Category Archives: Chick Lit

Summer Reading Fun!

Sign up for summer reading fun for the whole family at the Fairfield Public Library. You can register here.

This week’s featured author is Jill Shalvis and her Wildstone series. These are perfect beach reads.

LOST AND FOUND SISTERS

“Shalvis has crafted a wonderful summer read that will fit right in with beach blankets, flip-flops, and maybe a little moonshine.” ~ Library Journal (starred review)

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

RAINY DAY FRIENDS

“With a fast pace and a lovely mix of romance and self-discovery, Shalvis’s novel is chock-full of magnetic characters and seamless storytelling, rich with emotions, and impossible to put down.” ~ Publishers Weekly (starred review)

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE LEMON SISTERS

The Lemon Sisters is full of Shalvis’ signature verve and wit; it touches on sisterhood and forgiveness while also serving up plenty of romance. The perfect beach read for any romance reader.” ~ Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

ALMOST JUST FRIENDS

“Tender … Believable, realistic characters are at the heart of this novel. Shalvis will immediately grab the reader’s attention with a strong heroine and caring connection between two wounded souls.” ~ Publishers Weekly

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE SUMMER DEAL

“Readers will find it easy to root for Shalvis’s stubborn, vulnerable heroines to recognize both the decency and compassion of the sexy men who love them and their own worthiness to be loved. This heartfelt tale is thoroughly satisfying.” ~Publishers Weekly

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE FOREVER GIRL

“Shalvis capably weaves the complex, intertwining relationships into an appealing story of second chances. This is sure to satisfy.”  ~ Publishers Weekly

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

LOVE FOR BEGINNERS

“The novel whizzes by. Shalvis’s fans will be pleased with the message that everyone deserves a second chance.” ~ Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Looking For Romance? Try One of These Popular Books

Slip into some romantic fiction while you’re staying home and staying safe. Here are some of the most popular digital titles, both e-books and audio books, which you can download from Overdrive with your Fairfield Public Library card.

Title details for Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover - Available

MAYBE SOMEDAY
By Colleen Hoover

At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her—and she’s forced to decide what her next move should be.
“Hoover is one of the freshest voices in new-adult fiction, and her latest resonates with true emotion, unforgettable characters and just the right amount of sexual tension.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Cold-Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas - Available

COLD-HEARTED RAKE
By Lisa Kleypas

“Kleypas begins a new historical romance series with two damaged characters who might find happiness if they can ever learn to trust themselves and one another. Intricately and elegantly crafted, intensely romantic, and with secondary characters and an epilogue that will leave readers anxiously awaiting more. A gratifying series starter from a not-to-be-missed romance author.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams - Available

THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB
By Lyssa Kay Adams

“In this heartfelt romance, a professional baseball player fights to save his failing marriage with the help of some good friends and the inspirational exploits of a fictional nobleman… A strong supporting cast, including Gavin’s book clubmates and his tiny, adorable twin daughters, helps flesh out the Legends community. This earnest charmer is sure to win Adams new fans. ~Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Bride Test by Helen Hoang - Available

THE BRIDE TEST
By Helen Hoang

“Hoang’s touching second contemporary romance (after The Kiss Quotient) explores what the American dream might mean to a young, mixed-race Vietnamese woman and the autistic Vietnamese-American man she’s matched up with… With serious moments offset by spot-on humor, this romance has broad appeal, and it will find a special place in the hearts of autistic people and those who love them.” ~Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters - Available

WOULD LIKE TO MEET
By Rachel Winters

Evie Summers has been tasked with the impossible: getting a playboy film mogul with writer’s block to pen a script that he decidedly does not write—one with a happy ending. But with a long overdue promotion within reach, Evie is determined to keep Ezra in the game, showing the cynical author that a Hollywood meet-cute is not only possible, it’s a recipe for falling in love.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Sleepless in Manhattan by Sarah Morgan - Available

SLEEPLESS IN MANHATTAN
By Sarah Morgan

“Snappy dialogue, well-developed characters, and the details of the three women’s hard work to build their company mix with sweet romantic tension between Paige and Jake. Steamy sex scenes spice up this quick, engaging read.” ~Publisher’s Weekly

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory - Available

THE WEDDING DATE
By Jasmine Guillory

“This incredibly delicious meet-cute brings two people together who would not have met otherwise, and though it could have become predictable, Guillory keeps this contemporary romance fresh with well-drawn multicultural characters navigating the perils of long-distance relationships.” ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Rescue Me by Rachel Gibson - Available

