Foster Community Library

Tag: adult

  • “The Illuminator” by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

    Olivia recommends: The Illuminator by Brenda Rickman Vantrease

    Genre: Historical fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Richly detailed and irresistibly compelling, Vantrease’s “The Illuminator” is a glorious story of love, art, religion, and treachery at an extraordinary turning point in 14th century British history.

    Olivia says: I could not put this book down! I don’t think the author has many other published titles but nevertheless, this book is worth the read. I enjoyed all the characters and their development throughout the book. The storyline was great and of course, being set in England, its a favorite of mine.

  • “Normal Women” by Phillippa Gregory

    Olivia recommends: Normal Women by Philippa Gregory

    Genre: Non-fiction history

    Reading level: Teen and up

    Summary: Packed with historical facts and details, Gregory writes of about women and their major roles in history from the 12th century to now.

    Olivia says: I enjoy reading anything by this author, but this is the fist non-fiction title of hers I have read. With a keen knowledge of British history, I knew this book would be a winner, and it is.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez

    Kylie recommends: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

    Genre: Contemporary romance

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Justin writes a viral Reddit post about his curse where every woman he dates goes on to find their soulmate the second they break up. Emma has this same problem, so she slides into his DMs and they band together to break their curses by “dating” each other so they will both be able to find their soulmates after they break up.

    Kylie says: Abby Jimenez takes the typical cutesy contemporary romance and adds layers and deepness to her stories making them not only swoon-worthy, but impactful and heart-wrenching too. If you like the “he falls first,” fake dating, and found-family tropes, then this one is for you.

    This title is available at Foster Public Library.

  • “Girl One” by Sara Flannery Murphy

    Cathy recommends: Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy

    Genre: Sci-fi suspense

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: First-person story of one special woman and her journey into self-discovery while looking for her missing mother.

    Cathy says: I was captivated by the details of the creation of this special woman, her discoveries, and the power of love. This book reminded me again that relatives are bound together by blood, but family is bound by the heart. I could not put this book down.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “We Play Ourselves” by Jen Silverman

    Audrey recommends: We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman

    Genre: Contemporary fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Cass, an up-and-coming playwright, moves across the country to reinvent herself after her latest flop leads to a social media implosion.

    Audrey says: This book is all about the complicated relationships between artists: infatuation, jealousy, pity, worship, betrayal. Cass idolizes an older director, demonizes her younger-but-more-successful colleague, obsesses over her filmmaker neighbor, dismisses the teens acting in the film. By the end of the story, all these relationships have flipped around, and Cass’s truest friend might be her agent’s secretary, who she only knows in the form of brief phone conversations. This novel untangles the conflated webs of fame, love, success, and happiness. I find it a must-read for creative types.

  • “The Promise” by Bobby DePalo

    Cathy recommends: The Promise by Bobby DePalo

    Genre: Fiction

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: One man’s journey to complete a promise decades old.

    Cathy says: The adage ‘What goes around, comes around’ is perfectly exemplified here. This novella is so concisely written that it packs an emotional punch with almost every turn of a page. At the end of the book, the reader is left asking oneself, “What just happened?!” Of interest, Mr. DePalo, the author, was Foster’s Citizen of the Year in 2019.

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library and Foster Public Library.

  • “The Fake Mate” by Lana Ferguson

    Kylie recommends: The Fake Mate by Lana Ferguson

    Genre: Paranormal contemporary romance

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: I AM WARNING YOU, this is a very spicy paranormal werewolf/shifter romance about a nurse and a doctor who have to fake date, but unbeknownst to them, they are a perfect pairing: an Alpha and Omega.

    Kylie says: This is a fast read with the fake dating trope that you will fly right through so buckle up and have a glass of water handy.

  • “Done and Dusted” by Lyla Sage

    Kylie recommends: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

    Genre: Contemporary cowboy romance

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: This is a quick small town country/cowboy romance between Emmy and her older brother’s best friend when she moves back to her hometown after a riding accident.

    Kylie says: This dual-POV story is full of romantic tension and the off-limits trope, and features a female main character with ADHD.

  • “A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside” by Susan Branch

    Olivia recommends: A Fine Romance: Falling in Love with the English Countryside by Susan Branch

    Genre: Memoir

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: Who doesn’t love photos of beautiful flowers and cottages?

    Olivia says: Susan Branch has a very eloquent way of writing. Her hand painted watercolors that adorn each page help to paint the pictures of her adventures in the UK exploring the English countryside. I couldn’t put it down!

    This title is available at Tyler Free Library.

  • “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros

    Kylie recommends: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

    Genre: Romantasy

    Reading level: Adult

    Summary: If you like easy-to-read, immersive stories that give you 2014 nostalgia with trials and tests as well as great worldbuilding, this one is for you.

    Kylie says: This is a fast-paced, dark and moody romantasy book with dragons and powerful characters.