Melody

I learned about this book from the State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City office, which is hosting an event for the author on Saturday, June 7, 2025. I did not grow up in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, so I didn't know much about Grant Wood until moving here. Of course I knew about American Gothic, but did I know about the "Plaid Sweater" painting at the Stanley, where a young boy poses with his pigskin? I showed that painting to my football-loving son who rolled his eyes at me. This book is all about his stained glass masterpiece, Memorial, at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids. Feller does extensive research on the composition of this work and argues this was the piece that set him on his way to becoming a Regionalist master artist. Local art history fans, check this book out! -Melody

I got to be the lucky "First Hold" on this audiobook. Two days in, and I feel like it's a whirlwind love affair between me and this story! It took a few chapters for me to get into the narration, but the slow burn love story is so engrossing that I'd love it no matter what. As usual with the books I recommend, the main characters are quite likeable. I do want propose shame plays a key role in this book as well, as so much of the main female character's life is shaped by the emotion's influence on her. There is some fun meta-romance in this book as well, like a fun enemies-to-friends argument about The Notebook and discourse about what makes a love story truly wonderful. The relationship building is paced nicely. There's no first-date-lap dance like you get in Hannah Grace's Wildfire. I'm only about halfway through the book, and there's only been thoughts of kissing rather than any action-packed lip-smacking. But the anticipation is what makes it so good! Gotta remember that for future book choices: give me yearning over instant gratification. -Melody

It is almost June and we are entering prime hiking and nature walk season. Whether it's a stroll along the paths at Terry Trueblood or a secluded trek through local preserves or parks, keep an ear out for the birdsongs that carry you along. And keep an eye out for birds of prey. This pocket-sized field guide will be your best friend when your smartphone signal is weak. I even wish I had something like this while at the dog park sometimes. Is that a Cooper's Hawk or a Merlin? With this book, I can find out. -Melody

This romance novel makes for a nice and easy listening audiobook. The drama isn't too hot to handle, the scars are only emotional, and no one gets murdered. So I guess that's my way of saying I'll happily live in a strawberry pancake house for a week. Both main characters have their own way of being a hot mess. One: a scatterbrain yoga and swim instructor; the other: a perfectionist, exacting chef who can't make Bisquick pancakes right. I sometimes get so emotionally wrapped up in the mental lives of a novel's protagonists that it's hard to remember I live in the real world. This book didn't make me work so hard. It was gentle and tame with mild but interesting love scenes. -Melody

When judging this book by its cover, I assumed it was going to be a little lame and poorly written. And how wrong I was! This book is a madcap adventure if I ever read one. I don't want to give too much away, but I chortled at every gag our heroes used in an attempt to get out of sticky situations. Who brings a slingshot to a gun fight? These guys. The setting for this book--Isle Royale National Park--was the other selling point for me. I love indulging in books that take me to faraway places. A forested island with no ticks or bears, but plenty of moose and the chance to see a wolf, equals one that will capture my daydreams. Lovers of national park hiking adventures: this one's for you! -Melody

Natural history is so fascinating! The extent of my bird-nest knowledge ends at my backyard, where we sometimes find house finch nests in our hanging ferns. This book has hundreds of historic nests collected from all over the world. The back cover reads, "Birds are some of nature's most innovative architects." I never knew I needed to know about birds' nests until eyeing this book on the shelf. What a fun discovery! The only drawback is that this book doesn't include illustrations of the bird species that build these nests. But have a web browser handy and that drawback is easily remedied. Two talons up. -Melody

Once I got into this audiobook, I had to make sure I only opened it when I had a solid block of time to binge-listen. The story, the narrative performances had me so rapt that any disruption to my attention to it stoked my ire. I missed the fact that it won an Audie; the award is well deserved. And honestly, I'm not a fan of the covers of Christina Lauren's books so I passed this one by every time I saw it. But boy was I missing out! The writing is so funny too, the plot clever. The first book in this series, The Soulmate Equation, is definitely going on my To Be Read list. Can't wait! -Melody

This book is great! I like making bulk meals on Sundays so that I can have lunch for the week. I'm not so much a sandwich gal; I like my soups and grains and baked veggies. The first thing I made was a Tater Tot Egg Bake, which was so easy that I had time to clean the kitchen while it was baking. Usually, my Sunday batch cooking means Monday kitchen cleanup. But not with the tot bake! I'm also keen on trying their garlicky grains, featuring greens, farro, and sausage, and their one pot "squash-ta." They have a nice section on ingredients to keep on hand, as well. This book is perfect for working people who don't want to spend their leisure time toiling over the stove. -Melody