RESCUE ME
By Rachel Gibson

“Sizzling sex, dialog peppered with plenty of Texas slang, a setting overflowing with country flavor, and a pair of appealing, emotionally scarred protagonists combine in a big-hearted, touching, and hilarious story you won’t be able to put down.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck - Available

THE WEDDING CHAPEL
By Rachel Hauck

“Hauck has crafted a masterly romance that depicts the truth about real love: it’s hard, messy, and unforgettable. The author’s characters burst from the pages in an emotional journey that will be remembered long after the novel is finished. Hauck fans will savor, and so will readers who believe in true love that lasts a lifetime and beyond. Once again, she proves why she is a master of this genre.” ~Library Journal

For more information, please click here.

Title details for An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole - Available

AN EXTRAORDINARY UNION
By Alyssa Cole

“The first installment in Cole’s (Mixed Signals, 2015, etc.) Loyal League series defies genre stereotypes at every turn. It’s both a romance and a spy novel, with a healthy dose of adventure thrown in, and it offers a nuanced portrayal of Civil War-era racial politics. Any reader who thinks romance novels are pure fluff will be schooled by Cole’s richly drawn characters, who must overcome generations of trauma in order to let themselves love each other. A masterful tale that bodes well for future work from Cole.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Four Weddings and a Sixpence by Julia Quinn - Available

FOUR WEDDINGS AND A SIXPENCE
By Julia Quinn, Elizabeth Boyle, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Stefanie Sloane

Four boarding school friends find everlasting love with the help of a magical coin in this historical-romance anthology that weaves through the popular wedding rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue—and a sixpence for your shoe… A fun idea connects four charming stories, though they build to a pinnacle with Quinn’s.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~ Jane Goodall

Humorous Fiction-Digital Downloads

Looking for some humorous fiction to read or listen to while you’re staying home and staying safe? Here are a few suggestions that you can download from Overdrive with your Fairfield Public Library card.

Title details for Class Mom--A Novel by Laurie Gelman - Available

CLASS MOM
By Laurie Gelman

“Gelman’s debut is a literary stand-up routine, and you might as well just give in: this woman is going to get a laugh out of you.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman - Wait list

LAST COUPLE STANDING
By Matthew Norman

“Charmingly realistic and clear-eyed about the peaks and pitfalls of modern relationships, Last Couple Standing explores the vulnerability required to make a marriage work”. ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson - Available

AN ACCIDENTAL BEAUTY QUEEN
By Teri Wilson

“A happily nerdy elementary school librarian ends up competing in a beauty pageant in this fun and frothy read.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for No Sunscreen for the Dead by Tim Dorsey - Available

NO SUNSCREEN FOR THE DEAD
By Tim Dorsey

“In their latest outing, cheerful Florida psychopath Serge Storms and his permanently stoned sidekick Coleman come to the aid of the residents of a retirement community.” ~Booklist

For more information, please click here.

Title details for The Hating Game by Sally Thorne - Available

THE HATING GAME
By Sally Thorne

“From Lucy’s hilarious inner dialogue to Joshua’s sharp retorts, the chemistry between them is irresistibly adorable—and smokin’ hot… this one’s a real winner.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

Title details for Carnegie Hill by Jonathan Vatner - Available

CARNEGIE HILL
By Jonathan Vatner

“Vatner’s debut novel is absorbing and comforting in its omniscient perspective and delicate handling of its carousel of characters. A good old-fashioned read on the venerable theme of marriage.” ~Kirkus

For more information, please click here.

“We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.”
~John Green, Looking For Alaska

Beach Reading and the Adult Summer Reading Code!

The Adult Summer Reading Code is: Penny
For more information about our Summer Reading Programs for all ages, please click here.

SURFSIDE SISTERS
By Nancy Thayer
“Having left Nantucket behind for the life of a successful novelist in New York City, why should Lara return? Because success isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, her mother is now unemployed and depressed, and Lara herself faces writers’ block after a relationship went bust. The problem? She and childhood best friend Isabelle haven’t spoken in years after a big blowup. What’s more, she’s crushing on Isabelle’s brother the moment she hits the island. The New York Times best-selling Thayer lives on that very island and makes its tides and times very real.” ~Library Journal

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

MRS. EVERYTHING
By Jennifer Weiner
“It’s been a while since Weiner explored the complicated terrain of sisterhood, and readers will flock to this ambitious, nearly flawless novel.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE WONDER OF LOST CAUSES
By Nick Trout
“An artfully crafted story about the connection between a boy and his dog and the deep bond between a son and his mother.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

