Still True by Maggie Ginsberg

How I Came Across It... *Our BBC (Boy's Book Club) has now become a larger staff book club where all readers are included and invited. This selection came to us via a staff member because his sister is the author. We will be "chatting" with her at our next book club gathering. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Lib has escaped her past and is living what she thinks is her best life; with a husband, Jack, who actually resides in the home next door.

*When Claire and Dan move to the same town as Lib and Jack, their son Charlie weaves his way into Jack's life and heart.

*The next new resident is a young man named Matt, who brings the secrets and past of Lib to the present moment.

*After an accident, all the members of the town are affected in one way or another.

*Each character must deal with their past, choose what is right, and hope for forgiveness.

What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *I listened to the novel via Audible and found it one of the most enjoyable listening experiences I've had in a long time.

*The story was well-written, the characters were well-developed, and the plot moved along at a perfect pace.

*I definitely fell in the love with the character of Charlie. He will warm your heart.

*Not all the characters made the best choices, but isn't that what real life is about.

*This was mostly a character driven story, but there were definitely a few twists and turns along the way.

Who Should Read It... *I really think all adult readers will find this a satisfying and engaging read. The story takes place in Wisconsin, so if you are a midwesterner, you may have even more connections to the novel. I'm looking forward to our book discussion and chatting with the author. Happy Reading!

Rating...

5 out of 5 stars

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

How I Came Across It... *One of my favorite authors of novels published for adults is Wally Lamb. I have been wondering and waiting for the last nine years for him to publish something new. I was quite excited when I came across an online article about a new novel coming from Wally in May of 2025. I requested the E-Galley on NetGalley and was thrilled when I was granted a copy. It was time to dig in and see what the master story teller had in store for me this time. What It's About - Five Things You Need to Know... *Corby and Emily want to create the perfect life for themselves and their twins Niko and Maisie.

*This becomes increasing more difficult when Corby losses his job, ends up being a stay-at-home father, and finds himself depending on alcohol and pills.

*When the unspeakable happens, Corby finds himself serving time in prison.

*As he tries to carve out a new life for himself behind bars, Corby experiences both the negative and positive (if there is any) of prison life.

*His goal is to serve his time, be released, and get back to his life; but he isn't sure that life will still be there. What I Thought of It - Five Observations/Reflections... *I was gitty with excitement when I started reading Wally's newest work of fiction.

*The first thing I noticed was this was a different type of writing and/or voice of Wally Lamb.  

*At first I was disappointed, but then I put the past stories behind me, and just focused on this book and tried not to compare.  

*The further I got into the plot, the more I began to enjoy the story, found myself captivated, and emotional at a variety of times.  

*By the end, I was hooked, invested, and quite satisfied with what Wally Lamb is going to be giving readers in May.  

Who Should Read It... *If you have read any of Wally's precious novels, I would definitely recommend you adding this new title to your TBR list. It isn't like his older books, but is a strong novel as it stands alone. I came to care about Corby and his choices, and I think you will to. If you haven't read Wally Lamb before, I would get started because he can write one heck of a novel.

Rating...

5 out of 5 stars