Skylark
“Skylark” by Paula McLain is a haunting historical fiction novel that I highly recommend! The story is told in 2…
Shady Hollow
Cozy mystery readers might really enjoy “Shady Hollow” by Juneau Black. The story takes place in a little woodland village…
The Murder at World’s End
“The Murder at World’s End” by Ross Montgomery takes one to the English countryside in 1910 as Halley’s Comet is…
The First Time I Saw Him
Finally! A mystery that kept me glued to the pages so intently that I finished it in one afternoon! If…
The Storm
“The Storm” by Rachel Hawkins is a mystery set at an oceanside inn on the coast of Alabama. The moody…
Theo of Golden
What a special book . . . “Theo of Golden” by Allen Levi is his first novel and I will…
Mona’s Eyes
“Mona’s Eyes” by Thomas Schlesser is a MUST READ for anyone who appreciates art. It is definitely not a ‘quick…
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
James Patterson and Imogen Edwards-Jones have labeled “The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe” as a True Crime Thriller. It is…
Best Books of 2025
Watseka Public Library has been suggesting Worthwhile Reads for 5 ½ years now! (The blog posts weekly on our Facebook…
Remain
I wasn’t sure what to expect from “Remain” by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, but I was pleasantly surprised…
Hunter’s Heart Ridge
“Hunter’s Heart Ridge” by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the sequel to “Agony Hill”. It can be read as a stand-alone…
Twice
I was excited to read Mitch Albom’s new novel, “Twice”. It didn’t disappoint, with some great lessons and interesting thoughts…
Forget Me Not
“Forget Me Not” by Stacy Willingham is another great mystery/thriller to cozy up with this Fall or Winter. The story…
Happy Wife
Looking for a book set in a glamorous, privileged city full of pampered, gossipy characters? Check out “Happy Wife” by…
The Girl In The Green Dress
“The Girl in the Green Dress” by Mariah Fredericks will appeal to fans of Historical Fiction and those who might…
Our Last Resort
“Our Last Resort” by Clemence Michallon is a psychological thriller that is told in dual timelines. The author presents a…
She Didn’t See It Coming
I was immediately caught up in reading “She Didn’t See It Coming” by Shari Lapena! Most of the characters are…
The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth
“The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth” by Barbara O’Neal is a story about two women who journey across London, Paris,…
The Witch’s Orchard
Archer Sullivan introduces a great main character in her new novel, “The Witch’s Orchard.” Annie Gore is a private investigator…
Not Quite Dead Yet
“Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson is a terrific thriller and a Good Morning America Pick. I read it…
All the Stars in the Heavens
I went back to a 2015 publication for this week’s Worthwhile Read – “All the Stars in the Heavens” by…
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks
“The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks” by Shauna Robinson is a delightful contemporary fiction novel that will especially appeal to…
The Correspondent
I can’t believe that “The Correspondent” is Virginia Evans’ debut novel! I felt like I knew some of the characters…
Shield of Sparrows
There has been lots of ‘buzz’ about “Shield of Sparrows” by Devney Perry. This Romantasy novel hit the N.Y. Times…
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau
If you love historical fiction, be sure to read “The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau” by Kristin Harmel. This novel…
The Summer of Broken Rules
If you’ve been looking for a fun/easy/ beachy read, look no further than “”The Summer of Broken Rules” by K.L.…
Sunrise on the Reaping
“Sunrise on the Reaping” is the most recently published novel in the “Hunger Games” series – and if you haven’t…
My Friends
Fredrik Backman is absolutely one of my favorite authors, and his new novel, “My Friends” is another masterpiece. This book…
Atmosphere
“Atmosphere: A Love Story” by Taylor Jenkins Reid is two stories in one. It is the story of Joan Goodwin,…
The Names
If you’ve been looking for a thought-provoking book, check out “The Names” by Florence Knapp. (The novel would also make…