SUMMER OF ‘69
By Elin Hilderbrand
“As always, Hilderbrand’s characters are utterly convincing and immediately draw us into their problems, from petty to grave…To use the parlance of the period, a highly relevant retrospective.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Still Life With Bread Crumbs

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Title: Still Life with Bread Crumbs

Author: Anna Quindlen

Publisher : Random House, 2014

Summary/Review : Rebecca Winter is 60 and newly divorced. She is a lifelong New Yorker and a well-known photographer.    Her photographs are no longer bringing in the money she needs to provide care for her elderly parents. Hoping to save some money and come up with artistic inspiration, Rebecca decides to sublet her expensive New York apartment and moves into a rustic cabin a couple of hours away in the country. It turns out that the “lovely” cabin is not what it was portrayed to be in the ad. Rebecca soon learns that country living is very different from her life style in Manhattan.   Many people become part of her new life, including a young roofer named Jim Bates. Thus begins a very touching and realistic love story.

Who will like this book: Anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. The author delivers a potent message that it’s never too late to embrace life’s second chances.

If you like this, try this:  Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A memoir by Anna Quindlen

Recommended by: Beverly D, Branch Circulation Coordinator

If this looks like a book you’d like to try, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and/or place a hold!

Mimi Malloy, At Last

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Title:  Mimi Malloy, At Last

Author:  Julia MacDonnell

Publisher: Picador, April 2014

Summary/Review:  Mimi Malloy, divorced and newly retired is settling into the twilight of her life.  Her sisters and six daughters are ever present in her life and believe that her memory may be starting to fail.  But a chance discovery of a locket in the top of her closet sets her on a path to remembering the dark unresolved secrets of her Irish Catholic childhood.  After their mother passes away during childbirth, their father marries another woman who turns out to be the classic mean stepmother. After many failed attempts at discipline she even sends away the feistiest of the young girls to Ireland from which she never returns.  As the sisters interact and Mimi remembers more and more we learn what really happened. The story has much interaction among the sisters and explores various mother daughter relationships.  There is even a new romantic interest for Mimi, who also has a secret which he reveals to her.  Always comfortable with herself and the life she now leads there is much humor and warmth in this novel. The difficulties of their dark early days have been overcome as they have remained very close. Family life, reconciliation and the power of memory are the major themes of this book.

Who will like this book:  If you enjoy a story about older, independent women or family interactions you will enjoy this novel.  If you like Maeve Binchy, you will probably like this.

If you like this try:  The Good House by Ann Leary.

Recommended by:  Jan, Admin

If this looks like a book you’d like to try, check out the Fairfield Public Library to see if it’s available and/or to place a hold

 

Twisted Sisters

 

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Title: Twisted Sisters

Author: Jen Lancaster

Publisher: Penguin Group, 2014

Summary/Review:  If you are looking for a light, whimsical read that pokes fun at today’s celebrities, while tapping into some New Age methods for getting into someone’s head, look no further than this ultimate book on sibling rivalry.

Dr. Reagan Bishop has it all—she is pretty, in great shape, and intellectually superior to anyone else. She’s also a recognized psychologist on a hit television show, yet her parents never seem to acknowledge any of her achievements. However, they always boast about every little thing her sisters do. As different from Reagan as they can be, Geri is a hairdresser that still lives in her parent’s basement and Mary Mack is married with a bunch of kids.

Although she appears to be in-control, Reagan spends most of her time trying to figure out what her sisters have that make everyone fall all over them. Some of the comments and observations made by Reagan about her sisters and others will make you laugh out loud. With a lack of friends, invitations, and a boyfriend who constantly wants to “take a break”, she can’t understand why it’s so hard for her. It’s only when she has a chance to walk a mile in her Geri’s shoes that she gets a true understanding of her sister. Not only does she view her sister in a different light, but she is able to really see herself as others see her.

Who will like this book: Anyone looking for a quick, fun read and who can relate to the exchanges between sisters.

 If you like this, try this: The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes.

Recommended by: Sharyn, Circulation

If you think this looks like a book you’d like to read, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and/or to place a hold!

The Last Original Wife

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Title: The Last Original Wife

Author:  Dorothea Benton Frank

Publisher: William Morrow, 2013

Summary/Review: If you are looking for a book that has a little romance, a lot of humor and takes you to Charleston, South Carolina then this book is for you. Leslie Carter is the last “original” wife among a group of couples that had gotten married and raised their children together. Now, whether by divorce or death, the husbands in the group have replaced their original wives with newer models.

