The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer

The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo
by Amy Schumer
323 pages











If you like Amy Schumer's comedy, you will enjoy this book. Miss Schumer's career has really taken off in the last few years — her movie "Trainwreck" was fun, her TV show "Inside Amy Schumer" is still going strong, and she had her first comedy special for HBO.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo is a collection of mostly funny stories, but there are also some dark ones in there. Like the time she was in an abusive relationship, but kept making excuses for the boyfriend that would beat her. Or all the sadness that comes from having a father diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Or her frustrations over getting more gun control laws in the U.S.

This book did have lighter and funny chapters, and it often made me laugh. I ended up listening to this book on audio, which I recommend. Her comic timing made this a fun and thoughtful listen.

Schumer's comedy persona is a woman who likes men and sex, and someone who drinks and swears a lot. This book is a softer side of Amy, but there's still a lot of swearing.

The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell

The Unexpected Consequences of Love by Jill Mansell - 425 pages

Josh has recently returned to town to help his grandmother run their hotel and has fallen for Sophie.  Sophie has made a vow to never open herself up to love again.  Sophie's friend Tula has moved to town for a new job and has a crush on Josh.  Josh's friend Riley likes Tula.  To make it even more complicated Josh's grandfather Laurence wants to reunite with Josh's grandmother Dot but she won't allow anything but a platonic friendship.  Riley's aunt Marguerite though thinks Laurence is perfect for her.

I was surprised how much I liked this book.  It was a fun, quick read.  In fact, I read it in one sitting in under three hours.  I enjoyed the occasional British reference in the book - especially a reference to Daleks.  I look forward to reading more of the author's books.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - 337 pages

This is a memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson of her childhood from being born in Ohio, living with her grandparents in South Carolina, and moving to New York City with her mother.  The memoir is written in verse.

This is a wonderful book that is very well done.  It's been on my list to read since it came out.  I picked up yesterday to read during lunch since I had forgotten my book at home.  I am so glad I did.  The poems are emotional while being sparse.  They convey so much description and feeling in 1-2 pages.  Her experiences growing up without her father, dealing with racial issues, and living as a Jehovah's Witness are expressed with honesty.  This is a book that I think most kids would benefit from reading. However, I also think that it is a book that will require a fair amount of hand-selling to get into the hands of kids.

2015 Coretta Scott King Medal - Author
2015 Newbery Honor Book
2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn - 377 pages

Sebastian Grey's role in society is precarious.  He is his uncle's heir.  However, his uncle hates him and is determined to wed again and have another son so Sebastian can not inherit.  His uncle has decided on Annabel Winslow.  The problem is that once Sebastian meets Annabel he doesn't want her to have anything to do with his uncle.
This is the follow-up book to What Happens in London.  It continues the subplot of the gothic novels which was so entertaining in the first book.  I didn't think this book was as good as the first, but it was still interesting to read.

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn - 370 pages

Penelope Featherton has been in love with Colin Bridgerton for over ten years -- too bad he thinks of her as nothing more than his little sister's best friend.  Thinks take a very different turn though when all of society sets out to discover the identity of Lady Whistledown, the writer of a gossip newsletter.  Colin is determined to make sure that nobody thinks anybody he cares about is "outed" as Lady Whistledown -- and that includes Penelope.
This book is in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series.  Again, I really enjoyed the humor in the book that seems to be Quinn's trademark.  A fun historical romance.