FCPL’s Favorite Books of 2026 (So Far. . .) - PART ONE

With summer ending and marking the half-way point of the year, we are sharing our favorite books of 2026 (so far). Take a look at what we’ve been reading at FCPL and see if your favorite book made our list!

FCPL staff members have shared their top book recommendations from their reading lists so far this year. The selections cover a wide range of genres, from biographies and children's literature to science fiction. 

Based on the staff's favorites, the top-ranked genre was Mystery/Psychological/Thriller, closely followed by Science Fiction in second place, while Fantasy, Horror, and Literary Fiction all tied for third. 

When it comes to format, the team showed a strong preference for traditional print, with over half of the favorite titles read as physical books, and audiobooks coming in as the next most popular choice

This is a very long list, so we're going to break it up into multiple blog posts.

Now on to the books themselves! 

Mystery/Psychological/Thriller

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026)

Recommended by Jessica, Information Specialist, Denmark Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: The story follows Natalie Heller Mills, a "tradwife" social media influencer, who wakes up one day in the 19th century, where she must learn how to live without modern society.

Why they recommend it: “The author's writing of the main character's voice is immensely entertaining and lyrical yet propulsive and blunt. Natalie is a character who you find is putting you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you read. First you hate her, then you feel pity for her, then despise her only to feel sympathy for her, and so on. The underlying message of the novel, to be present in life rather than online, is an important one in today's world. This book messes with your head in the best yet most disturbing way. One of the impending questions Natalie has is did she really time travel back to 1855, leaving her 6-month pregnant modern “tradwife” life, or was she kidnapped and is being gaslit into thinking she woke up in 1855 with an entirely different yet hauntingly familiar family and house all for a reality tv show. Or is she in some kind of afterlife created by God, that He placed her there for a purpose she doesn't know yet. The book flips between modern day, Natalie's past, and 1855 which the author blends nicely throughout the book, pulling you into Natalie's reality.”

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (2024)

Recommended by Gretchen, Youth Specialist, Denmark Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: A thriller driven by themes of identity, ambition, and survival. The story focuses on Evie Porter, a con artist navigating a complex web of deception and danger.

Why they recommend it: This fast-paced and engaging mystery features an entertaining, lovable cast of characters who aren't always who they seem.

Listen For The Lie by Amy Tintera (2024)

Recommended by Haguer, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend’s blood, and now everyone thinks she is a murderer. Years later, after moving away to start a new life, Lucy returns to the place she vowed to never step foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one who did it.

Why they recommend it: Blending dark humor, psychological suspense, and podcast-style storytelling, this engaging and unpredictable read keeps you questioning every character and version of the truth right up until the very end.

One of Us Is Dead by Jeneva Rose (2022)

Recommended by Leena, Information Specialist, Sharon Forks Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: The Real Housewives meets murder in this deliciously savage and wildly entertaining thriller.

Why they recommend it: Set in Buckhead, Atlanta, this engrossing and fast-paced story is packed with drama and mystery, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end.

Hide and Seek by Søren Sveistrup (2026)

Recommended by Morgan, Information Specialist, Sharon Forks

Read the physical book.

What is it about: Detectives Naia Thulin and Mark Hess investigate a missing woman who received text messages of a childhood counting rhyme, tying back to a brutal thirty-year-old cold case.

Why they recommend it: “If you like a fast-paced mystery/thriller with a creepy atmosphere that will keep you guessing until the end, this is the perfect pick. The story follows two detectives as they work to solve a series of kidnappings and murders around Copenhagen. It's Nordic noir at its finest! The mystery is the most intriguing aspect of this book. I couldn't put this book down because I simply needed to know what was going to happen! This is the second in a series by Sveistrup that follows the same detectives. The first book, The Chestnut Man, is an all-time favorite of mine! Both books have also been adapted into the Netflix show The Chestnut Man.”

Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove (2025)

Recommended by Isa, Information Specialist, Cumming Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: A dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society's monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.

Why they recommend it: Set in space, it offers a fresh, unique spin on classic monsters by combining traditional horror elements with an incredibly loveable cast of characters.

Slow Gods by Claire North (2025)

Recommended by Brittany, Circulation Supervisor, Hampton Park Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: This space opera is a galaxy-spanning tale ​of one man's impossible life charted against the fate of humanity amongst the stars

Why they recommend it: While the premise promises classic space opera elements—complete with spaceships, cosmic events, space battles, and planetary politics—Claire North's novel truly stands out through its remarkably vivid, evocative prose. Following an accident, the protagonist grapples with their identity and personhood. Though seemingly detached from humanity, dangerous, and prone to violence, viewing the universe through their eyes makes for a deeply compelling and emotional journey. Beyond the thrilling space adventure, the narrative offers a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be human, examining love in all its forms, loss, friendship, and self-discovery across diverse worlds. Ultimately, the space opera setting serves as the perfect vehicle for such a moving examination of relationships and humanity. Brittany read this book in January and it still sticks with her. She wants to re-read it before the end of the year, but this time in audio.

God's Junk Drawer by Peter Clines (2025)

Recommended by Shannon, Information Specialist, Denmark Library

Read the physical book

What is it about: Set at the dawn of time, this mind-bending tale of adventure and mystery unfolds in a land filled with dinosaurs, Neanderthals, and aliens.

Why they recommend it: Blending elements of Jurassic Park, Timeline, and a Land of the Lost premise, this book is an engaging, well-balanced read—striking the right chord without being overly gory, excessively fantastical, or weighed down by dense sci-fi. The gripping plot follows a protagonist who tries to go back 30 years but accidentally transports several college students along, forcing them to fight off dinosaurs, navigate unknown prehistoric dangers, and survive non-stop action that makes it nearly impossible to put down.

Meet Us by the Roaring Sea by Akil Kumarasamy (2022)

Recommended by Callan, Information Specialist, Denmark Library

Listened to the audiobook

What is it about: A haunting exploration of memory, technology, and the power of human connection in a near-future world.

Why they recommend it: “Elements of memory, compassion, sacrifice, and humanity are interwoven in a floaty narration style as the narrator tries not to lose herself in grief while training an all-consuming AI model at work and translating an equally consuming Tamil document (which passages from comprise the other half of the chapters) of female medical students trying to create radical empathy in her free time. These twin projects prepare her for and complicate her feelings on the tragedies and blessings she faces throughout the novel. I am a sucker for second person narration--which can be hard to find-- and its ability to suck you into the main character's shoes. It is dreamy, inventive, and thought-provoking. The way the two stories interweave, especially towards the end and the legacy of war and the wounds it leaves. The story of Yaadra will stick with me for a long time, as it stuck with all the characters in Roaring Sea who saw the broadcast for themselves." 

Check back soon for Part Two featuring our Fantasy and Literary Fiction picks! 

Jessica Dillard

Information Specialist

Denmark Library

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus

If you are looking for a story with a multi-genre feel, you might enjoy The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus. There is action, adventure, romance, and intrigue—all with a strong female protagonist, a heart-warming rogue, and a hint of magical realism. 

The setting is nineteenth century England and begins with all the intrigue swirling around the newly returned young widow Isabel to the small town she grew up in. She can’t seem to shake her past as she settles into her new life living on the outskirts of town. 

As Isabel starts to get acquainted with people in the town she learns of the unrest in the area and the opposing sides that soon try to draw her in. Unintentionally, she is soon stuck in the middle of the unrest and must choose a side. 

This seaside town and its inhabitants allow Isabel to find a new freedom being herself. But in the process, she must face the mysteries tied to her past. With some sea-faring adventures and budding friendships this is a warm-hearted and adventurous read. 

