Tag Archives: friendship

Atmosphere: a Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025)

19 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in 20th century, adventure, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Travel, United States

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Selected for the Novels at Night book club at the Weston Library on January 6, 2025! Read it and join the conversation.

“A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, NPR, People, Good Housekeeping, them, Marie Claire, Book Riot, Library Journal, Chicago Public Library, She Reads”- Amazon

#1 NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER• GOOD MORNING AMERICABOOK CLUB PICK • From the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Sixcomes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits. – Amazon

“Thrilling . . . heartbreaking . . . uplifting . . . the fast-paced, emotionally charged story of one ambitious young woman, finding both her voice and her passion.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

“NASA? Space missions? The ’80s? This is a collection of all the things I love.”—Andy Weir, author of Project Hail Maryand The Martian

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When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (Author), Alice Menzies (Swedish Translator)

04 Tuesday Nov 2025

Posted by in Fiction, meaning of life

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INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE SWEDISH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

“Engaging. . . . Moving. . . . Readers will laugh and cry. In Bo, Ridzén has created a character who can evoke empathy in anyone.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“A powerful, sneakily emotional meditation on life and death, and the foundational relationships in our lives. This is a book that will echo in your soul.”—Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

“A tender tale about aging, our own and others’, and the quiet brutality of love. About what being a man is, and what being a human is, about fathers and sons and fathers and dogs. It’s really a book for anyone who’s had to say goodbye. The kind of book you give to someone when you’re really trying to say ‘I’ve been thinking about you’ but don’t know how.”—Fredrik Backman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove

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The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

05 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction, mystery, nature, suspense, thriller

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“It was the greatest mystery never told . . .

1926. On the towering cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. But when small and hungry Celie Sheppard finds an ”impossible” red egg, it will forever alter the course of her life – and the lives of others.

One hundred years later in a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort discovers his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now. “ – Amazon

‘A captivating novel from one of the UK’s most talented storytellers. I loved every page of this unique mystery.’ CLARE MACKINTOSH, bestselling author of I Let You Go

”[The] most ingenious of crime writers . . . A funny, moving and beautifully written tale” The Guardian

‘Part crime caper, part historical mystery, The Impossible Thing is one of the most enjoyable novels I”ve read in ages’ PAULA HAWKINS, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train 

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Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

15 Friday Aug 2025

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Cate Kay is a pseudonym for the author of a global bestseller being adapted into a movie at the beginning of this novel. As the book progresses, we learn more about the real woman behind the name and the childhood friendship that shapes her life. Full of interesting characters, this story is told through multiple perspectives and I highly recommend the audiobook.

“An electrifying story of a bestselling author’s secrets. Fagan fascinates with her enigmatic and shape-shifting protagonist, and the tightly woven plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It’s a blast.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“An emotionally driven thriller that explores friendship, love, and the pitfalls of fame. I couldn’t stop reading this twisty, big-hearted novel. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is simply unputdownable! Kate Fagan is a masterful storyteller.” —Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of The Return of Ellie Black

“An addictive page-turner infused with humor and heart, The Three Lives of Cate Kay balances the dishy allure of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with the empathy of Slow Dance. A joy to read from first page to last.” —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

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Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy

09 Friday May 2025

Posted by in England, Fiction, meaning of life

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This is a very sweet story about friendship and finding a new way out of loneliness.

“Sipsworth is a love story about a woman and a mouse. Reason suggests that such a relationship couldn’t possibly work, and yet I found myself pulling for this unlikely duo on every page. Simon Van Booy’s characters are loaded with charm, resilience, and the deep desire for connection that all mammals share. I loved it.”—Ann Patchett

“A memorable story about serendipity—and what can happen when we keep our hearts open to surprise.”—Christian Science Monitor

“Whimsical, beautifully detailed, and filled with heart, Sipsworth is a slim, sparkling jewel of a novel.”—Christina Baker Kline

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You Are Here: a Novel by David Nicholls

27 Wednesday Nov 2024

Posted by in Fiction, Humor, romance, Travel

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A witty, touching love story. The writing is magnificent: taut and vivid. I was so happy while I was reading it and now I’m bereft. Gorgeous.” — Marian Keyes, internationally bestselling author of Rachel’s Holiday

“Captivating [and] flawless. . . . Sharp-tongued and irresistible.” — New York Times Book Review

“I finished this novel in two breathless sittings, as invested in its outcome as I would be in the happiness of a friend. This is the magic of You Are Here: warm, generous and funny, it invites readers into the world of Marnie and Michael with the promise that everyone is welcome, and that choosing happiness and being courageous in any small way we can is always possible. I loved this book.” — Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of Time

Oh this book! What’s better than rooting for two shy, once-burned characters to recognize that love is within reach? I stopped often to reread and savor its sparkling, wry sentences. You Are Here is both up-to-the-minute and old-fashioned in the best way: sharp, yet so very kind, funny, and bittersweet.” — Elinor Lipman, bestselling author of Ms. Demeanor

“A stunning, funny, frank and beautiful look at loneliness, friendship, and the risks taken to love and be loved. In a career of standout books, You Are Here takes its place at the top. David Nicholls is my favorite writer.” — Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin At The End

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Good Material by Dolly Alderton   

10 Wednesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Fiction, romance

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A funny, poignant romantic comedy about a couple trying to break up in London.

