Amanda

A really good (and relatively short) read on developing better strategies for engaging kids, both the ones you're raising at home and those you encounter in the community. I got a lot of good pointers from this, and loads of conversation starters for all ages, too! -Amanda

This is the kind of book that will be invaluable and useful to future readers interested in the evolution of the internet as we know it. I lived through all of this, and was not fully aware of the players or the context, or even some of the apps that thrust people into the spotlight. It's a fun read now for sure, but I think it will fill a spot in the discourse we need as we develop and innovate more. -Amanda

A fun read. It gives The Crown vibes VERY well with an American flavor I think many of us can appreciate, mixed with teen drama. -Amanda

What a fun social history! My ideas of debutantes is very 1950s America, and I loved getting the deep dive into how the ritual developed in England, then came to the US, and then morphed into something still different today. There's loads of historical gossip and trivia and it's enjoyable to experience the debutante life through the page. -Amanda

Toobin does an excellent job of giving an easy-to-follow true crime narrative, giving plenty of background information that lead to the event and some of the aftermath. An engaging read, and I could easily see Ryan Murphy wanting to turn it into a mini-series. -Amanda

This is brisk read that is especially helpful for students and young professionals as they learn how to interact with their colleagues in a positive way. I think most readers will get a few good takeaways from this! -Amanda

This book was absolutely stunning. The writing, the phrasing alone is brilliant, and though the story can be difficult to read and process, I became as immersed into it as I could. Just beautiful. The author does a great job of getting us into the main character's headspace so you can better identify with her feelings and desires and reactions. -Amanda

If you've ever wondered about the true story behind Go Ask Alice... this is the book for you. You'll learn all about the author behind the famous book and similar titles, and get a better grasp of the people she based them on. I really appreciated the thorough biography of the real Jay of Jay's Journal, and that was actually the highlight for me. If you read any of those "anonymous" books as a teen, you'll want to read this as well. -Amanda

I had to pause reading this book a lot to tell anyone who happened to be nearby the interesting piece of trivia I just learned. There is a rich history of home economics, and the remarkable women involved with every aspect of its development, and every page gives you something new and fascinating. Great read! -Amanda

Even though the author and I have lived very differently, I still found a lot of common ground with her, starting with our shared Midwest roots. You may recognize similarities in her story, too. -Amanda

With this case in the headlines, this gives a thorough rundown of how the crimes happened and under what circumstances. It's a tough read, but is good background for those interested in true crime. -Amanda

This was a really fun read - giving a swift and entertaining rundown of the history of American fitness and how the culture around fitness, and how we react to it, has evolved over the decades. -Amanda

I couldn't put this down! See how a group of wealthy Georgia ladies live, and get involved in a deadly feud at the same time. It's funny and entertaining, and full of interesting characters you love to hate. -Amanda

I discovered Babs on social media - she's full of energy and love and loads of helpful tips and tricks for running and household and entertaining. This collection has so many ideas for creating traditions for family and friends and making whatever holiday you want to celebrate a fun and memorable one. And it'll give you the warm and fuzzies while you read it! -Amanda

I couldn't put this book down! The journey the author and her new spouse take was fascinating, and the last section of the memoir that focuses on a pilgrimage was especially poignant. You learn how many cultures view and live marriage, and it offers you the space to reflect on your feelings as well. A lovely story. -Amanda

This is an interesting book for any person who had an obsession with the Titanic in the 4th grade. This gives a broader range of the Titanic tragedy and the various efforts to find it in the decades since. You'll meet some new Titanic-adjacent characters! -Amanda

I couldn't stop giggling through most of this book! She has amazing descriptions of Pakistani food, and you're going to adore her family with all their foibles. A marvelous immigrant story with a food journey as well. -Amanda

This is like reading a WWII spy thriller, but knowing that this really happened add to the feeling of being enveloped in the story. Recommended for readers of Deborah Lipstadt's Denial and Christopher Browning's Ordinary Men. -Amanda

Even if you aren't a One Direction fan, you're probably a fan of something else, musical group or TV show or movie franchise, and you will recognize a lot of yourself and fellow fans in this book about the effect fandom has on the internet. A fun read! -Amanda

