2025 was a great year for reading! Whether you found your new favorite romantasy or did a deep dive into a niche subject, we love to hear what people read this year. We figure you all want to know as well, so here are our favorite books, movies, albums, and more of 2025! These include items that came out this year as long as older backlist titles we just discovered this year.
Every Monday Mabel
PICTURE BOOK: Every Monday Mabel takes her breakfast outside and waits for her favorite part of the week: the garbage truck.
Loved by Children's Librarians Laura and Olly!
The Library of Unruly Treasures
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION: In this funny, winning, and unexpected adventure from the New York Times bestselling, National Book Award-winning author of the Penderwicks series, a girl finds herself an unlikely hero when she stumbles upon a big secret about little creatures. A tender story whose tone evokes the warmth of a much-needed hug.--Publishers Weekly, starred review Gwen MacKinnon's parents are dreadful. Truly, deeply, almost impressively dreadful. So Gwen's not upset at all when she's foisted onto her never-before-seen Uncle Matthew for two weeks. Especially when it turns out he has a very opinionated dog named Pumpkin. Things take a turn for the weird when Gwen makes a discovery in the local library. A discovery that involves tiny creatures with wings. And no, they're not birds. They're called Lahdukan. But why can only Gwen and the youngest children, gathered for storytime, see them? The Lahdukan insist that Gwen is destined to help them find a new home. But how can a girl as unwanted, uncourageous, and generally unheroic as Gwen possibly come to the rescue? Pumpkin has a few ideas...
Coordinator of Children's Services Beth says, "One of my favorite authors is back with a sweet adventure story!"
Sisters in the Wind: A Good Morning America Book Club Pick
TEEN MYSTERY: Ever since Lucy Smith's father died five years ago, 'home' has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a 'ward of the state.' But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe. Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his 'friend-not-friend, ' a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her--She is Ojibwe; she has--had--a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who'd look after her and a home where she would be loved. But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she's hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of? When the past comes for revenge, it's fight or flight!
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "Boulley can do no wrong! Her characters are so well done, pick this one up after you've read Firekeeper's Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed."
Return to Sender
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION: Ten-year-old Oliver discovers that the wish-granting mailbox in his new apartment may make his dreams come true, but they come with a cost.
Children's Librarian Laura says, "A be-careful-what-you-wish-for tale that my whole family enjoyed on audiobook on a road trip."
The Good Vampire's Guide to Blood & Boyfriends
TEEN VAMPIRE FICTION: Nineteen-year-old Brennan, a college freshman who becomes a vampire after a suicide attempt, navigates his new life in an underground vampire society, keeps his secret from Cole, the cute campus librarian, and deals with rising dangers while balancing his humanity and growing feelings for Cole.
Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This is a fun and funny urban fantasy novel. I appreciated how genre savvy it is—when the titular good vampire's boyfriend insists that he read and react to Twilight, I cackled! There's also some very nice character development and just a touch of ethical considerations for vampirism that I really enjoyed reading."
Leave It on the Track
TEEN FICTION: A moving debut about healing, self-acceptance, and queer first love, set on a roller derby team. Morgan Moose Shaker barely survived the fire that killed her fathers in their beloved roller rink in small-town Utah. Now she has to move to Portland, Oregon to live with her much older half sister, Eden. Eden's doing her best, but she's hardly ready to be a parent to a sixteen-year-old she hasn't seen in years. Plus, barely-out-of-the-closet Moose worries that she's not ready for super-affirming, rainbow-flags-everywhere Portland. Her anxiety and frustration are at peak levels. Fortunately, Moose finds an outlet for her emotions and a surprising group of friends in roller derby. Her teammates help her grieve her dads and confront her queer imposter syndrome. And even though it's against league rules, she might be falling for a teammate. Heartfelt, funny, and romantic, this debut will make you want to lace up your skates, pull on your pads, and hit the track.
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "My fellow Teen Services Librarian noted that this book sounded right up my alley and she was right! A sweet exploration of trauma and love . . . and hard-hitting roller derby!"
Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown
TEEN NONFICTION: How did Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple, convince more than 900 of his followers to commit revolutionary suicide by drinking cyanide-laced punch? From a master of narrative nonfiction comes a chilling chronicle of one of the most notorious cults in American history. Using riveting first-person accounts, award-winning author Candace Fleming reveals the makings of a monster: from Jones's humble origins as a child of the Depression... to his founding of a group whose idealistic promises of equality and justice attracted thousands of followers... to his relocation of Temple headquarters from California to an unsettled territory in Guyana, South America, which he dubbed Jonestown... to his transformation of Peoples Temple into a nefarious experiment in mind-control.
Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This engaging and approachable work of nonfiction reads like a thriller. I find cults to be very interesting so I've read other books about Jonestown, but I think this one works well both as an introduction to the topic as well as adding new interviews with Jonestown survivors."
Blood in the Water
TWEEN MYSTERY: Brooklyn girl Kaylani McKinnon feels like a fish out of water. She's spending the summer with family friends in their huge house on Martha's Vineyard, and the vibe is definitely snooty. Still, there are beautiful beaches, lots of ice cream, and a town full of fascinating Black history. Plus a few kids her age who seem friendly. Until the shocking death of a teenage boy. Was it a drowning? A shark attack? Or the unthinkable -- murder? Kaylani is determined to solve the mystery. But her investigation uncovers shattering secrets that could change her own life as she knows it... if she survives.
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This was an engaging mystery with tons of details about the Black history of Martha's Vineyard and shark biology as well as a satisfying fish out of water story - pun intended - where Kaylani gets to show her determination in the face of racism and classism."
And, Too, the Fox
PICTURE BOOK/POETRY: Brief text and lush illustrations are paired in this joyous poem about a fox by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limon.
Loved by Coordinator of Children's Services Beth!
Gather Grateful
PICTURE BOOK: As colors in nature start to change, animals begin gathering items--squirrels their acorns, crows their treasures, raccoons the bits and pieces needed to fortify their homes. Animals of all species prepare to gather with each other too, for warmth, for affection, for sharing food or stories.
Coordinator of Children's Services Beth says, "Just beautiful and a lovely fall story!"
Be sure to check out our StoryWalk at the Ballardvale Playground to read along with this book!
Too bright to see
MIDDLE GRADE FICTION: In the summer before middle school, eleven-year-old Bug must contend with best friend Moira suddenly caring about clothes, makeup, and boys; a ghost haunting; and the truth about Bug's gender identity.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Lisa says, "I love Bug, and this ghost story about love, loss, & figuring out who you are!"
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1: Volume 1
TEEN HORROR MANGA: It has Hikaru's face. It has Hikaru's voice. It even has Hikaru's memories. But whatever came down from the mountains six months ago isn't Yoshiki's best friend. Whatever it is, it's dangerous. Carrying on at school and hanging out as if nothing has changed--as if Hikaru isn't gone--would be crazy...but when it looks so very like Hikaru...and acts so very like Hikaru...--
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This creepy and disturbing manga series will get you hooked with its unsettling illustrations and meditations on being different in a small town."
This Is My Wonderful Face
PICTURE BOOK: Facial features come in all sizes, shapes, abilities, and forms. Celebrate the five senses, countless facial expressions, and the vast diversity of our features in this book!
Loved by Coordinator of Children's Services Beth!
Masks: A Graphic Novel
TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL: Poe, Rice, and Shelley are three monster kids who hide from the outside world. But when they learn about Halloween, they realize it's the one night of the year when they can be their true selves-scales and all. This quirky, heartwarming (or perhaps heart-worm-ing?) graphic novel is all about struggling to fit in, exploring self-acceptance, and highlighting the love of found family.
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This has such great art and a sweet, accepting message. I also really appreciated that it showed an adult admitting that they made a mistake and changing their ways which is so important for young people to see!"
Don't Trust Fish
PICTURE BOOK: A supposed nature guide humorously warns readers why they should never trust fish, exploring their mysterious and villainous nature.
Loved by Children's Librarian Olly!
Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi
MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY: All of Nic's dreams have come true. After years of living in hiding as a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world, she now has everything she'd ever wanted: certified hero status, a big family and a real home in the hidden city of Uhuru, and a chance to develop her Gift at a school for young Manifestors like her. So life is perfect, right? Not quite. Her-favorite-author-turned-vengeful-outcast wants to destroy her. Then there's the terrifying secret prophecy that still threatens Nic's future, and the dangerous new power she seems to have--one she cannot control. And that's all before she encounters a cult of mysterious Manifestors who threaten to reveal the truth about her power and prophecy unless Nic delivers to them a legendary artifact, the Book of Anansi. There's just one small complication: no one knows if it still exists, or where it could be hidden.
Teen Services Librarian Renata says: "I loved the first Nic Blake book so I've been eagerly awaiting The Book of Anansi and it did not disappoint! This is a great series for fans of modern magical school stories."
When You Love a Book
PICTURE BOOK: An ode to childhood classics that celebrates the companionship books offer throughout all stages of life.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Lisa says, "A delightful homage to classic picture books and the power of reading!"