“Like Nora Ephron, with a British twist….Good Material…delivers the most delightful aspects of classic romantic comedy—snappy dialogue, realistic relationship dynamics, humorous meet-cutes and misunderstandings—and leaves behind the clichéd gender roles and traditional marriage plot…..Alderton excels at portraying nonromantic intimate relationships with tenderness and authenticity….Alderton deserves comparisons to rom-com legends like Hornby.”—The New York Times

“Like so many twentysomething women, I have turned to Dolly Alderton’s writing for solace… Written from the perspective of someone recently heartbroken, but this time it’s a man… The detail is luscious… Radical.”—Annie Lord, The Sunday Times (UK)

“Alderton is one of this generation’s preeminent oracles for love, romance, and heartbreak….[She] exposes the inevitable misfortunes of singledom while never neglecting its inherent beauty….To readers, she’s like an older sister, guiding us through breakups, fights, and first-date mishaps with something like grace.”—Swarna Gowtham, Elle 

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House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng 

21 Wednesday Feb 2024

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction, murder and investigation

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Tan Twan Eng has been one of my top historical fiction writers forever. His new book is exquisitely written based on historical events in 1921 and the Havelin couple are living in the Cassowary House in the Straits Settlement of Penang.  Old friend, Somerset Maugham comes to stay with them for an extended visit looking for new material for his next book – I was immersed in the setting, the times, and the book’s upheaval of events for several blissful days.

“Exquisite . . . Tan takes on a behemoth task here: combining sensational fact and intimate fiction in a British colonial Asian setting complicated by white privilege, politics, social hypocrisy, gender inequity, racism, homophobia, and more . . . [He] succeeds in delivering another intricate literary gift.” ―Booklist, Starred Review

“The House of Doors is brilliantly observed and full of memorable characters. It is so well-written, everything so effortlessly dramatized, the narrative so well structured and paced, that this is a book that will mesmerize readers far into the future.” ―Colm Tóibín, author of THE MAGICIAN

“In this bold historical fiction, he courageously exposes his motherland’s flaws, exploring thorny issues of race, racism, gender and gender preference, bigotry, infidelity, and colonial power in richly mannered, atmospheric, and expressive prose, which is simply beautiful . . . no one can argue with the ambition, ardency, and achievement of Eng’s complex latest. “- Air Mail

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Happy Place by Emily Henry 

13 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in Fiction, Humor, romance

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A group of college friends gathers for one last summer trip to Maine, including Harriet and Wyn, who are keeping their recent breakup a secret from everyone else. This is a great romantic summer read with a little more depth than the typical beach book.

“As always, Henry’s dialogue is sparkling and the banter between characters is snappy and hilarious. Wyn and Harriet’s relationship, shown both in the past and the present, feels achingly real. Their breakup, as well as their complicated relationships with their own families, adds a twinge of melancholy, as do the relatable growing pains of a group of friends whose lives are taking them in different directions. A wistfully nostalgic look at endings, beginnings, and loving the people who will always have your back.” —Kirkus

“This sexy and profoundly romantic novel will satisfy fans of best-selling Henry’s thrilling trademark mix of witty banter and intensely emotional storylines.” —Library Journal(starred review)

“Blur[s] the lines between women’s and literary-leaning commercial fiction, departing from the fantasy spaces of bodice rippers and misty moors to depict a world that looks a lot more like, well, our own…Henry operates at the top of her—and her readers’—intelligence, telling sophisticated, heartfelt stories that are conscious of the romantic comedy conventions without being overly meta about them…Henry’s dedicated readers know what to expect: wit, charm and heart, satisfying to the last page.”—The Washington Post

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

11 Friday Aug 2023

Posted by in Fiction, romance, United States

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A modern love story about two childhood friends, Sam and Sadie, who reunite as barely-out–of-college adults to become partners in the intricately imagined world of video game design, finding an intimacy in their digital worlds that eludes them in their real lives.  

P.S. I never played a video game in my life but was swept away by this magnificent story and female heroine.

“Utterly brilliant. In this sweeping, gorgeously written novel, Gabrielle Zevin charts the beauty, tenacity, and fragility of human love and creativity. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is one of the best books I’ve ever read.” —John Green, author of The Anthropocene Reviewed

“Zevin… returns with an exhilarating epic of friendship, grief, and computer game development…. Zevin layers the narrative with her characters’ wrenching emotional wounds as their relationships wax and wane… Even more impressive are the visionary and transgressive games… This is a one-of-a-kind achievement.”—Publishers Weekly, starred

“Riveting… Zevin has written the book she was born to write, a love letter to every aspect of gaming…Zevin’s delight in her characters, their qualities, and their projects sprinkles a layer of fairy dust over the whole enterprise…Sure to enchant even those who have never played a video game in their lives, with instant cult status for those who have.”—Kirkus, starred

“You don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate the pulsing heart of this best-seller: In a story spanning three decades and references from Oregon Trail to Macbeth, Gabrielle Zevlin has written a modern, definitive story about work, love, and friends for whom you’d do and risk everything.”—Keely Weiss and Halie Lesavage, Harper’s Bazaar

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