I haven't picked up a Helen Harper novel for a few years, but I used to burn through her books like nobody's business. Her characters are cheeky and irreverent, getting into all sorts of hijinks and having a range of magical abilities. She is one of my favorite urban fantasy writers, and while the person reading her audiobooks has a rather thick alto brogue, it is well worth training your ear for a listen. -Melody

Okay. I'll admit it. I just checked this book out for the pictures. When did I get into birds? Probably at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when I would sit and stare out the window all the time. The Merlin Bird ID app taught me to appreciate all the different bird songs around me, and now, I just like looking at photos of beautiful birds. When I'm reading a book set in the British Isles and puffins make their way into the text, I tend to imagine the penguins I've seen at the zoo. But a puffin is not a penguin! And a book like Dare to Bird shows me the delightfully bright beak of a bird who lives half a world away. -Melody

I was drawn to this cover the moment I eyed this book on the shelf! It has a beautiful and welcoming embroidered look to it. I'm enjoying how accessible Blondie makes dipping ones toes into spiritual mysticism. I am usually such a techno-realist, but this is the year I start loving crystals and meditation again. This is a self-care book in its essence, a way to practice mindfulness while focusing respect on the natural world all around you. -Melody

Attention dog lovers! This book has gorgeous photos of canine companions on wonderous romps. The book is organized by season, featuring dogs enjoying spring wildflowers, summer lake jumping, and snowy runs. Check it out for the photography alone, or sit and share it with a young reader. The sentences are short and accessible for grades 3 and up. -Melody

This book is gorgeous! I am the lucky cataloger who got to see this book before the labels were delicately affixed and it was placed on the Hold shelf. This book is perfect for the curious, for those who love indulging in wonder. Pick this book up if you want your mind to take a walk on the wild side. -Melody

This was a speedy read with likeable leads. I enjoyed seeing the love interests pair up to investigate a haunted home, with one of them going so far as digging into the local archives. House remodeling? Check. Historic cemetery? Check. It is winter as I write this, and I loved imagining the sweltering Florida sun while enduring frozen days here at home. I haven't seen a palm tree in ages! -Melody

I really enjoyed Alicia Thompson's Love in a Cold World, finding it clever, funny, and tender. I listened to the audiobook for that one, and for her new novel, I picked up the paperback. This is a similar enemies-to-lovers workplace romance, and I found it had just the right amount of tension to keep me reading. There are some heavy topics involved, like the emotional and mental health needs following the suicide of a loved one. I guess emotional heaviness in romance is my thing? But it's kinda the best when those big, hurt feelings find their light and space to breathe--there's freedom in figuring out one's feelings! And I love it when the characters find that joy and lightness for themselves. For a sports romance book, I enjoyed getting a sense of what traveling baseball players might experience. There's some sex in it but it doesn't overwhelm the plot. I'd give it a 1 out of a 5 Hot Chili Pepper rating. Not very spicy. -Melody

My mouth waters at simply reading the names of some of these recipes: cider-glazed root vegetables, sausage with braised cabbage and apples, squash and apple gratin---mmm mmm. You'd suspect a book about cooking apples would be all pies and cobblers, but nope! This book covers apples in all ways. It's perfect for this apple season we're currently in. And it's so pretty; the cover's color palette pops. Local produce lovers, check this one out. -Melody

This is the second Katherine Center book I've read, and I think I like this one even more. While her first book was all about learning new wilderness skills and unpacking her emotional "backpack," The Rom-Commers took another forced situation trope and wrote a script with it. Emma is a fish-out-of-water kind of protagonist, having been plucked from her town and flown to L.A. to write with someone way more famous than her. Sound familiar? If you've read Curtis Sittenfeld's Romantic Comedy, which pairs a writer and musician and is also hysterically funny at times, you'll hear echoes of the plot setup and Hollywood setting. I feel like I laughed a bit more at Rom-Commers. Katherine Center is one of those romance writers that has mass appeal. Give me a good story, great characters, and a happy ending, and I'll fall in book-love. -Melody

I had the honor of cataloging this book and didn't want to put it down! We don't have a Dewey Decimal number for True Emotional Crime so I had to put it in the number for online dating. Definitely going on my TBR list. -Melody

tl;dr: Great book for Bridgerton lovers. I picked up this book because I haven't read a graphic novel romance and was very intrigued when I saw it on the shelf. I didn't like the illustration at first but it grew on me as the story went deeper into the characters' lives and motivations. I tend not to read historical fiction but I thought this might be a nice entry into the Bridgerton-influenced historical romance. There's no narration text, just illustrations and dialogue. The clean-line and uncluttered drawings communicated so much on their own. Novels require descriptive writing to detail the setting, but this graphic novel used sparseness to get me into the headspace of Regency England. FYI--some scenes are mature in nature. -Melody