The Makers Club: A Graphic Novel
MIDDLE GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL: Join the Makers Club, where art and science come together! This graphic novel contains two stories in one. In the first story, readers meet Nadia and Priya, who are paired up for a science fair project. With Nadia's art and Priya's coding skills, they make a video game that's sure to impress, but soon learn there's more to teamwork than just having the individual skills. In the second story, old friends Aqilah and Yong Qiang reconnect at their new school. As they both try to pursue their passions in fashion design and engineering, they'll soon find that trying to do everything and please everyone catches up to you eventually.
Loved by Coordinator of Children's Services Beth!
The Unseen
ADULT HORROR: Isla Hansen, a mother reeling from a devastating loss, is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hansens' secluded Colorado property. Although strange and unexplainable, the child's presence breathes new life into Isla. But as the child settles in, Isla's husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary--anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself. The tension within the Hansen household grows, and with it, the sense that there is something very wrong with the new kid in the house.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Tricia says, "The storyline hooked me from the very first page. A perfect mix of horror and drama."
Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert
ADULT FICTION: In an age of miracles where our greatest heroes from history have magically, unexplainably returned to shake us out of our confusion and hate, Harriet Tubman is back, and she has a lot to say. [She] and four of the enslaved persons she led to freedom want to tell their story in a unique way: Harriet wants to create a hip-hop album and live show about her life, and she needs a songwriter to help her. She calls upon Darnell Williams, a once successful hip-hop producer who was topping the charts before being outed on a BET talk show. Darnell has no idea what to expect when he steps into the studio with Harriet, only that they have a short period of time to write a legendary album she can take on the road. Over the course of their time together, they not only create music that will take the country by storm, but confront the horrors of both their pasts and learn to find a way to a better future.
Coordinator of Children's Services Beth and Cataloging and Reference Librarian Tricia both loved this book. Beth says, " So fun and serious, a novel with lessons about history and life," and Tricia agrees, "This wholly original work from the endlessly versatile Bob the Drag Queen (is there anything he can’t do well?) is smart, funny, and unforgettable."
The Possession of Alba Díaz
ADULT THRILLER: When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn't trust... from bestselling author Isabel Cänas. In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiance, Carlos, to his family's isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong. Elias, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family's legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin's betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can't help but notice her every time she enters a room or the growing tension between them... and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon's thirst for blood grows stronger. In the fight for her life, Alba and Elias become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and one another... not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Tricia says, "I have devoured every single one of Cañas’s books. Gothic horror featuring gorgeous and gritty Mexican landscapes."
The World's Fair Quilt: An ELM Creek Quilts Novel
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ADULT FICTION: Sylvia Bergstrom Compson's beloved Elm Creek Quilts and quilt camp face financial difficulties. She needs new resources, both financial and emotional. But when she is asked to display a special 1933 World's Fair quilt, it brings back both uncomfortable memories and an unexpected discovery. It might just restore some of her faith in quilting and be a way forward for the quilts community.
Assistant Head of Circulation Gerry says, "I enjoyed this book because I enjoy quilting and sewing. This is the latest in the Elm Creek Quilters series. I have enjoyed the series as it follows a group of women spanning generations and how they came together to form Elm Creek Quilts. The women experience many different events in their lives both joyful and upsetting and how they support each other through crisis and triumph."
Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories
ADULT NONFICTION: These are the origin tales of all of the Reacher novels written solely by Lee Child, chock full of colorful anecdotes and intriguing inspirations. One by one, they expand upon each novel and place it in the context not only of the author's life, but of the world outside the books.
Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "I'm a fan of (most of) the Jack Reacher stories. In this book, the author of those stories talks about where he was, geographically and psychologically, when he wrote each of them. I highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Lee Child, which is available via Hoopla."
Flashlight
ADULT FICTION: One night, Louisa and her father take a walk on the beach. He's carrying a flashlight. He cannot swim. Later Louisa is found washed up by the tide, barely alive. Her father is gone. She is ten years old. In chapters that shift from one member to the next, turning back again and again to that night by the sea, Susan Choi's Flashlight chases the shockwaves of one family's catastrophe. Louisa is an only child of parents who have severed themselves from the past. Her father, Serk, an ethnic Korean born and raised in Japan, lost touch with his family when they bought into the promises of postwar Pyongyang and relocated to the DPRK. Her American mother, Anne, is estranged from her family after a reckless adventure in her youth. And then there is Tobias, Anne's illegitimate son, whose reappearance in their lives will have astonishing consequences. What really happened to Louisa's father? Why did he take Louisa and her mother to Japan just before he disappeared? And how can we love, or make sense of our lives, when there's so much we can't see?
