Sonny Boy

An extraordinary memoir by one of the Hollywood elite, Sonny Boy is an enthralling biography from octogenarian, Al Pacino as he reflects on his life and his award-winning career. From the streets of the South Bronx to the Godfather and Scarface, Pacino's life story is enthralling. It's a peak behind the curtain behind his long and storied career. Sonny Boy covers growing up with a single mother, childhood friendships, collaborations, romances, films, and theater; it is an endearingly honest and open recounting of a life lived to the fullest. He is open about his struggles with alcohol, disappointments in his life and career, bad performances on the stage and the screen, and the sheer good luck he was blessed with. Pacino gives an impassioned and enthusiastic narration filled with singing, laughter, and so much emotion. He is a gifted storyteller and orator; this biography makes the listener feel as if they are sitting down with an old friend. His intelligence, wit, compassion, and self-deprecation shine throughout. A life well lived, with an absolutely beautiful ending. Pacino still seems stunned and humbled at all he’s accomplished in his life and career. Verdict - a must listen and not just for movie fans. – Erin Cataldi

Mad Honey

MY HEART! This book was amazing. Christmas card worthy. I devoured it in two days. I had magically glossed over the synopsis and not heard and spoilers and ..... I'm glad I didn't it was so damn good and heartbreaking. Jodi Picoult always does an amazing job bringing important and "divisive" topics and humanizing them. I don't want to give any spoilers, just suffice it to say that this is a must read book that will pull at your heartstrings. Told in dual storylines Mad Honey is about what we leave in the past and how we face the future. Olivia was a battered wife but now she is an independent woman, a single mother, and a beekeeper. She is proud of her son Asher and she adores his girlfriend Lily. Lily is a talented young woman who has been on the move a lot with her mother. She is excited for a fresh chance and can't wait to go to a new school and make new friends. Chapters alternate between Olivia and Lily and.... AH THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Just read it. And read the afterward as well!

What Does it Feel Like?

A heartbreaking and deeply personal book by Sophie Kinsella, the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series about what it really means to live in the moment. Eve is a bestselling novelist, with five beautiful children, a doting husband, and a book that's getting turned into a Hollywood blockbuster. She has all the luck in the world, that is, until she wakes up in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. She is told she has just undergone brain surgery and they've removed a large tumor from her brain. She’ll need to relearn how to walk, regain her balance, and try to stay calm and collected in the face of the unknowable. Her faithful husband never leaves her side as she struggles to come to term with her diagnosis and what that means for her and her family. Radiantly narrated by Sally Phillips and Sophie Kinsella herself; Sally effuses emotion, heartbreak, and hope into every syllable. What Does it Feel Like? mirrors Sophie Kinsella’s experience battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Although heartbreaking, the way that this short novel is told through anecdotes and vignettes is extremely powerful and hopeful; listeners will ride a rollercoaster of emotions. A must listen. 

Mothballs

A coming of age graphic novel that explores family trauma and the legacy it leaves on it. It also bravely explores, forgiveness, sexual identity, jealousy, and forging your own path. Set in Argentina in the early 2000's, Mothballs follows nineteen year old Rocio as she moves into her estranged grandmother's house following her death. She has been feeling suffocated by her family's insistence she do well on her upcoming exams and just needs space. While wallowing around she starts to understand her family and her complicated history. Interesting and heartbreaking. 

Phantasma

A spicy romantasy set at the the turn of the century in New Orleans. When Ophelia's younger sister runs away after their mother's sudden death - it's up to Ophelia to find her and keep her safe. When she discovers that Genevieve has entered the deadly Phantasma contest, she has no choice but to go in after her. Phantasma is a travelling nightmare; contestants have to endure ten nights of competition, each level more deadly than the last. The whole thing is run be devils, ghosts, and phantoms. The sole winner is granted whatever their wish. Ophelia has a slight edge being a necromancer but Genevieve is just a mortal. With death on the line you wouldn't think there would be time for romance or sex, but the heart could also be easily lost. Despite it's large size this was quite a quick read. A little repetitive at times and I spotted the twist right at the beginning but it was still enjoyable. I will definitely read the next installment. 

