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Welcome to Cary Reads!
Check out the books, movies, TV shows and more that we're enjoying! (And some that we're not.)
Looking for some book suggestions? Use our "What's Next?" form and staff will recommend 4-5 titles for you to enjoy.
Watch Cary staff recommend titles on "Page Turner" on New England Cable News.
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Full disclosure, I am firmly on Team Villain and I love a story that has an interesting villain with a complex backstory. Clayton has crafted an outstanding and complex villain in her debut of this middle grade fantasy. The storyline is also engaging, full of adventure and magic, friendship and mystery and a great example of the boarding school fantasy trope. A great read for those anxiously awaiting the next installment of Amari and the Night Brothers.
(Children's Fiction)
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This graphic novel is a perfect summer read. Not only does it explore a girl learning to conquer her fears, starting a new school and making new friends, and find her love (and talent) for swimming, it also explores the systemic lack of access to pools and swimming for Black people in the United States. Perfect for fans of Jerry Craft's New Kid, Varian Johnson's Twins or Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl.
(Children's Graphic Novel)
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This beautiful summer camp story looks at mental health through the lens of grief, anxiety, and intense parental pressure through the stories of two young girls who find themselves and each other at music camp. This moving coming of age story gently navigates topics such as body image, mental health, racism and microaggressions, grief, self-harm, and healthy relationships in a story that is also a love letter to music and learning how to stand up for yourself while finding the person you dream of being.
(Tween Fiction)
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This novel in verse is incredibly powerful and moving and is another story that I wish existed when I was a younger. Don't miss this heartfelt story that celebrates elf-acceptance and self-advocacy.
(Tween Fiction)
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Bailar, the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA Division I men's team writes a powerful and heartfelt debut novel for middle school readers. Timely and relevant reading for everyone.
(Tween Fiction)
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This (currently) four volume graphic novel series (and now Netflix series) is such a sweet romance. You can't help but root for Charlie and Nick as they navigate the awkwardness of young love and the challenges of figuring out who you are and who you want to be. The Netflix series is equally adorable and sweet. Note: Charlie in particular faces a lot of homophobic bullying. Later volumes tackle mental health and eating disorders - which have not yet been explored in the show.
(Teen Graphic Novel)
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My favorite new picture book from the last few months.
(Children's Picture Book)
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(Children's Picture Book) |
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This is one of the books from his post-Elephant & Piggie series called Unlimited Squirrels -- they are all great, but this is my favorite. There's a new one coming out in September and I can't wait!
(Children's Early Reader)
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This funny and thoughtful novel is the story of Yinka, who gets reminded and shamed of her single status by her mother and aunties at family events, including her sister's baby shower. Yinka's situation in which she straddles between pleasing others and being happy with who she is is very relatable. Her friendship with her best friend, Nana, is a great portrait of a supportive friendship.
(Adult Fiction)
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Inspired by a conversation with a friend, I decided to re-visit the Ramona series, a set of books that I read countless times as a child (and again in my 20s when Ramona's World was published.) The first book, a spin off of the Henry Huggins series, was published in 1955, the last was published in 1999, with the bulk of the series published in the 1970s and early 1980s. Although Ramona Quimby and her sister, Beezus (Beatrice), only age a few months or a year between each book, the stories and characters evolve with the times as they're published. None of this is more obvious as with the parents who start off as pretty stereotypical sitcom style parents in the early books and are pretty fully realized and less specific in terms of gender roles as the books progress. Ramona, as a character, has aged quite well and seems like a real child who gets frustrated at not having control over a lot of situations, due to her age. I think Cleary did a good job at letting her readers gently laugh at some of the situations that Ramona (and Beezus) get into while also illustrating how important and serious they seemed to Ramona (and other children her age.)
As an adult, the title that stood out to me was Ramona and Her Father which takes place during the period shortly after her father is laid off. Mr. Quimby's moments of sadness and frustration at his situation are so well done, especially seeing them through his second grade daughter's eyes. I was impressed that in 1977, Cleary respected her young readers enough to not talk down to them or make light of the family's situation.
