Quick Lit February 2026 Archives

Lake Effect

by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

I'm happy to share this is our April 2026 MMD Book Club selection and author Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney will be joining us for a chat! This domestic novel unfolds in three parts: in 1977, two families who live across the street from each other in Rochester, New York dissemble and reassemble practically overnight. Neighbors Nina and Finn, unhappy in their respective marriages, divorce their spouses and remarry each other, leaving their teenage kids aghast and angry. Flash forward to 1994, when the now-grown children continue to struggle with the long-lasting aftershocks of that betrayal. And in 1998, the family comes together to confront a crisis and finally attempt to heal old wounds. I loved this for its perceptive family dynamics, realistic portrayal of what it looks like to turn your life upside down, and culinary details galore, including one chapter told entirely as a 1990s Food TV episode transcript. Recommended for fans of Anne Tyler and Sweeney's Good Company.

The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become

by Patton Dodd

From the publisher: "In a world of imperfect-at-best and bad-at-worst dads, what is the ideal of fatherhood we aspire to? Why does this ideal exist? What is it about fathers and father figures that looms so large in the lives of so many? So wonders Patton Dodd in this intimate reflection and memoir in which he wrestles with a dad-sized hole, the gap between the father he yearned to have and the father he got—an absent-while-present alcoholic whose unreliability caused chaos for everyone around him. This struggle with the father he was given led to a variety of substituted: fathers he created, from an imaginary 'Papa Friend' to male mentors he turned into father figures. Then there's the father he believed in, a Heavenly Father, made present by the steadfast and stubborn faith of his earthly mother. And finally, there is the father Dodd became when he had his own children, an experience that led him to track down the source and mystery of the father he got. Throughout, Dodd's story resonates for anyone who struggles with the fathers they got, the fathers they wish they had--and anyone struggling to become the parent they hope to be."

In Your Dreams

by Sarah Adams

From the publisher: "Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is her shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother's best friend. James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and running the family business. But when Madison's happiness is on the line, he's willing to take up his estranged brother's offer to launch a restaurant. James has loved her quietly for years, knowing she's never seen him as more than an annoyance, but now that she's back, he's determined to change that. Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy restaurant in record time, but keeping things strictly professional soon becomes impossible, and the town can't help but meddle in their relationship. As opening night looms closer, Madison's fears threaten to hold her back. When an unexpected disaster collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched."

Joie: A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life

by Ajiri Aki

I forget how I first learned of the existence of this gorgeous coffee table book, but enough time lapsed between when I put in my library request pre-release and when I picked it up last month that I was totally surprised: the book felt like a thoughtful gift from past Anne. It just so happens that I have unintentionally read a half dozen novels set in France over the past few months, and this illustrated guide is the perfect complement to those unillustrated novels, as it brings Paris (and surrounds) to life. With its thoughtful organization and beautiful photography, Joie invited me to vicariously stroll through the City of Light with Aki to eat, shop, dine, and most importantly, simply live (no work talk allowed). This would be lovely to flip through a few minutes at a time or read cover to cover.

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

This was a fun romp! This adorable tea shop murder mystery has serious Only Murders in the Building vibes and boasts a pleasantly large cast of (mostly) likable characters. When the titular 60-year-old widow awakes one morning to find a dead body clutching a flash drive on the floor of her tea shop, she calls in the authorities. (She doesn't want to, but her son convinces her she has to). But, unimpressed by their approach to the case and unconvinced they can get to the truth of what happened, she takes matters into her own hands, with delightful and chaotic results and a feel-good ending I didn't expect. This was a wonderful palate cleanser after a string of serious reads.

Quick Lit February 2026

Lake Effect

The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become

In Your Dreams

Joie: A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

a gateway

to reliable joy this summer

Buckle Up!

summer reading starts May 16th