Lake County, Illinois is reunion-perfec t.

It’s time to reconnect – in-person – with the ones you love. Lake County is just north of Chicago and delivers the perfect backdrop to get together with your family again. Experience world-class attractions like Six Flags Great America, Hurricane Harbor Great Wolf Lodge. Enjoy beautiful landscapes with 75 lakes and beaches. Explore Forest Preserves, including Independence Grove, which provides ideal picnic locations with lots of activities to enjoy. There’s also wonderful dining, entertainment, hotels and resorts for your big event. In Lake County, Illinois, your reunion will be truly unforgettable.

Contact reunion expert, Kimberly Ghys, Kimberly@LakeCounty.org to start your planning!

Reunions are Murder by Libby Klein (2018, 397 pages, paperback, Kensington Publishing Corp)

This is a quick fun read with lots to relate to for anyone considering a class reunion. Poppy McAllister learns about the 25-year class reunion while still in mourning for her recently deceased husband. Her best high school friend urges her to make the trip to New Jersey, but she intends to stay only a couple days before returning to her Virginia home.

The usual cast of high school characters are at the reunion and play their parts well. The cheerleaders, jocks and cliques all assemble until there is an unfortunate rumble ending in Poppy discovering the dead body of her high school nemesis next to her old school locker. Another classmate is a police officer and arrests her assuming Poppy is the perpetrator. The classmate treats it as an open and shut case and warns Poppy to not play detective which, of course, is where the action actually begins. Suspects, of course, are all classmates about whom we learn as Poppy continues the search to prove her innocence.

There are many distractions and characters as Poppy proceeds to do her undercover sleuthing. She is staying with an eccentric elderly aunt whom social services is trying to get to sell her house and move to assisted living. There is an old boyfriend who shows interest while an attractive café owner also gets Poppy’s attention. The clique of girlfriends is around whenever Poppy needs aid, comfort or cover. The police officer often catches Poppy in action and intensifies her warnings and threats of arrest and incarceration. There is a consistent humor in Poppy’s internal musings as well as in conversations with Aunt Ginny and her cat, Figero.

As often happens in mysteries, the end is a complete surprise that makes perfect sense and Poppy is exonerated. Class Reunions Are Murder is entertaining, humorous, and captivating! EW

Nothing and Nobody from Imagine Your Life Like This, a collection of short stories by Sarah Layden (2023, 152 pages, paperback, $18.95, University of Wisconsin Press)

Nothing and Nobody is about a recently divorced couple who were classmates in high school and are facing their 15-year reunion. Nancy was class president, thus she is tasked with reunion planning. She has assigned Billy, her ex, to organize a picture display for the event which he is less than enthusiastic about or engaged in. But in searching for pictures, he is reminded of a brief encounter in high school with Cecelia whom he was attracted to. While Nancy kept asking if Billy was bringing a date to the reunion, he was hoping Cecelia would be there and he had set aside pictures particularly of her. Since high school, Cecelia had come out and was hoping to not have to reveal her sexual preference at the reunion. It never came up and Billy destroyed a picture of Cecelia when he saw her. His photo display was simply photos spread out on a table indicative of his enthusiasm for the task. This is a very short story which may actually generate memories for some readers!