Staff Choices

Estee Lauder has been an iconic name synonymous with cosmetics and beauty products for almost a century. In her own signature style, author Renee Rosen creates a fascinating and entertaining historical fiction based on the creation of this beauty brand. The fictionalized story is told through the perspective of Gloria Downing, a woman who befriends Ms.Lauder as they both scrape by at a New York hair salon. Having lived aristocratic lives that had fallen on hard times, the two women find a connection that is the force behind the future success.

Renee Rosen is a master of taking readers into the world of women breaking through barriers to attain the fame and fortune they work tirelessly to achieve. I loved the rich story of this Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, if you love historical fiction with strong female characters, you will love it too.

Part typical narration, part epistolary fiction, part news broadsheet, and with liberal quotations of Tennyson and other classics, In Memoriam by Alice Winn combines a forbidden romance with World War I historical fiction. The story chronicles the lives of Sidney Ellwood, a young Jewish man, and Henry Gaunt, his half-German friend, beginning with their student lives at an elite British boarding school. Ellwood and Gaunt come of age during the early stages of the Great War. At a time when patriotism and war are glamorized, Ellwood and Gaunt struggle not only with their own disillusionment of the war and the world, but also with their feelings for each other.

Winn, in her riveting debut, shies away from neither the horrors of war, or the diversity of those affected, ranging from gender, sexuality, nationality, class, and more. While there are a plethora of authors and creative works regarding this complex era, Win chooses to explore this complexity through the eyes of youths and adolescents, from the starry-eyed boys at home to the veterans in the trenches to the soldiers in POW camps. The vivid writing style reflects Winn's background in film and screenplays, while her literary references reveal her academic background in English Literature at Oxford University.

Readers who enjoy this novel may also enjoy other works with similar themes, such as The World and All That It Holds by Aleksandar Hemon, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque, Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. A more fantastical book set during World War I is The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, while a more contemporary novel with a similar tone is Ghost Town by Kevin Chen. A comedic re-imagining of (WWII) POW camps is depicted in Hogan's Heroes. 

Classic works referenced in this novel include: works by Herodotus and Euripides; Adam Bede by George Eliot; and various works by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, most prominently featuring In Memoriam, A.H.H and "The Charge of the Light Brigade."

Alex Quinlan not only survived the horrific murder of her parents and brother but is accused of the crime and dubbed “Empty Eyes” by the insatiable media. When the state’s case falls apart, Alex with the help of her attorney sues the state for defamation and while she wins the case, the media still has doubts of her innocence.

Ten years later and Alex is now Alex Armstrong and working as an investigator for her attorney’s law firm. When she is sent to investigate the disappearance of a college student, Alex discovers unexpected connections to the murder of her family and soon realizes that those she is closest to may not be who they seem.

This is one of those books that you think is finished with the revelation of the killer, but it is not. A twist filled plot and another in the last pages of the book, make this a book that will be discussed long after “The End” whether you liked it or not. Alex is a character that you immediately feel sympathy for with her treatment after the murder of her family, but as the story continues, she grows into a strong and intelligent protagonist who refuses to forget the past but seeks answers from it. This thriller has intriguing characters that are fully fleshed and believable, multiple mysteries and shocking twists that never end.

If you love celebrity gossip and reality TV, The Daydreams by Laura Hankin is a solid choice. And honestly, even if you don’t (like me) this is a page turner that will have you gasping with its many revelations.  

The Daydreams is told from the point of view of Katherine (formerly Kat), a DC lawyer who starred in a teen musical drama in the early 2000’s. After a disastrous season 2 live finale, the show was cancelled, and the stars scattered. Some came away unscathed, while others were lambasted by the media and public for years to come.  

After 14 years, a live reunion is proposed and the once close co-stars return. Each with varying motivations and secrets they’ve kept hidden. 

At its heart, The Daydreams is about friendship, love, loss and the pitfalls of fame at a young age. It also begs the question, no matter how well you think you know someone, do you really know everything that’s going on in their lives? At least for the cast of The Daydreams, the answer is a resounding ‘no.’ 

I have to admit that I’ve been in somewhat of a reading slump the past few weeks. Which is why I am so pleased to have read Ascension by Nicholas Binge. This one made it onto my most anticipated reads list for 2023 and it did not disappoint. I cruised through this one in under 3 days and all I want to do is talk about it with someone. The chapters aren’t particularly short, but it’s a page turner that sucks you in from the very beginning. And honestly at 352 pages it is short for a Sci-Fi. I think this would be a great book discussion pick for Sci-Fi/Horror fans. 

An epistolary novel, the story is told by renowned Physicist Harold Tunmore in found letters to his niece Harriet. In 1991 Harry is recruited as part of an expedition to scale a mountain that’s mysteriously appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. What follows will test the team’s physical and mental strength, while making them question science, faith and themselves.  

If I had to compare this to anything, I’d have to say it felt like Arrival and Annihilation had a baby with a sprinkle of physics from Interstellar.  