A good bit of this book focuses on the dysfunctional family dynasty that produced Edie Sedgwick, and then hyper-focuses on Edie's time with Andy Warhol. Pretty fascinating for those interested in the New York art world of the 20th century. -Amanda

Raizl is a fascinating character with very complex feelings, and this is a different angle to view a religious community. It reminded me some of Deborah Feldman's memoir Unorthodox. -Amanda

I was riveted reading this book start to finish. Her details about prison life resonated with me, and her post-prison life is inspirational. -Amanda

This was fast read, engaging and shocking in its subject matter. It will enlighten the reader on a community they may not be aware of but will still seem relatable. -Amanda

This was a part of WWII I was unaware of. This is such a riveting story of two artists who resisted the Nazis in occupied Britain. If you liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society you'll find some familiar territory here! -Amanda

I loved the writer’s style and she has so many great stories to share from her days working the wedding desk at the Times. I drank this up! And even better? Her slow burn of a love story that unfolds throughout the book that made me squee. And when you Google her you find their NYT wedding announcement and that makes me beam. Truly a delight to read! -Amanda

An absolute must-read for fans of The Office! You cannot contain the joy these two have for their show and their co-workers and crew. So much fun trivia and behind-the-scenes stories to make you want to binge watch it again! -Amanda

This was a truly fun and engrossing journey, learning all about what life is like as a flight attendant and all the bumps along the way. I sped through reading this I had so much fun! -Amanda

This was a beautiful and heartbreaking read about an aspect of the Holocaust I was not aware of. It was inspiring to read about what these women did to survive and help each other and all they encountered. -Amanda

This is a heartbreaking memoir, but I found it so beautiful and comforting as well. We get to learn about a close and loving family and the their talented son who was gone too soon. It's a heavy read, but a transformative one as well. -Amanda

This is a super enjoyable and informative read about the history of women's fitness and so many of the players who started the programs and clothes and mindsets we have today. I couldn't put it down! -Amanda

I was mesmerized by this story, and loved hearing all the scandals and gossip from Old Hollywood. It's a sad and engaging story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. -Amanda

I had no idea the field of home economics was so progressive and wide-reaching! I kept having to stop to share a fun piece of trivia I just learned. You'll recognize a lot of the influence today from the women of decades past. -Amanda

What a fun book. I’ve always been fascinated by the Barbizon, and it was wonderful to read a book on its history that also is a marvelous history lesson in mid-century New York for women. The author details so many interesting women who lived in the Barbizon, most particularly the guest editors of Mademoiselle magazine over the years (like Sylvia Plath and Joan Didion). I could barely keep up with the wealth of information and all the intriguing characters and stories over the many decades of the Barbizon, and kept pausing to look more into many of them. This is as much of a page-turner as a non-fiction book can be! -Amanda

I loved the show, I loved the characters, and I could feel the love and devotion everyone working on the show had for The Office as I read this book. I've watched the episodes with the commentaries and am an avid listener of the Office Ladies Podcast, and even with all that random trivia in my head, I learned so many fun facts about the show through this book. So many gems! Well worth reading for any fan of the show. You're going to fall in love with the episodes and actors (in particular Steve Carell!!) and gain a whole new appreciation for the writers and crew. Highly recommended! -Amanda

This book shows how easily a person can be seduced by racism and white nationalism, how innocuous it can seem, and how deep a person can get into it. One of the main women featured is no longer a participant in the culture, and has found a different way to belong, and I really wish the best for her. This was a fascinating and engaging read, and I highly recommend it. -Amanda

An absolutely delightful and engaging biography on the woman behind one of my favorite books, Harriet the Spy. I knew absolutely nothing about Louise Fitzhugh prior to reading this, and found her a truly wonderful artist who knew so many people and had a genuine talent that Harriet the Spy was able to exemplify... but she had so much more to offer. I highly recommend this to fans of Harriet, anyone who appreciates LGBTQ+ history, and fans of midcentury literature in general. -Amanda