“Everything for You” by Chloe Liese. Copyright 2024, New York: Berkley Romance (352 pages, $18.00).

“The Next Best Fling” by Gabriella Gamez. Copyright 2024, New York: Forever (376 pages, $18.00).

“The Wrong Mr. Darcy” by Evelyn Lozada. Copyright 2020, New York: St. Martin’s Griffin (288 pages. $17.00).

“Ride with Me” by Simone Soltani. Copyright 2025, New York: Berkley Romance (438 pages, $19.00).

I know that with Heated Rivalry out there, readers are chomping at the bit for sport romances. And even though hockey is very popular to write about, here are some other sports to keep you sated while waiting for that Heated Rivalry hold to come in!

Probably the closest parallel among the recommendations I have for you is Everything for You by Chloe Liese. It is book five in the series, but this series can be read out of order some and I think this one is fine to jump right into Liese’s world of the Bergman siblings and soccer. This book has everything, Ted Lasso vibes with our two main characters, Oliver Bergman and Oliver Hayes, chaotic bisexual antics, Hamilton sing alongs, and heartfelt emotions that might get you to read the rest of the series.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez is about Marcela Ortiz and Theo Young and their complicated unrequited feelings for mutual friends who just got engaged. But as they share in each other’s secret pining and cover for each other by fake dating, they begin to see the other side of that unrequited love and the chances that are right in front of them.

Try Evelyn Lozada’s The Wrong Mr. Darcy, a lightly inspired Pride and Prejudice re-telling with all of the classic errors of judgement in this romance. Hara Isari is your Lizzie Bennett, an inspiring sportswriter who is just trying to get out of her small town and her mother’s plans for settling down. Derek Darcy is your Fitzwilliam Darcy, an up-and-coming rookie with a major chip on his shoulder. Hara and Derek keep running into each other as Hara is just trying to do her job, in locker rooms and in ballrooms, all while ignoring the connection between them.

Ride With Me is the second book in Simone Soltani’s Formula 1 book series with the “marriage of convenience” trope but in a modern twist. After being stood up at the altar, Stella Baldwin wants to do anything but go to her cousin’s bachelorette party in Las Vegas but finds the evening palatable after meeting Thomas Maxwell-Brown. When waking up and seeing the rings on their fingers, Stella and Thomas are up for playing house to see if this marriage, and each other, are the solutions to their problems.

Kayleigh D. is a Library Technical Processing Assistant at May Memorial Library.

If you haven’t tried audiobooks yet, I encourage you to give them a chance! I am a huge fan of audiobooks and do most of my reading through the library’s digital services, Libby and hoopla. All you need is your library card and PIN number to get started. If you have any trouble setting up an account, stop by any library branch and we’ll be happy to help.

One of the things that I love most about audiobooks is that they allow me to keep moving while I read. I can listen while taking a walk, working in the yard, cleaning the house, or even putting together a puzzle. The list is endless. I still enjoy sitting down with a good book, but there is no way I could keep up with all the books I want to read if I relied solely on finding time to sit and read.

Audiobooks also come with some great features. If I’m enjoying a book but need to move through it a little faster, I can increase the playback speed, a trick I learned from one of my book club friends. And if I’m listening before bed, I can set a sleep timer, so the book automatically stops playing if I drift off to sleep.

My favorite genres are thrillers, family sagas, and romance, so I am always looking for books that combine suspense with strong relationships and memorable characters. One recent favorite is This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum.

This debut novel blends thrillers, romance, and mystery in a unique and engaging way. The story follows Joy and Benny, two best friends who host a popular podcast about survival stories. When Joy and her husband suddenly disappear, Benny becomes the prime suspect and must uncover secrets hidden within both their podcast and their personal lives to find out what happened.

What really made this book stand out for me was the audiobook experience. The story features dual narration, and both narrators did an outstanding job bringing the characters to life. For audiobook listeners, narration can truly make or break a book, and this one absolutely delivers. The podcast-style elements work especially well in audio format, making it feel immersive and authentic.

If you enjoy books that combine suspense, romance, and a touch of mystery, I highly recommend giving This Story May Save Your Life a listen. And if you think you don’t have time to read, audiobooks might be exactly what you are looking for. They have certainly helped me discover more great books that I ever could have managed otherwise.

Tracy W. is a Library Assistant at Mebane Public Library.