I picked up this book from our "Books about Book People" display that was up in May. That theme is right up my alley. I just know it's going to be a creative read when the hero is a struggling author. BUT THIS BOOK! I binged the last half of the book in one afternoon. The characters are (of course) likeable and relatable, for me anyway. I've read my fair share of books where the protagonist is a hot mess and I personally enjoy the comedic opportunity that kind of character provides. But my favorite comedic bits were in the interactions between Gracie and her friend's Eastern European immigrant mother. She treats Gracie as if she were her own, offering borscht to her anytime she is down on her luck. I just love the tenderness felt among the characters. I read some negative reviews on Goodreads so the book might not be for everyone. But for me, I didn't want the story to be over at "The End." I want more of these characters and hope the author considers featuring them in a future book. -Melody

Having a grade-schooler allows me to remember all the fun I had in school (yes, I was a schoolie). Particularly in math, where games like "Around the World" allowed me to relish in competitive arithmetic. Weird, I know! For me, high school was the last time I studied any math, having chosen a creative/literary path instead, and so I'm enjoying reading these blurbs about all the theories and philosophies I used to know. Favorite quote so far? "...It is beyond doubt that many things became easier once people became comfortable with the concept of nothing..." -Melody

Being an Ali Hazelwood fan, I had to try out her first attempt at romantasy (romance + fantasy). I used to exclusively read romance in the urban fantasy genre--gritty city settings featuring powerful tribes of fantasy character classes--so picking up this book was an easy Yes for me. It's a far cry from her STEM-based romances, but has the same humor and relationship building as her others. Another forbidden love/opposites attract win! -Melody

I checked this book out after being drawn in by its title. A "mindful" body sounds much better to have than a mindless one! There's a lot of new science out there about how conditions of the body affect the brain, like the mind-gut connection, and this book is a great companion to those studies. I appreciated learning about the placebo affect and enjoyed listening to stories about how people experienced less pain when they were able to ignore it more. I love exploring ideas that promote the mind-over-matter concept. If you've ever wondered, "but how sick am I *really*?" this book is for you! -Melody

This book needs no recommendations, but, yes! I must recommend it. Hugely popular contemporary romance author Emily Henry published Funny Story on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. I was one of the lucky few who fulfilled my audiobook hold the day it came out. Being sick all week and lying in bed, it was no feat to have narrator Julia Whelan read me this story through my illness. Such real characters, such tender affection, it just might be my new favorite. Sorry, 2022's Book Lovers! Funny Story now wears the crown. My one regret is that I finished it too fast. Time to put the print copy on hold! -Melody

This is Book 7 in the Bergman Brothers series by Chloes Liese, sadly the last in the series. I read them out of order, starting with Book 2, Always Only You. I would call this series a cozy romance: everyone is honest, open-hearted, well-behaved, and many scenes take place in a historic A-frame house in the secluded woods of Washington State. I had been wanting to try out some sports romances, and I was drawn to Always Only You because of its ability-diverse characters. Each book touches on serious themes while not going too deep to break the fantasy of perfect and easy answers. Some love scenes in the series are open door, earning maybe 4 out of 5 red hot chili peppers for steaminess. -Melody

Honestly I came across this audiobook while looking for other books narrated by Soneela Nankani. She narrates books I love by Sonali Dev and Nisha Sharma, whose novels focus on Southeast Asian American culture and how traditional culture from their homeland conflicts with that of their adopted home. So here I am trying to find another Southeast Asian American love story and I stumble upon a book about menopause. There are a lot of new articles about how long the American health industry has ignored the suffering women go through during this major life event. Dr. Bhati discusses the 5 stages of hormonal shifting, starting with puberty and ending post menopause. She discusses individual hormones and their effects on the body extensively. She also gives lots of advice to help alleviate the suffering women go through due to these hormonal changes. If this is something you're experiencing or know someone who is, this book is worth checking out! -Melody

I am really looking forward to reading this! GBBO (Great British Bake Off, or Show in the U.S.) is still a go-to Netflix watch for me. The older bakers are always some of the best contestants on the show, loving cooking for their grandchildren and always having a warm kitchen. There's a slew of spin-offs from GBBO, both in new television series and fiction novels, that I'm eager to see Olivia Ford's take on it next. -Melody

