December Staff Picks (12/14/22)

wcag heading

wcag heading

wcag heading

December staff picks collage

We’re celebrating this holiday season with some of our favorite fictional families. Check out this month’s recommendations all focusing on heartfelt stories full of loved ones.

Amanda’s Pick: MR KATO PLAYS FAMILY by Milena Michiko Flašar | 9781250842497 | 6/20/23

Anyone who loved A MAN CALLED OVE or THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV is going to want to read this eccentric second-lease-on-life novel that follows curmudgeon and recent retiree Mr Kato, who spends his days wondering how his life went wrong.  After a chance encounter, he takes a job with a company that hires people to act as part-time relatives or acquaintances, and so starts his journey to rediscover the excitement and spontaneity of life, and re-examine his role in his own family.  Warm and kind-hearted, this book is the best kind of familial hug.

Available for download on Edelweiss know more. LibraryReads votes due by May 1st.

Emily’s Pick: PIECES OF BLUE by Holly Goldberg Sloan | 9781250847300 | 5/9/23

If you’re looking for a heartfelt book that will make you laugh a lot, PIECES OF BLUE is the perfect book for you. After her husband dies in a surfing accident, Lindsey Hill and her three children use his life insurance to buy and restore a ramshackle beachside motel in Hawaii, hoping for a fresh start. Perfect for fans of Maria Semple, Emma Straub, and Taylor Jenkins Reid (who all happen to be some of my personal favorites), this tender and funny story is full of heart and mystery.  

Available for download on Edelweiss know more. LibraryReads votes due by April 1st.

Samantha’s Pick: IF WE’RE BEING HONEST by Cat Shook | 9781250847546 | 4/18/23

Cat Shook’s IF WE’RE BEING HONEST has some of my favorite things. It’s a debut, it stars a messy yet endearing family, it takes place in the sweltering South, and it is, overall, a romantic comedy. I loved how upbeat the tone was while all of the characters were facing real and relatable issues. It takes place when a family patriarch suddenly dies and his funeral turns out unlike anyone expected, leaving his children and grandchildren reeling and confused. This is perfect for fans of some of my personal favorites, including ALL ADULTS HERE, PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION, and THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU.

Available for download on Edelweiss know more. LibraryReads votes due by March 1st.

Michelle’s Pick: WE ARE THE BRENNANS by Tracey Lange | 9781250796219 | available now

I fell in love with the Brennans! Centered around Sunday Brennan, a young woman who has estranged herself from her tightly-knit Irish Catholic family, this heartwarming story explores the redemptive power of love in the wake of conflict and secrets. I truly felt connected to each character in this novel, and I was rooting for every one of them until the very end.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By submitting this form, you accept the Mollom privacy policy.