Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan (2007)

This short novel takes place over one snowy evening at a Red Lobster which is closing the next day. Interesting slice-of-life piece--absorbing and touching.

Invisible by Pete Hautman (2005)

Told through the viewpoint of Dougie, who may not be the most reliable narrator, it's a gripping and suspenseful read. To say any more than this would spoil the mystery of this book. Well-written and impossible to put down.

Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kristin Miller (2006)

Tale of a girl living in New York City who meets the elusive, mysterious Kiki Strike and gets recruited to join her band of followers to discover treasure in the Shadow City, the unknown city below the streets and buildings of New York. Adventurous, suspenseful and exciting, this is a great read for young adults looking for something out of the ordinary.

Armistead Maupin - Adored Author

I freaking love Tales of the City.  Originally published in serial form in the SF Chronicle, these six books follow the adventures of a group of friends from the 1970s through the 1980s. Incredibly addictive.  The first book was wonderfully adapted into a tv series, with great casting.  I love the Maupin continues to write about these characters, most recently in Michael Tolliver Lives and Mary Ann in Autumn.  I could read about these characters forever.  I also loved The Night Listener, an excellent novel involving a writer and a sick boy who corresponds with him. Extremely suspenseful and heartrending. (However, not very light.)

The Bestseller by Olivia Goldsmith (1996)

Poor Olivia Goldsmith.  She wrote some fun books, and some kind of lame books.  But The Bestseller is terrific fun.  A great expose of the publishing industry of the 80s/90s, it's dishy and gossipy.  It's also super fun to play "name that author" with this book.  So much thinly veiled author dirt is spilled!

Beauty - Robin McKinley (1978)

Awfully endearing retelling of the Beauty and the Beast tale.  In this version, Beauty is anything but.  Her family calls her Beauty as a joke, but she is courageous of heart and when necessary, she goes to the Beast's castle and the story proceeds from there.  Lovely and romantic and very close in emotion to the classic film by Jean Cocteau.

Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks (1991)

Meditative and haunting tale of the aftermath of tragedy in a small town. Beautifully told and has a fascinating retelling of the Pied Piper story included.  Also, a wonderful movie directed by Atom Agoyan, with a fantastic soundtrack.  So compelling.  All of it.

Jane Austen - Adored Author

There's a reason that about every other book coming out is based on Jane Austen's work.  Love Austen.  Pride and Prejudice:  The gold standard for all romantic comedy novels. Much more fun than you may remember!  Filmed a number of times--the best with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.  Also love Persuasion,  which is angsty and poignant and delicious.  Also a great film with Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.  And of course, Emma, basis of my senior thesis.  Mr. Knightley is a close second to Mr. Darcy in the Great Romantic Hero competition.  Love!

Alice, I Think by Susan Juby (2000)

This series of novels stars Alice MacLeod, a Canadian girl who is one of the most eccentric, endearing, and hilarious characters I've ever read. Fabulous books! In the first, Alice, formerly homeschooled, decides to attend school. Hilarious. Read-out-loud-to-anyone-nearby-hilarious.  In Miss Smithers, Alice decides to compete in the Miss Smithers beauty (scholarship) pageant. Still hilarious.  Also, Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last.  Alice decides to try her hand and screenwriting. The results? Hilarious.

Helping Me Help Myself by Beth Lisick (2008)

Subtitled One Skeptic, Ten Self-help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone.  Despite the "I bet I can get a book out this" premise, Lisick's book about spending a year learning from the top self-help pros was most enjoyable. Witty and affectionate, the standout chapter was about her cruise with Richard Simmons.