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The Gunners
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
"The Gunners explores what it means to have people crawl into your heart and settle in for a lifetime. In this lovely, truthful novel of six people who have been friends since childhood, Rebecca Kauffman strips enduring love of all its usual romantic costumery, and shows us how it actually works." Martha Woodroof, author of Small Blessings Following her wonderfully received first novel, Another Place Youve Never Been, called mesmerizing, powerful, and gorgeous, by critics all over the country, Rebecca Kauffman returns with Mikey Callahan, a thirty-year-old who is suffering from the clouded vision of macular degeneration. He struggles to establish human connectionseven his emotional life is a blur. As the novel begins, he is reconnecting with The Gunners, his group of childhood friends, after one of their members has committed suicide. Sally had distanced herself from all of them before ending her life, and she died harboring secrets about the group and its individuals. Mikey especially needs to confront dark secrets about his own past and his father. How much of this darkness accounts for the emotional stupor Mikey is suffering from as he reaches his maturity? And can The Gunners, prompted by Sallys death, find their way to a new day? The core of this adventure, made by Mikey, Alice, Lynn, Jimmy, and Sam, becomes a search for the core of truth, friendship, and forgiveness. A quietly startling, beautiful book, The Gunners engages us with vividly unforgettable characters, and advances Rebecca Kauffmans place as one of the most important young writers of her generation.
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Suelizbeth
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

This book is about a group of childhood friends who feel themselves to be misfits and form their own “family” calling themselves the Gunners, so named for the former occupants of an abandoned house they adopt as their home away from home. Told mostly from the perspective of Mikey, we alternate between present and past, gradually unearthing the secrets about each of the Gunners, but known and held secret by one of their own. All the feels. 5⭐️

57 likes1 stack add
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BarbaraBB
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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#BookReport 46/20

It‘s been a good reading week with Americanah being the absolute highlight. Such a fantastic book! But I enjoyed the other three a lot as well so I am one happy lady 😉

Kalalalatja I have only read the top and bottom, but both are so good! Glad you had a good reading week 👍 3y
ju.ca.no I also finished Americanah the last week and thought it was really good as well😍 3y
TrishB Great week 👍🏻 and you enjoyed them, which is always more important. 3y
Cinfhen So glad you had a good reading week!!! I saw your email xxxx will respond shortly...as always VERY INSIGHTFUL 🙌🏻💗😘 3y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen No hurry, more important to get settled and de-stress 😘 3y
79 likes5 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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This was a unexpected surprise. Like @Cinfhen says, it would well fit the #Underrated prompt for #Booked2021.

Six friends are inseparable while growing up until one of them leaves their group without an explanation. The others are at loss and all falls apart. Years later they are adults and reminisce about that time. Looking for answers only raises more questions.

TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 3y
mamareading I love this room! 3y
BarbaraBB @mamareading Me too... unfortunately it‘s not mine, I was staying over at a friend‘s 😉 3y
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts Sounds good ! Stacked 3y
Cinfhen Perfect review!!! And lovely photo 💓💓💓 3y
batsy The space is so gorgeous 😍 3y
77 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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Andrea4
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

Loved it! If you like an ensemble cast and a story about friendships evolving over time this one is for you. Shocking, funny, heartbreaking, honest, messy, happy, perfect!

Well-ReadNeck Stacked! Thanks for the review. 4y
Andrea4 @Well-ReadNeck my pleasure! 4y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Jas16
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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#7days7covers #covercrush Day 3

@TheBookStacker have you been tagged yet? If you want to join in just post a cover you love every day, with no explanation, and tag someone new every day.

Cinfhen This would have been my Day 8 cover ♥️ 5y
LauraBeth @micheleinphilly gifted this to me and I love both the cover and the story! 5y
Leftcoastzen Nice! 5y
TheBookStacker I love this cover! Thanks for the tag! I will post later once I‘m done studying! 5y
Jas16 @LauraBeth It is always seems extra disappointing when you love a cover but the story is lacking so luckily I loved everything about this one too. 5y
68 likes5 comments
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cateeeoh
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
Pickpick

I found this story so moving. Six friends finding their way. Desperately sad and hopeful at the same time, this is the kind of book that seems to breathe love, which is just the best kind. Reminded me a little of The Immortalists, which I also loved, but maybe even liked this one more. Rich, round characters and great dialogue.

