WELCOME! Here you can find what the patrons of the Simon Fairfield Public Library have been reading and what they think of those reads – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Should you like to leave your own reviews, please click here to Leave A Review!
The reviews can be sorted by Reviewer, Title, Author, Genre or Stars, as well as being searchable. Currently, the reviews are going to be separated into months. This may change depending on the volume of reviews that we receive or if we find that there is a better method for separating the reviews.
Please note that the reviews are vetted through the staff and will be updated on a weekly basis.
October 2026 Book Reviews
| Reviewer | Title | Author | Genre | Stars | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esteph | It’s not her | Mary Kubica | Mystery | ★★★☆☆ | It felt like 2 separate stories. The whole thing is a bit far fetched. 70% in and there was still no answers…this is my 3rd book by this author. Mary gives you a crumb and always leaves me wanting more |
| Esteph | The lies I told | Mary Burton | Thriller | ★★★★☆ | This is my second book by this author and another 4. If you like thrillers check her out ! |
September 2026 Book Reviews
| Reviewer | Title | Author | Genre | Stars | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Becks | Prophet’s Prey | Sam Brower | Non-Fiction | ★★★☆☆ | Detective’s look into the FLDS. While it was interesting, I had already learned a lot of the information from different documentaries. I also found he jumped around a few times which made timelines a bit difficult to follow. Still a good read. |
| Lisa Soffey | He Was a Liar | Daniel Hurst | Domestic mystery/thriller | ★★☆☆☆ | The story had an intriguing start. As the story progressed, the main character’s inner monologue was very erratic and she drew ridiculous conclusions about what was happening around her. The ending brought no closure and left me feeling dissatisfied. |
| Becks | The Memory Collectors | Dete Meserve | Science Fiction / Speculative Mystery | ★★★★★ | If I could give this book more stars I would. In an effort not to spoil anything, I will just say that grief, loss and relationships are at the heart of this speculative mystery. If you are a fan of John Marrs, this is a must read. |
| Becks | The Accidental Favorite | Fran Littlewood | Contemporary Fiction | ★★★★☆ | The perfect family until a vacation in a glass house doesn’t allow anyone to hide even from themselves. An excellent read on family dynamics and personal reflection. |
| MCO | Under The Falls | Richard Russo | Contemporary fiction | ★★☆☆☆ | As a HUGE Richard Russo fan, very disappointed-found out after finishing, it was written as a pilot for a miniseries that did happen. This Novel shouldn’t have either! |
| Brenda | Rabbit Cake | Annie Hartnett | Fiction | ★★★★★ | The story of a family dealing with loss, mental illness and 1000 Rabbit-shaped cakes told from the perspective of 10 yr-old Elvis. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be amazed. |
| Esteph | What happened to Nina? | Dervla McTiernan | Thriller | ★★★★☆ | This is my first thriller audiobook and it was fun. I still prefer reading it. It is a good mystery. It is not a psychological thriller so if a lighter solve a murder stories is what you want, give this a try..I liked the ending. |
| Esteph | Everything we never said | Sloan harlow | Romance/mystery | ★★★★☆ | Romance, thriller, suspense..exactly what it should be. It’s young adult but I enjoyed it. I did the audiobook. |
| Esteph | The hitchhikers | Chevy Stevens | Thriller | ★★★★☆ | Great thriller, fast placed…I enjoyed how the story came full circle and the end. However, the middle part although was fast place did have me wondering what the end game was. |
| Becks | Ringworld | Larry Niven | Science Fiction | ★☆☆☆☆ | Had to read for book club – took 6 tries to even start. Listened and just kept zoning out. Not a fan! |
| Ashley Landry | Ringworld | Larry Niven | Sci-fi | ★★☆☆☆ | Very 70’s sci-fi in the worst way, execution leaves much to be desired. No character development, they are poorly written and the only two sentient female characters in the whole book are even less developed which is quite the accomplishment. |
| Esteph | The lost boy | Dave Pelzer | Non fiction | ★★★★★ | Amazing story. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first one as it’s focus on his mother’s abuse. I would recommend this book and will finish the trilogy. |
| Esteph | Come undone | Eddie Huang | Adult fiction | ★★★★☆ | This is not my usual genre but I enjoyed watching a 40 yo male trying to find love while realizing how disfuctional he is..also touches on generational trauma. It was relatable and light. |
| Esteph | It’s not her | Mary Kubica | Mystery | ★★★☆☆ | This is my third book by her. Although they are entertaining but always feels mid. It’s an okay mystery. It is as an easy audiobook. The end does answer questions but it falls short for me. |
| Esteph | Monday is not coming | Tiffany D. Jackson | YA/thriller | ★★★★★ | 56 pages in I made a note..I’m looking forward to crying for Monday. It’s written in a perspective that’s often not seen. Mondays best friend is the only one that’s looking for her and it’s heartbreaking. |