Arlene Melton

Information Services Supervisor

Cumming Library

The Man of the Revolution

Just after midnight on April 18, 1775, a rider galloped up to a parsonage to deliver a message—“The regulars are coming”—and issue a warning. General Gage of the British army had ordered troops to march on Lexington and Concord and arrest two of the most incendiary patriots in the colony of Massachusetts: Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The following morning saw the Battle of Lexington and Concord fought, setting the American Revolution into motion. Thanks to that midnight rider, Paul Revere, and his warning that April night, Adams and Hancock were able to escape the British troops. 

In The Revolutionary Samuel Adams, author Stacy Schiff takes readers back to this moment in time and beyond. Her subject is Samuel Adams, the second cousin of John Adams. Thomas Jefferson called Samuel 'the earliest, most active, and persevering man of the Revolution.' When John traveled to France to request funds for the war, the French greeted him with a hero's welcome until they found out that 'the famous Adams' was his cousin, Samuel.

Schiff does a thorough job of describing colonial life and the tensions that built with increasing ferocity until war broke out in 1775. Samuel Adams was in the thick of it, writing anonymous letters to various Boston newspapers, taking part in committees, and seizing any opportunity to lambast the British - all with the goal of liberty in mind. A signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was one of the first to identify liberty from Great Britain as an objective for the American colonies. He was truly the man of the Revolution.

Two hundred and fifty years have passed since Samuel Adams signed the Declaration of Independence. Though we cannot stand in the room with the Continental Congress or take part in committees to establish the American colonies as separate from Britain, we can celebrate America’s milestone anniversary through the Georgia Reads for America 250 Challenge. Read about Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and others who made their mark on American history. 

Melissa Gunter

Outreach Specialist

Adult Fiction Staff Pick: Of Monsters and Mainframes

Of Monsters and Mainframes is an unexpectedly delightful serving of classic monsters, space, robots, horror, comedy, and a sweet side of found family. Once you pick up this book, you will have finished it and you won’t be able to determine if your stomach hurts from laughing or crying. 

On her maiden voyage the luxury cruise spaceship, Demeter, wakes up from a power down with all her passengers dead. The only survivor remaining is Dracula. When she reaches her destination, she is named a ghost ship by humanity and once her name is besmirched and it is hard to clear it. Not to mention all the succeeding voyages end in disaster one way or another. With the help of a slew of monsters and her fellow med-bay AI, Steward, Demeter must clear her name before she is decommissioned for good. 

As someone who is typically interested in horror and less so in science fiction this had everything I could want in a book! I have named this book to be my favorite of last year and recommend it to any horror, sci-fi, or comedy fan. It is also a fairly quick read despite the number of pages, due to the dialogue text sprinkled throughout as the AI characters interact with each other. 

Recommended for fans of: Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, and All Systems Red by Martha Wells.

Isa
Information Specialist
Cumming Library

Collection Highlights: America 250 Edition

Hello from your Collection Development team! We are excited to share some of our favorite recent titles, trending genres, and author read-a-likes.

AMERICA 250: Easy Fiction and Easy Nonfiction

Rebecca the White House Raccoon by April Genevieve Tucholke

A raccoon in the White House during the Coolidge presidency? Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Sing the 50 United States! by Dr. Seuss

In this newly discovered book written by Dr. Seuss, YOU can join along as the Cat in the Hat puts together a map of the United States of America.

Bald Eagles by Gail Gibbons

A beloved author’s take on a beloved animal.

What Emma Wrote by Ann Koffsky

A picture book biography of the remarkable woman who wrote the famous poetry lines: “Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

AMERICA 250: Juvenile Fiction and Juvenile Nonfiction

My Bicentennial Summer by Greg Neri

Recounts the author’s wacky 1976 family road trip across the U.S.A.

Weird, Wild, and Rare: Extraordinary Animals of the United States by Elizabeth Eakes

Filled with fun facts, this book would be great for Weird But True! fans.

