Melanie Benjamin

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

New Jersey

A Novel

Two sisters navigate the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in this dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters from the New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator’s Wife. “A shimmering rendering . . . pairs the surf culture of the Beach Boys with the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll of Daisy Jones & The Six.”—Entertainment Weekly (“Best Books of the Summer”) Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky a Go Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donnelly breaks the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport—and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of Carol’s unconventional lifestyle. The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother’s absence—physically, when she’s at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she’s at home. To escape questions about Carol’s whereabouts—and to chase her elusive affection—they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy is a natural, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water. As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger’s relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and a USO tour in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger, desperate for a community of her own, is tugged into the dangerous counterculture of drugs and cults. But through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood. A gripping, emotional story set at a time when mothers were expected to be Donna Reed, not Gidget, California Golden is an unforgettable novel about three women living in a society that was shifting as tempestuously as the breaking waves.

California Golden

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Rachel Lynn Solomon

A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk. Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in "ghostwriter" until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps. Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there's a way for them to have both.

Business or Pleasure

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Kate Brody

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

A twisty, sexy debut exploring the dark side of true crime fandom and the blurry lines of female friendship, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, My Favorite Murder, and Fleabag Conspiracy theories from Reddit seduce a disaster-prone woman into an obsession with solving her older sister’s cold-case disappearance Ten years ago, Theodora “Teddy” Angstrom’s older sister, Angie, went missing. Her case remains unsolved. Now Teddy’s father, Mark, has killed himself. Unbeknownst to Mark’s family, he had been active in a Reddit community fixated on Angie, and Teddy can’t help but fall down the same rabbit hole. Teddy’s investigation quickly gets her in hot water with her gun-nut boyfriend, her long-lost half brother, and her colleagues at the prestigious high school where she teaches English. Further complicating matters is Teddy’s growing obsession with Mickey, a charming amateur sleuth who is eerily keen on helping her solve the case. Bewitched by Mickey, Teddy begins to lose her moral compass. As she struggles to reconcile new information with old memories, her erratic behavior reaches a fever pitch, but she won’t stop until she finds Angie—or destroys herself in the process. A biting critique of the internet’s voyeurism, Rabbit Hole is an outrageous and heart-wrenching character study of a mind twisted by grief—and a page-turning mystery that’s as addictive as a late-night Reddit binge.

Rabbit Hole

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Aardvark Book Club

Sophie Kinsella

From #1 bestselling author Sophie Kinsella, an unforgettable story—by turns heartbreaking and life-affirming—of a renowned novelist facing a devastating diagnosis and learning to live and love anew. “The bravest book you’ll read all year.”—Jodi Picoult “What Does It Feel Like? is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story.”—Sophie Kinsella Eve is a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. As Eve learns to walk, talk, and write again—and as she wrestles with her diagnosis, and how and when to explain it to her beloved children—she begins to recall what’s most important to her: long walks with her husband’s hand clasped firmly around her own, family game nights, and always buying that dress when she sees it. Recounted in brief anecdotes, each one is an attempt to answer the type of impossible questions recognizable to anyone navigating the labyrinth of grief. This short, extraordinary novel is a celebration of life, shot through with warmth and humor—it will both break your heart and put it back together again. “Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me.”—Sophie Kinsella

What Does It Feel Like?

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stacy Willingham

Following up her instant New York Times bestseller, A Flicker in the Dark, Stacy Willingham delivers a totally gripping thriller about a desperate mother with a troubled past in All the Dangerous Things.

One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her--literally.

Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn't slept in a year.

Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can't go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster--but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason's disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.

All the Dangerous Things

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#hardcover #fiction #botm #mystery #suspense #thriller #psychological #domestic #adultfiction #relationships 

The Golden Couple is the next electrifying novel from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us. If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in 10 sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. Her successes are phenomenal--she helps people overcome everything from domineering parents to assault--and almost absorb the emptiness she sometimes feels since her husband’s death. Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple--until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things, both because she loves her husband and for the sake of their 8-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her license due to controversial methods. When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

The Golden Couple

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Book Of The Month (BOTM)

#paperback #fiction #historicalfiction #womensfiction #chicklit #adultfiction #relationships #friendship #nyc #fashion 

Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

Mad Men meets The Devil Wears Prada as Renée Rosen draws readers into the glamorous New York City of 1965 and Cosmopolitan magazine, where a brazen new editor-in-chief--Helen Gurley Brown--shocks America and saves a dying publication by daring to talk to women about all things off-limits... New York City is filled with opportunities for single girls like Alice Weiss, who leaves her small midwestern town to chase her big-city dreams and unexpectedly lands the job of a lifetime working for the first female editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, Helen Gurley Brown. Nothing could have prepared Alice for the world she enters as editors and writers resign on the spot, refusing to work for the woman who wrote the scandalous bestseller Sex and the Single Girl, and confidential memos, article ideas, and cover designs keep finding their way into the wrong hands. When someone tries to pull Alice into a scheme to sabotage her boss, she is more determined than ever to help Helen succeed. While pressure mounts at the magazine and Alice struggles to make her way in New York, she quickly learns that in Helen Gurley Brown's world, a woman can demand to have it all.

