Book Club Recommendations – Commerce Township Community Library

11/03/2023

Wondering what to read at your next Book Club meeting? Here are some great suggestions that we think you (and your Book Club members!) will love! Don't forget that you can always check out a pre-made Book Club Bundle at the Adult Reference Desk inside the library.

Fiction Selections

	The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger William Kent Krueger’s page-turning, rewarding mystery The River We Remember is a superb exploration of the prejudices and complexities of post-World War II America.
The Fraud by Zadie Smith Zadie Smith writes eloquent, powerful and often quite humorous novels with social issues at the fore, and The Fraud is no exception.
	Happiness Falls By Angie Kim Angie Kim’s suspenseful follow-up to Miracle Creek follows a family that lives in a quiet and even bucolic neighborhood near Washington, D.C. They try to stay out of trouble. But trouble comes to them.
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns Jessica Johns’ Bad Cree examines the impact of grief on a small community, mixing truly frightening moments with warm camaraderie.
	Starling House by Alix E. Harrow Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House is a riveting Southern gothic fantasy with gorgeous prose and excellent social commentary.
The September House by Carissa Orland Carissa Orlando’s darkly funny and unexpectedly emotional The September House follows an empty nester who refuses to leave her extremely haunted Victorian home.
	Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women is a primal scream for women past and present.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store By James McBride James McBride is a lyricist and musician, and there’s a rhythmic quality to his unique sixth novel, which began as an ode to a beloved figure in the author’s life.
	Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld A comedy sketch writer and a singer-songwriter become pandemic pen pals in Curtis Sittenfeld’s charming romance.
The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person—and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth.
	Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson Tiffany D. Jackson has our heart (and our tears), and if you haven’t picked up a book by her yet, be prepared to be blown away. Grown is essential reading, especially in the time of the #MeToo era, and this novel is a searing look into rape culture and the unique vulnerability of Black girls in particular.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi We loved Emergency Contact and Permanent Record, and this latest from Mary H.K. Choi explores sisterly bonds and it might just be our favorite one of hers.

Non-Fiction Selections

Flee North By Scott Shane Scott Shane depicts Thomas Smallwood as an abolitionist hero whose calculated daring, wit and foresight still inspire.
	Wild Girls By Tiya Miles If you, like Tiya Miles, were once a girl who found an expansive sense of wonder in wild spaces, you will love her book about the history of women in the outdoors.
Up Home By Ruth J. Simmons Ruth J. Simmons recalls her journey from sharecroppers’ daughter in Grapeland, Texas, to president of Smith College and Brown University in this sparkling memoir.
	The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean by Susan Casey The Underworld is Susan Casey’s dazzling answer to the age-old, tantalizing question about the ocean’s abyss: “What’s down there?”
The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth by Elizabeth Rush Pulitzer finalist Elizabeth Rush combines memoir, reportage and science writing in a lyrical, women-centered addition to the Antarctic canon.
	Congratulations, The Best Is Over! By R. Eric Thomas R. Eric Thomas will keep you laughing, but underneath the mirth of this excellent essay collection lies a wealth of thoughtful observations about his life, family, politics, pop culture and especially his marriage.
I Know Who You Are: How an Amateur DNA Sleuth Unmasked the Golden State Killer and Changed Crime Fighting Forever by Barbara Rae-Venter Some retirees quilt; others fish. And then there’s Barbara Rae-Venter, who identified the Golden State Killer using investigative genetic genealogy and sparked a forensic revolution.
	The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann David Grann’s narrative nonfiction masterpiece about an 18th-century man-of-war that ran aground in South America reveals humanity at its best and worst, from heroism to cannibalism.

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