The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

Title: The Duke and I

Author: Julia Quinn

Genre: Historical Romance

If you have already enjoyed the Netflix series, Bridgerton, then this story will sound very familiar - but not exactly the same. This book is the first in the Bridgertons series.

The Duke is back in London after traveling abroad just in time to join the courting season in full bloom. Daphne is single and being pressured to find a husband. They find each other and start a scheme to keep unacceptable would-be mates from hurling themselves at the pair and in the process come to appreciate each other. Gossip, scandals, too much drink, and pistols at dawn make for a lively tale.

If you enjoy a good Regency romance, give this book a whirl.

- Sarah R.

Check out The Duke and I by Julia Quinn @ the library!

Gory Details by Erika Engelhaupt

Title: Gory Details

Author: Erika Engelhaupt

Genre: Non-fiction, Science

Do you love science? If you do, Gory Details is for you. It‘s a collection of essays exploring questions that the author, a science editor, has wondered about. Written in an easy to read style with plenty of humor, this book will fascinate anyone curious about our bodies and the natural world. It definitely has some pretty gross parts but those can be skipped over if needed. It can be read straight through or you can jump around reading what interests you.

- Lisa

Check out Gory Details by Erika Engelhaupt @ the library!

Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig

Title: Band of Sisters

Author: Lauren Willig

Genre: Historical Fiction

Lauren Willig’s latest covers a little known group of women who went to France to help the rural towns decimated by the Nazis during World War I. The Smith College Unit helped the French people become self-sufficient by providing chickens, cows, and supplies. Willig used letters written by the real women to create her story and these form the first part of every chapter. A love story is included along with a secret between long lost friends. This novel inspired by true events will have you rooting for these selfless women!

- Lisa

Check out Band of Sisters by Lauren Willig @ the library!

My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann

Title: My Eyes Are Up Here

Author: Laura Zimmermann

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult 

Greer Walsh lives mostly in her head. She remembers a time where she was normal, and didn’t need to hide, safe with her friends and being the smart girl. There was a time her life was more than XXL men’s t-shirts and sweatshirts, and coming home from school didn’t mean lying flat on her back braless to enjoy a moment of relief from just standing and walking and trying to control something she didn’t want or ask for.

In fact, from meeting a cute new boy, to making the JV Volleyball team, everything seems to be marred by her desire to hide what is really there, two large breasts that seemingly came from nowhere.

My Eyes are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann is one of those light books that packs a punch when it comes to a strong message. Greer is a fun character who is truly living in her head. Her fear of people looking at her breasts and not noticing her brain or anything else about her does keep her from enjoying life.

This is a Young Adult book, and it is a book I wish was around when I was a teen. I don’t want to spoil it too much, but the struggle with body acceptance is very genuine, and the place Greer ends up at the end of the book is very inspiring, even for this adult reader.

My Eyes are Up Here is for anyone who wishes their body was different, and knows that people are always defined by more than one thing.

- Katie

Check out My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann @ the library!

Books! Live with Katie April 28th, 2021 Books for Mental Health Month

April’s Books! Live with Katie is all about Mental Health Books, and May’s Mental Health Community Read events. These events are organized by the West Allis Mental Health and Substance Abuse Task Force, and are intended to start discussions about mental health in our community. 

This year we are discussing Beautiful Boy by David Sheff, and we will be holding two book discussion sessions on May 11th and May 20th at 6:30 PM on Zoom. Register online or by calling the library and we will send you a link for the Zoom discussions: westallislibrary.org/events or 414-302-8500 

Books discussed on 4.28.2021

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

Tweak by Nic Sheff 

High by David and Nic Sheff 

Broken by Jenny Lawson 

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh 

Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx 

Life Will Be the Death of Me by Chelsea Handler

Other Things for Mental Health: 

TikTok follow: KC Davis @domisticblisters 

Podcast: Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best, (March 24th episode with guest Dr. Harold Kopelwicz has a great discussion on mental health and kids) 

For more information on Mental Health resources in West Allis: westalliswi.gov/stopthestigma

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

Title: You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism

Author: Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

Genre: Memoir, Humor

Meet Lacey, Amber Ruffin’s sister. She is, “Polite, beautiful, tiny, and Black”. Because of this people say the most ridiculous things to her. From being told it must be nice to have her picture on her checks (it was Harriet Tubman) to having someone put their hand into her hair, Lacy experiences racism in ways that are, frankly, unbelievable to a white reader.

Told by both Amber and Lacey, Lacey’s stories give readers a lot to think about. Some readers will nod their heads knowing this is all too real an experience, and others will have their eyes opened. Keep in mind, all of these stories happen from about 1980-today, so it isn’t just the past we are hearing about, it’s the now.

Raised by strong parents and growing up with other siblings, it is never left unsaid that a book about another family member would be much darker. Lacey is lucky in the sense that this is all that happened to her, however, as a white reader the fact that these things have happened to her at all is equal parts horrifying and eye-opening.

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism is a book of stories told with humor about things that are still happening to Black people today. Highly recommended for light reading on a heavy subject.

- Katie

Check out You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar @ the library!

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Title: The Guest List

Author: Lucy Foley

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

A remote island is the scene for the wedding of a TV reality star and a magazine publisher. They are surrounded by boyhood mates, past flings, less-than-supportive parents, and other sundry people. Despite the storm that keeps them isolated and threatens to dump on them all, they are having a killer time. Of course one person takes that a little too far. When a body is discovered, can anyone really be let off the hook? Motives abound and this one will keep you guessing.

This book was a Goodreads Choice 2020 Winner for the Mystery & Thriller category. Read it to see if you agree.

- Sarah R.

Check out The Guest List by Lucy Foley @ the library!