Krista R. on Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: It isn’t often that I care about every single character and what they’re doing/thinking/feeling/breathing on. This is such an enjoyable read. There are so many new love vibes jumping off of the page that it’s contagious. I love that Casey McQuiston can somehow make politics enjoyable and hilarious in a very different way than I’ve ever experienced. I completely appreciate the way she doesn’t hold back.

Laura B. on Lost Restaurants of Baltimore by Suzanne Loudermilk: You can’t read this book without craving a meal in one of Baltimore’s old restaurants! What a walk down memory lane. Of course we all remember the meals but what about the history? The author covers that completely. Just wish the book included recipes!

Dana R. on The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat: Absolutely fantastic book about members of the British Navy protecting convoys during WWII. Great character development and absorbing plot. It is a wonderful diversion from the difficulties of the present.

Meredith T. on A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: Loved this book! The writing was beautiful! Even though the setting was largely confined to the interior of a hotel, it became an entire world.

Matthew K. on Cane by Jean Toomer: I have a 1920s project I’ve been working on, which is just to read books from the 1920s as they are turning 100 this decade. I picked Cane as my next choice for this project due to the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a Harlem renaissance classic I never read before. It has amazing form and structure with powerful language. Very lyrical and poetic, but also haunting and difficult. Excellent, amazing book. Totally recommend if you like a challenging read.

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Lauren R. on Moody Bitches by Julie Holland: The title is fun “read-bait” and yet the content shines with wisdom. On the one hand, we learn to appreciate our rhythms in all their forms, even coming to harness them to our advantage. On the other hand, we learn the importance of striking the balance and living in harmony with those cycles, in ways more and less obvious. And all the way, the science and writing are fascinating!

Rohan P. on A Burning by Megha Majumdar: An amazing and surprisingly incredibly relevant book to America right now! As a first generation Indian immigrant this book acknowledged feelings I have had but never been able to verbalize.

Himani S. on On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong: Amazing poetic literary work. This writer’s words are powerful and piercing. Even his nightmares are poetic. Once you have read it—look up his website and listen to his interviews on PBS and NPR and in the New Yorker. I wanted to keep listening to what he has to say. If there is a moment in history that is a platform for the “other voices”—that moment is now. He has a timely message at many levels—as an outsider, as an son of a refugee, as a gay man growing up brown and black in America, as an artist whose words and imagery and experiences are impactful.

Nayantara B. on The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: …The Bride Test is a poignant novel that will make you believe in both love and the American Dream if current circumstances have you a bit down. At heart it is a story about discovering new possibilities and taking risks just as both Esme and Khai do. It also explores the experiences of living with Asperger’s especially in an immigrant community that does not really understand what it means to be autistic and how the love a family can help you find true happiness in unconventional ways.

Join the fun! For a chance to win fabulous prizes in the Adult Summer Challenge, create a free Beanstack account and log each book you finish between June 17 and August 31.

Elizabeth H. on Someone to Care by Mary Balogh: Probably one of the best romances I’ve read this year. Didn’t have a promising start for my tastes, but I LOVED how Violet had a whole tribe of family to care for her and support her, and the MCs are in their 40s which is positively ancient by most historicals’ standards both of which are things I LOVE in my romances. There is also just a deep amount of love and respect between the characters that ughhh I got ALL the swoons with this one!

Amy Y. on The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin: This novel felt EXTREMELY timely (early on a young black man is shown constantly looking over his shoulder in fear of literally monstrous police officers, and a white woman harasses two men of color in a city park). In some ways, the novel felt sort of like a cross between Into the Spider-Verse, Captain Planet, Night Vale, and of course Lovecraft—who is directly referenced but also subverted (imagine racism and gentrification as eldritch abominations). Jemisin centers BIPOC voices and Others whiteness. I think it is good, as a white person, to have this experience. While dealing with heavy topics, the book is a fairly light and often humorous read.

Eileen T. on The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson: …Okay, seriously? I really enjoyed this one! It’s not humorous per se, but it’s definitely entertaining. Some of the stuff he talks about I knew before, some I learned recently, and some I had never heard of. Regardless, I enjoyed listening to all of it! This is something that I think I could definitely get something new out of each time I read or listened. Bill Bryson is also one of those authors who CAN narrate their own work. In any case, this was unlike anything I’ve been reading or listening to lately, so it was pretty cool in that respect as well. Some of the stuff on viruses and bacteria is very relevant as well, lol. Highly recommend this one.

Join the fun! For a chance to win fabulous prizes in the Adult Summer Challenge, create a free Beanstack account and log each book you finish between June 17 and August 12.