Library Director Esme says, "I absolutely loved this book. It starts with a 10 year old girl taking a walk on the beach with her father one night whole they are on vacation. She falls and hits her head, and when she wakes up, he is gone and presumed dead. We follow her story as she grows into and adult, and finally find out what really happened to her dad. It circles the globe, from Los Angeles to Japan to Korea and beyond. An incredible story, far-reaching both globally and emotionally, not to mention, beautifully written."
Clair obscur: expedition 33
VIDEO GAME: Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she'll wake and paint "33." And tomorrow we depart on our final mission - Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.
Coordinator of Library Technology Theo says, "Clair Obscur blew me away with its writing, voice acting, music, and style. This French, dark fantasy role playing game has plot twists, great characters, and a world that is truly unique."
Children's Librarian Olly says, "I love everything about this game: the complicated characters, the stunning music (!), even the unforgiving combat mechanics - if you’re looking for a challenging game with a haunting narrative and beautiful worldbuilding, this is the one."
Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free
ADULT NONFICTION: The riveting hidden history of Claire McCardell, the most influential fashion designer you've never heard of. Claire McCardell forever changed fashion--and most importantly, the lives of women. She shattered cultural norms around women's clothes, and today much of what we wear traces back to her ingenious, rebellious mind. McCardell invented ballet flats and mix-and-match separates, and she introduced wrap dresses, hoodies, leggings, denim, and more into womenswear. She tossed out corsets in favor of a comfortably elegant look and insisted on pockets, even as male designers didn't see a need for them. McCardell, by contrast, wanted to set women free. Claire McCardell became, as the young journalist Betty Friedan called her in 1955, The Gal Who Defied Dior. Filled with personal drama and industry secrets, this story reveals how Claire McCardell built an empire at a time when women rarely made the upper echelons of business. At its core, hers is a story about our right to choose how we dress--and our right to choose how we live.
Loved by Admin Coordinator Maura!
The Shorebirds of North America: A Natural History and Photographic Celebration
ADULT NONFICTION: A lavishly illustrated, large-format reference book by two preeminent experts on North American shorebirds More than half a century has passed since the publication of The Shorebirds of North America, Peter Matthiessen's masterful natural history of what is arguably the world's most amazing and specialized bird group. In the intervening decades, our knowledge about these birds has grown significantly, as have the threats to their populations and habitats. Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson celebrate Matthiessen's classic book with this updated and expanded natural history of North American shorebirds. This elegantly written book begins by introducing readers to the unrivaled splendor of shorebirds and goes on to cover topics ranging from their biology and habitats to courtship and breeding, flight, the perils of migration, and conservation. Detailed accounts convey the richness and variety of the five family groups, with incisive, fact-filled descriptions of all 52 species of shorebirds known to breed in North America. Featuring hundreds of breathtaking images by Karlson and other photographers and drawing on the latest science, The Shorebirds of North America is a worthy tribute to Matthiessen's enduring work and an indispensable reference for bird lovers everywhere.
Coordinator of Reference Services Dean says, "The first half is about shorebirds in general, the second gives species profiles. I absolutely love the photos in it. This is one of those rare books l liked so much that I bought a copy to keep at home."
A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck
ADULT NONFICTION: The electrifying true story of a young couple shipwrecked at sea: a mind-blowing tale of obsession, survival, and partnership stretched to its limits. Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He's a loner, awkward and obsessive; she's charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream - as we all dream - of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away? Most of us begin and end with the daydream. But Maurice began to study nautical navigation. Maralyn made detailed lists of provisions. And in June 1972, they set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves. What ensues is a jaw-dropping fight to survive on the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn have to find not only ways to stay alive but ways to get along, as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Although they could run away from the world, they can't run away from themselves. Taut, propulsive, and dazzling, A Marriage At Sea pairs adrenaline-fueled high seas adventure with a gutting love story that asks why we love difficult people, and who we become under the most extreme conditions imaginable.
Library Director Esme says, "This short memoir was a fascinating account of a couple surviving at sea after a whale crashed into their sailboat while they were at sea. They survived by their wits for months on a tiny raft and dinghy. It's a fascinating account of a couple as they fight to survive and face incredible isolation together. Both thrilling and sometimes horrifying, their misadventure filled me with admiration."
Heartwood
ADULT MYSTERY: In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping. At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie's disappearance may not be accidental.
Children's Library Assistant Jen says, "The story was told from a few different perspectives, and it was very interesting to see how they were all connected."
