Love at First Set

Love at First Set by Jennifer Dugan is a fun queer romance with someone off limits.

The gym is Lizzie’s life—it’s her passion, her job, and the only place that’s ever felt like home. Unfortunately, her bosses consider her a glorified check-in girl at best, and the gym punching bag at worst.

When their son, Lizzie’s best friend, James, begs her to be his plus one at his perfect sister Cara’s wedding, things go wrong immediately, and culminate in Lizzie giving a drunken pep talk to a hot stranger in the women’s bathroom—except that stranger is actually the bride-to-be, and Lizzie has accidentally convinced her to ditch her groom.

Now, newly directionless Cara is on a quest to find herself, and Lizzie—desperate to make sure her bosses never find out her role in this fiasco—gets strong-armed by James into “entertaining” her. Cara doesn’t have to know it’s a setup; it’ll just be a quick fling before she sobers up and goes back to her real life. After all, how could someone like Cara fall for someone like Lizzie, with no career and no future?

But the more Lizzie gets to know Cara, the more she likes her, and the bigger the potential disaster if any of her rapidly multiplying secrets get out. Because now it’s not just Lizzie’s job and entire future on the line, but also the girl of her dreams.

Dugan has written another fun, sexy romance. Once you read her, you will go back and read the rest of her books—or listen to them on audiobook.

Dugan, Jennifer. (2023). Love at First Set. New York: Avon.

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum is a YA queer romance and a fun read. 

Margo Zimmerman is gay, but she didn’t know until now. An overachiever at heart, Margo is determined to ace her newly discovered gayness. All she needs is the right tutor.
 
Abbie Sokoloff has her own gayness down to a science. But a flunking grade in US History is threatening her acceptance to her dream school. All she needs is the right tutor.
 
Margo agrees to help Abbie get her history grade up in exchange for “Queer 101” lessons. But as they spend more and more time together, Margo realizes she doesn’t want just any girl—she wants the girl. [fantastic fiction]

This is a great YA romance filled with humor. Read it.

Shrum, Brianna and Sara Waxelbaum (2023). Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl. New York: Inkyard Press.

Bathe the Cat

Bathe the Cat by Alice McGinty is a hilarious tale of a family getting ready for a visit from grandma. 

While two dads and their kids run in circles trying to get the house presentable for a visit from grandma, the cat keeps rearranging the list - created out of refrigerator magnets.

This is a great book that should be at the top of your list for picture book gifts! All of the books by Alice McGinty are wonderful. 

McGinty, Alice. (2023). Bathe the Cat. New York: Chronicle Books.

Starter Villain

 

Starter Villain by John Scalzi is a wonderful read! 

Charlie, the youngest of four siblings, lives in his father's house with his cat Hera. It was part of his father's will that Charlie could live there as long as necessary, then split the sale with his siblings. 

Charlie was a journalist but was laid off with most of the magazine industry. He has been substitute teaching and working at a pub to pay bills. 

Then a woman shows up on his doorstep and tells him that his uncle has died. He has not seen his uncle since he graduated from college, but if he is willing to stand for him at the funeral he will receive his inheritance. 

What Charlie doesn't know is that by standing for his uncle he is announcing that he is the heir apparent to his uncle's business. As far as Charlie knows his uncle owned parking garages. He doesn't know his uncle was a super villain and that every rival will now try to kill Charlie.

Scalzi has written a fun, quick read that will have you laughing out loud. Fans of cats will be delighted by this book.

Scalzi, John. (2023). Starter Villain. New York: Tor. 

The Body: A Guide for Occupants

The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson is an informative, humorous look at what makes a human.

Going part by part (or system by system) Bryson uses his famous humor to impart the fun, interesting, and strange facts about the human body and the people who study us.

This is a great introduction for those of us who did not take a lot of physiology classes in school. You will also be better at trivia games once you read it!

Bryson, Bill. (2019). The Body: A Guide for Occupants. New York: Doubleday.

You'll Never Believe What Happened To Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism

You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar is a funny but sad look at white people in the United States.

Filled with hilarious true stories from Lacey's life, many from work, this book presented by two sisters is not only a look at how far we have to go, but at a close sibling relationship. Amber tells the stories, Lacey interjects when necessary to keep her on track.

This project came about because so many white people have so many stupid, racist things to Lacey, that she started to keep a journal. She and Amber talk about them on the phone: Amber is in New York City and Lacey in in Omaha, Nebraska (their home town). 

This is a look at the crazy things that happen everyday if you are Black in America. Go buy a copy today, laugh while you learn what not to say to your Black coworkers and friends!