This is Binge’s first novel released in the US, and I’ll be keeping my eye out for his next one. 

"Professor Schreiber told him history happened in cycles. One thing happens, something reacts to it, it all disappears from consciousness only to return later" (p. 243).

If any quote could most concisely summarize the intricacies of Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen, it would be this one. It captures no only the struggles of the characters, but also the cyclical writing style Nguyen incorporates so skillfully.

The novel follows a family of three--Hương, Tuấn, and Bình (who also goes by Ben)--as they flee the chaos and terror of the Vietnam War and resettle in New Orleans. Immigrant and refugee experiences are not a monolith; this is clearly depicted through each character's narrative: Hương, a single mother of two who hopes to one day reunite with her husband left behind in Vietnam; Tuấn, who seeks balance between his Vietnamese heritage and American home; and Bình, who desires community but embraces solitude. Through graceful prose, Nguyen navigates the complex aftermath of the Vietnam War and the diversity of New Orleans in a tale spanning roughly three decades, from 1978 to 2005. Nguyen's debut novel, Things We Lost to the Water is a masterpiece in its own right, but especially poignant during Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.

Audiobook fans may enjoy the audiobook version of Things We Lost to the Water, which fluidly incorporates both the Vietnamese and French dialogue present in the novel. Readers interested in reading more about the Vietnam War and Vietnamese immigrants in the United States may like The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui, Vietnamerica, by G.B. Tran, and Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran. Those interested in a firsthand account of a twentieth century Communist government in Asia may find In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park enlightening, while readers seeking information about the complexity of Asian America may enjoy Which Side Are You On by Ryan Lee Wong, Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong, and The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee. For Vietnamese American authors, consider Ocean Vuong and Nghi Vo.

Sally Hepworth does it again! The Soulmate is a fast-paced, psychological mystery surrounding couple Pippa and Gabe Gerrard.  They're living an idyllic life in a coastal town, with a beautiful home built on a cliff, overlooking the sea below. Over the last several months Gabe has gained a sort of fame in town for talking several people off the literal ledge. When a woman jumps, Gabe and Pippa face questions from the authorities and each other-especially after it emerges that Gabe knew the woman.  Soon, we see flashbacks that crack the perfect facade of Pippa and Gabe's marriage and many questions emerge and as the danger grows, the idea of soulmate is put to the ultimate test.

The Soulmate features the exploration of marriage, but it's also a keen insight into mental illness and how it's affects are ongoing across generations and family branches.  Sally Hepworth's novels usually have great twists and turns that keep me guessing. This story was no different with clever twists that took me by surprise. I thought the characters were well developed and the story flowed very well. I really liked the alternating points of view. Hepworth fans will really enjoy her latest novel!

I am a big fan of the Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers characters so much, I was sure a story about Letty could hold up. Letty did not disappoint , she is one tough young lady.  Had some of the same wise cracking dialog and unlikely relationships. Will definitely read the next one!

The Seed Keeper follows Rosalie, a Dakhota woman, as she discovers and recovers her ancestry. Sent into foster care at the age of twelve, she is separated from her family and culture. She marries a white man when she is young, both become a life raft for each other as they build a life on his family's farm. When Rosalie finds plant seeds that her husband's mother preserved and kept, she gradually learns how to grow her own garden. Living on a farm isn't easy and hardships come at them in many ways including paying the bills, environmental pollution and the pressures of newer corporate ways of farming.  

Seed keeping is a thread throughout the book that reintroduces Rosalie to tradition and eventually to family. Diane Wilson, the author, has Native American descent and provides a more authentic voice to the story, of history in Minnesota and what came after the painful, troubling Dakhota War of 1862 with its long lasting repercussions. This novel blends modern day and historical storytelling with compelling scenarios, a connection of the past to our present.

If you enjoyed reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, you may enjoy reading a fiction story that shows how important learning about history and nature is for all of us.

 The full title of this epic tale is  Empty Theater: Or, the Lives of King Ludwig of Bavaria and Empress Sisi of Austria (Queen of Hungary), Cousins, in Their Pursuit of Connection and Beauty Despite the Expectations Placed on Them Because of the Exceptional Good Fortune of Their Status as Beloved National Figures. With Speculation into the Mysterious Nature of Their Deaths. Jac Jemc leaves no stone unturned in this satirical adaptation of history. Jemc retells the madcap misadventures of the infamous cousins King Ludwig II and Empress Sisi of Bavaria with well researched history and razor sharp satire.
Ludwig II is eccentric and obsessive as he keeps busy as a passionate supporter of art, theater and architecture. He oversees the building of many ornate castles that he considers  pleasure palaces. These distractions, as well as his remarkable connection to Richard Wagner leave his stately duties, Bavaria ignored and eventually vulnerable to a changing Europe. Empress Sisi also self indulges on extravagances and travel as she leaves her parenting duties to her mother in law.

The publisher calls it a tragicomic tour de force, and Kirkus Reviews call this novel " a triumph" I cannot disagree with either of these, I thoroughly enjoyed this clever romp through this historical era.