She's Nice Though by Mia Mercado

Title: She's Nice Though
Author: Mia Mercado
Genre: Humor; Essay Collection; Memoir

Mia Mercado hails from Glendale, Wisconsin. This sets the foundation to her essay collection about the turbulent existence of attempting to achieve peak Midwestern Niceness. From absorbing others’ embarrassment to not telling a date that you’re just not that into them, Mia nails the expectations women encounter in a male dominated world. Women are expected to not make a mess and clean up the messes around them without taking the credit. Mercado’s essays explore how she is aware of her follies and the importance of demonstrating change for future generations. This collection is full of snarky sarcasm and rich feminism.

- Tiffany

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Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter

Title: Murder in the Family
Author: Cara Hunter
Genre: Mystery

In 2003 the stepfather of a wealthy British family is killed, and his case goes cold. (20 years later) In the present day a team of experts has been assembled for a true crime show hoping to solve the case. The book is told mostly as transcripts from the episodes as they "air" on tv. Other information is delivered as forum posts, or text messages. So while the formatting may take some getting used to, the mystery itself is lots of fun. It's hard to say more without spoiling anything but what can be said is: Nothing is straight forward and nobody is who they say they are! There are so many zig-zags you may get a little lost, but everything comes together in the end.

- Kate

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Just Add Water by Katie Ledecky

Title: Just Add Water: My Swimming Life
Author: Katie Ledecky
Genre: Memoir

Released just before Katie Ledecky's fourth Olympic Trials, this memoir shares the journey of one of the best of America's Olympians. She has dominated the distance races in swimming, and many sports fans who have followed swimming even at only a surface level in the past 12 years know her name. But this goes beyond the races, and shares where Katie's love of the water was first discovered, and her admiration of her older brother that led her into the pool and at least began her drive to improve her skills and her times in order to impress her brother. The part of the story that I found the most interesting was her trouble trying to figure out how to continue to practice as the COVID pandemic truly spread around the country, but before the 2020 Olympics had been postponed! Here is a fantastic book to read as you enjoy the international sporting event that always is demonstrated through the Olympic Games in Paris, France.

- Katrina

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The Grief Cure by Cody Delistraty

Title: The Grief Cure
Author: Cody Delistraty
Genre: Non Fiction; Grief; Traditions

The Grief Cure follows the author on his journey grieving the loss of his mother. He explores options given to the grieving like laugh therapy, pricey retreats, and memory deletion. In the process, he uncovers how grief has evolved over time from a public activity to a private one. Readers in all stages of grief will feel drawn to this heavily researched memoir-ish book.

- Tiffany

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The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy Reichert

Title: The Kindred Spirits Supper Club
Author: Amy Reichert 
Genre: Romance

This is a sweet, light, fun read about two people trying to escape their respective family legacies, and the complicated ways these haunt them. (Hint!) With a touch of the supernatural, lots of local small town politics and feuds, and some sweet romantic gestures, this is a delightful little concoction of a book. Set in the Wisconsin Dells, it has a lot of local flavor and references that were wonderful to see!

- Meagan

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Cold by Mariko Tamaki

Title: Cold
Author: Mariko Tamaki
Genre: Young Adult

Told through two alternating points of view, Cold shares the story of a teenager who died too young as well as the story of the teenagers around town discovering what happened to him. The narrators are Georgia, a young lady who didn't know the dead teen, but can't seem to shake the feeling that she had seen him before - at her own house; and Todd, the ghost? spirit? of the boy who died, trying to piece together his own memories of what happened leading up to his death outside, overnight, left in a cold park. This book was an interesting exploration of what it means to be missing some of the information, and what worth there may be in putting it all together for yourself.

- Katrina

Check out Cold by Mariko Tamaki @ the library!

Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham

Title: Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
Author: Adam Higginbotham
Genre: Non-fiction

This goes through the Chernobyl nuclear disaster almost moment by moment, but also provides detailed context and history of the Soviet nuclear program. It's truly horrifying, and makes you realize how much worse things could have been if only a few things had been different. It's a really great read for anyone who likes disaster books!!

- Meagan

Check out Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham @ the library!