The Ghostwriter
“The Ghostwriter” by Julie Clark is a psychological thriller with a large dose of family drama. It kept my interest…
The Amalfi Curse
“The Amalfi Curse” by Sarah Penner is a magical novel that will take you to Italy’s legendary coast and share…
The Story She Left Behind
“The Story She Left Behind” by Patti Callahan Henry is one of the most beautifully written novels I have ever…
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
“The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits” by Jennifer Weiner is a terrific novel for anyone who loves music, sister relationships and…
Great Big Beautiful Life
If you like women’s fiction along with a good romance and historical drama, make sure you read “Great Big Beautiful…
We All Live Here
If you love contemporary women’s fiction with a good dose of humor, as well as great characters, check out JoJo…
The Other People
“The Other People” by C.B. Everett is a version of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” novel, but with…
Heartwood
“Heartwood” by Amity Gaige is a wilderness suspense novel about a lost hiker and the massive search to find her…
The Quiet Librarian
“The Quiet Librarian” by Allen Eskens is a mystery/thriller/action story told in 2 timelines and settings. Events in the current…
Famous Last Words
“Famous Last Words” is the latest thriller by Gillian McAllister and it had me hooked from the very beginning! The…
The Ride
Just in time for the 250th anniversary of the April 18th, 1775 ride, Kostya Kennedy has written “The Ride: Paul…
Broken Country
“Broken Country” by Clare Leslie Hall is a Reece’s Book Club Pick that is full of love, loss, passion, sadness,…
The Favorites
“The Favorites” by Layne Fargo has been described by many critics as a combination of “Daisy Jones and the Six”…
The Queens of Crime
Readers of historical fiction will love Marie Benedict’s new novel, “The Queens of Crime.” The story is narrated by the…
The Oligarch’s Daughter
“The Oligarch’s Daughter” by Joseph Finder is not my usual genre of reading – it is a spy/thriller/mystery novel and…
Let’s Call Her Barbie
“Let’s Call Her Barbie” by Renee Rosen was a great read! The novel is a fictional retelling about the creators…
Three Wild Dogs (and the truth)
If you love dogs (or just love animals), “Three Wild Dogs (and the truth)” by Markus Zusak will go right…
More or Less Maddy
Lisa Genova’s new novel, “More or Less Maddy” is a powerful, emotional story in which the main character has bipolar…
The Heart of Winter
I read “The Heart of Winter” by Jonathan Evison in one afternoon and loved every single chapter in this touching…
Someone In The Attic
If you like mystery novels with a creepy vibe, check out “Someone in the Attic” by Andrea Mara. It has…
The Blue Hour
“The Blue Hour” by Paula Hawkins is a slow, haunting novel set on Eris, a tiny island off of Scotland…
The Spectacular
While waiting for the new 2025 publications to come out, I picked up “The Spectacular” by Fiona Davis. This terrific…
Ina Garten
Ina Garten’s memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens” was a Top 10 nominee for Best Biography of 2024 on…
Pony Confidential
“Pony Confidential” by Christina Lynch is a unique murder mystery novel – its chapters are narrated by Penny, the accused…
2024 Best of the Year
Wow! The end of 2024 is coming quickly and it’s time to see which Watseka Public Library Book Blog books…
I Think I Was Murdered
“I Think I Was Murdered” by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker was an intriguing read because one of the central…
Libby Lost and Found
“Libby Lost and Found” by Stephanie Booth is an interesting, quirky novel. It may not appeal to all readers -…
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
If you’ve been looking for a lighthearted cozy mystery with romance and a Christmas-y twist, check out “The Most Wonderful…
Framed
“Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions” is a non-fiction expose of ten cases where innocent people were convicted of…
The Golden Age of Red
“The Golden Age of Red” by Doug Villhard is a fun and interesting read! It begins with a scene in…
What Does It Feel Like?