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cathysaid
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

A group of six friends through childhood and adolescence are suddenly and mysteriously cut off by one of their own. After high school, the remaining five go their separate ways, reuniting years later at a funeral. Secrets are revealed as the story moves back and forth through past and present. Think “The Big Chill” without the cool music. Definitely recommend. 4/5 ⭐️

#audiobook

47 likes1 stack add
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Jas16
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

I loved this book about a group of childhood friends reunited as adults when one of their group commits suicide. It is a quiet story about how the bonds of strong friendships can over come time and differences. I loved Mikey, the friend who never moved away, so much. Great on audio. This is a book that I think I have to own even though I was just saying I need to stop buying books (ignoring the fact I am going to a library sale this weekend).

HardcoverHearts I also have no business going to the sale, but cannot imagine not going. I mean- who knows what may be there?!? 5y
Jas16 @HardcoverHearts seriously! I could miss out on so much. 5y
63 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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KarenUK
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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#octoberxfiles @Robothugs @Cinfhen
#bitinthebullet One from the #TBR today... love the sound of this one..... Anyone read it?

Robothugs I‘ve not read it but it does sound interesting! 5y
Cinfhen I read this book! It‘s really good, unfortunately it somehow got lost in all the newer more popular releases. 5y
KarenUK @cinfhen Now I definitely can‘t wait to read it..... 👍💕 5y
45 likes3 comments
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Redwritinghood
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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I‘ve seen many describe this as The Big Chill with GenXers. A group of childhood friends reunites following the suicide of one of their members. It is a story about the complexity of life in general - friendship, family, love and loss. 3.5⭐️ Both the ebook and audiobook are available on Hoopla.

75 likes2 stack adds
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Librarylady
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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We‘ve just left for vacation for the next ten days. I hope I brought enough/appropriate clothing. I was more concerned with the books I‘d be taking along. First up is The Gunners. I‘ve heard good things about this one.

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BittersweetBooks
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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What was life if not a long series of scary and outlandish things you did and said and asked of your heart, so you could carry the wild and unreasonable hope that someday someone would hold your face and say, you are perfect 🐕🐾💛

18 likes1 stack add
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amma-keep-reading
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
Pickpick

this book is a celebration of the ups and downs of lifelong friendships.
i appreciate all of my relationships that have endured life's many growing pains and i think this book celebrates of those kinds of friendships.

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amma-keep-reading
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman

" Mikey wondered if having a dear friend and being a dear friend, might be almost as good as being a good man."

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auntie_jenn
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

The Big Chill meets GenX. i liked it! 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️

17 likes2 stack adds
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Nitpickyabouttrains
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

I really liked this book which reminded me very much of The Big Chill. A group of people who grew up together meet up decades later when one dies. They reveal secrets and tell truths.

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Audrey
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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I really loved this. It's about childhood friends who reunite when one dies. But it‘s so much more. Told in alternating times, you see the different perspectives of the friends as they try and figure out what went wrong in the past. They all had secrets but all loved each other. And throughout, there are just beautifully written sentences in passages that just capture both past and present.

Centique This sounds lovely. I would stack it from that review except I already stacked it! 6y
EvieBee Am I going to cry? I got the Audible edition because my library doesn‘t have it. But wondering if I can listen in public. 6y
Audrey @EvieBee there are sad moments so you may tear up at points. I really loved this though. 6y
6 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Pelican71
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

Enjoyable story of friendship with strong character development. However, there was just something missing for me at the end. Still a pick.

