Kelli's Staff Picks
"What are the ingredients that make up a family? Eleven year old Mo is determined to find out. Nan was Mo’s family. Soon Mo finds herself in foster care and not sure what to do next. She finds a handmade cookbook filled with family recipes and starts a hobby, talking to strangers and collecting their family recipes while secretly hoping a long distant relative will surface and give her a family recipe of her very own.
Mo’s journey is sweet and ends with a wonderful twist that leads to a happy new beginning. You might even get hungry reading this fun book!"
"Pam Jenoff has done it again! Her latest book is a riveting, page turning story about the decisions 2 women must make as their allegiance to family and the underground network is challenged under unthinkable circumstances. This is a story of unwavering courage and sacrifice as Pam Jenoff knows how to write about all too well. This powerful book had me up late wanting to see what the next chapter would bring. You won’t be disappointed with this page turning story!"
"This debut book for the author is the essence of storytelling as the author weaves a story of how humans, animals and the natural world can co-exist together.
This hopeful story along with a little magic reminds us that EVERYONE struggles with something. The connection between Maggie, a snow leopard named Rumpus and the magical Wildoak forest is wonderful. You will definitely be cheering for Maggie and Rumpus to the very last page!"
"What a wonderful book! Fresh, funny and heartwarming, the story is set in California in the 1960’s. Elizabeth Zott is a female scientist whose career is constantly taking a back seat to the idea that a womans’ place is in the home. She soon finds herself as the host of all things…a TV cooking show to support herself and her daughter!
Elizabeth is my feminist HERO who constantly stands up for what is right and lives life on her own terms. To say I loved this book is an understatement!"
"Another great read from NYT Bestselling author Emma Straub filed with family drama, humor and heart! This book offers her twist on the traditional topic of time travel and how to appreciate the journey when you return to the present.
This moving story of a father –daughter relationship is told with tenderness and heart. Alice’s dad has been unresponsive and hospitalized for weeks. As she awakes on her 40th birthday she is transported back to 1996, her 16th birthday!
The author in detail brings back memories and scenarios of things that happened including reuniting with her charming, fun and “full of life” father and suggestions of what might have happen if she chose differently.
Experiencing these events and living in the present allows us to appreciate what we had and see the present in a new light."
"I was a TODAY show junkie for 15 years during the Katie Couric “era”. I was so excited to read this memoir and found it funny, heartbreaking and brutally honest. I loved Katie’s first hand account of the behind the scenes of her personal and professional life. I found her talking candidly of the highs and lows of the expectations of being in the public eye extremely interesting. I also felt her pain when talking about the tremendous loss of family she has experienced in her lifetime and the shock of the Matt Lauer scandal. That she was able to eventually find joy again gave me great joy. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did."
"If you are ready for a rollercoaster ride…. this is the summer ride/read for you! I read this book in 2 days because I could not wait to see what was coming next!
The year is 1970, The place is Baltimore. This story follows Mary Jane, a shy and quiet 14 yr old girl caught between her strict, extremely conservative family and being the summer nanny for the young daughter of a progressive, liberal doctor’s family in town.
Crazy things happen in this household when the psychiatrist secretly hides a famous rock star and his wife in their home for the summer to address his addition in privacy. This book is fun and engaging! Buckle up and enjoy!"
"This is a feel good book with a “happily ever after” ending! Five years…. That’s how long Coyote and her dad Rodeo have lived on the road in an old school bus driving back and forth across the country as a way to escape the loss of her mom and sisters in an accident. In their travels they pick up a strange group of misfit travelers including a two-hundred-pound goat named Gladys! This ride is nothing but enjoyable, heartwarming and fun! Happy travels!"
"This Nantucket author has done it again with another fun beach read!
If you could make “life adjustments” after dying would you? What might you change?
Vivian Howe, a famous author, is killed in a hit and run accident in Nantucket. She ascends to the afterlife where she is “allowed” for a summer to watch how her family ”behaves” without her presence in their lives.
Vivi is granted 3 “nudges” to change the outcome of her families choices. Hidden truths come to light and Vivi’s loved ones on earth learn to sort out their past and present mistakes while living without their Golden Girl. I really enjoyed this fun and page turning beach read. I hope you do too."
"Fiona Davis is outstanding once again in this suspenseful historical novel about a family living in an apartment within New York Public Library. In 1913, Laura Lyons finds herself in a tug of war between her larger than life ambition and the needs of her family. Fast forward to 1993, and granddaughter Sadie Donovan is the curator at the library. When Sadie discovers a connection between stolen books and her grandmother, she sets out to find the truth. Fiona's remarkable blend of facts and fiction about this historic building, her attention to detail and meticulous research are remarkable."
