Say goodbye to 2021 and hello to our final list of staff picks! If you’re looking for a great read to wrap up 2021, pick up one of these titles that Bucks County library staff enjoyed.
For more recommendations, review all our Staff Picks for 2021 or the Staff Picks shelves on cloudLibrary.
The Adventure Zone: The Crystal Kingdom by Clint McElroy
The Adventure Zone is back and better than ever! Carey Pietsch and Clint McElroy are an absolute dream team, and seeing this story come to life is such a delight. –Olivia W., Levittown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
From the bestselling author of Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty’s newest novel will keep readers on the edge of their seat. This book is packed with family dynamics that twist and turn as we discover just what happened to the Delaney family and why their mother mysteriously went missing after the arrival of an unexpected house guest. –Kathleen L., Bucks County Free Library
Appleseed by Matt Bell
Appleseed is a climate change novel that isn’t a climate change novel. It’s a retold folk tale that isn’t a folk tale. It’s a dystopian tech-thriller that isn’t a dystopian tech-thriller. Three separate storylines interweave throughout the book, connecting the settling of the Ohio Territory to the twenty-first century to a future a thousand years ahead of us. Every time I thought I “got” what Matt Bell was doing, I soon realized I didn’t. If you devoured The Overstory by Richard Powers and you enjoy literary sci-fi, give Appleseed a read! –Emily W., Bucks County Library District
Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews
The first in a new series set in Andrews’ world of Kate Daniels, we find ourselves in a future Atlanta filled with magical creatures. Kate’s adopted daughter returns in secret with a new name and face, trying to protect her family from an ancient curse, but she keeps tripping over her past as she tries to protect the future. –Ceil H., Bucks County Free Library
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon
If you like ghost stories and stories about family and how our upbringing affects us all whether we like it or not, The Drowning Kind is a must read. Jennifer McMahon masterfully blends supernatural eeriness into a story about sisters, and you won’t be able to put it down. –Melissa O., Doylestown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Yet another solid scary supernatural tale by a solid storyteller. –Wayne L., Quakertown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
Jane moves to a new town, falls in love with the town bad boy, thinks better of it, and plans to marry a sensible, conventional man. Fate intervenes, and Jane’s life heads in an unexpected direction. The characters are quirky and the writing witty. While I wouldn’t categorize myself as an early morning riser, I did feel seen in this quote: “Aggie…said bad things about people who use dried ginger and that sangria was really a lower-class sort of drink, and it was just like old times.” (For the record, I’m the dried ginger using sangria drinker, not Aggie!) There is very little early morning rising in this book, but that one time it happens, it includes sitting on the front porch, watching the sun rise, and realizing that life is pretty good. A heartwarming story of the families we create as we navigate our lives. –Pat H., Yardley Makefield Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Eternal by Lisa Scottoline
A beautiful story of World War II in Italy starting with teenagers before the war and lasting decades. –Terri R., Riegelsville Public Library, Bucks County Library District
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
A wonderfully written, exceptionally researched, heart-wrenching and suspenseful historical fiction novel. Inspired by true stories of survival against overwhelming odds, this is the WWII story of a young woman stolen from her German parents at the age of 2. –Terri R., Riegelsville Public Library, Bucks County Library District
The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly
First in a duology, this fantasy novel tells the story of a princess trying desperately to protect her people from invasion. The book is layered with intrigue and danger, and the line between enemies and friends is a fine one. I loved the characters and all the magic and intrigue. –Holly A., Bucks County Free Library
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Murderbot is back: our favorite human/robot construct that refuses to acknowledge it has feelings or friends. A murdered human has been found on Preservation Station, and it’s Murderbot to the rescue, assisting the local police, using skills learned from media and books. A straightforward police procedural, populated with aliens and robots, in which everyone discovers that Murderbot is undeniably useful to have around in a crisis. –Ceil H., Bucks County Free Library
Girl A: A Novel by Abigail Dean
You’ve seen those news stories of horrific childhood abuse and imprisonment. And if you’re like me, you’re wondering: what will become of those kids? In Girl A, Abigail Dean imagines the answer to that question. And nothing is predictable. This is a fascinating psychological suspense novel. –Alison M., Langhorne Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
My first Colson Whitehead read. Now I understand why he is in the extremely elite club with William Faulkner and John Updike for winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction twice. –Brian W., Doylestown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
This is a romance novel that leans more into women’s fiction than romantic comedy. It follows a violinist with OCD and late diagnosed autism who is struggling with her family’s perception of her and her conditions. –Viktoriya K., Northampton Township Library, Bucks County Library District
At first glance, this book sounds like your basic meet-cute romance novel, but rest assured it is so much more than that. Without giving too much away, the book dives into big (and real) issues such as an adult dealing with a new autism diagnosis, working to regain confidence after cancer, elder care, and familial expectations. And, of course, love and relationships. I loved seeing Asian Americans depicted on the page living our lives — struggling, loving one another, and just being ourselves. Of course, you don’t have to be Asian American to enjoy this book. Fans of Jasmine Guillory, Talia Hibbert, Jayci Lee, Sonali Dev, and Priscilla Oliveras will enjoy this novel – as will fans of a good story, no matter what else you like to read! –Yoonmee H., Bensalem Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Honeycomb by Joanne M. Harris