Sophie Kinsella is most famous for her “Shopaholic” book series, but her new novella, “What Does It Feel Like?” is…
Disclaimer
“Disclaimer” by Renee Knight is a new book to our library, but was first published in 2015. (It has been…
Melania
I was intrigued to read “Melania,” the new memoir by former First Lady Melania Trump. I know she is a…
The Night We Lost Him
Laura Dave has written another wonderful thriller/family drama – “The Night We Lost Him.” (She was also the author of…
The Unwedding
“The Unwedding” by Ally Condie is a ‘locked room’ genre of mystery and I actually read it all in one…
The God of the Woods
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore takes place during several different timelines in the years between 1950 and…
By Any Other Name
“By Any Other Name” by Jodi Picoult is a really well-written novel dealing with women who are denied a voice…
Agony Hill
“Agony Hill” by Sarah Stewart Taylor is the first book in a new series set in Vermont in the mid-1960’s.…
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Mystery/Thriller lovers should check out “Like Mother, Like Daughter” by Kimberly McCreight. This novel didn’t ‘wow’ me right away, but…
The Briar Club
“The Briar Club” by Kate Quinn is a different type of historical fiction novel than most. It is set in…
All the Colors of the Dark
“All the Colors of the Dark” by Chris Whitaker is an amazing novel! Some readers won’t like it because of…
The Nature of Disappearing
“The Nature of Disappearing” by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a dual timeline mystery set in the Idaho wilderness. It is…
Funny Story
If you haven’t read an Emily Henry novel yet, you need to check one out! Her most recent contemporary romance,…
Middle of the Night
I have read a couple of Riley Sager’s novels, but “Middle of the Night” is my favorite! The novel has…
She’s Not Sorry
“She’s Not Sorry” by Mary Kubica was a great read – I finished it in one day . . .…
Summer Romance
“Summer Romance” by Annabel Monaghan was a delightful book to read this week! This book had characters with heart and…
One Perfect Couple
Are you a fan of reality or survival tv shows? “One Perfect Couple” by Ruth Ware combines the two genres…
The Paris Novel
“The Paris Novel” by Ruth Reichl is filled with fabulous descriptions of delicious food, beautiful dresses and amazing artwork. I…
Shelterwood
Lisa Wingate tells a story of orphaned and disadvantaged Choctaw children in her historical fiction novel, “Shelterwood.” The novel has…
Daughter of Mine
“Daughter of Mine” by Megan Miranda was a terrific mystery with lots of family drama and psychological twists. I absolutely…
The Last Murder at the End of the World
If you’re up for a futuristic murder mystery, check out Stuart Turton’s new novel, “The Last Murder at the End…
A Light In The Forest
I’m so glad I picked up “A Light in the Forest” by Melissa Payne as my read for this week.…
James
Percival Everett has written a new novel – “James.” It is on all of the bestseller lists and has terrific…
How To Solve Your Own Murder
“How to Solve Your Own Murder” by Kristen Perrin is a cozy ‘Agatha Christie-like’ mystery that kept my interest and…
Listen For The Lie
Has anyone noticed that there are lots of books out lately that have ‘Lies/Liars’ in the title? “Listen for the…
Just for the Summer
“Just For the Summer” by Abby Jimenez is a treat to read!! It is a contemporary romance novel with lots…
Can’t We Be Friends
I was excited to read “Can’t We Be Friends” by Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight and it lived up…
The Berry Pickers
“The Berry Pickers” is Amanda Peters’ debut novel – what a beautifully written story! The fiction novel centers around a…
The Fury
“The Fury” by Alex Michaelides caught my interest from the beginning and then slowly unfolded to reveal “whodunit” in this…
Sharing Too Much
I have read and enjoyed MANY of Richard Paul Evans’ novels, so I thought I’d check-out his new memoir, “Sharing…
The Women
Kristin Hannah’s books never disappoint, and “The Women” is another of her sweeping historical fiction novels. It is set during…
Anna O
Readers looking for a detailed, psychological thriller should check out “Anna O” by Matthew Blake. (It is a GMA Buzz…
The Frozen River
Ariel Lawhon has written a fabulous historical fiction novel – “The Frozen River.” There is murder, mystery, corruption and romance…
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
A patron recommended “The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot” by Marianne Cronin and I was instantly caught up…
First Lie Wins
I was in the mood for a thriller/mystery and “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston was the perfect choice! I…
Maybe Next Time
“Maybe Next Time” by Cesca Major is a Reece Witherspoon’s Book Club pick and reminded me of the movie, “Groundhog…
Northwoods by Amy Pease
“Northwoods” is Amy Pease’s debut novel and will appeal to readers who like mysteries by William Kent Krueger and Craig…
The little liar
“The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom is a novel set in Salonika, Greece during WWII. It is really well-written and…
The Mystery Guest
Welcome to the Watseka Public Library’s 2024 Worthwhile Reads Book Blog!! I chose a cozy mystery to start the new…
Best of 2023 – WPL Favorites
2023 has flown by SO FAST – and we have SO many books that we enjoyed reading this year! Read…