Summer is here — the season kids can’t wait for and parents often wonder how they’ll survive. Two and a half months of “What now?” doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Alamance County Public Libraries has your summer covered — and it’s all completely FREE.

Our staff has packed the season with engaging programs, exciting presenters, hands-on activities, and prizes designed to keep kids learning, exploring, and having fun. Yes, we have a mission: we want our community to thrive, we want families to love the library, and we want to help every child avoid the summer slide. Research shows that students who read just 4–5 books over the summer maintain or even improve their reading comprehension — walking into the next school year more confident and ready to succeed.

This year’s Summer Reading theme is Unearth a Story, and we’re digging into a summer full of adventure — dinosaurs included. Through the Beanstack app, kids can read to earn prizes, and families can join any of our programs by checking the calendar on our website. Everything is designed to make learning feel like play.

Programs for Every Age

• Storytimes & Playdates for our youngest explorers
• Dino Digs and Fossil Fest for elementary and middle schoolers
• Live presentations from Science Heroes and MAD Science
• Archaeology adventures like Pompei Escape Room, Egyptology, and Aurora Fossil Mine
• Geological fun including rock painting, gem mining, and garden-themed programs
• Teen-only hangouts featuring gaming tournaments, art programs, and anime
• Creative Hands and regularly scheduled events for adults

And remember — every single one of these programs is FREE for families. You can find the calendar on our Summer Reading page, or check our system-wide monthly calendar.

The fun begins June 6th with our Summer Reading Kickoff and continues through August 8th. Check our calendar — there’s something happening every day of the week!

Sign up on Beanstack and start earning prizes today. For every 90 minutes you read, you earn a prize! The first prize is a free book. For children 12 and under, you win a prize for the first four 90 minutes read. After that, you win tickets to put toward the basket of your choosing! For teens and adults, you win tickets for baskets for every 90 minutes read. Baskets include: Outdoor Games, Crafts, Tech, Picnic, Relax, and $50 Amazon gift cards.

Alexis L. is the branch manager at North Park Library.

Our Summer Reading Kickoff is this week, Saturday, June 6, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Graham Recreational Center!

To celebrate the kickoff to our crazy, fun-filled summer of programs and reading, I want to share with you some highlights from our “what to read” lists for every age.

Sometimes you come to the library, and you’re in a hurry. Sometimes, you look at the shelves and you are overwhelmed! We understand, and we want to help you find books that you think your child (and/or you) will enjoy reading.

You can find more information on summer reading, including how to sign up to log your minutes, and some of the prizes that you can win, on our website.

Suggested Books for Preschoolers

Have you seen my invisible dinosaur? by Helen Yoon

Invisible dinosaurs are easy to lose, especially after you give them a bubble bath! The PB & J sandwiches haven’t lured him back, and the Lost Pet posters, featuring a blank photo, aren’t helping either. This young girl muses on all of the things that could help her find her dinosaur, with a great big surprise at the end. This book of gentle humor and huge imagination will appeal to young children.

Suggested Books for K-2nd Grade

The bone wars : the true story of an epic battle to find dinosaur fossils by Jane Kurtz

Have you ever wondered where all of those dinosaur fossils in museums came from? Scientists who study dinosaurs are called paleontologists. Two paleontologists, O. C. Marsh and Edward Cope, once were best friends. But then Marsh found an error in Cope’s work. They became rivals, and began to compete to find the best fossils, and the most complete sets of dinosaur bones. Their drive to one-up each other led to wonderful discoveries! This non-fiction illustrated book will fascinate you as well as your children.

Suggested Books for 3rd-5th Grade

Lost time by Tas Mukanik

Twelve-year-old Evie somehow is sent back to the Cretaceous Period, more than 65 million years in our past! In this graphic novel, she must figure out how to survive in a world far different from her own. She befriends and raises a baby pterosaur named Ava, and finds a partner for her adventures around the prehistoric world. When she has a chance to get back to the future, she and Ada must embark on a hair-raising journey across the world, through storms and predators, to make her dreams come true.

Suggested Books for Middle Grades

The last mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

Sai is an apprentice to a mapmaker in Mangkon. She appears to be a well-bred young lady, but she knows her father is a con man and will be discovered sooner or later. She jumps at a chance to explore and map the southern seas, not realizing that there are others with secrets aboard. They find themselves heading to the fabled Sunderlands, where they might find dragons, gold, fame, fortune, or disaster! This book touches on tough topics like colonialism and manifest destiny while dragging you along on an incredible adventure with Thai-inspired culture and geography.