Park Avenue Summer

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#paperback #fiction #romance #historicalfiction #adultfiction #ww2 #britishamericanhistory #family #relationships #womensfiction 

"A riveting reimagining of a true tale of forbidden love."--People Now in paperback, the captivating novel following the exploits of Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, the forgotten and rebellious daughter of one of America's greatest political dynasties. London, 1938. The effervescent "It girl" of London society since her father was named the ambassador, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy moves in rarefied circles, rubbing satin-covered elbows with some of the twentieth century's most powerful figures. Eager to escape the watchful eye of her strict mother, Rose; the antics of her older brothers, Jack and Joe; and the erratic behavior of her sister Rosemary, Kick is ready to strike out on her own and is soon swept off her feet by Billy Hartington, the future Duke of Devonshire. But their love is forbidden, as Kick's devout Catholic family and Billy's staunchly Protestant one would never approve their match. And when war breaks like a tidal wave across her world, Billy is ripped from her arms as the Kennedys are forced to return to the States. Kick finds work as a journalist and joins the Red Cross to get back to England, where she will have to decide where her true loyalties lie--with family or with love. . . .

The Kennedy Debutante

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#hardcover #historicalfiction #fiction #romance #worldwar2 #britishliterature #adultfiction #friendship #ouabc #onceuponabookclub 

"Tense, heartwarming and life affirming, The Long Flight Home gives a fresh slant on heroism in WWII."
--Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of In Farleigh Field, The Tuscan Child and the Royal Spyness novels

Inspired by fascinating, true, yet little-known events during World War II, The Long Flight Home is a testament to the power of courage in our darkest hours--a moving, masterfully written story of love and sacrifice.
 
It is September 1940--a year into the war--and as German bombs fall on Britain, fears grow of an impending invasion. Enemy fighter planes blacken the sky around the Epping Forest home of Susan Shepherd and her grandfather, Bertie. After losing her parents to influenza as a child, Susan found comfort in raising homing pigeons with Bertie. All her birds are extraordinary to Susan--loyal, intelligent, beautiful--but none more so than Duchess. Hatched from an egg that Susan incubated in a bowl under her grandfather's desk lamp, Duchess shares a special bond with Susan and an unusual curiosity about the human world. 
 
Thousands of miles away in Buxton, Maine, a young crop-duster pilot named Ollie Evans has decided to travel to Britain to join the Royal Air Force. His quest brings him to Epping and to the National Pigeon Service, where Susan is involved in a new, covert assignment. Codenamed Source Columba, the mission aims to air-drop hundreds of homing pigeons in German-occupied France. Many will not survive. Those that do make the journey home to England can convey crucial information on German troop movements--and help reclaim the skies from the Luftwaffe.
 
The friendship between Ollie and Susan deepens as the mission date draws near. When Ollie's plane is downed behind enemy lines, both know how remote the chances of reunion must be. Yet Duchess's devotion and her singular sense of duty will become an unexpected lifeline, relaying messages between Susan and Ollie as war rages on--and proving, at last, that hope is never truly lost.

"Based on true events, The Long Flight Home has everything I love in a novel--the sense of discovery, the epic drama of a life-or-death situation, and the soaring sense of hope gained from the depths of despair. It's a gorgeous, impressive first novel by a hugely talented author."
--Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author

"I've always been fascinated by homing pigeons, and Alan Hlad makes these amazing birds and their trainers shine in The Long Flight Home--a sweeping tale full of romance and espionage, poignant sacrifice and missed chances, uncommon courage and the ongoing costs of war. A compelling debut told with conviction and great heart. "
--Paula McLain, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Wife and Love and Ruin

The Long Flight Home

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Historical Fiction

#paperback #fiction #romance #holiday #chicklit #womensfiction #adultfiction #family #relationships #friendship 

The quaint New England town of Mistletoe is thrilled to welcome back one of their own, Dante West. Now a famous Hollywood action star, Dante is filming a movie in town to help the local economy, as well as make amends with the people he hurt when he abruptly left Mistletoe all those years ago. Librarian Lucy Marshall isn't thrilled to see Dante. He was once her best friend and first love until he left her behind without a word of goodbye. When Dante makes her an offer she can't refuse -- use of the library as a filming venue in exchange for a lucrative donation, Lucy finds herself spending a lot of time in Dante's company. With the magic of Christmas in the air, Dante and Lucy begin to forge a new bond. But can two people leading such different lives find lasting love the second time around?