I picked up this audiobook because I was really attracted to the premise, a clairvoyant mother predicting her daughter will never come in first for anything. I love is when my protagonist is a loser! Just Kidding. Really, tho, so many plots in romantic universes start with a lead who is down on their luck. The novelty of this novel is the lead is perpetually unlucky, but in true romance form, she persists! The double-edged sword of audiobooks is that the narrator's performance can be so realistic and dramatic that the character reads as melodramatic. So it is with this book's male lead, a rich kid with a chip on his shoulder the size of his CEO father. Still, wealthy heirs have feelings, too! I'm about an hour away from completing this book, so fingers crossed he gets a therapist and grows up a little. -Melody

This book is ridiculous and I love it. It's such a (refreshingly) straightforward schtick that if we didn't know the male lead was a vampire by the book's title, we'd surely recognize it after he claims she'll never see him during the day because he "works" at night. Everything about him is so obvious (he doesn't know what a trash can is because he's never made any trash) that the story can focus on his charmingly ignorant view of modern day American society. (He's been in a coma for 100 years after his friend accidentally poisoned him). When you read a lot of formulaic genre fiction (and have no shame about it), it's so fun to pick up something that pokes fun at all the traditional plot points and character dramas. Really fun read. -Melody

This title is more than 10 years old already, and I'm ashamed to admit I hadn't read it before now. It's a perfect October read--the chill is in the air and there's nothing better than burning some candles and cozying up with a dark academia story. It makes me wish I had a faux leather bound book cover that I could rest this paperback in and pretend I'm reading one of the protagonists ancient manuscripts. The first half proved to be a pretty compulsive read for me, with just enough fear and dread that I can't read it right before bedtime. I'm looking forward to curling up with the last half so I can see how this witch discovers her powers and survives until Book 2! -Melody

I saw this trailer on Netflix (which knows me so well) and knew I had to read the book first. I prefer audiobooks for rom coms, and this one did not disappoint. I am a sucker for a transformational backpacking journey in fiction--not something I get to do in real life. The characters were humane and loveable, and the banter between the leads was light-hearted and witty. The title comes from the name of a textbook a fellow sojourner brings with her, a book for a positive psychology class she's taking. Happiness studies grew in popularity as the pandemic wore on, so it might sound old hat to you as you're reading this in 2023. The first edition of this novel came out in 2015 and is seeing a resurgence thanks to the film adaptation. Now I just have to find 2 hours to sit still for a movie night. Happy reading! -Melody

This book gets my vote for prettiest cover on the new nonfiction shelves right now. It's history, mythology, and earth science packaged into smart essays that revel in humanity. -Melody

If you are into houseplants and love growing their babies, this is the book for you. My house doesn't get great sunlight (plus, cats!) so I personally don't have a ton of houseplants at home. That isn't going to stop me from checking out this book and reading about nurturing their growth from a single cutting. I'm happy to read it for the beautiful plant photography itself. -Melody

This book is on my TBR pile (to be read). It's a new rom-com (published July 4, 2023) that is getting rave reviews. I have to read a lot of book reviews for work, and each one I read about this book has great things to say. Why else do I want to read it? I love comedy that turns your everyday feelings of failure into a no-big-deal moment. Sex-positive book about open communication? Nice. Woman writer settling for a paycheck over following her creative writing dream? Awesome. Can't wait for my hold to come in for this one. -Melody

I'm digging this trend in women's fiction where our heroines are authors or other agents in the literary world. I picked this book up to have a light read while on vacation. The first couple of chapters didn't exactly grab me--the characters didn't have much depth yet. But as I read further, I found I really couldn't put it down and had to finish it in two sittings. Then when it was over, I was like, WHY can't I read more??? There's something so gratifying about watching someone fall apart then grow back stronger. -Melody

This is really an incredible book--the best long-form journalism I've read in a while. It's not just that the sentences are smooth, direct, and propel the story forward, it's the heart-wrenching story itself. And while technically a true crime narrative, this book goes deep into the histories of two men brought into conflict during a Black Lives Matter protest. Author Joe Sexton masterfully details the little things in these men's lives that made each of them human; a Lion King tattoo for one, war-induced PTSD for another. Both men lost their lives that night, one literally, and the tragedy extends by political factions using them as martyrs for their causes. Read this book to remember to scrutinize every "black and white" story on the internet. Given the divisiveness and tribalism of online political discourse, and the multiple lies we'll all be reading in the run-up to the 2024 election, I consider this a must-read book for the year. -Melody