August 2026 Book Reviews
| Reviewer | Title | Author | Genre | Stars | Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Landry | Plant Lady | Minyoung Kang | Crime | ★★★★☆ | A very well paced book, that leaves you wanting more at the end. I tore through this book very quickly and was rooting for Yoohee the whole time. A perfect expression of female rage. | |
| Becks | World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (Audio) | Max Brooks | Science Fiction | ★★★★★ | This was the perfect book for a historical mind who loves science fiction. And the Audiobook is amazing with all of the narrators. If you can, listen to the book for the narrators alone. | |
| Becks | The Passengers | John Marrs | Thriller | ★★★★☆ | Another fabulous work by Marrs, and made me scared for the future. I will never get a self-drive vehicle and anyone who considers a self-drive vehicle NEEDS to listen to this book first. | |
| Ashley Landry | In Cold Blood | Truman Capote | True Crime | ★★★★☆ | Widely regarded to have launched the modern day fascination with true crime, Capote’s In Cold Blood will leave you spellbound. | |
| The artisans : a vanishing Chinese village | Shen, Fuyu | nonfiction | ★★★★☆ | Each chapter explores the life of a villager. You pick up some Chinese culture and history during some very disruptive times. They are not all happy stories, but interesting. | ||
| Esteph | All the little raindrops | Mia Sheridan | Psychological thriller | ★★★★☆ | This is a book about survival and humanity. Part 1 is dark so I would check any trigger warnings. However, the trauma was beautifully written and the story went full circle. Would recommend | |
| Esteph | My name means fire | Atash yaghmaian | Memoir | ★★★★★ | I’ve never read a book like this. Very interesting and unique | |
| Esteph | We don’t talk about carol | Kristen L. Berry | Mystery/thriller | ★★★★★ | A great tale of a dysfunctional family navigating generational trauma. | |
| To all those I’ve killed before | J.L Hyde | Mystery | ★★★★★ | It’s a very cute/sad story | ||
| Justin Snook | The Adventures of Unc’ Billy Possum | Thornton Burgess | Classic Children’s Literature from the era roundabouts the first world war? | ★★★★★ | My very favorite Thornton Burgess book featuring my very favorite Thornton Burgess character. Unc Billy sits on that fence between wisdom and foolishness where its hard to tell the difference. | |
| Justin Snook | Devolution | Max Brooks | Horror | ★★★☆☆ | Mt. Rainier erupts, and a little experimental commune of uppity yuppies end up getting everything you think they deserve at the hands of…Bigfeet? Bigfoots? It’s a fun time. | |
| Justin Snook | Nod | Adrian Barnes | Horror | ★☆☆☆☆ | Do not read this book unless you want permanent psychological damage. Almost everybody in the world loses their ability to sleep. Things get ugly fast. | |
| Jed | Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | Science Fiction | ★★★★★ | Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! | |
| Lisa Soffey | The Secret History | Donna Tartt | Dark Academia/Thriller | ★★★★☆ | Entitled people do evil things, especially when they are desperate. An exclusive group of college students deal with the aftermath of their depraved actions. A little bit long, but a great book! | |
| Justin Snook | The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances | Glenn Dixon | Cozy near-futuristic speculative realism | ★★★★★ | This book is timely, relevant, beautiful, and short. In my opinion, it belongs right up there with To Kill a Mockingbird, from which it draws so much inspiration. | |
| Justin Snook | The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet | Becky Chambers | Cozy Scifi | ★★★★☆ | This reads like a cozy romance but without the romance and on a spaceship. Seriously, this book is like a warm blanket about a multi-species crew processing their feelings. I love the whole series. | |
| Lisa Soffey | The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell | Robert Dugoni | Literary Fiction | ★★★★★ | This book was sad and also inspiring. We see the life experience of a boy who grows into a man while living with the adversity of having a mutation that made him shockingly different from other people | |
| Justin Snook | What Moves the Dead | T. Kingfisher | Mycology-themed Gothic Angsty Horror | ★★★☆☆ | The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe and Annihilation by Vandermeer have a love child in this retelling of an American gothic horror classic but with a lot more fungus. | |
| MCO | After Annie | Anna Quindlen | Domestic Fiction | ★★★★★ | Loved this book -I think this author is exactly on point regarding loss and the valuable lessons the departed person imparts on the lives of the surviving family members and friends. Do not miss it! | |
| Brenda Bretz | The Road To Tender Heaarts | Annie Hartnett | Contemporary Fiction | ★★★★☆ | This is truly a heartwarming story of a road trip with unlikely travelers and a cat that predicts death! And it’s funny! |