The Nightingale
ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: France, 1939 - In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.
Assistant Head of Circulation Gerry says, "This book seemed to always cross the desk when I was there as if it was saying you have to read me. I finally gave in after reading her latest novel, The Women, which I loved. I enjoy historic fiction and seem to be drawn to fiction set during the World Wars which included strong women."
Dinner at the Night Library
ADULT MAGICAL REALISM: The Night Library is no ordinary library. Within it are found the rarest and most unusual collections - the books of deceased famous writers: the books they wrote; the books that inspired them; the books they loved. All Otaha Higuchi wants to do is work with books. However, the exhausting nature of her work at a chain bookstore, combined with her paltry salary and irritating manager quickly bring reality crashing down around her. She is on the verge of quitting when she receives a message from somebody anonymous, inviting her to apply for a job at 'The Night Library. The hours are from seven o'clock to midnight. The library exclusively stores books by deceased authors, and none of them can be checked out - instead, they're put on public display to be revered and celebrated by the library's visitors, making it akin to a book museum. There, Otoha meets the other staff, a group of likeminded literary misfits, including a legendary chef who prepares incredible meals for the library's employees at the end of each day. Night after night, she bonds with her colleagues over meals in the café, each of which are inspired by the literature on the shelves. But as strange occurrences start happening around the library that may bring the threat of its closure, Otaha and her friends fear that the peace they have found there will forever be lost to them. Will their faith in the value of books strong enough to save it? And what will remain if it isn't?
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Tricia says, "Whimsical and calming with a lovely surprise ending. This book was like a warm hug."
Culpability
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ADULT FICTION: When the Cassidy-Shaws' autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver's seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them each in the accident. During a weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Noah tries to hold the family together as a seemingly routine police investigation jeopardizes Charlie's future. Alice and Izzy turn strangely furtive. And Lorelei's odd behavior tugs at Noah's suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident -- suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. When Charlie falls for Monet's teenaged daughter, the stakes are raised even higher in this propulsive family drama that is also a fascinating exploration of the moral responsibility and ethical consequences of AI.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Lisa says, "Holsinger once again takes the pulse of current day events and then unravels them in this modern-day family saga. Meet the Cassidy-Shaw family before and after a horrific car accident in their AI-driven vehicle. Who is at fault? Read this compelling, informative, complex and highly readable novel to find out!"
ADULT FICTION: When the Cassidy-Shaws' autonomous minivan collides with an oncoming car, seventeen-year-old Charlie is in the driver's seat, with his father, Noah, riding shotgun. In the back seat, tweens Alice and Izzy are on their phones, while their mother, Lorelei, a world leader in the field of artificial intelligence, is absorbed in her work. Yet each family member harbors a secret, implicating them each in the accident. During a weeklong recuperation on the Chesapeake Bay, the family confronts the excruciating moral dilemmas triggered by the crash. Noah tries to hold the family together as a seemingly routine police investigation jeopardizes Charlie's future. Alice and Izzy turn strangely furtive. And Lorelei's odd behavior tugs at Noah's suspicions that there is a darker truth behind the incident -- suspicions heightened by the sudden intrusion of Daniel Monet, a tech mogul whose mysterious history with Lorelei hints at betrayal. When Charlie falls for Monet's teenaged daughter, the stakes are raised even higher in this propulsive family drama that is also a fascinating exploration of the moral responsibility and ethical consequences of AI.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Lisa says, "Holsinger once again takes the pulse of current day events and then unravels them in this modern-day family saga. Meet the Cassidy-Shaw family before and after a horrific car accident in their AI-driven vehicle. Who is at fault? Read this compelling, informative, complex and highly readable novel to find out!"
Don't Let Him in
ADULT THRILLER: Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband's unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina's adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick's past. What she finds is more than unsettling...
Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can't share the feeling that something isn't right. Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don't let him in. But the past won't stay buried forever.
Children's Library Assistant Jen says, "This was excellent! I was hooked right away. Very suspenseful."
Part of Your World
ADULT ROMANCE: People expect big things from Alexis Montgomery. She's a thirty-seven-year-old doctor from a wealthy and prestigious family full of world-renowned surgeons. Only, Alexis is tired of living up to her family's dreams for her. Now she's about to take her bravest step yet: start living her life for herself. Daniel Grant is a twenty-eight-year-old small-town carpenter with a heart of gold and a legacy of his own. He may not have gone to college, but he's always known just what he wants for his future. What he never counted on was meeting the woman who would make him question all he'd ever believed he needed. One fateful night their worlds collide, and soon the two are spending all the time they can together. Their families, their friends, and their lifestyles are worlds apart... yet something about being together just clicks. But when word of their new relationship gets out, they are not at all prepared for what happens next.