The Declaration Decoded by Katie Kennedy

A historian guides kids through the Declaration of Independence, sentence by sentence.

Five Days at the Hotel Adams by Hailey Alcaraz

Part of the new American Stories for Gutsy Girls series—will it become this generation’s Dear America? And speaking of Dear America, A Journey to the New World and The Winter of Red Snow just got reprints with fancy new covers.

AMERICA 250: Teen Nonfiction

• America Celebrates: The Most Incredible and Influential People, Places & Events of the Last 250 Years by Aubre Andrus
• America as It Happened: A Moment-By-Moment Journey Through Time, from Prehistory to the Present Day
• America's Founding Myths...and What Really Happened by Christy Mihaly
• Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary by Martha Brockenbrough
• George Washington, A Revolutionary Life by Tim Grove

AMERICA 250: Teen Fiction

• After My Brother Sam by James Lincoln Collier (Yes! My Brother Sam is Dead now has a sequel!!)
• Alex & Eliza: A Love Story by Melissa de la Cruz
• American Treasure Hunters series by Andrew Dare (New series alert!! Historical Fiction aimed at high school boys!)
• The Hunt for Confederate Gold
• The Boston Tea Party Conspiracy
• Hamilton and Peggy: A Revolutionary Friendship by Laura Elliott
• Loyalty by Avi

AMERICA 250: Adult Fiction

• Founding Mothers books by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie
• America’s First Daughter
• A Founding Mother
• My Dear Hamilton

Side note: Don’t miss the collaborative novel they contributed to, Ribbons of Scarlet, about the French Revolution!

• A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon
• Harbor of Spies series by Megan Soja:
• Spark of the Revolution
• Secrets of the Revolution
• Scars of the Revolution
• The Line of Splendor by Salina Baker
• Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry
• Storm Tide by Wilbur Smith

AMERICA 250: New Narrative Nonfiction Titles 

• Centennial: The Great Fair of 1876 and the Invention of America’s Future by Fergus Bordewich
• The Summer of Death: The Great Heat Wave of 1936 and the Making of Modern-Day America by Geoff Williams
• The Hardest, Longest Race: Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America by Eric Moskowitz
• Cocked and Boozy: An Intoxicating History of the American Revolution by Brooke Barbier 
• Kingdom of Devils: A Tale of Murder in the Shadow of the American Revolution by Katherine Grandjean
• Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution by Denise Kiernan

Be sure to check out the official Georgia Reads list!

Staff Pick: America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

To celebrate America's 250th birthday, participation in the Georgia Reads for America 250 Reading Challenge is a memorable way to start! Don't forget to sign up for the reading challenge on the Beanstack app!  

My favorite book from the adult list so far is America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. The two authors teamed up and thoroughly researched the background and history of Thomas Jefferson's oldest daughter and how she helped shape the history of our nation. 

Through visits to Monticello and interviews with the staff there, interviews with the descendants of Jefferson, and reading much of the correspondence written by Thomas Jefferson and his daughter, Patsy, a realistic view of life in America during the late 1700s and early 1800s is depicted by the authors. 

Excerpts from letters written by Jefferson and his daughter are printed throughout the book to support its authenticity. Actual events are supported by facts, which help the reader to understand the emotions and angst that the people from that era were subject to. 

The story is told from the viewpoint of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph. Many of the attitudes towards women and societal norms of the period are highlighted. It is amazing how much Martha Jefferson was able to accomplish in that environment! Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemmings is also explored. 

At the end of the novel, the authors reveal any events that have been altered or timelines that have been compressed. This also helps the reader to get a true picture of the early story of our nation.

America's First Daughter is available at the library in regular print or as an eAudiobook. 

Jeanine Thompson
Outreach Specialist

Staff Picks: Intergenerational Stories

"Connections between generations are essential for the mental health and stability of a nation." –Margaret Mea

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Library has so much to offer beyond the self-help bookshelf. Some of the most impactful books I have read are not just how-to manuals, but snapshots of what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes, especially with regard to age. 

