MADreads

Book reviews by library staff and guest contributors

Worlds away

Cover of Red, White and Royal Blue
A review of Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuistion

This is the book I'm going to be recommending to everyone in 2019- it's the delightful, funny, and very relevant story of Alex, the First Son of the US, and Henry, Prince of England and their journey from having a PR driven "friendship" to a real relationship and love. The story takes place a kind of alternate reality where a progressive female with biracial children has won the presidency. Her son, Alex, believes that he's meant to go into politics, and behind his seemingly party lifestyle, he works tirelessly to campaign and research in preparation for his mother's hopeful reelection.

Posted by Kelsey H on March 20, 2019

Bedtime for brave boys

Cover of Night Knight
A review of Night Knight by Owen Davey

A wonderfully illustrated book about going to bed! Owen Davey has given us a great little story about a boy who imagines he is a knight as he is doing his nightly, or should we say knightly routine. This fun mix of dragons, castles, baths, and beds makes for a great nighttime tale.

Posted by Tracy on March 15, 2019

Of candlepin bowling and people

Cover of Bowlaway: A Novel
A review of Bowlaway: A Novel by Elizabeth McCracken

Bowlaway is a community saga set in Salford, Massachusetts centered on a candlepin* bowling alley. For those of you not familiar with candlepin, it is a variation of bowling played in New England with pins that have a cylindrical shape that taper toward each end similar to a candle. Scoring is different from tenpin and the balls are smaller, with no finger holes.

Posted by Molly W on March 13, 2019

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Big reader of mysteries? You're covered. Someone who'd rather listen than read a print book? We've got your back. 

Posted by Jane J on March 8, 2019

Beer battles and pie (could it be more midwestern if it tried?)

Cover of The Lager Queen of Minneso
A review of The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

I read Stradal's debut, Kitchens of the Great Midwest, almost in one sitting (literally, as I was in my seat on an airplane) and loved every moment of it. So I was thrilled to see that Stradal's second book was finally here and I dove right in when a pre-pub copy came my way.

Posted by Jane J on March 7, 2019

Romance? Check!

Cover of The Kiss Quotient
A review of The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Stella Lane sees the world in math and economics. There is no room for error and there's a formula for everything. So when she's ready for a serious relationship she creates a to-do list and gets ready to start checking off boxes! The only problem is, romantic chemistry is not a formula she can predict.

Posted by Molly W on March 5, 2019

An Eye for Fashion

Cover of Potato Pants
A review of Potato Pants by Laurie Keller

All you spuds looking for duds, “Lance Vance’s Fancy Pants Store” is having a big sale on potato pants.  Hurry, hurry, hurry because “Once they’re gone, they’re gone!”

 

Posted by Karen L on February 28, 2019

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