Cataloging and Reference Librarian Lisa says, "A swoonable sweet rom-com - Alexis & Daniel are opposites attract on steroids. And Alexis’ best friend, Bri made me laugh out loud!"
The Keeper of Magical Things
ADULT FANTASY: An almost-mage discovers friendship-and maybe something more-in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the author of The Teller of Small Fortunes. Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful-to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn't proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she'll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who's managed to alienate everyone around her. The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the self-turning butter churns from the kind-of-flaming swords, and above all: avoid complications. The Guild's uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident. Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling's residents-and each other-they realize the Guild's hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle-add attraction and it might spell trouble.
Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This charming, cozy fantasy story really hit the spot for me after a stressful month. I loved it so much that I immediately went back to pick up the author's previous book, the Teller of Small Fortunes, and loved that one too. Best of all—both books have a different magical cat character!"
Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America
ADULT MEMOIR: A deeply personal and eye-opening memoir from journalist Beth Macy, exploring how her once-thriving Ohio hometown unraveled over four decades. Blending family history, reporting, and social insight, Macy traces the loss of community, the rise of anger and division, and the human cost of economic and cultural decline in small-town America.
Loved by Admin Coordinator Maura!
We All Live Here
ADULT FICTION: Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is--complicated. So when her real dad--a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago--suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you about love, and what it actually means to be family.
Children's Library Assistant Jen says, "This book is a family drama, and after a few chapters I felt like I knew the characters well. I really enjoyed reading about how they all meshed as a family."
Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love: A Cookbook
COOKBOOK: From the author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat--and one of America's most beloved chefs and teachers--125 meticulously tested, flavor-forward, soul-nourishing recipes that bring joy and a sense of communion With all the generosity of spirit that has endeared her to millions of fans, Samin Nosrat offers more than 125 of her favorite recipes--simply put, the things she most loves to cook for herself and for friends--and infuses them with all the beauty and care you would expect from the person Alice Waters called America's next great cooking teacher.
Reference and Local History Librarian Stephanie says, "I fell hard for Samin Nosrat's joyfully inspired appreciation for meal preparation and snacking with her first book — Salt Fat Acid Heat (2017) with stories of the fresh cucumber and hummus sandwiches she used to eat on the beach with her mother as a child. Now, Nosrat is back with more recipes for life — soup to take to ailing friends, a yellow birthday cake recipe that she has worked on for 20+ years. The easy to understand writing, photos that could have come from a family album and recommendations based on extensive testing (how to buy good olive oil, which kosher salt has the best texture, how to stock your everyday pantry for maximum delicious leverage) stand in stark contrast to the perfectionistic and highly stylized influencer content pushed so much nowadays."
Racebook: A Personal History of the Internet
ADULT NONFICTION: Beginning with the current moment when everything, including personal identity, is a matter of dispute, and tracing his online persona in reverse chronological order back to Web 1.0's promises of greater equality and a bright digital future, Onyebuchi deftly examines the evolution of internet culture and the ways that culture has shifted in the ensuing decades. From the ever-changing nature of personal writing and free expression, to gaming, manga, fandom, and virtual reality--Onyebuchi examines the internet alongside works of literature both classic and new, and asks if our vision for what is possible has really broadened. And given the inequities Black people are still subject to, on and off the page, does the Internet only amplify our failures of imagination? A new, compelling investigation of race through the lens of the modern Internet age, and a profound intellectual journey in pursuit of community online, Onyebuchi argues for a liberation of the individual behind the code, ultimately asking Is this a race book or is it not? Is it either-or? Can it be both-and? Can I?
Teen Services Librarian Renata says, "This "personal history of the Internet" told in essays really blew me away! I enjoyed the nostalgia of remembering earlier days of social media, and found Onyebuchi's depiction of his personal experience as a Black man online to be very compelling. On a sentence level his prose is so engaging that it made me want to seek out his other books even though he mostly writes outside of my preferred genre (his other books are more hard sci-fi)."
Phoenician Scheme
FILM: During the final stages of a vast, decades-long project, the ruthless and unscrupulous Anatole "Zsa-zsa" Korda survives a sixth assassination attempt and must appoint a successor: his long-estranged daughter Liesl--a nun. With personal tutor Bjorn in tow, the trio set off on a globetrotting adventure to achieve Korda's epic mission.
Coordinator of Library Technology Theo says, "Another breezy, funny Wes Anderson film with a fantastic cast."