Meaningful intergenerational relationships have been found to provide major benefits for the physical and mental well being of everyone involved. According to a study in the 2025 Journal of Applied Gerontology, intergenerational interactions diminish loneliness and enhance social engagement for seniors. A Boston College study revealed that close grandparent-grandchild relationships are associated with fewer depression symptoms for both.

Younger generations report that these relationships help to improve their self-esteem, confidence, and emotional regulation. Kids often pick up life skills they may not have learned otherwise, unique perspectives, and wisdom that only comes with time and experience. 

If you want to be inspired, check out these timeless titles for kids and adults about the amazing and unexpected things that can happen when people young and old mingle and mix. 

My Grandma is a Superhero by Marloes van Loon

“A gentle story that helps children understand what happens when a grandparent has Alzheimer's disease and cope with their confusion and fading memory.” –Library Aware

The Sun Never Hurries by Roxanne Turcotte

"When young Charlie asks her grandfather, Papa Jo, what his hourglass is for, he demonstrates the answer by inviting her to spend the day at a leisurely pace. Charlie and Papa Jo cook delicious soup, pick wildflowers, row a boat, and explore an island in this heartwarming story. By doing this, Papa Jo shows Charlie the importance of slowing down and savoring her day." –FCPL Catalog

A Grand Day by Jean Reidy

"A heartfelt, exuberant ode to intergenerational bonding." –Kirkus Reviews

The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley

"An octogenarian and a 21-year-old college dropout form an unlikely bond as they travel across the country." –Kirkus Reviews

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

"A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door." –FCPL Catalog

The Road to Tender Hearts by Anne Harnett

"A beautiful reminder that the world is full of tragedy, but life-changing joy and connection might be just around the corner." –Kirkus Reviews

Joanie Goforth
Outreach Specialist

Adult Fiction Staff Pick: I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200 by Robert Brockway

I try not to judge a book by its cover, but Robert Brockway’s horror-comedy I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200 caught my attention for, I think, obvious reasons. This book did not disappoint either—its concept is as original as its title.

Perfect for: Readers searching for an unsettling, dark humor (and yet, somehow still heartfelt) novel.

When forty-something Maksim “Ivan” Ivanov is not delivering food to make ends meet, he is instead acting as a contract killer for the imaginary friends of adults who struggled to let them go as children. The money is better but the stakes are higher, so Ivan sets a couple of rules for himself. First, he will not take on dangerous assignments. A talking ostrich is one thing, but a giant, angry bear is out of the question. Second, he will not kill a child’s imaginary friend. After all, children need their imaginary friends, like Ivan once did. Yet, after Ivan meets eight-year-old Kay Washington, whose imaginary friend proves to be dangerous to both others and herself, he accepts that, sometimes, rules are made to be broken.

Readers, tread carefully. The friends in this story may be imaginary, but the subject material is very real. Though humorous, this horror-comedy is not a cozy read and deals with a variety of heavy topics, such as isolation, loneliness, and self-harm. Brockway broaches these difficult matters in conscientious ways, but if these subjects are upsetting, then it might be best to set this one aside.

If you enjoyed: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite or You’d Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace.

I Will Kill Your Imaginary Friend for $200 is available at the library in regular print.

Brianna

Information Specialist

Sharon Forks Library

Adult Nonfiction Staff Picks: The Sea Captain's Wife by Tilar Mazzeo

As a fan of maritime adventure tales, I was eager to read The Sea Captain's Wife by Tilar Mazzeo. It follows the life and famous 1856 voyage of Mary Ann Patten, a nineteen-year-old bride of sea captain, Joshua Patten. 

