While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence – An incredible memoir of a topic that few discuss openly. A must-read.

Baumgarter – I have read most of Paul Auster’s books. He tells a good story. Baumgartner is a man dealing with grief. Auster takes us on the journey of a 71-year-old’s life. I loved it.

The Upstairs Delicatessen – Not sure I could recommend this. Garner lets us know how he thinks, quoting authors of books he has read and many of them. He is, after all, a food critic. The love of food shines through.

Heaven and Earth Grocery Store – McBride is an excellent storyteller. The main character has empathy and love for all in a divided neighborhood, just like the world we are living in today.

A Man of Two Faces – The structure of this memoir is unique. It is also timely. Nguyen is angry, funny, frustrated, and insightful; his experience represents many—a worthy read.

The Maid – Perfect Saturday afternoon read. Fun, quirky, well-written murder mystery through the voice of quirky Maid Molly.

The Last Masterpiece – A page-turning WWII, historical fiction novel set in Italy where the main characters, two women, save artwork from being destroyed and stolen from the Nazis.

Everything Nothing Someone – An unbelievably powerful, dark, crazy, healing, wild memoir. Love!

Hang the Moon – A quick-moving book following a strong woman through the prohibition area of Virginia. Fun read.

Evil Eye – A story about multi-generational trauma from a Palestinian-American woman who, throughout the book, works hard to change the direction of her life as a woman and a mother.

Pomegranate – a story about a Black Queen woman who was previously incarcerated trying to get her life and her children back. A beautiful book about healing.

Demon Copperhead – A book about survival. I didn’t love it, but the story is powerful and many people I have talked to about the book loved it.