Weekly book reviews in most genres, including classics and not-to-be-missed. Books selected and reviews written by a librarian specializing in readers’ advisory.
A history-mystery! Jennifer N. Brown takes a genuine mystery from the tumultuous period of Tudor England and Henry VIII, and spins a tale of mystery, murder, and suspense. Great to take along on vacation.
Read MoreA well-mannered, friendly, discreet elderly gentleman visits the town of Golden, bringing kindness, friendship, and an appreciation for art and nature to this community. The mystery of who Theo is, and why he comes to Golden, is the center of this feel-good novel.
Read MoreMust-read this summer! This might be Strout’s best yet. Be sure to check out my previous reviews of her work—you might be tempted to read all her novels.
Read MoreLearn about Emanuel Nobel, a captain of industry and innovation who should be remembered as easily as Rockefeller— but isn’t. Why? Reads like a thriller, fascinating.
Read MoreA well researched and beautifully written novel to break your heart, uplift your soul, and be one of the best novels you will read in 2026.
Read MoreThe story of two motherless young women, seeking a way forward in life, in spite of their emotional wounds, in the Jim Crow South. Reconciliation with their loss is inevitable. A tragedy with a Shakespearean tone.
Read MoreThird and final novel of the Cal Hooper trilogy, The Keeper is a gripping mystery, set in beautiful rural Ireland, with a very appealing protagonist. French is so much more than a mystery writer, although she is expert at that.
Read MoreMaria Semple returns with another bright, flawed, endearing protagonist you will enjoy, Adora Hazzard. Be sure to check out my review of her previous novel, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? (https://www.margueritereads.com/home/whered-you-go-bernadette-by-maria-semple?rq=semple).
Read MoreParallel stories of a graduate student, and the ancient Greek epic he uncovers, each with relevance for today. Highly recommended.
Read MoreJenny Lawson is the queen of my tribe, and David Sedaris is the king. Here is her new self-help book, filled with ways to trick your mind into cooperating with your goals and wishes for a happier day. Laugh your way to better mental health.
Read MoreEntertaining historical fiction, following two tales of Paris, and two stories of resistance to authoritarian power.
Read MoreFirst person narrative of a middle-aged actress, with two different paths in life described in two parts. Exploration of memory, motive, and how little we know about ourselves, others, and our choices.
Read MoreSlow-paced historical fiction, telling the story of Lexington, a legendary thoroughbred horse of the Antebellum era, unveiling the untold, ugly story of slavery in the development of beautiful racing horses.
Read MoreRead this pair of novels in the order they were published. Stories describing the youthful joys of self-discovery, without concern for the lifelong consequences of choices made in innocence and naivety. An homage to love, and the love of writing.
Read MoreTwo guardians of their families’ fates, battling for survival and security in a flooding, hot Kolkata. A tightly crafted page turner, recommended.
Read MoreFinally, the one book that pulls together all the facts, describing the misogynistic behaviors of the Kennedy men, and presents the complexities of the women they used and harmed.
Read MoreThe life and work, rewards and pitfalls of a northern New England shepherd, told in closely observed, meditative prose.
Read MoreCameron Crowe writes about his unique experiences, traveling with rock bands at their greatest, interviewing them and writing for the Rolling Stone, all in his teen years. Mainly a story of family, his mother’s bedrock love and trust, his sisters’ sharing their love of pop music with him, his father supporting his dream of sharing the music that meant so much.
Read MoreA complex memoir, a woman’s experience in the male-dominated career of wildland firefighting, a personal, traumatized past, and the history and science of fire in the wild— fascinating read.
Read MoreA wonderfully diverse group of stories to entertain, touch your heart, and make you think. The best of 2025, the O. Henry prize winners.
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