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Cinfhen
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

Talk about getting lost in a book ~ I managed to do NOTHING today other than read this heartbreaking /uplifting story courtesy of #Hoopla. Neighborhood friends who grow up to be inseparable are suddenly untethered when one friend leaves the group with no warning or reason given. Her departure scatters the group until her suicide brings them back together. 😭😭😭OMG, I LOVED this book. Highly recommend

tammysue Moving it up! 6y
TrishB Sounds good 👍🏻 stacked for future consideration!! 6y
Kalalalatja Seriously, you have me stacking books all over the place these days! 6y
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emilyhaldi Great review! I‘ve had this stacked for a while 😄 6y
Reviewsbylola Interesting. What a great cover! 6y
Cinfhen Thanks @Kalalalatja I‘ve just been reading some really great books lately~ this one did not disappoint @whatshesreadingnow @TrishB @emilyhaldi 💕 6y
Cinfhen It‘s an odd cover for the book but I kind of get the symbolism @Reviewsbylola it is striking though 🐦🐛 6y
tammysue My library doesn‘t have it so I grabbed the ebook. Added to my May reads, thanks for recommending! 😁💕 6y
TrishB I‘ll keep my eye out on it going a bit cheaper . Can only see for (cf at the moment! 6y
Cinfhen I think it‘s brand new, I got it from #hoopla @whatshesreadingnow @TrishB maybe it will be kindle deal soon 🤞🏼I really hope u love it @whatshesreadingnow #pressure 😬 6y
TrishB I‘m sure it will- I‘ll keep my eye out for offers! 6y
BarbaraBB Stacked! 6y
Mdargusch Great review!👍🏼 6y
DebinHawaii Stacking! 📚 6y
RohitSawant Great review! 6y
120 likes13 stack adds15 comments
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Cinfhen
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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The awesome @GripLitGrl (or #JerseyGirl) is hosting a generous #giveaway for US Littens🎉🎉🎉Repost and let her know the answer to the above questions❣️❣️❣️Since I can‘t name only one favorite, I‘ll share the book I‘m most excited for; The Gunners. Both blurb and cover design have caught my attention 😍🤩😊 Thanks for the chance to win “Sometimes I Lie” #GLGgiveaway

GripLitGrl 😄😄my husband will love you calling me a jersey girl! As i tell him my heart will always belong to NY😉 That cover is striking sounds like a good read! Thanks for entering☺ 6y
77 likes1 comment
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mauveandrosysky
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Not my best month but I‘ve been pretty busy.

BooksForEmpathy Yes! All the moving and nesting! It wasn‘t my best month either. BTW I came to your page to see what BOTM you chose because I don‘t know if I like any of the options! May have to skip this month... 6y
mauveandrosysky @BooksForEmpathy I went with Still Lives because I already had The Mars Room on pre-order. I‘m hearing amazing things about TMR! 6y
31 likes2 comments
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KikiLovesBooks
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

4* I will fully admit to being attracted to this book because of its gorgeous cover. Then I saw a little blurb here and there about it. So I decided to read it. It‘s a book about friendship, love, belonging, and grief. The Big Chill meets King‘s The Body for Gen Xers. A group of friends grows up together and reunite for a funeral after the suicide of one of them. Secrets and desires are revealed. Very moving and honest. I loved Mikey.

16 likes2 stack adds
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mdemanatee
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Read #100 for the year. Job situation is still scary as all get out but at least my reading is on track.

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spinesvines
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷/5 Cheers
The Gunners is a story about friendship, family, love, secrets & loss. Mikey, Jimmy, Sam, Alice, Sally, &Lynn are a group of childhood friends who reunite when they are in their 30s after a member of their group commits suicide. The story is set in present day with nuanced moments from the past weaved into the story. I was completely invested in all of the characters throughout their entire journey. #spinesvines

14 likes1 stack add
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LauraBeth
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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I love this symbolism of the hibernation of the wood frog. Nature‘s way of saying it‘s okay to have a frozen season below ground with a stopped heart. You‘ll thaw in the spring (or whenever you want to come back into the world...) and your heart will beat again. ❤️

