smithlibrary

[smithlibrary]

Stuart Says: As a listener of true crime podcasts, this book kept me on my toes until the very end!

Call Number: MYS F TIN

Also available in: eAudiobook, eBook

[smithlibrary]

Esther Says: Marasi is so underrated, and she's truly a gem in written female characters, I'm so glad it looks like she has a love interest now that'll be obsessed with her. Steris also gets to shine in this book and find her place in life, and I love that for her.

Call Number: SFF F SAN

Also available in: eAudiobook

[smithlibrary]

Christi Says: From the moment I hit play on the audiobook, I was hooked. With Jenkins’ rich storytelling and pitch-perfect narration, Hattie’s journey comes alive, capturing both her resilience and the harsh realities of navigating Hollywood as a Black actress in the 1930s and ’40s. The novel beautifully balances glamour, grit, and the undeniable charisma that made Hattie a star. Whether you read or listen, this is a five-star must for historical fiction lovers and anyone who appreciates stories of fierce, trailblazing women.

Call Number: F BIL

Also available in: eAudiobook, eBook

[smithlibrary]

Megan Says: This is just a true classic. If you have not read it yet, you must.

Call Number: CLA F MCC

Also available in: eBook

[smithlibrary]

Mandy Says: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries enchants with a cozy atmostphere and scholarly inquiry into the world of the fae. Combining fantasy, mystery, history and romance elements, this one-of-a-kind story was so much fun to read.

Call Number: SFF F FAW

[smithlibrary]

Nina Says: Chocked full of colorful characters and a poignant message about how women are viewed both in past and present. Schillace, as an autistic author, does a wonderful job of potraying Jo as a fully formed person first, whose autism colors how those around her see her -- in nuanaced ways -- but also how it has formed her unique skills. The ending lays the groundwork for the sequel out this month, The Dead Come To Stay.

Call Number: MYS F SCH

Also available in: eAudiobook

[smithlibrary]

Elizabeth says: Equal parts detective work, historical analysis, and psychological insight, this is a great read for any true crime enthusiast.

Call Number: Adult Non-Fiction - 364.152 JAM

Also available in: eAudiobook

[smithlibrary]

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him... Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about--and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth--and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya's unease--and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted...but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle's office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as "the first lost bride." It's becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it...

Call Number: F ROB

Also available: ebook; eaudiobook; large print

[smithlibrary]

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town's most respected gentlemen--one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon's newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Call Number: F LAW

Also available: ebook; eaudiobook

[smithlibrary]

Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Elena Ferrante's four-volume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters, the fiery and unforgettable Lila and the bookish narrator, Elena, become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. This first novel in the series follows Lila and Elena from their fateful meeting as ten-year-olds through their school years and adolescence.

Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between two women.

Call Number: F FER

Also available: large print; ebook; eaudiobook

[smithlibrary]

The identity comes first: Evie Porter. Once she's given a name and location by her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the mark: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.

Evie isn't privy to Mr. Smith's real identity, but she knows this job isn't like the others. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she's starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can't make any mistakes--especially after what happened last time.

Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there's still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn't be higher--but then, Evie has always liked a challenge. . . .

Call Number: THR F ELS

Also available: ebook; eaudiobook; large print

[smithlibrary]

Elizabeth says: First published over a decade ago Red Rising is getting some well-deserved love on BookTok. Lots of fun world-building and a great story.

Call number: SFF F BRO

Also available: eaudiobook, ebook

[smithlibrary]

Esther Says: One of the biggest plot twists ever I have read in my life??? Also, I LOVE TenSoon, I'm so glad he made his first appearance in Era 2, good throwback to Vin and gang.

Call Number: SFF F SAN

Also available in: eAudiobook

[smithlibrary]

Stuart Says: Highly recommended for anyone who tends to overthink and/or allows their inner saboteur to take the wheel.

Call Number: 153.4 NGU

Also available in: eBook

[smithlibrary]

Christi Says: Dreams of Joy by Lisa See is a gripping and emotionally intense sequel to Shanghai Girls, making this a true "2fer" recommendation—because if you haven’t read the first book, you’ll want to start there! Picking up where Shanghai Girls left off, this novel follows Joy’s journey into Mao’s China, where idealism meets harsh reality in the midst of the Great Leap Forward. The subject matter is difficult, but See’s meticulous research and powerful storytelling make it both compelling and historically illuminating. It’s fascinating (and chilling) to witness how easily the masses accepted propaganda—until the truth became impossible to ignore. Heart-wrenching yet beautifully written, this is a must-read for historical fiction fans. Five stars, without question!

Call Number: F SEE

Also available in: Spanish Fiction, eBook

[smithlibrary]

Megan Says: A Skillful Game of Cat and Mouse

Call Number: THR F ELS

Also available in: eAudiobook, eBook, Large Print

[smithlibrary]

Mandy Says: If you are looking for your next endearing character to root for-you have found her!

Call Number: MYS F PRO

Also available in: eAudiobook, Large Print