Best Hex Ever

Deliciously cozy and spicy, this romantic comedy by debut author, Nadia El-Fassi, is a triumph. Dina Whitlock delights in running her London café, whipping up magic infused tea blends, coffees, and pastries for unassuming customers. Dina is a kitchen witch with a lot on her plate, she’s got a business to run, a needy cat, and wonderful friends, one of whom is about to get married; what more could a witch want? When curator, Scott Mason, stumbles into her café and bumps an evil eye off the wall she knows she is in trouble. He’s handsome and charming, and little does she know that she is about to be spending a lot more time with him (who knew he would be the best man at her best friend’s wedding?). There is only one problem, and it’s a doozy. The hex. Years prior, Dina was hexed by an ex so that anytime she started to fall for someone, her lover would constantly be in harm’s way, it would be a never-ending streak of bad luck. Should she push Scott away to keep him safe or can she find a way to break the hex? Narrated brilliantly by Ferne Marks and Owen Hall; their chemistry makes this book a scorching hot listen. Verdict: steamy, delightful and perfectly cozy, this debut romance is definitely worth a listen. Anxiously looking forward to the next in the series. – Erin Cataldi 

The Heir

This teen fantasy by local author, Claudia Klein (Nineveh, Ind.) is fast paced and full of intrigue. When  the country of Arbinad falls, princesses Kat and Lucy are separated and their father, the king, is killed. Lucy flees to an allied island country and Kat is taken prisoner when Erlingue soldiers mistake her for a soldier. Over the course of one day the sisters' lives are upended forever. 

The princes of Erlingue couldn't be more different. Eric wants to become king and conquer the continent, while Thomas just wants to keep the peace and let his father rule. When Eric murders his father and ascends the throne he wants to enslave more people and wage war; he will stop anyone who gets in his way, even if it's his own brother. Prince Thomas soon finds himself in a dungeon cell with none other than Princess Kat. She has every reason to hate him as his family and countrymen razed her country and killed her people, but they form an uneasy alliance. Can they escape? Can she get her country back? Most importantly, can she trust a prince who just waged war on her homeland? The Heir is told through multiple perspectives and is the first in a trilogy.

Sleep Psalms

I read this before bed over a span of a few months and it was a great way to unwind and get ready for bed. I definitely want to keep in the habit and will need to find another similar book soon. There were 100 psalms in this book and each psalm had a small introduction to it, the psalm itself, a prayer, meditation, and adoration. Just two small pages and one big impact. Wonderful book, I'll definitely use it again in a few months! 

The Lightning Circle

This book made me so sad that I didn't go to summer camp. Seriously. It's so nostalgic and magic and so heartfelt. This teen novel written in verse is loosely based off the author's experiences being a teen counselor at a summer camp and it's so charming. Fraught with teenage emotion and wonder - it's ode to growing up and to female friendship. Filled with little illustrations, this novel in verse is a quick read. Loved it. Sign me up for working at a sleepaway camp next summer please! 

Meddling with Mistletoe

Whitney is at a crossroads in her life. Her parents have moved away from Prince Edward Island and will no longer serve as her safety net. Whitney has lots of big ideas but no DREAM so she flits from one idea to the next. Without her parents help she has to figure out her next steps and she doesn't want to disappoint them. She is determined to save up the money for culinary school and she needs to sell some pies to raise the remaining funds but she still might be short and to make matters worse her oven has stopped working. She asks her friend at the Red Door Inn if she can use her oven over the holidays, her friend agrees on the condition that she make breakfast for the Inn's two guests each day and that she help babysit her children. Whitney readily agrees. She doesn't realize how one guest in particular will start to change her outlook on life and on the future. But to fall for him means to go back on some promises she made. Meddling with Mistletoe is about second chances and following your heart. I wanted it to like it more but it was a little slow and the characters could have been a little more developed. It was a quick holiday read though. Very clean with some light kissing.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

This book had a lot of moving pieces but was such a rich and compelling read. All of the characters had flaws of some sort, but the majority of them were good decent people. The heart of this historical novel is about secrets, why people keep them, and the unintended long term consequences of them. It's at times rip roaringly funny and other times heartbreakingly sad. There are a wide variety of poor people living on Chicken Hill, but by and large they are either Black or Jewish (with a few enterprising Italians thrown in for good measure). They are both rejected by the community of Pottstown but they form an uneasy alliance - mostly because of the work of Chona, a Jewess who extends credit to any on the hill who need it. Her generosity and happy spirit help bond the Jew and the Black folx together - which is good because soon they will face a challenge neither party ever expected. 

Middle of the Night

I love everything Riley Sager puts out and this was no exception! Middle of the Night grabs you from the first page and the premise is truly terrifying. Two ten year old boys are camping out in the backyard. In the morning Ethan notices a long cut gash in the tent and realizes his best friend Billy is gone. Where did he go? Who took him? Why? It's a question that has haunted Ethan for decades and it's something that has never left him. Where is Billy? Is he alive? After a few decades Ethan finds himself back at his childhood home when his parents downsize and move away. But some weird things start happening when he is back at the house and Ethan is sure it has to do with Billy. Creepy and filled with lots of twists (I only guessed one!). I am already ready for the next Riley Sager book!