We asked Library Staff, what book do you enjoy but are kind of embarrassed to admit?
Bridgerton
Dearest Gentle Reader: Ashley's guilty pleasure is the Bridgerton series. Her favorite book is "The Viscount Who Loved Me". In this story, Viscount Lord Anthony Bridgerton, a man with a logical approach to marriage, decides it's time to finally take a wife to produce an heir. He meets the lovely Edwina Sharma, a fine enough woman to marry. Her sister Kate is her protector and is extremely hostile towards him. Anthony, who is already a hothead, responds in kind, and their initial animosity escalates. However, over time, their anger begins to break down, and they realize there is something much more between them. This book has it all: historical fiction, betrayal, seduction, and love. - Ashley
The Chronicles of Fairacre by Miss Read is an omnibus edition of her first three novels: Village School, Village Diary, and Storm in the Village. The narrator of all three stories is “Miss Read,” the schoolmistress of the tiny two-room primary school in the village of Fairacre. “Miss Read” is the penname of Dora Saint, who was a village schoolteacher in the 1930s and 40s in the English County of Middlesex, so one suspects that many of the stories are more or less true. The novels are comedies of manners, affectionate and witty portraits of English village life between the wars, with strongly drawn characters, and wonderful depictions of the natural world and the changing of the seasons. Miss Read is Jane Austen on a smaller scale. I suppose this is my guilty pleasure because life in Fairacre is the sort of world we would all like to live in but do not. The inhabitants of the village have their struggles but there are no irredeemable villains. Conflicts are resolved with fairness and compassion. If you enjoy the books of Lillian Beckwith, Jan Karon, James Herriot or Patrick Taylor, you will love Miss Read as well. - Ken
Dresden Files
Harry Dresden is a just a regular guy who happens to be a wizard. He lives in a basement apartment in Chicago with Mouse, his Foo dog, and Bob, a haunted skull in a jar. He drives a VW Beetle because anytime he goes near technology, it malfunctions. Jim Butcher has written 17 Harry Dresden books so far and I have enjoyed them all. Harry meets vampires, fairies, werewolves, demons, archangels, Norse gods, and lots of other monsters, and many of them turn out to be friends. The series is available on Libby. If you like urban fantasy and haven't already read Harry Dresden, you're welcome! - Elisa
Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings
Magnolia Parks is one of London’s most affluent socialites, and BJ Ballentine is London’s most photographed bad-boy who broke her heart. But they are meant to be, everyone knows it. They’re just stuck in a dysfunctional kind of love, a loop of constantly hurting each other but never willing to let go completely. As secrets start to surface Magnolia and BJ are forced to face some painful questions. Every character in this book is insufferable, messed up and completely awful, but you can’t help but root for them. Read it for the toxic drama, it’s addicting. A guilty pleasure read for sure. - Natashia
Christina Lauren's The Paradise Problem was a delightful guilty pleasure read that perfectly blended romantic comedy. It struck the perfect balance between sizzling romance and hilarious humour. If you're a fan of fake dating, this story takes it to the next level with a fake marriage premise that takes place a beautiful island. - Andrea
The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand
My favourite guilty pleasure read is a book that I listened to on Libby, The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand. I had heard of Hilderbrand’s Nantucket-set books and knew they were popular. I didn’t think it was my sort of thing, but thought I would try the audiobook because it was available. Let me tell you, I LOVED this book. A Nantucket wedding is approaching, and everyone has gathered at a fancy beachfront property to celebrate. But the morning of the wedding, a dead body is found on the beach. The mystery was light but intriguing and kept me guessing. I also really enjoyed the depiction of wealthy people living the Nantucket lifestyle. It was a character-driven story with a twist of suspense and it was truly entertaining right till the end. I have listened to a few other Hilderbrand books, and The Perfect Couple is still my favourite. And they just made it into a fun miniseries on Netflix, which I also enjoyed immensely! - Emma
When Life Gives You Vampires By Gloria Duke
Lily Baines, 25, is used to hangovers and dead-end jobs, but waking up with fangs is a shock. Accidentally turned by Tristan, who broke vampire law, they must team up to survive. As they face vampires, slayers, and Lily’s mom’s awkward advice, she battles her insecurities in a looks-obsessed world. This book screamed rom-com to me, a genre I don’t usually enjoy. However, the mix of fantasy, romance, and humor, along with its strong body positivity message, worked for me. Lily is relatable, Tristan is swoon-worthy, and the modern twist on vampire folklore added a fun layer. It’s a cheesy, laugh-out-loud read! - Jennifer D