by Emily & the Mandel Public Library staff

Summer is coming to an end, but that doesn't mean reading has to! I'm am very excited to share with you the books that our library staff has been loving lately, from swoon-worthy romances to fast-paced thrillers. We hope you find something to enjoy!

Kathy's Pick: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein

An eye-opening read that sheds light on the various ways that racism shaped the residential landscape of our country. It’s a powerful, upsetting, and important history.

Antoinette's Pick: If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy

A darling re-telling of Disney's Cinderella from Disney Publishing Worldwide. It's about a plus-sized Cindy who navigates the journey of grief, her future profession as a fashion designer (specializing in shoes, of course), her love life, and how to rekindle her passions. This book has a wide assortment of diverse characters, and I can't wait to see where the next books go!

Sarah's Pick: Beach Read by Emily Henry

When a romance author and a literary fiction author decide to swap genres for a summer to help them work on their new books, sparks fly. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance.

Leah's Pick: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower book 2) by Stephen King

I'm in the middle of reading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, and I really got hooked on this one! For Stephen King fans who normally go for his spooky tales, The Dark Tower saga is a little different. The series follows Roland, the Last Gunslinger, on his quest to find the Dark Tower, the nexus of time. More fantasy than horror, King still pulls you in with his gritty, realistic writing and indelible characters. Now it's on to book three, The Wastelands!

Kimi's Pick: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

I am currently reading the Flavia de Luce series with my niece and mother-in-law. We may be separated by three states and three generations, but all of us are connected by our love of this 11-year old chemist. Flavia is spunky, tenacious, and rides circles around the adults on her trusty bicycle named Gladys. If you like murder mysteries and coming-of-age novels, this is the perfect series for you. We have all of the books in our collection, but start with the first!

Sandra's Pick: The Maidens by Aex Michaelides

The newest book by the author of The Silent Patient. This book has Greek mythology, a psychotherapist, and a psychologist at the center of a murder mystery on the campus of Cambridge. It even has an appearance of two of the characters from The Silent Patient. It is a well-paced and suspenseful thriller!

Emily's Pick: This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Red and Blue work for agencies on opposing sides of a great war to control the outcome of time. They begin leaving letters to one another to gloat as they sabotage each other's plans. But the letters soon turn from gloating to something more. This was such a fun read, especially after devouring the show Loki on Disney+. If you love time travel tales, this short but jam-packed journey is for you.

Theresa's Pick: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

This sci-fi thriller centers on the only survivor of a spaceship sent to save humanity. Although technical at times (Weir was a software engineer and scientist no less!), the story is also humorous and entertaining. If you were a fan of The Martian, you will definitely enjoy Weir's latest!

Faith's Pick: Isn't It Bromantic? by Lyssa Kay Adams

This is the latest and best installment of an already fantastic series, the Bromance Book Club series, which follows the members of an all-male book club that reads romance novels. The beloved Russian hockey player finally has his time to shine as the bros help him woo back his wife.

Jennifer's Pick: Alice's Farm by Maryrose Wood

My son Simon and I listened to this novel. He absolutely loved it. It's like Charlotte's Web but so much better! It's a middle-grade novel that features talking animals who work with their natural predators to help a new family save their farm.