One of the perks of working in a library is that you get to see the wide variety of books that come and go daily; one of the tough things about working in a library is that you are constantly tempted by the latest thing to cross the circulation desk. Or the newest books that come in our daily shipments from our vendor. Or the book lists that various vendors email to you. Or the books that your fellow librarians can’t help but recommend. Your to-be-read list is ever-expanding to unmanageable lengths. But then again, you never run out of things to read; you just have to prioritize!

The book that is at the top of my list right now is “The Huntress” by Kate Quinn. Quinn is the author of “The Alice Network,” a very popular novel about female spies in WWI France, which was one of my favorite books of 2017. “The Huntress” tells the story of the “The Night Witches,” an all-female regiment of Russian night bombers and Nina, a Night Witch who is stranded behind enemy lines. I can’t wait to race through this book!

I’m also looking forward to Alyssa Mastromonico’s second book, “So Here’s the Thing: Notes on Growing Up, Getting Older, and Trusting Your Gut.” Mastromonico, who was White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations during the Obama administration, shares her views on politics, moms, relationships, pop culture, and more in her unique and funny voice.

Kate Mascarenhas’ debut novel sounds like a wonderfully twisted romp: four female scientists build the first time machine in 1967. Fifty years later, time travel is a lucrative business, and Ruby knows her Grandma Bee isn’t telling the whole story about her role in inventing time travel technology. Ruby might have to take a trip back through the decades to figure out the whole history. I can’t wait to read this inventive story!

Actor Andrew Rannells’ debut has also found a spot near the top of my to-be-read list. Rannells has starred in a number of Broadway musicals, including “The Book of Mormon” and “Hamilton” and currently stars in the TV show “Black Monday.” “Too Much is Not Enough: A Memoir of Fumbling Toward Adulthood” is Rannells recounting of how he survived “bad auditions, bad relationships, and some really bad highlights” on his way to stardom. Rannells’ comedic timing is great and I’m hopeful that his sense of humor will shine through in this book.

Right now I’m reading “King of Scars” by Leigh Bardugo. This is the sixth installment set in the fictional Grisha universe and the first in the “Nikolai Duology.” Bardugo is fantastic at world building and I am so thrilled to be back in this complex and fully formed world. King Nikolai survived his country’s civil war; now he must find a way to bring prosperity and peace to his kingdom while defeating the dark magic that is rising within him. I highly recommend you read the other “Grishaverse” novels and then make your way back to “King of Scars” so that you can fully enjoy the universe Bardugo has created.

Now, I must be off. I have to get through these books before the next batch of books arrives and I add more to my list!