Ruffin, Amber & Lacey Lamar. (2021). You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism. New York: Grand Central Publishing.

The Bookshop on the Shore (Kirrinfief #2)

The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan is the second book in her romance series that takes place in Kirrinfief, Scotland.

Zoe lives in London with her four-year-old son Hari. Her ex-boyfriend Jaz rarely helps with living expenses or even sees his son. Zoe needs to do something to improve their situation.

When Zoe meets Jaz's sister for the first time, Surinder thinks she may have a solution that will help. Her friend Nina runs a mobile book van in Scotland and needs time off for maternity leave. 

This added to a man who needs a nanny for his three unruly children will be enough to live off of. Plus Hari will be able to play outside in beautiful Scotland. The only draw back is that the children are awful.

This second installment in the Kirrinfief series is just as endearing. The rotten children will grow on you!

Colgan, Jenny. (2019). The Bookshop on the Shore. New York: William Morrow.

The Bookshop on the Corner (Kirrinfief #1)

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan is the first book in her romance series that takes place in Kirrinfief, Scotland. (First published under the name The Little Shop of Happily-Ever-After.)

Nina Redmond is a librarian. Her job and calling in life is to find the right book for each person. But when her library branch is downsized she doesn't know what she is going to do. The library sends them to a training where they are encouraged to find some other job, as there will only be a few open spots for the many employees being displaced.

The workshop leader asks Nina what she would do if she could do anything in the world. She says open a bookstore. Her roommate agrees - there are so many books in their flat she is concerned the floors will give out soon!

Because she doesn't want the overhead of a shop, it is suggested to her to find a van and create a mobile shop. Taking a risk she travels from London to a village in Scotland where someone is selling a bread van. 

Colgan has created romance series set in the beautiful but start land of Kirrinfief, near Loch Ness. Her book is funny, sweet and endearing. A perfect vacation read.

Colgan, Jenny. (2016). The Bookshop on the Corner. New York: William Morrow.

Competence (Custard Protocol #3)

Competence by Gail Carriger is the third book in her Custard Protocol series featuring Prudence Akledama and her friends who are traveling the world in her dirigible (which looks like a giant lady bug).

Pru and her friends are on their way to South America. They are going to hunt or rescue a different type of vampire - the letter was vague.

Filled with wonderful supernatural creatures from vampires and werewolves to werecats and those who can take any shape, all of Gail Carriger's books are a great ride.

While it is impossible to choose a favorite book out of all I have read, Gail Carriger is definitely one of my favorite writers.

Carriger, Gail. (2018). Competence. New York: Orbit.

Before the Wind

Before the Wind by Jim Lynch is a humorous look at people who love to sail. Written like a memoir, this novel follows the Johannssen family outside of Seattle.

Josh comes from a sailing family. His grandfather designs boats, his father build them. The Joho sailing boats are famous through out the Pacific Northwest and the racing community. Josh is the middle child who, as an adult, repairs sailboats - no matter how broken down. His older brother, Bernard, has taken off for points unknown - in a stolen sailboat. His younger sister, Ruby, is a sailing savant who could have gone to the Olympics but had other ideas.

Lynch has written a laugh-out-loud story about a single man in a boat yard. It is at times inspirational - stories of sailing on the open sea. And at times heartbreaking. This is a great book. Read it if you have any interest in sailing!

Lynch, Jim. (2016). Before the Wind. New York: Borzoi Books.

The Scam (Fox and O'Hare #4)

The Scam by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg is the fourth book in their series featuring Fox and O'Hare - an FBI agent and one of the world's most successful thieves.

Kate O'Hare spent much of her career in the FBI chasing Nick Fox. But when she finally caught him, her boss made a secret deal. They now work together, slightly outside of the law, to get the bad guys who cannot be caught in the usual way. Fox is a mastermind at planning a con. O'Hare is ex-special forces and a great investigator.

After their previous success, Kate and Nick are being sent after a money launderer. Evan Trace owns a casino in Las Vegas and one in Macau. He is thought to lander money for everyone from the mob to terrorists. Nick and Kate are to come up with a plan to take him down.

Evanovich and Goldberg have created a fun series filled with both humor and brilliant scams. Fans of heist books will love this series.

Evanovich, Janet and Lee Goldberg. (2015). The Scam. New York: Bantam Books. 

The Power (Magnificent 12 #4)

The Power by Michael Grant is the fourth and final book in his Magnificent 12 series about twelve 12-year-olds who have to save the world from an evil force about to be released after being imprisoned by twelve 12-year-olds thousands of years ago. If only the original twelve would have use and opened ended spell...