No Ordinary Christmas

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#paperback #fiction #romance #holiday #chicklit #womensfiction #adultfiction #shortstories #relationships #cozymystery 

Accompanied by recipes from the authors' kitchens, a collection of Christmas stories including "The Christmas Stocking," in which a high-powered businesswoman finds unexpected love during her quest to raise money for a new seniors' center.

Sugar and Spice

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#paperback #fiction #chicklit #womensfiction #adultfiction #holidayromance #harlequin #family #relationships #friendship 

"A journey of love and festive cheer."--Woman's World on The Christmas Escape



"Morgan's latest Christmas tale will delight readers and give them the perfect excuse to snuggle up for a few hours with a cup of hot cocoa."--Booklist on The Christmas Escape



An uplifting novel of friendship, the festive season, and risking everything for the biggest gift of all...



It was supposed to be Christy Sullivan's perfect Christmas escape - a dream trip to Lapland with her family and best friend, Alix. But facing a make-or-break marriage crisis, Christy desperately needs time alone with her husband, Seb. Her solution? Alix, along with Seb's oldest friend, Zac, can take Christy's daughter on the planned Lapland trip, and they will all reunite there for Christmas Day. After all, what are friends for?



There's nothing Alix won't do for Christy, but Christy's plan to save Christmas is testing their friendship. Especially as Alix and Zac have a difficult history of their own.



As long-held secrets unravel, and unexpected romance shines under the Northern Lights, can Christy and Alix find the courage to fight for the relationships they really want? And could this Christmas escape save the precious gift of each other's friendship?



What happens if the only Christmas celebration you want to attend is one you haven't been invited to? Find out in Snowed in for Christmas, a hilarious and heartwarming Christmas romance by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan! 





 

The Christmas Escape

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Holiday Fiction

#paperback #fiction #suspense #thriller #mystery #psychological #adultfiction #domestic #family #relationships 

THE REESE WITHERSPOON X HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "One of the most twisted and entertaining plots."—Reese Witherspoon "Whiplash-inducing."—New York Times Book Review "Such fun you'll cheer [Emily's] chutzpah."—PEOPLE "This thriller will hit close to home."—Refinery29 The most twisty, addictive and gripping debut thriller you'll read this year. HE LOVES YOU: Adam adores Emily. Emily thinks Adam’s perfect, the man she thought she’d never meet. BUT SHE LOVES YOU NOT: Lurking in the shadows is a rival, a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves. AND SHE'LL STOP AT NOTHING: Emily chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever. The Other Woman will have you questioning her on every page, in Sandie Jones' chilling psychological suspense about a man, his new girlfriend, and the mother who will not let him go.

The Other Woman

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J. P. Smith

The Summoning

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#paperback #fiction #mystery #suspense  #thriller #psychological #adultfiction #domestic #family #relationships 

Who will you cross to protect your own? When Hannah packs up her past and moves to the cottage next-door to her sister, she hopes the luxe neighborhood and close family ties will be the perfect escape for her son and the shadows that trail them. But when a young girl goes missing days after they unload their final boxes and her son is quickly thrown under suspicion, Hannah must do whatever it takes to protect her child. Even if that means pointing the blame her sister's way instead. With investigators swarming and neighborhood scrutiny closing in, the divide between two sisters grows. As one fiercely defends her husband, the other shields her boy from the crime, keeping quiet the secrets that might unravel it all. And all the while, one young girl has vanished, and someone is to blame.

Not My Boy

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Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

#paperback #nonfiction #memoir #family #relationships #friendship #lifejourney #lifelessons #domestic #selfhelp 

This is Bruce Rosen's critically acclaimed first book, and is a memoir dedicated to his mom, Alma Lorraine Rosen, a psychic who supported her family by reading tea leaves for the famous, such as Marlon Brando. Rosen covers his regret at the severing of a once-thriving 25-year marriage, the joy of parenthood, and finding forgiveness for an abusive father. He reflects on life in various places in the world, such as San Francisco, New York, Costa Rica, Paris, Florence, London during the terrorist bombings, and Bangkok during the coup. Rosen discusses the erroneously reported death of his uncle, a Jewish gangster stock promoter who survived a bomb explosion the night before he was to testify in a headline-grabbing trial, coming to terms with an unraveling economy, and the thrill of international recognition as a writer on the BBC and at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

If You Ever Need Me, I Won't Be Far Away

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#hardcover #nonfiction #memoir #childhoodstories #family #relationships #friendship #illustratedstories #childhoodmemories #art 

Stories from a Childhood in Old New York

This book is made up of 36 stories and an illustration for each story. Each story portrays the experience of a young, Jewish, first generation American girl, growing up in Old New York. The stories are based on memories of a childhood in the 1930s and 40s. The writer combined her art background with her writing skills to create a beautiful coffee table book with an illustrative painting to accompany each story. Three sets of twelve story/painting combinations have been exhibited at three art exhibits in 2009 and 2010. The three group exhibits were presented through the member organization, the Silver Lake Art Collective and the complete set is presented here.

