The Change by Kirsten Miller

 

5/5 ⭐

The Change by Kirsten Miller is not one for the faint of heart. It's not for someone looking for some light-hearted reading with a cookie-cutter ending. 

The Change is not for anyone unwilling to face their own mortality as they age and the 'changes' that come with it. This book is for anyone, especially women who will, have, or are going through 'The Change', better known as Menopause. Or if you are Blanche Devereaux, 'The Curse'. 

Following the pov of three middle-aged women at different points in their life, Miller blends mystery and light fantasy together as these three individuals come into gifts they alone can wield. 

For those interested, I will warn you that it takes a little before the story really picks up but once it does it is a gripping page-turner. So stick with it because trust me... you don't want to miss that ending. 

This was an unusual pick for me as I don't usually read books that too closely match real-world happenings. But there was something about this one that kept calling me, so I gave it a shot. 

And oh boy. But in the end, I managed to finish it in just two days. Not even moving from my seat to finish it, because I just needed to know the ending. 

Miller managed to write in such a way that you had to figure out what happened next. Dragging you in and in and in. It left me reeling in the best way possible and left me thinking about it constantly for days afterward. 

~CP

*Remember to check the TW, there are some heavy topics and explicit events that take place. 

Smile Beach Murder by Alicia Bessette

 

 5/5 ⭐

This first in a new cozy mystery will leave you desperate for more. 

It hits all the marks of a great cozy, small town life, a bookstore cat, and murder. 

A once journalist turned bookshop employee, Callie Padget is surrounded by supportive family and friends as she looks into the sudden death of a popular local. Who just so happened to die in the same place and manner as Callie's own mother decades before. 

As she travels across the beautiful scenery that is Cattail Island, experience every twist and turn and wait for an ending you won't expect. 

I cannot wait to see what happens next with this series. 

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer 

June 2022

Part mystery, part historical fiction with fascinating characters and insights into life in the 1500's, situated in a historic English manor in the present. Hannah and her precocious and troubled son Nicky, are staying with their Uncle Christopher in the manor, when Nicky discovers a body in a bricked-up forgotten section of Ashton Hall in Cambridge, England. This book has so many layers of engagement! What begins as a mystery morphs into a woman's journey to freedom. If you are a fan of historical fiction with a twist, this is for you. I learned so much about Tudor England. The author uses the discovery of a body, the time of difficult religious turmoil (Catholics vs Protestants), and pestilence as the backdrop for an intense family drama unfolding in the present. Belfer explores many relevant topics including sexual identity, fidelity, and neurodiversity which she does with great power and finesse through well-drawn characters. The Audible narration was especially captivating! I highly recommend this book!

Jaema Berman

Staff Picks - Chelsea's Top 5 for the First Half of 2022

We are halfway through 2022 and I thought I would share my top 5 titles I have read so far. I read a lot for my work and for myself. So, trying to narrow the list down seemed impossible. Which is why I decided to pick 5 for the first half of 2022 and another 5 at the end of the year. 

Without further ado, here is my list!

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney - This title will be released on 8/30/22. 

This mystery/thriller takes inspiration from one of Agatha Christies more challenging stories And Then There Were None and it does a fantastic job at it. I could not put this title down and read it in just one sitting.

I can't wait for you to get your hands on it. 

If you like Agatha Christie, challenging puzzles, and incredible twists, you'll like this one. 

From Below by Darcy Coates - 

Another incredible horror from my favorite author in the genre, From Below, takes us out to sea and the mysteries that lie below in the deepest parts of the ocean water. 

Join this crew of adventurers as they uncover horrible secrets of what happened to the SS Arcadia all those moons ago. 

If you like atmospheric horror and ghost stories, this one is for you.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree - 

If you like coffee, pastries, and fantasy, I have news for you. This cozy fantasy follows Viv, the retired barbarian orc looking to settle down and open a coffee shop. 

And if you think that it might be too laid back and gentle, you've got another thing coming. There is just enough action and challenges they have to face to make it engaging up until the end. 

Suffice to say I am hoping to see more from these characters!

Perfect for those new to fantasy and looking for an introduction to the genre.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers - 

I love Becky Chambers's work a lot. And this sci-fi novella series is no exception. I have recommended it to almost everyone I know that reads actively. 

This cozy sci-fi takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and learning what is important to you and how to manage that with what is expected of you. I learned a lot about myself by reading this and I hope you do as well. 

If you like thought-provoking reads or are looking for something easy to get into the sci-fi genre, pick this one up. 

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake - 

Now, for me, this one was a surprise, because I am not the biggest fan of romances. But there was more than just romance here. There was a lot of self-reflection and familial events that made it feel much more fleshed out and solid. 

This was the first in a new series and I am excited to read the next one when it is out!

A positive LGBT+ romance for all. 

*All titles are available to check out through the library or are in the process of being ordered for the collection.