Mack and the seven others he has found of the Magnificent twelve - each gifted with enlightened puissance - must find the other four to have a chance to defeat the Pale Queen. But they are running out of time. The clues send them from Paris to the Punjab before they head to San Fransisco for the final battle.

In the mean time, the Pale Queen is sending assassins and minions to try to kill the twelve before they can gather all of their power. And her daughter, Risky, has plans of her own.

The culmination of this fun and magical series is as great a read as the first. Grant created this series filled with everything a reader could want in a fantasy adventure.

Grant, Michael. (2013). The Power. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

Sparks

Sparks: the Epic, Completely True Blue, (Almost) Holy Quest of Debbie by S.J. Adams is a young adult coming of age novel.

Debbie Woodlawn has done everything with her best friend Lisa since sixth grade. Now a junior in high school, it is time for Debbie to come to terms with the fact that she is in love with Lisa. But Lisa just got a boyfriend. Now Debbie has to either find new friends or come out to Lisa in the hopes that she secretly feels the same way.

When a classmate suggests she speak to Emma, Debbie does so reluctantly. Emma and her best friend Tim have created their own religion. It is called the Holy Church of Blue. As Blueists, Emma and Tim has written commandments go on holy quests when necessary. It is necessary for Debbie to go on such a quest now.

With the help of her new friends, Debbie will confront Lisa and hope for the best. But along the way, the quest will take her on a wacky journey of discovery reminiscent of a Libba Bray novel. Adams has created a quirky and lovable story that will inspire readers to be more open-minded and go after what they seek.

Adams. S.J. (2011). Sparks. Woodbury, MN: Flux.

Three Ways to Capsize a Boat

Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: An Optimist Afloat by Chris Stewart is the story on one man taking the job as a ship's captain and then trying to learn to sail.

When asked by a friend's elderly aunt to captain a boat in the Aegean sea for the summer, Stewart jumped at the chance. Then he realized he knew nothing about boats. Step one: get a book on sailing and learn the language. Step two: find someone with a boat to go to sea... when that goes poorly, step three: sing up for a sailing class.


Buy the time he arrived in Greece, he had the basics of sailing under his belt. Then he had to deal with the fact that the boat he was sent to pick up, a Cornish Crabber, had not been repaired as promised, but was sitting with other decrepit crafts in a pile on the shore.

After a rough start, a beautiful summer sailing the Aegean, led Stewart to a love of sailing. So when his sailing teacher called and said he was putting together a crew to sail from UK to Rhode Island via Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland, he jumped at the chance. Of course his summer sail did not quite prepare him for dodging icebergs and the storms around Greenland.

Stewart's humorous (and at times harrowing) tale of his early years in sailing illustrates both the joy and power of our waterways. He has been compared to Bill Bryson as an author of travel adventure and folly. This book will either make you want to sail, or never go near the water!

Stewart, Chris. (2009). Three Ways to Capsize a Boat. New York: Broadway Books.

Remarkable

Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley is the story of a remarkable town full of remarkable people. Everyone in town is remarkable in some way...except Jane.

Jane is the daughter of Angelina Mona Linda Doe, the famous architect, and Anderson Brigby Bright Doe III, the famous novelist. Her parents had a grand name picked out for her but when she was born she was ordinary and they named her Jane. Jane is the only student who goes to public school in Remarkable. The other kids all have some remarkable skill or talent that got them into the School for Remarkable Children.

Jane's school year will be anything but ordinary. The Grimlet twins are plotting to get kicked out of Remarkable school so that they can join her in public school. A famous pirate captain, Captain Rojo Herring, has just come to town and appears to be hiding from the three filthy pirates who are looking for him. And having so many pirates in town leads Jane's teacher to throw out the regular curriculum for fifth grade and teach her three students to be good pirates.

Foley has written a humorous story of a quirky town filled with quite an array of characters. This is a must read for anyone looking for a light book - or fifth graders who need to do a book report.

Foley, Lizzie K. (2012). Remarkable. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls #1)

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter is the first book in her Gallagher Girls series about an elite boarding school that trains spies.

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Girls is full of geniuses, but they are not there to become smarter. They are there to learn to be spies. They will be the future agents at the whole alphabet of intelligence agencies. The school was founded by the Gillian Gallagher who stopped an assassin from killing President Lincoln - the first in a line of women who make great intelligence agents not just because of their skills, but because men always underestimate them.

