7 books we’re loving now

Fiction

Mornings with Rosemary by Libby Page

“I love to swim— when I’m in the water, my stress melts away and the din of the outside world becomes a distant blur,” says Kristina Mastrocola, FIRST Senior Editor. “So when I saw this novel about two women trying to save their community pool, I dove in.” Kate Matthews is a bright, young, anxious journalist who feels lonely. When her paper assigns her a story about a housing developer’s efforts to close the pool, Kate interviews octogenarian Rosemary Peterson, a widow who treasures her daily swim sessions. The friendship that forms between them helps them discover new reservoirs of strength as they fight to save what has become central to both of their lives. Says Kristina, “I adored this tale about the power of friendship and of water to bring us together and wash away worries.” (Simon & Schuster, 2019) Chick lit

Are We There Yet? by Kathleen West “Parenting three kids can get a little overwhelming, so I gravitate toward books starring characters dealing with similar struggles,” says Patty Bontekoe, FIRST Executive Editor. “And this one didn’t disappoint!” Working mom Alice Sullivan is a bit too proud of the fact that she’s got everything under control—until she finds out her younger daughter isn’t doing well in school, her tween son is veering out of control and her mom has been hiding a life-changing secret with major implications for Alice. “This book was told from the perspective of multiple characters, which I enjoyed, but I loved seeing Alice grow and discover truths about herself, her family and her friendships as she tries to solve her problems,” says Patty. “The message that ‘perfect’ isn’t always possible—especially when it comes to parenting— was just the reminder I needed!” (Berkley, 2021)