Leslie’s husband Wes expects her to be grateful that he has kept her around. Leslie’s daughter is a single mother expecting her mother to be on call 24/7 to babysit. Her son is a hippy living in Asia trying to find himself while smoking a lot of pot. During a disastrous trip to Scotland with the “new” wives Leslie falls into an open manhole and no one misses her for 45 minutes. When she is stuck in the hospital in Scotland her husband leaves her there so he doesn’t miss his tee time. When she returns to the states, Leslie escapes to Charleston to spend time with her gay brother and reevaluate her entire existence. Once there, Leslie rediscovers herself and her passions –  including an old flame!

Dorothea Benton Frank has a wonderful writing style and opening one of her books you can feel the warm Charleston breezes, you can taste the cocktails and you can smell the sea air. Open the pages of this book and escape for a while!!

Who will like this book? Anyone who likes a good southern saga and a great beach read.

If you like this, try this: Dorothea Benton Frank has written over 14 books so if you like this one you will love all her other books too.

Recommended by: Claudia, Technical Services

If you think this could be your next read, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to see if it’s available and/or place a hold!

Forgotten

forgotten

Title: Forgotten: A Novel

Author: Catherine McKenzie

Publisher: William Morrow, An imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2012

Summary/Review: Emma Tupper’s mother passed away and leaves her a round trip ticket to Africa. Emma promised her dying mother that she would take the trip and not return for one month. However, Emma is a dedicated lawyer with a bright future at a big city law firm. Taking this trip means she will have to forfeit her partnership with the firm. When Emma’s boyfriend Craig offers to go with her on the trip, she tells him she wants to do this by herself so she can think about where her life is headed.

Emma becomes ill while on the tour in Africa. She is transported to a medical center to be cared for. While she is recovering, a massive earthquake occurs in Africa which leaves them without communication and transportation for several months. Because Emma’s illness was never reported to her tour guide company, her last known location was in the city of the earthquake, therefore, she was presumed dead.

Six months later, Emma returns home to London. She soon realizes that her friends, boyfriend, and colleagues thought she was dead, and that her life has moved on without her. She has no money, no job and no place to live. Read about Emma’s struggles to get her old life back and follow her on her most important journey of self-discovery. This book does not have a predictable ending. The question is….if you had a chance to start over, would you take it?

Who will like this book: Those who like fast-paced contemporary novels.

If you like this, try this: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. Catherine Mackenzie also writes a number of other novels if you are a fan of the writing style.

Recommended by: Beverly, Circulation

If you would like to check if this book is available or place a hold, visit the Fairfield  Public Library catalog [Link will open in a new window]

The Next Thing on my List

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Title: The Next Thing on My List

Author: Jill Smolinski

Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books, Inc. 2007

Review/Summary: If you are looking for light-read with a good story, look no further than The Next Thing on My List.

Meet June Parker, single, in her mid-thirties, and the driver of the car that killed her passenger Marissa Jones. After the accident June discovers a list that Marissa made titled “20 Things to Do by My 25th Birthday”. In trying to figure out her own life, June decides to complete Melissa’s list for her. Some articles on the list, such as “go on a blind date” and “try boogie boarding” turn out to be total adventures. Other items, such as “run a 5K” and “pitch an idea at work” require more time and commitment. One of the most difficult challenges on the list is “change someone’s life”. As June becomes consumed with trying to change one life, she ends up changing several lives, including her own.

All in all, life shouldn’t be taken for granted. And yes, sometimes you have to step out of your comfort-zone to make something happen. This book is both inspirational and funny with characters you can relate to. After you finish reading it, you will want to start your own list.

Who will like this: Someone looking for a fun but thought provoking book.  Someone interested in starting their own list!

If you like this, try this:  If you’re into chick-lit, try anything by Elin Hilderbrand, who is known for her portrayal of women without being too fluffy,  or “Bright Side of Disaster” by Katherine Center, a funny and light-hearted but still fulfilling book about love and losing it.  If you like Jane Smolinski’s writing style, she has a number of other books both fiction and non-fiction.

If you’re interested in starting your own bucket list, there are a number of books out there about that on every subject- including a bucket list of books to read!

Recommended by: Sharyn, Circulation Assistant

If you think you’d like to read this, visit the Fairfield Public Library catalog to check if it’s available and place a hold! [Link will open in a new window]