They All Came To Barneys Exercises: Lessons in Innovation, Identity, and Staying Grounded
ADULT NONFICTION: Telling the intertwined story of a legendary New York retailer, the fashion world's evolution, and the Pressman family's ambitions and conflicts, this book recounts Barneys' rise from a 1923 suit shop to a global fashion force--and its eventual unraveling.
Reference and Local History Librarian Stephanie says, "I only ever owned one item with a Barney's tag — a unisex Commes des Garcons button-up shirt purchased from a Chestnut Hill yard sale that has now been begrudgingly handed down. If you ever so much as browsed at a Barney's, you felt creative and cool — even when wearing their famous JUST LOOKING museum- style metal button — to ward off the salespeople. If you like eighties fashion history, retail history and well written dishy books — this one's for you."
The Compound
ADULT DYSTOPIAN FICTION: Lily--a bored, beautiful twenty-something--wakes up on a remote desert compound, alongside nineteen other contestants competing on a massively popular reality show. To win, she must outlast her housemates to stay in the Compound the longest, while competing in challenges for luxury rewards like champagne and lipstick, plus communal necessities to outfit their new home, like food, appliances, and a front door. Cameras are catching all her angles, good and bad, but Lily has no desire to leave: why would she, when the world outside is falling apart? As the competition intensifies, intimacy between the players deepens, and it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between desire and desperation.
Library Director Esme says, "A beautiful young woman wakes up in a compound at the edge of a menacing desert. It is the set of a reality show where contestants compete for prizes, that increase in value the longer you last. You also must wake up in bed with another contestant every morning or be eliminated. There are hints of scarcity and depravation in the outside world due to climate change, and what seems inane or trivial at first eventually becomes a matter of life and death. Immensely enjoyable to read."
Mother Mary Comes to Me
ADULT MEMOIR: Mother Mary Comes to Me draws on multiple strands of the author's early years, unveiling an empathetic and at the same time marvelously satirical portrait of an eccentric extended family with a fondness for spectacular family feuds. Roy's maternal lineage was saddled with a legacy of violence yet blessed with the gifts of education and English fluency. 'Mrs. Roy' formed the tempestuous foundation upon which Roy and her brother, 'LKC, ' raised themselves. A single mother who suffered from debilitating asthma and thunderous moods, Mary Roy founded a coeducational school--a revolutionary act in its time--and grew it into a spectacularly influential institution. The rage and unpredictability Mrs. Roy was known for was the secret to her success in a patriarchal society unaccustomed to seeing a woman soar to great heights while rejecting cultural roles designed to clip her wings.
Teen Services Librarian Renata says. "I'm a fan of Arundhati Roy's powerful fiction, and her memoir is a gorgeously written look at her life, starting with her unusual childhood with a single mother who was an activist for education in India and continuing through to Roy's own career as a writer and activist. A fascinating memoir even if you haven't read any of her fiction."
I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition
ADULT MEMOIR: For a long time, Lucy Sante felt unsure of her place. Born in Belgium, the only child of conservative working-class Catholic parents, who transplanted their little family to the United States, she felt at home only when she moved to New York City in the early 1970s and found her people among a band of fellow bohemians. Some would die young from drugs and AIDS, and some would become jarringly famous. Sante flirted with both fates on her way to building an estimable career as a writer. But she still felt like her life was a performance. She was presenting a facade, even to herself. Sante's memoir braids together two threads of personal narrative: the arc of her life, and her recent step-by-step transition to a place of inner and outer englightenment. Sante brings a loving irony to her account of her unsteady first steps; there was much she found she still needed to learn about being a woman after some sixty years cloaked in a man's identity, in a man's world.
Reference and Local History Librarian Stephanie says, "As a long-time fan of Sante's magazine essays, I grabbed this new memoir thinking I already knew the mind of this established cultural critic, but I was wrong. I knew her tremendous command of language and her vast ability to explain the world nimbly referencing books, art film and culture, but I did not know anything about her biography and her feelings. Reading about Sante's late-in-life transition to living as a transgender woman, I was emotionally gripped by the very plain and relatable lifetime of longing for authenticity, affirmation and connection."
Sinners
FILM: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
Loved by Library Assistant Dianna!
Split Fiction
VIDEO GAME: You and your co-op partner will become Mio and Zoe, two writers trapped in a simulation of their own imaginations after a high-tech attempt to steal their creative ideas goes badly wrong. This pair of strangers will need to learn to work together in order to escape with their memories and stories intact. Prepare to deal with dragons and trolls in Zoe's fantasy worlds and cyber ninjas and robo-parking attendants in Mio's sci-fi creations.
