I’ve Tried Being Nice: Essays by Ann Leary  Ann Leary is done being nice. No one can say she hasn’t tried, but after a lifetime of people-pleasing, and with her children finally launched, Leary has stopped bending over backwards. In this relatable essay collection, the novelist sheds her always-agreeable image and shares the nitty-gritty details of … Read more

Group Living and Other Recipes: A Memoir by Lola Milholland In a time when it is rare to tune into the news without hearing a story about high housing costs or housing shortages, Lola Milholland’s debut memoir, “Group Living and Other Recipes,” is a timely examination of taking a different approach to the way we define … Read more

In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom “In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss” is author Amy Bloom’s recounting of her life with her husband, Brian, and how they faced his death together. After struggling with progressively declining mental acuity, Brian was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Confronted by this stark … Read more

On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers by Pat Carney If you’ve ever dreamed of chucking it all and moving to a sleepy, small Pacific Northwest island (or if you already have) you may appreciate Pat Carney’s charming set of meandering, interconnected short stories set on an unnamed Gulf Island in British Columbia. Carney passed away … Read more

If you are a reader who likes books with thought-provoking situations, characters with depth, and topics that you can discuss endlessly, check out what local book clubs are reading as a clever way to find your next great read.   To get you started, below are four brief reviews of books that are the August selections … Read more