Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop

Pylvainen's powerful debut follows a large family that are part of an extremely conservative, at times oppressive, religion. Each chapter is narrated by a different family member, giving the reader an intimate, often heartbreaking view of the characters' lives. I was struck by the exquisite delicacy of the writing and how beautifully she tackles a sometimes ugly subject. Hanna Pylvainen is an author to watch!

Evison's newest novel, I'm tempted to use the word "romp", but I'll refrain, is the whole package! The sly and bawdy humor adds levity to the often heart-breaking situations, and the characters, who felt like fully fleshed-out individuals (is that gross-sounding?), stayed with me long after the book was done. A sad, sweet, and funny novel about people just doing their best, "the Revised Fundamentals" should not be missed!

I love Amy Sohn's fascinating, in-depth look at parenting in specific communities. I absolutely could not put this one down until I reached the very last page, and then I wished there was more! A great summer read!

This is the passage that cemented my love for Penelope: "So let's go through this. What are you going to say to people when you meet them?" "Hello." "Penelope, seriously. Because, you know, I have heard you say some things that might put people off and you really have to be careful of that." "What kinds of things? I don't think I say anything weird," said Penelope. "Penelope, I know what I'm talking about." "See, I don't," said Penelope. "The car seat thing, for example. Whenever you bring that up, it is totally bizarre." "What do you mean?" asked Penelope. "What car seat?" "Penelope, you know which car seat." "You mean the car seat I sat in until I was in fourth grade? That's an interesting anecdote. It is like something Noel Coward would say at a party." Penelope is quirky, strange, and hopelessly hilarious - I can't wait for more from this talented author!