The story begins with their maritime family history from Maine, one of the country's largest seafaring states at the time. After making a name for himself on his first command of a clipper ship, Joshua was given command of the Neptune's Car which was to sail from Boston around Cape Horn to San Francisco. For those unfamiliar with Cape Horn, it is at the southern tip of South America and remains to this day one of the most treacherous bodies of water to navigate. 

Being newlyweds and not wanting to be alone with her family, Mary Ann accompanied her husband on this voyage. Keeping busy during the long voyage, she learned to read the stars and charts for navigation. This soon became necessary when Joshua, the ship's captain, became seriously ill and unable to perform his role. Despite challenges from the first- and second-mate, Mary Ann won the admiration and trust of the crew. Her stamina and will were tested as they fought through an eighteen day gale in the freezing waters near Antarctica.

Mary Ann Patten wasn't the only female to captain a ship in those days but many of their stories have been left untold.

If you enjoyed: The Wager by David Grann or the movie Widow Clicquot

Perfect for: Readers who enjoy maritime adventures or the grit of courageous women. 

Also written by Tilar Mazzeo: 

• Eliza Hamilton : the Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton 
• Sisters in Resistance : How a German Spy, a Banker's Wife, and Mussolini's Daughter Outwitted the Nazis 
• The Hotel on Place Vendôme : Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hôtel Ritz in Paris

The Sea Captain's Wife is available at the library in regular print, and as an eBook through FCPL’s digital collection.

Joan Dudzinski

Branch Manager

Cumming Library

Staff Picks: Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption, and Separated Twins by Barbara Demick

One of my ongoing reading goals is to read a book from or about a different country. When I saw Daughters of the Bamboo Grove on the New Nonfiction eAudio list on Libby, I was immediately intrigued. I knew little about modern Chinese history before picking up this book and I had heard stories about China’s one-child policy, mostly about infant girls being left on streets because parents would rather have a son. Little did I know there was so much more to learn about this “social experiment.”

Barbara Demick is an American journalist who was the bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times in Beijing and Seoul and has written additional nonfiction books about modern Asia. Her latest book, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove, gives a humanistic and eye-opening view of China’s one-child policy which lasted from 1979 to 2015. Telling a different side from what most Westerners have heard about China, Demick writes of how thousands of these Chinese babies were kidnapped from their families in broad daylight then marketed as “orphans” or “abandoned” due to the increasing demand of international families and couples looking to adopt.

The book can be divided into three sections. In the first few chapters, Demick recounts the history and execution of the controversial social policy and the consequences we are already seeing today. The middle section is Demick’s own story about her journey investigating these “abandoned” children, recording first-hand accounts from the families, or victims, most of whom are from the Hunan Province in southern China. Throughout the whole book, Demick follows the story of a family from Hunan who had twin girls in 2000 with one of the infants being kidnapped, put up for adoption under false pretenses, and was soon adopted by an American couple. The last third of the book details Demick’s personal journey of reuniting the kidnapped twin with her birth family who never gave up searching for their daughter. She closes the book with a look at how China is currently handling the consequences of their “social experiment” in the rapid decrease of their population and how technology has made it easier for adoptees to find their biological parents.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in modern Chinese history and social customs, and about the operations and outcomes of international adoptions.

If you don’t have time for the 330-something page book, read  Demick’s Los Angeles Times article about the reunion of the twin girls in 2019 when they were 16-years-old. Demick also wrote an article for The New Yorker about China’s stolen adoptees discovering their true origins.

Fiction Readalikes

• The Leftover Woman: A Novel by Jean Kwok
• Girls on the Line by Jennie Liu (TH)
• Frog: a novel by Mo Yan - recommended by the author in the book

Nonfiction Readalikes

• One Child: The Story of China's Most Radical Experiment by Mei Fong

Jessica Dillard

Information Specialist

Denmark Library

Staff Picks: Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox

Growing up in the late 80s-early 90s, Back to the Future is a classic that I have seen many times and still quote to my children today. Michael J. Fox held many roles throughout his career but the one he is most known for is Marty McFly in Back to the Future. His new memoir, Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum is a perfect listen for fans of the film. 

