The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Title: The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers
Author: Samuel Burr
Genre: Fiction

A young man raised by a group of eccentric puzzlemakers is sent off on a puzzle of his own, determined to find his birth parents. This sweet mystery has all the highlights of a cozy book: eccentric older characters, gentle mysteries, and a super sweet happy ending.

- Meagan

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Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

Title: Counting the Cost
Author: Jill Duggar
Genre: Memoir

This was an interesting recounting of a specific, rather unique, story of a child growing up - but what I found fascinating is the universality that was captured in this story.

Jill Duggar spent many of her teenage years on her family's reality television show. Her parents garnered the public interest with their very large family (currently 19 kids) and saw their fame as a chance to spread their own views on raising children and families under rather more strict conservative Christian ideals than are commonly followed in America. It was a chance for the public to see something a little unusual, but it also exposed their family to a world full of ideas and ideals that the children - especially the girls - had been very sheltered from.

This tells the story of which of those ideals Jill eventually began questioning as she grew up and moved out, forming a family of her own. While few of us can relate to having our lives splashed across tabloids and told through headlines, there is a commonality to the idea of having to begin looking at - and re-evaluating - those rules that we just accepted, for years, because that was what our parents said was true.

- Katrina

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On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Title: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
Author: Ocean Vuong
Genre: Fiction

If you love books that are beautifully written, this is for you. It is evident that “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” is written by a poet. The novel is a coming of age story of a queer boy in a Vietnamese family that immigrated to America. It is a love letter, of sorts, to his single mother. He breaks the rules of what he has learned of “masculinity.” He leaps into the rocky territory of vulnerability and honesty with family. He reclaims the reins of his story despite the traumas it holds. It will make you love harder and think about forgiving yourself.

- Tiffany

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The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

Title: The Running Grave
Author: Robert Galbraith
Genre: Mystery; Fiction

The seventh novel in the Cormoran Strike series shows Robin going undercover to investigate a cult. While she tries to get close to a client's son without arousing suspicion, she learns of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the cult leader's daughter. Was her death just an accident like his wife's death? Meanwhile, Cormoran interviews former cult members and sidesteps former girlfriend Charlotte's calls for help. Another enjoyable story following two of the most engaging detective partners in contemporary fiction.

- Sarah

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A Paradise of Small Houses by Max Podemski

Title: A Paradise of Small Houses: The Evolution, Devolution, and Potential Rebirth of Urban Housing
Author: Max Podemski
Genre: Non-fiction

Do you love small houses, urbanism, walkable communities, history, or architecture? All of the above? Then this is the book for you!! Podemski looks at different cities in the United States and the ways that urban housing evolved in these cities, what it teaches us about mixed use neighborhoods and urban development, and why it was able to build such strong and vibrant communities. It also points to a future of smaller, more dense housing as a real possibility and bright spot in development and as a possible answer to some of our most pressing problems. I love my small, urban house, and I loved reading this book about other small urban homes!

- Meagan

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Kiss the Girl by Zoraida Córdova

Title: Kiss the Girl
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Genre: Romance

Ariel del Mar is ready to step away from the limelight and take a break after her last concert as one of the Siren Seven. With the promise of a year off, Ariel walks off the stage, and into another opportunity presented by her father, a solo career. Seeking any kind of normal life, Ariel sneaks out with her sisters to a concert by an up and coming band, and runs into dreamy lead singer Eric Reyes. 

Eric Reyes’ band is about to hit big, and when he runs into the girl of his dreams. He only knows her as Melody, and offers her a job on his tour. His band is everything, and he promises the rest of the crew that he won’t “Eric Reyes” it up, and break this girl’s heart. 

A modern musical retelling of the Little Mermaid, this book will have romance readers cheering Ariel/ Melody to find her voice, and for Eric to realize what is in front of him.

- Katie

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Maame by Jessica George

Title: Maame
Author: Jessica George 
Genre: Fiction

Set in London, Maddie, a young woman struggles to find her identity in her professional life as well as her home life. Having received the name "Maame" which means "woman" in Twi, Maddie is trying her best to live up to the expectations of this title by caring for her ill father, their home, her mother's demands for Maddie to find a husband and also figuring out the type of woman she wants to become. Once faced with a life changing event, Maddie is then forced into decisiveness that brings her closer to her true identity. This book has a great balance of wit, sadness, and revelation for those going through transitional periods in their lives or a quarter life crisis.

- Bianca

Check out Maame by Jessica George @ the library!