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Hidden Figures by Margot Shetterly

"This is a true story about a large group of black women, some originally math teachers, some the cream of the crop in math right out of college in the south’s segregated areas,  hired during the male labor shortages of WWII for jobs at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton,Va. They were a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as human computers to calculate the numbers that would launch war planes in the 40’s, more efficiently later in the 50’s & 60’s rockets and astronauts into space. They even made a movie about this book." - T. Gustafson

The Last Days Of New York by Seth Barron

"This book is given two stars because it is not a light beach read. But saying that, three people have read it after I did. As a person interested in the health of Manhattan, I recommend it as a good read. If you worked in the city, take the time to learn about it. I will recommend it as a book of stories about past and present political administrations." - P. Wagner

2/4 stars.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

"I enjoyed it. It took a twist that I did not expect based on the foreshadowing in the beginning of the story. I love the friendship that the 2 main female characters shared." - R. Hill

3/4 stars.

Specials (Uglies #3) by Scott Westerfield

"In book 3 of the Uglies Series, main character Tally finds herself as a “Special.” Specials are people who have undergone a surgery that enhances their physical and psychological features to make themselves into fighting machines. This surgery also includes changes that influence emotions and psychological reactions. Specials handle “special circumstances” that threaten their way of life. Tally, like in all the previous books in the series, finds herself in situations that make her question who she is and why she’s doing what she’s doing.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

"This is an interesting novel about words. The main character, Esme, starts to question the meaning of words as she participates in the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. Her experience with the women’s suffrage movement and WWI further her quest to determine if words mean different things to men and women." - N. McGill

3/4 stars.

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

"An eye opener into the customs and beliefs of rural China tea tribes. A beautiful tale following the life of a woman coming to terms with where she came from vs the future she wants for herself, her family and her home village. The Audio book was great too." - C. D'Orazio

3/4 stars.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

"Tells the story of several environmentalists and their struggles to make people hear their message about saving the environment." - D. Barnes

4/4 stars.

The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak

"I was expecting The Bookstore on the Beach to be the usual beachy summer read, but it had a lot more going on. The main character, Autumn, returns to the town she grew up in with her two teenagers. But, she also must deal with a missing husband, her mother’s mysterious past, a former high school crush, a possible pregnancy, and some very disturbing news about her father." - N. McGill

2/4 stars.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

"The Midnight Library is not a usual book I would pick for myself however it was a pleasant surprise. It had a lot of deep meanings that many of us can use in life, as we often get stuck in should have/could have moments. The ending was uplifting and is a reminder that even on our worst days, weeks, or years, life is always worth living." - J. Cipolla

3/4 stars.

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

"This story tells the tale of three generations of women from a Palestinian immigrant family living in Brooklyn, NY. It discusses the hardships each woman faces as she tries to become her own person but must follow the traditions and roles passed down to her. It also delves into the secrets that the family hides from the outside world, as they feel they do not belong and that outsiders just won’t understand." - M. Grace

3/4 stars.

28 Summers , Elin Hilderbrand

"This story tells us of a secret romance between two people accidentally brought together at a family party. It takes us through the agony, joy and complications of their love affair. They only meet one weekend every summer for decades and it seems that this weekend of intimacy is enough for their life styles." - C. Daley

3/4 stars.

Explosive Eighteen/Janet Evanovich

"This is one of a series of books about a bounty hunter. Her name is Stephanie Plum, this story begins with her returning home from a Hawaiian vacation finding a strange photo in her suitcase. It's discovered that the passenger next to her placed it by mistake and later is found murdered. This is a good beach read. Not too complicated and a lot of smiles at the craziness she and her sidekick Lulu get into." - C. Daley

3/4 stars.