(Children's Fiction)
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I loved this very sweet, quickly paced, graphic novel series about the budding romance between Charlie and Nick. Their relationship is so supportive and loving and their friends are great! There are some serious issues tackled (one of the characters is treated for an eating disorder in volume 4) but this is mainly a very comforting read. I'm excited to start watching the show!
(Teen Graphic Novel)
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Based on The New York Times Magazine collection of essays, poetry, and other writings tells the story of racism and Black history of the United States, starting in 1619, when the first ship of kidnapped and enslaved people arrived in the Jamestown colony. A lot of US history hits me different now that I've read this and it definitely drives home that there was a lot I didn't learn.
(Adult Non-Fiction)
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Content Warning: Domestic Abuse
Carmen Maria Machado, to whom I was introduced via her affecting essay about Beth March in March Sisters, writes about her abusive treatment at the hands of a partner, known only as "The Woman in the Dream House" in this lyrically written and non-linear memoir. The writing is haunting and lovely and while there is hope knowing that Machado is no longer in the relationship and her wife is loving and supportive, the book is no less heartbreaking.
(Adult Memoir)
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Born enslaved on Montserrat, one of the Caribbean islands, Dorothy Kirwan seems an unlikely candidate to take on the powerful British government and force them to abolish the tax on businesses owned by free women of color. Devoted to her varied and numerous brood of children by a number of men, Dorothy worked for years to buy their freedom after she had finally earned her own. Illiterate, but blessed with a clever mind, she became one of the Caribbean’s wealthiest inhabitants, travelling regularly back and forth to England to send her children to school there and establish useful connections. Riley brings this determined, charismatic, and flawed woman with a colorful personality to life in the lush tumultuous background of the Caribbean islands where competing foreign powers, religions, and slave rebellions made life a constant struggle for survival. A brilliant and unique portrait of a woman who has spent too much time in obscurity.
(Adult Fiction)
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The lives of the headmaster, students and parents are impacted by events at a school for the Deaf.
(Adult Fiction)
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(The Heathers of the Cary Library both really liked this novel!)
I really loved this title, it was so interesting and unique. I liked how between chapters, the author would provide information about Deaf culture, history, and more. I hope to read more like this some time!
(Adult Fiction)
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I am a big fan of Bob Odenkirk and his contributions to TV history. This book is a fun ride from his nascent days at SNL, to the cult classic Mr. Show, to his huge later life success as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. I love his humility and the critiques of the TV and movie industries.
(Adult Memoir)
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I play a bunch of instruments and I love a wide spectrum of music. My first instrument was the drum set, so growing up and hearing J Dilla changed my thoughts about drums and rhythm, like for many people. This book is awesome in not only documenting the massive influence he had on music, but the history of Detroit too.
(Adult Non-Fiction)
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Maybe it is weird to recommend a cookbook, but the recipes in this are fantastic. More importantly though, you should check out Matty's show Just a Dash on YouTube. It is both a cooking show and a lampoon of a cooking show. He is an incredibly skilled chef with numerous restaurants and endless cooking techniques; he can cook across the globe and holds a deep knowledge of food, yet prefers to show you the most unpolished version of himself. It's hilarious. You will go from watching a cooking show to a comedy that takes place on a cooking show set. You will be taken in by his infectious presence and end up wanting to cook from either of his cookbooks. (His first one is simply Matty Matheson: A Cookbook)
(Adult Cooking)
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I loved this book!! I'm a map lover and a book-about-books lover and what could be better than a mystery set in the Maps Division of the New York Public Library?
(Adult Fiction)
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This story is A Man Called Ove's British cousin, who I now love just as much. Postman Albert is being forced to retire at his 65th birthday and he realizes he has nothing in his life other than his job and his cat. He sets off on a quest to find his teenage love and might just find community, friendship, and self-love along the way.
