Monday, June 29, 2020

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

The Friend Zone book cover (The yellow title on an aqua backgroud. A cartoon woman sits atop the "T" while heart-shaped lines point from her to a cartoon man below)Kristen is a fierce, loyal, smart, funny, and driven woman who makes life decisions based on logic, not feelings. When she meets Josh, the best man in her best friend’s wedding, she tries to use logic to keep their relationship strictly platonic, even though she’s never felt this way about anyone in her life-- not even her boyfriend (who is overseas in the military). However, wearing her ugliest clothes, no makeup, and forgoing a hairbrush for days doesn’t stop Josh from thinking she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever met. As a veteran, Josh respects Kristen's boyfriend and doesn’t act on his feelings-- at least not until he breaks up with her through a voicemail telling her he re-enlisted.

Without the boyfriend in between them, they can no longer resist each other. But Kristen has health issues and a secret surgery that will make it impossible for her to have children, the one thing that Josh has made clear is a deal-breaker for him. He wants an entire sports team full of his own kids, and that’s the one thing Kristen can’t give him. No matter how much Kristen loves him, she knows she can’t deny him his dreams and pushes him away. To Josh, however, he doesn’t want a family if he can’t have it with Kristen.

This is a fantastic rom-com that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next as you deal with Kristen’s infertility issues with her.

Check out our e-book or e-audiobook copies from Library on the Go (Libby/Overdrive)!

Monday, June 22, 2020

Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins

Her Royal Highness book cover (a blue background with the picture of a white teenage girl with wild, wavy hair and heart-shaped sunglasses, with another girl's face reflected in the lenses) Just when she thought things were finally moving in the relationship direction, Millie Quint finds her best friend/almost girlfriend kissing someone else. Faced with spending her senior year in a completely awkward place, Millie decides to apply to boarding school… in Scotland. Where her roommate turns out to be an actual princess.

An enemy-to-lovers, will-they-won’t-they story with the added benefits of rebel royal teenagers and beautiful Scottish scenery. Will Millie and Princess Flora find love at boarding school, or will they kill each other during a school-wide camping challenge? If you’re looking for an easy, fun read and you loved Red, White and Royal Blue, this is the book for you!

Monday, June 15, 2020

Thanks a Thousand by A.J. Jacobs

Thanks a Thousand book cover (yellow with the title in cheery black font, with little pictures of a coffee mug, coffee bean, and coffee tree leaves underneath)A.J. Jacobs found himself feeling petty and angry more often than grateful and content. So being the "human guinea pig" that he is, he decided to embark on a gratitude experiment to try to be more appreciative of the little things in his life. He started with his morning cup of coffee.

He decided to try to thank everyone who made his cup of coffee possible, from the baristas to the water sanitation workers to the coffee cup lid designers to the South American farmers. Altogether, he makes it his mission to thank one thousand people who contributed in some way to his daily cup of coffee.

This is an uplifting book that narrowly skirts coming off as cloying. By honestly contemplating whether the thank-ees appreciate his words or see them as a waste of their time, and by consulting experts about the difference between gratitude and complacency, he manages to keep the book on level ground. It's a quick read with a heartfelt premise, perfect for if you're looking for a sense of connection in this tumultuous time.

Schedule a curbside pickup by calling us, or check out the e-book from Library on the Go (Libby/Overdrive)!

Monday, June 8, 2020

Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View by various authors

Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View book cover (a cartoon drawing of two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, standing on the surface of a featureless planet, looking up at a large star in the dark sky)Published in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, this collection of short stories is sure to delight any fan of the Star Wars saga.

Forty stories, each written by a different author, follow the action of that first movie, but from the perspective of observers. Aliens, androids, stormtroopers, and even a few beloved characters share their small role as witnesses to the greater action. Ever wonder what the Han/Greedo showdown looked like to the cantina band? Want to get the backstory on that tentacled creature in the trash compactor? Curious about the paperwork required to keep a planet destroying battle station running? This is the place to find the answers.

Written by a variety of celebrated authors, actors, and artists, these quick, enjoyable reads range from humorous to heroic to heartbreaking; perfect for dipping into and out of while awaiting the next season of The Mandalorian.

Check out our e-book and e-audiobook copies of this book through eReadIllinois (Axis360)!