In 1985, Michael J. Fox was offered his first movie role as the now iconic Marty McFly in Back to the Future. However, he was already committed to the show Family Ties playing the conservative son to 60s era parents Steven and Elyse Keaton. Fox recounts the grueling schedule of being Alex P. Keaton during the day and transforming into Marty McFly at night while trying not to lose himself along the way. He also discusses the challenge of convincing his costars, all established movie actors, that a television actor can replace a previous actor for this star role. The audiobook is read by Fox himself and includes movie clips and interviews from the cast and crew.

Jessica Giles

Circulation Supervisor

Cumming Library

Staff Picks: Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

As a former airline employee and avid traveler who can’t always travel due to the size of my large family, I’ve had to make a tradeoff and rely on books to transport me around the world!

Set in Dorset between 1955 and 1968, this U.S. debut from journalist and novelist Clare Leslie Hall offers something for fans of historical fiction, mystery, and romance alike.

The story centers on Beth and her life on the farm with her husband Frank in a narrative that explores the complexities of marriage, family, and loyalty. Beth is not an immediately likable protagonist—she's flawed and makes choices that challenge readers—but by the novel's end, her circumstances reveal a character worth understanding and even sympathizing with. Frank himself is equally compelling, a character rich enough to merit his own story. Together, their relationship forms a complex web of romantic and familial love that proves both heartbreaking and impossible to put down.

If you enjoyed: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

Perfect for: Readers who love character-driven historical fiction with emotional depth

Broken Country is available at the library in both regular and large print, and as an eBook through FCPL’s digital collection.

Find Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall on our website.

Joanie Goforth
FCPL Outreach Specialist

Staff Picks: Everything is Okay by Debbie Tung

Everything is OK by Debbie Tung

A young freelance artist navigates adulting while managing anxiety, negative thoughts, and depression. Everything is OK uses illustrations with minimal color to contrast negative and positive emotional stages. The book describes panic attacks, inner dialog, and how therapy can help people unravel chronic feelings of low self-worth. 

Debbie Tung is a British cartoonist and illustrator who draws about everyday life. She shares her mental health journey in Everything is OK to remind people dealing with tough times or anxious feelings to be kind to themselves. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist

Staff Picks: Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez

Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez

Despite her apprehension, twentysomething Ingrid accepts an invitation from her childhood bestie, Mayra, to spend a weekend at a remote house in the Everglades. But Mayra's hopes of reconnecting with her former friend are soon dashed by the presence of Mayra’s odd boyfriend Benji. This mesmerizing literary Gothic novel is as much about the complex dynamics of female friendships as it is about a spooky mansion with hidden windows, a staircase leading to implausible destinations, strange sounds, and other unusual features. Passages from a mysterious diary, excursions into the Everglades, and flashbacks to Ingrid and Mayra’s teen adventures give this spooky story extra depth. 

If you appreciate thoughtful suspense, check out Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez. Like her character Ingrid, author Nicky Gonzales is from Hialeah, Florida. Her fiction has appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Kenyon Review Online, Taco Bell Quarterly, and other publications.

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Staff Picks: Audition by Katie Kitamura

Audition by Katie Kitamura

Fiction for Adults

In the opening scene of Audition, an actress meets a younger man for lunch in a trendy Manhattan restaurant and worries that their fellow diners will misconstrue their relationship. But what exactly is their relationship? And why is she so alarmed to see her husband enter the restaurant? 

An unwritten scene in the center of the novel alters the story’s direction and dynamics and redefines the relationship between the characters, essentially breaking the fourth wall of novel format. The effect is unique and disorienting. 

Audition explores the fluidity of human connection, family relationships, and power dynamics while blurring the line between reality and art. Fans of metafiction will love this trippy read that invites reflection and speculation.   

