My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrick Backman
Review Written by Nancy Lupo
August 2025
What a good story! Backman is becoming one of my favorite authors. Elsa, the main character stole my heart, as was intended. I enjoy seeing children portrayed as trailblazers in a way, because they refuse to give in to conformity. Elsa doesn’t do this as an intentional rebellion, though. She is who she is and her ‘crazy grandmother’ encourages her.
Reading this book feels similar to making a new friend - by slowly getting to know them and then suddenly realizing they have found their way into your heart
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Review Written by Kimberlee King
August 2025
Anybody who knows me knows I’m a HUGE V. E. Schwab fan. The
first book I ever read of hers was A Darker Shade of Magic, though
she’s most well-known for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I’ve
seen her in person three times and have watched her grow into a
confident, powerful author.
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil is a story about toxic, lesbian
vampires from different time periods, all leading up to a shared
storyline. Maria, also known as Sabine, grows up in 1532 in Santo
Domingo de la Calzada. As a woman in that era, she’s expected to
follow the same narrow path as everyone else—marry a man and
bear his children. But when an opportunity for a different kind of life
presents itself, one full of the freedom she craves, she seizes it
without hesitation.
Charlotte, living in 1837 London, is caught in a forbidden intimate
moment with a friend and is quickly sent away to live with her aunt.
Thrust into a world reminiscent of Bridgerton, she, too, is offered a
chance at freedom, and she doesn’t hesitate to take it.
Then there’s Alice, in 2019 Boston. She’s just moved halfway
around the world to start over. One night, she steps out of the
safety of her dorm and pretends to be someone else. That night
changes her life completely, plunging her into a world of horror
and hunger. I could go on and on about this book and this author.
But if you haven’t read anything by V. E. Schwab yet, I highly
recommend you do.
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
Review Written by Nancy Lupo
August 2025
I have been a long-time
fan of Mitch Albom and
this book is truly one of
his good ones. It's a story
of family and love, truth
and lies, redemption and
forgiveness. It's a World
War II story but unlike an
other stories that I've read
about this time in history.
The story is centered
around four main
characters in Greece
before, during, and after
the war. Truly a must-read,
some of Mitch Albom’s
books have been made
into movies and this one
too could be a possibility.
Model Home by Rivers Solomon
Review Written by Hannah Jackson
June/July 2025
While I haven't read too many horror books or speculative fiction, this novel has got to be speculative fiction at its finest. For those of who who may not know, the best way I can describe speculative fiction is a novel that belongs to the horror genre, and while there are supernatural elements, it's uncertain whether those supernatural elements are truly happening or if there's something else going on. This novel had me on the edge of my seat and biting my pen the entire time! It's moody, tense, and reflective, but also has a few lighthearted moments sprinkled throughout. It's hard to talk about this novel without giving anything away, but essentially, this book is about a haunted house, the family that used to live in it, and how the house continues to haunt them years after making it out. It is about a Black family who lived in a predominantly white suburban neighborhood, and how the racism and discrimination in that neighborhood tormented them from the day they moved in. More than any of that, though, it is about the power of family, connection, and community in the face of internal and external trauma. I will give a trigger warning for suicide, sexual content, sexual assault, and child abuse. You should also expect to be challenged to reflect on your own internal biases as well as your own psychological growth. Overall, I would say this novel was medium-paced but with a big focus on both plot and character development. The plot twist at the end made me feel like I had to immediately reread the whole book with new information I gained! I really enjoyed it, and I would HIGHLY recommend it
The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey
Review Written by Jorie Mack
June/July 2025
Some plots were a little thinner than others where I would have liked more, but apparently this book is the first in a new series with the same characters so I am definitely interested in reading more from this author as new books come out. This one is in our popular fiction collection at Sugar Grove so if you’re a fan of quality murder mystery books, snag it now!