Suggested Books for Teens

Represent : the unfinished fight for the vote by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau

Teens who are interested in digging into the history of voting rights in the United States will find great information in this non-fiction book. From the Revolution and the Constitution to the present-day (this book was published in 2024), there has been an ongoing discussion in the United States about who gets to vote. This summer begins the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday, making this book a perfect choice for summer reading!

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

As the end of May wraps up Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, here are some memoirs written by AAPI authors to check out! 

Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner

Crying in H-Mart details the life of musical artist Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner as she traverses from growing up as the only Asian-American at her school in Oregon to bonding with her mother over food in her grandmother’s apartment in Seoul to reconnecting with her cultural heritage in the wake of a terminal diagnosis and her mother’s passing. This book is a devastating portrait of grief, but Zauner still infuses her writing with such humor and heart while depicting her struggle with her Korean identity, growing up mixed race, and her relationship with her mother. (Be sure to have tissues on hand for this one. You’ll need them… Trust me.) 

Family Style: Memoirs of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham

Family Style is a young adult graphic novel that follows the harrowing but true story of a family’s escape from Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War and their eventual journey to California as refugees. As someone who has read and enjoyed many graphic novel memoirs like The Best We Could Do or When Stars are Scattered, this is a new favorite that I will be thinking about for a while. With beautifully evocative artwork by the author, this book illustrates the power and the cost of the American Dream for immigrant families—the ways that assimilation is often paid for by the loss of one’s cultural identity and heritage.

Beautiful Country by Quin Julie Wang 

Quin Julie Wang shares the daunting account of her childhood growing up as an undocumented immigrant in the memoir Beautiful Country, showing firsthand the trials and tribulations immigrant families frequently encounter. This book also exists in conversation with the complexities of the American Dream. In China, Wang heard tales from family and friends of two Americas: one where everyone is rich, and one where everyone is poor. That duality is accurately captured here and highlights the reason many immigrants continue to make tremendous sacrifices to move to the United States with the hope for a better life—for themselves and their children. Beautiful County is unflinching in its depiction of Wang’s adolescence as an undocumented immigrant, but still offers a glimmer of hope.

Sara D. is a Library Assistant at Graham Public Library.

You’re planning a fun vacation for this summer, but you’re dreading the long drive. Will your kids drive you up the wall with their fighting? Or will they be entranced by their own devices, and leave you feeling like a chauffeur?

I recommend getting some great audiobooks that the whole family can enjoy! I’ve broken them up into categories, depending on the age of your child. These audiobooks are available through NC Digital Kids, Libby, or Hoopla.

Early Elementary

It can be too much to expect many younger children to listen to a long book and be able to follow the story. But there are great shorter stories that you can listen to and discuss as you drive! You can pause frequently and ask questions – what do you think will happen next? – to keep your kids invested in the story.

Ron Roy, A-Z Mysteries (and other series)

Ron Roy’s stories are classic detective whodunits with kid detectives, and they are short – around an hour each. Some titles are bundled together (A-Z Mysteries W,X,Y and Z), so you can borrow one “title” and get four books.

Mary Pope Osborne, Magic Tree House series

Two siblings, Jack and Annie, discover a magic tree house that transports them through space and time to visit dinosaurs, knights, mummies, pirates, and more! Some of the titles are bundled together, just like the A-Z Mysteries.

Dan Gutman, Wait? What! Biography series

Dan Gutman has written several book series, including My Weird School and My Weirderest School, but his newest series is biographies of famous people, focusing on the silly, strange, and weird aspects of their lives! Each book is a little more than an hour, making it perfect for young listeners.

Asia Citro, Zoey and Sassafras series

Each of Zoey’s books features a new magical animal that needs help through science. These books will have your children thinking through problems and trying out solutions – just like scientists!

Other series and authors to check out:

Tracey West, Dragon Masters series

Geronimo Stilton series

Jordan Quinn, The Kingdom of Wrenly series

Peggy and Herman Parish, The Amelia Bedelia series

Abby Hanlon, Dory Fantasmagory

Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley

Beverly Cleary

Sally Warner, EllRay Jakes series

Older Elementary School/Middle School Students

You’ll find all of the classics – Peter Pan, Charlotte’s Web, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Pippi Longstocking – on NC Kids. However, there also are some great new books and series of books that parents will enjoy listening to as much as their kids!

