What I liked about “Different, Not Less”:

• Personal Stories: The book is filled with real-life stories that are both inspiring and relatable, offering a deep understanding of neurodiversity.
• Empowerment: It provides a positive and affirming perspective, encouraging readers to embrace their differences as strengths.
• Educational: The book is informative, helping to break down misconceptions about neurodiversity and promote greater acceptance and inclusion.

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“Second Time Around” is about Malloy Farrell, an interior designer, who inherits her grandmother’s run-down tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon. Her plan is to sell the shop. However, she quickly finds out her old childhood crush, Grayson Matthews, wants to buy the shop and redevelop the area into an outdoor mall. So Mallory changes her mind about selling and decides to renovate and open a home decor shop instead. There are many renovating mishaps, entertaining side stories and budding romances in the story until a happily ever after finds Mallory.

I liked this book because Carlson always does an exceptional job with creating relaxing romance reads with enough plot development and twists and turns to keep the story moving. Starting over is a strong theme throughout the book.

Three words that describe this book: Sweet, Romantic, and Enjoyable

You might want to pick this book up if: You might pick up this book if you enjoy reading romance novels and reading novels about characters who are starting over in life.

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

Anne Perry, famous for her Victorian-era mysteries, begins a new series set in 1930s Europe, with a great new heroine, young photographer Elena Standish. Elena is drawn into the hidden world of espionage through a nipped-in-the-bud love affair, which in turn pulls her grandfather to reconnect with his past in the secret service from the “war to end all wars.”

“Death in Focus” is a great series starter, with the historical verisimilitude of Perry’s previous books and engaging characters. Elena encounters unsuspected villains, unexpected heroes, and uncertain loyalties amid shifting social and political realities. The plot is satisfyingly complex, yet believable.

Three words that describe this book: Exciting, engaging, expertly plotted

You might want to pick this book up if: You like mysteries and don’t mind the 1930s setting.

-Lynn

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

I adore murder mysteries so “The Only One Left” was right up my alley and also one that hadn’t been on my radar until a friend chose it for our book club. Essentially, it is a book about Kit, a caregiver with her own secrets, who is assigned to Lenora, an elderly invalid woman living on an estate on a cliff’s edge who just also happens to be a supposed murderess.

What follows Kit showing up at the estate to care for Lenora is a delightful box of secrets, murder, and thinking that you have it all finally figured out when nothing could be further from the truth. Just when I figured one piece of the puzzle out, another piece would get lost under the couch or roll off the table and I would have to go searching for it. I figured out big things, but rarely the details that really flushed it all out. It was a very enjoyable read.

Three words that describe this book: Mystery, Secrets, Betrayal

You might want to pick this book up if: You love murder mysteries and lots of good old fashioned family secrets and drama set in another historical time. This is set in the 1980s.

-Angel

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

“All Good People Here” features a woman who returns to her hometown as a young adult to care for her ailing uncle. When she was 6 years old, her best friend was found dead in a ditch. Shortly after returning to the town, another young girl has gone missing. Is it connected? The woman was an investigative reporter before coming back to town, so she starts digging into the new story and tries to connect it to the murder of her childhood friend.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. There were several unexpected twists and many interesting characters. I also liked that it was told from the perspective of the woman in present day, and also from the mother of the dead friend at the time that was unraveling. (Although I think the book needed one more chapter and the end to tie up a few more things.)

Three words that describe this book: haunting – secrets – page-turner

You might want to pick this book up if: You like true crime podcasts (this is fiction, but has the same vibes).

-Anonymous

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.

What I liked about “The Anxious Perfectionist”:

• Practical Advice: The book offers actionable strategies and techniques to manage anxiety and perfectionism, making it highly useful for readers.
• Insightful: It provides deep insights into the connection between anxiety and perfectionism, helping readers understand the root causes of their struggles.
• Empathy: The author approaches the subject with compassion and empathy, making readers feel understood and supported.

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Full of mishaps and adventure, “A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon” is an eye-opening account of a man’s trek through the base of the Grand Canyon and the many dangers he encountered there. This book goes past the knowledge that most of us have about the national park, exploring the history of the canyon and the indigenous people who call(ed) it home. I love this book because it helped me to think about the impact we all have on our environment and how important it is to conserve these awe-inspiring landmarks.

Three words that describe this book: Adventurous, hiking, conservation

You might want to pick this book up if: You enjoy outdoorsy nonfiction narratives

-Alexandra

This reader review was submitted as part of Adult Summer Reading. We will continue to share them throughout the year.