August 2022
Staff Picks
Escape into a happy read this month with the following titles recommended by our librarians!
Adults
Recommended by Nancy Bell, Readers' Advisory Librarian
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
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Two Jewish families who are best friends become business partners by buying a hotel together in the 1960s Catskills. Back then, the Catskills were the place to vacation, but 60 years later, the hotel is run-down, and the families have grown up and apart. So what happens when you bring everyone back to The Golden Hotel for one last summer vacation to decide if it’s time to sell and let go? Family drama of the best kind (a.k.a. entertaining because it’s not your own!) ensues with secrets being revealed and old wounds being reopened, and also a lot of reminiscing of the good old days. One review I read called this book a mash-up of Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which perfectly describes this perfect happy summer read!
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
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I’m an absolute sucker for books about books, and unlikely friendships, so this book really hits the spot between nostalgia and happiness for me. Widower Mukesh desperately wants to relate to his book-obsessed granddaughter. So he goes to the best place for book recommendations: his public library! Unfortunately, he catches Aleisha, a teenage library worker with a difficult home life, on a bad day, and she is rude when he asks for suggestions. Aleisha later stumbles upon a crumpled up handwritten reading list tucked into a just-returned book, and feeling sorry for how she behaved, she recommends the first book on the list to Mukesh as an apology. Told through their alternating perspectives with many references to popular and classic novels, we follow the creation of their two-person book club and their beginning of their unlikely friendship.
The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
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Read on Hoopla
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Okay, this one is a little bit out there for “happy” because it’s really about our two main characters, Laura and Anthony, being completely heartbroken and how they are able to recover, and find redemption and hope. It’s told in two parallel narratives where we follow Anthony who lost the love of his life and begins recovering by writing short stories for lost things he finds; and we follow Laura, Anthony’s divorced housekeeper, who he leaves his house and collection of lost things to, setting her on her journey to reunite the lost items with their owners. It’s a very quirky read with changing points of view and storylines throughout the book, but really gives you that feel-good feeling when you’ve finished.
Teens
Recommended by Maggie Mueller, Teen Services Librarian
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
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Pepper is an overachieving perfectionist who secretly runs the Twitter account of her family’s huge fast-food chain, Big League Burgers. Jack is a class clown who annoys Pepper and works at his family’s deli. When Big League Burger steals Jack’s grandma’s iconic recipe, the two duke it out over Twitter. But tweeting isn’t the only way the two are unknowingly communicating, and while they’re feuding on Twitter, they’re falling for each other on another app. This enemies-to-lovers romance is so cute, your heart will smile.
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
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Read on Hoopla
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When Jack’s girlfriend Kate dies, Jack is transported back in time to the moment they first met. After several failed attempts to save her, Jack finally succeeds only to cause the death of someone else he cares about. Suddenly, Jack is faced with the dilemma of who to save and what is right. This time-travel love story may make you emotional but it ends on a happy note.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Read on Libby
If you haven’t checked out the Heartstopper graphic novels or series on Netflix, you’re missing out. The story follows the blossoming friendship and romance between Charlie, an openly gay high school student, and Nick, a seemingly straight guy on the school rugby team. Readers will gush over Nick and Charlie, but they’ll also admire how well the two confront challenges together. The fifth and final book comes out next year, so check out the series now so you’re ready to find out if Nick and Charlie get their happily ever after.
Children
Chapter Books
Recommended by Lindsay Reuer, Children's Librarian
The Chance To Fly by Ali Stroker & Stacy Davidowitz
Read on Hoopla
Teen Nat hopes to find a sense of belonging when she auditions for her new school’s production of Wicked. She deals with the usual middle school drama on top of overbearing but well-intentioned parents who have their own ideas about what Nat, who uses a wheelchair, should and should not be doing. I loved the uplifting message of believing in yourself and overcoming your fears to follow your dreams.
These Unlucky Stars by Gillian McDunn
This is a heart-warming book about a lonely middle-schooler named Annie who forms an unlikely but genuine friendship with an elderly neighbor, Gloria, during summer break. Gloria and Annie lean on each other and learn from each other in different ways, and readers will delight in seeing these characters develop as the summer progresses.
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
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Read on Hoopla
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Milo helps his parents run their unexpectedly busy inn, which doubles as their home, in the days before Christmas. It soon becomes clear that the guests aren’t all what they seem, and Milo works to unravel the mystery of what they’re hiding and how they are connected to his home. This holiday tale feels like snuggling up by the fire in the middle of winter and being carried away by a cozy mystery.
Picture Books
Recommended by Kallie Schell, Children's Librarian
Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
Watch the Oscar Winning Short Film
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Listen on Hoopla
A little girl's daddy steps in to help her arrange her curly, coiling, wild hair into styles that allow her to be her natural, beautiful self.
Every Little Thing by Cedella Marley
Read-Along on Libby
Read-Along on Hoopla
This is a wonderful, illustrated version of Bob Marley’s song, a young boy, with the encouragement of three little birds, enjoys life and will not let anything get him down.
The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson
The Smeds (who are red) never mix with the Smoos (who are blue). So, when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love, their families strongly disapprove. But peace is restored, and love conquers all in the happiest of love stories.
Where Wonder Grows by Xelena Gonzales
A grandmother explores her special garden with her granddaughters. Wonder grows everywhere but Grandmother especially loves to show it in her story garden. She invites her granddaughters to join her there in a sweet meditation on the treasures she's brought to that magical place--the rocks, the shells, the crystals, the meteorites: how they came to be, how they were formed, how they each have a story to tell
