being siblings and dealing with your weird parents, all while navigating your 20s and figuring out what you want from life. It's quirky with dry humor throughout. -Amanda

I love these characters, I love the setup, I love how Rowell makes things just messy enough to be real and relatable. Could not recommend it enough! -Amanda

This was really hopeful and inspiring to read - seeing how high conflict plays out in everyday life, and how that leads to the larger conflicts that cause even greater pain. Gave me many things to ponder. -Amanda

Another superb and fantastic dry-wit addition to Bythell's bookshop diaries. For anyone who has worked in a bookstore or library (or really most retail jobs) you'll get a kick out of his small-town observations of the funny and annoying customers, and the glimpses of delight in the every day. -Amanda

SUPERB book! Highly recommended for professionals who even have shades of burnout. The writer has loads of strategies and good information to help you avoid full-on burnout, learn from it, and make your life far more enjoyable. -Amanda

What an enjoyable read! I had NO IDEA about the details of how the 19th amendment came to be ratified and how down-to-the-wire it was. This is fast-paced and intriguing, and introduces the reader to loads of amazing historical figures who deserve to be remembered. -Amanda

This book was like an extended version of America Ferrera’s monologue in Barbie with added wit and humor. I had so much fun reading this and loved the empowerment! -Amanda

Heartwarming and inspirational! This is a great book for teens and college students getting ready for a next stage in life, or really anyone in need of encouragement and ideas for their next adventure. -Amanda

This was an absolute joy to read and I HIGHLY encourage any fan of the Beatles to add this to your TBR and follow through. It's a wonderful tribute that will leave you smiling. -Amanda

What a fun book! I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone in their 20s-40s navigating the modern dating scene in any form. The author gives some really great advice that touches on the modern issues of social media and COVID and just how things are these days. I agreed with so much she wrote, and it took me a lot longer to gain that knowledge. It's like getting practical, useful advice from your cool older sister/cousin/aunt who wants the best for you. -Amanda

As a Molly myself (with a little Felicity for good measure), this book brought me a lot of joy! I have enjoyed the podcast from the authors, and this book expands on their and our collective love of these dolls. It's a sweet and fuzzy read! -Amanda

A really good (and relatively short) read on developing better strategies for engaging kids, both the ones you're raising at home and those you encounter in the community. I got a lot of good pointers from this, and loads of conversation starters for all ages, too! -Amanda

This is the kind of book that will be invaluable and useful to future readers interested in the evolution of the internet as we know it. I lived through all of this, and was not fully aware of the players or the context, or even some of the apps that thrust people into the spotlight. It's a fun read now for sure, but I think it will fill a spot in the discourse we need as we develop and innovate more. -Amanda

A fun read. It gives The Crown vibes VERY well with an American flavor I think many of us can appreciate, mixed with teen drama. -Amanda

What a fun social history! My ideas of debutantes is very 1950s America, and I loved getting the deep dive into how the ritual developed in England, then came to the US, and then morphed into something still different today. There's loads of historical gossip and trivia and it's enjoyable to experience the debutante life through the page. -Amanda

Toobin does an excellent job of giving an easy-to-follow true crime narrative, giving plenty of background information that lead to the event and some of the aftermath. An engaging read, and I could easily see Ryan Murphy wanting to turn it into a mini-series. -Amanda

This is brisk read that is especially helpful for students and young professionals as they learn how to interact with their colleagues in a positive way. I think most readers will get a few good takeaways from this! -Amanda

This book was absolutely stunning. The writing, the phrasing alone is brilliant, and though the story can be difficult to read and process, I became as immersed into it as I could. Just beautiful. The author does a great job of getting us into the main character's headspace so you can better identify with her feelings and desires and reactions. -Amanda

If you've ever wondered about the true story behind Go Ask Alice... this is the book for you. You'll learn all about the author behind the famous book and similar titles, and get a better grasp of the people she based them on. I really appreciated the thorough biography of the real Jay of Jay's Journal, and that was actually the highlight for me. If you read any of those "anonymous" books as a teen, you'll want to read this as well. -Amanda

I had to pause reading this book a lot to tell anyone who happened to be nearby the interesting piece of trivia I just learned. There is a rich history of home economics, and the remarkable women involved with every aspect of its development, and every page gives you something new and fascinating. Great read! -Amanda

Even though the author and I have lived very differently, I still found a lot of common ground with her, starting with our shared Midwest roots. You may recognize similarities in her story, too. -Amanda

With this case in the headlines, this gives a thorough rundown of how the crimes happened and under what circumstances. It's a tough read, but is good background for those interested in true crime. -Amanda

This was a really fun read - giving a swift and entertaining rundown of the history of American fitness and how the culture around fitness, and how we react to it, has evolved over the decades. -Amanda

I couldn't put this down! See how a group of wealthy Georgia ladies live, and get involved in a deadly feud at the same time. It's funny and entertaining, and full of interesting characters you love to hate. -Amanda

I discovered Babs on social media - she's full of energy and love and loads of helpful tips and tricks for running and household and entertaining. This collection has so many ideas for creating traditions for family and friends and making whatever holiday you want to celebrate a fun and memorable one. And it'll give you the warm and fuzzies while you read it! -Amanda

I couldn't put this book down! The journey the author and her new spouse take was fascinating, and the last section of the memoir that focuses on a pilgrimage was especially poignant. You learn how many cultures view and live marriage, and it offers you the space to reflect on your feelings as well. A lovely story. -Amanda

This is an interesting book for any person who had an obsession with the Titanic in the 4th grade. This gives a broader range of the Titanic tragedy and the various efforts to find it in the decades since. You'll meet some new Titanic-adjacent characters! -Amanda

I couldn't stop giggling through most of this book! She has amazing descriptions of Pakistani food, and you're going to adore her family with all their foibles. A marvelous immigrant story with a food journey as well. -Amanda

This is like reading a WWII spy thriller, but knowing that this really happened add to the feeling of being enveloped in the story. Recommended for readers of Deborah Lipstadt's Denial and Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men. -Amanda

Even if you aren't a One Direction fan, you're probably a fan of something else, musical group or TV show or movie franchise, and you will recognize a lot of yourself and fellow fans in this book about the effect fandom has on the internet. A fun read! -Amanda

A good bit of this book focuses on the dysfunctional family dynasty that produced Edie Sedgwick, and then hyper-focuses on Edie's time with Andy Warhol. Pretty fascinating for those interested in the New York art world of the 20th century. -Amanda

Raizl is a fascinating character with very complex feelings, and this is a different angle to view a religious community. It reminded me some of Deborah Feldman's memoir Unorthodox. -Amanda

I was riveted reading this book start to finish. Her details about prison life resonated with me, and her post-prison life is inspirational. -Amanda