Tell Me a Story

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#paperback #nonfiction #family #relationships #disability #inspirational 

It is the phone call every person lives in fear of receiving. There has been an accident and your loved one is paralyzed. A spinal cord injury is the single most devastating and life altering event. Based on a true story, Michael and Donna were young, successful, in love and planning their life together. That life was radically changed by a tragic car accident. Now a wheelchair user as a quadriplegic, with limited movement, constant infections and multiple surgeries, doctors projected Michael's best case life expectancy to be five years. See how this young man battles through his injury and spends his five years making a lasting impact on hundreds of people. It will make you realize what can be accomplished when a person does not let circumstances dictate their life.

Five Years to Live

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Non-Fiction

#paperback #fiction #romance #chicklit #womensfiction #adultfiction #family #relationships #friendship 





The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties puts a modern twist on My Fair Lady in this funny, romantic confection in which a canny young woman makes over her awkward millionaire client . . . with some hot, sexy, and surprising results.



Suffocating in a dead-end marriage, Midwesterner Zoey Sullivan fled to New York and moved in with her older sister Ruth, a carefree, vivacious beauty with a string of eligible bachelors at her beck and call. Giving herself three months in the city to clear her head and find a direction, Zoey dodges calls from her ex Derek, and distracts herself by cooking and catering a few private dinners and parties. Pursuing her passion for cooking was never an option when she was with Derek, and now Zoey relishes her independence.

When Zoey's meets reclusive millionaire Tristan Malloy, she's blown away by his kitchen--a marble and stainless steel temple worthy of the culinary gods--and charmed by his impeccable gentlemanly manners. But despite his firm body, handsome looks, and piles of cash, Tristan--a computer programmer--is shy and more than a little socially awkward. Zoey is sure that Tristan has all the right raw ingredients--and she's the right person to spice them up turn him into a delectable dish.

But Zoey's unprepared for just how well her makeover works. Tristan turns out to be even sexier once he's gained a little confidence and the right wardrobe. Beneath the gorgeous package, Tristan is a great guy who deserves a woman who really appreciates him. Slowly but surely, Zoey realizes she may have found her perfect match--but does Tristan even know how her feelings have changed Is that warm look in his eyes gratitude for the new and exciting world she's ushered him into, or something more And what will happen when Zoey's ex comes to town, looking to win her back

Under the Table

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Stephanie Evanovich

A friendly competition soon becomes a battle of the heart in this charming second chance romance from this award-winning author who "writes with humor and heart" (Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author).

Coming Home to Seashell Harbor

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Romance / Women's Fiction

#hardcover #fiction #youngadult #youngadultfiction #authorautographed #ya #fantasy #magicalrealism #romance #teen  

A Constellation of Roses

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#hardcover #fiction #friendship #ya #yacontemporary #youngadult #youngadultfiction #comingofage #teens #ouabc 

Perfect for fans of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Enchanted April, this compelling contemporary novel is from Alex Flinn, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beastly. Four girls. One unforgettable July. Britta is the bubbly drama queen. She needs to get away—and a peaceful cabin in the woods sounds like the perfect escape. Meredith is the overachiever. She’s spent her entire life preparing for college, but at what cost? Now she’s wondering if that’s all there is. Kate is the reluctant socialite. She’s searching for a reason to begin again after fleeing her small Georgia town—and a shameful family secret. Spider is the quiet intellectual. She’s struggling with pain that has isolated her from her peers for much of her life. When these four very different young women stay together for a month in the mountains, they discover that sometimes getting away from it all can only bring you back to who you really are.

Shelves by Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson

Aardvark Book Club

Book Of The Month (BOTM)

Historical Fiction

Holiday Fiction

Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

Non-Fiction

Romance / Women's Fiction

Young Adult (YA)

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Shelves by Kathleen Anderson

Kathleen Anderson

Aardvark Book Club

Book Of The Month (BOTM)

Historical Fiction

Holiday Fiction

Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

Non-Fiction

Romance / Women's Fiction

Young Adult (YA)