Robin just finished Booker longlist 2020 nomination Redhead by the Side of the Road by the ever-prolific Anne Tyler. She calls it a "gentle and compassionate look at a middle-aged man who realizes he has more control over his emotional life than he had thought possible." If you liked A Man Called Ove, Robin promises this book is for you.

Sheila's latest reads are both by Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson who will release the latest addition to her series of novels set in Gilead, Iowa in September. The latest novel, Jack tells the story of a star-crossed interracial romance in segregated St. Louis post-World War II. Want a sneak peek? Check out this piece published in the July 20 issue of The New Yorker. Jack is a prequel to Home which chronicles Jack's subsequent struggles with secrets and family drama.

The prose is nothing short of perfect, the content heartbreaking. Prepare for the release of Jack by picking up Home along with Gilead and Lila. Bonus: the publisher has re-released the titles with gorgeous new covers by artist Charles E. Burchfield who developed a unique style of watercolor painting that Edward Hopper described as "founded, not on art, but on life, and the life the he knows and loves best." These special volumes would look quite sharp on your quarantine bookshelf background.

Libby and Rosanna are both reading Hamnet, a meditation on love and loss that hangs its story on the scaffold of William Shakespeare's relationship with his wife Agnes and the loss of their young son in 1596. Reviews note that this tremendous new book from the luminous Maggie O'Farrell is not simply for Shakespeare scholars, the story so compelling that all one needs is the desire for a good read. If you've ever wondered about the inspiration for Hamlet, you'll find a fascinating reimagining here.

Brianna's summer pick is The Black Kids, a YA book for fans of the of The Hate U Give. It takes place in 1992 during the Los Angeles riots and follows a wealthy black girl living in a white neighborhood. Her world is turned upside down when the officers who beat Rodney King are acquitted and she has to take a closer look at what it means to be a young black women living in predominantly white spaces. Highly recommend, but don't be surprised at the realization that sadly, progress has been slow over the past 25 years.

Finally, comedic relief can be found courtesy of Yvette's current read. A Very Punchable Face by Saturday Night Live co-head writer and co-anchor for Weekend Update Colin Jost, is a memoir filled with humorous moments and reflections on what has been a hugely productive period in his career. A good companion to the book is the conversation he had with Terry Gross on Fresh Air back in July in which he talks about his rockstar mother, Chief Medical Officer for the New York City Fire Department, and the role she played on 9/11 and in its aftermath.