Cammie Morgan is a sophomore. She and her suite mates, Liz and Bex, have been at Gallagher since seventh grade. They are now, finally, old enough for their first Covert Operations class. Covert Ops will not be an easy class. The new teacher takes his job very seriously and knows that this is the first test to see if these girls will be able to work as agents - if he does not do his job well, he will be leaving them open to getting caught, or worse.

Along with Coverts Ops Cammie, Liz and Bex will also have to deal with a new roommate - Macey McHenry - who has been kicked out of just about every other elite boarding school in the country.

Carter has created a fun, exciting series filled with espionage, friendship, humor and romance. It reminds me a bit of the movie D.E.B.S. in its theme and levity.

Carter, Ally. (2006). I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. New York: Hyperion.

The Choosing

The Choosing: A Rabbi's Journey from Silent Nights to High Holy Days by Andrea Myers is the story of her conversion to Judaism and path to becoming a rabbi.

At times The Choosing is as funny as David Sedaris's Naked. Filled with humorous, sometimes painful memories of family, Andrea has chosen moments in her life that make her the person she is today. Throughout all the stories, the love her family feels for her is evident in their actions.

In the style of rabbis since the beginning of the written word, Rabbi Myers brings events in her life back to the traditions and meanings within Judaism. The Choosing will show a different perspective on holidays - one that can only be achieved by a mixing of cultures - from the Hanukah stockings on the fireplace, to the stealing of chickens on Rosh Hashanah - readers will be entertained, educated, and inspired by the honest, sometimes raw, descriptions and stories.

Myers, Andrea. (2011). The Choosing: A Rabbi's Journey from Silent Nights to High Holy Days. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

The Call (Magnificent 12 #1)

The Call by Michael Grant is the first book in the Magnificent 12 series.

David "Mack" MacAvoy is twelve. He is not what anyone would think of as a hero. In fact, he is scared of many things.

Then one day it is revealed to him that he is one of the Magnifica - whatever that means. It is all very cryptic in Mack's opinion.

A golem is sent to replace him so it does not appear that he is missing as he goes off to find the other 11 Magnifica and stop an ancient evil that is about to be let loose on the world.

Grant has created written a great beginning to the series. The Call is adventurous, fast-paced and hilarious. I laughed out loud many times while reading this book. Book two is due out in the fall of 2011.

Grant, Michael. (2010). The Call. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

Going Bovine

Going Bovine by Libba Bray is a road trip novel with a twist.

Cameron Smith is a teen who is sliding through high school trying not to be noticed. He is totally unpopular and has only a few friends - opposed to his twin sister who hangs with the most popular kids.

But soon, Cameron will be a bit more interesting. At first he is not sure what is going on - he is having hallucinations and his muscles are not always doing what he tells them to. Once his parents notice that there is something wrong and he is not just being a teen, they take him to the doctor.

Cameron is diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob, or Mad Cow, disease. Knowing he has only a short time to live, he takes the advice of a angel (who may be a figment of his imagination) and goes on a quest to find the one man who may be able to cure him.

On his journey, accompanied by a classmate, he will encounter a cult, a famous jazz musician, quantum physicists, spring break in Florida, and a Viking god trapped in the body of a yard gnome.

Libba Bray is obviously mad herself, and her personality comes through in this novel which is the story of a young man learning how to really live for the first time in his life. It is both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly heart wrenching.

Bray, Libba. (2009). Going Bovine. New York: Delacorte Press.

CATCH-22

CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller is a classic worth reading. (Though to be honest I have enjoyed most of the classics I have talked myself into reading.)

Yossarian is a bombardier in the US Army. He has been at war long enough to reach the number of bombing runs required to go home - except his commanding officer keeps raising the number to keep everyone flying.

The book opens with Yossarian in the hospital. He has a pain in his liver but he does not have jaundice. He has a fever but not too high. The doctors keep monitoring him because at this point they cannot treat him. But Yossarian is not sick, he is trying to avoid the war.

Other than being ill, the only way to be grounded is to be labelled crazy. Unfortunately, due to the nature of a catch 22, if you asked to be grounded you are sane because you fear for you life and if you are crazy but flying, hey we can use all of the help we can get, it is war after all.

Heller's look at war and bureaucracy, while hilarious at times, make readers think about the war machine and wonder how any side could ever claim to have won. Heller takes a subject and twists it enough to have readers laughing out loud but thinking about the impact war has on the lives of all affected.

Heller, Joseph. (1961). Catch-22. New York: Simon & Schuster.