Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

Title: Swimming in the Dark
Author: Tomasz Jedrowski
Genre: Fiction, Coming-of-age story, LGBT literature

Jedrowski's debut novel follows Ludwik in communist-era Poland, as he falls in love with Janusz at a summer camp. While the novel's LGBT themes are subtly interwoven into the fabric of the story, they remain the driving force of the narrative. One reviewer commented that it was reminiscent of Aciman's "Call Me By Your Name" insofar as its historical context, European setting, and evocative, poetic prose. This description seems apt, as the author's writing is highly sensual and descriptive, like Aciman's, though the setting will immerse readers in Jedrowski's native Poland, giving them a broader political context of the time period, as well as the land and cityscapes throughout. This book will be sure to please fans of Aciman's writing, as well as some historical fiction readers looking for a work from a contemporary and unique European voice. The story is tender and poignant, and also draws several parallels with James Baldwin's seminal "Giovanni's Room". At just shy of 200 pages, the novel is the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a story of substance which depicts and questions the ethics of Poland's restrictive communist regime, while also capturing the nostalgic beauty and resilience of its ancient culture and more secretive love affairs.

-Adam

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Dear Girls by Ali Wong

Title: Dear Girls
Author: Ali Wong
Genre: Memoir Humor

When most parents write their children letters, they are full of stories and truths they wish to pass down. When Ali Wong writes letters to her daughters, she leaves nothing out and published it so that we can all read about her life. Dear Girls by Ali Wong is the letter she wished her father had written her before he passed away. Maybe not exactly, but the inspiration came from a letter her father wrote her before he died. It is full of the stories her girls might want to know when they are older, or when she is gone. From growing up, to her rise in the comedy world, to her relationships, everything her children could ever want to know, and then some, is covered in this book. If you are familiar with the comedy of Ali Wong, I don’t have to tell you that the language is rated R, and that there are no topics she won’t discuss. All that aside, this is a loving and laugh out loud funny look at Ali’s life and how she rose to fame.

-Katie
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Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Title: Where the Crawdads Sing
Author: Delia Owens
Genre: Fiction

Kya was abandoned by everyone she had loved, one by one they left her. It was the marsh that became her family. She knew every inch of the marsh and rarely bonded with anyone more than the gulls. She was labeled the "Marsh Girl" and outcast from society. When a the local star quarterback is found dead with what looks like a murder cover-up the townsfolk immediately accuse Kya. Will their prejudice condemn her to life in jail or even death?
This book has vivid descriptions of the marsh and thoughtful portrayals of what it is like to be an outsider. I would recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet.
- Gina

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The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score ―from Nadia to Now by Dvora Meyers

Title: The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score ―from Nadia to Now
Author: Dvora Meyers
Genre: Non-fiction (sports)

A great book highlighting the difference in scores for international elite gymnastics competitions now that they have removed the 10.00 based scoring system. I have been searching out more books about the sports that I love as a way to lead up to my celebration of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan this July and August, and this book truly fit this goal!
A brief history of the sport at the top levels, the politics behind the scenes that helped to lead to the scoring changes, and some wonderful chances to relive some of the most amazing moments in Olympic gymnastics history, entwine to make for a wonderful read!
It's not perfect, and the book doesn't avoid dealing with some of the negative aspects of the sport as well, but as it was published just before the Rio Olympics, in July 2016, it does not touch the more recent scandals that the sport has faced.

- Katrina

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I Want You To Know We’re Still Here by Esther Safran Foer

Title: I Want You To Know We're Still Here
Author: Esther Safran Foer 
Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, World War II, Holocaust

Esther Safran Foer grew up in North America, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Her growing up years were haunted by her parents' pasts which were ever present but never spoken of and relegated to remaining locked up secrets. The impetus to seek out a more complete understanding of her history came when Esther's mother casually mentioned that her father had had a wife and daughter who were both killed during the Holocaust. This bombshell piece of news was completely unexpected and precipitated her journey to find out more about her sister. Esther went with her son back to their family's homeland of Ukraine, where they followed the brave and devastating footsteps of her ancestors and met other survivors of that terrible time. In this enthralling tale of her search for her sister we are given the opportunity to join her as she is finally able to gain a more complete picture of her ancestors' lives and to restore her knowledge of her family tree. Most cathartic of all for Esther as well as for the reader is that she is finally able to grieve all that was so tragically lost and put to rest the burdens that she had unwittingly been carrying for decades.

- Elizabeth

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The Outsider by Stephen King

Title: The Outsider
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror

How disoriented would you be if several people around town were saying they witnessed you in places you hadn't been? What if your DNA was reported at the crime scene of an atrocious killing? What about your fingerprints showing up on the murder weapon? This utterly confusing situation is exactly what Terry Maitland, an English teacher and baseball coach, is confronted with. With all the evidence at hand, the Flint City DA thinks the case is a slam dunk and that worries Terry. 

As Terry realizes how much trouble he is in, he has his own lawyer start building his defense. Even though Terry's attorney feels confident that there's no way Terry can be convicted, the particularly violent nature of the crime has the city up in arms and acting out. 

Can Terry's name be cleared? How can the strange coincidences that keep cropping up be accounted for? Read The Outsider to find out. 

Actor Will Patton, from Remember the Titans and Armageddon, voices the characters for the audiobook. For the most part it was really well done, but the cadence he uses for one of the female characters is odd and takes some getting used to.

- Sarah R.

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Act Like It by Lucy Parker

Title: Act Like It
Author: Lucy Parker
Genre: Contemporary Romance

While superstar Richard Troy brings a lot of bodies to the theater, Elaine Graham is not so sure her co-star's temperamental public displays are worth the trade. In fact, it may be worse than having to act love scenes out with her ex-boyfriend, Will, now that he's dumped her publicly and moved on. 

Richard's antics would not be Lainie's problem, except now her boss wants her to help mitigate the bad boy's bad rep by pretending to be involved with him. Of course this is out of the question, until a full night's proceeds are offered to her nearest and dearest charity. How bad can it be to pretend to be this gorgeous man's girlfriend for a bit...

This is more of a slow burn sort of romance (the word "canoodling" is actually used in the book) so if you're looking for something more titillating, this may leave you a bit flat.

- Sarah R.

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