Below is an excerpt from my February BookPals Newsletter! If you would like to subscribe, reach out here!

I would like to start off by saying that Leslie Knope would probably be horrified by my career choice and would be rolling over in her hypothetical grave right now if she knew I, a public librarian, was making a book list for her. Alas, I still love her and it was a delight to get into Leslie Knope’s mind and imagine what books she would read. Some are specific books I think she’d give to her friends for Galentine’s day, others I think she would be gifting herself, and maybe, just maybe, some are even books she’d put on hold at the library. There’s a mix of romance, nonfiction, memoir and contemporary fiction.

Let’s go!

BRINGING DOWN THE DUKE (A LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN #1) by EVIE DUNMORE

It’s 1879. We’ve got a duke, we’ve got a brilliant woman who’s part of the first cohort of female students at University of Oxford, we’ve got the women’s suffrage movement. Honestly this book sounds like something Leslie would’ve written in her “spare” time.

FLATSHARE by BETH OLEARY

Remember that time Leslie and her obnoxious ex boyfriend, Justin, try to reunite her mom with an old flame? Yeah, I think it’s clear Leslie is a sap and this book is just the thing for her sappy lil heart. Also it sounds like a much more successful love story than what ended up happening in that episode. IYKYK.

OUR TIME IS NOW by STACEY ABRAMS

I think it’s undoubtable that Leslie Knope would be obsessed with Stacy Abrams, and what better way for her to celebrate that than by supporting her book! Community activism, fair voting, civic engagement. Obviously Leslie would be a fan girl.

PROMISE ME, DAD: A YEAR OF HOPE, HARDSHIP, AND PURPOSE by JOE BIDEN

This one is described through one thing…this meme

NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE by GRETA THUNBERG

Greta would be Leslie’s ideal high school intern for the Parks Department. In this fantasy Greta would take the Parks Department by storm in her 4 week summer internship. She would then go on to take over the department and Leslie would send her binders full of ideas from the nursing home. April would become her mentor, because honestly I think they have a similar sense of humor, and Stockholm would become Pawnee’s new Sister City. Really though, this tiny book of some of Greta’s speeches is so powerful and inspiring, filled with hard truths and urgent messaging.

ALL ADULTS HERE by EMMA STRAUB

A book about family and community, set in Hudson Valley, NY and partly set in a small-town diner…enough said.

RODHAM by CURTIS SITTENFELD

Historical fiction that reimagines Hilary Clinton’s life if she didn’t end up with Bill Clinton.

MODERN HERSTORY: STORIES OF WOMEN AND NONBINARY PEOPLE REWRITING HISTORY by BLAIR IMANI

Blair Imani profiles and celebrates 70 women, girls and gender nonbinary people who are changing the world! An inspiring book that Leslie would 100% donate to every classroom in Pawnee.

TROOP 6000: THE GIRL SCOUT TROOP THAT BEGAN IN A SHELTER AND INSPIRED THE WORLD by NIKITA STEWART

Move over Pawnee Rangers, move over Pawnee Goddesses. This book is a true story about the first Girl Scout troop designated for homeless girls. If you’re buying girl scout cookies this year, buy from them! I also highly recommend Googling the Radical Monarchs—members earn social justice badges, celebrate their identities and learn how to empower each other and their communities!

MOST LIKELY by SARAH WATSON

Four best friends, one of them destined to become president of the United States. The mystery throughout the book is ~which girl gets to the Oval Office~ but the overwhelming vibe is female empowerment and female friendship. Yes and yes!

THE WITCHES ARE COMING by LINDY WEST

A book of essays on Me Too, fat phobia, Trump, sexism, climate change and racism. Every essay was hilarious and urgent and powerful.

BIG FRIENDSHIP by AMINATOU SOW AND ANN FRIEDMAN

Truly, I talk about this book SO much that I’m starting to feel annoying…but like come on, you KNOW this book would be the Bible of Ann and Leslie’s friendship ❤

And that’s that! This was a really fun booklist to create so if you have any Reading List requests for future newsletters-let me know!