Tui T. Sutherland, Wings of Fire series

Book 16 was just released, so this summer is the perfect time to catch up on this series! The first book begins with a prophecy that five small dragonets must fulfill to save their world from the war that rages on around them. These books do have some violence, and puppy (dragonet?) love, but the books are strictly PG.

Tracey Baptiste, The Jumbies series

Corinne’s parents use Caribbean folklore, especially the Jumbies, to frighten her into being good. But she’s not afraid – until she chases an agouti into the forest and sees shining yellow eyes following her. A beautiful stranger arrives at the market the next day, and Corinne knows she must tap into her magic to stop her from taking over her island.

Peter Brown, The Wild Robot Series

Roz, a robot, wakes up on an island, all alone, with no memory of her life before. She must befriend the animals who live on the island to learn how to survive here. When she finally feels like this island is home, her past comes back to upset the balance she’s found.

Other Authors and Series to Check Out

Alan Gratz

Lauren Tarshis, I Survived series

Sarah Mlynowski

Renée Watson

Gordon Korman

Kelly Yang

Karina Glaser

Jerry Craft

Teens

Teens definitely want to do their own thing in the car. But you might be able to capture their interest with one of these great books/series!

Margaret Peterson Haddix – Among the Hidden series

This is a dystopian science fiction series about Luke, one of the shadow children. His society only allows a certain number of children to be born to each family. Luke has spent his entire life indoors, hidden away. But when he sees a face in the house next door, he knows that he’s found another Shadow child. This girl has a dangerous plan to bring the shadow children out of hiding – does he dare join her?

Rebecca Ross – Divine Rivals series

Two gods, two mortals, and a frenemy-to-lovers storyline! Roman and Iris are both brilliant reporters sent to cover the war. The war is caused by two rival gods who are fighting and have involved the mortals of the world in their reckless carnage. There’s one sex scene in the first book that you might have to fast-forward through for everyone in the car’s comfort, but the story is universal and enjoyable for all ages. Book two in the series has plenty of violence (it’s a war), but nothing graphic, and the sex is implied rather than spelled out on the page.

Tracy Deonn – Legendborn Cycle

A young woman begins early college on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill shortly after the untimely death of her mother. She sees a demon on campus one night, and gets pulled into a secret society of the descendants of King Arthur and his court, whose job is to fight the demons and close the gates where they are coming in. Arthurian magic and her root magic combine to make an irresistible series of books. There is violence and death in this series, but it is necessary to the plot. The sex is mostly off-page or implied.

Adult Books/Authors That Appeal to Teens

What Kind of Paradise – Janelle Brown

How to Solve Your Own Murder – Kristen Perrin

Tress of the Emerald Sea – Brandon Sanderson

C.S. Lewis (beyond the Narnia series) On Libby and On hoopla

Mary Beth A. is the Community Engagement Librarian for Alamance County Public Libraries.

Williams, Niall. This is happiness. London : Bloomsbury, 2019.

In the 1950s, a rural Irish village is on the cusp of modernity as the promise of long-awaited electricity is finally making it to the west of the island.  Noel Crowe, Noe for short, is a failed seminarian who has retreated to his grandparents’ home to reconsider his future.  There the entire village of Faha is abuzz with electricity men planting poles, stringing wires and hooking up thatch-roofed stone dwellings.  One of these men, Christy, becomes a lodger with Noe’s grandparents.

Christy is older than the rest of the electrical workers, but Noe and the old lodger quickly hit it off and Noe learns it is not electricity that has brought Christy to Faha.  In fact, he has come to seek the forgiveness of a woman he long-ago left at the altar.  Noe is drawn by Christy’s charm and enthusiasm and becomes a partner in his mission.

The true beauty of This is Happiness is Niall Williams’ wonderful writing.  He fills the fictitious Faha with scores of characters who are unique and quirky and easily come to life.  The novel begins with the ever-present rain abating giving the Fahians rare, glorious sunshine.  However, that sun does not retreat, leaving the locals eventually wishing the sun would go away, at least for a bit.

Under the blazing sun and the buzz of electrical work going on everywhere, Noe and Christy traverse Faha, attempting to mend fences, woo a doctor’s daughters, bicycle from pub to pub and even get crushed by a telephone pole.  The relationship between the elder man and narrator is a poignant one and both learn a great deal from each other by the time the tiny village of Faha is lit up by modernity for the very first time.

