For readers who have met New York author (and eventual resident of Maine) Lucy Barton in Strout’s other books, this is an interesting deep dive into her life. It focuses on a period in. Barton’s life where her children were young and she is in the hospital for nine weeks with a severe infection following routine surgery. Not sure if I would have enjoyed this story if I hadn’t read about Barton in Strout’s other books.

Chi's Sweet Home was a book about a cat named Chi. Chi was lost from her cat family and found a new family. The family lives in an apartment that pets aren't allowed. They have to find a new place to live or do something about Chi. The first type of art was my favorite because Chi was always blushing, but when it got to the middle Chi stopped blushing. I would recommend this book to people who like cats.

I listened to this audiobook on Libby because it was picked for the Portland State alumni book club. I enjoyed the various perspectives and unreliable narrators in this tale of a Halloween murder. The plot skips around in time and feels like a tangled web of infidelity, betrayal, and financially motivated deceit. While rather elaborate in plotting and timeline, I did enjoy this twists and felt it was well paced.

?Now To Forever (Life on the Ledge Duet #2)? By Ashley Manley After twenty years of running from her past, Scotty, a reclusive crematorium owner, is forced to face the heartbreak she’s tried to bury. When an unexpected inheritance and the sudden return of the man who once shattered her heart upend her quiet life, she must choose between the safety of solitude and the possibility of a second chance at love. True healing, she discovers, might require more than just a change of scenery, it may demand the courage to let someone in. I absolutely loved Forever and Back, the first book in this duet, so I was thrilled to get early access to Scotty’s story! Scotty, June’s quirky, strong-willed, reclusive best friend, was such an intriguing character, and this book dives deep into her complexity. Haunted by a traumatic past she’s never truly faced, Scotty’s journey is raw and emotional. She can be polarizing at times, and I occasionally found her choices frustrating, at times even a bit immature for a 42-year-old, but her character arc is undeniably powerful. The growth she experiences is both moving and hard-earned. While this book may initially read like a romance, it crosses into literary fiction territory, exploring heavy themes and deep emotional layers. Despite her flaws, you can’t help but root for Scotty and hope she finds her way. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I love Ashley Manley’s writing style and humor with her characters. She writes such layered characters that are vulnerable, flawed, and real. This can be read as a stand-alone, but it is helpful to have some background knowledge of Scotty that you get in the first book of this Life on the Ledge duet series. I highly recommend reading both of these books! Do check your content warnings. Scotty uses very colorful, explicit language if you are sensitive to that. ?? Thank you to Ashley Manley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Now to Forever published 7/1/25. ?? Rating: ????????

i enjoyed reading this book and watching the movie

3.75 rounded up. This was not my favorite Magic Treehouse adventure. It felt a bit hokey. My 4yo had a lot of questions about smoking (cultural Native American representation).

Fun to look at the pictures

This is a lovely book! I was lucky to receive a digital ARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley to review. After loving The Magic Fish, I was eager to read Trung Le Nguyen’s latest, which is set to release in October 2025. The full color illustrations are dreamy, gorgeous feasts for the eyes. After overextending herself, Angelica turns to a place that has captivated her and brought her comfort: the local theater and its upcoming production featuring Per the Bear Prince. This story has a little of everything: family drama and grief, a second chance romance, friendship, and more. While this sophomore book doesn’t feel as deep or impactful as its predecessor, it still gets top marks for me. Young audiences will love it and older readers will appreciate it.

I live it because you can get a different point of view

Loved it!!!! Highly recommend