Staff Picks Adult Fiction

Malibu Rising

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

For close to 20 years, Mick Riva has been the biggest name in the music industry. But he isn’t the star of this story. Instead, Reid focuses on his four children: model Nina, surfer Jay, photographer Hud, and the youngest, Kit. Reid tells the tale of the Mick and the Riva children in alternated timelines, jumping from the introduction and marriage of Mick and June Riva to 1983 in Malibu. Prepare for a taste of the 80s as the Riva siblings prepare to host the biggest party of the year.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Brandi Smits, Youth Services Manager

Posted in: Adult Fiction

The Lincoln Highway

by Amor Towles

An incredible read by the author of A Man in Moscow.  In June, 1954, Emmett is released from a work farm ready to pick up his little brother, Billy, and head to California to restart his life. Unknown to him, Duchess and Woolly, a fast talker and a neurodivergent, have hidden themselves in the trunk. Soon, they find themselves heading to New York City instead for various spoken and unspoken reasons. The subplots are deftly woven together to make a story that covers a variety of human emotions, wants, and needs.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Joan Stoiber, Youth Services Reference Librarian I

Posted in: Adult Fiction

The Wife Upstairs

by Rachel Hawkins

What do you get when you merge the classic Jane Eyre storyline with the dark, seedy underbelly of the newly rich, à la Big Little Lies? The answer is in this book, filled to the brim with secrets, deception and introspective battles. Jane is a dog walker in the gated community of Thornfield Estates when she meets the ever-so-charming widower, Eddie Rochester. Eddie has made a name for himself in town, though not for the reasons one might think—Eddie’s wife, Bea, and her best friend, Blanche, recently drowned in an unfortunate accident that left their bodies never to be discovered. Jane is drawn into the town’s posh gossip, the mystery behind the man that she believes can see her true soul, and is determined to uncover the keys of this high society while protecting her own secrets along the way. This book would be great for Brontë fans looking for a modern retelling of the classic and readers who love a mystery set against a glamorous backdrop.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an eBook.

Recommended by: Ola Gronski, Youth Services Assistant 

Posted in: Adult Fiction

White Ivy

by Susie Yang

Ivy Lin’s Chinese grandmother stole to survive, but Ivy did it for fun. After all, it was the only way she could get the nail polish, lipstick and hair clips her teenage-self thought would grab the attention of Gideon Speyer—a glamorous boy from one of Massachusetts’ wealthiest families. But stealth was not yet Ivy’s strong suit, and her parents later punished her by uprooting her entire life. Ivy never saw Gideon again…until one day, as an adult, Ivy runs into his sister. She takes this as a sign of a sure chance at the American dream, the pursuit of happiness. This time, she’s not letting anything get in the way of stealing Gideon’s heart and power. Don’t mistake this as a love story—it’s a suspenseful, dark and compelling examination of character, privilege and what success really means. The writing is lyrical and the plot steady as a drum, you really won’t want to put this down.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an eBook.

Recommended by: Ola Gronski, Youth Services Assistant 

Posted in: Adult Fiction

The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig

This book is a lot like It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s about a woman named Nora who decides to end her life, but in doing so finds herself in “the library” instead. It’s here that she gains the chance to change her past in any way she can think of. What if she had become a famous swimmer? What if she became a famous rock star? So many choices to try out, but she only has a limited amount of time to try them all out and choose the best one before her life is officially over. Will she make the best decision? Or was her original life really the best one?

This book is available in the library and on Over/Drive as an ebook and e audiobook.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Secrets of a Charmed Life

by Susan Meissner

This historical fiction‘s main characters, Emmy and Julia Downtree, live with their single mother in London in the 40’s. They are evacuated to the countryside when the bombing from the war becomes too dangerous. Emmy wants to return to London in order to work with a designer who has shown interest in her bridal gown drawings. Emmy decides to leave Julia behind as she is only seven years old but Julia discovers her plan and insists on coming with her sister. Emmy’s decision to bring her sister with her changes the course of both their lives. The events that follow are both heartbreaking and reaffirming.

This book is available in the library and on OverDrive/Libby as an ebook and eaudiobook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Spoiler Alert

by Olivia Dade

Spoiler Alert is a story about a plus sized woman who gets bullied for posting a photo of herself in a cosplay dress from her favorite show, and how an actor from the show sees the harassment and invites her out to dinner. Things go well, but they both have secrets that could threaten the relationship and their jobs. Full of fandom, fanfiction, and overall geekiness, you’ll fall in love with this romance.

Recommended by: Erin Faxel, Youth Services Teen Librarian

Posted in: Adult Fiction

The Rose Code

by Kate Quinn

This historical fiction novel takes us back to both World War II and the wedding of then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Mab, Osla and Beth are three young women who are all chosen to work on code breaking at Bletchley Park in England during World War II. They are sworn to secrecy regarding their work.  As time and the war march onward, loyalties are broken, romantic liaisons are developed and emotions run high.  This book, Playaway and CD audio is available at the library and on OverDrive as an ebook.

Recommended by: Becky McCormack Youth Services Assistant Manager

Posted in: Adult Fiction

Once We Were Here

by Christopher Cosmos

Posted in: Adult Fiction

The Storyteller’s Secret

by Sejal Badani

Jaya has just suffered her third miscarriage. Her devastation is made more intense when her marriage starts deteriorating. She makes the decision to go to India to see her dying grandfather, who she has never met, in order to better understand her past. Told in two time periods, modern day and the 30’s and 40’s, this book brings you into another culture and time period with gripping results. 

Recommended by: Becky McCormack, Youth Services Assistant Manager 

Posted in: Adult Fiction