VIDEO GAME: You and your co-op partner will become Mio and Zoe, two writers trapped in a simulation of their own imaginations after a high-tech attempt to steal their creative ideas goes badly wrong. This pair of strangers will need to learn to work together in order to escape with their memories and stories intact. Prepare to deal with dragons and trolls in Zoe's fantasy worlds and cyber ninjas and robo-parking attendants in Mio's sci-fi creations.
Children's Librarian Olly says, "This is my favorite co-op game of all-time, I think. Every level is a celebration of different literary science fiction and fantasy subgenres and it’s impossible to get bored with the amount of variety built-in. I laughed, I cried, and I said “this is so fun” about a hundred times while playing this game."
Superman
FILM: Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.
Coordinator of Library Technology Theo says, "With so many dark, serious superhero movies being released, Superman was a breath of fresh air. A fun, thrilling superhero movie that isn’t afraid to embrace its comic book origins."
I've Tried Everything but Therapy
by Teddy Swims
ALBUM: Vocal powerhouse Teddy Swims masterfully blends genres from pop, soul, hip-hop, to R&B. With his soul-stirring voice and heartfelt lyrics, Teddy delivers an intimate and cathartic experience, delving into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of life.
ALBUM: Vocal powerhouse Teddy Swims masterfully blends genres from pop, soul, hip-hop, to R&B. With his soul-stirring voice and heartfelt lyrics, Teddy delivers an intimate and cathartic experience, delving into themes of love, loss, and the complexities of life.
Loved by Admin Coordinator Maura!
Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy
ADULT NONFICTION: Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action, putting our current crisis in historical context and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance's message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context and the political history-- and why the rule of the law still matters. At the same time, she empowers the reader to do something, both as individuals and collectively. Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to combat the second Trump administration and save American democracy.
Reference and Local History Librarian Stephanie says, "This is a relatable civic-minded guide for living during a time when bedrock constitutional law and long-established public policy provisions are being dismantled. I enjoyed this legal history tutorial and found Vance's call to action hopeful and practical."
A Gorgeous Excitement
ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION: The summer of 1986 in New York City starts off with a model's face getting slashed after rejecting her landlord's advances. It ends with a young woman's half naked body discovered in Central Park, murdered after a night of "rough sex." Nina Jacobs is 18, working a series of boring temp jobs, trying to lose her virginity before she leaves for college at the end of the summer, while also trying to stay out of the way of her mother, who spends her days in bed or criticizing Nina, or often both. And developing a burgeoning cocaine habit. Could the magnetic IT boy from the bar they hang out at that caters to the Upper East Side private school rich kid set, be the one who can help her achieve both her goals this summer?
Library Director Esme says, "The plot of this debut novel is modelled after the 1986 Manhattan murder of a teenager by the so-called Preppie Murderer. Filled with all the hallmarks of 1980s New York this is ultimately the story of a girl spending her last summer before going to college, trying to lose her virginity, be cool, and attract the cutest boy in their group."
The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness, and the Making of Modern Sports
ADULT NONFICTION: The story of the early trans athletes and Olympic bureaucrats who lit the flame for today's culture wars.
On December 1935, Zdenk Koubek, one of the most famous sprinters in European women's sports, declared he was now living as a man. Around the same time, the celebrated British field athlete Mark Weston, also assigned female at birth, announced that he, too, was a man. Periodicals and radio programs across the world carried the news; both became global celebrities. A few decades later, they were all but forgotten. And in the wake of their transitions, what could have been a push toward equality became instead, through a confluence of bureaucracy, war, and sheer happenstance, the exact opposite: the now all-too-familiar panic around trans, intersex, and gender nonconforming athletes.
In The Other Olympians, Michael Waters uncovers, for the first time, the gripping true stories of Koubek, Weston, and other pioneering trans and intersex athletes from their era. With dogged research and cinematic flair, Waters also tracks how International Olympic Committee members ignored Nazi Germany's atrocities in order to pull off the Berlin Games, a partnership that ultimately influenced the IOC's nearly century-long obsession with surveilling and cataloging gender. Immersive and revelatory, The Other Olympians is a groundbreaking, hidden-in-the-archives marvel, an inspiring call for equality, and an essential contribution toward understanding the contemporary culture wars over gender in sports.
Teen Services Librarian Anna says, "This history of trans, intersex, and gender nonconforming athletes in the modern Olympics was at times fascinating and heartbreaking. A must read if you like the Olympics, queer histories, or are just wondering about where some of the current trends of gender surveillance are coming from. (Spoiler alert: It's fascism.)