James D. is the Public Service Manager at the Mebane Public Library.

Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Chaos Rising. New York, NY: Del Rey 2020.
Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Greater Good. New York, NY: Del Rey 2021.
Zahn Timothy. Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy Lesser Evil. New York, NY: Del Rey 2021.

The Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy trilogy takes readers back in time from where we meet the character in Star Wars Thrawn. It explores in-depth Thrawn’s life and military career among his own people, the Chiss, and how his goals and indeed his purpose for existing clash with their laws.

The books are set in the Unknown Regions around the same time as the Clone Wars are happening. Thrawn and his allies must dodge and outmaneuver both Chiss politicians, who view Thrawn as a threat to the Ascendancy’s existence, and the Ascendancy’s external enemies to unravel the mystery behind a plan to destroy the Ascendancy. These three books take us on a deep dive into Chiss culture and society exploring government and family hierarchies and how they work with and clash with the military structure, and the overarching goal of protecting the Ascendancy.

These books will be an exciting read for long time fans of Star Wars and Thrawn in particular, but they would also be a good place to start if you are new to Star Wars. They, like the previous Thrawn trilogy, explore his motivations and desires. However, the new setting presents Thrawn with a new set of challenges: he must still fight political battles, but his people’s strict adherence to a policy of isolationism and no preemptive strikes clashes with Thrawn’s desire to keep his people safe at any price. These books would also be a good read for fans of the show Ahsoka as understanding Thrawn’s goals may have bearing on the future direction of the series.

Kyle F. is a Library Assistant at May Memorial Library, and leads the Galactic Book Club, which meets every first Monday of the month.

Freeman, Megan E. Alone. New York : Aladdin, 2021.

Celebrate National Poetry Month by reading Alone by Megan E. Freeman, an exciting novel in verse. The story follows a teenage girl abandoned when the government evacuates her town due to a looming threat. Left utterly alone with only her loyal canine companion named George, she must navigate the wilderness and discover her own strength, despite knowing almost nothing about survival.

Who could resist a story about a kid braving the wild all by themselves? Packed with action and adventure, I recommend this to fans of classic novels with similar themes, like Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins. It’s also a great read for kids in grades 6 and up, as it features a mature protagonist who grows over the course of the story.

Novels written in verse often appeal to young audiences because their lyrical storytelling and visual accessibility attract reluctant readers. It offers a fresh way to enjoy poetry, its beauty, and the novelty of storytelling.

Alone is a beautiful reflection on finding your place in the world, human resourcefulness, and the importance of believing in yourself. It’s also an exceptionally fun and fast-paced read that will have you flipping the pages and eager to find out what happens next. If you want more answers after finishing Alone, read the follow-up book in the series, Away, which offers a compelling new perspective on the government evacuation through the eyes of different group of kids. Both physical copies are available at Alamance County Public Libraries.

Trigger warnings/subjects: parental divorce, physical injury & illness, natural disasters, and animal deaths/abuse.

Sharada F.M. is a Library Assistant II at Graham Public Library Children’s Department.

Skate It Till You Make It : a novel. Mazarura, Rufaro Faith. New York : Flatiron Books, 2026.

Skate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faith Mazarura is a delightful fake-dating hockey romance that hits all the right notes. Ari Shumba never imagined she’d make it to the Olympic Games, let alone lead Great Britain’s female hockey team to victory. But when the role of team captain reluctantly falls to her, she must navigate the pressures of the biggest competition of her life while also managing family drama and dodging her toxic ex.

Drew Dlamini has always played it safe. After a painful breakup and dropping out of college to deal with a family crisis, he’s eager for a fresh start. When he lands a job photographing a celebrity party on New Year’s Eve, his dream of becoming a professional photographer reignites.

When Ari and Drew cross paths at that party, neither is looking for love. Despite the instant chemistry, the distance between them seems insurmountable. They spend that night sharing secrets and red flags, convinced they’ll never see each other again. But fate has other plans, and when they reunite at the Olympic Games, they are forced to confront their wildest dreams and each other.

As the stakes rise, Ari and Drew agree to fake-date their way through the competition. Rufaro crafts characters with sizzling chemistry and witty banter, making it impossible not to root for them. Skate It Till You Make It is a perfect pick for fans of sports romances and fake-dating stories alike.

Chantell H. is a Circulation Assistant at North Park Library.