The Turtle The Mitten and an Epic History of Michigan

I won't lie, I was not very impressed looking at the cover. Where are the commas? Is this just a stock photo or AI? But man, I REALLY enjoyed this book when I started reading it. I've vacationed in Michigan several times but I've never made it further north than Saugatuck. Author, Aaron Helman is a cyclist and he framed this history book through his bike ride around Michigan's mitten. He tells the story of Detroit's rise and fall, the lumber barons, the Indigenous tribes, the wrecked ships, the dunes, the fight for land, and more. It's not a linear history, nor is it exhaustive, but it's a captivating history of a beautiful state. As a Hoosier, I've long been jealous of their beautiful scenic vistas and vacation hot spots (no one is coming to Indiana for vacation). This book made me appreciate the state even more and makes me want to visit all the places that that Aaron biked through. I really appreciated his wit and humor, this was a laugh out loud funny and educational. I enjoyed this travel book so much that I want to read more by this author! Look past the cover and you will love this book. The only thing that could have improved this would be a map of the state with all the towns and the bike route taken. 

The Academy

This book was a bunch of hot gossip and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Academy is about an elite college prep/ boarding school on the east coast. Set over the course of a year, The Academy follows teachers, the dean, the students, the staff, and all the drama. Even though teens are featured heavily, a lot of the focus is on the staff. Illicit trysts, gambling, drinking, envy, and more. There isn't a huge over arching storyline per se, but I found myself eating it all up. It ended with some unanswered questions and to my delight I saw that there is a sequel releasing later this year! This book is perfect for those that like books with a wide cast of characters, witty dialogue, and lots of drama. So fun! 

Never Flinch

I think I've established at this point, that I will read anything that Stephen King writes. I haven't quiet read every one of his works, but I am making quite a dent! Never Flinch stars Holly Gibney, detective and owner of Finders Keepers. While this can be read as a standalone, it's much better to read this in order because there are lots of Easter eggs and other recurring characters. Evil men are afoot and two storylines highlight two very different zealots. One, a stalker set on taking down Kate McKay, a fiery pro-choice women's activist, and the other a deranged recovering alcoholic set on making innocent people pay. Holly will find herself enmeshed in both cases, although at times she will have to choose which to pursue. Fantastic audiobook, the narrator does an excellent job of creating unique voices for all the characters. The plot is a little messy, and there is a lot to follow, but it's definitely worth it. No one writes characters like Stephen King does!

Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired

This trim little nonfiction book provided an inspirational start to each morning. Broken into different sections, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer breaks down different areas of wonder: our bodies, our universe, nature, creativity, mysteries and more. Each section includes bullet points that contain info to inspire us. It's like a mini encyclopedia filled with fun anecdotes and tidbits. Reading this book will definitely make you a more well-rounded player on Jeopardy for sure! Every morning I would read four pages and it was such a delight. I love a book that I can pick up and put down without "losing" my place. This book will definitely help spark joy and inspiration in a tiring and exhausting world! 

Up All Night with a Good Duke

LOVED IT!  I mean this was cheesy, unbelievable, and over the top and I want more of it. Immediately. Artemis leaves her teaching position to have another season in London so she can help her best friend and her younger sister. She's not there to find a man, she just wants to keep her independence and save up enough to open her own school for ladies. She runs, quite literally, into the Dastardly Duke of Dartmoor and the two hit it off. Maybe she can have some fun this season, because the Duke is very charming and very handsome. Maybe they can come to some sort of an agreement. Cheesy, but I ATE IT UP. I don't care. Ordering the next book stat ;)

Puddin'

So stinking cute! I loved all the characters in this novel and I wanted to be in their friend group (and I'm an adult!). Told through the alternating storylines of Millie, an overweight teen who wants to attend journalism camp and get closer to her crush, and Callie, a seemingly perfect soon to be dance captain who lives for dancing. When Callie gets caught in a prank that goes wrong she finds herself having to work with Mille, a girl she would have otherwise never talked too. Callie soon discovers that everyone who she  thought was a friend has turned their back on her and the only one who is giving her a chance is Millie and her friends. Maybe being a mean girl isn't so great and maybe she can actually develop some real friendships and get her life back on track. Wonderful and full of body positivity!

The Barn

Adored this little English microhistory. Author, Sally Coulthard, bought an English farm estate in Yorkshire in 2007. She fell in love with the land, the farmhouse, and the barn. The barn being several hundred years old proved to be especially fascinating to her and she loved looking up where some of the stones came from, what some symbols meant, what the additions were called, what purposes different areas had. She shares all that she discovered in The Barn and it's a charming look back at a quant little parcel of land and the amazing British history that took place on the land or inspired change on the land. Delightful and fascinating. As a history nerd I ate this up. I learned so many little tidbits about the origin of words (horsepower for instance) and the history of different farm implementations and England's transportation and road system. This may have been my first Sally Coulthard but it won't be my last!