Smith Public Library

Stuart Says: I was unfamiliar with Jeff Hiller until I saw his Emmys acceptance speech for Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, which led me to do a deep dive. I found this book to be extremely inspiring and motivational, while also hilarious and heartfelt.

Christi Says: News of the World by Paulette Jiles is a beautifully spare, quietly powerful story that completely captured me. I loved it—tender, atmospheric, and unforgettable.

Call Number: F JIL

Esther Says: Karin Slaughter's thriller books are always brutal, with some themes focusing on misogyny in today's society and how violence and discrimination disproportionately affect women. The characters are all so alive (uh, except for the dead ones), and they feel so real.

Call Number: THR F SLA

Megan Says: Many feel that this is Foley's strongest work yet. Everything about this gets top marks from me. I literally have no complaints.

Call Number: THR F FOL

Mandy Says: The book follows Kiser, a film and television writing graduate, who turns to nannying for the "1%" to escape crushing student loan debt and New York's high cost of living. There is a stark contrast between her own humble upbringing and the opulent world of $1,000 Prada baby onesies. It satisfies the curiosity for "juicy" details about how million-dollar Park Avenue families live and treat their staff. Very interesting!

Nina Says: James Gunn's relaunch of the DC cinematic universe reminds us why Supes is the beloved Big Blue Boyscout, and David Corenswet is the one Clark Kent I believe grew up as a farm boy in Kansas. A fun movie to kick off summer.

Elizabeth Says: The Wallflowers by Lisa Kleypas is a delightful historical romance series. The 3 most ineligible ladies band together to help each other catch husbands. The first in the series, Secrets of a Summer Night, is a perfect summer read.

Stuart Says: I love this film. It is so imaginative and creative, and the acting is brilliant. It is very rare for a movie to be able to make me both laugh out loud and cry tears of joy, but this one succeeded!

Christi Says: The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett is a warm, quietly powerful novel that showcases her early brilliance. I came to Patchett late, but completely fell in love with this one—tender, thoughtful, and deeply human.

Call Number: F PAT

Esther Says: Post-apocalyptic novel, but instead of zombies it's a drought. It was scary to read how realistic the decisions of the characters were in the face of slow death. This was my first Neal Shusterman book, and I can see why his writing is so popular.

Megan Says: One thing I must say is this story has the most unlikeable, despicable characters ever! And I mean all of them. But hey, it made for a very interesting read.

Mandy Says: Who doesn't want to read a book that has “hyper-intelligent talking spy cats" and a pod of dolphins currently in a labor dispute with their management, demanding union rights and better working conditions. It follows Charlie Fitzer, a down-on-his-luck substitute teacher who inherits his estranged uncle's multi-billion dollar estate—only to discover it was a front for a legitimate supervillain empire. This book is just fun and entertaining.

Call Number: SFF F SCA

Nina Says: Lexington is a legend, a record-breaking race horse and the greatest stud sire in American history. He's also the thread that binds together this remarkable story of humanity told through the lenses of a trainer, an artist, a scientist, and a historian. A blend of real history and fictional characaters, the novel proves why Brooks is a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Call Number: F BRO

Elizabeth Says: First time around, I hated this book. Like haaated it. Loved True Blood, but not this book. So for this year’s Read More category, “Back with a Vengeance” I picked this one because it was short. And to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Go figure.

Call Number: SFF F HAR

Stuart Says: The delusional and unreliable narrator made for an entertaining, unhinged read!

Christi Says: Broken Country is a gripping, beautifully written novel that completely drew me in. I loved it—powerful, immersive, and hard to put down.

Call Number: F HAL

Esther Says: I picked this up on a whim because I've been experimenting with madeleine recipes, and this seemed as close to a French pastry cookbook that I could get within our library. Also, I thought the drawings on the cover were cute.