Us by David Nicholls

• A lighthearted look at real struggles faced by an aging couple.
• The narrator is a lovable curmudgeon.
• The novel follows the lovable curmudgeon, his artistic wife, and their teenage son on their travels through Europe.
• The novel pokes fun at itself and is a lighthearted read.

The Well by Catherine Chanter

• Set in England during an extreme drought, one plot of land, The Well, continues to receive rain.  Owned by outsiders, locals and authorities become suspicious.
• This title is at heart a literary novel.  The writing is impressive.  The characters are complex.
• Much of the novel revolves around retelling the events of the past year.  The reader isn't sure what is being left out.
• The novel is engaging for readers interested in characters.  It doesn't have a fast-paced plot.

Detroit: An American Autopsy

This title caters to my fascination with atrophy and destruction (e.g. History Channel's series Life After People).

• The narrator of the audiobook most likely usually narrates noir novel.
• This book is not a thorough exploration of Detroit.  Instead it is the Detroit as experienced by a native journalist.
• Like with any person, LeDuff's life is composed of complex relationships.
• One of the more interesting story lines is how LeDuff's ancestors left their African American ancestry in the south and lived as whites in Detroit.
• This book is not a light read.  It is depressing.  There is violence, crime, corruption, and desperation.  It is about Detroit.

The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Kay and Shipman question what confidence is.  They explore confidence as it manifests differently between men and women.

• The authors offer an honest assessment of confidence in the workplace.
• The authors describe how behavior viewed positively as confidence in men, isn't seen in a positive light when this behavior is exhibited by women.
• Through interviews with handful of successful women, the authors uncover trends in how these women succeed in a male-dominated environment.
• Topics ranging from genetics to socialization of children are covered.
• The book offers a realistic view and a path forward for women struggling with confidence. 

Best Boy by Eli Gottlieb

I feared a book written from the perspective of a developmentally disabled autistic man would be painful and cheesy.  It wasn't.

• This book explores communication troubles faced by an autistic man.
• The characters are complex.  No one is flawless.
• At times it isn't clear who to trust.
• The main character doesn't obey traditional patterns of thought and reasoning revealing the challenges he faces in a complex world.

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

• Gregoria crafts a compelling story about a high school girl who finds out she is intersex. 
• The characters are realistic.  Each is flawed, yet lovable.
• After reading the book I know more about how the sexes of male and female aren't always as clear as assumed.  
• The book didn't feel like a preachy lesson.  Instead, information was included as the character learned more about her AIS diagnosis.
• The book features diverse characters.  Again, the book didn't feel preachy.  The reader sees people of diverse backgrounds in different roles.
• It was a super fun and quick read!

The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Joe Piazza

• Questions the role of technology in modern relationships.
• This is a story about a middle-aged woman adjusting to a new technology-based work environment.
• The book caters to believers in etiquette and composure.
• It is a fun summer read, while the plot isn't surprising.

The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity by Kogon, Merrill, and Rinne

I rarely read self help books.  I find few of the self help book I do manage to read useful.  This is the exception.

• The 5 Choices offers simple rules to categorize work into one of 4 quadrants.  
• The authors help the reader in identifying the most important work, regardless of urgency.
• The examples provided in the book are life-like.  Often self help examples are simple and nearly see-through.  These aren't.  They are like real life and complex.
• This book isn't only about what you do in the office, it addresses a balanced life including healthy life style choices.

The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell

• If you loved The Da Vinci Code and want to experience it all again, this is the book for you.
• There is some library/RFID nerd stuff that librarians will appreciate.
• The main character is compelling.  He is an outcast who wants to make the world a better place.
• It is unclear who to trust from the start.
• Mid-way through it begins to feel formulaic.
• In summary, this is a much belated read-a-like for The Da Vinci Code.