Librariana I read that as whenever springtime wants to come back into the world - 😂 Then I went back and read your caption 😁 Spring has definitely been a little late getting here in some parts of the country! 6y
DivineDiana It is a beautiful passage. So much hope and certainty. ❤️ 6y
rockpools ❤️🌱 6y
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Notafraidofwords Are you following the kardashian drama?? 6y
Redwritinghood That is a lovely, hopeful thought. We just have to remember it when times are tough. 6y
LauraBeth @Notafraidofwords of course! I saw this coming since Tristan left his pregnant girlfriend for Khloé. She‘s my favorite K though - I just want to root for her. 6y
LauraBeth @Redwritinghood ❤️❤️ 6y
LauraBeth @RachelO 💕💕 6y
LauraBeth @DivineDiana ❤️❤️ 6y
LauraBeth @Librariana 😂😂 Eventually, spring is coming everywhere! 6y
Notafraidofwords @LauraBeth omg me too. I‘m so sad for her. But at this point, I wonder if she isn‘t choosing the right men... 6y
LauraBeth @Notafraidofwords she needs to work on her self-esteem so she realizes she deserves better than a drug addict and better than a man who is leaving his pregnant gf for her. If you constantly set yourself up to fail in your relationships you need to get to the root of why you haven‘t broken the cycle. On some level she doesn‘t know her worth as a person and may feel she deserves less - thus always choosing men who will validate her internal feelings 6y
Notafraidofwords @LauraBeth yes!!!!!! Exactly. Like what is happening? She seems to be the most level headed one so I hope she gets through this. 6y
95 likes13 comments
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LauraBeth
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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When the author slips in a love note to cats everywhere. ❤️😻

rubyslippersreads Lovely! 😻 6y
LeahBergen ❤️❤️ 6y
Lreads Aww! 😻 6y
TNbookworm 😻😻😻 6y
77 likes4 comments
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LauraBeth
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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When you complain on Litsy about your library hold number for the following book and @MicheleinPhilly gifts it to you. It came with some side eye shade from Bitsy because she thought I was going to nurse a book hangover all day and pay her extra attention. 😽

britt_brooke 💚🐾 6y
mabell Poor Bitsy! ❤️ 6y
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batsy Aww Bitsy! Foiled by a book! 😂❤️ 6y
LeahBergen Oh, Bitsy! ☹️ 6y
UwannaPublishme 😁❤️ 6y
rubyslippersreads Maybe Betsy doesn't like the emphasis on cats. 😹 6y
Suet624 💕💕💕 6y
141 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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LauraBeth
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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1. Read about a book 3 months before it‘s released and think, “I‘d like to read that!” ✅
2. Wait 2 months and check library website to see if they‘ve pre-ordered it (they haven‘t) ✅
3. Check their website every day to see if they‘ve ordered it so you can get on the holds list (they haven‘t) ✅
4. Check their website the next day and see that they‘ve finally ordered it and 98 people have noticed before you and are all on the hold list for it ✅

DivineDiana How can that be??? 😱 6y
Ashley_Nicoletto Can you request it? At my library if you request that they buy something that's the order they put you on the hold list in. I do this ALL the time then I am one of the very first when they do order it. 6y
MicheleinPhilly Does your library have Hoopla? This is available there with no waiting. 6y
See All 12 Comments
susanw Been there, and it sucks. 6y
ashlinisme Oh nooooo! You can recommend on Overdrive (desktop not apps) if you have access to get to the beginning of their queue. Good luck! 6y
LauraBeth I don‘t know @DivineDiana! 🙀 6y
LauraBeth @Ashley_Nicoletto that‘s what I should have done! 6y
LauraBeth @MicheleinPhilly no Hoopla - just Overdrive with a wait 😔 6y
SG2014 Funny story. Also the video that goes with your pic is also very funny, funnier still when the hubs is a mathematician. 🤣🤣🤣 6y
LauraBeth @SG2014 I don‘t know how many times I‘ve watched that video - it‘s hilarious! 😂 6y
106 likes12 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

A slow burn of a book, this one had a familiar ache infused throughout its pages. That ache we feel to be accepted; better yet, to be seen fully and accepted regardless. To be seen in the light and thought of as lovely.

