Check out what ‘PW’ had to say about the books on the former president’s much-anticipated annual summer reading list.
— Read on www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/95705-2024-obama-reading-list.html

What to Do When You Worry Too Much

A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

by Dawn Huebner

This title offers a valuable resource for children and those who care about them including family, caregivers, teachers and mental health professionals. It is an updated edition of a book about helping kids who worry.

This book is very readable and relatable. It offers helpful text and activities to help children to manage their anxieties. Huebner notes that adults often tell kids not to worry or push them forward or shield them while none of these tactics work very well. Instead, this book helps kids to understand what worry is, how it is triggered and ways to manage their fears.

This title is meant, I think, to be read with a trusted adult. Going through this book multiple times may indeed be useful. In fact even some adults may find some help in these pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the American Psychological Association-Magination Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An e book bargain

#ACyclistsGuidetoCrimeCroissants #NetGalley

I was initially drawn to this one by the book’s title and the cover which I found very appealing. Happily, the story inside these pages also offered an enjoyable read with gorgeous locations, some good characters and an interesting plot.

Sadie was the kind of person who lived a predictable life as exemplified by her position as an actuary. Her life changes following the unexpected death of her best friend, Gemma (not too much of a spoiler as this happens very early in the book).

Sadie needs a change and purchases a bike tour company in France (now that sound pretty nice). However, of course, there are problems. These include vandalism and murder. No spoilers so hard to say much more except that this was a fun, cozy read. I hope that it is the start of a series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 21 May 2024

An e book bargain for 04.24.2024

Four stars ****

Jennifer Ryan has become one of my favorite writers of historical fiction and here she has written another successful WWII set story. In The Underground Library, she follows three main and many auxiliary characters.

Juliet has gotten her dream job, even if it may only be because the men are away. She is now the Deputy Librarian of the Bethnal Green Library. (Look it up for some great photos). She hopes to liven up the rather staid premises with a book club, children’s story hour and more. What will she contribute to the project that is the title of this book?

Juliet lives with a landlady and it turns out that she knows the other boarder. Juliet used to have no respect for him. Will her feelings change?

Katie has been working in the library while waiting to attend university. She becomes a friend and colleague to Juliet. However, Katie faces a serious crisis. Will she be okay?

Sophie lived a nice upper middle class life in Germany before the war. She has become a Jewish refugee in London. Sophie works for an incredibly mean spirited man and some in London view her in a rather prejudiced manner. She finds solace in the library. Will Sophie get a chance at something better? Will she ever be reunited with her family?

Readers also get to know a number of the library’s patrons. These include two older sisters and the rather bold Marigold. All of them interact over the course of the story including, of course, the three main characters.

The author does a good job of depicting wartime London. The descriptions of bombing raids, Anderson shelters and running to the underground for safety are all well portrayed.

This is a novel that will be enjoyed by those who like books about books, women’s fiction and WWII set stories. The pages definitely turn.

Look for all of Jennifer Ryan’s novels starting with The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir. They offer engaging reads.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the publisher:

Untangling your childhood

by The School of Life

#GettingOverYourParents #NetGalley

Readers will know pretty quickly whether or not this book is for them. If a reader feels that there is in fact nothing to get over, they may want to pass. For many others though, exploring the complex relationship between parent and child may be compelling. For that matter, maybe those who are thinking about having children will want to read this to think about how they hope/want to be as they take on the role.

Not all therapists focus on a person’s childhood these days. However, many do and this title is well within the camp that believes in the deep and profound influence that a parent has on a child’s life. The authors go for a deep dive examining parenthood and coping strategies for their offspring in these pages.

The authors suggest that there are different types of parents. For example, a parent could be preoccupied, overprotective, controlling or defensive. Each of these (perhaps unconscious) ways of being has a cause and also an effect upon that parent’s child. Interested readers may well see their childhood as influenced by one or more of these ways of being.

Luckily this book also offers a number of exercises that are meant to help. However, I do urge proceeding thoughtfully. This book may uncover a lot. If that is the case, it would be important to be anchored in some way while working things through. This could mean therapy or perhaps another way of reaching out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The School of Life for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 September 2024

by Stephen Fry

#MythosTheIllustratedEdition #NetGalley

Stephen Fry wears a few hats. One of these is author and, in that guise, he has written his version of the Greek myths. Readers are lucky that he has taken on these stories of the gods with all of their powers but also their human flaws.

This is a long (over 500 pages) book that will keep readers entertained for hours. So many stories are included here. Read about Gaia’s Revenge, Hera, Artemis, Cupid, Phaeton, Hyacinthus, Pyramus and Thisbe, Midas… and that is just a very small sample of the characters found in these pages.

This is a new edition of the previously published Mythos. It is lavishly illustrated. Mythos will bring so much pleasure to readers. Think about giving this as a gift to someone who loves Greece, mythology and beautiful editions of books. I am certain it will be welcomed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 September 2024

Starring an undergraduate student at Oxford, Rosalind Brown’s debut novel is exquisitely attuned to the thrill and boredom of academic life.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/06/22/books/review/practice-rosalind-brown.html

I plan to read this.

Our columnist on three terrific new books.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/08/03/books/review/new-thrillers.html

Let’s Count New York City

A Board Book Counting Primer

by Adina Oberman

Count to ten in this adorable, rhyming counting book featuring New York City. It is so cute! The illustrations include everything from the Empire State Building to bagels.

This book will probably be loved as much by adults as by the kids for whom it is intended. It offers a fun (and sometimes funny) glimpse of the city.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Familius Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the Blink of an Eye

A Novel

by Jo Callaghan

#IntheBlinkofanEye #NetGalley

I had seen this book on a British bookstore’s website and was quite intrigued. I was delighted when it became available in the U.S. and thrilled to get an early review copy of this series starter.

Jo Callaghan has already received awards and praise for her debut. She is the Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. These are huge accomplishments and, in my opinion, well deserved.

Readers will not forget Kat and Aide. Kat is a detective who has been paired with an artificial intelligence device. It is an experiment to see if and how AI might be useful in investigations. Aide can assume bodily form as a hologram, at times causing much consternation. He also can be rather outspoken. There is much interplay between Kat’s intelligence and emotions as compared with Aide’s brilliance and lack of tact.

Kat, Aide, her team and the creator of Aide Lock are tasked with the investigation of two (cold) missing persons cases, both young men. One is a Black student missing from Uni. The other is a white theater graduate who is from a well to do family. Are these situations independent or linked?

In this novel, there is an excellent mystery plot and added to this are the AI elements of the story. Both kept me turning the pages and sad to reach the end of the story. Luckily the sequel, which is out in the UK, will be coming to the U.S. before too long.

The other aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the characters. Each had enough back story to keep them interesting. In the case of Kat, she is widowed and has a teenage son. One of her investigators has a sister who had a bad experience at university while another, Debbie, seemingly lacks confidence. The relatives of the missing young men and others also very much come to life.

This book is easily one of my favorites of the year. I hope Callaghan writes many more titles.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this one. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 06 August 2024

From the Publisher