(Adult Fiction)
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I adored this Masterpiece show when the first season aired in 2019. I realized that the second season came out this year, so I rewatched the first season (amazing again) and started the second, but abandoned it two episodes in. Maybe it deserves more of a chance, but the main eye candy didn't return (Sidney Parker, played by Theo James) and the new love interests failed to keep me hooked. It did seem like it was going to give some interesting character development to one of the female leads from last season, so maybe I'll give it another try.
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This was my first dive - long overdue - into Chinese mythology and I loved it! Finding yourself, epic journey, secret motives, love, betrayal, magical powers, dragons, friendship, and more!
(Adult Fantasy)
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After randomly meeting Jaewoo and spending a fun day with him out in LA, Jenny never expects to see him again. When she suddenly has to temporarily relocate to Seoul with her mother, she suddenly learns that Jaewood is not only one of her new classmates but a famous K-Pop star. While making friends and working on her cello studies, Jenny and Jaewoo quickly realize that the sparks haven't faded and it's harder and harder to stay away from each other. This immersive story sucked me right in and had me rooting for them and their charming group of friends the whole way through.
(Teen Fiction)
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Kiki is the host of a popular romance advice show on Whitewell College campus, and Malakai is the new film student she's been paired with for a school project. Kiki is used to being on the outside looking in and commenting, keeping her heart and mind safe. But, when campus drama forces her hand, she starts to get more involved and spends more time with Malakai, forcing her to take a risk and possibly allow herself to open up in a way she hasn't before. All the characters and campus community are so vibrant and the writing so immersive I felt like I was there, hanging out at everyone's favorite local diner, listening to the same shows and music with them. Kiki and Malakai and their friends have so much depth and heart that I felt immediately connected. One of my favorite books of the year so far.
(Adult Fiction)
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This is probably one of the coziest and most calming books I have ever read. In it, Dex, in some distant, peaceful future, decides one day to become a tea monk and loads up their wagon to travel from place to place, making tea and conversation with their patrons. When that still doesn't settle their restlessness, Dex wanders off the path and runs into a robot, Mosscap, who was supposed to have disappeared from the planet ages ago. Together, they head back to the road, contemplating life, nature, technology, and tea with the people they meet on their way. This soft, meditative novel will definitely make you think but in the gentlest way possible. Ultimately a hopeful tale, it is the perfect balm for these hot summer days.
(Adult Science Fiction)
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A thief, a bodyguard, a prince in disguise, and another thief are sent on a dangerous quest to retrieve a mythical lamp thought lost to legend in this enthralling fantasy novel. Each character has their own backstory and purpose which is slowly teased out to great effect as they make their way through a deadly but magical desert kingdom. There are legends within legends which we are treated to throughout the book, loosely based on The One Thousand and One Nights tales, adding richness and depth to the main story playing out. All the characters felt fully alive in the story and I was absolutely riveted by their journey.
(Adult Fantasy)
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Ms. Shannon made me laugh out loud and drove me to YouTube so I could re-watch some of her classic sketches from "Saturday Night Live." She makes me proud to have followed her career; her work stands the test of time.
(Adult Memoir)
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Any Cormoran Strike mystery is a toothsome treat; this is the one I listened to most recently.
(Adult Mystery)
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This book delivered suspense so vividly that I reacted to it cinematically, shaking my head, biting my lip and sometimes even muttering "No!" and other related phrases. If you like this book, I recommend reading (or re-reading) Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier.
(Adult Mystery)
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Four strangers are brought together when they hear a woman's terrified scream while in the Boston Public Library Reading Room. Meanwhile, the author of the book is dealing with an overeager fan who is willing to do anything to help the author complete research for her book. A wonderfully twisty book for those who love mystery!
(Adult Mystery)
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Broadway star and TV actress, Sutton Foster's memoir writes about her life with an agoraphobic mother, her career on the stage, and other defining moments throughout her life, and how her love of crafting helped her through it all.
(Adult Memoir)
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A dressmaker with a flair for the unique is hired by a prince with a secret - he loves wearing dresses and exploring the city at night as Lady Crystallia. This is not only a heartwarming, fairy tale-esque graphic novel, but the artwork is stunning as well.
(Teen Graphic Novel)
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