This collection of original fairytales slowly weaves itself into a cohesive novel full of memorable characters and powerful metaphors about the modern world accompanied by the most delightful illustrations. A must read for anyone looking for a unique take on the fantasy genre. –Mark C., Bucks County Free Library
How to Mars by David Ebenbach
A group of scientists are selected for a one-way trip to Mars without any guarantee that anyone else will come or that they will ever be able to return. The most important rule is “Don’t anyone get pregnant.” Guess what happens. As the six unusual characters cope with the situation in general, and the pregnancy in particular, their character quirks and faults start to clash. All this is part of a reality show broadcast from Mars by ever-present cameras. A great “what if” tale. –Mike B., Doylestown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
In by Will McPhail
A beautiful graphic novel about the magic of letting down your walls and engaging with the people around you. –Hannah M., Bucks County Library District
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Hypothesis: When two people agree to fake date, at least one of them will fall in love. Two science nerds. A PhD student and a tyrant professor. Fake dating. Need I say more? Ali Hazelwood delivers a stunning debut romance novel. Fast-paced, witty, engaging, emotional, wholesome: everything a romance lover needs. –Houda O., Langhorne Branch, Bucks County Free Library
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
My favorite horror book of the year! Stephen Graham Jones never lets me down. –Olivia W., Levittown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda
The Next Wife is a twisty, mystery thriller with an ending that I didn’t see coming! –Anitta D., Yardley Makefield Branch, Bucks County Free Library
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Casey McQuiston has done it again, and by “it” I mean “written another perfect romcom.” If she keeps churning out stories like this, I can’t wait to see what she does next. –Olivia W., Levittown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
This novel is based on the real life of Bella da Costa Greene, who was the personal librarian of J.P. Morgan. Bella was the curator of manuscripts and artwork of the Pierpont Morgan Library, which you can visit today in New York City. As she was hired in the early years of the last century, it was a remarkable feat for a young woman to hold this prestigious position. But Bella had a secret: she was a woman of color living as a white woman. Although she excelled in her professional life, keeping this secret took a tremendous toll on her personal life. –Renee W., Bucks County Free Library
The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths
This is another Elly Griffiths mystery set in Brighton, England, like her popular Magic Men series. The story is well plotted with a great sense of place by the southeast English coast with a brief trip to Scotland. The author excels with her character development and interactions, from the lonely seafront café owner to the detective sergeant who is afraid to tell her Sikh parents that she is gay. It kept me guessing to the end. –Mike B., Doylestown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Another great space adventure from the author of The Martian. Ryland Grace awakens from a coma with amnesia on a spaceship. He slowly realizes that his mission is to save the Earth. Along with a wacky roommate, he uses science and problem-solving as he races against the clock to find the answers to the deadly problem. –Ceil H., Bucks County Free Library
Andy Weir returns to the genre he excels at: solo dude trying to survive in space. This is a pedal-to-the-metal sci-fi book you’re not going to want to put down. I refuse to spoil it for you with even a hint of synopsis. Just read it. –Brian W., Doylestown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
Mulan + politics. LGBTQIA+ representation. –Sabrina P., Warminster Township Free Library, Bucks County Library District
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
A retelling of Sleeping Beauty. –Sabrina P., Warminster Township Free Library, Bucks County Library District
These Tangled Vines by Julianne MacLean
A woman travels to Tuscany, Italy to an old winery for the reading of the will of her biological father. There she meets her half-brother and half-sister and discovers the story of her mother’s past. The story is written in the dual timelines of 1986 and 2017. You’ll find unexpected secrets and financial greed as you devour this wonderful page-turner with many twists. –Cheryl G., Yardley Makefield Branch, Bucks County Free Library
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
TJ Klune is a master at making me cry in the absolute best way. –Olivia W., Levittown Branch, Bucks County Free Library
The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Yellow Wife is based on the true-story of Robert Lumpkin a notorious jailer who owned a holding pen and “breaking” center for more than 300,000 enslaved people from 1844 – 1865. Lumpkin was so well known for his cruelty that the jail was known as the “Devil’s Half Acre,” and he “the Bully Trader.” –Terri R., Riegelsville Public Library, Bucks County Library District
You Can Run by Karen Cleveland
A CIA Analyst’s unexpected decision puts her family in danger. A journalist is probing the legitimacy of the new CIA source as she looks for a hot story. Once the journalist locates the CIA Analyst, they search together for the validity of the source. However, they must decide whether to be faithful to family or the nation. You will be reading this suspenseful thriller with a surprising twist past your bedtime. –Cheryl G., Yardley Makefield Branch, Bucks County Free Library
This is a thriller that is a real page turner. A former CIA agent and a Washington Post reporter are in the thick of it. It will keep you on the edge of your seat!” –Linda R., Free Library of Northampton Township, Bucks County Library District