"1942, Krakau, Poland, life was miserable, food scarce and death was a way of life. Here starts a harrowing Holocaust story with a twist to also show the capacity to live and fight while dealing with terrible crulty. The bravery and sacrific of the unlikely friendship of 2 young woman, Sadie Gault, a Jew hiding for her life in the sewers and Ella Stepanek, the rich Polish step-daughter of a Nazi collaborator is extraordinary. Their separate worlds collide from a chance meeting at a sewer grate where Sadie lives in the rat infested underground and Ella is shopping above the cobblestones at the outdoor food market. This book, while historical fiction, was inspired by the true story of a small group of Jews who survived WWll while living underground rather than being forced from the ghetto's and going to the work camps. Pam Jenoff shows life is bitter, but also there is friendship and love at a time when that seems impossible. I could actually feel the fear and horror as I continued to turn each page of this amazing story with an ending I never saw coming. Don't miss reading this remarkable story!"
"The book follows the destructive journey of 2 neighboring families through conflicts involving racism, class status, young love and the varying interpretation of what “family” means. The author’s descriptive and creative writing style allows the reader to feel like they are right in the middle of this brewing conflict. This is one of those books where the characters stay in your mind long after you have finished reading."
"Talk about a book with a BIG message, but it’s presented in a well written, smart and enjoyable style. Such a Fun Age is a social commentary on race and class. It is written in a way that the reader can feel personally involved and relate with each character that the author introduces along the course of the story. I found this book a bit addicting and NEVER saw the ending coming! Well done Kiley Reid. I loved it!"
"The family curse is set. Not one second-born Fontana daughter will find lasting love. When great Aunt Poppy extends an invitation to second born Emila and her cousin Lucy to travel through Italy with her vowing to break the Fontana curse once and for all, the young women are skeptical yet intrigued. Should they go with her? Is this aunt really as crazy as many family members have said about her for years? How does Aunt Poppy think she is going to break a curse that no second- born daughter has ever been able to do? Is it really a curse or is it just coincidence? Descriptive and colorful text takes the reader through the gorgeous Italian countryside revealing family secrets and answers to the more than a century old curse. This is a lite and enjoyable read."
"This was a terrific summer read set on beautiful Cape Cod during a disastrous wedding scenerio. The story weaves through the complexity of the female relationship beween Daphne and her 'best friend' Drue, the impact of social media on relationships, and how to forgive once the past is exposed. I was all in with this book and hope you will be too."
"From this bestselling author comes a GREAT read for Summer 2020! The story revolves around the lives and relationships of three sisters as they reunite at their family beach house in Rhode Island. In just seven days the lives of these three sisters will change forever and the bonds of sisterhood, friendship, and family will take on new and surprising meaning for all. A light and fun summer read!"
"While driving on the expressway to work, Claire Rawlings nausea intensifies, causing her to pull into a gas station restroom with her girls in the back seat. Claire loses consciousness and wakes to find her car and children GONE! It is a parent’s nightmare and engulfs Claire on a downward spiral of guilt, blame and complete heartbreak. There are no leads, her marriage to Glen is on the rocks and she wills herself every minute to believe Lily and Andrea are alive. Finally, an unreliable, potential witness becomes Claire’s only lifeline in the hope of finding her girls. The background and relationship of the kidnappers Moira and Eamon add yet another layer of suspense and emotion to this novel. This unthinkable tragedy devastates and traumatizes this family and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep reading. The book quickly became an intense and page turning read. It is a mixed genre of fiction, mystery, suspense and thriller and leads down a path that shows tragedy can bring out the best and worst of people. I am ready for the sequel!"
"Eleanor Oliphant struggles with appropriate social skills and has no filter when it comes to saying exactly what is on her mind. Her scheduled life revolves around her job, weekly chats with Mummy and going to great lengths to avoid social interaction with others. Weekends are programmed with frozen pizza and excessive amounts of vodka until Monday morning arrives. Enter Raymond, an awkward IT co-worker who is patient, kind and has a huge heart. Together Raymond and Eleanor save Sammy, an older man who collapses on a public street. The three become friends who actually rescue each other from the isolation of their individual ordinary lives. Raymond’s big heart helps Eleanor repair her damaged and lonely one. He teaches Eleanor that there is more to life than just being fine. This book is simply wonderful!"