So often, friendships are depicted as full of envy, contempt, or loneliness. Rebecca Kauffman reminds us that friendships are there to lift us up, to be a refuge, to follow through on our promises, and are revealed through time.

mauveandrosysky How did you interpret Mikey looking at the solar eclipse? Did you think that was the cause of his macular degeneration? 6y
emilyhaldi Beautiful review (and cover 😍) 6y
CouronneDhiver Sounds excellent 6y
64 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Hummus + avocado toast and finishing up this book today.

LizzieChantree Great book cover! 6y
Clare-Dragonfly Mmm, great food combination! 6y
66 likes2 comments
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mauveandrosysky
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Pickpick

Oh, my heart. This book really snuck up on me. It reminded me of a 80s movie, like The Big Chill or The Breakfast Club or IT without the horror. Kauffman‘s writing is simple, yet exquisitely observant and detailed in a way that sort of stuns you with humor and poignancy. The characters are rich and vibrant, their inner lives and internal struggles relatable and meaningful. I loved this novel, and feel genuinely touched by its beauty and sincerity.

saresmoore Excellent review! 6y
mrozzz You‘ve sold me! Great review. 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Was really curious about this one - stacked! 6y
39 likes7 stack adds3 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Dinner + Book. This one is great - I couldn‘t stop reading last night!

So far, it‘s following a group of friends from childhood through adulthood. Fans of The Interestings: I think you‘ll like it!

saresmoore Pretty ranunculus! I just planted some in my front yard. 😊 6y
Eggs Nice photo 6y
mauveandrosysky I‘m reading this too and I loooooove it. I have no idea where any of it is going. 6y
77 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Lauren.Archer
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
Pickpick

Wow...this book packs a punch in about 250 pages. It‘s about five friends and how they deal with a loss of a friend and all the secrets they had. It goes between the present and stories of their youth. Very well done.

85 likes5 stack adds
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Lauren.Archer
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Next read this Easter Sunday. This sounds absolutely wonderful.

100 likes1 stack add
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BooksForEmpathy
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Kale/white bean/andouille sausage soup! And new bookmail!!! I think I‘m gonna love this book 🤞🏻.

swishandflick Cool cover! 😍 6y
emilyhaldi Obsessed with this cover 🙌🏻 6y
GatheringBooks oh wow! that cover! 🙌🏼 6y
mauveandrosysky I‘m so excited to read this! 6y
90 likes4 comments
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kdwinchester
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Best of #bookmail and just in time for me to enjoy for #FridayReads! THE GUNNERS is one of my most anticipated titles for the first half of 2018. So. Excited. 🤩

Many thanks to Counterpoint Press for sending me a copy. If you haven‘t checked out this amazing publisher, head over to their Instagram page to see their amazing titles. (They might be my favorite. 🙊)

https://www.instagram.com/counterpointpress

AmyG I just picked this up. Very excited. 6y
Sophoclessweetheart What a divine cover xx 6y
emilyhaldi Beautiful cover ❤️❤️ 6y
Mdargusch That cover!!! 💙❤️💕💙 6y
shutupsmalls Counterpoint and their sister publisher Catapult are probably my faves 6y
65 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Allietaylor16
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Loving this book so far!!

40 likes2 stack adds
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MissAimz_55
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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Spring releases that I am the most excited about, the tagged book is I think will be the best title. #marchinbooks #springbooks #booksandshelfiesm18 #newreleases #neverendingtbr

Amabear How exciting! 6y
33 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Cinfhen
The Gunners: A Novel | Rebecca Kauffman
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My spring recommendation ~ a debut about adolescent friendship👭👫👬Congrats on your marvelous Litsy milestone @Booksnchill and thanks for the #giveaway #WhiskeyRocks {{another gorgeous cover @JoScho }}

JoScho That is a beautiful cover 💚 6y
Booksnchill @Cinfhen that is stunning! Thanks 🥃🐾💖 6y
emmaturi It sounds very interesting book and lovely cover! 6y
106 likes4 stack adds3 comments