Foundation Stories

This is the story of what happens when Lula Dean gets books banned at the public library and the daughter of her arch nemesis sneaks them into the free Little Library on Lula’s property. The impact of people reading the books changes lives throughout the community. I loved all the twists and turns of lives impacted by reading a book.

Paris Hilton is an heiress, model, and an original social media influencer. You will learn that she is also a smart and strong survivor. This book is a raw look at her life experiences including years of abuse at “residential treatment facilities” as a teenager. Her work to stop these facilities resulted in the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. This is the best book I’ve read all year.

If you are a fan of SNL, you’ll enjoy Romantic Comedy. It is the story of a sketch comedy writer falling for a Justin Bieber-type character. I loved the smart, funny, and self-deprecating protagonist Sally. Bonus, Sally’s hometown is Kansas City.

I’d highly recommend this one on Libby eAudiobook as it is read by author and CBS news reporter/podcaster, Mo Rocca. This book tells short stories of people living their best lives later in life. Stories range from Rita Moreno to Colonial Sanders to the founders of OXO kitchen gadgets. A great reminder that we have so much to give in our third acts.

I’ll admit that I knew nothing about Sheila Johnson before watching an interview where she was promoting her book. This cofounder of BET, the first African American women billionaire and the only Black female co-owner of three professional sports teams is very personable. This book highlights her love, losses, and resilience. It is a great memoir where you’ll become a Sheila cheerleader.

Cookbooks are the hidden gem of the library. My husband and I frequently check them out to make new dishes. This is probably one of three we liked enough to purchase for our cookbook collection. You may recognize the author from streaming shows Queer Eye and Easy Bake. He was just as delightful in person when a local bookstore brought him back to Kansas City to promote his second cookbook. Antoni in the Kitchen is my favorite of the two cookbooks. Lots of simple tricks to make your dinner delicious.

I’d recommend this as a great leadership, hospitality, and customer service book. Author Will Guidara talks about how little things make a memorable experience and propelled his restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, to the number one restaurant in the world. I enjoyed all the fun stories about everything from special ice cream spoons to brining in sled for someone who had never experienced snow.

Baseball holds a special place in many Kansas Citians’ hearts. My husband and I got engaged the night the Royals won the 2015 World Series. This book by local reporter and author Matt Stewart helps you understand its history with fun facts as well as help you relive some of the unforgettable moments.

This is the story of Lillian and Madison, who were once inseparable friends. After one of the girls leaves their boarding school in the wake of a scandal, the two lose touch. Years later, Madison reaches out to Lillian pleading for her help when two stepchildren move in. Lillian must learn how to manage children who catch fire when they become agitated. It sounds totally crazy but is such a good read.

This recommendation came from a volunteer. Set in Newport, Rhode Island’s Gilded Age mansions, The Wedding People is the story of what happens when Phoebe – a St. Louis college professor – checks into a fancy hotel that is booked entirely by a wedding party. Phoebe gets caught up in all the wedding hoopla that helps pull her out of a depression. It is a fun outside look at all the chaos that weddings ensue.

This is a two-fer recommendation. I just love audiobook narrator Julia Whelan. These fun beach reads have great female leads.

In Funny Story, Daphne is a youth librarian whose love life is turned upside down when her husband-to-be decides he is love with his lifelong friend Petra. Daphne ends up having to room with Petra’s jilted ex-boyfriend. The story of how these two get through this devasting experience.

Happy Place is about a group of college friends who get together for a summer vacation every year at a cottage in Maine. Unbeknownst to their friends, Harriet and Wyn broke up six months ago. Now these two decide to pretend to be the “perfect couple” for one last vacation before the cottage is sold. The group of friends reveal lots of secrets over the vacation.

You know her from iconic roles in Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaids. In Rebel’s memoir, you learn about a lifetime of struggle – first and foremost with her weight. Rebel turns out to be a super smart lawyer and a renegade actress. You’ll love her stories about her experience with the Pitch Perfect women and how she found her Disney Princess.

The cover of this mostly true memoir features a taxidermy mouse in a cape. That is your first clue that you’ll be laughing out loud at stories from author Jenny Lawson’s real life. Just one example of her crazy antics is buying a giant metal rooster to sit outside the window of her husband’s home office.

I think I’ve read almost every book written by an SNL actor in the last few years. Although I didn’t really know much about Colin Jost outside of his relationships with Ariana Grande and Scarlett Johansson, I read a positive review on A Very Punchable Face that intrigued me. His experiences growing up in a firefighter family on Staten Island to his emotional story of his mother responding to the Twin Towers collapse will show you why he is the head writer for SNL.