Staff Picks Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

 Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

One of my favorite recent reads describes a modern dystopia through the eyes of a young girl of Jewish and Korean descent. 

Intelligent and curious, ten-year-old Vera Bradford-Shmulkin’s observations about her father and stepmother raise concerns about her own family's stability and the state of the America in a post-democratic world. Struggling to form lasting friendships while striving for academic success, Vera questions what she's been told about her absent birth mother and forms a plan to locate her. 

Vera, or Faith is witty, insightful and equal parts charming and terrifying in its vision of a radically altered United States. 

Adult Fiction Staff Picks: The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Jean Hanff Korelitz takes her time developing this complex family drama, beginning before Salo and Johanna, the parents of her main characters, have even met and shifting back and forth in time to explain the dynamics between Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally, triplets born in the early days of IVF. 

A childhood of togetherness leads the three siblings to try to go their own separate ways as teenagers despite the many entanglements that bind them. Struggling to maintain a happy facade after Salo’s infidelity, Johanna Oppenheimer arranges for a surrogate to deliver her fourth child from her remaining frozen embryo, then desperately tries to convince her children to bond with their sister Phoebe, the latecomer, and their biological quadruplet.

The Latecomer is a mesmerizing story that details the ways resentments build, secrets compound, lies unravel, and rifts grow and heal. The novel sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation and delivers it. But that’s by no means the end of the story in this modern family drama.   

At over sixteen hours, the audio version of the The Latecomer  is a great distraction on a long car ride for fans of richly detailed stories that show characters dealing with problems with no easy solutions. 

Jean Hanf Koreliz is the bestselling author of two of my favorite psychological suspense novels, the 2021 The Plot and its 2024 follow-up The Sequel. While it was hard to put down the more fast paced, plot-based psychological suspense novels The Plot and The Sequel, I can tell that the characters in The Latecomer, and their messy, relatable real-world issues will remain with me for much longer. 

Alicia Cavitt
Information Specialist

Adult Fiction Staff Picks: I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

 I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin

Reddit rumors spiral wildly out of control when an anxious vlogger goes offline to transport a strange woman and a mysterious sealed box from California to Washington D.C. 

Unaware that he’s the subject of internet speculation or that he's being pursued by a large, angry, tattooed motorcyclist, Abbot Coburn and the woman known to the Reddit community as GSG (Green Sunglasses Girl) bond in real life while traveling through middle America discussing their differences in this satirical novel that's equal parts smart and silly.

Adult Fiction Staff Picks: Life Hacks for A Little Alien by Alice Franklin - Adult Ficton

 Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin

In an effort to make sense of her world, an inquisitive young British girl compiles additional reading assignments to explain what qualifies as friendship and why her mother is so fearful of the police. When a late-night television special about the Voynich Manuscript sparks her curiosity, she becomes determined to learn as much as she can about the strange artifact which she hopes will shed some light on her own sense of alienation.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a thoughtful look at childhood on the autism spectrum. The story reveals the challenges of families coping with parental absence and mental illness. Language lovers and bibliophiles will appreciate the footnotes and subtext in this unique coming-of-age story.

Adult Fiction Staff Picks: Community Board by Tara Conklin

 Community Board by Tara Conklin 

When her husband abandons her for a professional sky diver, twenty-nine-year-old Darcy Clipper retreats to her childhood home of Murbridge, Massachusetts.  Alone in the home her parents have vacated, Darcy fills her days typing and deleting a series of angry emails to her ex, reading the local community board online, and picking up odd jobs like finding lost pets and testing playground equipment.  

Community Board is a timely story about restarting when things don’t go as planned, finding your own tribe, and the unique dramas found in small towns.  

I really enjoyed this humorous, slow building novel, especially once Darcy emerges from her self-imposed isolation and starts interacting in person with the colorful characters of Murbridge, uncovers a mystery, and helps a family facing harrassment. 

Alicia Cavitt

Information Specialist