By Jaime Townzen
** Publication Date 6 January 2025 **
​4 stars 

Initially I didn’t think I was going to like this book. It started out slow, and with a protagonist that didn’t seem too likable. Gotta say, my mind was changed long before the end of the book.



Stacey struggles with self-esteem. She’s a tall teenage girl, who also isn’t the skinny model type. So when she’s picked to be a lifeguard over the summer at the local pool, she is anything but excited to have to wear a swimsuit every day. Once she attends the orientation, she’s even less excited since the girls are all, in Stacey’s eyes, perfect. The boys, well, at least one named Jesse, hot. How can she possibly wear a swimsuit around these people?


Yet as the summer goes on, Stacey becomes more comfortable not only with herself, but with her coworkers, forging friendships she never expected. Even the totally hot Jesse. Life is never perfect, nor as expected, and her newfound confidence and desire to be desirable causes a rift with her best friend Gabe. Stacey is going to have to figure out what she really wants and how to get it.


Stacey starts out kind of whiny and insufferable, but over the summer (and the book) becomes so much more of a well rounded human, flaws and all. It’s a great novel about being yourself and trusting your instincts. The teenage years are challenging for anyone. This novel points out that even when you thinks someone has it all, they might be hiding some real things from you. 


Turned out to be a pretty good novel about growing up. I enjoyed it.
​

By Courtney Gould
** Publication Date 10 December 2024 **
​4 stars
This book definitely has some trigger warnings, which is fair, since it focuses on kids attending a ‘wilderness’ program to try to rehabilitate bad behaviors. Just prefacing in case that might be an issue for you.


The story starts with Devin, a foster teen, being kidnapped. But she’s not really being kidnapped, as it becomes clear, her foster parents have arranged this abduction. Forced into a van with another teen, Ollie, they find out that they’re headed a long way to the forest. Ollie appears defeated, Devin is still angry.


When they reach the destination they find three other teens and two adults waiting. Sheridan, Hannah, and Aiden, who have also been sent by their families as a last resort to curb bad behaviors. Their leaders Liv & Ethan don’t look much older than them. Handed a pack of what they’ll need and an overview of what’s to come, they begin their 50 days in the wild.


As the days progress, things get strange. The leaders vanish. The five teens are stuck trying to figure out how to survive. And something is living in the treetops and tormenting them. 


Unbelievably frightening and detailed, this novel really gave me pause about sending your kids on one of these encounters. Not to mention whatever it was stalking them in the forest. It’s a chilling account that definitely leaves some things in the woods that are better left there. No spoilers, but these kids have to pull their crap together and work as a unit, something none of them is really comfortable with. Great story. Loved how intense it was. 

By P.J. Nelson
​** Publication Date 10 December 2024 **
5 stars
One of the most enjoyable mysteries I’ve read in a while. I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘cozy’ mystery, but it definitely wasn’t much of a horror mystery either. Truly loved the story of Madeline and her return to Enigma, Georgia.


After pursuing a career in the theatre, Aunt Rose opened a bookstore in Enigma. It’s an old Victorian home where the first floor serves as a store, and the second floor as a home. Rose had a successful run selling books and textbooks for the local college. When she passed, the bookstore went to her niece Madeline. 


Madeline returns to Enigma after her own somewhat successful career in the theatre. Kindred spirits were Madeline and her Aunt Rose. Madeline isn’t quite sure what her next act is, so she latches onto the inheritance and heads home. She isn’t in Enigma but minutes, when the gazebo behind the house is in flames. Arson. Then she gets a troubling phone call late at night threatening to burn the rest of the house down.


Not the return she imagined.


With her Aunt Rose’s best friend Philomena and the new Methodist minister Gloria, Madeline is going to tackle figuring out who wants her out of Enigma. Along the way she’ll also have a murder to solve. It does get sticky down in those parts.


Very fun. Very engaging. With so much humor and grace, this story was a pleasure to read. I don’t think I’ve read any P.J. Nelson before, but I can guarantee this won’t be the last.

By Ann Hood (edited by)
** Publication Date 12 Nov 2024 **
​4 stars

​If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you’ll enjoy this. Each of these essays touches on a personal relationship with Gilmore Girls. How Gilmore Girls affected each of these people in different ways. Good and bad. But so interesting how each of these essayists felt about the show. 


This is one of those books you can pick up and put down without losing track. Made me want to crawl back into Star’s Hollow and reminisce.